Windows   Please note! I'm collecting eyes slowly but steadily. If you're on this page and I don't have a picture for you, then you can either send me one or endure my forcing you to stand somewhere while I take a picture the next time I see you and have my camera with me. If you're not on this page and think you should be, let me know and prepare to be eyed! Matt Brooks: I've been married to Matt since April '98. Before that, he was my boyfriend for two years, and before that we were good friends for about three years. We have lots of the same interests, with just enough differences to keep things interesting. He majored in English in college, and is now a computer programmer (go figure) but his main talent is silliness. His blog covers a wide variety of things, from politics to cookie dough. And yes, if you know him, that makes sense. Penny Brooks: Penny (short for Penelope) is our daughter, born August 12, 2003. I love her more than I ever thought possible, and I think she's just the cutest, most beautiful child to ever have existed. Of course, I might be just the littlest bit biased. Friends Jeremy Beker: I first met Jeremy some years ago when he was dating a friend, but somehow after they broke up I saw more of him than her! We were office-mates at 3GI for over a year, and he introduced me to some really great music and his own particular brand of dry, sarcastic humor. He's a Tolkein nut and one of the fien- I mean friends who convinced me to switch over to Mac. He runs the server which hosts my blog, my RPG site, and the House of Brooks website. Braz Brandt: Braz and Matt have been best friends for years - more like brothers than friends, really. He is father to the astonishingly charming Emma, and the origin of such witty gems as, "Keep hands and feet away from the food-intake manifold!" Kris Brandt: I met Kris the day before she married Braz, far too late to warn her! She's delightfully cheerful, affectionate, and easy to talk to, always a delight to visit with. She is Emma's mother, and I seem to always be calling her to ask, "Is this normal?" Jeff Fiscus: Jeff was my boyfriend, back when I was in grad school. (No, I don't really want to think about how long ago that was. Thanks anyway.) We're still friends, through the Meade Hall, though we don't see each other in person much, what with him having moved out to Kansas and all. Ashby Gunter: I've known Ashby since I graduated from VA Tech and came home to find him sharing an apartment with K.T. and Matt. Ashby is chronically lost and as a result, chronically late for everything. He's one of the nicest people I've ever met, and you couldn't ask for a more caring, generous friend. He used to be on the Meade Hall a lot, but he got a real life (imagine the nerve!) and hasn't been seen much since. KT Hicks: KT and I met during my sophomore year at William and Mary. She decided that she was tired of eating breakfast by herself, recognized me from one of her classes (Greek Mythology), plopped down and introduced herself. KT introduced me to most of my friends from college, the Internet (via the local BBS) and my husband. KT is the friend who went with me on the Trip From Hell, which is a damned funny story - now that it's over! Her daughter is only about two months younger than mine, and is, of course, extremely adorable. Ashley M. Kirchner: Ashley is the guy who hosts my webjournal - he very generously offered the space for free when I got laid off back in '99, and he's been awesome ever since. He's got his own journal bloggy sort of thing. It looks much cooler than mine, but then, Ashley suffers from insomnia and seems to spend his wakeful hours on improvements. He's also got a quite adorable daughter. (His journal requires a login. If you apply for a password, fill out the "Why are you here?" question creatively, and tell him Liz sent you! Karen Ostertag: Karen was a good friend when I was at William and Mary - the only one of our little BBS club that graduated the same year I did, I think. We took Arthurian Literature together that last year, and I'm not sure either of us ever actually learned a thing. We lost touch for a few years, but eventually Matt tracked her down. She's a Meade Haller and a research librarian, among other numerous hobbies. Family Chet Luck: My dad is a dedicated volunteer for the Boy Scouts, a lover of bad puns, and an all-around terrific Dad. Dad taught me how to love math, logic, and computers, and also contributed greatly to my sense of humor (much to the detriment of the world). Alma Luck: My mom has been a guidance counselor forever, and is now finally and happily retired. From her I get my love of reading and my disdain for both shopping and cooking. John Luck: My baby brother. Not so baby, anymore - he graduated from Radford in 1996, and in July of 2000 married the wonderful (and extremely brave) Sam. Our good relationship depends on not being around each other for more than two or three days at a time, so our childhoods were pretty rocky. But we have a lot of similar interests, so now that we're adults in body (if not in spirit), we get along pretty well. I was thrilled when he and Sam moved back to Virginia in '03! Samantha Wynia: Sam is my brother's wife. They met at Radford University, where they both went to college, though while John was a student there, they were nothing more than friends. But since she couldn't go home for the long-weekend breaks when the dorms were closed, John brought her to our parents' house - and my mother fell in love with her at first sight. All the way through John's graduation, Mom pestered John and insisted that he should date her. She would have pushed her case even more, except that Dad and I blocked her. (Which is not to say that we didn't adore her just as much. The point was that if you want John to do something, nagging him about it is only going to make him dig in his heels.) Besides, I knew how he felt, even if he didn't. After he left school, he realized that he was missing something, and they started dating the summer after he graduated. He gave her an engagement ring for Christmas 1998, and they were married on 15 July 2000. Ellis and Wilma Luck: My grandmother wanted girls, but had two boys instead. So when I was born (the oldest grandchild) she was thrilled. She declared frequently that the purpose of grandmothers was to spoil their grandchildren, and she worked very hard at it. She was an original believer in women's rights, and she taught me a fierce sense of independence. My grandfather was always very quiet, but he taught me how to ride a bicycle and overpaid me outrageously for mediocre car-washes to attempt to instill in me a sense of work ethic. He died in October 2002, and I miss him immensely. Robert Brooks: My father-in-law is obviously one of the leading contributors to my husband's sense of humor. Since I married Matt for that sense of humor (among other things, of course), I immediately adored Dad Brooks. Jill Brooks: My mother-in-law used to teach first grade and second grade at an elementary school, and is now moving into elementary school administration. Every now and then Matt will say something that sounds like it came straight from her mouth, and then look at me peculiarly when I laugh. Rachael Brooks: My sister-in-law is a nutritionist in Chicago, and is engaged to a neurologist. We don't have much in common, but she adores Penny, which is good enough for me! Evan Brooks: My obscenely intelligent brother-in-law is, in point of fact, a rocket scientist. I could tell you what he does for a living, but then he'd have to kill you. He writes letters that make James Joyce seem organized and thoughtful. Robert and Gloria Brooks: These are two of the sweetest, nicest, most wonderful grandparents a boy could have - Lucky for me I married their grandson! Gran'pa Brooks builds radio-controlled model planes as a hobby, and Gran'ma's hobby is feeding people.   Updated: 17 March 2005