So I went in to town today to deal with the new car stuff, and afterwards headed down to grab groceries and all that. On my way out of town I stopped at the Starbucks/Chapters Books to get a drink. To put the story into context, realize that I'm driving a red Porsche Carrera with a license plate that says “PROGRAMR” (which prompted the guy at the Ministry of Transport to ask me all sorts of questions about how to hack hotmail accounts, but that's another story). Anyway, as I walk toward the mall, I notice that parked next to me is a 500 CI Indy-edition Camaro with plates that say “LINUX“.
It should come as no surprise that is my father's car — who I haven't seen in about five years I think. I figure fate has been good to me lately, and luck is what you make it — so I went in and looked for him, and found him inside with a truly enormous stack of computer magazines.
Me: “Hey Richard! It's good to see you!”My father: “Hello my son! Wow — I really like your forehead!”
Given that the reaction I get from the rest of my elders has always been “what have you done to yourself now” type crap, this was the best way he could possibly have opened the conversation. He told me it made me look like an Egyptian priest or a wizard… Anyway, we had a coffee and talked for about an hour; it really was quite wonderful (sorry if this entry is a bit disjointed, I'm quite excited still).
He filled me in about his new businesses — a furniture company that uses hides from local farmers, and a wireless networking company that specializes in creating wired communities for the blind and mentally handicapped. Very cool stuff that makes it even more obvious that there's shared blood. He also filled me in on some hilarious SWAT team action (he's considered “the wild man of Big Island” or something) and court stuff.
I don't think I've mentioned this here before, but my father actually wrote a book on extreme body modification long before I ever did; he's a eunuch that's on higher levels of testosterone than anyone else (legally) in Canada, and has a variety of implants, and has done some pretty intense self surgery (he's also tattooed). He doesn't use the word body modification, but chooses “cyborg” instead. In some ways I'd love to have BMEbooks publish it… Anyway, he updated me on those experiences as well.
In any case, it couldn't have gone better and it's been quite a day! I'm sure the six-shots of espresso are contributing, but I'm really flying right now. I told him about all the things going on in my life as well; I have to admit that after twenty years of being told by my mother how I'm doing worthless things it's really kind of nice to get some positive feedback.
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