I have the tendency to be an introvert who fiercely protects her alone time. I’ve been on Twitter since 2008 but only in the last 9 months has Twitter jumped off the screen and started to be a part of my face-to-face life in a prominent way, pushing me out of my solo comfort zone to develop relationships with like-minded people that I actually see and travel with.
Twitter to IRL
Some of the people I would consider to be my best friends now, I originally met via Twitter. Is it the new match.com as some have joked? No.
However, it has led to many “tweetups” that have enriched my life and led to some amazing experiences I might not have otherwise had. The 12 state road trip that I completed in October with Spencer Spellman would likely not have happened without my having met Spencer on Twitter. I could tell a dozen other stories similar to that.
Twitter Friend Date
So while in Michigan for a recent photo shoot, I met Ethan Adeland and we had a food-centered tweetup that really got me thinking how true it is that some things in life are just better when shared. Ethan’s food blog is a wealth of recipes and good stories. We both have a fondness for the show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives so knowing that Michigan has one of the best burger dives ever featured on the show, Ethan drove over from Ontario and we hit up Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger in Ann Arbor.
Of course, we did more than eat our doubles (with fries for me, onion rings for Ethan) but it was that simple joy that brought us together to start. We also enjoyed the Plymouth Ice Festival, shared an Elephant Ear, cooked a Mexican dinner of Cilantro Lime Chicken and did a photo walk out in the snowy wonderland so Ethan could practice with his new dSLR. I enjoyed giving him tips and encourage you to follow along as he continues to perfect the photographs that he uses to illustrate his culinary stories.
2022 update: Ethan now has a pottery business. Follow him on Instagram for updates.
Every place I took Ethan in Michigan, was already familiar to me. Some, more than others. Most, that I’ve been to alone dozens of times during the years I used to live in The Mitten. What I found this weekend, is that all those places are better when experienced with a friend. Like life in general, these places imparted a heightened joy because of the experience of sharing them! 
So be it with a friend you meet on Twitter or a friend you’ve known for 30 years – enjoy life’s experiences with others as often as you can.
Sometimes, life really does just … taste better with friends!
I’m hungry. Translation…. very successful post.
Great post… and so true. I love to share my thoughts (on food, among others) with my friends. That is, as pretty as a place is (or as good as something may taste)… if you can not share it with someone, it’s simply not the same.
I am hungry and want to play in the snow. This speaks both to the fact that I live in a desert city with few grocery stores and to your incredible photographic and narrative talents.
So beautiful…. and delicious! I wish I had your eye when it came to photos!
I’m not sure what I should thank you for first…is it taking me to Blimpy’s or making me look really good whether I’m eating a burger or standing out in the snow or just being a good friend. I think i’ll go with the last one first, but the other two are close behind:)
It was wonderful meeting you this past weekend and you’re right, whether it’s a burger, elephant ear with excessive powdered sugar or guacamole you won’t eat, it tastes better with friends!:)
How fun! I love this post. I have not met up with anyone through social networking…yet! But I have “met” some really cool people as well!
I love all the photos!! Food shots and the outdoor ones 🙂 I’ve met so many people face to face from Twitter. It’s quite weird at first but like you said, I’ve met so many like-minded people and that generally takes years in person. It really is the friend version of Match.com…except for people like Ali 😉
“I have the tendency to really be an introvert who fiercely protects her alone time”
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You took the words right out of my mouth. But by writing the blog and being on Twitter, I get to step out of my bubble and enjoy the company of people , both online and in person. There are some things about the internet that are horrible, but the good things outweigh the bad. Meeting you and Andi on my road trip is proof of that. So glad I took the time to stop and enjoy a nice lunch with you both. I’m looking forward to the next people I get to meet during my travels. I’m still introverted, but it’s getting easier. That’s the “social” part of Social Media 🙂