Geeky HNT and a Confession

T4lk Nerdy 2 Me, B4by*

Woo hoo! Look at me, all prepared-like and even EARLY for HNT! Did you notice my geeky tan? Yeah, I totally planned that just for this HNT. The price I pay for my art, as it were. ;-)


Today I signed up for the library summer reading program because I'm a geek I'll get a free book and because there may also be some cool prizes. The only prize I actually know about is the Grand Prize. Have you ever signed up for something hoping NOT to get the Grand Prize? The Grand Prize is a free one-hour massage at a local salon/spa. (OK, that's not really it.) Uh, yeah. Strangers touching my (partially clothed? unclothed??) body? I don't THINK so! Plus, I went there for a haircut once because GuTter MuNKi thought it would be a good experience for me. It was a nice place and all - very swanky - but mostly I just felt really out of place sitting there while the b!tch3s all snarked at each other about their coworker's boob job. But I want my free book, so I'm willing to risk it. Plus, I'm hoping that if I end up with it they won't put my name on the certificate and I can give it to someone else.

"Why are you so worried about getting the Grand Prize?" you ask. "I mean, like, what are the odds??" Well, they're good. Too good. Like 1 in 7 or something. It's a small library and hardly any other geeks adults sign up for the reading program. :-P But I want my free book!! It's so. . . free! Who can resist? Not me, in spite of the inherent danger. Besides, having a Grand Prize kind of implies that there are lesser prizes, doesn't it? I'm just hoping that they aren't things like "Free Entry into the XXXX Bar's Next Wet T-Shirt Contest" or "Free Phrenological Interpretation" or "Free Freaky the Clown Appearance at Your Next Party" (I was gonna link to a clown picture there, but they all made me feel rather queasy.)

I signed the kids up for the kid program, too. They all get a free book as well. You know what that means? 5 free books! See how profitable it can be to have a "large" family? I should sign GuTter MuNKi up, too, come to think of it. But you know, the kids only have to read 10 hours by the end of July. That's not very much. Don't you think it should be more? What does it say about people's general expectations of children's reading when 10 hours in 2 months is considered a challenge? :-/

As usual, I was asked what grade the kids were in when we signed up. Had I known when we went that we'd be signing up, maybe I'd have had an answer prepared, but I didn't (squared.) I always feel like an idiot when that happens, but it happens so seldom that I never think to come up with something. My kids aren't in any specific grades, per se. We just do what interests and challenges them. Maybe next time I'll just throw out some random numbers. *shrugs*

There was another family at the library today who were most likely homeschoolers as well. Did I talk to them? I did not. Confession: to tell the truth, I'm a chicken about meeting new people. Usually. Yes, I'm shy. Can you believe that? Most people can't. I'm incredibly phone shy, too (otherwise I'd totally Skype you, Poly.) I can call my mom, my sis or John. Oh, and oddly enough, I'm able to chat with sis's SO with NO problems. That kinda shocked me. I have one friend I can call without any angst, but other than that - even friends I see and talk to all the time at TKD - I'm angst-riddled if I need to call someone for some reason. Am I calling at a bad time? Am I interrupting or bothering them? What the heck am I going to say? So I kinda rehearse it in my head, but I get a few variations going and then it all comes out too fast and all mixed up and, and -- *dies* If it's someone I know pretty well, once I get talking I'm usually OK. I dunno, most of my reasons are really quite stupid, but even though I know this, I'm still phone shy. :-P Yet I can chat people up in Gmail chat windows like nobody's business. "Why is that Captain Ron?" *shrugs* "No one knows!"

*this photo made possible by Fal oops, I mean Fal (who first linked me to J!nx) and GuTter MuNKi (who bought me the pants for my b-day) So if you liked it, you have them to thank. :-)