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First Practice of the Semester?

Submitted by Corby on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:05am

By all rights, this Thursday the 21st should not only be the lovely Sorcha's birthday, but the first UVa Armored and Rapier practice of the spring semester. I'm excited because I think we've got a good base going, and anticipate the return of Eric, one of our guys who was almost ready to authorize just before he got sidetracked by multiple semesters at GMU for his special degree program.
I hear from him he's got most all of his armor done though!

Considering the great showing that the already authorized UVa guys made at Journey to the Crusades, I think we can have a great semester. Aloisius, Charles, Sev, Eric... then there's three or four guys who are just getting into armor now, probably authorizable some time this semester.

However, mother nature looks like she'll have other plans. Currently the weather forecast is pretty awful, with highs in the mid 30's and a good chance of snow. Ugh. Again.

Even if practice is canceled, hopefully the Students CA group will take the time to go hang out and do something social. Early in the semester is the time to do it, before everyone gets slammed with school work.

In any case, I hope some of the students are interested in Ice Castles on the 30th, weekend after this. My plan is to day trip. It isn't far.

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Lochmere Baronial Birthday Figuring-Outing

Submitted by Corby on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 1:23pm

I'm off to Baronial Birthday this coming weekend. At the moment, everything is up in the air. I don't get out to Annapolis that often, so don't really have the same sorts of easy local crash spots on my regular call list as I do for other places.

Here's what I don't know yet:
  1. If Kit is going.
  2. If Philip is going.
  3. When I would leave.
  4. If we'll need a dog/house sitter.
  5. Whether I would stay over somewhere Friday or Saturday.
  6. Where I would stay if I stayed over.
  7. Whether I'll be on board.
Just a couple of details! All I really know at this point is that I will attend the event and plan to fight and attend Her Majesty. Oh and it is a 3 hour trip from my place without traffic: I know I'm not day tripping from home.
Hmmm, there are cheap cabins. Those might do.
If anyone else has thoughts or ideas about any of the undecided things, I'm listening.
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Team for Chalice of the Sun God

Submitted by Corby on Mon, 09/14/2009 - 11:34am

Anyone interested in coming up with a team for Chalice of the Sun God this weekend? 

Here's what's required:
Teams must field a single participant in at least 4 of the 5 Chalice disciplines (Bardic, Artisan, Heavy, Rapier, Archery). In addition to the adult categories, each team may include one youth combat, and/or one youth archer, and/or one youth rapier fighter. A bonus point per youth combat, youth rapier, and/or youth archer will be awarded to teams who include them (one point per youth). No team shall feature more than three youth combatants, one rapier, one archer, one armored. If the youth wins the title of Chalice Youth Armored Champion, Chalice Youth Archer, or Chalice Youth Rapier Champion, an additional bonus point will be awarded to the team. Each participant shall receive points based on participation and performance. The team with the highest score shall win the Chalice of the Sun God. To register a team, contact the Autocrat. You must include the names of your team members, their disciplines, and the team name.
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Leatherwork Resource on Google Books

Submitted by Corby on Mon, 08/31/2009 - 3:59pm

Just found this and thought it useful for anyone interested in leather decoration and the peculiar instructional styles of the early 20th century in in England.

A curious sample:
Of this work, as indeed of all kinds, it may be said that it may be to the last degree trashy, or else nobly artistic, according to the skill and taste bestowed on it. One of the greatest and best known artists in England once expressed to me the opinion that owing to the tremendous production by machinery of cheap decorative art work, that which is made by hand must necessarily be confined to a comparatively few amateurs or artists who love the work for its own sake. But I believe that if these amateurs would pay proper attention to design, and think more of original invention, they would keep continually in advance of the machines. For the workman who is a clever designer can give a new design with every work. 
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Greybeard Tourney

Submitted by Corby on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 8:30am

If it was held today, I'd be able to enter!

Damn kids, get off of my eric!
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Update for Next Week: Coronation, Thursday Practice, Triangle Demo

Submitted by Corby on Sun, 08/23/2009 - 12:45pm

Just a quick heads up about the coming busy week.

Thursday is the first practice of the school year, a great chance to catch the eye of new and returning students. At the Dells, as ever, weather permitting. Otherwise we're at the parking deck at Scott Stadium.
We're attending Coronation on Saturday. And I haven't mentioned this yet, but HRH Kalisa has asked me to be her Champion, so I'll be busier during this reign than I have been recently.
Then Sunday we have the Isenfir Triangle Demo, where we pull out the stops to catch the students we have attracted with Monday's Student Activity Fair and Thursday's practice. Please come out if you can!
Other events I'll be at in the next few months are listed on the calendar link.
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How To Do It

Submitted by Corby on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 11:13pm

Time: Midnight.

Wine: Three glasses through the evening. And a cider.
Dinner: Stir fry from scratch for 4.
Tire Pressure: Checked & fixed.
Gear: Packed.
Free space: Nearly none.
Difficulty with new, odd shaped shield: None.
Harsh words spoken: Zero.
Gorgeous blondes on that sofa nearby: One.
Time for a shower and bed?: YES
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Off to War!

Submitted by Corby on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 9:18pm

Packing has gone well, though of course the last bit is always the test of that. But right now there seems to be plenty of room for the one cooler, my clothes, the new Justus shield and the cart. And that's about all that's left!

Kit hasn't been sleeping well, so in an effort to let her get some rest we are not getting out of town at dawn. Maybe dawn:30.
As ever, there are projects undone, or things that must be finished at the war. But not so bad. And my back is better than it was either of the last two years. Hooray for that!
Weather reports look reasonable. Here's hoping for a great war! I'll be making occasional posts to my twitter account throughout Pennsic.
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New Deep Curved Shield by Justus

Submitted by Corby on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 10:38pm

Here's the new shield! Just lacking some drying time and a couple crows.

new Shield
More pictures at this link. Yes, they may look sideways for now, that should clear up.
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Pennsic Prep DOES Get Easier

Submitted by Corby on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 8:44am

I first went to Pennsic XVI, I think. Brad Freeman and I realized we could go on Tuesday of what was then a one week event, I made some phone calls and got camping space. We went up Thursday in his Civic, which wasn't terribly loaded. But then neither of us had armor, we only had a backpacking tent. And probably 3 sets of garb between us. No, we didn't share. 

Since then, Pennsic prep has become more epic. But I've noticed that over the past few years, things have settled down. (Not so much for Thjora, who is sewing like a fiend for Her Highness, but that's not related to our camp prep.) We now haul approximately 17 times as much stuff, but it is more or less the same stuff that we've been hauling for five or more years. So we know where it goes, how it fits, and most importantly, we already have it. We aren't hustling to make it before the War.
Which is, I suppose, my way of saying: Take heart and keep at it. Pennsic does get easier after, oh, ten tries or so. Though I wonder if I'll be able to figure out how to pack if we get a new vehicle. That Ranger has been to Pennsic every year since 1993!
Packed Ranger
That said, there are always things that need repair or replacement before Pennsic. Here's my current list:
  • Finish my new, pretty evil polearm. I need a name for it too!
  • Refurbish my vambraces--which pair depends on whether I can find the old, pretty right arm one. Where is it?!
  • Hang and cover and paint my new Justus Ultra-Curved 13th Century Heater, which I should see for the first time tonight!
  • Recover the small aluminum shield.
  • Make a scabbard and belt for my new rattan cross hilted sword. Philip is making the cross hilt.
  • Tighten up my gauntlet lacings.
  • Repad the insides of my plastic knees.
  • Final strap and reinforce work on Kit's portmanteau
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