What Do You Call 10 Geeks Sitting Around a Table?

A pretty fine way to spend an afternoon. Thanks again to the The Kid for pulling everyone together. I'm already looking forward to the next Meet!

Plans Are Made

Yesterday did not go as planned. Since we don't really plan for bad days, our common understanding of Plans Not Working Out is that it's a bad thing. And it was - a bad thing.

A belated Christmas gathering needed a last-minute rescheduling because some virus found the perfect receptor in someone's lungs.

A friend's offer of coffee and conversation could not be fixed into the correct space/time continuum.

A visit to the RMT brought pain that would squeeze a tear from even Jack Bauer's eyes (I believe I confessed to the Lindbergh kidnapping at one point).

Pre-exam jitters made for a prickly atmosphere anywhere in the house where textbooks might be present.

Nothing much was working out the way I'd hoped.

So when life hands you lemons, retreat to the basement and find something to do. And since the cat had not figured into the day's disappointments (at least there was no sign of furballs), the new goal for the day was to add some padded levels to the cat-tree and turn this:

Into this:

Geeking Out Is Hard Work

Where do we find the time to be Geeks? After being a Husband, a Father, and a Worker, how do I manage what little time is left for those frivolous things that make me well-rounded and suspicious of sunlight?

I have a giant stack of books waiting to be read. I'm woefully behind on the few comics I collect. I need to re-finish a staircase. There's a cat-tree that needs a renovation. There are too many podcasts. Hours of home video need editing. The media server project mocks me still. Last Summer's fountain project needs some re-imagineering. The workbench has the entrails of some Doctor Who craft-work that may (or may not) ever see the light reflecting off a glass of Who Tavern Rickard's. Facebook sucks time. There are fascinating things on the Internet. The new skylight needs new trim. Video games are poked at in fits and starts. Blogging feels like work anymore. It would be fun to build a wind generator for the pond. Some guy has turned me onto this library thing. My hockey equipment is old. Sometimes there's something good on television. Twitter makes me laugh. I need the nourishment of beverages and good conversation with like-minded souls. I feel like writing some software. I love to read other blogs. And I covet Gord Harrison's workshop.

Time doesn't care, however. He taps my shoulder and points at the couch. "Go there", he says. "Sit with your cat and your book. If you're sleepy, you just close your eyes". And then he laughs.

Am I alone here, or is Time screwing us all?

Are We Not Whores?

One of this trip's Disney souvenirs was a box of noodles and goo. For comparison purposes, the $6 we spent on this box could have bought 4 or 5 boxes of Kraft Dinner. I would never actually do that, of course. Charitably, the pasta does have the vague outline of Mickey's head. Realistically, it tastes like you might expect keepsake-grade mac'n'cheese to taste.

Port Huron Cracker Barrel Is Awesome....

....because you can find TREASURE there!