I may do nerdy stuff, but I’m sure I’m hysterical while I do it

I’m a nerd and a geek. I admit it. I love comic books, Superhero movies, Star Wars, Star Trek, anything Tolkien, and fantasy/sci-fi. I read everything. I’m fascinated by science and geek out over astronomy stuff. I was a film major in college and still watch movies from that perspective – and I LOVE movies. I’m especially fascinated with pop culture. I can answer crazy stupid questions about television all the way back to the ’50’s. The only part of nerd-dom that I don’t participate in is video games. I suck at them, and one of my failings as a human is that, if I’m not instantly good at something, I don’t bother. Practice makes perfect is NOT my motto. I’m certain that if I was a more evolved human, I’d have latched right onto video games. Especially with the awesome graphics they have now. I’m more than content to watch all six Lord Of the Rings/Hobbit movies in a row, so sitting on the couch for an entire weekend is not a problem.

I wouldn’t say I hide this part of myself – at least not these days. Maybe I did more often when I was a teenager, but now being nerdy is actually pretty cool. It’s a weird dichotomy. Sadly, being a writer does not make you cooler. In fact, it might lower you a bit in the rankings.

Still, I do find myself often quoting things in different situations which I find hilarious, but often only garner blank stares from people in return. I keep insisting to my kids that I’m hip. I prove this by quoting Douglas Adams – A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Jeez – what a goober I am). Here’s a real gem by Zaphod Beeblebrox: I’m so hip I can barely see over my pelvis. I’m so cool, you could keep a side of beef in me for a month.

The Bandit is not convinced of these assertions. I’m pretty sure My Honey just puts up with my nonsense. Sassy rolls her eyes.

Today, Ava and I took a co-worker down from our corporate office to lunch. He’s a really nice young man – super cute. We didn’t think he’d had enough of the Amylynn & Ava Show at the office so we invited him to Chipotle (Bah!!!!!) with us. We were sitting there eating – Ava poked at her food like she always does – moving it around and inspecting each bite, and Cute Guy ate his bowl with gusto. I, however, was fascinated by his watch. I don’t know what kind it was, but it was surely expensive. Ava could tell you the make and model – that’s her thing.

“I like your watch,” I told Cute Guy during a lull in the conversation.

He glanced at it and gave me a smile. “Thanks.”

“I’m gonna raise my nerd flag now,” I confessed. He looked confused. I think I heard Ava groan, but it was smothered by brown rice and chicken. “It totally reminds me of The Millennium Falcon.”

Now he turned his wrist over so he could look at it better. He definitely looked confused.

I barreled on. “You know, the one Han Solo flies.”

He raised his eyebrows. I don’t know if he was speechless or he didn’t know who Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon are.

Ava – Zeus bless her – says contemplatively, “I can see that.” That’s why I love my Sister.

Lunch was wrapped up quickly after that. Feeling goofy, I resisted the opportunity to use a perfectly timed Thor quote later in the day, but the conversation was poorer because of it.