Eric of Straight White Guy talks about his brother making a 30 mm cannon, at the end of it he asks “I mean, c’mon… how many friends do you have who own their own artillery?...” Reading that I instantly thought of three people, four counting myself.

IÂ’m sure by now all of you are familiar with the Howling Jezebel, my half scale mortar that I use with the mortar maidens. Of course, this isnÂ’t a cannon, but it is still artillery. It can launch a cement filled pop can over a half a mile. Someday IÂ’m going to get to test that out; I just have to find someone that will let me launch cement filled pop cans on their property. IÂ’m so used to having it around the house, that I donÂ’t think twice about it. Nor do I find it unusual that I actually own a piece of artillery. Then again, I donÂ’t find it unusual that I have more swords than firearms in my house, and IÂ’m currently up to twelve firearms counting black powder.

Having items like that around really distorts your sense of “normal”. Once I upset some females at work because they where talking about people breaking into houses and I said, “I’m not worried about it, I sleep with a battle axe.” One of the females gasped and said, “You shouldn’t talk about Ktreva like that!” After I was finished laughing I explained that no, I really have a real battle-axe next to my bed (well I did at that time, I know have a Roman Gladius). I don’t think about it too often, but I have weapons all over the house. Guns, swords, knives, axes, daggers, flails, pole arms and artillery, now I’m wondering if people who come to my house get a little nervous with all the various accoutrements of violence around.

Anyway, I went off on a tangent there. The other three people I know that own artillery are all also re-enactors. I guess we are a “special” breed. Oh and all the artillery we own is from the French and Indian war to the Civil War. Nothing with modern shells, maybe that disqualifies us from Eric’s question.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:55 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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IÂ’m not doing well, IÂ’m pretty sick. Maybe it is stress that is causing my illness, I donÂ’t know. Last night I barely slept, my illness kept me from being able to calm down and get comfortable. The flu sucks, but I have the worst kind of flu. I have the rondyflu. (Rondyflu: That sick feeling you get in the winter when there are no rendezvous/re-enactments to attend.) IÂ’m sicker THAN (There you go Ragingmom, just for you ) a dog.

My last re-enactment was October 15, 16 and 17. That was over three months ago! My first real re-enactment isnÂ’t until April 28, 29 30, thatÂ’s 94 days, 14 hours and 44 minutes away (at the time of this writing, No I didnÂ’t calculate that, itÂ’s on my side bar.) That my, fine contaminants, is over 3 months away! I have two trade shows I do coming up, one in February and the other in March. They take the edge off, but it wonÂ’t break the fever.

ItÂ’s gotten bad too. Just yesterday, when Ktreva was distracted by Clone, I snuck down to the basement. Finding my clothing box, I opened it up. The scent of campfire, black powder and leather came wafting out. A smile spread across my face as my eyes rolled back into my head. Memories came flooding back.

Memories of past re-enactments, of friends, of good times of good food and good spirits filled my brain. Burying my face in my clothes, I took a big whiff. The smells, the glorious and wonderful smells of campfire and grass, of pipe tobacco and bacon, of body odor and funk… Apparently, I had forgotten to wash my clothes after the last re-enactment. Even when you wash them, they will still smell of campfire, pipe tobacco and other woodland scents. Opening the box and smelling that isn’t unusual. Smell what I lovingly refer to as “Arse and funk” can be a very unpleasant surprise.

The sad part is that the rondyflu has sat in so firmly that it didnÂ’t prevent me from going in for a second whiff

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Over at the Spoon and Blade we have up our latest Mortar Maiden. Go check out Anice McPhie Ms. January 2006.

I was contemplating on doing a Mortar Maiden of the Year, but I don't know exactly how I could do that. Plus I'm worried their may be some favoritism as Ms. January 2005 is my wife.

UPDATE: Just for Tammi, I'm going to see if I can't get Ms. January and Tammi together for an Artistic photo shoot. Based soley on Tammi's comment.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:53 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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