Just three dishes? Hmm...

( Read more... )

Tags: food, writer's block

Today, I did a mascot gig at Shea Stadium for American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Of course, since the weather was good, I did some geocaches in the morning on my way to the gig. WHY?! (Did I hide a micro) and Don't Get Stumped! are both in Secaucus by the Mill Creek Marsh Trail. Very easy.

Then I crossed over to the Fordham section of the Bronx for Five of Diamonds. Now, that was a different experience. The cache was by the sidewalk at an auto repair shop. I got there and a helpful guy from the shop started directing me towards the cache. Wonder what tipped him off that I was looking for the cache. That was great because coordinates were soft. I found the cache and then had a brief conversation with the fellow.

After that, I navigated the congested streets of Fordham to Damian's place. Picked him up and went to Shea Stadium to meet up with the rest of our group: jbadger, foxwell, flykat, rapidtrabbit, jdpuppy, and jimwolf24. I especially wanted to do this gig because last year's gig at the same event was good and this is the last time we'll get to do this at Shea Stadium before it is torn down. (Citi Field, which is currently under construction next door, will be its replacement.) I wasn't disappointed. It was good. Lots of people. Good crowd and good interaction. We took turns going out in costume. I did the first shift in costume, escorted in the second shift, and did a short third shift in costume again.

After the gig, we made a quick stop just around the corner from the stadium for a geocache for jbadger. (It's one that I'd already found a week ago.) Then we went to Flushing Chinatown and had dinner at Sentosa. I had nasi lemak and ordered a lobak (shrimp and pork fritters) appetizer to share with the group.

( Some pictures from the gig... )

Tags: acs, bronx, flushing, geocaching, mascot gig, relay for life, secaucus, sentosa, shea stadium

This coming Tuesday I start up my ASL class. I'm really looking forward to that.

Two weeks from now, Jason leaves town for the summer. That's going to be very strange.

Yep. At the Microtel in Cincinnatti at Kings Island. Gonna hit the island for the first time ever tomorrow. Today, just a bucket load of fun. Got up about 11 and mowed the lawn. Then got in the car and went to Morphicon.

Every year, I do a cameo there. I spend about three hours, see Pakrat, and not much else. First time in, nobody. Went across to the dying deluxe mall which has not changed since last time and maybe even added a few retailers? I dunno, but the former Caribou coffee was a bad artist showcase. Wolves don't have that big of a muzzles....

Went back, called Boomer and while speaking to him, saw Pakrat and Tod walking across the parking lot, so we went to part two of my trip to the morph, JIMMY JOHNS. Ate lots of sub stuffs, and went back to walk around, watch the unexplainable waste of time known as the Rock Star videogame and then, well, time to go.

Got to Cincy, and I wished I would have picked up the discount magazine first, because after I shopped around and decided on a $65 nights sleep, I picked up a discount mag and could have stayed across the street for $40. Oh well. Stayed at Microtel, worlds smallest room that I've ever stayed in. I then went to a local pizza joint across the street that has GREAT pizza and breadsticks. Like Gino's or something...but if you come down to Kings Island, stop at the little place next to Waffle House and Burger King. You won't be sorry. Also, the convienence store next to the pizza joint? Had a cooler and a half of beer that was NOT BMC. (Bud, Miller, Coors.) Got a six pack of Fullers ESB...from a convienience store!!!!! I was looking for a microbrewry nearby, but I stopped after finding a good beverage from a store across the street from the hotel.

So, here I sit on the WiFi with the food network on the tv in the sky. Today (now) is King's Island for the first time. Wooohoooooooo! -Ric

Mood: Tired and Mmmmm ESB
Music: Food Network: Best Burger 2004

Hamvention 2008 report & photos posted to furryhams

Oryx

Current Location: Dayton, OH
Mood: ecstatic

I made it to my first Hamvention! Thanks to aldebron and esrolie for their company and being my handler while walking around the hamfest. I was hoping to see some other furs out there either in or out of fursuit, but I believe I was the only one. I walked around the many spaces, passing thousands of people along my way. I got so many incredible reactions and lots of photos and video of me were taken. If anyone finds any articles, photographs or videos of me, please let me know!

I even stumbled into an astronaut who was wearing a spacesuit! (Okay, it was a costume, big deal!). It turns out, the guy was a walking 3 watt ATV transmitter and was transmitting video to somewhere from his suit! Whoever saw it was given a nice show as I waved into the camera :)



One dream of mine was to meet Gordon West, the man who wrote the Technician book that got me licensed back in 2003 and produced the CW training CDs that got me my 5 wpm morse code back in February of 2007. I stumbled upon him while in fursuit and when he saw me, he called me over to stand with him, making me a part of his show. Thanks Gordon!

So many sights and things to see, I was not prepared for the shear size of this event. If anyone is planning on going to Hamvention, the only word of advice I can give you is to plan to be at Hamvention for all 3 days. It is IMPOSSIBLE to see all of the exhibits and the 2500 tailgating spaces and the 600 exhibitor spaces inside in a single day, unfortunately with our trip being 8 hours to Dayton, we could only spend one day at the Hamvention. Next year, I'll be here for all 3 days.

( More photos behind the cut! )
Oryx

Current Location: Dayton, OH
Mood: ecstatic