Happy Birthday, Grandma

Four generations: myself, mom, G-ma and Emily, 1999

Today my grandma turns 95.

95.

Just let that sink in for a few.

She was born in 1919. To put that in perspective, here are some facts that year:

• Prohibition begins
• The League of Nations is founded
• UPS is formed
• Mussolini creates the Fascist Party in Italy
• US air passenger service begins
• First transatlantic flight
• Pop-up toaster patented
• Treaty of Versailles signed
• NY Daily News begins publication
• "Gasoline Alley" and "Barney Google" comics premiere
• RCA is created
• The average house cost $7,385 ($93,402 in today's money), and a car cost $525 ($6,640 today) 

Basically, my grandma was born so long ago that this world was basically another planet altogether.

My grandma taught me how to play pinochle, Monopoly, Life, Careers, Scrabble, Rummikub and dozens of other games. She instilled a love of games in me. My grandma bought me my first Big Mac.* My grandma taught me how to clean a room quickly and efficiently (her part-time evening job was to clean the local bank ... I always thought it felt super-cool and a little illicit to be in a bank after-hours). My grandma told the best bedtime stories ever. She'd make up endless tales of silliness and adventure and would custom-tailor them to whatever we told her we wanted to hear, improv-comedy style. My grandma introduced me to Swedish food and Tummetott.**She taught me how to bowl and sort of compensate for the vicious hook I have.

My mental image of my grandma is of a shorter-than-average, pleasantly-plump woman with kindly ice-blue eyes and dark set-and-styled curls. She was generally soft-spoken, but with a ready laugh and plenty of cheek when she needed it. On a Pittsburgh Pirates spring training vacation to Florida one year, she wanted to meet the team's then-manager Chuck Tanner. As the team loaded onto the bus and Mr. Tanner was just closing the door, she hollered, "Hey, Chuck!" He came back off the bus and chatted with my grandparents and signed autographs. My grandpa used to call her "Hat" for the over-sized gardening hat she used to wear in the yard.

Though I grew up only twenty minutes from my grandparents, in Northwestern PA, my grandma has lived for some time now in a nursing home in Texas. I only see her once every three or four years. She still watches baseball several nights a week in season, does crossword puzzles and calls her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on their birthdays. Every year on my birthday she tells me how thrilled she was to meet me when I was born (I'm privileged to be the first grandchild on that side). She's always treated me like a completely special, treasured person and I've always felt the same about her.

She's an amazing lady and I hope I get back down to visit her soon.

Happy birthday, G-ma! I love you and miss you every day.

*Chris and I lied and said that our mom bought them for us all the time. I'm fairly certain she knew the truth.
**The Swedish "This little piggy" game, but played with fingers instead of toes.

Comfortably Homeless

Email, text, etc and I'll send along our new address.

Our home-buying/home-selling deal has been a bit of a roller coaster.

First, I found our dream home, but we weren't even in the market to buy. And the house cost too much, anyway. Then they dropped the price a couple of times and we went to see it. Fell in love. Then we put our house on the market after a stressful week of packing, painting minor repairs, and surgery (for me, not the house). Seven showings and four offers later, we had a deal. Then there were some rather stressful home inspection issues with the house we are buying. Then there were some minor home inspection issues with our house. Then the major set-back of a septic failure. Then termite damage. Our April 18 settlement date loomed ever nearer, and at our agent's urging, I worked and scrambled and called and Joe met with contractors and negotiated bids. Last Tuesday we found out that a Friday closing wasn't happening. We tried for Monday. On Thursday we found out Monday wasn't possible, either.

At this point we were told that Closing would be on Tuesday and that our buyers were "this close" to pulling out of the deal because of their stress and frustration.

Hello?!

We'd done EVERYTHING they'd asked. The refused to chip in on the $12K septic repairs. They refused to even renegotiate the deal in any way.

Well, you know what? We couldn't close on Tuesday. Joe is unavailable all day. (but no one had checked that with us) So, we scrambled again and tried to make it work. Mid-way through this scrambling, on Friday morning, our agent informs us that the only day our buyers are available is actually Wednesday. So ... not Tuesday, then, right?

Wednesday is one of those ships-that-pass-in-the-night sorts of days for us. We barely see each other long enough to kiss good-night. So more scrambling ... this time to complete a limited Power of Attorney so I can sign for Joe on all the home-selling and home-buying paperwork. The "upside" through this is that our dream house will be available for us to move things into on Monday.

At this point on Friday I'd made eleventy-nine phone calls, about half of which were to or from my parents. They decide it's time to pull the plug and begin driving from their home near Erie, PA -- nine hours away. I've also secured a handful of loading and unloading volunteers and reserved two UHaul trucks.

Yesterday we picked up the trucks as scheduled and loaded them with almost everything from the house. (Thanks and love to MJ Atkinson, John Dugan and Brad Marcus!) Today we loaded our mattresses and a few other final boxes onto the trucks and moved into a hotel for a few nights, hence the Title.* Tomorrow we unload everything at the new house (and it's my birthday). At last. Tuesday we clean the old house and veg a bit (Joe has to go back to work after Easter break). Wednesday, I go back to work, too**, and the buyers walk through our old house. I then go to sign papers to grant us ownership and occupancy of the new house. Joe will meet us there when he gets out of work. We unpack and settle in for as long as it takes after that.

I'm tired. And I have a headache. But the end is (somewhat more) in sight.

Stay tuned for an epic Housewarming Party to come as soon as possible. I promise.



*We're all comfortably homeless, except for Joe ... he's staying at the house with dogs, cat and trucks, and our soon-to-arrive-from-PA friend, Brian. In a house without furniture, save for one twin mattress on the floor.

**Thank you, Snow Days.....this was to have been a week-plus long spring break and I was going to have everything pretty settled in that time.

Climate Change

I am not a climate change scientist, nor do I play one on TV.

However, I'm concerned. According to many sources*, we are rapidly approaching the climatic point-of-no-return. Some estimates say my kids' generation will suffer significantly, some put it off until my grandchildren's prime years.

Most experts agree that weather will become increasingly erratic and violent, animal species will die out and or migrate significantly to compensate for environmental changes, tropical diseases will spread further into previously-temperate latitudes, already-overtapped-fossil fuels reserves will be exhausted at increasingly rapid speeds as we attempt to compensate with climate control in our homes and businesses. Pretty much everyone who seems to know what they're talking about agrees that our lives, routines, comfort, food supplies as we've come to know them are going to change for the worse.

And it will be worse even faster for the poor of the planet.

Please don't misunderstand me ... this is not the world coming to an end. On the contrary, the world will be just damn fine, thankyouverymuch. It is us who will suffer. Animal and plant species will evolve, die off, adapt. We will have to do the same. Period.

We are, as a species, relatively helpless without shelter. We don't adjust well to changes in our environment. Instead, we use our massive brains and opposable thumbs to adapt our environment to suit our narrow criteria of comfort. Where there's a will, there's a way, and all that.

Until the environment becomes simply too extreme for us to continue compensating. Until our financial resources are exhausted with no end to rising seas, rising temperatures, and extreme weather systems in sight. Our food resources will become increasingly scarce. We will run out of options.

According to numerous scientific sources (I heard it from Niel deGrasse Tyson), but this quote is from the British Natural History Museum "More than 99% of all species that have ever lived on Earth are now extinct. The vast majority (over 95%) died out because they couldn’t compete successfully for food or other resources. Or they failed to adapt to changes in their local environment over tens or even hundreds of millions of years."

The planet will be just damn fine. We don't need to worry about the end of the world. The only thing we have to fear is that our own complacency and the lack of action on a national and global scale by our leaders ... will lead to our own extinction.

That's all.

--End--

PS: Climate change can be slowed, stopped and/or reversed if enough people care. Every individual counts. Your habits make a difference. Even more so, the leaders you select can make a difference on a regional or national level ... so choose wisely and communicate the importance of this issues (one might argue the importance of this issue over any other issues). We may differ politically or philosophically on a variety of issues, but saving our species from extinction and choosing the "greenest" leadership we can seems like a pretty no-brainer thing to do.

* See the latest report from the UN Climate Change Working Group, here. If you look at the PDF, scroll through to the nifty and easy-to-grasp graphics and tables at the end.

Here Comes the Sun

And ... thank God. Literally. I thank God for ending the rain, the snow, the sleet.

I have mild self-diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's hardly debilitating, but I'm feeling it. I'm really feeling it.

Don't get me wrong -- winter is my favorite season. I adore snowy days, and hot chocolate and sweaters. But, I've really come to love the South Jersey version of spring. Winter fades slowly where I grew up and where I went to college. Snow and slush and endless, endless mud and rain hang on for weeks. I'd rarely enjoyed Easter of my April birthday, weather-wise, at least until I moved to South Jersey.

Here, generally speaking, winter ends and spring begins. The days lengthen and it's warm enough on the commute home to put the windows down or open the sunroof. Trees bloom and bulbs sprout up. My substantially-wooded yard is pleasantly floral in the spring. I've planted daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths and tulips. My neighbors have forsythia, dogwoods, magnolias. Usually by Emily's March 24th birthday, we're well along the spring-bulb-path-of-hope-springs-eternal.

But this year, it's all terribly late coming. And it's been terribly wet and cold going. And I'm really feeling it.

(granted, the stress of work observations, converting to a new form of state standardized testing, fixing up a house to sell, slogging through the process of replacing/repairing large hunks of our septic system, packing (and more packing) are seriously not helping my mood, stress levels, energy)

Here's to a pleasant, sunny spring ... quick and simple repairs and a simple move. Do I get to have all of that all put together?

--End--

Happy Birthday, Emily!

I didn't take your picture yet, today ... but, don't worry, I will. You know I'm never one to let a special moment go by without an (over) abundance of pics.

We love you more each day, my beautiful, clever, funny, introspective, friendly, enthusiastic, kooky, amazing daughter. Keep being independent, individual and being your best you!

Your first day home with us. Pittsburgh, 1999

Your first birthday, Boyds Bear lion from Uncle Chris, McKean, 2000

Just turned two, Millville, NJ, 2001

3-year old portraits, The Picture People, Deptford, 2002

Kids always prefer the wrapping, Millville, 2003

Ready for Easter Sunday services, Millville, 2004

5th birthday Pirate Party, Millville, 2005

One of my favorite pictures of you, ever; Lake Erie, PA, 2006

Birthday trip to DC, 2007

Back in DC (I think) at the Botanical Gardens, 2008

Your first time skiing, Poconos, 2009

Excited for shrimp, Carnival Cruise Lines, 2010

Your own bucket of mussells, Somewhere in Scotland, 2011

BFFs, Buffalo Wild Wings, Millville, 2012

8th grade semi-formal, Millville, 2013

High schooler! Millville, 2013

Miscellany

• I'm terribly proud of Joe and Emily for getting the parts they wanted in Cumberland Players' production of "Holka Polka."
• It looks as though getting another septic inspection might be worth the $800 gamble that it turns up different results.
• Another Snow Day is not another day of fun. It instead means the loss of another day of Spring Break. This makes me sad.
• Our new mortgage was approved, but if we have substantial septic repairs to pay for out of the proceeds from our home, we will have to go back and get reapproved for a new, smaller-downpayment amount.
•  I revisit my surgeon today for more sinus scraping and poking. It's exactly as un-fun as it sounds.
• I need to scrape up $350 to have a weird lump removed from above Sasha's eye. The vet assures me that it's non-threatening, but I'm anxious about it.
• I liked it when my parents were around twice in February. I miss them.
• Inverse to logic, it seems like the more I pack, the more there is left to pack.
• I'm already looking forward to my teacher's union-based trip to Denver in July and my family trip "Out West" in August. Like, a lot.
• In order to not be sad all the time about leaving our home of 13 years, I've mentally checked out of it and I'm trying to focus on our new house being our home. This has the opposite-of-intended effect when any obstacles to a smooth settlement rear their ugly heads.
• It's been nice to cook more at home, rather than eating out. Other than one McDonald's meal, we've not dined out since Ash Wednesday. This is a big deal for us.
• I could really use a massage on or about my birthday (April 21).

--End--

More New House News

Has "Dugan New House News" Fatigue set in yet?

Not for me! Hee-hee!

Over the weekend we posted some items on Craiglist. Over the past week or so, we've been assessing our furniture, to decide what moves with us and what has worn out its welcome. Or just plain worn out.

Our exercise bike has to go. Ditto with our sleeper-sectional and a large entertainment armoire we rarely use (as well as the giant CRT tv inside it). We've also been browsing to replace our dining set. When we bought our first house (1997), the sellers offered to leave it in the house for us for $300. I've always hated the style of the set, but at the time it was a deal and we had nothing else to eat on.

Luckily, I found a great table, chairs, hutch and server set on Craiglist and it was both our style and our price range. The sellers even delivered it for us! So, we listed our old set and it sold right away. It's already gone and out of the house.

Anyway, long story short ... we've managed to mentally at least partially furnish most of the new house. We have nothing for the sunroom, and the spare room is winding up with quite a few weird odds and ends pieces. And the finished basement looks much better in my mind than our furniture will allow in real-life.

Right now we're just waiting for the mortgage paperwork to be finalized. Then I begin my next to-do list: changing our address with utilities, schools, jobs, magazines, Amazon, etc.

--End--

More News

Well, we've settled things with the sellers of the house. So, it's pretty solid that we will be moving in April. This is our new home:

It's only a couple of miles from here. Two master suites, two additional bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths, screened-in porch, eat-in-kitchen, great room, finished basement, awesome backyard:

Our room:

More pictures (all these were taken back in September) are in the various online listings, such as this one.

In the next few days, the buyers will schedule the inspection of our current house (yikes! I don't expect any major issues, but even minor issues can add up). We will continue to pack. A lot of stuff is already boxed up, but since we're still living here, there is a certain amount of stuff we have to have daily access to. We're assessing what furniture we may get rid of and so forth. Lots of purging.

Joe's spring break is next week, and I think we plan to tackle the storage shed, garage and attic...clearing out a bunch of stuff and organizing what's left into move-able units.

In other news, today was supposed to have been the day I'd return to work following my surgery. I'm feeling pretty good, but I won't lie -- it's been nice having some time off. Having a snow day today was an unexpected bonus day off. Tomorrow it's back to teaching computer skills to the kiddos.

--End--

Still Busy, Just Checking In

Well, my surgery seems to have gone well. I am very much still recovering. There is still occasional pain, particularly at the incision site. I get tired easily and don't feel like doing much.

Also, in four days we showed our house seven times. We received FOUR offers to buy the house. This is amazing and wonderful and exciting. And scary.

We've also gone through a home inspection on the house we'd like to buy. We'd considered it our dream house. But, due to some issues found in the inspection, I'm no longer sure if we will be buying the house. We're in limbo right now with that.

And we've sold our current home.

So ... not sure what's going to happen. Or where we will be living after mid-April.

I don't process uncertainty well. It kind of rocks me, bone-deep. So, this will be a struggle for me until it is resolved. Hopefully very soon.

--End--

Life Happens

So, I've had sinus surgery (from which I'm currently recovering). It's going to change my life, but right now I feel grody and tired and grumpy.

We're also selling our house. We have a signed sales agreement on a house nearby that can best be described as our dream house. But, we have to sell this one first.

These two things are keeping me busy and not-too-much on the computer.

--End--

Buffy/Angel

I know how very late to the game I am, but I'm really enjoying Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

I've been binge-watching on Amazon Instant Video. So far, I'm on Buffy season six, episode 9 and Angel 3:10.

That's all for now.

--End--

Tech Week

Tech Week for Grease is underway.

See you when I crawl out from beneath it.

--End--

I LOVE Snow!

I grew up in the Snow Belt. Now I live in South Jersey.

We don't get socked in here for 5-6 months or solid snowy greyness. So, when we do get a significant snowfall (as is forecast for later today), it's a treat.

It makes me want to sing.

Enjoy the whiteness, Greater Northeastern US. And stay safe!

--End-

Nervous

For the record, if you're anticipating surgery or you suspect you have any kind of illness ... there are a wealth of resources available on the Internet.

WebMD, in particular, has TONS of great information.

However ... never read the risks/complications section. Never. Ever.

Ever.

For those who don't know, here's a quickie update. I'm due to have sinus surgery on February 10. This will mark only third third time I've had to undergo general anesthesia in my life*, so I'm apprehensive. I'm assured by my doctor, other folks who've undergone the procedure, and (yes) the Internet that my life will be transformed for the better after the operation.

Never ever read the risks/complications section, remember?

Only I did just that. Seems this "procedure" puts me at risk for losing my sense of smell/taste, blindness, brain damage, death -- just to name a few.

I'm scared. I don't like the way that feels.

My OCD/control freaky tendencies are also nervous about being out of commission during my three-week recovery period.

I guess this is my "talk me off the ledge" request for hugs and support.

*Tonsillectomy in '79 and breast lumpectomy in '03.

--End--

Now That I'm 40 (plus)

This isn't my birthday. That's in April. Nor will it be a particularly landmarky birthday (43).

But this blog post (hat-tip to Adrienne) seems timely to me right now. I don't know why, but I seem to be in a pendulum-swing mental state lately -- oscillating between "It sucks to be getting old" and "This is a great hunk of life to be living." Plus ... there's the whole new-year-relecting stuff that happens.

So ...  in order to focus more on the positive ... here is a bunch of

Great Stuff About Being 40 (plus) That I Didn't Know or Couldn't Do at 20

1. I know how to dress for my body.
2. And have a hairstyle that suits both my features and my lifestyle.
3. I can cook. Really quite well. Even when there's "nothing in this house."
4. I have grown up.
5. My amazing kids
6. Running 3 miles, walking 60 miles, driving 1800 miles: knowing I can even if I think I can't (or don't want to)
7. Discovering acting, stage management, theatre
8. My wonderful dog
9. Understanding that my worth is not determined by others, especially men, especially based on my looks.
10. Knitting
11. Being married -- learning how to be a wife, lover, partner, confidante, buddy
12. Renewing my relationship with my brother
13. Teaching, finishing my Master's -- working toward a calling, rather than a job
14. Female friendships
15. Travel
16. Finally learning how to look good in a photo
17. The ability to plan, host and pay for a great party
18. Contact lenses
19.  Letting go of deep-seated insecurity and fear
20. Trusting my own opinion
21. My kids ... cannot say this enough times
22. Discovering makeup and dangly earrings
23. Doing my own taxes
24. Knowing how to complain effectively, especially to authority
25. How to drink safely
26. Patience
27. Social confidence in any situation
28. Learning when it's worth it to cry and when it's not
29. Being ok with not being liked by everyone
30. Knowing how to wear heels
31. Having enough resiliency to know that heartbreak never leaves us, but that life goes on and gets better anyway.
32. Understanding the difference between healthy and thin
33. The white streak in my hair
34. An awareness of the quality of the media I'm consuming
35. Knowing keyboard shortcuts
36. Sex is neither the be-all nor the end-all, nor is it embarrassing
37. No one really cares what your GPA or class rank was
38. Pretending to be someone else is a hobby, not a cover-up
39. In the real world, it's good to be a nerd.
40. Putting up as many holiday decorations as you want because you own the property
41. There are many kinds of normal
42. I am strong
43. But it's also OK to be weak and to let others help

--End--

So, I'm an ENFJ

Not only am I an ENFJ, but I'm apparently a somewhat extreme case.

Out of the 16 possible Jungian Myers-Briggs personality types, I'm an Extroverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judger

I prefer Extroversion to the tune of 89 out of 100. I'm a 12% on the iNtuition (over Sensing) scale. Feeling (over Thinking) is rather pronounced at 75%, and Judging (over Perceiving) is 56%.

The scales work like this:
100% --------0%--------100%
I------------------------------E

So, the bigger the number, the more strongly you exemplify the characteristics of your letter typology.

But, what does that mean?

ENFJs are characterized by strong external focus -- thinking about, reacting to, and trying to fulfill the needs of others. Approximately 3-4% of the work fits into this type. More than any other type, ENFJs have strong people skills, making things happen for others and being encouraging. Apparently this often leads to us neglecting our own needs and spending important and necessary time alone to recharge and center and reflect. We tend to sacrifice ourselves for others. We may have strongly-held beliefs, but often refrain from expressing them so as not to interfere in others' development (Joe would probably disagree with this particular point).

We like to be with people and are fun to be with. We like things well-organized, but can tend toward fussiness (who? me?) We become unhappy when forced to deal with logic or facts, and we enjoy planning more than achieving (Joe has never understood my tendency to plan trips, home remodeling projects, etc that I've no intention (or financial wherewithal) to actually tackle.). We avoid conflict and often sweep things under the rug to avoid it. We blame ourselves when things go wrong and take too little credit when things go right.

We tend to be attentive lovers, but need affirmation and someone who is attentive to our emotional and physical needs (since we're so externally focused and neglect ourselves).

Obviously these are generalizations, but again and again (I've taken this assessment numerous times in my life, and while the results vary slightly in retaking) I find that they are an eerily accurate representation of how I approach the world. Your mileage may vary. Do you think the above sounds like me?

Joe took the test, too (he's an INTJ/P (his J score was a 1, and his strongest tendency was only a 25, so he's a far less extreme fellow). I'm eager to have my kids go through it and see what happens. knowing their types may give me better insight into how to parent them effectively without butting heads so often (ah, the t(w)een years!). ENFJs also tend to be smothering and manipulative, so I'll have to watch that. And, apparently it can be difficult to be the child of an ENFJ because of our "hands-on" approach to relationships.

If you want to learn more about your personality type and maybe gain some insight into how you relate to others, take the test here. It's very quick. Answer instinctively without deep analysis of the statements. You can then go here to find out more about the characteristics of your type.

I find this stuff fascinating. (maybe it's a reflection of my tendency to better understand others?) I hope it didn't bore you too terribly.

--End--

Hey, 2014....

My friend, Adrienne, has encouraged me to return to blogging. Since hers is an opinion I value, I'm going to do my bet to follow through.

This time of year is always one of reflection and resolutions and so forth (Although, as life-long academics, Joe and I read a calendar differently. New Years begin in September.). Anyway, when in Rome, reflect and resolve at the end of December and beginning of January.

2013 wasn't the easiest year I've ever lived. But it was a far sight better than 2012 (that would be a pretty low bar). Some highlights include earning my Master's degree, developing more patience and inner strength than I thought I was capable of, performing in one of my lifetime Top Five favorite musicals, running a baker's handful of 5K races, and returning to college teaching (albeit part-time).

So, what's the plan for 2014?

Well, there's a three-week camping road trip Out West planned for August. I've applied to direct a big musical (my first) in July. I want to reimplement some healthier food/activity habits (mostly because I have a lot of great clothes that are languishing until I fit into them again). Now that my Masters in done, Joe may reattack his dissertation.

While not endless, the possibilities are vast.  And while that open-ended-ness can be viewed with optimism and delight, the planner/control freak in me is easily overwhelmed by too much uncertainty. I think this is why I rarely make New Year's resolutions. I know how easily life changes and whisks things out of my control.

Maybe I should listen to Adrienne in this as well, and simply choose a word of import and guidance for the upcoming year. I'll have to give that some thought.

For now, I resolve to try to hang on to the things I'm doing right, to be mindful of blessings, and to suck less.

--End--

My Public Apology to My Fellow Gators

Dear Allegheny alums, particularly Classes of '92-95 (or so),

It's time I came clean. It's MY fault. It's my fault many of you didn't graduate on time (or at all).

I'm the one who introduced Civilization to the night-study lab under the library.

I'll wait while you collect yourself.

OK ... so here's what happened.

Over Christmas break, my brother and I returned from college and hung out. We weren't especially close at the time, but we could bond over nerd-stuff. He introduced me to a new game he'd discovered at RPI, Sid Meier's Civilization. It existed on a floppy disk or two, and after we installed it at home, it quickly consumed our entire lives. so much so, that when I returned to Allegheny in January, I brought copies of those sacred floppies (I don't think copy protection was even a concern).

I quietly installed the game late one night on one of the few DOS-based PCs on campus (remember? ... we were part of the NeXT revolution). I played it. My boyfriend played it. I may have showed it to a friend or two. But, I kept it very much on the down-low. We were not supposed to install our own software on school computers. And we were very much not supposed to be using valuable computing resources for gaming.

But within a week or two, I was stunned to find total strangers furtively playing Civ on every computer in the lab. It had spread with efficiency modern computer viruses can only hope to achieve.

Nobody talked about how it happened. Nobody ratted out anyone else. We were members of an elite society. An elite society who began to neglect all else, forgoing studying, sleep, even food for just "a few more turns" of Civ. It's not that the game was especially hard or unwinnable. It's more that victory was always a few hours further away than we thought it would be. The game is unfathomably addictive.*

"I'll just play until I get steam-power," we'd tell ourselves when our civilization's current pinnacle of technological achievement was a pointy stick. Or, "I'll just play until I take out the Zulus," we'd innocently mutter, never realizing the true tenacity of South African tribesmen.

"A few more turns" more often than not turned into hours of playing time. The night-study lab stayed open all night long, so we weren't deterred when the rest of the campus shut down for the night.

Eventually -- and here's where I have to apologize -- some people began to fail classes, or not "comp."** Some of my friends literally did not graduate from college because of this game. People I love. One of them was even in my wedding.

I's all my fault.

Sure, I could blame fate -- maybe the game would inevitably have found its way onto campus systems. Maybe my friends would have discovered it on their own. But, realistically? Before social media, a "real" Internet, cell phones ... stuff didn't go viral. Media didn't proliferate, explode, and die down within weeks, days, hours. It took actual word-of-mouth. Someone had to actually mention the game to you. Sell its features. And reveal its night-study-lab existence. I was that person. I loved the game. I brought it to Allegheny. I told my closest friends.

And the rest is history.*** The incalculable Butterfly Effect of those dang Zulus.

I'm so sorry, friends. If only I had been patient enough to wait for spring break for my Civ fix at home. Maybe the world would be a vastly better place.

Apologetically,
--Heidi

--End--

*And still is. Last night (this morning) I stayed up Far Too Late playing multiplayer LAN Civ IV with my husband (the aforementioned boyfriend) and our daughter.

**Allegheny College seniors must complete an extensive Senior Comprehensive Project or "comp," as part of their graduation requirements.

*** A fictionalized, but accurate, version of events can be found here.

Sometimes Parenting is Awesome

...and sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's pretty dang crummy.

The first half of this evening was pretty awesome. Explaining Sorkin's quick banter on The West Wing -- pretty awesome.

Then the teacher called. And explained that one of my children did a Very Bad Thing today (no one got hurt and no laws were broken). And then my other child informed me of an overdue assignment's deadline extension ending tomorrow.

And that pretty much left awesome at the station as I boarded the train for Crummy Town.

--End--

Electronic Overlords

I am alone in the house right now ... which means I'm especially vulnerable to attack from our numerous electronic devices.

I'm currently typing this on my desktop PC, multitasking Firefox with a relatively (for me) paltry four tabs open, while syncing my phone on iTunes.

My phone is plugged in and charging, syncing, while I also text my husband, trying to determine the whereabouts of our DVI-VGA adapter -- the only thing preventing me from having our second desktop PC reestablished on the desk behind me.

I've just finished installing a system update on my Android-based Nexus 7 tablet, and am now searching the root directories for a stored wifi password.

Finally, my laptop is up and running nearby because I need to email some files I've only stored on there.

It's ridiculous. And awesome. But, if they manage to conspire against me, I'm just surrendering peacefully. The Cylon invasion/Skynet takeover can just take root right here and I'm making no attempt to stop it.

--End--