Something i am proud of...

[staceyinastoria]

I have been thinking a lot today about something I am very proud of.  My book club.  When I moved to NYC from Oklahoma in 2003, I only knew two people here.  So making friends was something that was pretty high on my priority list.

So I started a fiction book club.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into and it was a disaster.  I tried to wing it and just make it up as I went.  That never really works for me all that well since I am a control freak, but I thought what the hell?  It was horrible.  People did not show up, or did not read the book, or argued instead of discussing the books in a respectful and intelligent manner.  I quit the group and my lesson was learned.

So in Nov of 04, I decided to try again.  This time it would be a more specific type (sci-fi/fantasy) and I had rules.  A LOT of rules!  My friends still give me grief at how controlling I was at the beginning of the group.  It was sad.  I even had an original thought where people could not talk unless they held a stick so people would not talk over each other.  Yes, I realize how crazy that is and that never actually happened.  They did call me Napoleon for a while though.  :)

Our first meeting was Dec 1, 2004 and we have recently had our four year anniversary.  Over the years we have really grown as a group.  Mostly to the fact that four of us in the group are very, very good friends (six counting significan other's of the group).  We game together, we go to movies, play board games, etc.  I could not ask for a better group of people to call friends and I am very proud to be a part of such a great group of people.  This was not always easy to do though.

Over the years we have had a few "chracter's" in the groupl  Here are a few examples.

• A guy that met us for the first time.  He came straight from a volleyball match (so he was all sweaty) and he sat on the couch and scratched his balls where we could all see him.  UGh, what an idiot.  He then later accused us of being elitist assholes because we let him go.
• A girl that sat in the corner (all dressed in black) and did not say anything except one comment about dead people.
• A guy in an email that talked about how she hulk turned him on.
• We met another guy in his early 30's that did nothing but talk about how he and his "wingmen" go out and try to get women.  
• Another guy that did not understand why science fiction and fantasy even go together.  Also he had links to his own published works in his email.

So we have met a few odd and crazy people.  But more than that I have made great friends and since we meet every two weeks, have read great literature (also some horrible...avoid Light by M. John Harrison at all costs!).  My friend Henry (and myself) is the only original member of the group.

Sorry I am rambling, I just feel very proud of this group today.  :)