[July 08, 2011] The Joplin Globe, Mo., Geeked Out column Tweet JOPLIN, Mo., Jul 08, 2011 (The Joplin Globe - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- As of today, I should close on a brand new Geek Central. As of this writing, I'm knocking on wood between every paragraph. In other words, closings make me nervous. I understand why the process exists. Purchasing a home is a big deal that must be done properly. I'm sure that the process has gotten easier over history, and has become what it is because of history. But still, it's nerve-racking to have a sale depend on one moment, where anything could happen and slow or stop a sale. My move to Joplin featured one of those potential closing disasters. The lot where I used to live, located near the seemingly redundantly named Gabby Street Boulevard, was one of two smaller lots that used to be one lot. The owner built a second home on his property, and had to divide his lot into two long skinny lots. The main home's patio went right up to that property line. Or at least, that's what I found out during closing. During the sales process, everyone was under the assumption that the property line ended at a roof that covered and hung over the patio. We're talking about maybe two feet of roof. My Realtor, the property owner's Realtor, the county, everybody. We all believed that there was no way in the world that a piece of roof would be built over someone else's property line. When we found out that a sliver of the house I wanted to close on was technically on someone else's property, we freaked. No bueno. I had just closed on my Nixa house that day, so I had all my stuff in a moving van and my dog and cat outside the house I wanted to buy. My choices were to go along with the closing and hope I could get the neighbor to agree to the roof being over the property line, or halt everything until paperwork could get resolved. I banked on my new neighbor being a good human being who understood that people who draw property lines make mistakes, and went ahead with the closing. Fortunately, she was a good human being, and she turned out to be a great neighbor. That neighbor is living in Pennsylvania now, with a new husband and a baby on the way. Though I miss my old neighbors, I'm looking forward to meeting my new ones. I'm also looking into getting a great house for the price, with room to grow in a great neighborhood and a place where my family can stretch out a bit. If closing went without a hitch, that is. Here's hoping. Happy birthday, Kris Today is also a great day because Kris Hadsa -- whoops -- Clements, my sister, was born 36 years ago. Kris got married a few weeks ago in Nashville. It was a great wedding -- I got to introduce The Lovely Paula Hadsall to my Florida family, finally. This week, she stayed with my mom, who underwent valve replacement surgery. She stayed by Mom's bed as long as she could, and Mom pulled out of the surgery just fine. Here's a weird thing about Kris: She thinks she's entitled to my happy-face bank. Remember the '70s, and how smiley faces were everywhere? For as long as I can remember, I've had a happy-face bank. It's ceramic with yellow enamel paint and has a metal plate at the bottom, so I could always sneak in and get cash without breaking it. I always thought I was superior to everyone else, because while they all had piggy banks, I had a happy-face bank. It was a symbol of pride, no matter where in the house it was kept. After I left home, it stayed at my mom's for a while, until I realized how much I missed it. So I have no idea why Kris would think it's hers! She gets Mom's diamonds and the treasure chest full of Mardi Gras doubloons, but she just has to have the happy-face bank? Not gonna happen. Kris asked two questions of me after hearing about the tornado: "Are you OK?" and "Did you get the happy-face bank?" Yes, yes I did. It's on my desk in the newsroom, and will make a great addition to the new house. And without spoiling anything, Kris is going to love her birthday present when she sees it. It's fun to tease my sister (just like I have in this column). I love her and hope she has a great birthday. Don't understand fanboys of 'My Little Pony' When my sister was growing up, I played with Transformers and she played with My Little Pony. My Starscream robot transformed into a jet. My Shockwave transformed into a portable radio, which held a cassette that transformed into a pterodactyl. Her ponies had pictures on their butts, the eyes of Precious Moments figurines and neon-colored hair. I definitely got the better end of the deal. I can understand why grown men geek out over Transformers today. They were cool. But I don't get the guys geeking out over My Little Ponies, which are pony-shaped lumps of plastic with nappy hair and no points of articulation. But that is exactly what's happening. The snare is a new cartoon, "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic." According to a report by Wired.com, the new cartoon features fantastic animation, funny story and much more to get geeked out over. I came across this rainbow-colored mess on YouTube: Someone brilliantly meshed scenes from the cartoon with the trailer for "Watchmen." Right now, there is a group of middle-aged guys who are geeking out over ponies, which have no robotic implants, ability to transform into robots with death lasers or anything cool at all. Called "bronies," they are watching the show religiously, blogging, buying the toys and going nuts ignoring the self-loathing they must feel by geeking out over ponies. I want to make fun of them. I really do. But we have too much in common. They are acting the same way I act over playing cards. I watched the first episode of this new cartoon, on the Hub Network, and it's 22 minutes of my life I wish I had back. The animation is very good, no doubt. But it's so bland and lifeless. To me it's boring. So sorry, bronies. I just don't get you. But your mashups are awesome. Especially that one with the ponies singing Reggie Watts' "F*** S*** Stack." To see more of The Joplin Globe or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.joplinglobe.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Joplin Globe, Mo. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]