Blogging Buffet & Nerdly News

Ok, lots to cover in this installment, so, like Mr. Arnold said in Jurassic Park, "Hold on to your butts."

• Got out on the stilts this past Sunday for 1 hour 10 minutes. Tested a couple costume ideas, including some support poles that really helped with balance. Good shakedown for a 5th time walking around. Enjoyed it thoroughly and was tired out after that, archery, AND Wing Chun Kung Fu that afternoon. Even so, great to be out in gorgeous weather with good friends. The grilled ka-bobs (my first) were the cap on a terrific day.
• Thanks to Randy Kilgore for picking up a vintage acetylene blowtorch at a thrift store. This great find was caked with years of paint and grit that eventually came off with some Brasso and scrubbing. The metalwork and details on the handle are really nicely done. It's a toss up between Steampunk costume prop, or living room antique display. Thank you Randy, I'll enjoy that for years to come.
• In yet more stilt news, I hit the after St. Paddy's Day sales and got 3 new top hats to wear for various occasions. Will put together some simple costumes over time and want to eventually walk in parades for Mardi Gras, Independence Day, and St. Patrick's Day, as well as sci-fi cons. Yes, the cliché Uncle Sam costume has been mulled. Yes, God help us all!
• Special Congrats to Sinful and Tikki who got married this past weekend on Second Life. Best wishes to two wonderful (and WELL armed people). A case of Neros and Catnip are on the way. ;) =^.^=
• Congrats go out to Kimberly Richardson, newly published author of "Tales from a Goth Librarian". I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Richardson at ConNooga earlier this year and photographing her during our recent railroad depot Steampunk photo shoot. I'm hoping to line up an interview with her between her busy con engagements and numerous panels. For those interested, Ms. Richardson's latest work can be found here (http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Goth-Librarian-Kimberly-Richardson/dp/0982374518/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237468873&sr=8-1) on Amazon.com.
• It's official. I bought my membership for Dragon Con 2009 this past week. Very much looking forward to the weekend mayhem in Atlanta with my Revenger crew mates, come August. After 2 years of missing out, I'm REALLY looking forward to this trip.
• Ever since interviewing Lloyd Kaufman, I've really been bitten by the journalism bug and want to do more interviews. Yep, this is a whole new side of the blog and a whole new set of rules to establish. It's also time once again to learn something new and grow.
• With all the creative energy swirling about the Steampunk world, I've been inspired to write a few short stories about the A.S. Revenger's crew on Captain Tomas Quin's MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/captaintomas). Special thanks to Captain Quin for graciously posting those contributions.
• Since I've spent so much time costume building of late, gadget lust is taking hold in the form of a mini blow torch and a Dremmel Tool. While I don't necessarily NEED either, yeah, those would be fun to have. ;) Dremmel is a strong possibility next payday. + 1 to Gadget Lust, meanwhile, +2 Craft Tool pending.
• Not only were the guys at Coaster Crew (DING!)(http://www.coastercrew.com/) kind enough to take a couple pics on Popeye Barges for me during their recent trip to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, but they topped themselves on the recent Busch Gardens Williamsburg outing. Clint, John, and several others hit all the water rides in 50 degree weather for pictures...and they even put up a thread in the forum! What a great gesture! You can see it here: http://www.coastercrew.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2054. Big thanks you guys!
• Speaking of In The Loop, longtime fan CoasterBoy will get his dream shot next week, to not only be on the show, but host. And who is his special guest? Robb Alvey of Theme Park Review (DING!) (http://www.themparkreview.com/) fame AND producer on the upcoming "A Boy and His Blob" (DING!) for Nintendo Wii. Trust me folks, if you're a coaster fan, you DO NOT want to miss this. For those that don't know, In The Loop records a live show on Blog Talk Radio (DING!) (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/) every Monday night at 8pm eastern and has a live chat session during the show. Glad to cheer you on CoasterBoy, and I think you'll do great!
• And finally, my buddy Pat McCabe (The A Walk In The Park Podcast) (DING!) will be on his way to Orlando Florida next Monday, hence is absence from In The Loop. Why? He's moving to his new apartment...5 minutes from Disney World. Yep, a dream come true for MANY coaster enthusiasts...and even a few Roombas. Good luck Pat and have a safe trip.