Today I met the Woolley family for lunch at the Pappadeaux’s Restaurant on Oak Lawn in Dallas.

It was a most pleasant experience. In fact it has been a very long time since I have had such a congenial and pleasant time making the acquaintance of people of such quality. The Woolley family is attractive and bright. Woolley is a top executive for a national company and appears to me to be very good at his job. He is engaging, affable, and has a great command of the language. There was no need for ice-breaking or getting to know each other…we became instant friends.

Mrs. Woolley is probably smarter than both of us but Woolley and I made it difficult for her to inject a word into the conversation.

The one daughter, (he has two) who was with them, is competing in a national volleyball team competition here in Dallas. She is a lovely girl who seems to me to be no less intelligent than her parents. I expressed to them my hope that her team wins the championship.

We avoided the topic of politics, as agreed to prior to the meeting, and the meeting suffered not for the lack. We spoke briefly of the Fray and about our fascination with this Alternate Universe. I told them a little bit about Dallas and directed them to Turtle Creek so they could take a drive through the area.

Again, it was a pleasant experience and I am certainly glad that it came to fruition.

Jack

Oh…..Woolley bought my lunch.

Strange, I always lead off with politics as the icebreaker. Otherwise, there's sort of an elephant in the room, and by discussing it we manage a sort of cynical mode de vivre. But with wife and kid, perhaps your strategy was best.

Good to hear no guns were drawn. Generally found Woolley rational, if a notorious misogynist.

Well, I have a pronounced tendency to start calling people names whenever engaged in heated political discussion. Discretion, as they say, is the better part of valor so I opted for discretion.

I sensed that his wife and daughter were not accustomed to being in the presence of Right Wing Fanatics so I tried very hard not to confirm any suspicions they may have had regarding our inability to remain civil during polite conversation.

They are really nice people, it was a fun time.

Jack

Ps: Misogyny is not necessarily a negative character trait. Knowing Woolley's bent toward misogyny was what convinced me that, even with our political differences, we could most likely be friends.

"Misogyny is not necessarily a negative character trait. Knowing Woolley's bent toward misogyny was what convinced me that, even with our political differences, we could most likely be friends." I assumed as much, as well.

I have made it quite clear on this board, many times, that I am pro-women. I love them so much that I believe every man should have several of them.

WOMEN

(a chauvinist's eye view)

I love women, I've proven that

but I'm really not sure why

They whine and nag and throw things

and, when scolded, they tend to cry

They smell nice, sure, and I like that

but likewise does a horse

Dogs are much more loyal

and flattering too, of course

A dog will always be your friend

and bring the paper for you

But women strive to irritate

and most the time they bore you

They're only happy when they're mad

and it seems they're always sick

And if they're ever nice to you

well, you're certain it's a trick

But a horse cannot cook dinner

and a dog won't sweep the floor

Neither will do the laundry

nor see who's at the door

So I love women, I must repeat

'cause when you've failed to win

They remind you that you're human

and give strength to start again

I love their pretty faces

and eyes that make you weak

The way they walk and the way they talk

soft hands upon your cheek

Women give you confidence

and cheer you when you're blue

They bring love and understanding

and sons and daughters too

Women make a young man older

and give old men back their youth

There is really nothing like them

And that's the honest truth

They make you do more than you could

and they cause the heart to sing

And if I could redesign them

you know I wouldn't change a thing

C 1994 Jack Dallas

Can't be shocked no more by the right.

The left's douchebaggery has left me stunned.

I rather suspect that very nearly all of us, were we to meet for lunch, would (when confronted with the pleasant humanity greeting us) have a similarly pleasant experience.

The board seems to be dying these days, and the days of fraymeets may be over. I'm sorry I never attended one.

Nice post. Thanks for sharing the experience.

Jack's story isn't entirely implausible, just...almost entirely.

As for me, I don't usually feel at home and comfy around non-lepers.

gypsy:

As for me, I don't usually feel at home and comfy around non-lepers.

You'd feel right at home at a fraymeet.

Funny thing is, most of the people who'd object would phrase it the other way. But don't worry - they'd also be the ones staying home.

I always travel with duct tape, myself.

And superglue.

Thanks for sharing the experience.

Will someone please tell this putz to stop scraping his fingernails across the blackboard?

TK:

Having met quite a few of the fraysters, it has been interesting. doodahman and I traveled to the mother of all of them in Philly as hosted by topazz. I believe Demo is still hosting his. I have been to lazy to do one in Chicago as of late and too busy. The tone is always cordial.

Just a few I have met:

persephone, doodahman, scott_too, days, MT, rundeep, head-partier -topazz, urquhart, chango, iso, claude, adorable puppies, demo, thrasy, gingham dog, JHinter, TQM, JackD, robsaidthat, splendid_Irenny, etc.

What is said here stays here and what is done face to face is a whole lot different. We have our beliefs; but, I have yet to see it interfere with being cordial or human to anothe who stands before us.

gypsy wrote the following post at 07/01/2008 1:35 AM: Jack's story isn't entirely implausible, just...almost entirely. As for me, I don't usually feel at home and comfy around non-lepers.

Would you be so kind as to translate your post into English? I don't have a clue what you just said.

Jack

I think most of us know, just from previous interactions, who we could meet in a pleasant circumstance. There are some here whom I would not want to meet and would not even attempt to meet, but they are few.

Jack

It makes so much sense. But then I suppose those so predisposed to this forum that would actually drive to meet one of the more peripheral posters and their family probably are not in the habit of dealing in reality very well ,anyway.

To even imagine Woolley as a top executive in a major firm when he is one of the most immature, petulent people on the fray does require is quite a stretch of anyone's imagination ,to be sure.

That and the fact that he endlessly posts about how he just sent his hero man Obama 'another 100.00' off his credit card. My, my but one would certainly assume a 'top exec. at a Natl. Firm could well afford at least a grand ($1000.00) since he is so dedicated to the New Messiah, Barack Obama.

On that basis alone your story is quite implausible as she said...

As to the 'non-leper' line that's just Gypsys' humor and wit letting you know she really doesn't give a shit for such bullshit and pretense.

(I will say however you got it right in acertaining that Woolley is a misogynist. But, that one was easy.Takes one to know one, as they say)