It's Thundering Above My Head

New Gymkhana video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX_JSw8iAeQ
I find myself wondering "just how fast is he going?"  I know it looks fast with the dirt flying and camera angles, but some of those turns simply can't be taken at speed and still controlled can they?  I know the car is built specifically for it, but you can only mess with physics so much.  If you want to see more cars head to xpsmclaren.

I've been home almost two weeks now and I'm still a stuffy mess. Sucks pretty bad.  Anywho, in interesting news the RIAA thinks it's above the Constitution, there's debate over keeping smallpox alive, and in nano news; imperfection is key to perfecting nanostructures!  Fun stuff.

Personally this week has been a little crazy. Trying to organize my bedroom to handle the influx of all my crap from college. I can no longer see my desk as it's covered in stuff.  The worst part is the small things that really have no good home but can't be thrown out.  I've got a job interview in 50 minutes at the Craft Ale House and will probably also be working at the Yankee Candle Outlet.  This is of course until an internship comes through or I go back to school for an independent research project.  (Hoping for the internship, looks better on the resume.)

That's all I've got for now, see you around!

Wicky Wacky Womboozles

I really should get a more consistent posting schedule going.  Anywho...

Monday night's fencing practice went pretty well.  There were 9 fencers including me, this week I plan on taking my one friend along as well and hopefully soon I can get my Marshal Warrant for the East so I can have more than one practice a week.  The East fencers are a nice enough group, though I don't think the majority of my local group is much more experienced than I am.  They also didn't seem thrilled at the idea of melee and made comments about Aethlemaercians (how do you spell that?) loving melee.  I can't say this analysis is wrong, as much of our practices at Silva Vulcani, especially in the Spring, focus on melee and in turn Pennsic.  I hope as the summer drags on, if I'm still around and not off doing an internship (which would be better for me actually), That I can get the local group more focused on melees and the like. However, I also don't want to hijack the practice from the existing marshals.

In other news, the new motor is in my car, but it's not up and running yet.  We found a compatible motor from a 2003 Impala with only 81k miles on it, less than my odometer reads. (yay!)  Tomorrow will see an excursion to a you-pull-it junkyard in hopes of finding some exhaust manifold bolts that broke as well any other knick-knacks of interest.  I hope to have the car running by the middle of next week if not sooner.

Today was spent doing yard work at my grandmom's house.  We spread out both new topsoil and lots of mulch and planted Impatiens in appropriate flower beds. She used to have an above-ground swimming pool but decided to get rid of it due to her age (currently 83).  The spot where the pool sat was empty for a while and her seven kids decided to get her dirt and grass seed for Mother's Day. (She has everything else =P )

That's all I have for now, go have fun!

National Geographic My Shot

I have submitted this photo to the National Geographic My Shot Gallery. If you think it's worth being published in a Nat Geo magazine, go check it out.

The Chapter Ends with a Cliffhanger

 So I've finished my Senior year of college, however, I haven't graduated.  There's one thing holding off that degree, and that's an internship in the field of nanotechnology.  This week is going to consist of unpacking/finding homes for all my stuff and pumping my resume out to as many places as I can.

Please note I'm not an art student. Stick figures trouble me at times. Anywho...

Before I left school, which is on the opposite side of the state from me, I was given my Marshal Warrant, meaning that within AEthelmaerc I can hold my own practices. Unfortunately I live in the East, which means my warrant can't be used. I have to get an East Kingdom Marshal Warrant.  I plan on going to the fencing practice tonight (hopefully I can find it) and get my East warrant.

While I miss my friends and adoptive family from school, it is nice to be home again.  I just wish I had a working car.  In the mean time I have to borrow one of my mom's cars

OR

The Audi TT Quattro is certainly more fun but requires premium petrol, something a jobless me doesn't want to pay for.  I also haven't driven stick in a while, so that should be fun. (The Audi has a 6 speed manual)  In the meantime, we're searching for another motor for my Pontiac; 2nd summer in a row where that car has been dead.

That's all I've got for now, nothing terribly exciting.

Procrastination Powers Activate!

Back again, hooray sporadic posting!  I hope you all enjoy the Nurburgring webcam. 

This past Thursday at my College’s fencing practice, we had a tournament to determine the first ever Silva Vulcani Champion.  We were fighting outside and towards the end the light was failing fast.  The final three came down to myself, one other older student, and a freshman.  The other older student I know can beat me on a regular basis; he’s got incredibly long arms and is a master of feint maneuvers. We matched up and circled each other for a bit, with a few half-hearted shots here and there to test the waters. We were both losing our game to the failing light, so I took a shot; a deep lunge to his center of mass.  The shot landed dead center, and he was out of the tourney (he had already lost to the freshman). 

Therefore it came down to me and the freshman.  By this point it was dark enough that I could see him and the guard of his sword, but not the blade itself.  I had one large advantage though, I had kept my dagger.  (Participants in the tourney could only fight with weapons they are authorized with; the freshman is only authed with a single sword.)  For a tournament like this, and against a freshman, I wasn’t about to give up that advantage.  If it hadn’t been me in the final, I didn’t want a freshman to win.  I helped start this group three years ago, I wasn’t going to give him any advantage.  Again, we made some passes with nothing landing, we were both playing cautious.  I decided to make a move before my luck ran out (and my light) so I made another lunge; he twisted to the side but not enough to dodge my blade; it drew a wonderful line diagonally across his chest up towards his left shoulder.  I forget if I parried his blade with my dagger or if he just missed, but his sword was nowhere near me.  He called himself dead and I was declared the first Silva Vulcani Champion.  If I make to Pennsic this August, I’ll supposedly have some official duty to do….

            This Sunday will be even more fencing as we’re having a mini-muster.  The focus will be on getting more people authorized with different forms.  I need to get my authorizations with buckler (small shield), cloak (like cloak and dagger), and case of sword.  Case of sword is fighting with two, usually identical swords.  I have very little practice with this form, but the Regional Marshal wants me to have all the forms before making me a marshal as well.  So I’m going to more or less wing the case auth, huzzah!

            My dad came yesterday to tow my dead Pontiac home, a distance of about 300 miles.  Starting the car up to drive onto the two dolly was not fun, it’s most certainly a blown head gasket.  This means the motor will have to pulled….again.  As to whether this means getting another new motor or trying to repair this one, I’m not sure.  I suspect the current one is too far gone.

            In other news, check out XPSMcLaren’s page for some exciting races this weekend.

Spying on the Germans!

Watch some cool cars and regular commuters from Germany:

Nurburgring.org.uk Webcam

My Week and Weekend So Far

My it's been a while. Afraid my life isn't terribly exciting.  Anywho, since we last spoke,
     My car, a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT sedan, has blown its 3rd motor.  Yes, 3rd.  The first motor broke a valve spring within a few weeks of buying the vehicle. The 2nd motor's camshaft bearings went bad seven months after installing it. Yes it was a used motor.  Motor 3, the current one, has lasted about eleven months and is now draining coolant into the oil pan. Hooray!  Head gasket? Probably. Top or bottom seal? Hopefully.  Going to attempt fixing it before looking for a replacement. Though any suggestions on a reliable vehicle with a manual trans,  and hopefully a V6 would be nice.
     Last weekend was the Queen's Rapier Championship (yes more sword fighting).  I didn't make as far as I would have liked, I feel I shouldn't have lost to who I did.  Even my friends in the crowd didn't expect me to lose to that particular opponent.  It was a best 2 of 3 deal, she won the first two, barely and questionably, and then we did a third match for fun in which I destroyed her within seconds.  Must have lost my focus or something.
     Today my mom came out to visit and we decided to go hike and bike at Ohiopyle, despite that it was raining in the morning.

We walked in the rain for a little bit along the Youghiogheny River, but then the clouds cleared and the sun came out, making it almost too hot.  

     We continued down a ways past the first falls. We saw some large puddles teeming with tiny tadpoles.  Even saw a salamander.

After the falls we got the bikes out and went for a ride down an old Western Maryland RR trail.  Saw a lot of cool rock formations, including some exposed coal veins.  Saw some chipmunks and even a garter snake.  Anywho, I'm now with a bunch of friends, drinking, and watching Adult Swim. Good times.  Here are some more photos for your general enjoyment.