My 5 Geekiest Parts of Christmas and New Years! (A Semi-Triumphant Return)

Greetings and Salutations! 

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! It's been quite a while since I've posted, I know, and for that, I sincerely apologize. To say that things have been busy would be a bit of an understatement. But, as this is the first day of the new year, I hope to be back active blogging with at LEAST one post a week. Anymore than that, and I would just be setting myself up for failure.

So, over these last few weeks have been "Holiday season", I've gotten to "get my geek on" quite a bit, whether it be hanging out with friends, getting some awesome geeky gifts, or just geeking out in my off time. I'm very excited to share with you all of my recent Geekery :D (man it's been a while since I got to use that word!).

Without further ado, here is: 

My 5 Geekiest Parts of Christmas and New Years!

 5) I got to play SO. Much. D & D!

 By far the biggest, most prevalent geekiest-thing over the last few weeks have been prepping and running D & D games for both my friends and family.

D & D is something that I've been interested in for SOOOOO long and have just recently gotten in to. It's been both a time-consuming and EXPENSIVE endeavor, but I've been able so far to run a session with my family and girlfriend over Christmas as well as began a session that's ongoing for my friends here in Magnolia. 

In case any of you would like specifics, we're playing 5th Edition and I am creating a brand new setting and campaign. So far I've been able to purchase The Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual, and Volo's Guide to Monsters, as well as SEVERAL pdf's from the DungeonMastersGuild.com. I've also bought SO MANY DICE!!!!! I've also been hand-making "maps" (or scenes as my Dad called them) but fortunately I found D & D official Tile's over Christmas (Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Thank Ya Jesus!).

It's been a lot of fun! It's also been stressful (as far as hoping that I meet everyone's expectations and being prepared. I have't received any stress from my family and players). The session in the on-going campaign lasted over 6 hours 😬 The session with my family wasn't as long, but it still took quite a while, and everything that could've gone wrong seemed to have. "The Magnolia Campaign" as I call the ongoing campaign with my friends, is made up of all relatively new players (including a DM, being myself). The "Christmas Campaign" had new players, experienced players, and my Dad, who is not only new to playing, but also not a "geek" at all, but everyone claimed to have had a good time! 

Overall, it was a blast,and I can't wait for the next game! (Which is Tuesday, and I've got to start getting ready!)

4) POP!'S!!!!!!!

Pictured above is my Pop! collection in my office, which currently sits at 120. I received 8 as gifts over Christmas and purchased 16 with Christmas money. My goal was to reach 100 before the new year, and it's safe to say that I crushed it! 

It's honestly become a re-occurring thing to walk by office at the church on Sunday's and Wednesday's to see some of the younger boys gazing up at them and then turn to ask me questions like, "Who's that?" or "You have that one?!?" 

I know to most it seems silly, but it's important to mo to make the office a reflection of myself. I'm a "Geek Under Grace" and I want everyone to know it.

3) I Saw Rogue One Twice

I'm sure that anyone who would read a blog entitled, "Geekery" has also seen Rogue One by now, probably even multiple times. It was a great movie!!!

The reason why I list this in my top geeky things list is because I'm working on making a two-parter lesson series for me teens on Wednesday Nights! We've taken our teens to see all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films since Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as Rogue One and the Force Awakens. Since the Force Awaken, I've prepared lessons for every movie that we take them to see.

Without getting too preachy, I believe it's important for me as a Youth Pastor and us as a Youth Group to keep God the center of everything we do, even when it comes to seeing movies together. I also have a Major passion for reaching Geeks through Geek Culture. I may make an entry on my other blog, "It's Dangerous To Go Alone! Take This." about why I feel passionate about it, but for now, I definitely think that preparing youth group lessons about a Star Wars movie definitely fits the bill for this list.

2) New Year's Eve = Board Game Night!

So, typically, on New Year's Eve, I put on a Lock-In for the teens at the church, but seeing as how New Year's Day was today on a Sunday, I told them I wasn't about that life. Instead, my brother Joel and I got together with our buddy Adam and played board games! It's literally one of our favorite things to do!

We played some Catan and attempted to play the Steven Jackson game Illuminati. Unfortunately our friend was having some health issues and had to leave early. 

OK, so it wasn't the craziest or geekiest night in the world (Heck, we were done playing at around 11:30). But we get together several times through out the year and play board games like crazy. Adam has gotten us into lots of obscure games like Elder Signs, Boss Monster, Zombie Fluxx, and more, as well as more classic games like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Forbidden Desert. Last night didn't exactly pan out, but we'll have more awesome board game nights in the future!

& lastly

1) I Started Blogging Again!

I really am sorry that I haven't been active (in over a year as Adam pointed out last night). I'm sure most of you understand and the rest probably don't care one way or the other, but this blog meant, and still does mean, a lot to me. I won't make any promises, but I'm going to make it a priority at least once a week to have something to share, on this blog as well as on the Dangerous Alone blog. But if I don't, know that I truly appreciate all of you and that I'll get to it as soon as I can.

In closing, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas (and Holiday Season in general) and that you all have a Happy, Geeky, and Blessed New Year. God Bless the Geekery!

(pictures were all taken by myself with the exception on:

Title Pic- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO1fnUpn-ZE

D&D Logo- http://engl393-dnd5th.wikia.com/wiki/D%26D_5th_Edition_Wiki

Background Image- 

http://mythcreants.com/blog/5th-edition-dungeons-and-dragons-hasnt-learned-from-its-mistakes/)

5 Things Geeks Hate About Going Home

I'm back Dedicated Blog Readers!!! It's been very busy since last I post, and a lot of my time has consisted of me going back to my home town for various reasons. Now I live in Magnolia, AR, but grew up in a very small town called Hamburg. My parents still love there, so I keep in touch with some of the news back home (which is really usually nothing). My trips back recently got me thinking: Geeks must really gage going home. I know I do. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and my family. But as far as being a geek, there's nothing for me there. So here it is:

 5 Things Geeks Hate About Going Home:

5) No One's Read Your Blog. I often post whenever I have a new blog post on my Facebook. It's just a way to try and get more readers. My mom has a Facebook, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, almost everyone; no one has read any if my posts. Honestly I'm not very surprised, they aren't very skilled in the ways of Geekery. But still, you'd think somebody back home would've given if a view. 

4) No Attractions. There is NOTHING to do back home in Hamburg. It's honestly one of those towns where going to Walmart (which is in the town over btw) is an outting because EVERYONE in the county is there. Hanging out in the grocery store parking lot was THE thing to do in High School. The closest movie theater is 30 miles one way, closest mall is an hour, etc.. It's insane.

3) No High-Tech Gear. My parents house holds all of my childhood memories. My old toys, VHS tapes, PS2, Nintendo 64, etc.. You know what it doesn't hold? My DVD collection, Xbox games, Laptop, and anything else that I actually currently use. Granted I don't live there anymore, but still. And believe me, as a gamer and geek, I love old-gen tech, too. But the VCR is broken, there's only one controller for the 64, and I'm not there long enough to play with my toys. 

2) Family Still Doesn't Understand. Now most of my family know that I'm a geek, and that's just that. But there is still the occasional relative that will come up to me, ask me how things are going, and then make the mistake of asking things like so what do you do to entertain yourself or what do you do for fun. I'll start telling them that I'm completely caught up on Dr. Who (from Eccelston I mean, not a all the way back to the original) and am waiting for the new season to start (I know it's started by now) or that I've beaten the elite 4 and am now going back to get all of Eevee's evolutions. I look at their face, and they'll give me either a vacant glance or judgmental glance, and I know not to even try to get into telling them about my speculation as to how the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going to introduce the last two Infinity Stones, or ask what they think about the current game at for Dragon Age: Inquisition looks to them. Simply put, they just still don't get it. I think they thought I'd grow out of this phase. Of course they also game me funny looks back when my friends as I used to imagine that we were digimon, and never said anything either. I don't let it bother me too badly anymore. I know they'll come running to me when the Zombie Outbreaks start popping up.

& finally, the absolute worst thing about going home:

1) No Signal/Internet. Like I said, Hamburg is tiny. What makes things worse is that my house is actually about 15 miles outside of town, in the sticks. There's hardly any cell reception at all. And internet? Ha! Don't get my hopes up. That's why I couldn't bog when I went home. I guess it's kind if peaceful (for like 30 minutes), but after a while, you really start to crave checking you Clash of Clans to see how many trophies you've lost. It's a nightmare.

So that's my list! I really did enjoy going home for a visit. My mom will probably gripe at me for this list (if she'd ever actually read me blog). What're things you hate about going back home? Any suggestions on how to make some of these things more bearable? Leave a comment below please, and share this with someone who could use more Geekery in their life!