I’m back on an Aliens kick (sorry.) Like I ever left. There is one prop from the movie I never attempted: my Mount Everest of 1980s props. The M314 Motion Tracker ( you have to love that James Cameron named all the hardware.) Bad enough that it’s made from seventeen individual 40-year-old parts, but it […]
Read more "Space Madness"As I labored in the salt mines lining the frock coat, Kitty watched quietly. “Why are you doing it that way?” What followed was an intensive course from a professional. I have forgotten much in my three-year hiatus. All of my awkward habits of 15 years ago have returned–pulling stitches too tight, insane frustration with […]
Read more "Apprentice"Speaking of loose ends, I forgot something: the vélocipède aka the laufmaschine aka the draisine aka the dandy horse. I’ve wanted one for years. Originally planned for careening downhill at Genesee Country Village, it never made it there. Baltimore piano maker James Stewart advertised his “TRACENA” (a mix of German and French phonetics) in February of […]
Read more "Inanimate Animals"Quoting Museum of the American Revolution First Oval Office Project Manager Joel Anderson here. Fourth of July in Philadelphia, Kitty suggested we take the train: a brilliant move. It was so hot we feared our train might be cancelled, which turned out to be justified. If you wear your silly clothes baggage is minimal. Amtrak […]
Read more "In a dog’s mouth"Thought I might chat about loose ends, things I’ve finished, and what I was up to while submerged plus new skills I acquired. But first, brother Weed. Turns out he was offering variolation, popular among rich families and the educated classes. It was a chance for doctors to make money from preventative medicine for […]
Read more "Loose Ends, Obsessions"George Weed had a problem. In Woodbury, Connecticut in 1746 he handed off some bogus examples of the colony’s script to a known counterfeiter. George informed this fellow that his brother Samuel signed the notes and could imitate any man’s handwriting. The counterfeiter got arrested in Fairfield County in October. Weed passed some fake 20’s […]
Read more "Problems"I can explain: Well, not really. I got antsy about posting anything on the interwebs, then blogs went out of fashion. Also, I have not made anything in a long while. I would not wish anhedonia on anybody. Anyway, bizarre side effects of chronic pain meds fixed everything. My partner and I have a new gig at […]
Read more "Holy hell, where have I been?"“I am exceedingly obliged for your exertions in forwarding reinforcements to this army. I like your plan exceedingly of equipping the troops with Jackets, as I am persuaded these may be had, and coats cannot; and tho’ they are not quite as sightly, they will serve to render them comfortable.” –Gnl. Greene to Gnl. Steuben […]
Read more "Jackets and Adjustments"It’s been a fantastic couple of weeks. Fort Dobbs is finally open and spectacular. The Museum of the American Revolution reprised their Occupation of Philadelphia event, so Elizabeth Weed and Thomas Nevel returned to amuse the public. Both places were an excellent chance to refine lower class and middle class 18th century characters. The servant at Dobbs was a Virginia […]
Read more "First Person Redefined"These are trying times. The Deckard coat collar is too small and needs to come off. The prosthetic side burns failed miserably. There are two weeks left to finish some 1830’s trousers. Solution: road trip. Kitty and his Drunkenness spent the weekend in Richmond, with Saturday devoted to the fabulous exhibit at the VMFA. I can’t say enough […]
Read more "Napoleon: Power and Splendor"