[112] TK-89400 (revlimiter) Troop Log (social media consent)

[BAZINGA[TK]]

This was a blast to read and look at.  Hope I can experience similar in a few months time.  Bart

[revlimiter[Staff]]

9/17/22 Balloon Glow Troop

TK troop #23

CDZ-5435 Troop #7

TI-50597 Troop #1!!!

 

This was a neighborhood park troop before a balloon glow that was to happen later that evening. Not sure if the glow happened as we were sent home before the balloons were inflated, but we kept the kids and crowd entertained for the couple of hours before hand.

 

We had a HUGE turnout for a relatively small event. Three new troopers in attendance including my wife's first troop! She's the lone TIE pilot. The other newbies were the rather shiny TKs. (I'm the "tall" TK next to my short Jawa daughter.)

 

This has been a dream for a while now - trooping with my whole family. So many smiles under that bucket!!!  It was also my first troop with the rubber DLT-19. It was fun but awkward.

 

Jawa antics. She stole Baby Yoda from the scout.

 

Whist protecting the play structure, this small gentleman came up and asked me why I was allowed to carry the big gun and not the General.  After some back and forth about how it was in fact my blaster, I snapped to the general part. "Who's the General?" I asked. "The black one," he stated plainly.

 

The Black One.

 

My wife was apparently The General. I elected to escort her for a while. Bonus background jawa playtime.

 

I'm loving life y'all.

[Morgi[Staff]]

You got a playground? I'm so jealous right now, that troop looks awesome 

[revlimiter[Staff]]

On 9/11/2022 at 2:28 PM, Bartman said:

This was a blast to read and look at.  Hope I can experience similar in a few months time.  Bart

You'll be trooping before you know it!

 

 

1 hour ago, Morgi said:

You got a playground? I'm so jealous right now, that troop looks awesome 

Yess!!! It was really fun. The scouts and jawas had a blast swinging and playing and sliding. The big rifle kept me from doing too many playtime activities... It might not come out for too many troops in the future.

[revlimiter[Staff]]

Double troop post!!!

(24) 9/23/22 - Tailgate Party

TK troop 24

CDZ-5435 troop 8.

 

This was a troop at a high school tailgate party. Kinda odd right? One of the cheerleaders was a past Carrie Tingley Hospital resident (possibly with a spinal issue) who fought hard and is now a regular girl out in the world living her life. She asked if some white armor and jawas could attend the tailgate for some quick pix.

 

Yes. Yes, we can provide some white armor and a jawa.

 

It was a last minute troop. We had five of us with Juno Eclipse doing double duty as handler. My daughter as the jawa. I believe this selfie was indeed our official troop photo since it was the only one that got all five of us.

 

It was fun. Low key and chill. TONS of cheerleader selfies and Be Reals. Lots of snacks and cookies ,which my jawa can stuff under her mask and get into her hungry mouth. I never figured out exactly which kid was the one who called us there, but they were all happy to see us. Good times.

 

 

 

(25) 9/25/22 - Railyard Intergalactic Day

TWENTY FIVE!!!! I'll be requesting my badge after I hit the post button.

#9 for CDZ5435

#2 for TI-50597

 

This is part of the Albuquerque AT&SF Railyard Shops. It's an amazing structure that is basically the reason Albuquerque is the big city in this state and not Santa Fe or Las Vegas (yes, NM has a Las Vegas). I've spent many hours of my life in this place, most of them illegally. I used to be addicted to urbex photography and the railyard was my favorite subject.

 

The Railyard now houses a weekly farmer's market and fair. It's been incredibly cleaned up since the abandoned days, but most of the charm remains. The mismatched and broken windows, the beautiful light, the huge interior spaces. Love it. I haven't been many times since my daughter was born and it was wonderful to roam through again.

 

Family troop pic! Yeah, I did the pauldron again. I couldn't help myself.

 

Brandon's armor is now out of my garage and on his body. I helped him redo the strapping. Looks good and was able to troop all morning with no suit failures. Life is good.

 

White armor takeover.

 

Sweet sweet revenge for all the photobombs the jawas have done to me this year. Muahahahaha!!!

[revlimiter[Staff]]

26th TK troop - Balloon Fiesta 2022 day 1

 

I woke up at 2am today. I've never done that in my whole life. I've been awake through 2am many times, but never set an alarm for 2. I would barely recommend it.

 

But my bothers in white were equally tired, cranky, caffeinated, and excited.  It's the opening day of the 2022 Balloon Fiesta and we had over FIFTY troopers and twenty handlers in attendance.

 

I hung out with Vader most of the morning, acting as TK backup for the endless smiling kids and young at heart eager to take a photo. It was THE BEST trooper assignment ever. Will be Vader backup any time I can.

 

I tried to catch one, but missed as you can see. Because, well... TK.

 

But with my buddy Allen's help, we got it.

 

Some troops just hit different. This one will be a high point for a long long time.

 

Until tomorrow when I get up at 2am and do it again.

 

 

[justjoseph63[Staff]]

FIFTY troopers?  WOW!  That must have been a (forgive the pun) blast.  

[revlimiter[Staff]]

It was indeed A BLAST.

 

I've got a backdated pic from Balloon Day 1 that was missed.

Me, Randy (Vader), and Allen must have posed for 15000 photos that day. I, of course, do not have any on my own camera. I was thrilled to have this memento.

 

(27) 10/2/22 - Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Day 2

 

Getting up at 2am is not good for the brain. This is day 2. I'm posting this on day 4 when my sleep was more caught up. I'll be trooping on day 6 (Thursday) and plan to do FIVE troops in three days, all of which start at 2am.  Chant and light incense for me plz.

 

Anyways, I'm next to Vader. A rare bucket-off pic that I liked.

 

Can't say no to Yoda balloon pix. With my own camera!

 

THIS little guy, named Wesly, hung out with Vader and me for crowd photos. He was amazing. A joy to troop with. Dancing around, making the crowd laugh, and teaching this old trooper the joy of LIFE. Though I'm not in this shot, I had to share it. Big salute to the tiny Magma Scout.

 

When next I update, I will have trooped in my HWT pack! Much excitement.

 

[revlimiter[Staff]]

10/8/22 - Balloon Fiesta Morning Mass Assention Day 6

28th Troop, 1st Heavy Weapons Troop!

We had only a small gathering for the morning launch, but we were ready to support the Vader balloon.

 

UFO? Nah, we want the boss!

 

There he is!!! This was my only photo with Vader. I managed to not get my pic taken with the big guy whilst holding back the crowd.

 

Me and Nick trooped together the whole day. I thought my weathering was a little heavy until I stood next to him... lol

 

Note - Nick is indeed a little tall for a trooper. I'm OTTK height at 5'10". He's 6'3".

 

Together for the first time this year. The Fiesta officials didn't let Vader inflate till Thursday...

 

I made the news. I also got interviewed by French TV. Not sure what channel or services, but I had to wrestle my bucket off to chat with them. Good times!

[revlimiter[Staff]]

10/8/22 - Balloon Fiesta Evening Balloon Glow Day 6

29th Troop, 2nd Heavy Weapons Troop

 

2nd troop of the day too. First troop required a 2am wake up to meet at 3am. The 2nd troop had a 2:30pm meeting time. Short nap between.

A squad of happy nerds getting fried alligator and other bad for you food. E for Empire

 

Our evening herd. They do two special shapes balloon glows per Fiesta - Thursday and Friday. This was Thursday.

 

They picked 5 of us to walk to the VIP pavilion. Han, Leia, Mara Jade, Sandtrooper Nick and myself. We walked a conservative 1.15 miles before starting the 2 hour troop.  I got picked because my bluetooth-speaker-binocs were "friggin awesome" and Nick got picked because he matched me nicely.

 

That HWT pack with the little 1" straps dug into my shoulders. My stupid right thigh was getting clunked by the right ammo pouch every step. And my bucket was digging into my skull. It was unpleasant.  It all got rebuilt on Friday morning.

 

We still had fun.

 

We took over the band area in the VIP booth for a minute. Mara has some pipes. They wouldn't give me a guitar...

 

Then we joined the other troops who DIDN'T have to walk an extra mile.

 

Quality trooping antics were had. We entertained the crowd all night.

 

Himhaer (guy in the middle) is a 501st jawa who had to work a booth that night. He still came around for pix.

 

My favorite pic of the night. The little guy had a little trooper who was reportedly his favorite toy. I gave both kids trading cards and have never seen such pure joy. They hung out with our troopy trio for a while that night.

 

At the end of the night, I got my Fiesta challenge coin. We had to do a photo challenge of 3 pix to get it, one of which had to be a silly shot. As a trooper so inclined, this was not a hard task. The coin is just a beauty. It's my favorite in my collection currently.

 

Note - there was no balloon glow that night. The wind was high and balloons couldn't inflate. We were all the entertainment for the crowd that evening and everyone was invited to come back Friday night with their Th night ticket. So Friday's crowd was set to be huge.

[revlimiter[Staff]]

10/9/22 - Balloon Fiesta Balloon Glow Day 7

30th Troop, 3rd Heavy Weapons Troop

 

I skipped the Friday morning troop due to a sick daughter, a car that needed puke cleaned out of it, and armor that needed an overhaul.  Which is a shame because Friday morning was apparently epic. Vader and Yoda both flew and the crowd and trooper staff was huge. Alas, there's next year.

 

Thighs - I realigned my garter system to get the thighs ever so slightly higher and rotated correctly. I've lost about 30 lbs since I did the garter the first time (didn't lose the weight by choice) and the straps were in the wrong place. Easy fix that took a while to find. Now the ammo pouches aren't catching on the thigh armor edges anymore.

 

Bucket - redid the padding. I had my iComm and amp up high touching my head. This was fine for an hour or two, but after 6+ hours of trooping in a day, it was very not comfy. They both were moved so they're not in contact with my skull any longer.

 

Pack - I abandoned the 1" straps and hacked the pack up to accept a small Camelback. It has 1.5" straps to which I added padding. Infinitely more comfy. I can dance and jump around in it, even with heavily bruised shoulders from the stupid 1" webbing. My build thread will be updated with that stuff soon.

 

Weathering - I used up all my eyeshadow. My belt and legs were just too light and my bucket had lost much of its weathering. I'm really happy with how it came out.

 

Daughter - now feeling better!!!

 

Car - cleaned and 99% less puke smelling.

 

Friday Squad!  My buddy Gus, who is usually a scout, signed up to handle and take photos for the event. He's got a great eye. All of the Friday pix are epic.

 

Love this shot. If you could hear it, you'd know that my pack had a little bluetooth speaker shoved in the wipe bottle with Imperial March BLASTING on loop.  Good times.

 

"No, I'm not taking my bucket back off."

 

Rolling out.

 

Dirty squad! They kept trying to convert me to the sandy side.

 

 

We found Fett and trooped around with him a while.

 

I love being HWT. I don't need to point out which one I am anymore! lol

 

I can be found like this rather often...

 

and lastly...

 

I FOUND THE DROIDS I WAS LOOKING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You can see the huge smile under my bucket, right? So dang cute.

[revlimiter[Staff]]

This isn't a troop, but I wanted to include since many of our folks worked all day. This was Saturday. We SHOULD have had a final morning balloon troop, but did not. It was cancelled due to the weather on Friday night.

 

See, our Garrison policy is to leave at sunset for balloon glow. That means we don't usually get evening pix with the balloons and aren't on the field for the glow. It's a bit of a shame, but it's for our own safety.

 

That policy saved our troopy butts last night. At about 30 minutes past sunset the sky just opened on the poor Balloon Fiesta field. We were driving home when the floodwaters unleashed. They got roughly 4" of rain in 30 minutes.

 

Four inches. Ten centimeters.

 

If you've ever experienced something like that... you're basically under water. Everything is instantly drenched. Windshield wipers don't do much anymore. And these special shape balloons can be ruined by such weather.  They have a lot of folds and excess material. Once the rain let up and the teams could leave, all of the special shapes went to a covered sports field to get quickly inspected and rotated through a bit. The crew was up till 2am.  They got a bit of sleep and then went back to work the next morning.

 

The next day, the balloons were invited to the ABQ Railyard Shops to get dried out. Dewback Ridge deployed to help.

 

Yoda being dried where they once serviced steam locomotives.

 

Vader on the other side of the boiler shop.

 

Ever see the first Avengers? This is the same room/spot/location where Hulk lands and turns back into Banner.

 

It's just chalk. But funny chalk.

 

World record for most balloons dried indoors in a single day? We have that.

[revlimiter[Staff]]

10/14/22 - Charity Gala

31st cumulative TK troop!

TI-50597 - #3

CDZ-(CLOR!!!) 5435 - #10

 

This was a charity gala event to benefit Veterans Integration Center and a local animal rescue (Watermelon Mountain Ranch). It was also my daughter's debut of her new Little Leia costume. She seems to be the 2nd in the GA, with the first possibly being the actual actress. She was SO happy. (I'm behind her, and her mom is far left)

 

The plan was to have a Carrie Fisher birthday photo with all of the local Leias, but we only had General Organa and Little Leia in attendance... so I did what I had to do. My wife (trooped with the TIE bucket at the actual gala) also helped out.

 

Expect more HR troops from her. She loved joining Dolores's HR team.

 

Unfortunately, my fellow TKs did not take kindly to the buns and I was disciplined.

 

They had a photo booth at the gala. We invaded after the gala denizens were though posing with us.

 

I think we need photobooths at every event from now on.

 

These physical booth prints are hanging proudly on my blaster wall.

 

Securing the area...

 

... for photos with the boss!

 

 

Bonus pix

Her approval photo. I'm so proud of the outfit. Figuring out what actual colors everything was on screen took WORK. She could be a stunt double if she wasn't about a foot taller than the actress.

 

HR Rep Livia is reporting to a garrison near you.

 

"DON'T MAKE THE JOKE DAD!!! JUST DON'T!!!" lol lol lol

[revlimiter[Staff]]

10/15/22 - Walk to End Alzheimer's

TK 89400 - 32nd cumulative TK troop, 4th HWT

TI-50597 - #4

CLOR-5435 - puppy handler

Mabel - Troop #1.

 

No need to describe this troop. An excellent cause, as Alzheimer's runs in my family.

 

My WHOLE family made this troop. Since it was nearby, low stress, and very open to our 4 footed companions, Mabel suited up with her little TK mount and trooped with us.

 

No, I didn't make a HWT pack just for this. Really.

 

Really.

 

With my buddy Joseph in one of his original suits (he's over 900 troops). In memory of Reenie, a garrison mate and TIE pilot who recently passed.

 

Many flowers on our packs and armor.

 

The little troop did well.

 

I used my rubber DLT to help me achieve a personal first - kneeling!!! No damage to knee or armor. Mabel thought it was pretty sweet too.

 

With the Jr. ROTC group. They *loved* our rubber blasters.

 

Just a TK and his dog. Nothing to see here. Move along.

[revlimiter[Staff]]

10/26/22 Make A Wish Trunk R Treat

TK Troop 33 (30 for the year, 6 in my HWT)

CDZ-5435's 11th troop

 

I'll be honest, I see "Make A Wish" on a troop title and I sign up. I'm not sure how this one was a MAW troop, as it seemed like a regular trunk-r-treat, but it was still a very good time. Lots of super-done-up cars, tons of candy, and many very happy kids.

 

Yes, I missed.

 

Missed again. Then my daughter made me pick it up.

 

Even APD had a trunk in attendance. We posed. I knelt. I'm addicted to kneeling now.

 

It was my first troop with the pack in full Kenobi mode with the lights and blaster and antenna

 

My Jedi buddy James agreed, it looks super cool. I *felt* super cool. Having the pack I really wanted is super satisfying.

 

My daughter and I clowned around all night. We gave away candy, she stole it back and re-gifted. Lots of smiles.

 

My favorite bit of the evening didn't get a photo. There was a little FOTK and a little Vader in attendance. We escorted them around for a while. They seemed to super enjoy having their own TK and Jawa escorts. I did my standard thing of "MAKE WAY FOR LORD VADER!!! DARK LORD OF THE SITH COMING THROUGH!!! YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET FORCE CHOKED!" and got lots of laughs from kids and trunk workers alike. Though I couldn't see, I know Vader had a huge smile under his bucket as the trunks HEAPED candy into his bag. I sure had a matching smile under mine.

 

---------------------------------

 

10/28/22 - Haunted Death Star Halloween AM

TK Troop 34 - 31 for the year, and back to my ANH Stunt setup

 

A school across town had a Star Wars theme for their Friday Halloween festivities. One of the teachers is a member. We had seven (Celina as a rebel pilot taking this pic and another teacher as white dress Leia who was not RL) in our group.

 

We welcomed the kids to school at drop off, inspected their pumpkins and deserts, hassled the parents for their identification, and generally made an Imperial nuisance of ourselves.  Tons of smiles, photos, and fist bumps.

 

A couple of the class pumpkin projects that kids were carrying inside past us. The little pine cones in the Falcon clamshell are wookies. Super adorable.

 

One class did baby Yoda punkins. They got the blaster.

 

Then we visited classrooms for most of an hour. SO MUCH FUN!!! I brought a bunch of stickers and handed them out to the kinder and first grade classes. The more well mannered classes got to come up, give high fives, and take class pix with the funny plastic spacemen. One class had a little Vader.

 

I *love* when there's a little Boss to pose with!!! My TK heart grows 10 sizes. The above shot is one of my favorite troopy pix ever. Kneeling, y'all. It's the next level after Centurion.

 

Though it doesn't seem like a huge and important event - just welcoming kids to school and going in some classrooms - but it was SO much fun. It was up there with the best troops I've done in the past year. I'm so happy I got up early today to do it.

[revlimiter[Staff]]

10/29/22 - Boo at the Zoo

35th TK troop, 32 for the year.

 

Good morning troops! It's 33* (1*C) out at 0800, I'm in a park full of duck poo at the zoo, and I'm wearing my winter underoos. Gonna be a great day!!! (and it was)

 

This was our group for the yearly Trick r Treat at the Zoo. A good showing! I'm, of course, kneeling, because I'm addicted to it now.

 

There were over TEN THOUSAND folks in attendance. I got some pix with the cream of the crop, including this tiny Master Chief...

 

These EXTREMELY tall people.... (they were amazing!)

 

Edward Scissorhands... (she was incredible)

 

And we ALLLLLL had to get in on this mermaid photo. 

 

They had basketball, in which I totally made every shot.. yes... every shot.  Very accurate you know.

 

And a blow up skee ball in which I DID actually get a ball or three into the hole.

 

We visited the reptile house to get out of the frigid outside temps and found this ice cave.

 

I got nice and  warmed up in the next foyer.

 

A 10/10 day. Would troop the zoo again!!! 

[revlimiter[Staff]]

11/11/22 - Deluxe Design Re-Opening

36th TK troop, 33rd for the year, and my 1 year Trooperversary

CDZ-5435 - troop 12

TI-50597 - troop 5

 

On Nov 13th, 2021, this was me. Shiny and fresh. Never trooped. Barely knowing the joys of wearing the white armor.

 

11/11/22 - here's me after 36 troops in one year. Thumbs up. Waiting in the hot sun for a ribbon cutting. A bit dirty. Far more smiles than a trooper ever deserves to have in a year.

 

Got another one with my whole family (that's my wife bombing in the middle). Family troops are possibly my favorite thing in life.

 

If you look carefully you'll notice I'm holding my daughter's hand. That's to keep her from stealing each and every E-11 down the line.

 

WHO STOLE THE E-11s?!?!?!?!?!  Yes, she has an arsenal under that robe.

 

Some selfies hit different. This one really captures that ominous feel of a bunch of Imperials waiting to create some smiles.

 

With Gus, who was there on my very first troop a year ago. One of my favorite people in the world to troop with.

 

With the boss. That's Jeff Vader, that is.  Ready to force choke and blast a whole hot dog stand.

 

This IS the hot dog I'm looking for.

 

Hot and tired, but ready for this dog.  Note the COMFORTABLE SITTING!!!!! A billion thanks to @Morgi for sharing the dark arts of advanced TK sitting and mischief with me.

 

What a year.

 

Best year I've had in my 45 on this planet.

[Nairy[Staff]]

Amazing Adam, happy Trooperversary!  This makes me so happy and excited to continue myself!  Are you going to smash the  badge next year? 

[Morgi[Staff]]

vor 5 Stunden schrieb revlimiter:

Note the COMFORTABLE SITTING!!!!! A billion thanks to @Morgi for sharing the dark arts of advanced TK sitting and mischief with me.

 

Of course I did! Us fun-and-crazy TKs gotta stick together 

 

So many amazing pictures and memories, it's awesome to see how far you've come in one year. Congratulations and here's to the next successful year of TK Mischief 

[Scimitar[TK]]

Congrats on the 1 Year Trooperversary Adam! You have definitely made the most of it!!

[revlimiter[Staff]]

14 hours ago, Nairy said:

Amazing Adam, happy Trooperversary!  This makes me so happy and excited to continue myself!  Are you going to smash the  badge next year? 

Thanks!!! And whew, the 75 badge.... I hadn't thought. If the calendar is kind to me, I'll get it!

 

 

12 hours ago, Morgi said:

 

Of course I did! Us fun-and-crazy TKs gotta stick together 

 

So many amazing pictures and memories, it's awesome to see how far you've come in one year. Congratulations and here's to the next successful year of TK Mischief 

Thanks Morgi!!! This next year can only get better with my newfound sitting and kneeling powers. I gotta try laying down soon.

 

8 hours ago, Scimitar said:

Congrats on the 1 Year Trooperversary Adam! You have definitely made the most of it!!

I've burned both ends of this year's candle to the best of my powers. Soon we will troop TOGETHER!!!

[Doggydoc[Staff]]

Congrats Adam. I love following your troop log

 

[revlimiter[Staff]]

11/18/22 - Star Wars Art Con Friday Night

37th TK troop, 6th as a HWT, 34th for the year

CDZ-5435 - troop 13

TI-50597 - troop 6

 

This was a troop to support Lucasfilm's artist Christopher Clark. It's a traveling art show that's in town for 3 days. This was the opening night. I got another family troop in, which is always the best thing in the world.

 

We got a huge introduction from the event organizers and trooped into the twin ballrooms in style. Unlike many troops where they're forbidden, they asked for blasters at this one, so I dirtied my armor up again and hit the HWT train.

 

These two didn't appreciate me stealing their spotlight outside the ballroom.

 

Christopher was just a wonderful person. Happy to chat and clown around, even though he was feeling under the weather. And his art was gorgeous. He was signing and personalizing paintings at no charge for the show.

 

In the above, the ONLY Star Trek painting in the show can be seen. My daughter (out of Jawa to the right) was watching him paint and noticed this. She called everyone over. We posed.

All of the troops eventually caught on. I couldn't help but give a salute.  We spent kind of a long time clowning for this one photo. The crowd loved it, as did the guy who bought the painting.

 

And this gentleman was the new owner of the painting.  I had to get a selfie with him. Too much fun.

 

I bought several paintings myself and came home with a bunch of complementary prints. The walls of our Star Destroyer will get some new decorations soon.

 

11/19/22 - Peter Mayhew Foundation UNM Children's Hospital Donation

Troop 38, 35 for the year, 7 as HWT

 

This was a last minute emergency troop with vague details. Something about the Children's Hospital and the Peter Mayhew Foundation. Masks and COVID cards required, absolutely no weapons. I signed up right away.  This is the kind of thing I live for.

 

The details emerged. A truck from the Mayhew Foundation was touring around the western US, dropping boxes of toys for kids at hospitals on their route.  Albuquerque was due for Saturday delivery sometime after 1pm.  We helped unload boxes which we thought we'd be just handing over to the hospital staff.

 

Nope. Our strong Imperial backs were put to work. We brought the toys all the way up to the kids ward.

 

Delivery made. 

 

I missed every one.

 

( Notice the lack of backpack? Since no weapons were allowed, I elected to just leave the pack at home.  And since I didn't have time between last night's troop and today's to clean my armor again...  )

 

We each received a Peter Mayhew coin for participating in the troop! None of us had any idea this was coming at the end. It'll have a place of honor in my collection.

 

And this little one is my very favorite part of today's troop. When I saw that she was captured by our fantastic handler, the room got dusty.

 

See, she was VERY small and wrapped up in a blanket. Couldn't have been more than 4. She was more than a bit scared of the plastic space suits. I gave her the little finger wiggle waves and got one of my TK trading cards out of my chest pouch for her. She shyly took it with a smile.

 

And that was it. I was then her very favorite plastic spaceman in the hospital at that point onward.

 

She kept looking at me and waiving.  I asked if I could come down and take a picture with her, which got a big nod.  I knelt down next to the girl and her mom and took a selfie with the mom's camera. The little girl had such a huge smile on.  It was only eclipsed by my own, hidden under my mask and bucket.

 

It was a small moment, but... well... little tears. They can't see you cry inside the bucket.  I don't know what challenges were on that little girl's shoulders, but she was happy for a few moments today.  She put quite a few happy bucks in my own pocket as well.

 

It's been a very good weekend.

[BAZINGA[TK]]

9 hours ago, revlimiter said:

11/18/22 - Star Wars Art Con Friday Night

37th TK troop, 6th as a HWT, 34th for the year

CDZ-5435 - troop 13

TI-50597 - troop 6

 

This was a troop to support Lucasfilm's artist Christopher Clark. It's a traveling art show that's in town for 3 days. This was the opening night. I got another family troop in, which is always the best thing in the world.

 

We got a huge introduction from the event organizers and trooped into the twin ballrooms in style. Unlike many troops where they're forbidden, they asked for blasters at this one, so I dirtied my armor up again and hit the HWT train.

 

These two didn't appreciate me stealing their spotlight outside the ballroom.

 

Christopher was just a wonderful person. Happy to chat and clown around, even though he was feeling under the weather. And his art was gorgeous. He was signing and personalizing paintings at no charge for the show.

 

In the above, the ONLY Star Trek painting in the show can be seen. My daughter (out of Jawa to the right) was watching him paint and noticed this. She called everyone over. We posed.

All of the troops eventually caught on. I couldn't help but give a salute.  We spent kind of a long time clowning for this one photo. The crowd loved it, as did the guy who bought the painting.

 

And this gentleman was the new owner of the painting.  I had to get a selfie with him. Too much fun.

 

I bought several paintings myself and came home with a bunch of complementary prints. The walls of our Star Destroyer will get some new decorations soon.

 

11/19/22 - Peter Mayhew Foundation UNM Children's Hospital Donation

Troop 38, 35 for the year, 7 as HWT

 

This was a last minute emergency troop with vague details. Something about the Children's Hospital and the Peter Mayhew Foundation. Masks and COVID cards required, absolutely no weapons. I signed up right away.  This is the kind of thing I live for.

 

The details emerged. A truck from the Mayhew Foundation was touring around the western US, dropping boxes of toys for kids at hospitals on their route.  Albuquerque was due for Saturday delivery sometime after 1pm.  We helped unload boxes which we thought we'd be just handing over to the hospital staff.

 

Nope. Our strong Imperial backs were put to work. We brought the toys all the way up to the kids ward.

 

Delivery made. 

 

I missed every one.

 

( Notice the lack of backpack? Since no weapons were allowed, I elected to just leave the pack at home.  And since I didn't have time between last night's troop and today's to clean my armor again...  )

 

We each received a Peter Mayhew coin for participating in the troop! None of us had any idea this was coming at the end. It'll have a place of honor in my collection.

 

And this little one is my very favorite part of today's troop. When I saw that she was captured by our fantastic handler, the room got dusty.

 

See, she was VERY small and wrapped up in a blanket. Couldn't have been more than 4. She was more than a bit scared of the plastic space suits. I gave her the little finger wiggle waves and got one of my TK trading cards out of my chest pouch for her. She shyly took it with a smile.

 

And that was it. I was then her very favorite plastic spaceman in the hospital at that point onward.

 

She kept looking at me and waiving.  I asked if I could come down and take a picture with her, which got a big nod.  I knelt down next to the girl and her mom and took a selfie with the mom's camera. The little girl had such a huge smile on.  It was only eclipsed by my own, hidden under my mask and bucket.

 

It was a small moment, but... well... little tears. They can't see you cry inside the bucket.  I don't know what challenges were on that little girl's shoulders, but she was happy for a few moments today.  She put quite a few happy bucks in my own pocket as well.

 

It's been a very good weekend.

 

More than once now I've opened this thread only to end up tearing up.  Good job!  Bart

[revlimiter[Staff]]

11/26/22 - Carrie Tingley Foundation Festival of Trees Reindeer Romp

39th TK troop, 36th for the year

CDZ-5435 - troop 14

This is my first repeat troop! The Reindeer Romp was my 2nd troop ever and my daughter's first last year. We had to come out and see the trees again.

 

This year there were Jedi in the trees. TK-21476 and I did our best to defend the younglings from being kidnapped and indoctrinated.

(yes, I went there)

 

The Grinch was appreciative of our heroics.

 

Anna and Elsa were ready to lend a hand in icing that band down.

 

Vader and Juno were protecting the Hot Wheels tree from... well, from my Jawa. Gotta be realistic here. This was the biggest thief in the building.

 

There WAS a tree behind that panda. It somehow got packed under those sparkly robes. The panda fit too.

 

And then she stole my blaster. And the band. And the princesses. And our hearts.

 

11/26/22 - Koyawena-Lilly Wedding

40th TK troop, 37th for the year

CDZ-5435 - troop 15

TI-50597 - troop 7

 

Later that same evening was a WEDDING TROOP!!! My very first.  There was no way I was missing it. My wife left her bucket and did Reserve to help wrangle us troopers around.

 

Ready to officiate.  (I trust you can pick me and my daughter out by now.)

 

Vader and the bouquet was too good not to share.

 

The bride's escort service. She was SOOOO happy! We were a surprise and she loves TKs. She has a beautiful TK tattoo on her leg. Maybe they'll both build armor and join up soon...

 

And after we did our duty, there was fry bread. FRESH fry bread just baking outside. Allen and I were there for it. Heck, we were all there for it. We stuffed our faces with fry bread and then got fed inside at the wedding dinner.

 

I don't have a whole lot of wedding pix but it was seriously amazing. I will absolutely wedding troop at every given opportunity.