Cut to the night of the event.  Molly and I arrive to the ‘Museum’ to find about 250 of New York’s Nerdiest lined up inside the winding hallway.  Apparently, the massive turnout was just as much as a surprise to the museum as it was to us; we were the last people allowed to enter, which turned out to be lucky for them. 

The space itself was extremely claustrophobic, a medium sized gallery space with every surface coverd by framed comic and cartoon works from all eras (think mickey mouse - hellboy) and crammed full of nerds.  We immediately saw the two animator/voice actor/directors sitting at a table with a laptop and a plasma screen tv in front of the crowd.  The excitement in the air was palpable, and agitation was visible on the face of the interviewer.  After a few minutes of idle audience chatter, the Doc looks out into the crowd and asks:

“Does anyone know Vista?”

Now, I am a computer scientist, and a bit of a microsoft advocate, so I certainly fit the bill, but, not wanting to be the tool to get up and try to show off, I kept my mouth shut, at first.  However, it soon became apparent that out of this small enclave of nerds, I alone was capable and willing to deal with whatever the issue was, so I stepped up.  Popping a squat between the two talented dudes who have entertained me so much over the years, I began to tool away (it was a dual display issue).  To my amazement, they began the panel while I was actually up there working! 

It turned out that they just had a mismatch on the resolution of the tv and the display out, so I fixed it pretty quick.  As I got up to leave, Jackson Publick said to me that I was now an honorary member of Team Venture!  I wanted so badly to interrupt the whole show and try to get him to do the V finger “Go Team Venture!” bit, but I restrained myself. 

The rest of the event was pretty standard, but informative.  We all got to see some sneak peak clips of season 4 (which I await with bated breath) and I got to briefly talk to the guys and shake their hands and get photos.  After it all, a woman who I presumed to be running the gallery and event comped me a membership to the museum too.  Double score.

And that my friends, is how I became a part of a fictional animated super science crime solving team.