Is it because I’ve been obsessing about an Xbox 360 (when in reality, I’ll only play one game)?
Is it because I’ve been dealing with a full personal life?
Is it because my laptop bit the dust?
Is it because I’ve been saving up all my blog energy/creativity to post a obvious “I Want” Christmas List?
Is it because I got a new pinball machine?
The answer is no, no, no, yes, no.
In reality, I don’t know what’s going on, or why I’ve been so lax.
But, if you want a look into my psyche or are after a nerd of your own, you might want to read this little article by Rands in Repose called The Nerd Handbook. He describes very much what I feel myself to be like. Even more when he mentions the Nerd Cave.
I’ll admit it, I have a Nerd Cave. I’ll admit it, because everyone else will tell me that I have one after they read the article.
And family members have been recipients of “The Snap”.
Today is day two. Day one consisted of me working to get out of bed and then packing. As a lot of you know, it takes a lot for me to pack, because, well, I pack everything.
Yes. I really am a freak of nature. I’ve had family and friends tell me this. After getting all the junk packed, I proceeded to hit the road. Seven hours later, I made it to the Parents house. Soon I was seeing grandparents, cousins and uncles. It was a good time, and I particularly enjoyed confusing a little cousin of mine.
Now comes the drive to the mission grounds.
To address some comments. Momma Moore: Not enough time, but next time up here, I won’t ignore ya’ll. To everyone else, thanks.
Oh, and while everyone else in the world was in line to get a Harry Potter book (So, those of you have read Deathly Hallows already, is it worth it?). I was at my parents reading blogs and found “Hung up” by Madonna (via The Voice of Reason). It’s catchy, its dance centric, and Madonna. So be aware if you watch the video that there are things you might object to in the video(I do want that boom box).
My Mother in Law, who is respectably middle class, will die in debt and the worst part is she rarely buys anything for herself. Every Christmas we go over to her house bundled up in sweaters and jackets, swathed in a layer of blankets because she can’t afford to turn the heat up. But everyone will be plowed with the presents that she couldn’t control the impulse to buy.
My point here is not that the heat isn’t turned up (because those of you who have been to my apartment, know that when you open the door to come in, you are indeed cooling down the outside), but that “she couldn’t control the impulse to buy.”.
In the blog, it talks about how some of the College students this person talks to spend $200 on jeans. The author then goes on to say, that even though the wealthy may buy $200 on jeans, they would only spend a days worth of income, rather than the two weeks it takes the college students.
Those of you who know me, know that while I’ve become more generious with my money, I am still pretty tight when it comes to money. I think I have my parents to thank for that, especially my mom. Her example growing up of attempting to stretch her money as far as it could go was a unconsious example of what I want to do. For that I am forever in her debt. She taught me a very good principle.
So lets be straight, Credit/Loans/etc scare the snot out of me. I avoid it at all costs. I just have one credit card and that’s for car rentals. Every paycheck I throw a percentage into my 401k fund. I buy stock, I am looking out for my future. I don’t want to be crushed under fiscal debt. The author then says
Is anything that you own worth living paycheck to paycheck for? Is the extra square footage and the swimming pool and the new car worth it knowing that something as little as a traffic ticket can screw you up for the month? Is a playroom full of toys for the kids necessary when all you’re doing is teaching them that mindless consumer excess is not only normal, but the key to happiness?
You know what makes me happy? Not being a slave to the things I want to buy. But hey, that’s just me. I also plan to retire early and I feel that I’ll be pretty alone in that endeavor unless I can convince a few now to come with me later.
Like the author, I’d like to have some people retiring with me. Driving around in RVs (my secret, or not so secret desire) when they get old. I once heard the wise words “Those are those who understand interest and those who pay it”. For those of you who are part of my Christmas circle. If you don’t have the resources, just give me a big hug, because I’d rather have those who I love not be under the crushing weight of consumer debt than get a little trinket.
Because this Holiday is about the people, not about the trinkets or gifts.
How does that refrain go “A little bit louder and a little bit worse”?
More Geeks. On Tuesday I managed to go to a few classes on Data Center Design. There was a lot of good info to be picked up there, then I attended a class on security. Following that I went to a class on taking a test called the CCNA. Now for those of you who aren’t geeks, and don’t have a geek family member, know this one thing, we are facinated with acronyms.
www
ftp
tftp
http
abc
IP
BIOS
RAM
CD
DVD
ROFTL
IANALIPT
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPEALIDOCIOUS
Yeah, we like taking long words and shortening them down. I can’t explain way, except that we may be way lazy, or most geeks are guys and we hate to talk, so we try to make talking as fast as possible. Imagine a conversation that went
“Need WWW/IM/VOIP ASAP on CPU ”
Man-minimal talk Heaven. I’m just surprised it hasn’t made it into the domestic market.
“WF food ASAP, <3″
…… Anyways…….Where was I?
Oh yes, I was in the class (for the CCNA - Cisc Certified Network Associate) and I realised that I hate taking tests, and now I am freaking out about it.
So I went and ate a Lobster the size of my head at Ceasars Palace, and now that I am full of crustation and butter I think I’m going to go study. One thing that is distracting is all the women in these parts. I’ll leave it at that.
Tommarow, after the training, it’s time for me to go to the pinball hall of fame!
P.S. The Ceasar Palace Forums really need GPS locators. I was lost for 30 minutes in there, thankfully I didn’t get lost in any shops.
I’m actually at a hard core Nerd Technical conference.
These are the people who talk 1s and 0s. At home, I feel like I’m the Alpha Geek most of the time. I collect the gadgets, I attempt to cultivate the better than you attitude, and most of all I attempt to be as introverted as possible.
Well, I’m not even the Gamma Geek (Good name for a Rock Band) here. There are so many bluetooth headset wearing, stereotypical geeks (many beards, too many gadgets (never thought I’d utter those words)). Throw in a few people who don’t understand hygiene and keeping gas in, and you have my past two days.
Oh, and don’t forget the extremely skinny refreshments guardian. Couldn’t munch on that cookie till 3:00 please!
I am digging the Techincal parts, learning alot. The other good part is the tradeshow floor. For those of you who don’t know this “scene” there are vendors who attempt to get your attention. weither this be through trinkets (Also known as “Schwag”) or through booth babes Managers it is always a good time, and alas, I have a few more T-shirts.
Last night was a entrance into one of the seven deadly sins, Gluttony. They fed us all kinds of food (I think I downed, oh, about $120 worth of Sushi. I was in Sushi heaven. Sweet. Sweet Sushi). Then stuffed us with more food to top that off. We then got our trinkets, and I went to the apartment to wallow in my fullness.
I’m not going to be liking the scale when I get home.
That being figuritively, because as those who know me, I no likey airplanes.
So I’m in Las Vegas right now, and it’s oh, the temp of, oh, the surface of the Sun.
Because it’s not quite as hot as the inside of the Sun.
But only by a small, little, bit.
I’m right across from the Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas with all the look of a Bravarian castle. I’m sure if I wanted to I could get all kinds of schnitzel and kraut. I’m just unsure if I’d be required to drink one of those mega-cups-o-beer or dance some polka.
So I’m staying safe for right now, and going to find me the local In-N-Out hamburger.
Edit
I lied. After talking with my sister, who happened to go on a mission to Germany, I ended up wandering into the beer hall where I was assualted with polka music, pretzels, and girls in skimpy bavarian dress.
So, it didn’t turn out that way, and I got some Juagerschnitzel (Julie, go ahead and correct me).
Still hungering for a greesed up In-N-Out double double animal style though. I need that greese pit in mey Belly!
So I did a little road trip to Spokane. In a stopover at the Hogle Zoo, I found the rare yellow CAT in one of the habitats.
It’s very secretive. Very few people ever see one of these babies out in the wild.
So then I got on the road.
And Drove.
And Drove.
And then Drove Some more.
Good thing about this all. I’ve ordered a Flash for my Camera, because I’ve found that apparently Spokane doesn’t believe in the Sun.
Where was I?
Oh yes.
Driving.
So, whilst listening to the static filled voices of talk radio, I made my way through Idaho, and then into Montana.
Now the guy in this photo. He was more bored than I.
I just resorted to talk radio (Oh, did I learn about the hot topic of immigration reform that day). This guy, well he was watching a DVD.
What was it? How far was he? Isn’t the steering wheel the most dangerous place to put the DVD player?
All questions inquiring minds want to know.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep him going on a steady speed, so that this inquiring mind could know.
And uh, please ignore the fact that this photo was taken. Since I’m pretty sure I was paying full attention to the road.
The other thing I noticed were *plenty* of old American buildings.
Along the way, I made a mis-calculation and was running low on fuel.
Now, I had figured on gassing up in the middle of nowhere. Alas, this was not to be, and i had to find the city that the middle of nowhere didn’t want to settle in.
And this just *happened* to be where the old state prison is.
Or it could be the new. I couldn’t quite tell. Or, you know, since this is Montana, they could have just shipped a castle in from Europe. Not quite sure.
Finally, I made it out of Montana, back into Idaho, and through some passes, and got into Spokane.
Where there’s way to much overcast, and I think the trees are out to get me.
