TeslaCon

“I like this ship. It's exciting.” --Mr. Scott (Simon Pegg)

Yes, I know. It's the new Star Trek. And, while I have very strong feelings about the new release, (Kirk was not born in space!), that will have to be a rant for another time. The quote, nonetheless is extremely appropriate for Teslacon's HMS Explorer II. I have only one other thing to add: Awesome.

Teslacon is a steampunk immersion event. For a weekend, we were transported to the neo-Victorian era where we enjoyed a three day cruise above Europe in a steam powered dirigible (without ever having to leave the Radisson Hotel in Madison, WI). There was mystery. There was mayhem. There was a delightful tea room.

Our travels start with Thursday, the 4^th of November. CJ and Jac had been scrambling for the last two weeks to get their clothing made. By the time our journey starts, all they had left to make were the corsets. (Which, I understand, turned out to be quite troublesome.) What was supposed to take a few hours, ended up being an all-niter. For both of them. Now, while Jac is used to a lack of sleep, CJ is not. And we had to be on the road to Teslacon by 7 am. (Fortunately, Jac was driving, thus allowing CJ to catnap.) Why so early you ask? Madison is only two hours away and the Con opens at 1 pm. Jac got herself invited to do fortune telling, as well as a panel on Victorian Era divination techniques. (It was quite amusing to watch her borderline panic trying to get her panel teachings together.) In an effort to keep her calm, I promised to be her assistant for the weekend. Had I known this would have prevented me from getting to some of the panels I wanted to see... No, I probably still would have agreed to it. Especially as I'm getting a coat out of the deal.

Here I am with my passport

and my boarding stamps.

Jac was selling pendulums. I modeled the merchandise.

This lovely Labradorite pendulum became mine very quickly. Until Jac stole it from me. 

<blink> ( Oh, don't start that again. You stole it from me.) 

To be fair, she gave me a different one to keep. A shiny Iolite that goes well with my coloring.

One of the advantages of being Jac's assistant for the weekend was that I got a prime spot on her table. That means I got noticed! And I made lots of new friends, and ran into a few old ones. Including Julie Bowman, the lady who made me in the first place. Julie introduced me and the girls to a friend of hers, Barbara Everson of Bewitching Stiches, who's going to make me a Steampunk Coat!

My first fitting at the delightful hands of Barbara.

I was weighed. I was measured. I was found wanting a coat.

The Tea Room had a lovely selection of sweets.

And then it was time for Tea. We visited this room quite often during our three day flight. The tea, provided by Twinings was available in several different flavors and the Hostess of the tea room was gracious enough to provide Jac with loose-leaf tea for readings. (Too bad no one wanted one.) And the cookies were the best. 

Friday was very quiet. Mostly due to the fact the girls had been up all night. But Saturday, was a different story...

Thankfully, I'm a dragon, not a Time Lord. (Though I may decide to pick up a sonic screwdriver, should my new coat have a pocket for it.)

Of my new friends, this pair was quite intriguing. He's a miracle oil salesman and she's his delightfully raucous assistant. (She's also a fortune teller. She's Robyn Tisch Hollister of Professional Dreamer Tarot, and her husband William Hollister.)

Lord Bobbins and Lady Bobbins

We spent Saturday evening at the ball with our hosts, Lord Hastings R. Bobbins and Lady Bobbins. After the ball, we were treated to a wonderful concert by a Steampunk band, Scarring Party. There was lots of mixing and mingling. Dapper gentlemen and their beautifully attired Ladies made for a truly fabulous evening. And with the thought that Sunday would be our last day of this glorious event, the girls and I retired for the night with mixed feelings. Had I only known what Sunday had in store for us.

The day of Jac's panel dawned bright and warm, unseasonably so for November. Jac's nerves were a little frazzled. She, like me, hadn't been able to explore the ship. CJ was busy photographing the Con, so, aside from short tea breaks, Jac and I were quite stationary. Combine that with her agitation about public speaking, and it became clear that it was a good day for shopping. Or so I thought.

I learned why the caged cat mews

And saw a necklace made from a cousin. (I think.)

Jac and I wandered though the Duty Free Boutiques and saw so many lovely items. There were corsets and pocket watches, pendants and pins made from found items, books, and more books, and clothing accessories for the discerning shopper. And then there was Lola. Mmmm, Lola. 

Lola, the Singing Lemur.

It was her beauty that drew me and her voice that sold me.

Choosing

The winners: a pin for CJ and the World of Luck Bracelet for Jac

And it's a good thing I did. I found the perfect gifts for the girls. And then I discovered the down side of the neo-Victorian ways.

Highway Robbery!

Alak and alas, I was forced to bear my claws and fangs. Beat my wings and did a fair imitation of Smaug. I amused her enough that she let me go with my gifts for the girls. Still, I felt a little hostile until I got back to Jac's table and saw Sam. We met Sam on Saturday when Jac was teaching her how to use a pendulum and other basics of fortune telling. After that, she became quite a fixture at our table, and her company was most appreciated.

Me and Sam

Then it was time for Jac's panel. Divination in the Victorian era. Talk about nerves. My girl has it down though. She forgot to introduce herself, but the panel seemed to be a success, anyway.

First there was the lecture.

Then there were the demonstrations. Lola's handler got a tarot demo from my handler.

It was a full house and Jac ran out of handouts, but aside from that, it went well. We spent the rest of the afternoon telling fortunes while CJ packed us up to return to the real world. Jac had a lovely chat with our host, Lord Bobbins, who invited us to return for Teslacon 2, Beneath the Ether. We'll be taking a three day voyage aboard a steam powered submarine. I'm looking forward to it as the decor of the sub will compliment my coloring very nicely. (Or so I've been told.)

Overall, I give Teslacon two wings up. It was the best con I've been to in a dragon's age. I highly recommend that you attend next year and see for yourself. Plus, you'll be able to come to the Tea Room to meet ME. (And have your fortune told.) And one day, when I learn to type myself, I won't have to subject my poor readers to Jac's blatant advertising.

Fear not, my faithful readers, I will be showing my otaku side at Daisho Con in Steven's Point the weekend of Nov 19-21. Look for my next post soon after.

Cheers,

Faraday,

the Fandragon

Tales from the Farm: Highland cattle show

 

Dave Barry says, “Scientists tell us that the fastest animal on earth, with a top speed of 120 feet per second, is a cow that has been dropped out of a helicopter.” Scientists never saw me about to be licked by a Highland Cow.

The girls have always been interested in acquiring heritage breeds of animals and crops for our small farm. Jac has a rapt fascination for some little animal called a “clootie coo.” Seems to be a small variety of dual purpose cattle breed from the Shetland Isles of Scotland. (CJ throws in a bit of trivia here. The Shetland Coo is the original “house cow,” being so devoted to their owner that when sold, the owner had to hand over a bit of cloth (clootie) with their sent on it, so the coo would follow the new owner home.) Unfortunately this breed is a conservation breed and very difficult to acquire outside of Scotland. However, “Heeland Coos,” a slightly larger dual purpose breed, seem to be raised right here in Wisconsin. A small herd or fold (as is proper) is raised by a friend of CJ's at Four T acres in Burlington, WI. She invited us to attend a breed show in LaCrosse.

We're heeeere.

 

He's sooo cute.

Lunch on the hoof.

Two points for him.

Stalking, phase one.

Larger than anticipated.

Now I get why cats knead a sleeping surface.  He's soffffttt...

Soft, soft bed.

My beds name is Artie. I think he just noticed me.

Surveying my domain? Or is it menu choices?

My new friend Booger. (He's a little snot.) Now I just have to convince him I'm not as tasty as he looks.

Booger in drag for the costume contest. He won first place.

All in all it was a fun day. I'd like to do it again sometime. I'd like to thank CJ's friend Janet Larson for inviting us. And to her family for making us feel welcome and allowing me to play with the coos.

Tales from the Farm: Parts run

You can make a small fortune in farming - provided you start with a large one."

- Unknown

Sakes alive, I would love to meet the person who said that. Because whoever it was, they weren't a-kidding. (Do you like my farmer accent?)  My latest adventure taught me that lesson, and one about working smarter, not harder.

The day started out pretty normal, at least as normal as a day around here can be. CJ was flipping through her web comics and Jac was watching the Los Angeles morning news (don't ask.)  Right about then, our neighbor drops in and asks a favor: Can we run up to a tractor parts store in another county and pick up a part? Seems everything was “running backwards,” so he didn't have time to go himself.  I jumped at the chance as I knew it would give me face time with Maneki Neko. The girls took a little more convincing, but they eventually agreed. As it was also an opportunity for more stunning pictures of magnificent me, I suggested CJ bring her Canon.

Traveling north on Highway V

Wave to the camera, Love

The rest of the trip was uneventful.

-blink,blink, you're blushing-

I am NOT blushing. Dragons don't blush. Besides, I got left in the car while you went in to get the part. Ergo, the trip was uneventful.

Though I did see some very lovely fall mums. CJ was too busy knitting to take a picture of them. But she gave me a sip of her Cherry soda. (The bubbles tickled my snout.) We arrived back in our borough just in time to deliver the part. And the bill. $60 for that little plug between my paws. Can you believe it?

Delivery, dude

 

“One more favor, if you please.” Only too happy to help, I say. (I've got to keep my mouth shut from now on). “Unload that hay wagon, would ya?” Sure, I say. I didn't realize how big those bales were until Jac helped me up into the wagon and CJ got the lens focused.

Yikes!

I've got it... Don't got it. It's got me.

Hard work does have it's rewards though...

Don't let Maneki Neko see this

 

I got to kitten-sit while the girls finished unloading the wagon. Wasn't too bad, until I got surrounded.

Hey, watch it back there!

Wait, what are you....? -sniff-

 

At last, the job was done, the part delivered. We got home, had mac & cheese, and collapsed. I learned why Jac likes those Cosequin buckets... (I'm not going to post my bath pictures. You pervs....) But I will be plotting and planning my next adventure. 

Until then, I'm Faraday and this was my first parts run. Keep watching for my next post. It will be shiny. It will be snazzy. It will contain shaggy-ya Arabs. I get to ride a horse! (If it ever stops raining.) TTFN.

Geek.Kon

Confucius say: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Or in my case, a beeping alarm clock. 8:00 A.M. It's the last day of Geek.Kon, and having spent the two previous days watching from the auction, today I get to be an attendee.(My girls are awesome.) After packing suitcases and getting dressed, we checked out of the hotel. The drive to the Kon was a short one, but still eventful. The girls felt bad for leaving me behind the night before (when they went to the room parties and a rave), so they made it up to me. CJ let me use her camera and I just had to test it out on Jac's lucky car cat. (Isn't she a cutie?)

Hellooo Kitty!

When we arrived at the Kon, we discovered that it had compressed as it seems there was another event happening in the hotel that day. But all was good. The girls hadn't had breakfast yet, so, on my suggestion, we checked out the hotel cafe. (See my last post for the bacony goodness.) We were trying to decide what to do next, so I took an opportunity to peruse the program. (CJ thought this was a good photo op.)

Proof I was there

I found stuff to do

Jac decided she needed to spend more money, so off we went to the Vendor's room. And we found stuff. And more opportunities for my mad Canon skills.

I just love all the bright colors..

What did Jac need more of?

Nuff said.

My silly girl then challenged me to a game. (No one ever told her not to bet against a Dragon.) Jac started out well enough.

She's good with Talim

But in the end, I wiped the floor with her.

Nightmare rules!

Then we decided to watch some anime. One Piece made CJ's brain melt. The Nerima Daikon Brothers made Jac's brain melt. Galaxy Railways didn't make anyone's brain melt.

No brain goo in this theater

Our show ended way before the next panel began, so in an effort to kill a little time, Jac suggested another game. (I was so thrilled to be a part of everything, I didn't want to tell her she would lose again. So I didn't) There were so many games to choose from. I had never played any of them before so I let Jac pick.

Overheard at Kon: “What games can you recommend for a Dragon?”

She chose Risk

She's good

But I'm better

I was very curious about all the bright colors and fancy garments that walked past us in the hall. When I asked the girls about it, they just said “Cosplay,” and took me to a panel about dissecting costumes.

Dude's got swords on his back!

Our day wrapped up pretty quick after the panel. Someone must have cranked the A/C, because the hotel suddenly got a little chilly. CJ's weather predicting knee was getting the better of her and we still had a two hour drive to my new home. And as I am a young Dragon, and it was a busy day for me, I slept for the entire trip.

Overall, I had a blast. And from what I've overheard from the girls, so did they. Seems we'll be doing this again, only next time I will have brightly colored bits of garments. Perhaps I will even attempt entry in the Masquerade. I mean, if a tortoise can enter dressed as Discworld, why can't I dress up and enter?

And there you have it. I'm Faraday, and this has been my review of Geek.Kon 2010. Watch for my next post. It'll have thrills! It'll have chills! It'll have a sticky floor from where some kid spilled soda pop! Coming soon to a blog spot near you.