Flight of the Chrysalis,TechCommander,and Dagorhir

Well this weekend I went to a Flight of the Chrysalis which is more than a Christian based retreat.If you ever go on one you know what I mean and also why there are some things not to be shared,lol.  :^)  But had my relationship with God revamped ten-fold and made a LOT of new friends who I bonded with well plus they actually live in the same state I live in (for once)...Hahahaha..

  Anyhoo,now to the second order of business..I first saw TechCommander played and displayed at Origins 2011 (last month,lol) and I really liked it.I talked to Brian (the maker of it and also SailPower) and he explained all my questions and was very professional about,yatta,yatta...Anyhoo,I like it so much that I've been praying about if I should get it or wait a few months.A main reason to getting it now is because of something "confidential and top secret" is greatly influencing my decision to buy now than later.I really enjoy everything about I must say.Oh I just realized,I hadn't explained what it is! Oh dear,I beseech thy forgiveness.TechCommander is a 28mm scale Mecha game that instead of involving mecha's (note:the term mecha without the "a" is copyrighted by BattleTech,MechWarrior,and Catalyst game labs.No CopyRight infringement intended) piloted by pilots they are controlled as a robot from a control ship somewhere within the general vicinity of that solar system.It is a cool game concept that instead of having mechas be the king of the battlefield they are just something to help it along where as powered infantry are the most heavily relied on units.Anyhoo,let me cut the long story (which is pretty sweet btw) short.Pretty much this is a homebrewed (as most systems start out as anyways) from a couple in the Columbus.Ohio region and what they are known for is Wizards,Liards,and Things (If I recall correctly) pewter jewelry and SailPower (a naval warfare game).Oh yeah,the main reason for this paragraph is because I've been waiting since the 6th to have money transferred to my PayPal so I can order a starter..Ugh! it said it'd be ready soon but isn't.

  Third order of business:I have been busy practicing fighting and also made a Maul last week (no,I was not inspired by Thor.I actually was going to be making a German war hammer style weapon but quickly changed that to a Red style weapon,lol).

Chrysalis website:http://www.upperroom.org/chrysalis/
TechCommander:http://blog.sailpowergame.com/?page_id=795
Dagorhir website:http://www.dagorhir.com/
Picture of German war hammer:http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/images/cd-167b.jpg

Some pictures

 Part of my Plague Doctor outfit/costume (with out the mask or pack it is a out fit)

 Standing against the sign I assembled on the last day (the Chuck Taylors really give a sense of SteamPunkness don't they? Lol)

Me having my arse handed to me (I'm being out lynched by other people I play werewolf with,lol)

Origins 2011

Well I've been to Origins and volunteering there was one of the funnest things I've done in my life (aside from every time I'm with God,CloudLand Canyon trips,Miniature Donkey shows,or mission trips).I met so many people and made a lot of new friends.I plan (assuming God lets me but I think it is alright with Him) on going next year but this time I'll be actually there the whole time (Wednesday (or Tuesday) through Sunday NIGHT..Ugh,I missed quite a bit with leaving early and getting there late...Noot next time).They have moved the dates to the first week of June for the next couple of years but GRCC's semesters should be done by then (I pray and hope so).Anyhoo,I played a LOT of games.I tried SmallWorld,played WereWolf (by the one and only Loony Labs),and a bunch of other things.

  I went to get rid of hobbies (I was gonna get rid of BattleTech and still plan on it...VERY soon at that as well) but came back with several more.WereWolf,MechWarrior (which I have tried before and detested but they had a Age of Destruction starter for $6 (then two days later I found another vendor that had it for $4..Ugh,I guess the saying is true..There is someplace that always has it cheaper (Okay,I know it physically impossible for that to be true but always someplace minus 1)) so I bought it and tried my hand again at it and I REALLY like it.I bought 3 WolfStrike boosters,1 Falcons Prey,3 Age of Destruction,and 1 Death from Above..Yeah,I wish I hadn't bought the FP and DFA and had bought the Ares 3-pack (for only $9 at one place,no Poseidon though..They even had Solaris VII action packs for $9 a piece or sets of 2 for $14..UGH and lol).I also tried my hand at Amtgard but I don't like the Magic aspect of it so I'm probably going with Dagorhir instead.Plus there are Dagorhir players in Grand Rapids as well compared to none from Amtgard that I know of.I told my younger sister about it (she is in her teens) and she REALLY REALLY loves it and I also got my neighbor kid interested in it (13 I think) so it is gonna be a fun summer.Anyhoo,I'll be posting more tomorrow and later on.I actually have 23 more thank-you cards to write.--Nate--

Oh joyous Wednesday!

Hey guys,I know that I haven't been posting much lately and I apologize for that.I have just been pretty busy lately so yeah.Anyhoo this Wednesday I am going to be going to Origins Game Fair in Columbus Ohio and the only way I am able to go (other than by the grace of God) is that I am hitching a ride and then volunteering there as well.I shall be posted in "Paint'n'Take" and I shall be helping people who's painting skills are less than mine (which isn't much IMHO at times...I'm actually wondering if I bit off more than I can chew by requesting to be at PnT).Anyhoo,it the whole trip promises to be a lot of fun and since I am bring the spare camera and my dad is bringing the laptop I should be able to post pictures every night (IF the hotel has FREE WiFi,lol).--Nate--

Some updates and Steel

I realize that I haven't posted in a bit but I've been busy quite a bit,my mask is finished and so is my jacket/frock coat.I've been working on the rest of the outfit as well.I have planted a bunch of annuals in my garden as well that I got on sale (well I was buying a flat and my mum bought two hanging baskets and the sale was buy two-get one free so they were free actually).I also have discovered Doctor Steel (I love his music)and am already a Toy Soldier (I shall be wearing the pins I made now with some of my outfits) and I am already working on a Non-SteamPunk TS uniform (its completely synthetic material,Hahaha!).So here is a picture of the Plague Doctor Costume.

Updates and greenhorn Backpacking

Well hello blog followers,I have been busy (No,not idle) and am able to now upload pictures (Yay) so I have worked a lot on the mask (all I have to do is get a strap on it and more breathing holes/openings/etc) and the bike is good now.Also,as some of you may or may not know another one of my favorite outdoors hobbies is hiking..well backpacking actually.In Florida I used to go on a lot of day hikes and when I was 14 I saw a 2 (maybe it was 4) hour documentary about backpacking the Appalachian Trail and I knew that someday I was going to hike it.Yeah,yeah,yeah,almost everybody from this Nation has heard of or known someone who said they will and then call it quits (theres a reason why only about 1-in-4 people who start it as a through hike finish it) but they usually don't have a) the will-power or b) the training,stamina,etc (please note that b) is completely optional if you have lots of a)..It has happened).With me I won't be able to realize my dream until I retire or take a summer off but if I retire early I won't need to take a summer off (It's amazing how living on less than you make frees up all that money that you could,say,put to retirement with dignity).Another reason why I can't take the summer off is because thats when I'd be working at my Greenhouse/Nursery.

So I've finally started training just for backpacking period yesterday and took out my external frame Cabela's for the first time with 50lbs of chickfeed in it and over a 1/2 gallon of water...Bad Idea!From now one I will follow what every dag-nabbit book/website/person says and not do that! Ooh I still ache all over,it was fun but it was hell (then again I didn't learn how to put a backpack on correctly till AFTER I had hiked 9.2 miles in four hours(please note that that is including breaks and searching for a geocache at the halfway point)).When I placed the pack on correctly then I realized how wrong I had put it on..lol.Anyhoo,so my hip-bones are chaffed and I also learned why most hikers try to keep it under 40lbs.Another good thing is that I found that cache.

My External frame Cebala's I bought for $20 at a garage sale last September.Whenever I can find it online again I'll post the site here.

As promised

Alright,here are some pictures of the bike from a few days ago.As an update I have taken off the back tire and rim as well and am going to be getting a new lining for that tire as well.After those are on and the wheels put back together then it'll be rideable.Definitely going to replace the chain soon though.

 This picture is while holding the camera upside down.