September 30th, Moving onward and Upward... By: Lourdes Underwood
Good Morning Crew and welcome to the Avenger Website!
As most of you have noticed we been a little quiet on the updates of late and as much as I can promise that can change, I will, but don't quote me. Its not like we have reporters on staff, being paid for this sort of thing. What we do have however is the occasional interested party and I for one, having the keys to the site (me and the CS in the form of their various columnage), have decided to send out to you, a hearty hello and links to things, that well, just made me laugh my keister off.
For those not following the news of odd and amusing things, you'll be happy to be made aware that Weird Al Yankovic has just released his latest album 'Straight Outta Lynwood' a few short days ago. Given the over-all theme I was sure that I was going to be confounded by a lot of re-styled rap parodies, and as I am a fan of Amish Paradise, I decided to give it a shot. What I'm finding is just terribly amusing... a re-done Green Day song (American Idiot) entitled 'Canadian Idiot' being one of my top favorites so far.
I went to Weird Al's website, found the tracklist and was amused to find a song called 'Don't Download This Song' which, as every DnD player who laughed when TSR (or was it WoC by then?) released the 'Thieves Handbook', immediately made me search out the song on the nets and, lo and behold, its a great little smear at the RIAA, tongue-in-cheek like and the best part is, that Al is streaming it from his myspace page (make sure you turn your sound down before following the link though ) ;)
So, that's two songs on the three song criterium to buy said album list for me*.
After a little searching around I found the news page, at least I think it was the news page (I was laughing hard remember), and found a few videos that apparently, Al had liked so much, done by homebrew fans, that I had to link em to you here in case you don't have time to hit his site for the linkage ;)
Remember what I said about the code of three a little bit ago?? Well I'm proofing the links above and once I hit Al's myspace page... he's got his stream up and his new single 'White and Nerdy' is on... so far references to wikipedia, xmen, klingons and general amusements of fanny packs and bubblewrap ;) You know what that means... that's three. Its on my list to procure now. DAMN YOU TODD....ERR.. AL!!!!
Anyway, as you'll be able to see yourself if you follow the linkage, I think you'd be hardpressed to not pickup the new album, and even if you manage to survive the need, there's still the ubergeek/uberchic need to linkup with Al's myspace page at the very least.
So there you go! All the news that's fit to print (was summarily sacked by llamas and this piece ran in its stead. Rampant commercialism? ..maybe.. but in these times, you have to admit, sometimes we all need a good belly laugh ;) ).
*- The author of this article has a strict code of ethics that states clearly and concisely, that if three songs are 'found' that merit 'good to awesome' listening and relistening, aforementioned author will buy or otherwise request to be bought, said album for her enjoyment. Recent great albums that fell into this code and urged subsequent procurement through means of CD distribution included, Gwen Stefani's 'Love, Angel, Music, Baby', Madonna's 'Confessions on a Dancefloor' and Alanis Morissette's 'The Collection'.
State Of The Website Update
As of September 30th, the following maintenance and updates occured:
- Events Calendar Updated courtesy of Upcoming.org and your CS.
- Main page Updated.
- Working on 3D Maya Rendering of the Avenger (now that I have some proficiency).
Future Ideas Include:
- Possible 3D Renders of Some Ship Areas for interactive bemusement. (either
as Walkthrough OR UT2k4 Lvl).
PLEASE NOTE: Events Calendar Updated
! Opportunities for carousing and intellectual stimulation abound!
}
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Okay, I'll admit it, I've been lax in getting this blog updated. So, what's going on? It's Valentine's Day here, and while I'll not have an opportunity this year to participate in the related festivities with my significant other, I know we'll make up for it this coming weekend.
As is usually the schedule, mid-February marks Farpoint - a fan-run convention held annually in the Baltimore, MD area. It's always a great opportunity to meet up with friends I don't get to see very often from that area, not to mention the unique items for sale one can only find at a convention of this ilk. (or the media guests, for that matter) This year, Farpoint is hosting a trio of TV notables, James Callis (Dr. Gaius Baltar from the acclaimed new incarnation of Battlestar Galactica), Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi from Star Trek: the Next Generation), and Erin Grey (Col. Wilma Deering, Buck Rogers), in addition to the plethora of writers and musicians that make this a memorable weekend.
I'm disappointed to report that I've only just recently discovered that the release date for the new "Star Trek" feature, under the helm of J.J. Abrams, has been pushed back to May 8th, 2009. This is a peripheral side-effect of the writers' strike in Hollywood which had the TV and film industry at loggerheads for several months. The strike created a gap of new scripts being written for the 2009 film season, and the studios are working to flesh-out their release calendars with as many of the projected 'heavy hitters' as they can to offset the lapse while they're working on catching up for lost time. The rationale for this move (it was originally slated to debut December 25, 2008) was to try to earn more Box Office bang for the patrons' dollars. Looking into the Cinema crystal ball, the new date places "Star Trek" a week after the new comic book adaptation feature "Wolverine" hits the screens (starring Hugh Jackman), and a week before the sequel to the "DaVinci Code" is slated to be released. At present, this makes "Trek" the biggest title currently slated to open on that date. The suits are apparently hoping the lack of major competition on opening weekend will result in a better debut weekend. One can only hope the film holds up, placed on such a high pedestal. 2008's film season will feature a great many Superhero features. We've got the new "Dark Knight" Batman feature, "Hellboy II", "The Incredible Hulk II", and "The Mummy" has another sequel this summer, and Will Smith will be starring in "Hancock", about a down-and-out hero that a publicist is trying to put back on top. A surprise addition to the film lineup this year is another "Star Wars" feature. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (not to be confused with the animated shorts "Star Wars:Clone Wars" by Genndy Tartakovsky) is a full-length CGI animated story which takes place early in the Clone Wars timeline, (Between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith"), and is slated to follow the personal adventures of Anakin Skywalker during that time. The CGI feature is a lead-in to a new series to air on Cartoon Network following the theatrical release. 31 Episodes have been contracted for this CGI animated weekly series. There is still the live-action "Star Wars" series in pre-production, slated for the 2009 Television season. That series is intended to be set after the events seen in "Revenge of the Sith" and follows characters living in the early days of the Empire. A little closer to present, we have such shows as "Jericho" returning to TV, "Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles" continues to fare well on Fox network, Futurama will see new episodes on Comedy Central, Knight Rider is being resurrected for a 21st Century audience, and will air on NBC later this month, and lastly we have Battlestar Galactica's imminent return for its final season later this year.
All in all, not bad stuff for the Sci-fi/fantasy fan to watch. I'll do my best to keep folks up to date on the latest, as it becomes known.
We do have plans for the chapter to support the new "Star Trek" release, despite the change in premiere date. This does grant us a few additional months to prepare our display(s) and presentation(s) at the movie theater that is graciously permitting us to recruit there that opening weekend (many thanks, Carlos!)
More specifics to follow. Chat at ya later, Commodore Todd F. Brugmans Executive Officer, USS Avenger
First Officer's Blog, Stardate 20070721.0003 (carry the 4...) July in 2007, and it's high-time I recapped quite a few things here, for the benefit of those visiting ussavenger.org for the first time, as well as for our crew, who're looking for updates and news.
WELL! To summarize a few things so far this Summer.... In the ides of June we had a very busy weekend. The Avenger's annual anniversary picnic was held at North Brunswick, NJ's Babbage Park, and was well attended. USS Sovereigns Cook-on-loan, Joe Horton manned the grills again this year, and no one left hungry. Thanks to Joe and Janek for handling all the food details. We featured water gun battles which included my usual collection of 'Friggin' HUGE!' water rifles, and we had the honor of hosting friends from near and far at this year's picnic. Friends from Avenger's past and present assembled, as well as fellow Fleeters from the Richthofen, Deliverance, Accord, Sovereign, and Challenger. It was a veritable Who's Who in Region 7. Of course, no Avenger picnic could truly be considered complete without Mother Nature getting into the act. We got our major thunderstorm tearing through late in the afternoon. It let up in time for us all to pack up and move our merry-making to a town expo in progress a couple of miles away. Funnel cakes and fireworks rounded out the evening. That very next morning, The USS Avenger teamed up with local charity The VanHouten Foundation to run a charity auction event we'd been planning since the beginning of the year. I was impressed, and am proud to report that a dozen of our chapter's members turned out to lend assistance toward this endeavor, which featured a great many signed items from celebrities of books, music, film and TV; vendors tables, game-show activities, and catered food. An unfortunate turn of events had no one show to our event for all the preparation that had gone into running it. I look upon it as a learning experience, and our chapter made a great many observations as to what could be improved upon for future events we open to the public. As a personal sidebar note, again I was well impressed with the turnout of our crew members to this event. So much so, that I have arranged for those of the crew who turned out on their Father's Day Sunday to help us, even if for a little while, to receive a new Polo shirt (or in a case or two, a Tee-shirt) that bears an embroidered USS Avenger Logo I'd designed, inspired by Star Trek movie-era insignia. As I write this entry, the shirts are all made up, and are in transit to my home. Soon as I have them, I can begin distribution of them to those who came to the auction event, those I don't catch up with beforehand, I hope to see you at the August chapter meeting, and we'll get it sorted then.
What else has been going on? Well, our friends on the USS Challenger hosted their annual backyard BBQ and pool party in Ortley Beach, NJ. We had a strong contingent from the Avenger attend this event, which concluded with my bringing an LCD video projector, which we used to shine a presentation of the animated movie "Flushed Away" on the side of Admiral Bob Vosseller's summer bungalow.
Several of the crew enjoyed the annual big-summer convention in the Maryland/D.C. area: Shore Leave. While I was unable to attend this year, the stories and accounts are starting to trickle in, including a notable award citation during the Starfleet Region 7 meeting held at said conference. Annually, Region 7 issues awards for the best officers, chapters, websites, newsletters, etc. for that year. I am VERY proud to note here (as I have elsewhere) that U.S.S. Avenger, NCC-1860, has been named Region 7's Chapter of the Year for this year. Congratulations go out to all of our most deserving crew!
We will resume our regularly scheduled ship meetings in August. The next meeting will be 3pm at the Borders Bookstore on Rte. 18, North Brunswick, NJ on Sunday, August 12. The meeting will of course be followed with a trip to an area restaurant of the group's choosing.
On the chapter staffing front, I'd like to extend an official welcome to Commander Annie Slonski, who has officially transferred to Avenger from the USS Challenger, and has taken up the mantle of Chief Medical Officer for our ship. Crew are encouraged to welcome Annie aboard, if they've not yet had an opportunity to do so. That said, I think we're pretty close to up to current for now. We've many activities to plan for in the next several months, and more updates will follow highlighting what we're up to. I hope you'll consider joining us for our meeting on August 12th. That is all. Commodore Todd Brugmans XO, da boat.
Well, gang, it's 2006 and I haven't posted this year, so here goes. We'll start with the fact that I was thinking today. A dangerous prospect at the best of times, but I got to thinking about STAR TREK: Enterprise, and how they used Polarization of the Hull plating to protect their ship......
I always thought that was a funny approach to Enterprise..... HEY! let's take the entire hull, RUN ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH IT, and see if it protects our ship without shorting out my gameboy!
CLANG!!
ARCHER: Trip, what the hell just happened? TRIP: Sorry cap'n.... I polarized the hull, and we just became a super-electro-magnet..... all them Suliban popcorn-balls they're flyin' around in just stuck t'the hull…..
CLANG!!
ARCHER: Trip? TRIP: Not m'fault this time, Cap'n T’POL: T'Pol to Bridge ARCHER:Go ahead T’POL:Can someone please explain to me why I am now dangling from the ceiling of my quarters by the latch of my bra? TRIP: Jus' Hang on a minnut, there' T'Pol.... I'll be right there t'help ya work out... er, get out of.... aw hell.... get ready for some more massage therapy!
CLANG!! REED: Reed to bridge! ARCHER: Go ahead, Lieutenant REED: Sir, I don't wish to be alarmist, however the plate in my head has developed a peculiar fascination with the deckplates on E-deck… PHLOX: Phlox to Bridge! ARCHER:Yes, Doctor, what can we do for you? PHLOX:You can turn off those damned polarized plates, for starters. Do you realize you've just wiped clean the memory of all my videocassettes of SEX & The City?!? I was just getting to the parts of human coital relationships involving tiny "Johnsons" when all of a sudden the entire collection was erased! PHLOX: Now I guess I'll have to study Trip at therapy with T'Pol! TRIP: HEY! Whatever happened to doctor/patient confidentiality?!? PHLOX: Well the secret would never have gotten out if you'd hidden the "enhancement" drugs I prescribed for you, instead of Porthos getting into them and eating a robust supply. Poor animal was accidently pole-vaulting with every 3rd step for a month
CLANG!
ARCHER: Trip.......? HOSHI: Sir, we're being hailed ARCHER: On Main Viewer, KLINGON: CLANG! ARCHER: was that another hull strike? MAYWEATHER: No, sir I think it was...KLINGON: IT's MY NAME, Pe’TAQ!! CLANG! RELEASE my vessel or I shall destroy you!
We could go on and on.... perhaps in future blogs I shall. Now, if you have read this on March 15th, when it was posted, and you find yourself wiping the beverage of choice from your monitor, well, all I can say is Shakespeare was right: you really SHOULD beware the Ides of March.
Commodore Todd F. Brugmans Executive Officer, USS Avenger NCC-1860
Has it truly been so long since last I posted?!? My apologies, folks. Let's get up to speed, shall we? Throughout the course of 2005 to date we've seen quite a bit of things happen, some good, some not so good. This year our former Chief Medical Officer, AnnMarie Reilly passed away after prolonged illness. She was a driving force in the Avenger's history, and is missed most especially by those who knew her best. Throughout the year, we've been heading off to conventions and conferences. STARFLEET's International Conference this year was held in San Antonio, TX, on what had to be one of the hottest weekends of the year....ugh! Farpoint and Shore Leave provided the usual opportunities to hang with our friends from Regions 1 and 7, (and beyond) in Maryland. Our friends aboard the USS Challenger successfully hosted a Back to the Beach weekend in Seaside Heights, NJ for the annual Region 7 Conference this year. Speaking of conferences, Region 7 will be hosting the International Conference for STARFLEET in 2006. www.ic2006.org for more details. I'd like to call upon all the crew of the USS Avenger to help out if they're able in the planning and execution of this conference. It's our opportunity to show the rest of the organization just how well R7 knows how to party! On a personal note, I have been serving throughout this year as Commandant for the STARFLEET Academy. It is proving more of a challenge than ever initially expected, but progress is steadily being made for improvements for the membership, and we've come a long way in a relatively short period of time. I have recently learned that Avenger's newest offshoot chapter, USS Hathor out in the Louisville, KY area is decommissioning. My condolences are extended to Captain Underwood for the chapter's untimely conclusion, so shortly after it had launched. I wish well the members of Hathor's crew as they pursue separate avenues for their continued participation within STARFLEET. I wish to extend a welcome to Captain Dan Steenburg, formerly of the USS Highlander (my old ship), who joins our crew as a correspondence member in the Security division. On our upcoming highlights this month, The Avenger will be making a presentation at the Old Bridge Public Library on Saturday, November 12th at 1:30pm. We've been invited to come and speak about the enduring popularity of Star Trek, and touch on the legends and lore of the show that's inspired this very club. I hope you'll consider joining us for the talk. Also, this Sunday, November 13th at 3:00pm is our regularly scheduled Shipwide meeting at the Borders Bookstore on Rte 18 North. This will be our last meeting for the year at this location, as we'll need to meet elsewhere in December to allow our generous hosts at Borders to best utilize the much-needed floorspace for holiday season sales, etc. Hope to see you there! Commodore Todd F. Brugmans Executive Officer, USS Avenger, NCC-1860 Commandant, STARFLEET Academy
First Officer's Blog, Stardate 041221.0243
4 days before Christmas. A bitter cold has gripped the area, and there's only a passing chance we'll see snow in time for the holiday this year. While travelling about hunting for gifts this year, I noted with awe some of the complex and amazing displays of lights and decorations in front of people's houses. The varieties of colors and lighting choices, the gaudy, yet festive inflatable light-up "Statues" that seem to have become so popular lately... displays that move, and some that are static.
I hope in the week between Christmas and New Year's to find the time to travel to some of the towns where I've seen whole streets participating in the decorative spirit. Some houses remind me of fireworks frozen in time with all their splendor. Others remind me of the set from 'Sanford and Son'.... I digress.
The USS Avenger has muddled through its first year under new management, for good or for ill, we've seen some significant changes from this time a year ago, and I have no doubt we'll continue to see changes, with a little luck, moreso for the better in the future.
Everyone's encouraged strongly to take an active role in determining where this club goes from here on in. Your input is as valued as it is needed.
Personally, I'd like to thank everyone aboard for their patience, support, understanding, misunderstandings, gripes, snippets, and I told-you-so's as I've experimented and explored the role of Executive Officer for the chapter. Without getting the much-needed feedback, I honestly can't guage what's working well, versus what needs to be worked on.
Now we're coming up on 2005, and for me, a whole new adventure awaits. In addition to continuing to serve our chapter, I'm now taking on the responsibilities of the entire fleet.
As you all are doubtless aware by now, Mandi Livingston has been elected to serve the next three years as Commander, Starfleet, and by association, I've been elected to serve as Commandant of the Starfleet Academy. I look forward to both my roles within Starfleet with enthusiasm (and just a twinge of trepidation).
Going into the new year, I'm reminded of absent friends, of distanced friends, and past acquaintances of the Auld Lang Syne (times gone by). If you'll forgive my moment of holiday melancholy, I can't help but observe at times it's lonely at the top.
Ah well.
Here's to hoping for bright things in the new year and beyond.
Be well, everyone.
I'll see ya next year.
FleetCaptain Todd F.Brugmans
Executive Officer, USS Avenger NCC-1860
First Officer's Blog:
Stardate 041109.0354
It is early on Tuesday morning following the now-infamous Region 7 Summit for this year. Already New Jersey is seeing its first frost for the year, and I can personally attest to having seen the first hints at snow as a minor flurry passed through the night skies over Flemington.
This is a serene time when compared to the chaos that has been the past weekend.
Shuttle Wohali ventured to Bethlehem, PA, along with Shuttles Hyperion, and the BOHICA (part deux), along with the CO's transport du jour...... (if I've overlooked any of our shuttlecraft, I do apologize) Suffice to say, the USS Avenger was WELL represented at this year's conference.
This 3-day, 2 night event is largely a business meeting for the Regional level of Starfleet International, for those new to our chapter, or those looking to learn more about Starfleet and reading through all you may find here, we are part of Region number 7, which contains Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York states.
This year's conference was hosted by the USS Flying Fox, along with Regional Coordinator Mike Smith, and it is to everyone involved that I offer my respects and congratulations for such a successful event.
The Friday Night social was the first activity to feature a Renaissance/Medieval theme for the conference, featuring lovely lasses done up in Wench finery, fetching beverages and collecting tips for their services. The tip money was collected to benefit Women's shelters, and the ladies reported proceeds for the single night's efforts upwards of $600. Room parties were the order of the weekend, with the USS Archer celebrating an anniversary, and the newly launched shuttle off of USS Edinburgh, the shuttle "Top Gun" getting underway. Captain Dean Rogers will be heading up the newest group to grace the state of Maryland, and we aboard USS Avenger wish them well in their fledgeling months, growing and learning so that they may be recognized as a new full-blown chapter when their time comes.
On Saturday morning, the general assembly took a somber turn as former member Fleet Captain AnnMarie Reilly took the podium to give her report as Regional Financial Officer. Midway through her report her implanted defibrillator apparently was triggered, and she was subsequently transported to the local St. Luke's medical facility. There, it was determined that she had not suffered a heart attack, and for her continued care, it was decided to have her transported back to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ. At the time of this posting, AM is reported to still be under the doctors' ministrations at that facility, as they continue to ascertain the cause of this most recent incident. CMO Commander Mike Balewitz reports that her cardiologist team is again exploring the possibility of getting AnnMarie added to the Heart Transplant Recipient List. For those familiar with AM's long struggle, this is encouraging news when you consider that she had been declared inelligible a year ago for heightened concern over the potential for complications related to this surgery. To the entire crew: your prayers, well wishes, and positive energies are every bit as appreciated now as they have been in the past, as they will be going forward, for AnnMarie and her family. Many thanks, and keep 'em coming! Updates will be made regarding AM's condition as information is made available to us.
Returning to the Conference, The Regional event gave Regional Coordinator Mike Smith an opportunity to recognize personally the achievements of those within his region, including his personally handing over the Starfleet Academy Red Squad recognition awards to our own Captain Judy Waidlich and Commander Mike Balewitz for their outstanding work in their respective studies. Admiral Alex Rosenzweig was given a citation for all his efforts toward the successful planning and execution of the Regional conference, and yours truly (much to my surprise) wound up with a heavier pip on my shoulder. I have been promoted to the rank of Fleet Captain. Joining in the festivities this weekend was our wayward Ops chief, Commander Tony Lopes, who quipped "what're we gonna do, Judy? Your Exec now out ranks you!!" Had I the opportunity then, I'd point out what I'll point out now: We have a Science Chief who outranks GOD! His rank's so far up there, he doesn't even need to ACKNOWLEDGE God if he doesn't want to, let alone the diety's rank!
Panel Discussions ranged anywhere from the annual Marine Muster to topics of Wiccan interests, Chapter Recruitment, and things to help distinguish a chapter from its peers (developing an interest "hook").
The Banquet for the R7 conference included a unique party game in which all attendees were handed a travel route with which they had to wander about the room, stopping at various miniature castles on each of the dining tables. At each stop, the traveler had to roll a 6-sided dice, and that would determine how many beans they had to pluck blindly out of a paper bag found at each castle. While a vast majority of these beans were white (indicating a safe draw), the bags also contained red beans, which represented the Black Plague. The objective was to visit as many of the castles as possible, rolling the die, hoping to avoid catching the Plague, and make it out alive. It proved quite the challenge for the Shuttle Top Gun's CO, Dean Rogers, who contracted the Plague TWICE.
Good times were had dancing, laughing, drinking and merry-making throughout the night with our friends from so many of the Region's shining star chapters, to mention some would be unfair to those I'd invariably leave out by accident. Suffice to say, a whooooooole lotta peoples!
Sunday came much too soon, as it's wont to do on good-time-weekends. Following the closing ceremonies, several of us ventured to a local microbrewery for lunch. All-in-all, a great time!
This brings us back to home with upcoming events to look forward to this month.
November 14th is the monthly Shipwide meeting, as per usual, it will be held 3pm at the Borders bookstore. On Saturday November 20th, members of the crew will be going to the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University for a distribution of our mini-posters, flyers, and business cards. This is a recruiting exercise, and all members who're able to join us are encouraged to do so.
Well, now that I've Blogged yet another novel, I reckon it's time I got back to other duties for an overnight shift. That is all for now,
Regards,
FleetCaptain Todd F. Brugmans,
Executive Officer, USS Avenger, NCC-1860, Region 7
Executive Officer's Blog
Stargate (er, um StarDATE) 041027.0309
Now that I've had an opportunity to recoup sufficient sleep, I feel I can sum up the past week or so, I'll try to stay on target.
For roughly 6 days I've been down in the land that time forgot: Kentucky. I had gone in the company of our own Janek Kazimer to attend/participate in the Ricky Bruckman/Joan Pierce wedding, for which I was a best man. This turned out to be more of a challenging vacation than many I've been on.
A mere 5 seconds across the border into Kentucky from West Virginia, a pick-up truck nearly caused an accident which surely would have destroyed my personal transport, the Wohali had it not been for some really good brakes on the vehicle. It's one thing to hate a state on principle because it sucks up so many of your friends, but it's yet another to realize the state is actually trying to kill you the instant you arrive... AHHHHHH HATE KENTUCKY!
Throughout the stay Janek and I found ourselves guests of the crews of the USS Hathor and the USS Pride of Scotland, and it is to them we extend our thanks for the hospitality, and the opportunity to place faces with the names we've been hearing about the past several months.
Despite a rainy day, Ricky and Joan tied the knot on Saturday, October 23rd in a very nice ceremony held within the planetarium on the campus of the University of Louisville. The ceremony itself went off without difficulty, and the reception was entertaining. (as best man, I had the dubious task of trying to follow the heartfelt and stirring words of Ricky's brother, Charlie, with a best man toast of my own).
The one thing I've noted in the two southern weddings I've attended in my lifetime: the South luuuuuuuuv's its salad! Greens, beans, pasta, potato, and chicken salads. We retreated later in the evening to the 'official' hotel for the wedding, where Greg Trotter and his wife PJ were gracious hosts for a pizza and booze post-reception nosh. Tired of the tux, I slipped into attire more comfortable for winding down in and wouldn't ya know it? THAT's what wound up frightening the locals.
I had recently acquired a custom-fitted Japanese Kimono and matching Hakama pants (what can I say, I was inspired by watching too many episodes of Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (MXC)) Well, anyhoos, the morning after (the same morning Janek and I were to make our way back to NJ) a gentleman is having some coffee in the hotel lobby, and is chatting with Charlie (Ricky's brother). The gentleman was noting how we had to be the most considerate wedding party people he'd ever seen. We weren't obnoxiously loud, we didn't destroy the place, and we didn't disrupt the other hotel guests..... there was one thing that stuck out in the guy's mind...
"There wuz this big guy with the face o'the Devil hisself walkin' around dressed up like sum kinda samurai or sum'tin! It wuz all I could do t'get out of his way!!"
Upon hearing this, Charlie needed a new cup of coffee (the one he had went through his nose)
Kinda gets ya to thinking when a guy who constantly hears "Damn You, Todd!!!" is referred to as having the face of the Devil, hisself.....don't it?
At any rate, the wedding went smoothly, and all had a really good time while there.
Moving on to shipwide matters, I'd like to take the time to acknowledge the accomplishements and contributions of FleetCaptain AnnMarie Reilly and her daughter Liz Reilly. Both have done much in the history of our chapter and I offer the thanks of a grateful crew to them both as they move on to bigger and brighter prospects. For those not yet in the know, the Reillys have decided to part company with the USS Avenger. They plan to continue to be actively involved with Starfleet, and can be contacted directly through the usual means (unfortunately, not including the ship's mailing list) for the benefit of those wishing to keep in touch.
At the October shipwide, a commendation was issued to Lieutenant Patrick Barnes for his service, friendship, and fellowship above and beyond the call of duty for his herculean efforts in assisting the Reilly family as they faced a stressful move to a new home at the beginning of September. This done while Patrick was dealing with issues at his own home, and juggling vast workloads at his place of business. Patrick has exemplified in a very short period of time the best in what the International organization has to offer as far as its members go, and we're proud to acknowledge his accomplishments at this time. Well done, lad!
Upcoming events for the USS Avenger include the Chiller Theatre convention scheduled for this Friday through Sunday (Oct. 29-31), the Region 7 Halloween Party (October 30) and the Region 7 Annual Conference (Scheduled for November 5-7). We will be holding our regularly scheduled Shipwide meeting on Sunday, November 14th at 3pm, Borders bookstore on Route 18north in South Brunswick.
Don't forget: there's also our 20th Anniversary Party scheduled for June of 2005. Cost per person is $50, be sure to make your reservations with Captain Waidlich as far in advance as possible.
Also, if you are a member of Starfleet International, as well as a ship member, there is still time to cast your vote for the new Commander, Starfleet. Look in your mail for the ballot information and be sure to have your vote counted as we choose who will lead the parent fan organization for the next 3 years.
With that, I'll close this entry, be well, and I'll see ya when I see ya
Captain Todd Brugmans, Executive Officer, USS Avenger, NCC-1860