Phantom cat

From NOLA.com

Spring 1994

I had moved to Huntsville Alabama due to an office closing while my newlywed wife finished her degree in Montgomery. I had rented a room from friends for a few months but had finally gotten an apartment. It was an older but nice two bedroom townhouse. Living space and kitchen on first floor and bedrooms on the second floor.

Weekends meant one of us driving the three plus hours to be with the other, then heading home Sunday evening. One Sunday I had gotten home and was unloading the car. Since the car was parked right in front of the door and I was feeling lazy, I left the front door to the apartment open while slogging back and forth. 

On one trip in I glanced up the stairs to see a black cat halfway up. When it saw me, it ran up the stairs and out of sight. I ran after it, intending to shoo it outside. Of course, all the doors were open upstairs so I had to find it. I went through every room looking but never found it. 

It was late, I was tired but I was sure I'd seen a cat and was sure it hadn't gone past me and outside again. I finally gave up and spent an uneasy night trying to sleep and trying not to think about a wild cat attacking me, whether ghost cats exist, or if I were losing my mind. 

I went to work the next morning without seeing anything else, still kind of dazed and confused. When I got home from work that afternoon, I figured I would be able to find out what happened. It was light outside and I had a flashlight to check the dark corners again.

At first I couldn't find anything and was starting to relive last night's forebodings. Then I remembered I'd removed a service panel in a closet several days before. I wanted to see what space was there in case I wanted more storage space. Shining the light into the space, I see two eyes reflecting amongst the plumbing.

Can't remember how I got it out but I did. It seemed glad to be out of the apartment, it zipped out the door and I never saw it again.

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BTW the cat in the photo is named Oscar. If you look at his rear legs, he has prosthetic feet. His pose on the stairs is almost exactly what I remembered when I saw the "ghost" cat on the stairs so many years ago.

Wrong road

HWY 231 South -- from Google Maps Streetview

Somewhere around 1988

I have a minor errand to run and had to drive from Montgomery to Troy and meet someone for work. It's Sunday and my day off but still my job. I've a few points on my license at this point and don't want to get in any more trouble. I head south on 231 going 55 MPH.

A few miles down the road, another car zips by me going around 65 so I press the gas and follow him.

A few more miles down the road, a car with a couple of girls in it and Florida plates on the back, speeds by around 75-80. Well, I'm single at this point and interested to say the least, so I speed up and follow them.

This is all well and good and we are getting closer to Troy (much faster than I had planned). No big deal, except I remember I always see a state trooper when going to Troy. 

We had just gotten to a very straight section of  231 where you could see a mile down the road when I spotted the trooper car headed north. The girls spotted him too and hit their brakes.

Not me, I hit the gas. My rule at the time was if you didn't see a law officer signalling you to pull over, you weren't avoiding them. So as my speed got into three digits, I didn't see the trooper any more.

I went a few miles at this clip and decided that maybe it would be nice to investigate a side road. Not the first one, not the second one. This one looks good, so I slowed and turned right. Well, 50 seemed slow at the time, but physics said otherwise. I think I spun a complete 180 before getting reoriented and heading off to the right (west).

I went a little ways and the road turned south. No problem, I was still headed to Troy (and way ahead of schedule). Next thing I knew, the road turned sharp left (east) and I was at a stop sign at the bottom of a hill and the trooper was coming down. lights and siren going.

It was over...

Then... he went past me and pulled over the girls from Florida. I got onto 231 heading south again. He had them pulled over on the right shoulder.

I got to my appointment VERY early (right beside 231) and parked my car at one end of the parking lot and I went to the other end to hang out. About 15-20 minutes later, I see the trooper headed south with the Florida car following close behind it. I got the feeling they were headed to the same place and somewhere I didn't want to go.

No one ever came for me, although I was certain they would.

I pretty much drove the speed limit after that.

At least for a while...

Fortunate conscience

 from Google Maps Streetview

Sometime around 1987...
I was driving home on the Southern Boulevard in Montgomery. It was in the AM, can't remember the time. I stopped at a red light and a early 80's Camaro pulled up beside me. I was tired but slowly realized he was revving his engine, challenging me to race.

The light was at the base of a viaduct over a railroad line maybe 500 feet to the peak. The light changed to green and we took off. I remember gaining and was getting ahead when we topped the viaduct. Down hill I seemed to gain more ground, him in the right lane and me in the left. About 1000 feet from the top, two lanes became three and there was more lighting.

I was around 90 MPH when I realized there was a delivery truck in the middle lane. I thought this was too fast for traffic so I pulled my foot off the gas and the Camaro blew by me. Then a second or two later, blew past the delivery truck AND the police car in front of it.

I never saw the cop car until the lights came on. I was luckily still quite a way back so I don't think the officer ever saw me. He pulled the Camaro over on the right side of the road and I carefully changed lanes past them to get to the right and onto I-65 north.

If the delivery truck hadn't been there, the cop would have seen us both. If I hadn't had a twinge of conscience, I wouldn't have gotten home.

Grateful birthday

*** Not the actual bridge, this picture from  http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/31661


Sunday Feb 2, 1986

My 21st birthday. I had skipped going to Sunday school with my family and was headed to church late, as usual for regular services.

Back then, the way to church went a few miles on a dirt road before getting back on the pavement. I was in my new 1985 Honda CRX Si and driving a sedate 50 or so MPH down the dirt road as usual. For those who have never regularly travelled on dirt roads, they are maintained by grating a high point in the center, with sloping lanes to keep the rain off. Consequently, the best place to drive was right down the middle, especially when driving fast...

One the last features before getting back to the pavement was an old wooden trestle bridge about 30 feet or so above a creek. It was had 6x6 timbers along each edge to keep the dirt on it.  It was just past a blind curve when you're headed the way I was going.

It was no big deal, go through the curve, zip across the middle of the bridge. Done it hundreds of times. This was the first time I met someone going the opposite was through the blind cuve. It was a big car, Lincoln or a Cadillac maybe, and it was coming right down the middle of the road like me.

I jerked the wheel to the right and the other car ceased to exist, at least to me. I had other things on my mind. Funny how I remembered to turn into the skid. Then I had to turn to the left to avoid going into the pines on the right side of the road. Then turn into that skid, then right to avoid the trees on that side.

Then I was on the bridge swerving toward the right side. I knew it was over and wondered what the free fall would be like. Then I was going left and knew I was going over the other edge when the car  stopped, at a right angle to the bridge, facing left. The engine had stopped, guess I forgot to put the clutch in with the other stuff going on.

It took a minute for me to realize I had not gone over the edge. I was sure I had. I finally cranked the car and backed up gingerly, got the car straightened out and pulled over to the other side of the bridge.

I sat in the car a few more minutes, knowing I was safe but still wondering how. I was sure at least one wheel had gone over. I got out and looked under the car. Nothing.
After looking at every detail, I noticed a small piece of plastic behind the right rear strut. Think of a tiny mud flap. It was scuffed in half.

I walked back to the bridge and followed my skids. Four coming onto the bridge, then three, then four again. There was a scrape on the right timber where the undercarriage of the car slid along it for several feet. I was that close...
Luckily, the angle was slight enough that the tire was able to grip the side of the timber and climb back onto the bridge.

The car was fine except for that little plastic bit. I drove on to church. Slower and later than I'd planned.

I don't know if I ever told my parents about it...

Tools and materials:
(Clockwise from lower left)
Leather 
Suede leather lace
Wooden button
Two piece (speedy) rivets
Old piece of plastic to punch on
Leather punch
Hammer
Heavy duty scissors
Rivet setter

Pattern of the piece including holes and notes

Pattern material is pretty cheap. Use it to make changes if needed before committing to expensive material

Sometime the leather has flaws/marks. Piece has been laid out to take advantage or hide the flaw

Pattern traced and holes marked. Try to keep the pieces together to minimize waste

It's easier to cut the grouped pieces off the main piece of leather then cut out the individual pieces.


Individual pieces cut

Punching the holes

Holes punched, ready for assembly

Belt loops riveted to the back piece

Lacing has begun. It's easiest to start at the middle and work to the outsides

Lacing complete and button added


Completed pouch

Still winter

Past the holidays now but still in cold and flu season. Family has been sick and I have not felt my best. I am still hitting the pell 100 times with each hand every day.

We had fighter practice yesterday evening. I felt very sluggish and slow. I did seem to run as long or longer than the younger guys. Keeping my shield up and keeping the sword moving did not tire me out as it had in the past. I still hesitate and fail to see the openings that should be there but I feel I am out there longer. This is a benefit and I feel the other skills will come as long as I am out fighting and not just talking about it.

Worked a bit with the claymore, offense and defense. It definitely needs a thrusting tip as both myself and my opponent had to actively think about it to keep from thrusting. The hockey gloves are OK but I will want hard gauntlets for extended fighting. My opponent had a cross hilted sword so we were able to trade weapons without changing hand protection. It was much easier to use that I expected. I think if I get a decent set of gauntlets, I will also get myself a cross hilted sword.

Winter doldrums

With the holiday season, there has not been a lot of time for fighting. Christmas Eve and New Years Eve fall on Thursdays this year so I am cancelling fighter practices.

Still hitting the pell 100 times a day with each hand. It's making a difference but is not helping with active defense. Holding the shield while throwing shots helps build the muscles but it's difficult to understand moving the shield defensively without someone throwing back at you.

Little items like fakes involving shield movement can be practiced, but still needed to be used against an opponent to be verified. Learning to throw shots around the shield is good as well but there is a tendency to use the shield as a counterweight and swivel the whole torso when throwing a shot, thus moving the shield out of a good defensive position. I find I do this most when throwing shots left handed.

Still going

Cancelled fighter practice last Thursday in favor of an armor workshop. Had several folks over and got a pair of dished elbows made. I got them cut and started but the young man who needed them sanded the edges and did a lot of the dishing.

Still hitting the pell 100 times a day with each hand. Had some sort of sinus thing Satuday but got them done anyway. Feeling some soreness in my inside elbow area that is a bit new. It appears to be in the muscle, not the joint so I figure it's just getting into shape.

Still need to make a new shield but am undecided about a shape. I might go with a peanut but could also stick with an oval, albeit a wider one. I can't find a long center grip shield that is period for me to use as a reference. May just have to take the artistic license and do what fits my fighting style best.

Magna Faire

I had a great day Saturday. We got onto site around 9 AM and got into armor by 9:30. I did pickup fights until the first list started. I was able to start with Sir Bartlemey and fought everyone else I could. I'd fight one or two people and have to take a break.

Before the list started I was at the spot where my pulse was elevated but not racing, I was sweating but not too bad, my vision was clear. I was tired but felt I could do one or two more fights, so I did and took a little break. Ate a hand full of chili cheese corn chips and had more water. Then went back out for one or two more. And one or two more. By the time the list started I had drunk 2 or 3 bottles of water and was saturated enough that I was making trips to the men's room.

I did well enough to go five rounds in the Sword and Mistletoe tourney. Each round was best two out of three. I got a double kill in the first round and then won the next two. I fought Matthias in the second round and was able to kill him twice. I got Sir Thomas Alfred in the third round and he beat me twice putting me into the losers bracket. I was lucky enough to get a bye fight in the fourth round and got to fight HRH Wulfstan. He challenged me to give him my best fight and I tried. I got his leg once but he won both fights. I met Sir Caius in the fifth round and he beat me twice, putting me out.

His Majesty talked with me after the bye fight and said that I had made a good impression on him at Black Axe during the pickups and he wanted to push me to fight him hard today.

Did more pick up fights before the next tournament.

The Green Knight tournament was single fight per round and single elimination, head shots don't count. I drew Baron Gwyddion (who'd just been made a Bear before the list started) and decided to try fighting him left handed to see if it would give me an advantage. He noticed it and shifted his stance. It was odd not trying for head shots and I didn't land a blow on him. He took my leg and right arm, then hit me in the right arm again and the left side of my chest. I didn't think about it until after but I should have called the second arm shot as a death since it was already gone and I apologized to him afterwards.

There was to be a third tournament but it didn't happen due to the lateness of the second tourney ending. It fell back to pick up fights and I was back to one or two more. I was privileged to fight Sir Micheale who was fighting two stick and I did OK against him. I also worked with Duke Kenneth who gave me pointers on my stance and shield manipulation. I was able to land one planned shot, the shield fake right and quick wrap from behind the shield. I also fought Baroness Leyli left handed to get her opinion of how I was doing left handed. She said it was not bad but I was moving my body from behind the shield when I was throwing shots.

I remember pickup fights with Locko, Bragg, Edris, Eric Martell, and several others whose names I don't recall. I fought until Katriona made me stop as court was in 15 minutes. I dropped my helmet, half gauntlets, gorget and elbows at the car and sat court in my armor. I didn't have a chair so I leaned against the wall, squatted, sat on the floor, and then cycled back through. Grabbed a chair towards the end but it seems to have been good to change positions so nothing seized up.

I believe this was my best fighting day ever. I believe Sir Bart and I were the first fighters on the field and while I was not the last fighter on the field, I was in the last 1/2 dozen.

Indian club update

I've been playing a bit with two old rattan short swords (no hilts). They are about a pound each but more neutrally balanced than a real Indian club.

Doing simple routines, mainly with the right arm/shoulder, has seemed to help with tightness and pain in the shoulder joint.

My wife picks them up and effortlessly goes through routines using both hands simultaneously. She says it's like the twirling she did in flag and rifle corps in school.

Indian mace and club training

I watched a few videos on Indian mace and club training. Here a re a few the got me started down this particular rabbit hole.

Rik Brown Gada Clubs

A Tour of Chautauqua: A Healthy Body

Warrior Mace Training

The History and Tradition of the Mace

Indian GADA/MACE Workout Elements

I toyed with a weight on a stick setup, ~5# total and about 24" long. I don't have the flexibility or strength in my right shoulder to do the exercises right but feel them working the sore spots in my shoulder. Perhaps I can rehab the aching muscles there.

Items from Ken Thomas

Aluminum elbow cops and great sword hilt from Hjalmar from Glenn Abhann

Point toward enemy

I got a heavy piece of rattan that was too long to contemplate making a single hand sword from. It was ~57" and 808 grams, husk on and between 1.5 and 1.7" thick.

I purchased the guard from Ken Thomas in Memphis TN and got it mounted today. Shaved the handle down so it would accept the guard and pounded it into place. Used strapping tape to lock the little tab to the blade. Bit of strapping tape on the tip with white athletic tape and friction tape for the edge. Put a bit of strapping tape on the butt end and built up a bit of twisted black duct tape to make a pommel for now.

Finished weight is 1378 grams with overall length of 56". Basket hilted sword is 1318 grams and 40".

Glynn Rhe armor workshop

Spent most of the day at the Glynn Rhe armor workshop. Dished a pair of elbows and made a shield box for a new fighter. Helped refurb some older arms for another new fighter.

It was nice to hang out and work on stuff. I got to renew some friendships that were older than many of the new fighters that were there.

Got in the hilt and aluminum elbow cops from Hjalmar Sognefjord.

An Dun Theine fighter practice 11/12/15

Four fighters at practice tonight, myself, one of my deputies and two unauthorized gentlemen. Everyone but me is left handed. I've been doing left handed pell work for a week or better so I fought about 2/3 of my fights left handed. I felt relatively comfortable but my footwork was confused and the shield was hard to settle down.

Fighting under the lights seems to be working so we'll continue for the time being.

SCA training videos

Duke Tomuki teaches great weapons

Songbook of Baron Sir Cipriano de Alverez of Iron Mountain

Shared with permission

Repairs

Replaced the buckle on the knotworked gorget in the loaner armor.

Completed rebuild of the 24" center grip shield. Used black duct tape to cover the rope on the edge.

Few updates

Good solid fighter practice last night.

Even though we have lost an hour of sunlight, the lighting from the parking garage and walking paths is adequate for practice.

I missed having the 24" center grip shield. It has been a good training tool as well as a lot of fun to play with.

It's amazing to still be sweating through all the cloth I am wearing in November.

Here's the pattern to the sheet metal baskets I have on some of my older swords. 1" grid

SCA heavy combat equipment links

Here are some links to consider for new or experienced heavy fighters:

http://www.shop.mastereirik.com/Shaved-Rattan-Sword-Kit-Swo…
Shaved rattan sword kit. I suggest the undersize rattan and low profile thrusting tip. Ask in comments for the lightest rattan in stock. I'd recommend buying the longest sticks until you know what size you prefer as they can be cut down.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/394380073955553/915955535131335/?ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity
Facebook group for buying and selling armor. More of a classified ad system but good to watch for items available right now.

http://www.plasticlamellar.com/suit-builder.html
Plastic lamellar armor. Their suit builder tool can be used to estimate the number of plates needed. If the dimensions are similar, it can also be used to estimate the number of metal plates needed from other vendors.

http://ironmongerarmory.com/stock-…/munitions-bascinet-helms
Here's an excellent low cost helmet. Per Iron Monger, they build these to order so you get a helmet sized to your dimensions in 1-2 weeks.

http://www.armourarchive.org/links/
A good place to start looking for more specifics and patterns if you are thinking of building your own armor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8JjBQ3YLuw
Video on shields. I can't seem to find a basic tutorial on them. I suggest at least 3/8" hardwood plywood, the more layers the better.
http://www.shop.mastereirik.com/Miscellaneous-Combat-Suppli…
Master Eirik also has plastic bosses and handles for center grip shields

Please feel free to add sources, tutorials, etc for heavy armor and weapons

YIS,
Iain