I know how you feel Wil. I was at the JPL in 1989 when Voyager 2 had the flyby of Neptune, the feeling of how amazing it was to know how far away the craft was and sending back pictures. I am old enough to remember watching Neil Armstrong step off the lunar lander onto the surface of the moon and the feeling of how proud I was of what we accomplished. I also remember the hollow feeling of watching Apollo 17 Lunar ascent module leave the surface of the moon knowing we would not return for a long time. Then there is the amazing Space Shuttle, a marvel of engineering. I was fortunate enough to be stationed at Edwards AFB and watch the shuttle land and even listen in on the shuttle communications to landing. As has been said, "we live in an exciting time . . "

the magic of LA is just that magic. it is really a city of only 10,000 people, the rest and all the building are Hollywood props and special effects. LOL j/k I remember the first time I flew into LAX at night, I thought to myself "holy shit this is a huge city" far bigger, more spread out than my Houston. It seemed like the first time we hit city lights it was about 30 minutes before we landed.

Wil, I've been here reading your blog for most all the decade you've been here. You have changed, evolved, grew and engaged us, you humble fans. The one thing you did not do is be a dick. Peace

if you would not arouse suspicion you could put a cucumber in your pants and then smile broadly when you get man handled

Wil, count me in on the DVD list, a nerd wanting to read a geek's work. you do have a terrific way with words

I'm as old as dirt and remember ALL of the US manned launches. Mercury, Gemini and Apollo - I remember the tragedy of Apollo 1, - I was there for Apollo 11's launch, - the empty feeling I had when Apollo 17 left the moon which was the final Apollo mission other than the Apollo/Soyuz. - the euphoria when the space shuttle program came on line - then while stationed in England (RAF Lakenheath), the Challenger disaster. The entire base kinda when off line, we had a job to do but it was difficult to keep in the zone. a few months later we attacked Libya, losing a crew from my unit and all the raw feeling came flooding back. - in March 1988 I was transfered to Edwards AFB, California which, at that time, was the primary landing field for the shuttle and all the excitement of space travel came rushing back to actually see the space shuttle land. The twin sonic booms when it enters the air space over Ewards. Yep we are back in the space business - then the 2003 Columbia disaster. I was, and still am, living near the flight path the shuttle used. I didn't see it or the debris trail from the break up. The empty feeling returned and in a way I felt selfish because the only thing I thought of was . . crap there goes the space program and will NASA even survive, never thinking of the 7 lives lost. it is somewhat strange that all 3 NASA tragedies occured within a week of each other. Apollo 1 27 Jan, 1967 Challenger 28 Jan, 1986 Columbia 1 Feb, 2003 peace, bob

very good post Master Weaton, you can say few words yet speak volumes. the post inspired me. I thought I would take my cat on a walk. I grabbed my cat's body harness and leash forgetting just how strong a 10 pound cat can be when you try to get her to do something she DOES NOT WANT TO DO namely wearing the aforementioned harness. I think I still have all ten fingers and learned a valuable lesson, let sleeping cats lie.

BBT was in a word, GREAT. you play the sneaky, snakey, slimy, underhanded Evil Wil Wheaton to perfection. I would hate to be on your bad side.

you're not dorkable geeky until you wear a turtleneck sweater

I've known I'm gay since my early teens (mid 1970's). I had enough of a strike by being non-athletic and super skinny at 16 (5'10" 115 lbs) back in those days you didn't come out and especially if you were perceived as "different" with my body build. I grew up going to church but as I entered my teens I started asking WHY to a number of issues. and was always give the party line "it is gods will". the more they kept applying that line the furthur I grew from beliving unitl I didn't and still don't believe in god. Now I live in a very conservative right winger region of Texas, but I digress. I went into the USAF after high school and I sure as shit had to keep it hidden, which was tough living in male only dorms. LOL One base I was at in New Mexico in the mid 80's set up a sting for active homo's on the base. When it was all said and done they dishonorably discharged the military members. I wsa making a career out of it so I kept to my self. Even now it is taboo. I remember a STNG episode that kinda delt with homosexuality, it was very good. Thanks Will for posting the words. peace to all.

I never watched PeeWee Herman. I did catch Charo's show in Hawaii in 1990. WOW she put on a great show. I had a table in front of the stage and her opening number HOT HOT HOT she came out and danced with the guys around the stage. She pulled me up and I danced behind her with my hands on her hips. I was looking down at her breasts, I didn't see the photographer. upon leaving the show I was stopped and asked if I wanted to buy my picture with Charo. The photographer said "it was the best picture of the night because all the other guys looked up at him, I was looking where I should be looking" yes they are real and they are spectacular. LOL oh, I did buy two copies of the photo

Another great post Wil. you really have a way of words that pulls me into your post. So Lavar didn't recognize you? When was the last time y'all met? I'll trade your delightfully normal lives for my not-as-delightfully normal life lol I was going to ask who Seth Macfarlane was, but I didn't want to appear as a dumbass so I googled it. I've never watched Family Guy so I still don't, oh well a generational thing. peace out Wil, bob

doing stupid shit isn't limited to youth. I picked up taekwondo at the advanced age of 42 some years back. our sister school came up from Houston and I spared against Steven Lopez. Steven won Gold medals at the Olympics, he was that good and I was little more than a moving target. he took it easy on me but I still had sore ribs from getting kicked. I did learn from the experience one of which is not to take on someone of Olympic caliber.