"Hi Geek!" Maryanne's voice came through the speakerphone, using the nickname that she had affectionately called me for years. "I'm having trouble e-mailing a video file."

"That's because of the blonde filter on your computer," I teased, using a running joke between me and my older sister.

"Blondes have more fun and geeks don't have a social life," she said, which was her standard reply to any blonde joke. I don't mind the nickname. After all, I was a serious computer gamer and, yeah, I guess, I was a geek.

"The only reason blondes have more fun is because they are more easily amused," I answered. "I'd rather be a...