Revving Up

Yeah, that is why I don’t try to do artwork myself.  I find others to do it for me.  I already have this stick-figure prototype out to an artist that can actually do… art.

It’s about seven weeks to Loscon and time to start revving up for the blood drive.  I’ve already been in contact with my new blood drive reps about a room walk-through; when the truck arrives, number of nurses and other details the Red Cross and the LAX Hilton need to know.

Balloon fish have been a tradition at Loscon blood drives, so first I have to check my balloon stock.

The top right bag is full of water balloons, which I use for eyes.  And the bottom right are 260s (2” x 60”) which make the fish lips and fishtail.  I have plenty due to the fact that last year’s blood drive was canceled because of a lack of nurses.

This year, as it is the golden anniversary of Loscon, I’m going to make gold fish.  I’ve already found gold balloons on Amazon.

Next, I’ll have to check my button parts.  I should have enough since, again, we didn’t have a blood drive last year.

This is the first draft of my ad copy.  I’m checking with the Red Cross to see if these are still the correct links, but this gives you an idea of what it will look like once I have the correct links and the artwork.

If you are coming to Loscon, please consider donating.  We will even hold your hand if you are a first-timer.  Seriously, I or one of our volunteers will hold your hand through the donation if you are nervous.  Or bring your own friend to hold your hand. 

Dennis

210th blog completed.

First Steampunk novel:  77,087 words.  <– Past 77,000.  Goal:  80,000.

Second Steampunk novel: 783 words. 

Second Steampunk screenplay:  157 pages.

First Steampunk screenplay:  Need to update with notes from the novelization.

Third Steampunk screenplay:  38 pages.

“Win some, lose some.  Last weekend’s culinary experiment was Homemade Taquitos  https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/taquitos/  and Cheese Enchiladas https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/cheese-enchiladas/

Though the taquitos weren’t that pretty, they tasted like restaurant-style taquitos.  According to Dennis, the corn tortillas were hard to work with.  They tear easily, especially when you have to stick a toothpick through them to keep them rolled up.  In hindsight, Dennis put too much meat in them (he can be generous that way) so they weren’t wrapped tight enough.  A little more practice and they should be fine.

The cheese enchiladas were promising and easier to make, but they just didn’t live up to our expectations.  It might have been the enchilada sauce.  Dennis used Las Palmas.  Next time he will try another brand and use flour tortillas instead of corn.  Not a winner, but worth another try.”  — Vincent Reinhart.