My childhood wasn't the best. I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm just stating that it was hard sometimes. My father didn't control his temper like he should have. I witnessed him hurting my mother, and there were many times he hurt me physically and emotionally. I guess because of that, I'm fascinated with men that really love and cherish children that aren't biologically their own. I sometimes felt that my dad took care of me and put up with me because he had to. When I was a kid I wondered how a man could care for a child that wasn't even his. When he didn't have to.

"OH SHIT!" Best part.

OMG...Warp Dr.? And there's a Ryker Ct. Dying, dying, dead. LMAO!

Hilarious :)

I love The Big Bang Theory! I'm a great big geek (Trekkie, Star Wars, comics, you name it.) I get it, it reflects a lot of my life, the things I do, the people I associate with ( a lot of scientists and lab techs) and I love every wonderful character in it. Personality-wise I'm pretty much Sheldon with two X chromosomes. I married me a plaid shirted, lab-coat wearin', bespectacled PhD (Neuroendocrinology. Squee.) The man asked me to proof his Nature article. <3 My name's Amy, so when Ms. Farrah Fowler showed up I made a tinfoil hat, searched for bugs and cameras and tried to contain my freakout. I loved the episode with you and Brent.

Glad you stuck with it. I've always enjoyed reading. I'm in my own "No one reads/cares" phase with my own artistic pursuits. Here's hoping one day that changes for me.

That is incredibly well-written Will. And nicely done Wil. The beer looks tasty :)

I attended the Star Trek Con in Las Vegas and I had this idea in my mind, about the sharing of germs. I made friends, and shook hands with a few people. I'm lucky that I rarely get sick, but will occasionally come home from a trip with something. I didn't even try shaking hands with any of the actors I met, but some initiated it. I was happy to just smile, make eye contact and say hello. Had my picture taken with Sir Patrick Stewart and that was the only time those of us waiting were told specifically "no handshakes" etc. Conversely, some, like Mr. Armin Shimerman didn't have an issue with shaking my hand. I truly understand if someone doesn't want to. I deal with my mucky, snotty kids all day who will spit their food or gum into my hands and sometimes wipe their tears (or even noses) on my shirt. I wouldn't want to touch me either. Anyway, speaking of the Trek Convention...I sure wish you had been there.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading that.

I like to drink beer. Boy I wish you were going to the Las Vegas Star Trek convention.

It's interesting to see things from a celebrity's perspective. I'm sure glad I'm not one of those psychos. Or one of those teen girls who bought the magazines just because there were pictures of Wil Wheaton inside...and Corey Feldman <3 and *sigh* Johnny Depp (!!!) and would tear them out and hang them next to her bed SO SHE COULD KISS THEM EVERY NIGHT BEFORE SHE WENT TO BED!!! :D *nervous laugh*

I did The Star Trek experience the first time I went to Vegas. Sadly it's gone! It was very cool though. I traded put-downs with a Klingon. I lost. badly. But it was fun! :D Last time I went to Vegas it was November...it was gorgeous, perfect weather. Since I'm going a-conning...I have a feeling I'll mostly be indoors anyway :)

I'm assuming this is good advice for any kind of convention? I'm going to the Star Trek con in Vegas next month. August. In Las Vegas. Yeah I'm guessing it will be pretty damn hot. I've been to Vegas before, but never been to any kind of convention...and I'm wicked excited. I like the 5-3-1 rule too, that's a good one :)

Looking forward to reading about how it all turned out.

I love how people are in no way put off by the warnings. Me? I couldn't wait to click on that link. Like you I have bad allergies too. I've been on Singulair for about a year now and I love it. Love, love, love. One pill a night and it takes care of my allergy symptoms beautifully. No asthma attacks either. It's been so great I've even looked at other people hacking and sneezing and thinking "What the hell is their problem?" then I figure it out. Oh...allergies. I am no longer affected. As for the cat. I adopted my younger cat from a shelter and she was picked up outdoors. Prior to coming to us she had picked up a tapeworm, probably from killing/eating a bird or mouse or what-have-you. Until we got rid of the parasite, her litter box leavings were absolutely horrific. I've never smelled such a smell. It's very common for cats who are allowed to go outside to pick up something.

I love that you repost this. I bought some sparklers for my daughters this year and we played with them last night. I lit a candle and had a can with water in it for the used sticks. I attempted to educate my kids about fire safety. Don't touch the burning end. Don't touch anyone's skin or clothes with the lit end. Hold the dang thing away from your body. My eight year old repeatedly snuffed out the candle flame, almost stepped on the candle, swung the sparkler right at my midsection while I bent double and leapt backwards as if I was in a choreographed fight scene. My 6 year-old would hold a sparkler with my hand wrapped around hers, but then as it began sparking would scream, panic and run away. After we finished with the pyrotechnics we ran around trying to catch fireflies while listening to the braver people in our neighborhood set off bigger fireworks.

OMG math.

Not long after the movie first came out my mother was cleaning out the hall closet. What should come out of that mysterious cache of oddities but a brely worn pair of humongous white stacked heel shoes just like Pee Wee wore to do his big shoe dance. Had I known what "WTF?!" was when I was a fifth grader, I would have said "WTF?!" Turns out my dad used to be a door-to-door insurance salesman and when he gussied himself up to go a-knock-knock-knockin' on people's doors, he'd slip into some rockin' polyester slacks, a plaid (!) blazer and those sweet, sweet shoes. I slid my feet into those babies, danced and giggled like Pee Wee while my mom sang "Tequila". :D

I don't really play video games now, but when I was younger I was drawn to the arcades like any kid. In college I discovered a cache of retro video games and pin ball machines in the rec building. I had a roll of quarters in my hand with every intention of going back to my dorm and doing my laundry...but it didn't happen that day. Nostalgia won out. I poured that whole roll of quarters into one machine after another and had an awesome time that afternoon.

I hadn't heard about that bit of plagiarism until now. That kind of thing pisses me off to no end. I battle similar issues all the time. I'm a graphic designer and in the past I have done work gratis for religious organizations or acquaintances. There have been several occasions when I'll do a design and then the next year they will PAY someone else to recreate what I did and change some dates around. WTF? Makes me want to go all Stabby McStabberson on them. Even worse...they never understand why I'm upset.

lol. Oh, he picked the best picture. Great facial expression.

Okay, (deep breath) this is where I say "Wil...I don't play video games. I don't even LIKE them." :D That being said, i will occasionally play Wii Sports with my kids because my 8 yr-old daughter likes to bowl with me, and my 5 yr-old daughter likes to punch me out in boxing. "I punched you mommy! I punched you DOWN! Stay down mommy! Stay down!" (it's a rollicking good time, I tell you.) Anyway, I was unaware that there was some sort of taboo shopping at GameStop? My 8 yr-old got a (much desired) DSI for her birthday and she had GameStop gift cards burning a hole in her pocket. She loved going into the store and picking out several games. She's so happy.

Love that. Very funny :)

There ARE scarier things than leeches, dead bodies and Kiefer Sutherland's hair.