I attempted to clean up the beds around the house but ran into some nasty plants that are not poison ivy, but do exude urushiol, causing the familiar and uncomfortable rash.
I forgot that the outdoors can be a dangerous place for Geek Woman--better for her to stay inside, by the computer!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
On secret identities
Occasionally, in the course of conversation, I'll mention that I'm a geek. Generally, this is to a geek-friendly non-geek (or slight geek). I don't need to identify myself to other geeks (it's obvious) and I've learned (the hard way) to keep Geek Woman away from interactions with the geek-averse. The typical response is, "oh, you're not a geek!'
I realize that these people are being kind but, it bugs me. First, I've worked very hard to be proud of Geek Woman. Second--c'mon people, how can you say I'm not a geek?
Reason 1: I'm extroverted. Geeks, IME, are an introverted lot (this is why research was not a viable career for me--I'm ill-suited to spending hours without conversing with other humans).
Reason 2: I have passable social skills. True (also something hard won for me). I still struggle (especially with gracefully concluding social interactions), but I can get through a PTO meeting (generally) without behaving too inappropriately. (Many geeks have passable or better social skills, but they tend to get lumped into the "you're not a geek" catagory, so the negative stereotype persists.)
Reason 3: I'm funny. !?!? I just heard this the other day. Yes, I like to think that I'm funny, but IME, most funny people are somewhere on the geeky spectrum.
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Minivan Mom, my secret identity is starting to take over Geek Woman. Clearly, I need something to differentiate them.
I did it--I got glasses. I now need reading glasses most of the time, but swapping them on and off was a pain. I've always had a very slight distance correction but since it's not enough to affect driving, I've never bothered to fill it.
I got progressive lenses and I'm now attempting to wear glasses all the time. It's working pretty well. But the glasses do give me more of a geeky look.
Like so many other things in my life, I got it backward. I put on my glasses to become Geek Woman and take them off to hide in my secret identity.
Unlike Clark Kent, who gained a forehead curl when he took off his glasses and became Superman, my hair stays exactly the same (curly all over) for either personna. (The curly hair is a geek indicator, I fear.)
I realize that these people are being kind but, it bugs me. First, I've worked very hard to be proud of Geek Woman. Second--c'mon people, how can you say I'm not a geek?
Reason 1: I'm extroverted. Geeks, IME, are an introverted lot (this is why research was not a viable career for me--I'm ill-suited to spending hours without conversing with other humans).
Reason 2: I have passable social skills. True (also something hard won for me). I still struggle (especially with gracefully concluding social interactions), but I can get through a PTO meeting (generally) without behaving too inappropriately. (Many geeks have passable or better social skills, but they tend to get lumped into the "you're not a geek" catagory, so the negative stereotype persists.)
Reason 3: I'm funny. !?!? I just heard this the other day. Yes, I like to think that I'm funny, but IME, most funny people are somewhere on the geeky spectrum.
-------
Minivan Mom, my secret identity is starting to take over Geek Woman. Clearly, I need something to differentiate them.
I did it--I got glasses. I now need reading glasses most of the time, but swapping them on and off was a pain. I've always had a very slight distance correction but since it's not enough to affect driving, I've never bothered to fill it.
I got progressive lenses and I'm now attempting to wear glasses all the time. It's working pretty well. But the glasses do give me more of a geeky look.
Like so many other things in my life, I got it backward. I put on my glasses to become Geek Woman and take them off to hide in my secret identity.
Unlike Clark Kent, who gained a forehead curl when he took off his glasses and became Superman, my hair stays exactly the same (curly all over) for either personna. (The curly hair is a geek indicator, I fear.)
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