Homeland Security and the Lightsaber

As the lone Alpha Base/Rebel Legion member, I joined two from Garrison Titan/501st Legion to do a fund raising photo booth at the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Kick off event at the Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle.

The building has an airport-like screening process for entry but it's run by Homeland Security officers.  It was amusing taking my lightsaber through.  The officer pulled by bag out, asked whether it was mine and then said he had to search it.  He pulled out the sink-tube lightsaber and asked, "what's this?" I told him it was a lightsaber.  I'd intentionally brought one without any electronics in it for this reason.  Another officer was interested and wanted to see it, too.  All was fine from then on.

The GT members came through the loading dock with their bins.  These were screened in a large device.  Despite the presence of at least 3 prop weapons, Cheryl said the item about which the officers were most concerned was the aerosol can of hair spray!

We three posed for photos for a donation to the CFC charity.

Local TV and comedy personality, Pat Cashman, was there.  He's on a local show called The 206 (Seattle's area code).  While at the event, he filmed a brief segment for the show which was a fake ad for lard.  He asked the TK to pretend to eat it.  This will be on the show 18 or 25 October.
Update 20 November:  That segment finally aired a couple weeks ago and the Stormtrooper wasn't in it.  

All the photos are here.

Back to the flute

First practice session today.  I think it's been over 30 years since I last played regularly!

I went to a music store down the hill to buy key oil and a beginning flute tutorial.  I bought 2 of them.  The one on the left looks very familiar.  It might be the one on which I learned at 9 years old!  I bought the other as it has some modern innovations, including a CD with MP3's of the little compositions.

I am hoping to be able to play at least at the intermediate level fairly soon. 

I'm going to go back to Michigan in October for a memorial concert in honor of the music teacher I had for 9 years.  He died recently at the age of 90.  Some of his former students who still live in my home town are organizing the concert.  Many of them play in the community band and some of them are professional musicians and teachers.  They have invited everyone who was taught by John Cummins to return and join the band for one piece.  I'm hoping it is a fairly simple one.

Other than my parents, John Cummins was probably the most influential person in my life.  He taught me, and all of us who paid attention, so much more than music!  I believe I owe much of my success in life to the lessons I learned from him.  The fact that I was his student for so many years made the impact greater. 

I find during this first practice session that my embouchure (lip position) muscles tire quickly.  I also don't quite remember the fingerings.  On the plus side I have no trouble reading music.  I know what notes they are just not all the fingerings.

My flute, at least, is in good shape.  I had it overhauled some years ago.  A former student of mine who went on to earn a Master's degree in Flute Performance told me many years ago that the mbouchure hole on the flute's headjoint was defective!  I had it replaced at the time of the overhaul. So now I can finally play the lowest notes easily.

Since I'm going to Michigan, I will also see friends and relatives.  I've not been back to Michigan since about 2002. 

Sewing at the Fort

 I put in my second shift as a volunteer for Fort Nisqually today.  I spent about 3 hours doing mostly hand sewn repairs of period clothing.   Here is the very full second floor dormer where the work is done.

Just visible to the left of the yellow chair is a sewing machine.  I also did battle with it today.  I did a "growth tuck" in a little girl's dress.  That means I put a tuck in it to shorten it temporarily.  I'm told it is a period technique for hand-me-downs.  My battle was getting it threaded correctly.

I also did some research in the library for about an hour.  I have a number of things to look up on the intarwebs.   

Getting Started at the Fort

On Monday I had my orientation to the Sewing Guild at Fort Nisqually.  Terry took me on a walk through, showed me how the clothes are organized.  Then we went upstairs to the sewing room.

I looked through the pattern cabinet and noted a few patterns I might like to use.

They have many dresses and accessories to loan.  Once I start volunteering as an Interpreter, I'll borrow something.  It gives me a chance to try some styles before I go to the effort and expense of making my own.

I will likely eventually have to make a corset.  I'll wait until the big workshop in October as the leader will be covering that.

Terry showed how the European Immigrant women's clothes includes four petticoats:  chemise, corded petticoat, flounced petticoat and over petticoat.  That's a lot of fabric!  She said that sewing with a machine is acceptable, but any stitches that will show on the outside of the garment are best done by hand. 

Then I actually did some work.  I mended two garments by hand before I had to leave for an appointment back at home.  It may be a couple weeks before I'm back but there are 3 more garments waiting for me.  Then they need men's vests so I plan to start with those for construction. 

I don't know when I'll have a chance to start as an Interpreter in period clothing.  I'm exercising patience.  However, I've already assembled a few pieces of kit for demonstrating watercolor illustration.  Some I already had.  I did buy a metal palette. 

A real Astronaut!

During my volunteer shift at the Museum of Flight today I met a real astronaut!

Yi So-yeon is a scientist who became the first Korean to fly in space.   I posed her with the Museum's Soyuz capsule because she went to the International Space Station with the Russians rather than on the Space Shuttle.  She was at the Museum as a Volunteer with the Museum's Aerospace Camp Experience!  How cool is it for the kids to interact with a REAL astronaut during their camp?!!

Me wearing my new silk scarf with the Space Shuttle cockpit graphic

More Duck Hunt

Catching up on the Renton River Days Duck Hunt.

Clue #7

Clue #8

Clue #9

RRD Duck Hunt Clues 4 5 6

So far, I've found all the locations for the Duck Hunt.  Clue 5 stumped me for a while.  But I went hunting today and got it in one.  My first guess turned out to be correct.  I didn't have a conscious memory of seeing it but it must have been filed deeply away for me to have made it my first guess.

I also seem to be the only one posting them.  If anyone else is playing, maybe they are waiting until the end to post.  

clue 4

Clue 5

Clue 6

I also saw this when I was out and about.  The juxtaposition of the bumper sticker with the silhouette of the Doberman and the actual little fluffy dog made me laugh.  Wolf's comment was, "My other dog is a Doberman"