Hello, fans of my finely fonted fables of fame...
Not sure if that was the best way to introduce myself to my readers in this first entry, but there ya go...
Like any other geek, I've taken on some rather... Lets say geeky hobbies. These are hobbies people pretend don't exist, but secretly throngs of people build online forums for. I'm not talking about just simple comic book collecting, (you pansy) but something that is much more secretive and shameful due to the simple and sobering fact that our wives will publically deny any association to us and look at us like we're some over grown man baby someone forgot to change.
The secret and shameful hobby I'm talking about is prop building and collecting. This is a hobby that crosses the line from that guy who likes the story about heroes saving the world, to that guy who secretly thinks he can become that fashionably spandex clad hero if he owns one out of 8,000 limited edition full scale props (but... I got a certificate of authenticity!). There's a reason why this lower level of comic/magic/video game/movie fandom is kept to the lower levels... To most people, spending anything over $40 on something that's essentially an oversized toy is just crazy. Certificate of authenticity or not.
So currently, I'm attempting to build a Green Lantern Power Battery. I've got most of the materials ready and SOON, I will have the GREEN prize I so desperately desire!
"Hey... Is that your husband over there with the full sized, fully functional Green Lantern Battery?" says a random pedestrian passing by.
"In brightest day, in blackest night..." I say to the lantern as a few kids watch in awe. (That's right! I have kids in awe! Limited edition, baby!)
"Uh... *SIGH* Yes... It is," says my lovingly embarrassed wife as she slowly inches away from me.
Seriously though, I'm finding that this project may not be as simple as the guys on THE forum says it is. One big factor that's playing a part in this is the fact that I have to work with epoxy. I've only really had one experience where I had to worked with epoxy and in this edifying experience I found out three simple things about this aggresive adhesive:
1) It's durable and gives a great and permanent adhesion.
2) The provided containers aren't so durable, and in fact downright paper thin.
3) This great adhesion epoxy is famed for and offers includes materials such as living human flesh (i.e. me).
I spent two weeks with the label EPOXY glued... or, more fittingly, EPOXIED to my palm after my first and only run in with epoxy and every time I waved hello, gave a high five, shook hands, gave the Vulcan salute, or simply washed my hands I was consistantly given the reminder that limited edition or not, I had epoxy upon me.
