Screwing and Yawning

Funding is at $312 pledged! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/melissaconroy/steampunk-trilogy-gears-airships-and-more/backers I should be getting my media tomorrow and then I can start scampering around town hanging up the posters. My plan is to go in full steampunk gear when I do so in order to further solidify the impression that I am indeed strange and hopefully cause people to think, “Gaa, she's weird! Maybe if we throw some money at her, she'll go away!”

Interestingly enough, I am starting to attract an international crowd. Yesterday my Facebook page www.facebook.com/steamygirlpublishing had its first Portugal user “like” it, and I think this person was also the first non-US resident to like the page. I was just looking at my Kickstarter backers and saw a person from Canada as well as a few souls that have never met me before but are generous enough to give me money! Technology truly is incredible; I have been very much struck by how the internet can draw people together from different countries. Yesterday looking at the list of steampunk groups around the world https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=212089941502354349204.0004a9e370eac1ae33f77 I was astounded by how many they are and where they are located: Spain, Ireland, Morocco, New Zealand.

Yesterday I was doing some research on the HMS Beagle, a steamship commissioned during the Crimean War. The ship was a screw steamer, a term I had encountered before and which conjured up an image of a giant tapered drill bill attached to the end of a ship. I had been curious about that concept as a giant, whirling screw did not seem like a logical choice for nautical propulsion. It was only until yesterday that I realized “screw” was just a baffling word for “propeller” to distinguish it from earlier paddle-driven steamships.

On a less-confused note, here is an interesting article about the possible future of airships http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120921-lighter-than-air-craft-rises Reading it, I discovered a new aviation term “yaw” which is defined as “the angle of the plane's longitudinal axis relative to its direction of motion.” See http://vankata.be/aviationbg/Bg/Info/Gloss/Basic_gloss.htm for more terms. “Yaw” is simply a funny-sounding term and it will be appearing at least once in Steam on the Horizon, despite the fact that even with that explanation, I really have no idea what it is. However, I better find out because I plan on having a glossary of terms in the back of the book.

One order of the week is to finish a military bustle for the Military Ball Friday. I had an airship officer costume put together that consisted of tall boots, pants, a knee-length jacket, a military shirt, and a hat. After some pondering, I decided that a bustle would look interesting, so I found the perfect olive-colored fabric and some red ribbon for trim. In my head, the entire combo will look quite dashing, but we shall have to see. Bustles, after all, are made to be hidden under dresses, not worn on the outside of pants like a half-formed miniskirt.

Another order of the week is to get my stupid leg and back issues resolved. As much as I love my chiropractor, I think we see way too much of each other. I need to start introducing myself as, “Hi, I'm Melissa. My hobbies are steampunk and injuring myself.” If I spent as much time getting into shape as I did rehabilitating myself after trying to get into shape, I would be a candidate for the Olympics in six months.

And, with a rant to close, let me say here how much I passionately detest Google Chrome. It crashes constantly and is the most fickle, nonsensical navigation system I have ever had the misfortune to use. I think I will create an antagonist airship and name it the Chrome in revenge.