Not that there's anything wrong with that . . .
Two weeks ago, in Los Angeles, I fell in love with a man. As a straight guy, that is not an easy sentence to write (which is why it took me two weeks to write it).
But, I decided that if I'm going to do a blog, damn it, then I'm going to do an honest blog.
So there you have it: I'm in love with a man. And I'm not talking about some harmless, non-sexual crush, like the one I've had on Paul Newman ever since I first saw Cool Hand Luke.
I'm talking about snuggling under a down comforter on a rainy Sunday morning while sipping mimosas and working on The New York Times crossword puzzle.
I guess I better tell you the story.
I met this fellow at an in-house seminar for a health care company. I was there to do some training on how to write for the intranet. At the opening networking session, I was talking to a group of employees, when he walked up.
He was nice looking enough, I guess. In a Greek God sort of way. But I didn't even notice his looks. What I did notice was his personality. He was charming and outgoing and funny, and the force of his intellect was overpowering.
'So,' I asked him, 'what do you do for the company?'
'I'm the director of IT,' he said.
I almost dropped my drink. I couldn't speak. How could this charming, sophisticated man be an IT guy? Where were the telltale stains on his pants, from when he got overexcited about a new software application and couldn't hold his bladder? Where was the ever-present sneer? Where was the condescending attitude?
'Oh,' I said, just to be saying something. 'What's your background?'
'I'm actually a medical doctor by trade,' he said. 'So that really helps me run the IT department here.'
Oh. My. God. A medical doctor and an IT person. With a great personality and a sense of humor. I felt my world start to slip away.
'So what are you going to talk to the group about tomorrow?' he asked me.
'I'm here to teach people how to write for online media,' I managed to stutter.
'Oh, that's great,' he said. 'We need it. The folks around here love to write lengthy e-mails, and long online stories. They need to learn how to write shorter and tighter.'
'Exactly,' I said. 'That's one of my key messages—that it's hard to write short. One of my favorite quotes . . .' I started to say.
'Is by Mark Twain, right?' he finished. 'I apologize for the length of this letter, but I didn't have time to write a shorter one.'
Oh. My. God. Again. Here's a charming guy who can heal me when I'm sick, trade Mark Twain quotes with me on the fly and fix my computer. I guess love really is a many splendored thing.
Before I made a fool of myself, I stumbled over to the woman who had hired me, and mumbled something like 'True . . .true . . . is it true . . .doctor . . .Mark Twain . . . IT guy . . .'.
'Oh,' she said immediately. 'You've met Anthony, our IT guy. His mind works in ways that are just impossible to try and understand.'
Oh, but I do understand. Because since I met him, my mind has been working in ways I don't completely understand. And because of him, I'm never going to make fun of haughty, bedwetting, nose-dripping IT nerds again. Never. Ever.
It wouldn't be fair to my Anthony.
Comments (5)
DATE: 11/03/2004 12:52:6P PM
Welcome to the dark side! The place where people can finally admit that some IT geeks are actually pretty cool. That we don't all go home and work on our home wireless network, that we don't all read every. single.IT.blog.EVER.
There are some of us who come home from work and don't touch our home computer, let alone log on to an evening of internet gaming. We have spouses, and sometimes children, and read novels and enjoy all sorts of non-computerized entertainment. Who knew?
The thing I find most interesting? Is that the same people who will laugh and snicker at you for being a geek, are the first people to call you at 9pm on a Wednesday night when their computer doesn't work and they absolutely need something right this minute! Personally, I do not make them feel stupid or insecure, and most often times I try to help. Unless of course I don't know the answer, because I don't work on computers at home. Then my advice turns to which wine they should drink to deal with the problem. (I actually did this last Thursday to a friend of mine. I couldn't help her until Friday, so my Thursday advice was a nice chilled pinot grigio/chardonnay blend.)
So, as I rant on as an IT chic who considers herself quite likeable and maybe even cool, satisfied that someone finally realizes that we're not all just geeks, I look down and there it is. A stain on my pants from lunch. I'm not even kidding...couldn't make it up if I wanted to. So I put on my glasses and make my way to the server room to change my backup tapes, stopping at the bathroom along the way to try and remove this whatever-it-is from my pant leg.
Have a nice day, Steve...and best of luck with Anthony. I'm sure you two will be very happy together someday. Of course, he may be too cool for you. ;)
Posted by Rebecca | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/03/2004 01:34:0P PM
Stop it, Rebecca. One outgoing, funny IT person I could write off as the exception to the rule.
But now you make two. Please don't make me rethink all the prejudices I've carefully built up over the past five years. Please. I just don't have the time!
Sorry about the stain . . . you say you were "going to change my backup tapes," . . . is that some kind of IT euphimism for going to the bathroom or something?
Steve
Posted by steve crescenzo | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/03/2004 08:22:7P PM
Steve, I swear. There's this whole secret underground society of geeks who, dare I say it, have lives. I'd tell you more, but they could be watching, and then they won't tell me the secret handshake at the next meeting.
The only euphimisms I know for going to the bathroom are the age-old "number 1" and "number 2" - changing my backup tapes is as it seems. You see, Steve, despite all of our 'superiority' we really are looking out for you. If I don't change the tapes...they would overwrite themselves every night. Then I wouldn't be able to recover on Wednesday the blog you accidentally deleted on Monday. And who wants to lose Monday's blog?!
Okay, so maybe I like to think of it as covering my ass. But it helps you in the long run now doesn't it?
Luckily someone in the building had a Shout wipe. Crisis averted. Have a nice day.
Posted by Rebecca | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/03/2004 18:11:0P PM
Oh, no . . . keep it up, Rebecca. You're going to make me fall in love with YOU and start questioning my new-found sexuality and then I'm going to be spinning around like a top and won't know which way is up.
Steve
Posted by steve crescenzo | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/03/2004 22:64:2P PM
Well Steve, let's just say that it wouldn't be the first time a man (or woman for that matter) who has questioned their sexuality has fallen in love with me. I've just never witnessed the trasformation all in one blog.
You're blogs are an entertaining part of a stress-filled day...I'll check back to make sure you're being nice to the geeks. Pick on legal - no one ever tries to defend them. I work for attorneys, I could be your cheering section.
Posted by Rebecca | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30