Just a Geek

This past Wednesday I believe I may have forever cemented my fate as a geek. To celebrate one of the 10,000,000,000 different Star Wars anniversaries the USPS created 400 R2D2 mailboxes and scattered them throughout the US. When I heard about this I knew that I had to see it there was one near me. I could think of nothing better than having my picture taken with an R2D2 mailbox!



So, this past Wednesday me and a friend set out on a epic journey throughout St. Louis in search of the elusive R2D2 mailbox. It really wasn't as difficult as I make it sound. Someone with WAY more free time than I has taken the time to list out where all the assorted mailboxes were located along with pictures (I love frapper). Turns out there are 4 mailboxes in St. Louis. On Wednesday I visited two of them.


Here are some pictures of the mailbox (and me) that is located in downtown Clayton on Central Ave:



And here is the one on Delmar Blvd. in the St. Louis Loop:



It was drizzling outside and kind of cold (for April) but this adventure was the most fun I've had in while. Go find the R2D2 near you!

My First Love

I have the bug. The sickness. The addiction. The yen, if you will.

And that yen is for, of course, podcasting.

This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. I had fully intended this for this blog to be about all the various things in my life that make me more than a geek (hence the name, Not Just A Geek). But after calling my husband at work squealing with glee that SCOTT SIGLER and TEE MORRIS posted on MY blog he said:

"Babe, maybe you should call this thing 'Just a Geek.'"

At first I was slightly offended. But then I realized that he was right. My blog has become all about my obsession - podcasting.

Which brought me back to: Why don't I create a podcast?

But I've tried it before, very unsuccessfully in fact. But there is something about podcasting that is so alluring. It's like a compulsion. I HAVE to create a podcast. Now I need a topic. Something that will entertain myself and hopefully others for more than one episode. Think, damn me, THINK!!!

Stay tuned . . . .

Feeling Blah

I'm feeling very uninspired as of late. I have a million unfinished craft projects decaying in my bright and shiny new "craft room" that came with my new house. I'd hoped to make this room a place of sanctuary and inspiration, but instead it feels like The Forgotten Realm of the Unfinisheds. All gathered into one place, the Unfinisheds have started to mock me as a group. Their jeers assault me every time I enter that purple room of doom. When I sleep at night I'm haunted by nightmares of being sewed into the bed and stabbed with knitting needles, the Unfinisheds cheering louder with every turn.

I don't know how long I can hold them back. The Unfinisheds get stronger every day. I know if I could finish one project, just one, then the madness would finally stop. I would once again be in control. The Unfinisheds would fear me and know that their fate lies in my crafty hands.

The question is . . . which one do I dare finish?

The Game that Sucked My Life Away

And of course, I'm talking about World of Warcraft.

I just recently jumped on the WoW bandwagon with some hesitancy. I didn't want to become one of those geeks (you know what I mean). I'd heard all about Leeeeeeeeeroy Jennnnnkins and people who'd lost whole days to the addicting drug that is WoW and I just really didn't want to join their ranks. But slowly, like a thief in the night, WoW crept its way into my life. First infecting my friends, and then my husband.

I tried hard to resist. Many evenings I found myself sitting in the living room all alone with nothing but crocheting to keep me company while the sounds of Nate and my friends freebasing WoW drifted out of our computer room. I don't remember much from my first time - everyone was there and I just didn't want to feel left out anymore. I figured I could just play when everyone else was - no more no less. I didn't even notice as the game's slimy tentacles reached into my brain pulling me further and further into it murky depths.

Soon every bit of spare time was spent playing. I was starting to resent work, more than usual, for taking me away from the game. I found myself speaking a strange language that included words such as: aggro, crit, pally, grind, buff, tank. And I even contemplated a special keyboard arranged especially for maximum game playing efficiency. I was sick. And I needed help.

Help came in the form of moving. I have been without internet (except for at work) for four days now and I can already feel the tentacles starting to loosen their grip on my soul. It's been a rough road, but I think I'm suffering through adversity quite well. The evil man with the DSL comes on Thursday and I wonder if I'm strong to resist the pull of WoW? Or am I already a lost cause?

Is anyone out there?

I originally started this blog not really caring if anyone read it or not. It was just going to be my musings on life and geekery, which it still is, but somewhere along the way I decided that I actually wanted people to read what I have to say. No more hiding in the closet of lousy self-esteem! I enjoy writing this blog and I want other to enjoy reading it.

As far as I know, the only person enjoying it is my mom (HI MOM!). Aren't moms great? They'll pick you up when you fall down, they'll tell you aren't fat when your jeans don't fit, and they'll faithfully read your blog. My mom even went so far to bring me a submission for Chocolate of Week (which will be making a triumphant return). Now, I love my mom and I'm glad she's reading my blog, but I hope to gain a wider audience.

Which brings me to: How does one gain an audience for a blog?

I've wracked my brain for the answer to this query and the only feasible solution is: Word of Mouth.

That's right. My blog success depends on you, the dutiful reader (no pressure, Mom). Tell you're friends about my blog, link me on your blog, myspace, or website (let me know you did and I'll link you too), chat about my witticisms at the office water cooler, and above all else - please comment on the blog or email to let me you're out there.

Enough shameless pandering for one day. :-)

More podcast novel goodness!

While I'm pimping podcast novels, I would remiss if I did not mention the godfather of podcast novels, Scott Sigler. Scott Sigler is the master of sci-fi horror. He has, to date, released four novels into the podisphere: Earthcore, Ancestor, Infection, and currently The Rookie. Scott is famed with having the first podcast novel and has just recently gotten Earthcore and Ancestor into print (available from amazon, of course). Scott can weave an amazing tale. He has dubbed his listeners "junkies" because every episode leaves us wanting more like a crackhead looking for a fix.

Now I must be honest and say that sci-fi and horror are not my favorite genres. If I'm going to buy a book, it's usually romance, or fantasy, or some manner of non-fiction. But after hearing so many people rave about Scott's books on many different podcasts I simply had to check it out. And I was not disappointed. Scott has a way of telling a story that demands you pay attention. He is a force to be reckoned with. Scott Sigler is so entertaining as a person, I would probably listen to him read the phone book - it's just a bonus that he can tell such an amazing story.

You can find all the juicy goodness on Scott Sigler and his many novels here.

Best podcast novel EVER!!

Of course I'm talking about J.C. Hutchins's trilogy 7th Son. J.C. is a master story teller and a great guy (I know first hand from exchanging a few emails with him). He started releasing the 7th Son novels in a serialized format last year with Book One: Descent and has just wrapped up Book Two: Deceit. This series literally kicks my ass!! At the end of every week's installment I find myself yelling at my iPod, "That's it?!?!?!? Don't end there!!!"



7th Son is an action packed thriller about seven clones who have to track down the person they were cloned from, the "Alpha," and stop him from hatching an insanely clever and evil plot to throw the planet into chaos and destruction. I was dubious at first - clones? But when I heard the bone chilling prologue I was officially hooked.

One of my favorite parts about 7th Son, and the podcast novel genre in general, is that the authors themselves are the ones reading the story. You are hearing it exactly as the author intended it to be. You also get the opportunity to get to know the author in a way that doesn't exist with regularly published novels. Like I mentioned in my previous post, the podcast community is a family and as such the listeners have the opportunity to email or leave voicemail for the author. Not only do I get to hear a great story, but I get to know great creative people behind it, too.

I highly recommend the 7th Son novels which you can find here. I can't say enough good things about them and about J.C. Hutchins himself. These books will have you tightly gripping your iPod in anticipation of each and every episode.

Life, Death, and Podcasting

Most people who know me well know that I am a podcast . . . I guess the world fanatic would be an accurate term. I started this blog simply because I had a desire to share my thoughts with the world but am too chicken sh*t to podcast. I listen to many many podcasts and most of them are connected in one way or another. Podcasters have created this family, or sorts, and they all share promos, guest spots, and just general pimping of each one's stuff. After listening to these people for two years I feel as if I know them personally and they are my friends. I realize that sounds kind of insane and you may be thinking that I need to get out more - but there is something about listening to people share their lives, their art, their best selves with you every week. You cannot help but feel connected to them. That was one of the main reasons why I wanted to start a podcast of my own - I wanted to be an "official" part of this amazing family.

I'm waxing poetic today because the podcast family lost a dear friend, Joe Murphy. Joe participated in many different podcasts including: Slice of Sci-fi, Michael and Evo's Wingin' It, The Kick-Ass Mystic Ninjas and more. He was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, which is a very serious, radiation and chemotherapy resistant kind of cancer. He was diagnosed four months ago and died on April 1. A very short period of time in which to lose a man who was far too young.

Some members of the Farpoint Media family put together a tribute show in Joe's honor. It was very well done and had me laughing and crying at the same time. You can listen to it here. I also highly recommend going and listening to archived episodes of the shows I mentioned above and getting to know Joe Murphy. You'll be glad you did.

A memorial fund as been set up to help defray the costs involved with Joe's care and additional donations will be directed to Leiomyosarcoma research. Please visit that site and give generously.

Joe Murphy Memorial Fund