Well that was a lot of fun today.
First off, I totally Yorl’ed out and got a leather duster – it was a Christmas present but I never ordered it, instead opting to buy after trying it on again. Glad I did. I needed an extra inch in the shoulders plus some room to put on flannel or other shirt to stay warm in Michigan winters. The duster comes to just above my ankles and that is exactly what I hoped for – something to keep the winter wind away from my body – it can be awful windchill suckiness at times.
Would you believe Cruel Wife pretty much insisted that I get it?
Later… Good news. I was able to contact the artisan directly and correct a misunderstanding on my part – damn my bad hearing (you won’t find me saying that often). I was trying to talk to two sales reps and hear what they were saying, listen to Cruel Wife, stare at passers-by, and read lips – all over the noise of the crowd. I had thought that the mantle was removable but found I was mistaken. So after a quick couple of e:mails the lady who makes this stuff said she’d make it removable at no extra cost. Awesome.
Here is what it will mostly look like except mine will have the removable mantle.
Here is Phil Foglio and his staff. Opted to protect his identity but he’s easily recognizable from his self-portraited cartoon in the Girl Genius series. Funny fella to listen to giving a talk. Here he was taking a serious break.
Below, she’s all wound up. Very well done outfit with the subtle yet superb wind-up key in the back. I thought it was best of show, honestly. No idea who this is. 
We went to a “Steampunking your Home” thing (or something to that effect). The guy from ModVic and SteamPuffin (http://www.facebook.com/ModVic) gave a talk about finding the raw materials and inspiration for Steampunk creation. Absolutely fascinating talk – an hour flew by and it was easily the best part of the whole day.
This lamp was my favorite piece in the whole place besides a projector that had been repurposed – it was the old lamp/wick style projector. Why no pic? Because it wouldn’t have done it justice, that’s why. I didn’t even bother.
Somebody really cares a great deal for a friend or family member. Look at all the work that must’ve gone into making this wheelchair. I really apologize for the nasty orange wood color and the overexposure – but I don’t want to spend the effort to fix it because that post right behind it is going to make it look nasty unless I spend time addressing it directly. Ugh. I expected better from the Hyatt, but oh well.
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Scroll down to the “Gelatin filled Christmas Ornament (on keyboard)… wicked awesomeness.
http://www.boingboing.net/2011/05/26/moment.html
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Ha! I KNEW IT!!! Thank you, Fark, for shedding light on the matter.
Secret to a happy marriage? Delusion.
Take sentences out of the article out of context is absolutely frightening…
Those who inflated their partner’s assets also reported being more happily married.
Is that anything like “Pumping his junk”?
If the couple is happily married, it could be that the better half of the couple has an idealistic vision of the lesser half.
Which might explain why Cruel Wife puts up with my bullsh*t.
I’ve always said she was delusional.


















Much, much coolness.
Yeah, it was a cool day indeed.
Welcome to the Leather Duster Club! Looks great!
Why thank you, sir.
I do hope that it is roomy enough that I can be warm while wearing it. My previous leather jacket was really just not large enough to wear anything under it without feeling like the kid in “A Christmas Story” and just by itself it was not warm enough on a nasty day.
And not long enough to keep the legs protected in a bad windchill, in any case.
Terrible pic of it though. I should have spent some time working on the overexposure.
I’ll second Mitchell’s welcoming you to the Duster Club. They’re great except when trying to get into your car/truck. Then, the added length is a nuisance. Otherwise, Billy Bad-Ass.
Live the Steampunk stuff. Especially the wheelchair.
Now, could someone recreate Dr. Loveless’ wheelchair from “Wild Wild West”? I’ll work on the giant spider later…
Oh man. Here’s the long back-story about the giant spider.
omigod…that explains SO MUCH!!!
The long-long-long-coat issue in a truck is really kind of an issue no matter what you drive.
It’ll be tough but I’ll manage, somehow.
Arliss Loveless Cosplay @ the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo 2011
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150226917480689.316126.678475688&l=298130bdd9
Wow, someone did a Princess Leia thing, too.
I always thought that was one ballsy outfit.
Time Machine Wheel Chair…Outstanding. Well I guess not, technically.
Now if there were a Time Machine barber chair….
Love the corset outfit, but the shoes are wrong.
Glad y’all had a blast at the Steampunk Show. The pics are great, no matter what you say
And did y’all dress up???
No dressing up. We’ve been looking at it though. Neither one of us is into cosplay – much more into victorian feet-on the-ground type people.
Well, CW might be interested in mixing in a dash of cos, but I’m not.
I’m much more interested in the hardware end of things though.
She had shoes? Where? I confess I was firmly fixated on her… uh… key. Yes, I was checking out her key. Didn’t see no shoes.
No dressing up. We’ve been looking at it though. Neither one of us is into cosplay – much more into victorian feet-on the-ground type people.
Well, CW might be interested in mixing in a dash of cos, but I’m not.
I’m much more interested in the hardware end of things though.
If you like the dressing up, you should come to Southern Maryland around Halloween, when the local Kiwanis has a Haunted tour through Point Lookout. The docents are in period costumes, including Civil War re-enactors as well as nurses and such. It’s really different how people got dressed back then, with the layers and such.