I found myself providing a pretty good explanation of how my brain works to someone today. I dig hanging out with tech/geek/engineering types because I am none of those things.
I don’t think I could ever make it through MIT or CalTech, but my brain craves the information. I can’t necessarily produce anything as a result, and I can’t usually even re-explain it to someone else effectively. But I love taking it in!
One example, I’m sitting here watching a documentary on the Blue Marlin on a show called Extreme Engineering. A super cargo ship that carries…well…other ships.
U.S. Navy photo by PH2 Leland Comer.
Here it is hauling the U.S.S. Cole to be repaired after it was attacked. The U.S.S. Cole. And it can hold more. Woh.
Oh…and right now at our apartment we have train tracks across the street from us. George and I have been kind of trainspotting in a way…guessing what the cargo is, marveling at the ones that are double-stacked with containers, taking note of where the wheels are set for various kinds of cars….
The best part is when you walk through the SAM Olympic Sculpture Park, you can get up close and personal with the trains, but safely on the other side of a chain-link fence. Sometimes they’re parked there and we can read all of the special instructions on the sides, watching the wheels operate when they’re moving slowly, checking out the different latches and connections…SO cool.
Yep, that's the train...moving a plane...
A few months ago we watched a documentary on Tesla, and George paused the TiVo occasionally to provide additional information.
I’ve become such a RABID Mythbuster’s fan, that I squealed and tweeted like a teenager at their Live Show when they hit Cleveland.
And then watching Nova a few years back (yep…Nova) transformed me into a hopeless groupie of Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Oh Neil...you rock.
Though you made my nine planets 8, I still can’t hate.
Again, I likely can’t conduct a terribly intelligent conversation on any of the topics involved in any of these areas. I only know enough to be dangerous…or simply to launch me into a conversation I could not possibly keep up with. HOWEVER, I sure as hell have fun sitting amongst those who can. It makes my brain happy.
xo
en