Biggs' Zone

A Gamer Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

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TBT: 35 Years Ago

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On March 26, 2015

In TBT

I have no picture for this late Throwback Thursday post. Since my birthday fell on a Thursday I thought I would take the narcissistic route (so much for the high road). Obviously I don’t have a picture from the day I was born because we didn’t have an iPhone back then. I don’t really feel old. I’m pretty content with what I have accomplished thus far. If I could change anything I would have read a little more and studied a little harder.

I appreciate all the wonderful birthday wishes I received from so many folks on Facebook, via text and from the folks at work. It’s a great day because all of you made it a great day!

Before someone else decides to let me know what things were like 35 years ago, I will save you the effort:

35 Years Ago

Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back was released (which we all know is the best one)
Ronald Reagan was elected President (could use him again about now)
Pac-Man was released
Post-It Notes were launched into market (in April)
It was the year Lennon was shot and Mount St Helens erupted
Supposedly gas was $1.19 a gallon, but that seems a little high
A VHS Home Movie camera cost about $1600
Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” was their latest hit

Also, Leonard Nimoy was born March 26th, 1931. He would have been 84 today. I am proud to share a birthday with him. #LLAP

TBT is one of those crazy Facebook trends. It stands for “ThrowBack Thursday” and often times people post pictures. I know the old adage “A picture is worth 1,000 words” but most of the time the pictures I want to post have a great story behind them. In my traditional nerdy fashion, instead of just a picture I want to provide a blog post for my TBT moments to share those great stories. I will not share stories in which the context will embarrass or incriminate myself or my friends and family.

TBT: My Favorite Date

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On October 16, 2014

In TBT

wedding-dayOctober 13, 2007 will forever be the favorite day of my life, followed very closely by April 14, 2014 (after all the latter couldn’t have happened without the former). Since Octoboer 13th was just this past Monday, this seemed the appropriate TBT post. I’ll admit it was a day I never thought would happen to me; not many of us with that “computer geek” label are credited with having much luck in the romance department; but for what its worth, we do have amazing “grep” patience 🙂

So, most of my friends and family I’m sure remember this day. We were married in the city we both loved for 4-6 years (i.e. West Lafayette on Purdue’s campus) and in a church we both loved (St. Thomas Aquinas). There are so many memories I could go into from that day. One memory, for example, was the morning of the wedding when I did not receive the groom’s complimentary bagel from Einstein’s Bagel’s because I was not present when a few of my groomsmen went to get some breakfast. Since the Best Man was dressed slightly differently than the others, the clerk thought he was the groom and he decided he wasn’t going to make the correction. I took no offense, but its a great story!

An example of “best made plans going awry”, which is a frequent theme for all weddings, was the night before the wedding. The church had made a mistake when booking the rehearsal. We were supposed to begin rehearsal at 7pm but we received a phone call about 5pm asking why nobody had arrived at the church. We had to call all the bridesmaids and groomsmen (that had managed to make it into town) to get to the church as quickly as possible. We ended up doing the rehearsal with about half the bridesmaids and a third of the groomsmen and the rehearsal dinner was still 2 hours away. Everything still worked out because all of our bridesmaids and groomsmen are awesome!

We were both so happy that so many of our friends could attend. Friends from high school, college, and friends we made while Beth was getting her MBA at Notre Dame.

So here’s to 7 years, to another 70 years and to the Best. Wife. Ever!

TBT is one of those crazy Facebook trends. It stands for “ThrowBack Thursday” and often times people post pictures. I know the old adage “A picture is worth 1,000 words” but most of the time the pictures I want to post have a great story behind them. In my traditional nerdy fashion, instead of just a picture I want to provide a blog post for my TBT moments to share those great stories. I will not share stories in which the context will embarrass or incriminate myself or my friends and family.

TBT: Pool Nights

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On October 9, 2014

In Reminiscence, TBT

shooting_poolThis is a very fond memory. Pool Nights at Nick’s Pool Hall. It was so much fun just hanging out and shooting pool and having a couple of beers. This was a pastime Doug, Alan and I would partake in quite often during our latter years at Purdue. Everyone wanted to go to the Neon Cactus or Where Else, but I would have never chosen those places over Nick’s. I know one of the things that people will notice in this picture is my iconic Australian Fold-Up hat. I came back from a family vacation with that hat and it became something I was known for … although apparently I was the “creepy-guy-in-the-hat” according to my wife, whom I had barely known at the time (see previous TBT post).

We spent many  nights shooting everything from standard 8-Ball, to 9-Ball, and cutthroat. Some nights may have even involved attempting some trick-shots during those “Mike Massey” wanna-be nights.

I know several of our other friends would come and hang out at Nick’s, but as far as the three of us were concerned, this place was our “Central Perk“, “Cafe Nervosa“, “MacLaren’s”. I was disappointed to find out that when I returned to Purdue recently, Nick’s was gone. I think Alan said that it is under new ownership with a new location and a new name. It’s a real shame. Another shadow of the past, visible now only through the phantasmagorical images of our minds.

TBT is one of those crazy Facebook trends. It stands for “ThrowBack Thursday” and often times people post pictures. I know the old adage “A picture is worth 1,000 words” but most of the time the pictures I want to post have a great story behind them. In my traditional nerdy fashion, instead of just a picture I want to provide a blog post for my TBT moments to share those great stories. I will not share stories in which the context will embarrass or incriminate myself or my friends and family.

Work Interference

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On September 12, 2014

In General Cogitation

I am behind with my frequency of new posts. I was placed at a client where I was gone for nearly 10 hours each day and each day started at 7 in the morning. Needless to say I was feeling a little wiped out at the end of each day. I have completed my work and awaiting the next challenge; which means I am on the bench doing some training.

Some topics I have on tap (beyond the obvious MMO Times and TBT):

  • I think I am going to comment on SWTOR Strongholds (now that I have been playing it long enough to comment)
  • Perhaps my thoughts on the new Apple devices that were announced this week
  • I should find something in my field to talk about. I don’t do enough sharing about programming

I won’t comment on anything political. I will leave those comments for trolling Facebook and Google+. Is anyone out there in a beta and you are allowed to comment on your experiences?

TBT: Destiny Unbeknownst

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On September 4, 2014

In TBT

early-me-bethIt’s funny where you find your spouse. Some folks will marry their high school sweetheart, others may find their spouse using an online dating service or just by simply living their lives. I found mine while I was tailgating, but the interesting thing is, she had always been right in front of me.

This week’s TBT picture shows me and my wife, before we even started dating. We had been attending the same parties for years because we ran in the same circle of friends. We are sitting here at one of Hoody’s parties, playing some XBox. Clearly I am oblivious to her wonderful smile, damn video games. How could I miss the fact that there was this attractive girl that shares similar interests in gaming.

I have to admit that even to this day I can’t believe it took until both of us had finished school to find each other. However, had it not been for all the great friends I … err, we had at Purdue we probably wouldn’t have met. I have so many very fond memories of Purdue but I often wonder how different it would have been had we gotten together while we were both still students. Those are some of the fondest memories that I never had. I think the most interesting thing is that my friend Alan actually indirectly predicted that we would get together. He even suggested at the game that I should consider asking her out. I will never forget that prognostication.

I think it was only fitting that we married on campus, at St. Thomas Aquinas and held the reception at the Student Union. Both of us agree that there never could have been a better place for our wedding.

TBT: The Legendary Lodge Trifecta

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On August 28, 2014

In TBT

lodge-crewWhy do I call it a trifecta? Simply because it was definitely a three-way win for all of us. My final year at Purdue, while Alex and I were trying to find our final West Lafayette living quarters, we found Erin. Alex and known her previously but it was my first time meeting her. It almost might be strange for me to admit that it was also the first time I had a female roommate, but honestly that wasn’t really relevant. What became relevant is now we could split the rent and utilities three ways, and so we picked up the three bedroom apartment at The Lodge.

I already knew Alex was going to be a great roommate and I would soon to find out that Erin was also a great roommate. The only thing that wasn’t good about the arrangement, we only had Erin for the Fall semester. She graduated in December and would have to leave us. Erin gave me a huge appreciation for the Purdue Marching Band of which she was a member. Granted we would still have the benefit of splitting the rent three ways as the apartment complex management would arrange for another person to move in for the Spring semester, which is when we got Paula. The only thing I can say about Paula … she was … very peculiar; and she was definitely not Erin quality.

We had some killer parties and it was an extraordinary Fall semester. Alex went on to pursue his career in nuclear energy and Erin started her career in pet health. Hopefully I will get them see them again at a future Purdue football game (*hint hint*).

TBT is one of those crazy Facebook trends. It stands for “ThrowBack Thursday” and often times people post pictures. I know the old adage “A picture is worth 1,000 words” but most of the time the pictures I want to post have a great story behind them. In my traditional nerdy fashion, instead of just a picture I want to provide a blog post for my TBT moments to share those great stories. I will not share stories in which the context will embarrass or incriminate myself or my friends and family.

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