I've been included in a Minnesota anthology "Under Purple Skies", now available on Amazon!

My second chapbook, "The Second Book of Pearl: The Cats" is now available as either a paper chapbook or as a downloadable item. See below for the Pay Pal link or click on its cover just to the right of the newest blog post to download to your Kindle, iPad, or Nook. Just $3.99 for inspired tales of gin, gambling addiction and inter-feline betrayal.

My first chapbook, I Was Raised to be A Lert is in its third printing and is available both via the PayPal link below and on smashwords! Order one? Download one? It's all for you, baby!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Enter the Geeks

Perhaps you’ve heard of the excitement surrounding the beginning of the end of Battlestar Galactica.

Really? What? You don’t know any sci fi geeks?

Kurt and Kathy had a party to celebrate this event.

Willie and I brought the BBQed wienies.

It’s hard to enjoy a show’s ending when you’ve never watched it to begin with, which is where I found myself.

I know, I know – why was I even there?

What do you mean, why was I even there? What are you, nuts? People! Just because we’re in a depression does not mean that there shouldn’t be parties – even if you don’t know why they’re being held.

So while the majority of the crowd gathered in the living room for an hour of dork-ish bonding over a TV show, William Throckmorton the III, RD, Jeff, and I – aka the NON-dorks – sat in the kitchen, drinking beer and talking about Dune.

Ahem.

RD took a drink. “That’s my point! See, if you – hic! – consider the folding of space, see, that’s how we’re going to travel in the future. We’re going to fold space.”

Willie was lost. He had not read the book but had only seen the movie. “Fold space?”

“Rather than actually traveling from one point to another, we fold our departure location over our arrival location. Folding. With the spice mélange.”

“The spice whaaaa?”

“It’s all in the books. First,” RD said, “there was Dune. Then there was Dune Messiah. Then – wait. Was it Children of Dune and then God Emperor Dune? Or was it the other way around?”

“Oh, sheesh, eRD,” I said, “Don’t ask me. I read them in high school. Probably while listening to Rush.”

“You shall be called Muad’Dib,” intoned Jeff, a quote from the book.

“Nice!” I said. “Is that how it’s going to be, we’re going to try to out-quote each other? Tell us of your home world, Usul.”

“Showing off is an unattractive trait, Pearl,” Jeff said.

“Is there anything that makes you feel older than quotes?” RD shook his head. “I quoted a line from Monty Python’s Holy Grail the other day to my students and they looked at me as if I’d just meowed at them.”

“That’s how you know you’re old,” I said. “When you start quoting silly shit and no one gets it.”

“Just how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?” said Willie.

We all chimed in at once: “One. Tuh-hoooooooo! Thrrrrreeee. Three.”

“See?” Jeff said. “We’re not old yet. Well, not me. You are. And you are for sure. But not me.”

RD gazed thoughtfully into his glass and pushed a remaining ice cube with his index finger. “Wuv,” he said. “Twoo wuv, will fowow you foweva.”

Mawage,” I said. “Mawage is whut bwings us togedda today.”

Jeff cackled joyously. “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You keeled my father. Prepare to die.”

“I’m getting a headache. Princess Bride now?” Willie said. “Who wants a beer?”

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when you attend a party with multiple levels of geeks.

Have fun storming the castle!

22 comments:

Kim said...

I thought Battlestar Galactica went off years ago!

I think "geek" is just a euphamism for "old(er)"!

"Have a coke and a smile!"

IB said...

It's all very sad...

I was never much of a sci-fi geek although the I can quote a bunch of lines from the ORIGINAL Star-Trek series. Oddly, right this second, I can't think of any. Now THAT'S sad!

Unknown said...

THAT'S why I missed out on that conversation! I was in the living room with the other dorks watching BSG! I LOVED it while growing up and this series is phenomenal . I do TOO have a life!

rtju said...

Man, that RD sounds like a MAJOR dork.

I used to read the Lord of the Rings in college while listening to Rush, or Yes.

The Wife O Riley said...

Battlestar what?

But I can quote The Holy Grail and Princess Bride along with a TON of 80's brat pack movies.

Was Molly Ringwald in that Battlestar thing?

Douglas said...

I never knew I was a Dork until now. This version of BG was much better than the first. By far. By very, very far. Star Trek (TOS) was great for its time but was terrible compared to the TNG version (after season 1). OMG, I am a Dork!
Yes, Monty Python, Princess Bride (hated Dune, never got through it. Read The Jesus Incident instead), and Lord of the Rings were fine. But do you recall (or have ever heard of) Firesign Theatre?

Go, read about it, haunt old record stores for their albums. Truly learn what the 60s did to me.

I am not a Dork! I am a man!

Kavi said...

I am not the science types. So these geeks will regard me with a eek ! shriek and a fervent disdain.

I know it. I can see it comming ! Hmm !

Electro-Kevin said...

Battlestar Galactica still going ?

Did you get caught in a rip in the time/space continuum ???

Irish Gumbo said...

"Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will allow it to pass over me and through me. And when it is gone, I will turn to face fear's path. Only I will remain.

Dune? Monty Python? Oh, dear Pearl, this long distance romance thing so difficult, but I'm willing to give it a try! Whadda ya say? ;)

Pearl said...

UTI, it may have gone off the air, and come back, and went off again for all I know! And me? I'd like to teach the world to sing. :-)

IB, My father introduced me to Ray Bradbury at a young age, and I absolutely LOVED his brand of sci-fi. I also grew up watching the original Star Trek (still diggin' the green lady. remember her?!)

dizzblnd, um, sure ya do. :-) No, I love my friends, even the ones in the living room watching BSG!

mbuna, oh, yeah. RD's a dork for sure. And if ya get him drunk enough, he'll pull up his pant leg and outline how the muscles of it work together to allow you to run or go upstairs. Great fun at parties. :-)

Wife O'Reilly, I was one of those people in high school yelling "Just because some moistened bink lobbed a scimitar at you is no basis for government!" Not sure if that's correct anymore...

"It's nothing but a flesh wound!"

Douglas, OUtside of the BG info, I agree with you on all accounts. And actually, yes, I do recall something about Firesign Theater. Will have to look that up. I was a young child in the 60s but was a rather serious and "aware" kid and can remember a lot about the culture. I'm still rather of the opinion that we can all get along, that we are all inter-related, the whole "love the one you're with" sort of thing.

Kavi, I pass no judgments. Please see directly above. :-)

Electro-Kevin, I'm just here for the beer. :-)

IG, you just quoted what me and my dorkish friends would mutter, in unison, at the keggers in the woods. :-) Funny I hadn't thought of that one...
As for the long-distance relationship, you had me at Max Headroom.
:-)
"Let's not bicker and argue over 'oo killed 'oo! This is supposed to be a 'appy occasion!"

Old Knudsen said...

Battlestar Galactica returning has given me a reason to live again. Its like The Shield in space.

When they first talked about remaking it I thought why? it was crap but what they have done is amazing it can mean so much on different levels as it mirrors current events at the same time throwing spiritual shit out there.

Ray Bradbury used to open 6 packs of beer at book signings and he stole all my good ideas.

As for Dune..... life is too short.

AdriansCrazyLife said...

Wow, that's just my kind of party. I even recognized all the references you quoted. Sadly though I haven't been able to get into the new Battlestar Galactica. I still like the old one.

Kevin Musgrove said...

"Flash Gordon" with Buster Crabbe.

...

I'll get me coat.

♥ Braja said...

OK. So how's your liquor cabinet lookin', Pearl...a little empty?? :)

Ann Imig said...

"RIF: Reading Is Fundamental" 'member? '

Michelle said...

Damn i would have fit right in....i am all levels of geek at one time!!! Cool right???

Happy Sunday!!!

Pearl said...

Old Knudsen, About Battlestar Gallactica, how you talk about it is pretty much what the dorks in the living room had to say. :-)
And yet, Ol' K, you mock my Ray. I shake my head sadly at you.

Adrian, it was a lovely time. Goofy movie quotes, semi-sincere conversations re: intergalactic travel, these are the things that make for memorable conversation at parties. :-)

Kevin, I just have a big smile for you. :-) "I'll get me coat" indeed.

Braja, it's not MY liquor cabinet that's empty. :-) It's Kurt and Kathy's!!!

Ann, I do remember. And as soon as I thought "RIF" my little monkey brain started singing the theme to the Electric Company!

Michelle, I'm pretty sure you would've! If you can use a Monty Python quote in a conversation, there are extra points. :-) Not really, but there should be...

cheatymoon said...

My sis and auntie have been looking forward to Battlestar starting up again for months. I'm mildly interested in watching it... maybe only so I can get the references.
And Princess Bride? Sadly, I do get most of those references, as well as Dune. Ok, I'm a geek.
Thanks for stopping by!

That Baldy Fella said...

"Inconceivable!"
"I do not think that means what you think it means."

We're all dorks together. Embrace the geek. Feel the nerd. Not literally, mind. Might lead to an awkward situation. (and, yes, I'm looking forward to Battlestar but quietlty in the privacy of my own home...)

Susan said...

"Would you like a wafer thin mint?"

Not a BG fan but I can quote Monty Python and Fast Times at Ridgmont High like a mofo. Sounds like a great and geeky party!

SweetPeaSurry said...

I could definately get into a party like that. When I was in college, we used to go to the bar, a huge group of us, to watch a tv program, each week. Drink and Discuss. It was fun, I must have enjoyed imbibing because I can't even remember what show it was now. Maybe ER. I just can't recall, that brain cell is dead.

have a good one!

Matt said...

Oh....I LOVE this show. I'm so glad someone of the female persuasion admits to watching it.

It's nothing like the terrible series of the 80's.

I have the whole last (half) season on Tivo, and was told to wait until this season started as it has a crazy cliff-hanger.

I like waiting until a season is over so I don't have to wait each week for a new episode. Look at me, I'm giddy like a mother-of-3 talking about Oprah.