Unmitigated

We Work Hard, So You Don't Have To

Once again, I find myself in front of my computer on a day of leisure (the weekend...even though I am working from 3pm - 9pm today) and I notice you people have not been kind enough to produce blog posts for me to enjoy.

If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

So, I thought I'd tell you about Maker Faire.

banner thoughtlessly stolen from the website of my place of employment

I had lunch with one of the curators the other day, and she said to think of Maker Faire as the State Fair, but with robots. A very apt description, I think. Maker Faire has previously been held in San Francisco, and New York-type places, but this is their first full appearance in the Midwest (there was a mini version in Ann Arbor about a month ago). 

From the website of The Henry Ford:

A two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates arts, crafts, engineering, food, music, science and technology projects and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. It’s for creative, resourceful people who like to tinker and love to make things. Experience it here, in the birthplace and showplace of one of the world’s most famous tinkerers, Henry Ford.

If you are a local yokel and are so inclined, I will be at the gift area next to the Automotive Hall of Fame from 3pm-9pm today and from 9am-1pm on Sunday.

All This Time I Thought I Was Becoming LESS Acquisitive

Top Left: The new Blackberry Curve I got with Verizon's New-Every-Two program. Actually, I liked my old Blackberry just fine, but I carried it in my pocket during the week I spent guiding teachers around Greenfield Village in the July heat, and I perspired enough to soak the phone, as well as all my clothing. Yes, I tried the rice thing. It helped, but not enough. The new one cost me $8.99 for shipping, but was otherwise free.

Bottom Left: This is the Flip Camera I won from Vodka Mom! Totally awesome, and FREE! I have a short video from the family reunion that I will try to upload tonight.

On the Right: My early birthday present is a 6" Kindle. So far, I have downloaded a handful of free books and sampled one called Eight Women, Two Model Ts, and the American West, a road trip a la 1924. I have about 40 books for my Palm Pilot, and I have found some software that will convert them from .PDB to .PDF so I can load them to the Kindle. The concept of always having reading material with me is one to which I have become accustomed.

With that little tortured piece of English, I bid you good day...

Random Tuesday Thoughts: Compiled on Monday

From Surviving to Socializing

Well. I did it.

I survived the second week-long NEH teachers' workshop in the 90 degree heat, and 99% humidity. And, like last time, it was wonderful. Even better, actually, because I felt like I knew what I was doing. Also, those moisture-wicking golf shirts? Get some. Mine featured Cool-Max, and I luff them. They really worked.

During the first workshop in June, I brought my camera along, as it was my first chance to have hours in the village. This time, I left the camera at home, and absorbed the lectures, all delivered by nationally-recognized experts. What a gift.

Friday afternoon, I scooted home as quickly as I could, because it was time for the Knight Gathering. For 21 years, Buddy's maternal-side relatives have been gathering for a reunion on the last weekend in July. This year, we are in Cadillac, Michigan, near the highest knuckle of your ring finger. In other years, we have gathered in Chicago, Detroit, Houghton Lake, or St. Joseph/Benton Harbor (extreme southwest Michigan).

For the last few years, we have been gathering in Cadillac, as it is near the home of the matriarch of this group, Buddy's 99-year-old Grandma. Today, when we leave the hotel, we will pack up and go visit her at her place, as she was feeling dizzy yesterday, and didn't want to venture out.

This is the lovely little meadow that we can see from our room. When we aren't frightening them away with noise, deer can be seen in this little oasis. But we are kind of a loud group.

 

This is our room, AKA Party Central. We reserved a room early enough to get a suite. That bed that Buddy is sitting on back there is a king-size, tempur-pedic, so I have slept like a log this weekend. Even when our room looked like this:

 

...which was most of the time. The pool and the nearby Lake Mitchell have accommodated our group nicely, but the minute someone sits at a table, out come the playing cards.

I understand that euchre is a midwestern thing, probably invented for those among us who couldn't, or didn't want to, manage to learn bridge. My son and some of his (second? third?) cousins are carrying on the tradition to the next generation.

So, that's my week wrapped up. Hope yours has been comfortable and happy!

In a Tearing Hurry at 6:33 a.m.

This morning, we begin the second week of my big teacher workshop. Rain and temperatures in the 85-95 area predicted for the whole week! Possible Tiger/Rangers game to be attended later in the week with some of the teachers. I DID purchase three ladies' golf shirts with moisture-wicking material, in the hopes of not feeling quite so icky at the end of each day. I will report back later...

I had to post something this morning, before leaving for the crazy week, lest Fart Friday: The Inaugural Edition continue to show up as a link at every comment that I leave.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...