The Japanese word otaku is used casually among the anime subset of SciFi as a synonym for "geek." I bet few know the word really carries a much stronger negative connotation than geek (or nerd or dweeb or dork), meaning a seriously unhealthy obsession with a hobby.

Unhealthy is the operative word here.

Though it's been 15 years or so since I played the game, D&D still comes to mind occasionally. And I suppose it makes me a real otaku that I thought about what my real-life D&D character traits would be while lying in a 103.2 F fever dream this weekend:

S: 12
I: 17
W: 14
D: 11
C: 4
Ch: 13

Don't even know my best character class based on that anymore. Wizard or Cleric, probably, as both involve fast talk, just like lawyering.

Be sure to note the low constitution score. I swear, this year has not been a good year for my health. First the colitis incident a couple of months ago, and now I've been laid up since Friday with some sort of nasty virus. High fever, aches and pains, constricted chest. Saw the doctor yesterday and she told me to keep doing what I was already doing: take Mucinex (my new best friend), alternate Advil and Tylenol to manage the fever, drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest. She also gave me a Z-Pack in case there was a secondary infection that didn't present itself in the exam. Today I finally feel mostly human, as my fever never got above 99. I plan to go back to work tomorrow, for at least long enough not to take another PTO day (that's what really burns me -- I've now wasted a week of paid time off on illness this year. Grrr.)

That accounts for the slow bloggage around here. Thanks for your patience and continued support.

Posted by: JohnL at 08:58 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Glad you're getting back to near normal. Take it easy and make sure you're completely recovered. My wife works in a medical office, and this year has been unreal with seeing the same people over and over from trying to come back too soon.

Posted by: Ted at May 12, 2005 05:47 AM (blNMI)

2 It's been so long since I've played I can't even remember what traits the letters stand for... Strength Intelligence Wisdom D=? Constitution CHarisma Hope you continue to feel better.

Posted by: Jack Grey at May 12, 2005 02:54 PM (Jq8H8)

3 D is for Dexterity. I'm average; klutzy at some things, very dextrous at others.

Posted by: JohnL at May 12, 2005 03:19 PM (YVul2)

4 OK, so you're opting for the wizard. (For what it's worth, us 'Learned Counsel' types are what they now refer to as Rogues in that now-somewhat-less-than-blasphemus-3.5 Edition.) That's cool; always need fire support in a party. Just remember, noone (or at least, very few) puts Vin Diesel in the geek category, and he's cursed the Gods of Game Balance and Wayward Dice as much as either of us. (Yes, Ranger, with bastard sword > )

Posted by: Lysander at May 13, 2005 12:42 PM (ShW/G)

5 Hope you get better soon. Z-packs are always handy. Geekitude is relative, by the way.

Posted by: Owlish at May 13, 2005 11:33 PM (sBj9U)

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