The new and somewhat better photo of the Sea Dragon medallion is on the site ( www.acunningplot.com ) and the Crown has been gifted 25 of them, which should keep them busy for a bit.  The feedback I got on them was pretty good.

Here's a pic:

This hasn't gone through the final polish on the mold and I didn't trim some of the flash off, but I wanted to get opinions of the design for the Order of the Sea Dragon I have been working on.  The only real request I got for it was for it to not be heavy, and this will be light on the level of the spike tokens I did.  

Feedback?




Updated:  Here is the drawing (From "A guide to Heraldry) thatI based the design off of.  I really need to get smaller tools so I can add all the details better.   I also need to learn to draw better. :)

 I could do more with a clay master, but for the number I want to put out, I went with stone. 

 

Man weekend went off pretty well actually.   Friday was nice in that I just sat and watched Sci-Fi. 

Saturday I got up and headed over to the range to do some shooting with Pickles and Cueball.  Pistol I did really well, with a lot in center ring and nice groupings with my 9mm.  I also took out my .38 Enfield and Munky's .38/.357, but not as well.  They tended to shoot low and left.   Plus, the .38/.357 kicks like a mother when it has .357 loads. 

 I even got to try out "The Judge", which was pretty nice actually.    To be accurate though, you have to be fairly up close and personal.

Spent an hour getting the rifle sighted in but it is done.  Had to put 35 rounds through it due to an error in distance messing up calculations on the scope.  We thought we were at 25 yds at the start, but were really at 50.  That many shots with a 7mm turned my shoulder to burger, but we got it done.  

When we got done I treated Pickles and Cueball to Der Wafflehouse food and we went our seperate ways.  I got home and put out the decorations and such for the trick or treaters.  BTW, taking tiki torches and putting them up front adds ambience to your halloween.  Everybody thought it was neat, though I only got a few kids.  Offered the kids the choice of a candy bar or Yap Yap.  They took the candy.  Dammit.

Afterwards I went out to the bars for a bit.  Saw some great costumes, including one lady who had a dynamite Poison Ivy costume.    She was red headed and did a great make-up job around the eyes and some airbrushing to add Ivy leaves along her legs and abdomen, which she had blended in with some Ivy tattoos she had.  Very cool stuff.

After a while I headed for home and crashed.    Sunday was dedicated to cleaning the house up for the Munky's return.   She ended up getting home at around 7, and after getting her some dinner she promptly fell asleep.

This week, detail carving on the sea dragon, pouring those and some butterflies for the pinkleader, and going to Crown Tournament. 

Regards,

C

Ended up going to Mousehole and having a great time. 

The drive up was not very exciting until we hit the farm roads and I had fun taking the turns.  Having Tom Tom tell you they are coming was a cheat, but a fun one.    We ended up getting there at about 10 or so and spent some time showing off various items we had brought along for the gentlemen to see.  I also learned some more new stuff about the attack_laurel  and Robert, but all good.    attack_laurel  and Robert have made tons of progress on the house since I was last there and it looks incredible.  Half the ride home was Munky and I discussing one day getting some land and building our dream home.   We all chatted a while until it was finally time for bed.

After a slow start we got Mousehole started.  We did some pike sparring and some warm up fights.  I got to spar a bit with Master Alan, and held my own in a very fun set of fights.  Afterwards we moved into the woods for a fort battle, which totally rocked.  Giacomo, Alan, Jeff, and all the others had a set of single shot paint ball guns that were loaded with rubber balls.  They worked beautifully!   We did some scenarios on holding the fort and much fun was had by all.  

We broke for a lunch and then did some sparring off and on throughout the rest of the day.  Munky got some great instruction and I got to fence with Giacomo, Geoffrey, and all of the folks.  That really for me is one of the rocking parts about this.  At SCA events I rarely get to fight these people because we are all being pulled off in various directions.   However here you get a chance to play and learn with them.

After messing around and having fun with Geoffrey and Grace's Leonberger's it was time for dinner.  Excellent food, including duck!  They settled some business with Mousehole Court (legal, not royal) and then everybody did games and such.  I was a bit beat (and smelled) so I changed out and went inside.  Crashed early.

The next morning we helped clean up a bit, and experimented with the guns some more on a target with a Morion on top.  Amy set the record by ringing the Morion twice with shots.

After a bit of dicussion amongst the groups we had to head for home.  A fun time, and we hope we can come back again.

We got home, got the house cleaned up, gear put up, Munky packed up, and the dog picked up.  Munky flew out yesterday morning and is already having fun up in Boston.

Me?  I have been doing some bachelor stuff.  Discovered a holes in the soles of my shoes during the rain yesterday and spent part of yesterday getting new ones.  Also needed new pants,  but finding my size was a pain.  Luckily the JC Penny's (our high end shopping area) had dockers for $15.  Just couldn't find pleated pants.  The flat front pants look too much like Grandpa pants for me to buy.  Tonight I will get some new shirts.  Bleh.  I hate shopping.  

This week I am going to finish carving the sea dragon and may work a little on the nautillus.  Not sure though,  Munky has started that one and I may let her continue to do it as a project.  She needs structured activites or she starts playing with matches.

Good morning to you all,

I am writing you today to let you know that my wife will coming up to your area for a visit and to watch your Crown Tournament.  

By the way, that is a rocking list, and I am going to have to send her up with a video camera.

I am asking you all to take care of her and watch after her as she travels through your lands.  I know you are all a good and hospitable people, and you will see she has a good time.  A few things to note though:

• Munky does not speak northern, so there may be some communication issues.  If in doubt, refer to the videos by Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy.  They may help you understand her.
• Yes, she does have a southern accent. Try not to giggle.
• No, she will not be completely unescorted.  Kai and Susanna will be with her.  Hopefully this will limit the influences of the more colorful individuals (yes, that means you Natalia and Pasqual ).
• Do feel free to give her names of good places to eat and visit in the Lynn, Mass area.  I know she wants to go see the Salem Witch Museum.
• No Thorson, do not fill her full of mead.  However, do feel free to send back a bottle.  Please?
• Yes Natalia, do see she has a good time.
• No Natalia, not THAT good of a time. 
• I have secretly convinced Munky that Konrad is actually Jason Mewes of Jay and Silent Bob fame.  She may attempt to get Konrad to say "Snoochie Boochies" during Court.  You may want to prevent it.  Or not.
• Do feel free to teach her the EK national past time a.k.a. pole arm.
• Do not hit her with one.  You all will launch her like a T-ball.
• Do let her play with Kai, Susanna, Elise, and Young Richard.
• Do NOT let her get any ideas about making little Chris' or Munky's.
• Please return her at the end of the weekend undamaged, minus of course normal wear and tear.

Mostly, you guys have fun and help her enjoy her visit (Stop grinning Natalia).  I know she is really looking forward to being up there.  Perhaps when I have vacation time again and can come up for a visit, we can stay longer.

Take care and my best to all.

Regards,

C

Pros:

• My sister living 15 min from site so I could see my family
• Sword fights with my niece and nephew
• Sword fights with my friends
• MUNKY GOT A SEA DRAGON AWARD!
• Seeing and spending time with friends
• Zombieland. 
• 3 day weekend to try and recover a bit more

Cons:

• Not spending ENOUGH time with my friends.  I need an event called Hang out wars where all we do is hang out and catch up
• Boss didn't like the nautillus design.  Back to the drawing board.
• Getting shot while working as a marshal
• getting shot in the back of the head as a fighter
• getting poked in the eye by a guy walking around with his sword points up.  Eye still hurts

A sad was getting something back at the war.  Many years ago when I was a free scholar I ran a charity tournament in the name of Golden Rose to raise money for the American Breast Cancer Foundation.  We did really well, and they sent the Free Scholars a plaque to say thank you.   Since we don't have a clubhouse I gave it to Golden Rose.  It was found amongst her things and was given back to me this weekend.  I am glad I got it back because doing that tournament for her meant a lot for me and was one of those "it" moments.  However, it was bittersweet, as it reminds me so much of her.    I did find a bit of humor though looking at it.  On the outside of the box, someone had written "2004 Thugs for Jugs tourney".    That gave me a laugh.  I am wondering if Golden Rose wrote it.  I keep seeing her and Mary-Grace as mischievious twins with a pen.


This week:

• Redoing the nautillus
• Finishing the sea dragon
• Probably visiting the In-Laws

A Cunning Plot has begun.

Several folks requested information from me in the past, and I am just getting around to doing this.  The content is pretty much all up, I just have to find/design the right template to use that best expresses myself.

Lemme know if you have any suggestions.

-C

 I see a lot of Charlie Brown in me, both spiritually and physically.  So, since I had no work, I started drawing.  The similarity  seems appropriate.



Forgive me Mr. Schultz.


I now have this strange vision of Esa holding a football.....

Target is doing a lot of Skull themed items(cookie jars, salt and pepper shakers, candles and holders)  for Halloween this year in celebration of Dia de los Muertos, including this little beauty..

It's a cookie jar.  There has GOT to be something we can do with this.  Perhaps a holder for awards not given during a reign? 

Of course, we could use it as a sacred reliquary for a previous king, but we would have to decide WHOSE skull it would be.  Suggestions?

These guys are also pretty cool:



Laughing,

C

The Weather has passed and the back yard is drying out!

I can finally cut some of my stones and get carving!  I am hoping to make two award molds and a button set if I can squeeze it in.  The hard part is I am going to have to stop at various points so I have examples for my class.

Had a good weekend with the In-Laws and their small, fuzzy cockroach.  Did food, walking about, and exchanges of furniture. 

This week:  Casting work and note prep for University this weekend!

And so do my In-Laws.  Don't get me wrong, I like them.  They are good people and we will have a good time.  I just tend to fret about how to entertain and act as a good host.

Those of you who have stayed at my home will note that I tend to go all out.  Not that I am trying to impress folks, but so that my guests have a good time and want to actually come visit again.  You see, I really like having folks over for visits.  It's nice to spend time hanging out and laughing without having to do it between bouts on fencing field, errands I have to run, or that exhausted time between tournament and Court.  Same goes for my friends outside the SCA.

So, I try to whip up good food in the kitchen, have some fun playing around town, or just relax over drinks in the yard. 

So now I am plotting on what to do for this weekend.  I am making chicken curry for dinner tonight with jasmine rice and Na'an (Garlic), and breakfast will be bacon and eggs, with perhaps buttermilk pancakes.    Next night will be seafood or gumbo with shrimp and andouille (sp?), and then I will come up with something for breakfast  on sunday.

I was thinking for fun we could take them out to the Civil War fort and Munky thought we could also go to Tryon  Palace.  Have to see.   We put up the Wii so no booty shaking games this time around.

All should go well though.

So, come for a visit.  You should at least be fed well. :)

Next weekend we have University  about an hour north of here.  Teaching a few classes, and then probably War of the Wings after that.  Munky will be going back up to PAX in a week as well.  Not sure after that.  Maybe we'll move.  Who knows?  The world is very up in the air.

We spent a bit of time yesterday feeling out a couple of motorcycles at the local honda/yamaha shop.  Nice.  Not sure if I will buy one before the possibility of the move becomes more solid.  Shame though.  It is REALLY nice weather out lately.

Also checked out a couple of hunting rifles at the store next door.  I have been sharing with Munky and her Dad when the season comes through, and while they are great rifles, they aren't sighted for me.  Something for me to consider.  In any case the next time I go down I need to do some target practice. 

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

V/R,

C

And so we survived the weekend.  

Munky and I met in Raleigh at Drea and Boom Boom's to go to midnight at the oasis.  She was a bit sniffly but a shot of rumplemintz seemed to loosen things up a bit.  Course after that she kept calling it rumplestitlskin.....

Late that night Munky's sniffles bloomed into full borne flu, and all the fun things that go with it.  She stayed on the couch with all the numerous dogs and we went to the event.

Things went fairly well.  I was hoping to do a single tourney but it turned out to be melee scenarios.  After our team ate the first couple of rounds, our tactic changed to pretty much "go out and stomp on the other team" and worked pretty darn well.  This is probably because of the fact that I don't stop when I meet the opposing line, but continue to wade through them, as you should when you are hitting a line.  A little aggression goes a long way.

We did singles before (bear pit) and after (pick ups) and I did well with both.  I am so looking forward to getting back to regular practices.  I do well now, but once I get a chance to sharpen my skills regularly with some talent, I am in full belief that I shall return to my hard, fun, fighting form with people killing and being killed with both a sword and a smile. :)

I skipped feast ( oh darn, no roast camel for me), and went back to make dinner for the wife and watch after her, and then sunday Munky and I headed for home.  Stopped by Trader Joe's and with the help of the Question girl, picked up a lot of good stuff. 

Munky stayed home monday and recuperated, as well as today.  She says she doesn't have a fever today and if it stays the case she can probably go to work tomorrow.  Until then I continue to pour soup and Tea down her throat  and sleep in the guest room for fear of contagion.

Spent yesterday moving my office space from one loc to the next.  I like the new one as it is a bit brighter, more private,  and has more space (I arranged the furniture) and put all my AV-8B stuff (pics, altimiter clock, model, locker) out.  Got home and cleaned the back yard a bit and pruned the roses again. 

Today, more cleaning and if I am lucky I can prep some stone, though that looks doubtful with the rain.  I found out the In-laws are coming and bringing their new Yorkie puppy with them.  I am wondering how the Idiot will react to not being the cutest in the room.

--C

• Ate bachelor food - *burp*  Check
• Drank Beer - *hic* Cheeecckk.....
• Watched Fights - Check
• Played WoW - Check
• Cleaned up Yard and Roses - Ouch, check (Rotten throns)
• Cleaned Car - Check

Still to do:

• Hide evidence, err clean the house.
• Get gear ready for NATO this weekend.
• Pack Munky's SCA clothes.  Anybody have any suggestions on what they would like to see Munky fence in? :)

Currently my boy cat is engaged with a very large preying mantis that is on the screen door.  I am pretty sure they are both looking at each other and thinking the same thing:

"I bet I could eat that."

Munky and I have a lot of crap.   My folks have been giving me antiques, china, furniture, etc. for years, and since Munky married me her side of the family has been adding to it.  Not to mention all the stuff I have collected (movie posters, movie banners, comic books, books, magazines, etc....).  So this week Munky and I have been shifting around al lot of it. 

• Moved all my books into stronger boxes
• Consolidated the antique China from half a dozen small boxes to a medium one.
• Packed up nicknacks that were collecting dust
• Packed up the holiday stuff and boxed the Halloween town
• Packed up a lot of clothes we don't wear that often.

The plan is *should* we move, a lot of stuff will stay in the boxes until we need it.  Whatever is left in the boxes after a year is going to be sold.

Munky came to me last night asking if she should get her hair cut differently.  I suggested an Audrey Hepburn style cut (go surf the net for images).   It's versatile, classy, and I think it would suit her frame.  Thoughts?

-C

The Spike's appeared to be a huge success. 

I have people asking about them so I may actually be able to sell some in the future.

My pewter token displays won three of the competitions.  If you would like to see pics, check the lj for   reabhecc

• Best use of Spike - Used them as tokens and as a centerpiece on a Pearl necklace (given to Her Majesty later).
• Best display of Spike:  I displayed my Spike in a large piece of Coral for a really nice presentation.  
• Best use of Heraldry - Displayed my heraldic tokens for use as Bezants.

Very nice, though to be honest I didn't know that there was a contest for the second one.  Many thanks though to the folks that complimented the work, and I hope I was able to help those that asked questions.

I also found out one of my Coral Branch medallions was there as well.   It was used in a wire weaving display by Marion le Red.

My fighting went well, and I held my own.  My cardio was garbage though.  I am going to have to work on that.  It was thrilling to fight with Connor and Melchior though, as well against all of the other folks.

Afterwards I got to spend some time with an old non-SCA friend who I had not seen in six years.  She was especially thrilled to meet Munky, whom she had talked to but not yet met.

Now we are home, I am tired, and we are relaxing before the beginning of the next work week.

Regards,

C

And a year after it came into our lives, it is gone.  The Motorcycle.  My motorcycle.  Sigh.

A week ago Munky asked if I wanted to sell the bike.  Not that she was bored, but one of her coworkers asked out of the blue.   Apparently she and her hubbie were going to take the MSF course over the weekend and were considering a bike for afterward.  Strangely enough, I had been considering it  because A) we are looking at moving  and without the truck I wasn't sure how I was going to move it and B) I was thinking of something a bit bigger.

So, I told her sure, gave her a rough price, and promptly forgot.  Friday she mentioned they wanted to come take a look at the bike tuesday.  So, I figured ok, and planned to clean it today.  Well, they decided to come today.  So, I rode the motorcycle home from work, gave it a quick wash, and waited.

The couple came over and were very nice.  We discussed the bike in detail, and the husband finally took it out.  He was a bit tentative on it, but I ifgured it would be ok once he got used to it.  He went out and his wife, Munky, and I went into the house and relaxed for a bit.  

He showed up a bit later and after a discussion between himself and the wife, they made a good offer for the bike.  Cash.  Nice.  Only condition was that I needed to ride it back to their place.

That was the funny part.  When we hit the first light. I noticed that the gear select was sticking hard.  So I had to push down to downshift, and then pull up so I could go down to the next gear.  I pulled up and asked him if he had dropped it.  He said no, but did say that he almost laid it down.  So, I told him he had bent the gear select, but it should be easy to fix when we get there.  We got to his house and I fixed the gear select and then gave it a quick drive to make sure it was fine, and brought it back. 

Then I noticed the dent. 

Not the one on the right side from my accident.  The new matching dent on the LEFT side of the tank . Apparently, there was no "almost" laying it down.  He did.  He may not have thought he had touched ground, but he did.  He hadn't realized that the pegs fold up on their side, so he figured he had just hit the peg a bit.  Nope.    Bent in the gear shift, shaved some plastic off the logo on the left side, and pushed in the tank a bit.  I mentioned it to him and he stated had thought it was there before he went riding.  HUH?!

I was then happy he had bought it, because if he had shown no interest and then left without letting me know, I would have been annoyed.  VERY annoyed.   Kind of hard to bend in the gear shift and he not notice on the ride, not to mention the scrapes were fresh.  However, as Munky and I discussed, this may explain why he gave me what I asked for without haggling, which struck me as odd when he made the offer.  He probably dropped it, realized what he had done, told his wife and realized they would need to either pay for the dent and gear shift or just buy the bike.  So they bought it, not realizing that I would notice.

Ah well, not my bike anyway now.  They said they wanted a bike they could beat up a little.  I just don't think they were planning to do it that quickly.  And I have cash!   No take backs!

So, Munky and the new owner will go take care of the title tomorrow, and the money will go into the bank. 

Now I get to figure out what I am going get next.  :)

Bye bye motorcycle.  You were a lot of fun and a good ride.  I just hope your owners treat you better than they already have.  If not, you know what to do.

I love it!

Got done with the tokens yesterday and had them all cleaned and ready to go.  However, the order was upped by another 100 so back into the casting cave I go.  Sigh.  I should get  them cast and cleaned by the end of the night tonight.  The fun part is that I listen to Kevin Smith movies while I work. 

Munky and I got bored last night and decided to make a rather nice display for the tokens, so I cleaned a few of them under the magnifying glass  whilest she played with some pearls.  Hopefully it will be liked.

Today, work, documentation (since there is not a lot to do at work).

We are also starting to look at Coronation plans.  We still have to figure out logistics, but it should be fun.  I am thinking I will either fight or work on some button molds whilest fighting off the Attack Laurels as they swoop in to destroy my artistic endeavors.  Thank goodness that scent of clove always gives away their presence before they strike!

-C