GEEK!

In addition to being a number in a data base, in real life, I'm an honest to goodness geek. I fix computers. I can set up a wireless network and recommend word processing software. I know how to pull songs off my iPod and how to rip encrypted DVDs.

And I'm a girl.

I've always been a tom-boy. I love sports, which explains the whole becoming a sports writer and sports editor thing. I love to watch sports, play, write about... yeah. I was a jock, but I wasn't a great jock. I was the kid on the college basketball team who got in if we were up big or losing by a ton. I was there because I was supportive and went all out in practice -- knowing that I wouldn't play a lot.

I own dresses, but I don't wear them. I clean up pretty nice and can do the "girlie thing" if needed. The "feminine side" is something shared with a very select few; it's far easier to be one of the guys or the girl gamer.

Yeah, I'm stating the obvious here, at least for the folks who have known me longer than there's been myspace. And there are a couple of you. I bring it up, well, because I know DJ probably needs a blog to read in the morning, and because of the weekend I had.

Saturday... work, game store, Merritt's, movie and some quality time with the man. Finally got him to see "Office Space" -- which does qualify as a geek movie because they work for a tech company. And if you're a cube dweller, there's a certain amount of geekiness that's just there by default.

Sunday... a painting contest at the game store in Nampa. Painting what, you ask? Little pewter miniatures manufactured by Reaper. You supply the primered mini and then you get an hour to paint it. Winner gets $50 in-store credit. Two of my gaming friends were entered, and they get paid to paint minis for other people. They figured one of them would win.

I'm known for painting slow. I take my time with my troop models, characters, big robots (yes, they're called "Warjacks" but it would take too long to explain ). I did pretty well... well enough that I missed first place by a point. Yeah, I should've posted pics of the mini. So not only was I one of two females, but 1) I almost won; 2) I beat my friend Sean, who's really good; 3) I did better than I thought I would; and 4) I've gotten a lot better because I'm painting minis every week. Slowly, mind you.

Monday... at the game store at 11; don't leave until 9:30 p.m. Threw paint on a few characters. Played a league game for Dogs of War and played my challenge board game against Scott in Warmachine. If you understood any of what I just typed, you're a geek too. In the Dogs of War game, I didn't win the scenario, but I killed 2 of Malik's dudes and got my leader 33 XP, which I will use to upgrade his skill set. Malik killed 2 of my guys, but only one has a wound I need to worry about. Against Scott... I lost. Tried a different army list and wasn't prepared for all of the troops he threw at me. Next time, I might bring cavalry and see how his Temple Flame Guard like being run over. And hit by lightning.

Confused? I hope most of you are. Otherwise, there's no hope. You'll have to start hanging with us at the game store on Mondays...

This doesn't even scratch the surface of being a video game geek. I have an Atari 5200 and 7800 in my closet. I have two Rubbermaid bins full of games. I have a Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Sega Master system, Sega Saturn (U.S. and Japanese version), Sega Dreamcast; NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Nintendo DS; PS2 and tons of games for all of those systems. I'm going to buy Phantasy Star Universe when it comes out on Wednesday and reserve copies of WoW: Burning Crusade (collector's edition) and Final Fantasy XII (collector's edition as well). I RESERVE GAMES BECAUSE I WANT THEM ON THE DAY THEY COME OUT. I DO PRE-ORDERS FOR MY LITTLE ARMY MEN AS WELL.

As if that's not enough...

I worked at one of the game stores at the mall. Which led to a job at the Video Game Trading Post (if you're local and you game, get your ass in there... now!). I learned how to take apart just about everything -- GameBoys, NESs, SNES, Genesises (Genesii???), Xboxes... yeah. I can tell you the difference between S-video, composite and component, though I could do that before working retail.

But here's where being a geek paid off: I met Scott at VGTP in 2001 or 2002. He was one of my customers. And when I became single, he's the only person I wanted to go out with. We've been together ever since.

The funny thing about gamer geeks is they're usually male, and they have to convince their wife or girlfriend that gaming is a good thing. Some of them get into gaming... I know of a few wives who have taken an interest. I was the one to introduce the guys to Warmachine, and between the four of us, we have all of the factions represented. People assume Scott's the one who got me into playing; I think we both take a little bit of pleasure telling folks it was the girlfriend who got things started.

I think I had a better ending planned for this, but I'm tired and fighting a migraine. So I guess I'll turn off iTunes, log off Adium, put away my Bluetooth mouse and put my Powerbook to sleep.

And as I'm drifting off to sleep, I know I'll contemplate a new army list for facing Scott and think about the kind of character I want for Phantasy Star Universe. It's tough work being a geek, yo.