So long L.A., and thanks for the Meet-up memories

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December 18, 2006

As of Wednesday SM will be closing down its L.A. offices. But…not before we had a rockin’ meetup in a den of vice.

As usual, the West Coast represented the best. We had at least 40 people show up including Sunny of our British cousin Pickled Politics. You can see all of the (non-censored) pictures here. That isn’t a pink shirt I am wearing in the photoset by the way. It is Sepia. And if you think it’s ugly, too bad…because the rest of my clothes are in boxes. To all the bloggers, commenters, lurkers, people who we’ve blogged about, and groupie that showed up, thanks for making LA such a great city to live in (except for the traffic)! Keep representing. West siiiidddeee.

Meetups!

POSTED BY abhi @ 5:53 PM

46 comments

1 · SemiDesiMasala on December 18, 2006 6:19 PM · Direct link

I am crushed, CRUSHED, I tell you, that I couldn't come to what would have been my first meetup ever. (couldn't get away for personal reasons). Please don't let this be the last sepia meetup on the west coast! appoint a new la outpost manager! have a meetup in SF!

Anyway, it looks like a fun time was had by all. I am sorry that I missed all that mutinous goodness. :(

2 · taz on December 18, 2006 6:23 PM · Direct link

YAY!!!!

And we knew what kind of underwear everyone was exactly wearing throughout the entire meetup. It doesn't beat that!

Don't worry SemiDesiMasala - I may do an SM hijack and host some meetups-without-a-mutineer in Los Angeles next year. They are simply way too much fun to abandon just because SOMEone thinks that flying to outer space is cool. ;-)j/k - we're going to miss you Abhi!

3 · SemiDesiMasala on December 18, 2006 6:31 PM · Direct link

Don't worry SemiDesiMasala - I may do an SM hijack and host some meetups-without-a-mutineer in Los Angeles next year.

Whew!!! I was worried there for a minute. I think you should totally host more meetups...they DO look like too much fun! :)

4 · Ennis on December 18, 2006 6:33 PM · Direct link

There are always meetups in SF ...

5 · hairy_d on December 18, 2006 6:46 PM · Direct link

There are always meetups in SF

for which even i might show up - as long as you decide not to host it in a place that needs me to put on a clean shirt and comb the congealed egg out of my beard.

6 · MadGuru on December 18, 2006 6:54 PM · Direct link

Haha! What a great time! Thanks again for putting it together Abhi. I'm with Taz. I think we'll have to put together some unofficial meetups to bring all these crazy people back together again. We're gonna miss you spaceman.

7 · ashvin on December 18, 2006 6:55 PM · Direct link

Speaking of memories, could we have an SM "year-in-review" post ? Perhaps in verse form ? Maybe a collaborative one a la Friday 55s.
Thanks. I'm always available to assign tasks to you SM-ers. :)

8 · Kush Tandon on December 18, 2006 6:56 PM · Direct link

So when are you defending Doc Abhi.

Have you setup the date? Or should I be inquiring this on a public forum?

Anyway, all the best.

9 · hairy_d on December 18, 2006 6:58 PM · Direct link

So when are you defending Doc Abhi.

ooo. nearly skimmed past that.

Congratulations!!! and all the best.

10 · SemiDesiMasala on December 18, 2006 7:06 PM · Direct link

So when are you defending Doc Abhi

Congrats Abhi!

11 · Abhi on December 18, 2006 9:34 PM · Direct link

So when are you defending Doc Abhi.

Probably in Feb. or March at the latest. Perhaps if it goes well we could have another meet-up that weekend :)

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

12 · GujuDude on December 18, 2006 10:22 PM · Direct link

Nice to see y'all had fun. Hopefully meetups continue on the west coast (SF, LA) in some fashion or the other...

Goodluck with your future stuff, Abhi. It's a damn cool and tough road you're taking, but it seems you're definitely up to the challenge.

13 · Sunny on December 19, 2006 12:30 AM · Direct link

Thanks for the honourary mention Mr A, good to have met you folks and said hello to you finally before you headed down to the south. Thank god no one took pictures of me, that's all I'm sayin!

Hey I'm in Hollywood on wednesday, probably head to a party or two, if you're around. I'm hanging out with some friends and family etc.

14 · Shruti on December 19, 2006 1:25 AM · Direct link

Abhi, I'm in SemiDesiMasala's boat - crushed that I couldn't make it. I was up in SB with nothing but public transportation to work with because I had crashed my car a few weeks ago... and we all know how accessible and reliable public transportation is in SoCal. Plus I was reeling from a final and in no condition to present myself to all those good looking people (and dayum! there really were some very good lookin people there!). I wanted to congratulate you in person, but since that's not going to happen, here's a big e-hug *hug* for you for completing your Ph.D. Hurray! You're a rock star now.

Probably in Feb. or March at the latest. Perhaps if it goes well we could have another meet-up that weekend :)

Do it! Do it! We'll both come, right SemiDesiMasala?

15 · Desi Banda on December 19, 2006 1:35 AM · Direct link

I was up in SB

San Bernardino? I live in Redlands!

16 · Shruti on December 19, 2006 2:10 AM · Direct link

I was up in SB
San Bernardino? I live in Redlands!

Heh :) no, if I were in San Bernadino, I'd have been "down in SB". I'm actually a Pasadena girl currently residing in Santa Barbara. Although, I did live in Riverside for a short while, and have some very good friends who go to the University of Redlands, so I'm pretty familiar with the area.

...and Abhi, sorry, I see the Ph.D. congratulations were premature. But still, congrats on everything so far! :)

17 · Desi Banda on December 19, 2006 2:25 AM · Direct link

For a fleeting moment it felt nice to see someone from the Inland Empire but you've woken me up to the fact that real people (except moi, heh) don't live in this wilderness!

18 · Shruti on December 19, 2006 2:31 AM · Direct link

There are always meetups in SF
for which even i might show up - as long as you decide not to host it in a place that needs me to put on a clean shirt and comb the congealed egg out of my beard.

hairy_d, if we ever end up at the same SF meet-up, you should save some time for grocery shopping with me. I'm not the kind of snob that Manju is, but I'm a food elitist in my own right - in more of a (dare I say?) hippie kind of way. (I don't do sushi, but I have been known to go raw ;) I'll show you where all the local produce and other guilt-free food/grocery is. So. much. produce. So. much. variety. It may be expensive out of season, but nothing ever needs to be frozen in California - not even your beloved OKRA!

19 · Shruti on December 19, 2006 2:36 AM · Direct link

For a fleeting moment it felt nice to see someone from the Inland Empire but you've woken me up to the fact that real people (except moi, heh) don't live in this wilderness!

Awww, real people do live in the Inland Empire (you just don't know because transportation there, public or private, is horrendous, so nobody gets around to going anywhere!). In case you didn't know, there are hella desis at UCR - but be warned that they are the drrrty version of the already drrrty LA desi types. I think they all go there for a UCR-UCLA joint program for pre-meds. Seriousy, go figure :)

20 · Desi Banda on December 19, 2006 2:39 AM · Direct link

Sadly, since I am out of grad school, I don't have any desi friends (other than those from work) here. Most of the people I know are non-desi. Not that I regret it too much but once in a while it's good to hang out with or meet up desi people - the cool type, not "drrrty" (whatever that refers to!).

21 · venu on December 19, 2006 2:45 AM · Direct link

Shruti:

hippie kind of way. (I don't do sushi, but I have been known to go raw

Well, if you are up in SF and like raw/live veggie food, Cafe Gratitude is a good place to check out.

22 · DJ Drrrty Poonjabi on December 19, 2006 3:43 AM · Direct link

once in a while it's good to hang out with or meet up desi people - the cool type, not "drrrty" (whatever that refers to!).

Wouldn't you like to know? @=)
Sadly, you're right: "cool" and "drrrty" are mutually exclusive. Kind of like "George Allen" and "not a douchebag."

23 · Desi Banda on December 19, 2006 5:15 AM · Direct link

Kind of like "George Allen" and "not a douchebag."

Oh, you mean the real macacas!

24 · chick pea on December 19, 2006 7:23 AM · Direct link

abhi:
first of all...super duper congrats... first on finishing...secondly for throwing a meetup... thirdly for enjoying you time in los angeles (with the crappy traffic/smog/cost of living/etc....)...

my only sadness... you will be leaving socal...as i will be returning after my 5 year hiatus or as i like to call it the 'extended sabbatical'...

and miss shruti:

Awww, real people do live in the Inland Empire
I think they all go there for a UCR-UCLA joint program for pre-meds. Seriousy, go figure :)

dude, i grew up in IE...tis home...and yes every brownie that i knew and/or grew up with went to the ucr/ucla med program (not me..)

25 · chick pea on December 19, 2006 7:38 AM · Direct link

I may do an SM hijack and host some meetups-without-a-mutineer in Los Angeles next year.

AWESOMe taz! i am alraedy looking forward to it..
i say we have it at the beach... a bonfire with the brownies..
;)

26 · Sin on December 19, 2006 10:12 AM · Direct link

*timidly raising hand*

Who're the hotties in that centre picture?

27 · indianoguy on December 19, 2006 10:17 AM · Direct link

So many good looking macacas... hmmm

"This is Indianoguy and I approve this message"

28 · siddhartha on December 19, 2006 10:25 AM · Direct link

I second Sin's query @ 26. Details please!

29 · hairy_d on December 19, 2006 10:49 AM · Direct link

shruti sez

hairy_d, if we ever end up at the same SF meet-up, you should save some time for grocery shopping with me.

but of course. thaNK you for the offer and agree with you there. cali has the best fruit. I am so *green* with envy... we dont get the really fresh stuff up here in the frozen wastelands. :-/ but we do have the farmer's markets with much appeal at least to me (hey someone made it by hand instead of a factory) - from soap to pressed metal jewelery to tapenade to artisan cheese - and one doesnt need to wear a clean shirt or comb the egg out of the beard either - not that the last should be a problem for you, but we knew that.

30 · DesiDancer on December 19, 2006 10:53 AM · Direct link

have a safe move, Abhi, and best wishes for the coming months!
xoxo
DD

31 · SemiDesiMasala on December 19, 2006 12:10 PM · Direct link

Do it! Do it! We'll both come, right SemiDesiMasala?

Yes!!!!

32 · LS on December 19, 2006 12:15 PM · Direct link

Abhi, Congrats on getting through the Phd Program. Have a safe move back
to your old "new" home, and best of luck in your pursuits there.

~V.

33 · hairy_d on December 19, 2006 12:19 PM · Direct link

now that i've had my coffee, my head's clearing up - #29 was really me saying that if you happen to be in TO - throw me a shout.

but yea!! 3 pips for sf.

34 · Prasad on December 19, 2006 1:01 PM · Direct link

*also raising hand timidly*

Who is roonie :)

35 · Island Girl on December 19, 2006 1:06 PM · Direct link

I am crushed, CRUSHED, I tell you, that I couldn't come to what would have been my first meetup ever. (couldn't get away for personal reasons). Please don't let this be the last sepia meetup on the west coast! appoint a new la outpost manager! have a meetup in SF!

Couldn't have said it better myself =)

36 · Ani on December 19, 2006 1:54 PM · Direct link

Sin on December 19, 2006 10:12 AM · Direct link *timidly raising hand*
Who're the hotties in that centre picture?

The centre picture of the couple? If that's the one you're referring to that's me and my hunk of a hubby.

37 · Shruti on December 19, 2006 3:57 PM · Direct link

The centre picture of the couple? If that's the one you're referring to that's me and my hunk of a hubby.

Hehe.. too bad for Sin and Siddhartha ;)
But anyway, you two are smokin', so keep on keepin' on, sis.

38 · Shruti on December 19, 2006 3:59 PM · Direct link

and one doesnt need to wear a clean shirt or comb the egg out of the beard either - not that the last should be a problem for you, but we knew that.

d00d, I'm not actually a hippie - I just keep getting mistaken for one!

39 · Maitri on December 19, 2006 4:01 PM · Direct link

Sweet creepin' Jesus, finally some SM board member representation down here in the Drrrty South.

40 · hairy_D on December 19, 2006 5:04 PM · Direct link

d00d, I'm not actually a hippie - I just keep getting mistaken for one!

Vaht??!!! Tarnations!

*pours family-size jar of patchouli oil down the sink*

41 · GauravM on December 19, 2006 5:29 PM · Direct link

where's NY in all of this? :P

42 · tamasha on December 19, 2006 9:47 PM · Direct link

NY is too cool to be bothered with this conversation.

Joking! I swear!

43 · Ami on December 19, 2006 11:59 PM · Direct link

Huzzah! Friday was a blast, it was great seeing regulars and great meeting newbies =)
The LA Sepia Mutiny representation will continue on post-Abhi! Holla!

44 · Yo Dad on December 20, 2006 7:32 AM · Direct link

Abhi: Now that you have found your NIRVANA good luck with NASA and Houston. I am sure Taz and others will carry on the Sepiamutiny meet-up once you leave LA. Drive carefully and have a safe move. Congratulations (in advance) on your PhD. Godspeed !........Love......Dad

45 · Maitri on December 20, 2006 11:19 AM · Direct link

Oh, and good luck defending your thesis, Abhi, my fellow desi geopod!

46 · Emma on December 22, 2006 7:00 PM · Direct link

Wow, the saris and salwar kameezes are GORGEOUS!!!

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