Meet the Staff

Posted by terraolsen on May 31, 2013 in Interviews | Leave a comment

Meet the Staff: Virginia Eader

Interview by Terra Olsen

What are your favorite things to nerd out on? 

Organizing things and making lists (I’m a type ‘A’ personality so it comes with the territory). John Hughes Films. Star Trek. FASHION. Thrifting. Analyzing old (and new) television shows for sexism, racism, heterosexism, American egocentrism, etc. Arts and crafts.

 

When did you realize that you were a ‘nerd’?

When I started dressing “weird” and didn’t care what people thought. I used to have this incredible jacket covered in buttons that I had collected for a few years. I also had this totally funky floor length jacket with 1970’s patterned material, gold clasps and fur cuffs and collar. It weighed like 10 lbs. To this day I regret not knowing what happened to it. During the era of the coat I also wore a pair of black Dr. marten boots that I would paint and mod podge differently every week. I went to a super small school so it was easy to stand out against the norm if you were doing things a little differently. This began in 7^th or 8^th grade and fully bloomed by the time I was 15. I was a theater geek, band nerd, and even joined Chess Club and Knowledge Bowl. I also did sports and was president of every other club. I think I was just nerdy about being involved in everything.

What is your favorite ‘nerdy’ possession? 

My old t-shirts. I won this one shirt in 2^nd grade for reading the most books in the entire school. I read over 500! You can ask my mom if you don’t believe me- she had to sign off on all of them. Also, my Home Alone t-shirt. (Macaulay Culkin at his finest.) It was a great thrift store find back in high school and I will never get rid of it. I’ll force my own children to wear it someday.

What is the one book you could read over and over again? 

Ishmael by Danielle Quinn. So much about life connects to that story. I have found myself coming back to it many times over the years.

Why did you join Have You Nerd (besides Terra forcing you )?

I’ve been a part of HYN since the beginning. Terra (the founder) and I have known each other since elementary school and have been BFFs since middle school. Talk about a real NERD! (She tried to teach me how to play magic cards once and I totally didn’t pay attention. Sorry I disappointed you, Terra.) So we’ve been friends all these years and have grown together, as women, as nerds….as nerdy women.