Friday, May 23, 2008

I'm Just a Geek Too

I love Star Trek. I'm not ashamed of it. I fall in the category of The Next Generation lovers. I don't much like the original Star Trek and I've never gotten into the spin-offs from TNG. I'm sure they have their redeeming values, but I'm just not interested. Give me Jean-Luc Picard and William Riker any day, baby. I love the story lines, the characters and all things Trekkie. I remember watching it with my dad when I was a young girl after I'd had cleaned up after a hard day's play. In fact, I don't think I knew there was an original Star Trek until years after I had been watching TNG. By they way, that's what the cool people call it: TNG. Only acronyms here.

I never had strong feelings about Wesley Crusher. I had more of a little-girl crush on Riker than on Wesley. I secretly wanted to be Deanna Troi and I really liked Geordi LaForge. His visor was just cool. As far as I knew, Wil Wheaton--who played Wesley--had disappeared into obscurity after the end of TNG. That's pretty much what happened, but not because he wanted to disappear. I read somewhere on the internet that he had gotten quite a following from his website and blog, so I decided to check it out. I didn't see much that interested me from the website, but I did notice he had written some books. Out of curiosity, I checked out "Just A Geek." Well, one thing Wheaton definitely can be described as is geeky. I have a geeky husband, so I can recognize true geekiness when I see it. Love of technology, all things computer, gets excited about new advances in such fields, reads lots of fantasy and sci-fi, etc. I love my handsome geek. Anyway, Wil Wheaton is a geek, according to the attributes listed.

In this book, he writes about the creation of his website and his transformation from frustrated actor to writer and blogger. It was a long road and Wheaton describes it painfully and honestly. Seriously, why do people become actors? The rejection, the frustration, the critical evaluation of your looks and talents on a constant basis all seems like so destructive of the human spirit. And yet, people go after it over and over again. Reading his book, I couldn't help but keep wanting to grab him, give him a good shake and maybe a slap across the face and tell him to get a real job and move on. But he loved acting. He didn't want to give it up. I can understand passion about something, so I'll forgive his stubbornness.

Wheaton is really honest about his mistakes and failings. He's also honest about who ticked him off or screwed him over during and after TNG. He doesn't hold anything back in his writing, which makes you sympathize with him, but it also shows how immature he can be. He loves his wife and stepkids, but acts really self-involved at times. I guess he's just a person, really.

I think the best thing he ever did was start writing. He's funny and clever, scorchingly honest and can assemble his words pretty well. Other than his perverse love for the "f" word, I thoroughly enjoyed reading what he had to write. Partly because of all his fun inside info on TNG cast members, but I'm geeky like that.

8 comments:

  1. I haven't given TNG much thought until I was describing myself as an Empath in my own blog and looked up Deanna Troi.

    I loved both Star Trek and TNG. But now if I see ST, I find I like TNG MUCH better.

    loved your post, you are a GEM, even if you describe yourself and your handsome husband as geeky. Its all good.

    ~a

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  2. I've never understood why people need to abuse swear words, espcially the f-word. When reading, it seems almost gratuitous at times, like the editor said... You haven't met your quota yet, get swearing! Or that comedians seem to think you can't be funny unless you drop a bomb every other word.

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  3. that's funny, i DID have a "crush" on "crusher" we watched TNG on sunday nights, i think. ah good times

    ya, what is with the curses? curses!

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  4. oh yeah, and i married a "geek" too. :) yay for geeks!

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  5. I wanted to let you know that I'm reading William Shatner's autobiography right now. I saw it on the shelf at the library and decided to check it out. I love him in Boston Legal but I have to admit that I never watched Star Trek (any of them). And I'm at a Star Trek part right now. It hasn't been a bad read so far, a little obnoxious at times though since he keeps referening things you can buy on his website. I'm hoping for a little more meat. It's stream of consciousness writing and he interrupts himself constantly to tell different stories.

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  6. Jenny, did we ever discuss TNG while in Mississippi? I also grew up watching TNG, but I started out as a little tiny girl watching the original. I remember TNG being on where we lived on Sundays at 4, and that's when we got out of church. We all knew dad would kill us if we dawdled after church. Priorities, people! It's great to watch reruns every now and then on Spike TV. I was in love with Wesley. But I also wanted to be Deanna Troi because her hair was so fabulous. And she got to wear crazy clothes. Anyway, nice to think about those things again.

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  7. okay I admit it. I totally had a crush on Wesley. and I not only have read Just a Geek, I OWN Just a Geek.

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  8. Geeks Unite! I'm going to make t-shirts.

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