How I Found Out My BFF Is a Nerd

 It was February 2005. We were at a Women of Faith convention with a bunch of gals from our church. We stayed an extra day and the two of us went out exploring. We went to the Harley Davidson Café, ate delicious BBQ and had a couple of cocktails, which made the endless loop of motorcycles circling on a dry-cleaners-like conveyor overhead seem almost cool. I figured now that she had her Harley fix, it was my turn to check out the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton that I had heard about, so we hopped on the monorail, headed for adventure.

When we exited the monorail, the path into the hotel led straight to the Space Quest Bar. This was my kind of decor! There were giant screens playing sci-fi movies above the space station themed casino, and even a neon-wrapped tube reminiscent of a warp core. We used the ladies room, where computer voices could be heard in the stalls and at the mirrors. Just outside the entrance to The Experience, the Borg Queen looked down upon us. 

The Enterprise D at Star Trek The Experience

Once inside we marveled at the huge ships suspended from the ceiling. We made our way along the illuminated timeline in the History of the Future Museum, beginning with the early 20th century, right on through the 25th.

We read every single word on that timeline. By the time we reached halfway I started crying. She asked me what was wrong and my answer was, “I can’t believe you are reading every word of this with me! Chicks don’t like this stuff!” Adjacent to the timeline were glass cases with costumes and props, each displayed as if they were historical artifacts. I was in Nerdvana. As we neared the torpedo casing that Spock was “buried” in, we spied a Borg scanning it. We got really and truly scared! (we had never seen Voyager before, and therefore the Borg were still the scariest things in the Universe to us) We even got scolded by a cast member for running when we skeeedaddled away from it. We protested, "But there's a Borg over there!!" Just then an old man ran past us fleeing from the same Borg. "See?!"

I don't remember which attraction we went to first, but I do remember this: While waiting in the queue for the Borg Invasion the woman next to Melissa pointed to the Borg figures on display (I swear they were really watching us!) and commented that she didn't understand any of it. She was there with her husband who loved Star Trek. Missy's reply to that was a full encyclopedic explanation of Borgdom! She gave this woman the entire synopsis of who, what, where and how the Borg fit into the Star Trek Universe. In the middle of all that I just burst out in laughter. Missy turned to ask me what I found so hysterical, and I answered, "You're a nerd!"  She agreed, "I guess you're right. We're both nerds!"  

I think it was one of the happiest days in my life.

We really got into the spirit of the attraction--perhaps a little too much, because one of the crew members ordered us shot. Haha..perhaps it was because I was yelling at them to just shoot the Borg! "What's the matter with you? Are your batteries dead?" I screamed at one crewman just as I threw an innocent bystander in front of me. We had the time of our lives, discovered something special about each other, and began a new chapter of our lives as Trekkies. 

Me & my BFF Melissa the morning after our first Star Trek Experience together.

Just one year later I talked her into going to our first Star Trek Convention. It was The Big One in Las Vegas, in the 40th anniversary year of the Original Series. That's another blog post....

My Frugal Blog has moved!

I've separated my frugal shopping blog from this site. Please follow this link for tips and reports from my shopping adventures: http://gettingbuyonless.blogspot.com/

Love, Love, Love My SoCal Trekkie Tweeps!

Saturday thirteen intrepid Twitterers converged on Riverside, CA for some Treknanigans.
The Star Trek Exhibition at the Riverside Municipal Museum was our excuse to meet, but we also enjoyed socializing at a few nearby establishments.

I carpooled to Riverside with my friends Melissa, Patsy and Stephanie. Being the overzealous overachiever that I am, we arrived an hour early. Our friend Chris was the next one to arrive, and he surprised us because we thought he wasn't coming! Little by little the rest of our group arrived: Mary, John, Brett, Ernie, Kurt, Jeff and Sonia. If all we did was hang out at the Coffee Bean all day, I would have been happy. Here were my Twitter buddies IN PERSON.  We played with our iPhone Tricorder apps, chatted and drank coffee until noon.

We walked to the museum where Helen was waiting for us, and then we all forked over our $15 to go inside.

The Exhibition itself was not that exciting. Melissa and I saw it a few years ago in Long Beach, and it was huge. At Long Beach there was a real bridge to be photographed on, a motion ride, a restaurant, and props and costumes from every franchise. Now the exhibit has been hacked up into little pieces and scattered across the country. What we saw in Riverside was probably 15% of what it once was. There were costumes and props, and a captain's chair in front of a green screen where you could spend $18 for a 5 x 7 photo of yourself.  There was a gift shop with inflated prices on old Trek toys and model ships, and most of us refrained from spending.

 Once we had ogled at the costumes and props enough, Helen left us and the rest hoofed down the street in search of lunch. We ate at  Crescent Jewell, a small restaurant with mostly Cajun selections on the menu. Everything from frickles to jambalaya to beignets were available. I think everyone was quite satisfied with their meal.

When lunch was finished, most of the group left, but six of us just couldn't say goodbye yet! We relaxed and chatted at the Presidential Bar at the Mission Inn for a spell. I think it was around 5:00 when us Escondido girls headed for home, blasting heavy metal music all the way down the 215 freeway.

I had a wonderful day and took lots of pictures with my iPhone. I'm still fumbling with the Hipstamatic app, but I did get some swell black and white shots. I only regret not taking more Incredibooth photo strip shots. I hope you enjoy them.

I joke that Twitter is ruining my social skills and shrinking my brain. I am known for saying that I even think in 140 characters at a time. I sometimes wake from a dream with Twitter friends in it, even if I've never met them in person.  I actually did put a hashtag in a handwritten thank you note last week. I spend too much time online (loving every minute) at the expense of all the piles of unfinished projects in my office. Despite all of that, I wouldn't trade my Tweeps for the world.  I would not know any of the people I spent the day with Saturday, with only three exceptions, without Twitter.We have met at conventions, restaurants, coffee shops, theme parks, and fairs, but all too infrequently.

Twitter is the place where we keep in touch, cheer each other up, and cheer each other on.

Follow me on Twitter if you like Star Trek,  Sci Fi, movies, birds, John Wayne, bacon, pickles or laughing! @starfleetmom

Star Trek The Exhibition Meetup

 Join us!!

Saturday January 8th

	Riverside Metropolitan Museum 3580 Mission Inn Avenue Riverside, CA 92501   http://www.riversideca.gov/museum/exhibit-startrek.asp Meet at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 3712 Mission Inn Avenue at 11:00 At 11:30 we will go to the exhibition at the museum. Admission is $15. After we visit the Exhibition we will go for a meal and socializing. Please see the map: http://bit.ly/fVKdiJ

Time to BREEEEATHE

The last few months have been a whirlwind of nonstop motion for me. It's taken a toll on my health, and my mental outlook. I am looking forward to the next two weeks, because I won't have to go anywhere I don't want to! No play rehearsal, no karate, no school, and....The Alien got his restricted driver's license, so he can drive himself to work and his court-ordered meetings. That gives me my daytime freedom back!

Treklet was in Annie last week, and I helped backstage. That meant that we were at the theater every night, and all day Friday through Sunday. It was exhausting, but seeing my little girl onstage was amazing. Frankly, when I signed her up for the show I thought it was Annie, Jr. but it was the full two-hour production! Treklet was in many scenes with five costume changes. She was an orphan, a Hooverville bum, a New Yorker, and the Dogcatcher. I snapped a few phone pics from the wings.

 and even a few videos!

 

 

The day after the show ended, Treklet was back at school with one more big hurdle to get through. She missed belt testing during production week, and had one chance on Monday night to test for her Jr. Black Belt after an 11 day absence! Guess what? She did it! My little Treklet is now a Jr. Black Belt!

So proud of all the hard work that went into this. It took almost 3 years!

Slow time for Freebies

This is all that I've amassed in the last 2 weeks.  A sample of cereal with 4 nice coupons attached, a pair of pink earplugs with a coupon, a Wisconsin cheese guide, and a sample of Folgers coffee (enough to brew one pot and no coupon)

I Know, I've Neglected My Blog!

I've been SERIOUSLY busy with shuttling the husband and kid and trying to get Christmas stuff done. Treklet is in another play, and I'm on stage crew. It's been crazy. Here's my frazzled attempt to catch you up:

The good news is, THE ALIEN GOT HIS LICENSE TODAY!! Woo hoo! He has an ignition lock thingy on his car, and a restricted license for work, so I will have my days back! YIPPEEE! YAHOOO! BAZINGA!!!

I'm not ready to sit back and pop bonbons just yet, though. Treklet will have her "Holiday Concert" at school tonight (missing her final dress rehearsal!) and then bright and early tomorrow morning we will be at the theater for two school performances of Annie. Treklet is the Dogcatcher, as well as an Orphan. We open for the public tomorrow night, followed by two shows on Saturday and a Sunday matinee.

But wait! There's more! Sunday night we are going to the Bethlehem Walk with our BFFs. A local church transforms their outdoor property into Bethlehem and people are escorted through the town in small groups. It's living history! There are mean Roman soldiers, potters, weavers, samplings of olives and bread, a temple, and more. The tour culminates with an overcrowded inn, and finally a stable with a real live Holy Family.

Monday morning The Alien will DRIVE HIMSELF TO WORK, I'll shuttle the carpool to school, then get my teeth cleaned at the dentist, drive to La Jolla to the ankle doctor for the Dead Guy, and be back in time to get Treklet from school and take her to the karate studio for her JUNIOR BLACK BELT TEST.

Speaking of karate, we found out yesterday that Treklet's awesome instructor is being laid off from the studio. I cried real tears. He's been a great influence on her, and she respects and loves him. I appreciate his influence in her life. Treklet has not only learned Taekwando from him, but many other life lessons and positive character attributes. She prayed for him last night, even in her exhausted state, that he will find a new job. Although she likes the Master who will take over her classes, she says Mr. Philip is more fun and doesn't want him to go. She's been with him for almost three years!

I am waaaaay behind in Christmas preparations. The house is decorated (a humongous undertaking) and we have a tree (purchased through a school fundraiser), and I even have all the kids' presents wrapped! However, I am in need of some gifts that need to be mailed and I need teacher gifts by next Thursday! I totally dropped the ball with the Girl Scout leaders. I will have no time to shop until next midweek. I am usually done in November! I also have $30 credit at Shutterfly, so I need to find enough time to produce some sort of card and Christmas letter and get those in the mail for our relatives in the UK, NZ and the Midwest. I think the overseas kids may receive their Christmas checks by New Years. Let's just blame the snail that carries the mail, shall we?

I hope to be all caught up by the end of the week so that Treklet and I can enjoy Christmas break. I have a stack of Groupons I've been saving. We can go to The Museum of Man, Belmont Park, and Legoland Aquarium with them. I also hope to make a trip up to Hollyweird for Universal Studios before our passes expire on the 31st. Maybe we can meet up with some friends up there, too.

Finally, I leave you with some Merry Trekmas. My dear friend since high school, who now lives far, far away in Colorado, sent me a present already. Of course I opened it! This awesome, non-trekkie gal sent me a STARSHIP! It's not every day that you get a starship in the mail! It's the USS Enterprise from the latest movie. We shall call it the Alterprise, since it's from the alternate timeline. ;-)  I seriously doubt that Kirk is gonna fit on the bridge, though.