Two basketball games today....Nathan in West Branch and Marisa in Bettendorf. Then we'll hurry home so Fred and I can get ready for his work's Christmas Party. Nervous about that. Of course, I always seem to get nervous when I am in situations where I am mingling with a roomful of professionals (geeks) and their professional spouses. I quickly run out of things that I have in common to talk about....and I totally don't even get all of the "shop talk" that all conversations eventually turn to. So I am the one at the table who ends up quietly smiling and nodding and trying to act like I understand every word said.

Tonight's party has a casino night theme. Normally I would be excited to play games....except that I don't know how to play any of the ones there tonight. Except for black jack. I have been practicing up on that one this week so it looks like I know what I am doing.

Fred said that one of his co-workers would show me how to play a couple of games.......so as long as I can understand the rules as explained to me.....I should be just fine.

But if I can't keep up with that, then I'll just smile and nod and pretend like I can. That is one thing I can do.


(by the way....the term "geek" is something that Fred and his accountant buddies have referred to themselves as....so I wasn't saying anything that I wouldn't say in front of him)