notes on a weekend

My friend Chris came into town this weekend, so a bunch of us got a poker game together downtown at his friend's house to take all his money celebrate his brief visit to Los Angeles. I haven't played much live poker this year, and forgot how fun it can be to sit around an actual table with actual people and lose a coin flip for a full buy-in. Thank you, Ryan.

I played until about 3 in the morning, and though I left with a tiny dent in my bankroll, it was entirely worth it. If you get a chance to play poker in a loft downtown on a misty Saturday night while the soundtrack to Cowboy Bebop echoes off the concrete walls, I highly recommend it.

I spent most of Sunday afternoon recovering from staying up too late on Saturday, then headed up to La Crescenta to see my friend Darin and his family, and a friend of ours from high school who was also in town this weekend. It was a bit of a headtrip to stand in Darin's back yard, and watch his daughter play on a swing set in exactly the same place we used to play 40K twenty years ago. It was a total headtrip to go inside and sit in the exact same place we used to read comic books and talk about girls while his infant son rolled around on the floor and his daughter spoke to me in 3 year-old.

I needed to get out of the house, and spend time with my friends this weekend; I've been working so much without any real "me time" for the last six months that I feel overwhelmed and dangerously close to burning out. For the first time in my life, I feel like I really am getting older and time matters.

I'm saving the entire story for this week's Geek in Review, but it started last week when I went to Paramount last week to film some host wraps for the TNG documentary. I walked over to Stages 8 and 9, and everything was just . . . gone. The sadness nearly overwhelmed me as I stood there and watched a bunch of guys build sets where our Holodeck and Sickbay used to be.

Is it a midlife crisis? I doubt it; I have no desire to grow a ponytail and buy a sports car . . . but I sure would like to get a MAME cabinet and spend about two weeks just watching movies and reading books. Is that how geeks have their midlife crisis? Maybe we buy a faster computer and go on a Think Geek shopping spree.

Comments

[Tara]

First comment...yeah.

Okay back to reality here. I'm glad you had a great weekend. I had a great weekend (now that it's over I'm left with a shortened work week with too much to do and a sick 2 year old.) Anyway, I don't think you are going through a midlife crisis. You're just getting older, and that means that you realize how much has changed. I think it's nice that you can hang out with an old friend while watching his kids play in the same spots you played. It's a shame I'm not in contact with any of my old friends. You're lucky in that respect. Well I hope the rest of your week goes great:)

[Kim the fangirl]

I've been feeling my age (same as yours) acutely this weekend as well and ran across this quote this morning when I came back to work:

It's not how old you are, but how you are old - Jules Renard.

This quote came after my radio station stalking me on the way to work to play, amoung other things, Yes's "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and The Rolling Stones "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

I don't think you're alone in your geek-life crisis. At least amidst all the bittersweet memories, you made some new happy ones. Listening to three year old speak is a favorite past time of mine as well :)

[em]

glad you had a good weekend! are you ever going to write another book?

[Wil]

I'm working on another book right now, em. This one is a collection of short stories like Dancing Barefoot, and should be done by the end of next month.

[MCKathi]

end of next month? Wil! Thats too late for this years summer-trip to the beach (this year to france for 3 months)
So I'll have to read dancing barefoot again and again and again

Midlife-crisis? Find out what your friends (or enemies)from highschool are doing today. You're pretty young for your age Wil- ask your step-kids

[CHV]

This may sound strange, but it often makes me sad to see a film featuring a magnificent set only to realize all of the craftsmanship and fine detail that went into it was destroyed the day after shooting wrapped to make way for something else.

I guess that's the nature of filmmaking.

But I wish there were someplace where certain sets could be preserved.

[MCKathi]

Oh and one of Germany's best bands Wir sind Helden has a new album out, with a nice song on it- The Geek- maybe you like it :) sorry its in German
http://www.wirsindhelden.de/en_worte.php

[Kate]

A few years ago, several of my family members and friends died in very quick succession. While healing from this, loads of clichés came to the center of my life: "life is short", "seize the day", and "live each day as if it were your last" were among the most popular. I ended up pressuring myself to *live* so much that I wasn't really enjoying life. It took me awhile to realize that, while sayings above are admirable, no one can live up to them 100% of the time all the time.

So, yeah, time matters but *living* that time means finding a balance that (like most balances) can be hard to find.

I’m glad you had a good weekend :)

[Severian]

Cowboy Beebop!!!! How Cool is that? I LOVE that show!

[Dawn W]

Long time reader...

Listening to Cowboy Bebop whilst playing poker sounds like a little bit of heaven to me. Easily one of the most awesome soundtracks ever.

And a faster computer is definitely much easier on the budget than a sports car. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself everytime I walk through an Apple store.

[Absinthe]

pokenum -h tc 3s - qd 6d -- 6h 3d td
Holdem Hi: 990 enumerated boards containing Td 3d 6h
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
3s Tc 517 52.22 473 47.78 0 0.00 0.522
Qd 6d 473 47.78 517 52.22 0 0.00 0.478

If you can find me a poker player anywhere who doesn't consider -5%EV a bargain for +500%WTO (Wheaton Tilt Odds), I will refund you that money. Provided I ever get it back from the people I subsequently lost it to.

[SandieK]

How is getting a new computer and raiding ThinkGeek considered midlife? Id do that anyway.
Although, itll probably be midlife before I can afford the computer I want and everything on my wishlist.

[angie k]

I think a geek midlife crisis would be creating a chaos machine (conchaos.com) in your living room. Triple points if you can get it to wrap around a hanging light fixure. Oh, and play Evil Stevie's pirate game. That is the path of the true geek. :)

[Jaunty]

Buying stuff can fit well with the consideration of the importance of time. The key is to buy stuff that can be defended as timesavers. Of course some toys end up eating up a lot more time out of your life. In such situations you can always fall back on the always useful "But it substantially increases my quality of life!" Either way, you can feel good about doing it.

[Malarkey]

Hi Wil, I just started reading your blog and I just want to say one thing: Eat your heart out, buddy! :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/malarkey/523654555/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malarkey/523627792/

[HockeyPhool]

Is that how geeks have their midlife crisis?

Faster computer? - Check.

Plus, I added blonde highlights to my hair. I tell people "It's cheaper than buying a Corvette."

Although, at 30-something you're too young for a mid-life crisis.