Ariel’s Geek History
So, I hear you thinking, Ariel’s obviously a geek now, telling us about her new speakers and her RAM and her geeky computer games. But has Ariel always been a geek?

Ah yes, I have. Let’s review, shall we?

1. I was in 4-H. Rabbit 4-H. And I loved it. I even got a trophy in 7th grade for the Best Illustrated Talk - Intermediate Division. I was a TC (Teen Counselor) at Twin Lakes 4-H Camp, 1989-1991. My first date was with a boy in sheep 4-H (he was an artist, ok?!), and my first boyfriend (another artist, this time named Ned) was in chicken 4-H. I am not making this up. And apparently, Ned is now the director of Twin Lakes 4-H Camp.
2. I was really into BBSs in higschool, even going on a date with a fellow BBSer when I was 17. His name was Janusz (”Yawnish”) and I got so nervous that I barfed during dinner, missed the last ferry back to Bainbridge, and slept in the UW Computer lab while Janusz smoothed my hair. He took me, at my request, to Pearl Jam’s “Drop in the Park” in September of ‘92.
3. I learned to type from email and IRC back in ‘94. Well, ok, so I took keyboarding in high school, but I’m telling you that I went from about 35 wpm to 90 in the first two years of using email and IRC (no, not ICQ, IRC, dummy. Now THAT was technology!)
4. I was a cautious child. Mom: “Air, come swim in this tidepool with me! It’s FUN!” Me: “I don’t know, mommy. I think I’d rather just sit on the beach and suck my thumb. Which brings me to…
5. I sucked my thumb until I was 13. My left thumb is permanently deformed into the exact shape of my mouth. I sucked it that way. And, despite not sucking my thumb for 12 years, I still do something called “tongue thrusting.” Where-as many ravers grind their jaws at parties, I sucked blisters in my tongue. You think I’m kidding?