During my current road trip I’ve met and broken bread with several members of the effete, latte-drinkin’, Volvo-drivin’, cheese-eatin’ Atlantic coastal Liberal community. I thought it was about time to mention some of the fine souls that I have had the honor and privilege of sharing table time with.

On Wednesday a week ago I met with Ranger Jim and his faithful amanuensis, the charming Lisa. You have to understand right up front that Jim comes from the snake-eater community and therefore is a man of firm convictions, strict mental discipline and, yes, unusual eating habits. Notwithstanding that he as a wry sense of wit, a burning desire to right the wrongs America has suffered over the last six years, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the processes with which the Veterans Administration mishandles our nation’s ex-servicemen.

Lisa is a very attractive and well-read lady of an uncertain age. While Ranger Jim, like Yr Obdt Srvnt, is old and grey and grizzled, the charming Lisa is young and fair of skin with dark curly locks and flashing eyes. Yes, decidedly babe-ish, if you get my drift and I think you do. She’s known Ranger Jim for several years now, and spends a significant amount of energy and effort translating his ideas and writings into English. Well, you know, he’s Infantry. She also is the person responsible for selecting many of the apt song lyric bites and literary references that illustrate his articles.

I also earned that he still has his Bo Randall Striker knife, which he showed me when I tried to take a photo of him and the always delightful Lisa, at which point I slowly and carefully put away the camera. Did I mention that Ranger Jim is a man of mystery? All kidding aside, he’s quite a conversationalist and time reading his work is well-spent.

I had a terrific time, thoroughly enjoyed myself, and am looking forward to a rematch in the future, just as soon as I can. Thank you, Jim and Lisa, for the experience

Last Wednesday I had lunch with WK Maier, a loyal reader and frequent commenter of the blogs maintained by our effete community. WK is a very perceptive man, with striking convictions about the “wrongness” of our country’s foreign and domestic policies over the last few years. He’s well-traveled, and having seen how things are done in other, more civilized countries has some really interesting ideas about what needs to be done to straighten things out. He knows Canada about as well as Sgt Preston, and I found that like me, he realizes that European countries have a better way of life than the corporate oppression that is a feature rather than a bug in America these days.

He as a fascinating job: obtaining grants to finance sensible programs that will help people. I know helping people is a peculiar concept in George Bu$h’s streamlined 21st century America, but there you go.

A quiet man with an engaging, open smile and quick laugh, WK knows a lot more jokes than you would believe, and many of them are clean. He also knows a couple of jim-dandy lunch spots. WK, you’re a gentleman and it was a pleasure meeting you.

Yesterday I trekked out to the wilds of Lawn Guylan to meet Fixer from the Alternate Brain and his better three-quarters, the amazingly vivacious and patient Mrs Fixer. We had a heck of a meal at a place they must frequent often because the headwaiter there jumped with joy when he saw them. My first thought was that they must be silent partners, but then I realized it had to have been Mrs Fixer because she carries an air of class and good humor with her wherever she goes.

Fixer has good taste. Mrs Fixer, not quite so much but then there’s just no accounting in matters of the heart, is there? As related on the Brain, we had a wide-ranging conversation, and a good time was had by all. As you can tell from the photo, Fixer cleans up real nice, and I’m either a mouth-breather, or talk entirely too much.

It was a delight meeting Fixer and Mrs F. They’re both class acts.