Brave new worlds

One of the first things I did outing-wise in 2018 was attending the Startfleet Experience, the Star Trek traveling exhibit. The exhibit had no mention of 'Discovery' (this exhibit debuted in 2016 for the 50th Anniversary) or the new films (probably better off) and no profiles for Neelix, Kes or Tasha Yar (she is shown) but it has held up pretty well. The Klingon language lesson station was difficult. It was the closest I'll ever get to being on the Enterprise-D from the 'Next Generation' series. And I did, sort of, with a friend and a guy we met at a convention as first officer and captain taking photos on their bridge set.

Geek + Cosplay = Social Acceptance

I have to say, geek and cosplay friends have been a second family to me. The friends I first met at Transformers conventions starting in 2003, expanded with the first Retro Con founded by some of those friends in 2012, got even bigger in 2014 when I joined the cosplay community. And not to mention my friends from video game and anime conventions and toy shows, as well as fan and collectors' groups here on Facebook. These friends made me comfortable sharing more of myself with others. I never dreamed that the things I had from childhood, the things most people I grew up with gave up when they weren't popular or "cool" anymore, would be making me friends 30 years later.

Another Carnival

What an amazing Carnivolution it has been, the 2009 season certainly has been one to remember. Under the big top (really a huge tarp) due to a threat of rain for most of the nights the seasonal event (held on Second Fridays) at the Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum hit new highs (or lows,  if you don't enjoy seeing someone stapling money to their testicles.) The Hydrogen Jukebox were a bit stripped down, they no longer had a horn section but a guest guitarist sat in on a few numbers and a fire-breather performed alongside the band during their last set for many of the shows. The Radar Men returned for this season and incredibly were able to vary their performances even though they were restricted by the same DVD and drum tracks they used last season. The Sideshow featured an exciting and en"gross"ing (literally gross) plot that wove through the six episodes involving the rag-tag band of puppets and freaks on a journey to Menstraila and back. New characters featured a villian who resembles Mickey Mouse but wears a tutu, football pads and McDonald's-style golden arches, a queen covered in tampons and denizens that had heads shaped like various body parts. Many new guests and friends of the Squidling Brothers performed including fire-breathers, stongmen, acrobats and burlesque dancers. Betty Blommerz, missing for a few episodes, was "reborn" for the final show. I attended the most times (4) of any year and really enjoyed it, hanging out with my childhood friend Elisha and new friend Heather. Below are my best pictures for the whole season:

 The Hydrogen Jukebox

The Radar Men

The Sideshow