Not a Bard

Catch Up III – Good-bye John

notabard — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:49:33 +0000

John Wilson, a long-time friend passed away recently. I don’t remember when I first met John but I remember working with him on the early MisCons, the science fiction convention in Missoula, Montana. I am usually given credit for starting MisCon but John is the one who did most of the early financial and legal-type work. He got the convention set up as a corporation, writing bylaws and creating a Board of Directors. He also put together the program book for many years and chaired the convention multiple times. In the initial group of star-eyed dreamers, his down-to-earth approach, attention to detail, and mature experience was invaluable.

In addition to his hard work, John was also just a great guy. He had a quick wit and his optimism was contagious. He was a natural teacher and loved to introduce new people to new things, and new people. He was ALWAYS willing to help out, whatever the task, but had no interest in self-aggrandizement, just satisfaction in a job well done. He was the type of guy who would not only give you the shirt off his back but would make sure it was washed and pressed first. I think he was definitely a person who left the world a better place than he found it, though we’re all a bit sadder now.

Vaya con Dios, John.

Catch Up II

notabard — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:16:01 +0000

Okay, bodily functions discussion next as part of the 50+ lifestyle. Skip this paragraph if you get queasy easy. After I got back from Montana, I was scheduled for a colonoscopy. The most unpleasant part was the preparation where you have to take laxatives and can only drink “clear” liquids. The actual colonoscopy starts with 40 minutes of paperwork and then the doctor gives you an anesthetic and you wake up in Recovery. It’s really no big deal. However, my gastric system didn’t recover for several days. BTW no problems found.

The next weekend my brother and his wife were in town for her Bernina conference. I dragged my brother off to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Saturday and we did the tourist thing. I love KSC because no matter how often I go (I have an Annual Pass,) I find the movies and exhibits just as exciting and moving as when I sat in front of the television and watched Live as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon. Sunday I took the two of them to the Dixie Crossroads for dinner. I’m glad the food quality there is getting better again but I feel they still have a ways to go to reach the amazing food quality that gave the restaurant its original reputation.

As a side note to the KSC discussion, I have had a couple of discussions with folks recently about movies about the space program. I think the three best “space” movies are: (in no particular order)
The Right Stuff – An often humorous look at the early days of flight testing and the space program. I remember I lived in Billings when this came out and my SF friends didn’t go see it because they had heard it wasn’t very “accurate.” I told them to look at it as a comedy and invited them over when they DVD came out. Everyone loved the movie.
Apollo 13 – I really appreciate the craft that went into this movie. A lot of scenes were shot on the “Vomit Comet,” an aircraft flying an elliptical flight path that causes short periods (20-25 seconds) of simulated microgravity, giving a realistic look and feel to the scenes of weightlessness.* It also introduces the idea of all the people that work behind the scenes at NASA to make the program run. And I feel it captures a little of the heroic scale of the space program back in the early days of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. “Failure is not an option.”
The Dish – The What? An Australian film “documenting” the events at the huge Parkes radio telescope in the days leading up to Apollo 11. Thanks to Jane Campbell for introducing me to this amazing, funny, poignant, and inspirational movie about the people WAY behind the scenes of the Apollo program that made it possible for me to sit in my living room in Valier, Montana and watch Neil Armstrong make “One small step for (a?) man, one giant leap for mankind.”

*(One of my favorite microgravity sequences is in Journey to the Far Side of the Sun. They took great care to portray the microgravity scene well and did their best to project future technologies which look very quaint from over thirty years on. The movie is by Gerry Anderson of the Thunderbirds and Supercar marionette series and it shows, especially in the scenes of the spaceport. Plus the movie is chock full of groovy ’60s garb and technologies.)

Catch Up I

notabard — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:26:12 +0000

Earlier this month I had a quick trip back to Montana for three days / three events joined by lots of driving.

It started with my nephew Mitch’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor. A Court of Honor is always an exciting event for me and I’m proud to stand with the other Eagles to wish the new Eagle well. I still find it surprising how few people actually attain this rank. It seems to run in families a lot too; my self and my two brothers, four nephews (so far), etc. (It was nice for Mitch that two of those Eagle Scout uncles and his Eagle Scout brother Matt were able to make it to the event.) The Eagle Scout is also not felt to be an “award” so much as recognition of accomplishments and a gateway to greater things. One of the things commonly said is that those who receive their Eagle Scout don’t say, “I was an Eagle Scout,” they say, “I am an Eagle Scout.”

I then went to an all-school reunion in my hometown, Valier, Montana. I had never been back to one before and it was more than a little surreal. Out of a class of 29, only five came to the event and four of them came from out of town. Over a third of the class still lives in Valier but most couldn’t be bothered to stop by. That’s kind of how I remember their attitude from 34 years ago. It was nice to see those who were there but I guess I’m not going to be in a big hurry to go back.

The weekend wrapped up with a trip back across the mountains to my cousin Susan’s retirement party. She has been teaching in Bigfork for over thirty years and friends, colleagues and family gathered to wish her well. I think she was a little surprised to see me there all the way from Florida but I’m happy to surprise people in that way. I missed a lot of family get-togethers in the 90s and I try to make it up some now that I have more means. I also try to make it to happier events than funerals, though I try to make those too. It was great to see Susan and her family and miscellaneous other cousins like Evan and Chris.

All in all a quick trip but very worthwhile. (Sorry Fawn, I’ll try to stop by next time.)

Song of the Week – The Irish French Letter

notabard — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:21:47 +0000

Another bawdy song this week, The Irish French Letter. The song is much funnier if you know what a “French Letter” is, so you may want to Google it first. The words are apparently Traditional, the tune seems to be “Rosin the Beau” (or “Bow,” either seems to be acceptable.)

The Irish French Letter – Lyrics

The Irish French Letter by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.

Well, it has been a busy time. I think I’ll do some separate posts for what has been happening.

Next SCA event? Autumn War in An Tir!

Border Raid

notabard — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:06:34 +0000

It was a fun weekend at Border Raid, though it was way too hot. I feel sorry for those that were fighting, it must have been brutal. I liked how the Midrealm kept its court moving along, it made it much easier to sit through in the heat. Big thanks to Oswin and Anastasia for putting me up and putting up with me. =)

You might want to check the comments from my last post. Adria had a fantastic reality check in regards to my “legendary” crack.

I’m still here – kind of

notabard — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:49:47 +0000

I hate to start with an apology but I am very sorry I haven’t been able to post a new song, Things have just been too crazy. We switched to 10-hour work days for summer and by the time I get home, it’s time to go raid. I can’y make it up on the weekends because I’m not there; Uprising last weekend, I’m at a friend’s house in Cinncinnati right now headed for Border Raids tonight, next weekend I’m heading back to Montana for a whirlwind tour including my nephew’s Eagle Court and an all-school reunion in Valier, my hometown. Good news is I should have some time on the 5th to catch up. After mowing the lawns and cleaning the house that is. =)

Uprising was a great time. I saw lots of friends that I hadn’t see for many years. It brought back fond memories of my early days in the SCA before I was the cynical, jaded wastrel you see today. I had a chat with the current Bard of Artemesia and we were able to settle once and for all that I never bore that particular title. (Which was a load off my mind as you must all realize by now.) We also had a chat about the differences netween minstrels and bards, and the discussion was illustrated shortly thereafter when, after I had performed a piece at the Court “pre-show”, he said that the audience should have been quiet to listen to me. I replied that I felt it was my responsibility to make them want to quiet down and listen. That’s me, always the rebel.

All is all it was a great time. Next year will also be the 25th Uprising so I’m going to try and make it then too. (Though if people there don’t stop calling me “legendary” I’ll probably bean someone.) As I said above, I’m at the Border Raid between Middle and Meridies this weekend and then pretty much off until Autumn War in An Tir in August. I know, August =/= autumn but that doesn’t stop those crazy An Tirans.

Song of the Week – In Appreciation

notabard — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:52:07 +0000

This is the second song dealing with the Uprising and Loch Salan. If I recall it was written soon after the Uprising when feelings still ran high. Last weeks’ song sounded nasty but was intended to be fun. This song was intended to sound sweet but be nasty. I am not sorry I wrote it but you’ll notice I don’t go around singing it a lot.

In Appreciation – Lyrics

In Appreciation by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

And as promised, here’s The Shires are Revolting II, written in case the north won.

Off to Uprising Wednesday. I expect it to be a lot of fun but perhaps a bit surreal too. =)

Song of the Week – Oppression’s Dirge

notabard — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:34:56 +0000

As I mentioned a couple of times, I am going to be at Uprising this year. It’s been many years since I was there but I did make it to the first several of them. Looking back through the archives (okay, The Artemesian Songbook) I came across a couple of songs written for the first Uprising that I hadn’t yet recorded. So I decided that for these next two weeks I’ll record those two and also publish the lyrics to my filk, “The Shires are Revolting.” Or rather, two filks since I wrote two versions so as to be ready regardless of which side won the battles.

Looking back on it, I can remember that we approached that first Uprising as a great idea for an event and a fun time to be had by all. Some of the Loch Salaanites took umbrage at this song and felt we really were out to bash the barony but to me it is so over the top, it can’t be anything but a jest. I guess some folks just can’t take a joke. Please remember it was all in good fun. Seriously! (Until next week’s song at least.)

Oppression’s Dirge – Lyrics – Sheet Music

Oppression’s Dirge by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

And here is the “true” version of “The Shires are Revolting.” – Lyrics

Song of the (last) Week – Whiskey in the Jar

notabard — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:12:35 +0000

I fixed the problem with the recorder (though I’m not exactly sure how,) so here is last week’s song. It’s one of those Traditional pieces that have many different variations. I actually learned the tune from my Campfire Songs book (again) where it was called Kilgarry Mountain and had a Colonel Pepper as the victim. I picked up these lyrics on the net and prefer them to others I found. Wikipedia guesses that the song originated in the 17th Century. Cantaria doesn’t have much about it except that another alternate title, Gilgarry Mountain. People request it occasionally when they are too lazy to look at the song list but I decided to learn it after their Excellencies of Oldenfeld requested it a couple of times and I needed more songs for my A&S 50 Challenge anyway. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to perform it for them at TMT (Crown) because it was raining Saturday and we couldn’t find them on Sunday night. Oh well, I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities.

Whiskey in the Jar – Lyrics

Whiskey in the Jar by Glen E Hammer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Technical Difficulties – Please stand by

notabard — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:38:03 +0000

Sorry I’m late with this week’s song, I’m having difficulties with my recorder.