Isn’t it amazing? In the process of shopping for other people (which I really do enjoy; giving is more than half the fun, I think (tomorrow’s post will talk more about that)), it’s almost inevitable that you run across a thing or two that you want for yourself.
I won’t buy until after the holiday (*fingers crossed for gift card*), but whilst at the bookstore I ran across:
Okay, total confession, I started looking at this a couple of weeks ago, and have every time I’ve walked into a bookstore since.
Seriously funny stuff here. The only atlas I’ve ever wanted to read cover-to-cover.
They have a (very slight) online version, too.
And just to prove I’m still a total geek, I also found myself staring longingly at the cover of this book:
Yeah, I know the fact that I want a book like this forever brands me as being a map-geek (in addition to my many other forms of geekatude). I don’t care.
Isn’t it grand when you accept the things ya like and don’t care what anyone else thinks? Sure, in my college years, I probably would have been terrified if someone found out that I was a bona-fide map-geek. Heaven forbid one might be thought of as “un-cool” ya know. Now I just shrug my shoulders.
I’ll be perfectly happy my geek-map-induced-delirium, thankyouverymuch.
The GeekHiker 
I hear you about the Map thing. I don’t think I go a day with going to GoogleMaps to get my online map fix.
I never had problems being thought of as un-cool since I was never cool to begin with. As I get older I care less and less about what other people think about me. Of course as I get older I have more and more opinions about other people. Heh.
By: Homer-Dog on December 19, 2007
at 6:45 am
oh dear. 🙂
By: *kb* on December 19, 2007
at 7:05 am
What?! You’re a geek?!
I’m outta here….
By: just a girl on December 19, 2007
at 7:58 am
I’m with you on the accepting the things you like about yourself and not caring what others think. When I started screaming (honestly, I think it was more of a shout) that everyone should read “A short history of nearly everything” by Bill Bryson, I got the ‘geek’ label. At least I know all about the Earths crust.
And yes, I realize that last sentence made me sound more geeky, but I don’t care. We are in geekdom together friend!
By: brandy on December 19, 2007
at 9:52 am
Better that delirium than any other. Isn’t everyone supposed to be slightly crazy in its own way?
By: Gany on December 19, 2007
at 11:03 am
Geek is chic… and has been for a while. Or maybe just everywhere else but Los Angeles. I haven’t felt like geeky was uncool since at least 1995. I think when the internet became accessible, geekiness became mainstream.
“Geek” no longer conjures images of glasses with taped bridges and pocket protectors. “Geek” now means the cute sysadmin with the obscure t-shirts and designer eyewear who spends his free time loading his ipod.
Geek means confidence in being an individual (hint: being proud of offbeat hobbies like maps). We’re all geeks in the blog world. (we’re not talking about the guys who still live in mom’s basement OK? different breed of geek)
Or maybe I am just so entrenched in the tech world that I don’t know anyone BUT geeks and therefore think that we’re all completely normal.
Come to think of it, I’d say Geek is actually mainstream. Or at least mainstream for the kind of people I am surrounded by.
By: charlotte harris on December 19, 2007
at 11:08 am
You should never be embarrassed or worry about being uncool, conventional cool is cookie cutter. Its our quirks and randomness that make us fun and interesting.
By: Ruby on December 19, 2007
at 8:39 pm
Homer-Dog – Nice to meet another map geek. What about the first time you did 3-d in Google Earth?
*kb* – LOL
just a girl – aw, come back! I’ll talk about something cool like… like… uh, what’s cool?
brandy – Yet another book to add to my list. You’re a geek? I had no idea! 🙂
Gany – which is why it’s so important to find others who are crazy in the same way!
charlotte – geeks may be chic, but I don’t know that it’s helping my love life!
Ruby – I’m not now, of course, but aren’t we all when we’re younger?
By: geekhiker on December 19, 2007
at 10:34 pm
GH: *shiver* HA!
By: Homer-Dog on December 20, 2007
at 6:57 am
I remember being at a fraternity party my junior year of college and going up to one of the guys’ rooms to – well, never mind that part- and was so confused to discover that his walls were covered with maps. No beer posters, or nudie pics, or road signs like the other frat boys I knew, but maps. Floor to ceiling. I thought it was so weird, and quickly found an excuse to go downstairs. Meanwhile, I have grown up to love maps and topography and geography, so I can now kind of appreciate where he was coming from. Kind of. I like to read them and look at them. Not decorate my bedroom with them. But I confess, I want both the books highlighted above, now too.
By: Lori on December 21, 2007
at 11:01 am
Homer-Dog – LOL
Lori – Well, I did get a Borders gift card, and I’m fairly certain it’s going to one of those two books. You’re more than welcome to borrow my copy sometime! 🙂
By: geekhiker on December 24, 2007
at 3:14 pm