The Capital of Montana is Not "Hannah"

The Hardest Part is Finding the Geeks

Here is my reflection of the day about moving from a tiny, rural community to a large, urban community:  It is just as hard, maybe harder to meet people.  People still move away.  Over the course of the last year I have lost everyone that filled that spot of "hit me up anytime".  And, just like in middle of the New Mexican desert, I'm starting over.
The hardest part isn't finding just any friend.  If I really wanted to get out and make friends, it would be hard.; but there are good social places: kickball teams, soccer teams, flag football teams.  I'm doing those and I have a good time playing around and having a beer afterwards.  But, what I am craving is some good ol' geek time.  And that isn't easy  to come by.   Where the hell do you find the geeks in a new city?  Answer:  The Node.  So, today, I put in my application to join the Baltimore node.  Fingers crossed, one footstep forward.

Baltimore Grand Prix-- Getting Out

I wasn't sure if I wanted to get the hell out of Baltimore this weekend for the Grand Prix, or be in the VIP sections.  I mean, the track runs right by my house, through some of the best parts of Baltimore, allowing me to relive my childhood love of Poll Position.  Then I tried to grab a cab on Thursday.  Races didn't start until Friday, but that didn't stop the flood of people causing more havoc than Irene.
Being a prepared person, I called for my 5PM cab early.  At 11 AM the cab company said it would be a 60 min ride from Federal Hill to Charles Village (normally 15).  At 4PM they called and said they couldn't come because traffic had come to a complete standstill.  So, I was happy with the decision.  Then, I saw this:

...Poll Position...

In the Path of the Hurriquake, Google CR!

Remember when I gushed over how Google was producing some of the most important tools in response to the Japanese quake? No?  How about when I wrote the Street View Car this love letter?  Well, they are already preparing us all with the Crisis Response Center where you can track Irene, and the location of shelters near you.  I stand by my statement.  Google Maps is best gift to humanity in the 21st century.  'Til, the sky dries, xoxo Google.

Earthquake Madness!

This about sums it up:

DC Earthquake Devastation

via famousdc.com

Thanks to all of you for your kind words of support, as we look to recover from the devastation of today's quake!

There were a few casulties at our place.  A tiffany lamp my mom gave me, some picture frames and a shelf and the kind of stuff that sits on shelves.  My favorite part, though, was that anything nailed to the wall is about 15 degrees off center.  All of our pictures and paintings are symetrically crooked.

Otakon, You Have No Idea

It was about this time last year that I nearly stopped dead on Charles with a WTF? Seeing all kinds of brave and gangly teenagers walking down the street in full CosPlay.  Little did I know, they were coming to the anime Mecca, Otakon.  Last year, there were 25,000 people that attended the con and trust me when I say nearly all of them were in full regalia.  Baltimore, in ways, seems an odd location for this geeky get-together, but for a city that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the East Coast, it's also kinda perfect.  Check out the whole gallery at Geeks Are Sexy.

It Will All Make Sense Soon

Dear Alice,

At first it was all

but then it was like

Character




Brokedown Palace

— MOVIECLIPS.com

and now I'm all.

The Right Thing
Brokedown Palace at MOVIECLIPS.com

Love,
Darlene