May 2008 Archives

Unexpected weekend

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I'm recently home from burying someone else's pet out in discovery park - that's just how strange this unplanned weekend has progressed. 

With 2/3 of the folks I normally hang out with out of town this weekend (or so it felt like) I was a bit resigned to an uneventful memorial day, but the world would have none of that.  Saturday I had agreed to let Abby use my kitchen to cook Justyn dinner.  Then it was dinner for a few people, there had even been an eVite about it but I (as is my style) knew nothing of this.  10-12 people, no problem.  I think all total we probably had about 30 show up, which isn't a terribly large party but it was surprising that my tiny little house managed to house that many people fairly comfortably.  The Wii was played, motorcycle ogled, fajitas grilled and by pure happenstance (one of the guests older sisters went to my highschool in my class) we broke out the old high school year book and I was mercilessly mocked.  It was great.  Plus I finally met a few of the folks in some of Justyn's stories that I hadn't met before.

Sunday as an enjoyable day burning myself at the park and game night followed by insomnia which lead nicely into the email greeting me this morning - one of Allison's rats hadn't survived the 4 weeks she's gone in wales and Chavie wasn't entirely certain what to do.  We decided on burial (as opposed to 4 more days in the freezer) so I went and found the makings of a little coconut shell coffin and prepared for the trip out to discovery park.  If I ever suddenly need to bury a body again (one never knows) I think next time I'll wait until not the middle of the day on a somewhat sunny holiday because let me tell you, nothing is more suspicious than seeing someone walking around a park with a stuffed bag and a shovel and nothing is quite more surreal than digging a grave in a small copes of trees while little children giggle and run all around you.  Please don't look over here.

Vegas the previous weekend was enjoyable too, especially the Cirque show Ka. 

dishonor gnome gets some play in vegas dishonor gnome swimming in the poolDishonor gnome came traveling with us and managed to experience both the highs and lows of Vegas.  Seen here getting some play and relaxing in the pool.

dishonor gnome laying dead in the gutterdishonor gnome losing it all in slotsThen of course here losing it all on slots and laying dead or destitute in the gutter.

Taking that little gnomey punk with us was probably the best idea my manager has ever had.  He may just have to become a regular traveling companion.  He, or one of his plastic and thusly less breakable siblings.


A trip to the Bay area

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I spent the last weekend at the MAKE magazine "Maker Faire" in san francisco and I have to say, I'm hooked.  I tried everything from blacksmithing and welding to making felt finger puppets.  I have no shame about the finger puppets either, they were cool.  I got to hear one of the Mythbuster folks talk for a while (though it was crowded and there were ultimately more interesting things to do).  Basically I got to do all but one of the things I really wanted to do.  I didn't get to drive around in a motorized cup cake.  They wouldn't let me, I did ask.  And now, pictures with commentary!

Ball Bot LIVES!
Yep, that's a spherical robot.  It turns out you really can make one of them.  I got a chance to talk with one of the lead designers of the "orb swarm" robots about some of the trials of making something so outside of the norm.  It turns out the propulsion system that Mikey and I designed was pretty much what they'd come up with as well - score one for amateur nerds!

BlacksmithingI spent a little more time with the folks at The Crucible learning some very basic blacksmithing.  Technically they weren't offering classes but I was apparently visibly interested enough that they threw me into the forge.  Figure of speech there, I am not currently hideously burned.  I have no idea what this guy was making other than a heavy pointy bit of metal but I like the flying flakes of metal in this shot.  I made a hook.  I'm immensely proud of it.

Steampunk hunterXeni interviewing steam punk manThere were some interesting folks at the faire.  I have no idea who this guy is (as in, what acting or artist troupe he's part of) but he was quite fond of showing pictures of the polar bear he'd shot with his steam powered rifle.  He was interviewed by internet celebrities (that's Xeni from boingboing).  There were quite a few interviews going on, only a few from "legitimate" sources.  I really need to see about getting a press pass next year!


little girl feltingGirl checking out lego booksThere were quite a few "girlscout" aged girls at the show which, I'll admit, surprised me a little.  The young gal with the missing tooth absolutely loved "Finger puppets who wish to not die" and I was incredibly proud of the next batch of young nerds being raised when the little gal to the right exclaimed, "Mom, check out all of the new lego robot designs!" while browsing the book section.
Robots and steampunk were pretty much the order of the day for the faire.

Pleo is hungryCircuit bot can never restThere were robot dinosaurs that were oh so affectionate and tiny little robots that could never rest, never drop their burden lest they starve!  That little guy was kind of tragic actually.

Steampunk hat on a steampunk galAbney parkAnd of course steampunk hats on steampunk gals who eventually all congregated at the steampunk concert featuring - yep - steampunk punk.  Abney Park were actually pretty good, and it turns out they're from here but sadly - and I'm quoting now - they could never get an audience to show up in seattle but they're hugely popular in california.  That's a strike against you there pacific northwest, let's do better next time, okay?

Statue on fireMousetrap girlsOther than that, pretty much just fire and tools (both of which I love) and gals dressed up as mice inside a 15,000 pound recreation of the game "mousetrap".  So, you know, good times. 

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