Geek Girls Unite!

So, uh, hi. It’s me, Aeth, the vertically-challenged (and occasionally vertically-haired) youngest, and only British member of the Geeky Girl group, hailing from just north of Inverness.

I have no idea when I realised I was a geek; I suspect it was a slow realisation. This is something carried in my genes, though, I’m sure of it…right from my grandfather’s Blake’s Seven obsession. I taught myself to read a few words as young as 18mths, and could read the newspapers (and had a good number of books) at 3 years old. At 5, I remember watching, fascinated, as my mum programmed Arkanoid into our Sinclair ZX Spectrum (and on to actually playing the games, I remember waking her up shortly after to get me past Armorog). My book intelligence far surpassed my physical prowess however. My lack of a sense of balance is legendary, and it took me 3 years to learn to ride a bike.

I was also obsessed with the TV from being a kid – late 80s and early 90s, I still believe I had the best of the best! I have a ridiculous memory for it which still continues. I am not ashamed of my collection of obscure UK kids series DVDs. Somehow, I always manage to miss the obvious stuff – I got into Stargate in the 10th season! – in favour of series I love which get cancelled when I‘m horribly involved in the story. Some examples are Jake 2.0, Invasion, and Farscape for which I will never forgive. Never mention PK Wars in my earshot. I actually was briefly nicknamed Aeryn in school, in connection with the long black coat, large black boots and long black braid I wore at the time. I believe the black coat was acquired after The Matrix. It was the first 15-rated film I saw in the cinema. I deny the existence of any spin-offs other than The Animatrix.

Between all the black, and my denial of being a goth, a kid in my sister’s class in school did a project in which he covertly tested whether or not I was a vampire. Results were inconclusive, but the fact that I didn’t drink his blood when he casually placed his hand on mine in the library to ‘check my temperature’ probably places me in favour of the human element.

But yeah, this is my history. My present, well… I share a flat with my immensely cute hamster, Bourbon. My TV unit proudly displays my PS2, Mega Drive and Gamecube in beautiful harmony – current gen be damned. I play keyboard and acoustic guitar, and used to play violin but the thing’s wrecked now. Thanks to the power of the internet, I have a boyfriend in Texas. Work-wise, I have an unfulfilling office job in which I am underappreciated, underpaid and seem to be the informal IT support for half the building. Happy days. Unfortunately, the only solid ambition I have is to eventually perform Weird Al’s The Saga Begins in public, which isn’t much help. Oh, and I drive a Citroen C3 Pluriel, which according to my sister invalidates my entitlement to any opinion on matters of a vehicular nature. Look it up. Even the salesman tried to talk me out of it; but I love it to bits, so whatever. ^_~

So there you go. Bit about me.

In my opinion we are all geeks in our own way. So, how am I a geek?  Well, I started to write a blog initally and realized that I was rambling . . . as I often do . . . so I mentioned it to my boyfriend and he said the following: Moo moos, Supernatural, Twilight, and singing to my iPod in the car. So I thought i could talk a little about each of those to start

Moo moos  . . . now I’m not talking the kind that you wear *shudders* I’d like to think that I dress myself a little bit better than that (on occasion anyways).  My Moo moos are called Mary’s Moo moos, they are little ceramic cows.  I’ve got about 50 or more of them all over my apartment and some that are specific to holidays.  I have a cow theme in my kitchen and the more moo moos that I have collected they have spilled over into my living room and some on my desk at work.  They are absolutely adorable (remind me to post a pic at somepoint) and I have to avoid ebay so that I don’t continue to buy more of them.

Now Supernatural . . . I pity the person who decided to interupt me on Thursday night when there is a new episode on.  My boyfriend knows by now that I am not to be interupted and I will call him once the previews from the next new episode have aired.  I collect issues of Supernatural magazine, and I have trading cards from the first three seasons, as well as the book series and each season on DVD.  I absolutely love Jensen Ackles (*sigh*).

Twilight – where do I begin? I picked up the first two books on a whim one Saturday morning just after my dog, Simba, passed away.  That was the first time in ages that I ever actually stayed at my apartment for a full day without going to my parents house . . . but I digress.  I read the first two books that weekend and fell in love with the series.  And yes if Edward were real and I met him . . . I’d blindly follow him anywhere (lol).  I bought the third and fourth books as soon as I could get my hands on them and read them just as quickly.  I reread the series before the movie came out in theaters and again before it came out on DVD.  I love being able to read something and getting caught up in another world – leaving this one for a while and going somewhere else – I think Stephanie Meyer does that well . . . even if her Vampires sparkle instead of bursting into flames (Tenshi – lol).

Lastly, I cannot sing to save my life!  I still lay in bed sometimes and pretend to sing on a stage.  I get the most enjoyment, however, from singing in my car with my iPod (my car stereo is terrible) with the volume turned up enough so I can’t hear myself.

And for now that’s all I have to say – I have many stories of my klutziness that I can tell next time

~~Rachee~~

Once, in a day thankfully passed, to be known as a Geek or a Nerd was the greatest of insults.

In those days, before the Internet, I was still proud of my Geekyness. Yes I was that odd girl in the corner who knew all the answers, but never spoke to most people.  The books in my arms, everything from Poe to Chaos Math. I did not participate in sports, I was not a member of band, and all I did in Drama class was run the lights because no one else would. I wore glasses, and clothing that wasn’t in fashion (until goth and grunge became fashionable). But I was fine that I did not fit in… who would want to be a sheep in a world of sheep?

But now, Geek is a fashion all it’s own. To be a Geek is an honor, no longer an insult. Geeks have taken over TV, Movies, Music, and of course our haven… the Internet. I fit in. It is an odd feeling to be counted as a group that is socially acceptable and no longer viewed with disdain. Girls in baby-doll shirts proclaim loudly “I heart my Geek”, Leet speak is understood by more teenagers then common English, and video games have become “social activities”.

I don’t know what I think of this change in Geek society… while I find the acceptance… amusing if not a welcome change, the fact is… it’s not the same.

Not to turn into the old woman on the rocker yelling to kids about “back in my day”, but things where different before. The feeling of kinship that you shared with Geeks was something that not only brought people together, but created friendships. Days that wearing a Batman shirt would get you a random nod from someone as you passed, instead of just over looked as yet another person in the latest movie shirt.

These days, to truly stand out as a Geek, one must go above and beyond! No more Batman for me, I instead wear The Black Flash! No more digital watches, now you must wear a binary watch… and be able to read it! No more speaking Klingon…. um OK no that ones safe still. But you get the picture.

My name is Tenshi.

I am an Elder Geek.

I played LoRD on BBS.

I read Lord of The Rings before the movie came out.

I still know what thac0 is.

I saw Star Wars in the theater… the first time.

I programed games in Turtle Graphics!

I am Tenshi Akui… I Geek Therefor I Am.