Day five, hobbies
Aug. 5th, 2010 02:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparrSo, yesterday's words were all about sex, and I got some friendly feedback. A couple of folks let me know they didn't appreciate the TMI, but they were explicitly warned, so that's no fault of mine. Someone asked why I would make a post like that, and I think the simplest explanation is that it is 20 less minutes of talking I have to do when I end up in bed with anyone who reads my LJ. Add together the small chance of someone being attracted to or challenged by what I wrote and my belief that there is not anyone who would have ever slept with me otherwise that won't after having read that, and you have some good incentive to be as open as possible.
Today let's talk about my hobbies. Most of you know that I am a geek. My geekdom extends to all aspects of technology, particularly computers, but also covers such other topics as origami, math, puzzles, shibari, games of various sorts, books, and who knows what else. Some of these I pursue in private, some with close friends, and some in as large of a social group as is practical. Lately I've had some new outlets for some of that, and less time or chance for some of it as well.
Freeside is the hackerspace here in Atlanta. I've been a member for the better part of a year now, and am looking forward to another year. I've found a place where I can be around other technology (and misc) geeks who like to collaborate and learn and share skills and knowledge, all while accomplishing things. We have classes and workshops, tools of all sorts, spaces for different types of mechanical and electronic and artistic projects, and a growing sense of purpose. Our projects range from solo to 20-person, and involve such wide ranging things as welding and woodworking and electronics and circuit bending and painting and music and 3d printing and CNC milling and graphic design and mechanical design and engines and motors and lasers and ... and ... and ... ...
I am also an avid convention-goer, regularly hitting 20 or more per year, almost never on a budget of more than $100 per event. Some months (like July) give me as long as 4 weeks between conventions, while other months (like April and September) are packed with back to back to back to back events, as many as 5 weekends in a row, and anywhere from 10 to 1000 miles apart. After Origins in June and Play On Con in July I've been taking it easy for a while in preparation[1] for the huge upcoming rush of Dragon*Con, Atlanta Game Fest, Anime Weekend Atlanta, JapanFest, GMX, Alchemy, and maybe one free weekend if I'm lucky, or something I've forgotten to list if not. To anyone brave enough to read this journal, if you aren't already coming to at least one of those events then I'd ask you to reconsider. Pick one, let me know, and I'd be happy to help you arrange to attend, or volunteer, or find a place to sleep or shower, or even be your tour guide for a short while.
In terms of my intimate hobbies, those will be the subject of another post in a few weeks, so this bit will be short. The fan club of my gloves continues to grow, despite the ever-increasing efforts required to keep them in working order[2]. I've found a few more girls who react to the TENS in that particularly special way, some of whom I have occasion to run into more than once. My new job pays well enough that I should be able to fill out my toy collection a bit in the next month or two, so if you ru into me at parties then expect to see some new and interesting stuff soon.
To anyone who has made it this far, thanks for reading my long posts. It feels good to let people know more about what's going on with me. Maybe you'll be prompted to ask about something specific. Maybe you can avoid asking something awkward. Maybe you've found out about something you wouldn't have found otherwise. However these entries leave you, relative to myself or otherwise, please stick around, they should only get more interesting.
PS: Don't hesitate to comment. Hearing from my friends helps me maintain the resolve to keep doing this, and gives me ideas for future posts.
[1] mentally, physically, budgetly, and schemingly
[2] MTBF for them is maybe 1000 hours. For a couple using them 2 hours a week, that's 10 years. For me using them 4+ hours a day on average, and subjecting them to much more frequent abrasive cleanings, that means failures every few months.
Today let's talk about my hobbies. Most of you know that I am a geek. My geekdom extends to all aspects of technology, particularly computers, but also covers such other topics as origami, math, puzzles, shibari, games of various sorts, books, and who knows what else. Some of these I pursue in private, some with close friends, and some in as large of a social group as is practical. Lately I've had some new outlets for some of that, and less time or chance for some of it as well.
Freeside is the hackerspace here in Atlanta. I've been a member for the better part of a year now, and am looking forward to another year. I've found a place where I can be around other technology (and misc) geeks who like to collaborate and learn and share skills and knowledge, all while accomplishing things. We have classes and workshops, tools of all sorts, spaces for different types of mechanical and electronic and artistic projects, and a growing sense of purpose. Our projects range from solo to 20-person, and involve such wide ranging things as welding and woodworking and electronics and circuit bending and painting and music and 3d printing and CNC milling and graphic design and mechanical design and engines and motors and lasers and ... and ... and ... ...
I am also an avid convention-goer, regularly hitting 20 or more per year, almost never on a budget of more than $100 per event. Some months (like July) give me as long as 4 weeks between conventions, while other months (like April and September) are packed with back to back to back to back events, as many as 5 weekends in a row, and anywhere from 10 to 1000 miles apart. After Origins in June and Play On Con in July I've been taking it easy for a while in preparation[1] for the huge upcoming rush of Dragon*Con, Atlanta Game Fest, Anime Weekend Atlanta, JapanFest, GMX, Alchemy, and maybe one free weekend if I'm lucky, or something I've forgotten to list if not. To anyone brave enough to read this journal, if you aren't already coming to at least one of those events then I'd ask you to reconsider. Pick one, let me know, and I'd be happy to help you arrange to attend, or volunteer, or find a place to sleep or shower, or even be your tour guide for a short while.
In terms of my intimate hobbies, those will be the subject of another post in a few weeks, so this bit will be short. The fan club of my gloves continues to grow, despite the ever-increasing efforts required to keep them in working order[2]. I've found a few more girls who react to the TENS in that particularly special way, some of whom I have occasion to run into more than once. My new job pays well enough that I should be able to fill out my toy collection a bit in the next month or two, so if you ru into me at parties then expect to see some new and interesting stuff soon.
To anyone who has made it this far, thanks for reading my long posts. It feels good to let people know more about what's going on with me. Maybe you'll be prompted to ask about something specific. Maybe you can avoid asking something awkward. Maybe you've found out about something you wouldn't have found otherwise. However these entries leave you, relative to myself or otherwise, please stick around, they should only get more interesting.
PS: Don't hesitate to comment. Hearing from my friends helps me maintain the resolve to keep doing this, and gives me ideas for future posts.
[1] mentally, physically, budgetly, and schemingly
[2] MTBF for them is maybe 1000 hours. For a couple using them 2 hours a week, that's 10 years. For me using them 4+ hours a day on average, and subjecting them to much more frequent abrasive cleanings, that means failures every few months.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-08-05 06:43 am (UTC)Then stop sending me these posts via IM! I'll just babble at you there. :P
I do reiterate, however, "schemingly?", in the hopes that I will get more information. Not very high hopes, you understand, but hopes.
Have I mentioned that I like you doing just long posts about you and your world and stuff? I should force everyone I like to do this, it's brilliant for my stalkermind, which insists on knowing how everyone works.
~Sor
no subject
Date: 2010-08-05 04:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-05 06:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-05 07:50 pm (UTC)