The Hobbit Hole VIII - Still round the corner we may meet...

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[JenB]

Do you ever feel compelled to finish series once you start them even if you don't like them? That happens to me.

Mmm, it depends on the series. It took me two years to break my addiction to "Xanth" and Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" fantasy series. I didn't mean to suggest "Lone Wolf" wasn't good, it was just odd.

The weapon stuff helped very much! I wrote a rough version of an introductory story yesterday over lunch. Haven't done enough research to do more than that. Wanna see?

[Ramius]

Wow, Sam... if it were me I'd be sure to hang on to those. They are historical treasures.

[Fedora]

However, it's been hanging on the wall for 15 or so years with no one taking an interest in it.

I guess that means it's yours :) The Springfield sounds neat, too. I've had a couple other weapons I wish I still had. One was a 19th-century saber (I think from the Boer War but I'm not sure) which a friend gave me, but I was so young then I didn't know to take good care of it and wore it as part of a Halloween costume once and messed up the handle and scabbard in the process. The other was an imported Tai Chi sword which was really nice, but I gave that away to someone as a gift. However although I don't have those anymore, I do have a neat-looking Hobbit Hole knife! :)

[Fedora]

The weapon stuff helped very much! I wrote a rough version of an introductory story yesterday over lunch. Haven't done enough research to do more than that. Wanna see?

Yeah, send it on! BTW I've got some more stuff I mean to send you on that, just haven't had a chance to yet.

[Ramius]

I am suddenly very sad. I've been following the thread on a Marine wounded in Fallujah. He's the guy in the famous picture known as "Cigar Guy".

That Marine was wounded in Fallujah, is undergoing some surgeries for head wounds, and will likely lose an eye. He's in Ramstein now.

I just have no words to express how rotten this is, that such good men must forfeit so much, for things that are so important at the national level, yet so awful at the personal level.

We owe these men so much.

[JenB]

Ok, it's sent. I'm working on another short bit now but it's going to take some research.

[Sam Cree]

I looked at a Kimber at the local gun shop, gotta admit, the thing was cool just to hold onto for a few seconds.

[Sam Cree]

Yep. We do owe them.

[Wneighbor]

We owe these men so much.

Agreed.

[Sam Cree]

I think the Bahamians are now using some old USCG cutters for their "Defense Force." I didn't actually know that the CG had enough money to just be giving boats away.

I used to really admire the RBDF patrol boats made by Halamatic in England. Not fast, round chine, but beautiful. I think they'd have been fast if they put bigger Cats in 'em.

[osagebowman]

Ramius, whoa, a new-old stock '11, way cool. Have to admit, never shot a GC or a Kimber, but those who have, invariably concur with your assessment.

[Ramius]

Well... if they are the 82 footers and 95 footers... none of those were built after the very early sixties. They're all so old that the maintenance cost on them alone was getting sky-high. Giving them away would be a bargain. :-)

I loved the 82's thought... those were great boats.

[Fedora]

Just sent an editorial review. What's the other bit about that you're researching?

[Fedora]

That makes me sad to hear, too. Is there something the Hobbit Hole can do for this guy? I think when you get a major injury like that it's very important to get strong support; otherwise it can be very demoralizing, I know from talking to some vets.

[Ramius]

Story time, here... speaking of 82 footers...

I grew up on the South Puget Sound, and back then our resident CGC was the Point Glass, here in Gig Harbor. It was an 82, and was as always totally spotless all of the time.

Seems there was an occasion when the Pt Glass rescued a fisherman... and he wished to express his gratitude to the crew... but of course they weren't allowed to accept any gifts of cash or any such things. But somehow this guy made arrangements to make a gift to the boat... he arranged to have the whole engine room chromed.

Everything... the heads, the blocks, the exhaust system... the works. It was a sight to behold. :-)

[JenB]

I'm researching basic cultural stuff. Warrior ethos - bushido - background of ancient Japanese society. Picking what I want to use and what I want to modify. It's way too fun.

[Ramius]

I have no idea what could be done for him. But it is a good thought. There are many like him too. I just don't know what might be best to do.

[Sam Cree]

Chrome in the engine room on a USCG vessel! Cool.

I'm trying unsuccessfully to find an image of a RBDF boat, but I did come up with this cool bar in the Bahamas where it looks to be fun to go have a beer. I believe this place is pretty remote, though.

[Wneighbor]

he arranged to have the whole engine room chromed.

~drool~

*pant* *pant* *pant*

Chrome!!! The entire engine room!

I gots goose bumps all over! :-)

photos? anywhere? it's a shame if nobody anywhere has any!

[SuziQ]

Didn't you go to an anime con last week too?

Yeah, we went to Conbust; a small animecon at Smith College. Today was a lot of fun. It was hilarious to see all those people dressed up as anime characters. Kind of stumped some of the typical clientele of the park Plaza, I can tell you!

Anime Boston was held for the first time in 2003. They were hoping they'd get at least 600 people, and ended up pre-registering over 1300, then selling out mid-day on the Saturday of that weekend with over 4000 registrants!!. This year, they were totally sold out of weekend registrations 6 weeks ago! They had already contracted for the Park Plaza again this year, but next year they're going to be at the Hynes Convention Center, which is HUGH! It's also NOT going to be on Easter weekend, which is great because that means we could go and stay for the whole weekend if we wanted!