Gerry Heidenreich

A few of us in the Milwaukee area gathered together at Scott and Kelly Isaacs' home for food and good company.  I'm thinking this is the first of many such get-togethers.  There is an intrinsic bind between all of us that I found very interesting.  Most of the wives (including my own) had no trouble seeing the joke behind the event's title: “Q#”.  The coder's family story is strangely familiar regardless of which coder you're referring to.  I have to imagine the story is similar to that of any tightly esoteric community, like those from a good church, law firm, or perhaps even the families of professional athletes or entertainers.  Due to the nature of what we do (and our passion for it all), our families have a natural commonality that enables them to identify with each other almost immediately.  I think that there is definitely a unique attribute to it all that strengthens this dynamic: (Generalizing!) Many of us have chosen to live our lives outside the superficial facade that can make other similar gatherings uncomfortable...

For instance, at a neighborhood picnic, you may find me visiting with a farmer and his wife who have children the same age as ours. Though they're great people, their lifestyles are so totally different than ours that it takes some real effort to keep that awkward silence at bay.  We talk about our kids and school and teachers, and the area... I silently consider how insane he is for waking up at 5 o' clock every morning... he silently considers how crazy I am for going to bed at that time...  I craft businesses from a keyboard over a series of late-nights... he's crafted his business from his bare hands over his lifetime...

There are so many other coders that do their 9 to 5 and go home, glad to be done with the day.  There wasn't a single coder at the Isaacs' that lived their life this way.  Each of these guys (yup) have their stories about their latest adventures in the industry (congratulations Brian, Casey, Scott), and our wives/girlfriends/children had no problem getting along as they've all shared these adventures with us.

The highlight of my evening was a game of YINSH against the optionScalper, in which I won (partially due to the PAPE rules given in the beginning of the game).  I have a feeling there will be a request for a rematch, and I have a feeling that oS will have his algorithmic Ps and Qs at arms for a quick and easy win.

Clint (of SafeNet Consulting) and Kate Houchens were there with ~4 of their 6 children.  Clint witnissed my YINSH massacre of oS (this is the one and only time I will have any opportunity to trash-talk oS) and decided he would have to look into this German Boardgaming phenomenon as a possible new recreational pastime for the group of 8 (Gamegeek's 8+ player game results)...

Travis Feirtag, his wife Julie, and their young boy Trevor were there.  Trevor impressed everybody with his stylish belly slides down the hill in Scott's yard.

casey chesnut was there with his girlfriend  'TS'.

The 4 B's were there: Brian, Belinda, Breanna, and Brock Tinkler.  They were accompanied with the one and only Captan Morgan.

John Mitchell (Snapsis, DotNetNuke Core Team) and his wife Colleen made it.  I must compliment John's taste in beer, and his wife's resourcefulness when it comes down to snacky goodness.  Her peanut-butter, chocolate covered Rice Crispie Treats didn't survive long after I found them.

Finally, Russ Ambrose, who has no online presence to speak of (yet, we're working on him), made it to the party to hang with the rest of us .Net goofballs.

Thank you Isaacs' for hosting a great get-together... with any luck, v2 will take place at the Heidenreich household in sunny, woodsy Muskego, WI!  With little or no luck, however, it may still take place in the current Heidenreich household in South Milwaukee, WI.