THE SPEAK EASY

written by mamashaggy:
The Speak Easy started as an offshoot of the SSDD Bar. In December of 2003, Scuba Steve had to serve our country in the Navy and left the Bar he had created in the hands of the BAC. Foremost in the duties of opening and closing the bar, was a former dreamer who left the message board entirely. MamaShaggy took on the bartending duties for a while, and the popularity of the Bar grew, especially among some of the newer Dreamers.

Then some of the BAC members got together and decided that Scuba Steve had left the Bar in their care, and they decided to re-open the bar thread and make it focus on the kind of things their friend had intended for it. This led to some confusion for a while, but Dashley helped ease the tension by suggesting to MamaShaggy in a Personal Topic that she could open up a new establishment. MamaShaggy decided to follow Dashley's suggestion, and the Speak Easy was born.

The first Speak Easy was located beneath the DH04, and featured a cozy fireplace, a jacuzzi, unusual bathrooms, and a pool room. Another Dreamer, trh, came up with the links to the various accomodations, and it became a very popular place for Dreamers, old and new, to hang out and have fun.

The Speak Easy's favorite drinks back then were DAMREDGATORALE(an actual beer brewed by Brew Babe, another Dreamer), Flaming DPs, tequila, Captain Morgan Rum, and margaritas. Of these, the perennial favorite is the margarita, which is now served night and day from an industrial-strength virtual blender.

Many of the SE Dreamers partake of virtual drinks, but, ironically, they do not drink in real life. It is but one example of the way the Speak Easy patrons escape their normal selves and don a virtual personna. Another is pole dancing, which is a lot of fun and intended to be more imaginative than seductive.

However, by far the best form of escapism in the SE is the Posse Ride. Speak Easy patrons have been all over the United States on Posse Rides. Posse riders have "rescued" people from unfair situations at work, faught against real-life childhood terror with humorous imaginative play, and faught against the elements when hurricanes ravaged the southeast. And, of course, the Posse riders led the SE move from the St. Mary's DH04 to Lake Tyler's DH05.

The patrons have also helped out each other emotionally. Dreamers have helped other Dreamers get through divorce, death, illness, and anxiety by giving the best gift they can; the gift of their friendship. This friendship has extended into the real world as well. For instance, when hurricane's ravaged BeachLady's hometown forcing her to evacuate, WitchWriter took her in at her place further north.

The Speak Easy has become a place where people from all walks of life and regions can get together in friendship, brought together by a love of HGTV's DH and the magic of the message board. All are welcome to come and play with us, but please play nicely or Duffy will have to blend ya like she did with the leprechauns last year