Date: Tue, 22 Aug 1995 16:27:20 -1000 From: "Judy L. Winkler" Message-Id: Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Subject: First Born Never thought I'd see the day when I'd look at something flying in the sky and say "I made that!" What a rush! Me, the person whose secretary has always taken pity and sewn on missing buttons - who discovered fabric glue and uses it when her hem comes down - anything but touch a needle and thread, musch less a sewing machine... Thanks to Kevin Shannon who conducted a Rok in a Day workshop for the Keystone Kiters, I am now the proud possessor of my first single line kite (the delta in the back of the bag (not handmade) doesn't count). Judy and Alan Main who ran the workshop had all 20 of us incredibly well organized. Didn't know sewing could be such fun! Had a great time and have aflying creature to boot. You can tell how hooked I'm getting. Today I ordered the material to applique on the first born - got to make that plain white rok pretty ya know - and while I was ordering that, I just kinda ordered anough supplies to make another rok, and then there's that Catherine's Wheel I have my eye on and guess I'll have to call Jon Burkhardt about the Maryland Kite Society's retreat in February.... Is this addictive or what???? Well, it's off to finish appliqueing that Rokkaku so I can fly it this weekend in Wildwood, NJ. If anyone's around, come on down. Great beach - plenty of room for all fliers. We've been flying down by Morey's Pier. Look for the flowforms (or my hot pink flexi with the long tail). Pray for wind Judy = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 02:36:58 -1000 From: doyle@gdc.com (Sean Doyle) Message-Id: <9508231236.AA16186@mailhost.gdc.com> Organization: Harvard University Office of Information Technology Subject: Re: First Born Here's my "First Born" story. It took place this winter. Connectikiters held a kitemaking workshop in March. It was a great time. Johnna and I made a beautiful (and very simple) cellular kite for our 7 month old daughter, Devin. Our first time out flying since we made it was Easter Sunday at Sherwood Island, CT. It was a great day, about 60 degrees and 8 - 15 mph winds. Well the kite flew like it was made by someone who knew what they were doing. The kite went right up and danced around a bit but stayed nice and high. We flew for a while then took it down and removed the spars so it wouldn't blow away. Unfortunately that's not where the story ends. While we were flying our 24-packs a big gust of wind came up and blew our new kite into the ocean. Johnna's brother Chris ran after it but couldn't get it in time. By the time I brought the stack down Chris had taken off his shoes and was rolling up his pants. The kite was so far out that rolling up his pants wasn't going to help. So without thinking (if I had thought about it at all I would never have done it) I threw off my shirt and jacket and ran into the water. It got deep reeeeal fast and eventhough it was 60 degrees out the water in New England doesn't warm up until about August. So I swam out to the kite wondering the whole time how long it takes to get hypothermia and trying to decide if I was cold or numb. I got the kite and started to swim back, now realizing that taking off my work boots would have been a really good idea, and I began to notice that I wasn't actually cold. I finally got to shore and although it was chilly and windy my skin felt hot. I got a blanket put around me at the car and I expected to get cold once the numbness wore off but that never happened. I don't think I was numb. It was actually a really great swim. I put on some dry clothes which we luckily had and went back to help pick up the kites. I guess my adrenaline was pumped up enough that the cold never bothered me. I'm not saying I'm going to join those foolish polar bear club people who swim in January but if I ever have a favorite kite to save (even if it only cost me $5 to make) I'll do what has to be done - provided I don't stop to think about what I'm doing. Sincerely, Temporarily Insane Due To The Love For A Kite Sean Doyle p.s. If anyone ever has to do this, take off your shoes and pants. It would be a lot safer. Besides, I already looked like an idiot. Walking out of the water in my underwear would have been the icing on the cake. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 07:00:00 -1000 From: gilchgw@zoology.washington.edu (George W. Gilchrist) Message-Id: <41fmqg$e1b@nntp4.u.washington.edu> Organization: University of Washington Subject: Re: First Born In article , jlwinkler@delphi.com says... > >Never thought I'd see the day when I'd look at something flying in the sky >and say "I made that!" What a rush! Me, the person whose secretary has >always taken pity and sewn on missing buttons - who discovered fabric glue >and uses it when her hem comes down - anything but touch a needle and thread, >musch less a sewing machine... > This week I got to fly my first home-made stunt kite. It's a Stranger-like design, very radical but with a slightly lower aspect ratio. After trying several bridles that caused behavior ranging from spinning uncontrollably a few feet off the ground before crashing, to flying to the edge of the window and inverting, I finally got it right! What a rush that first perfect axel was! Just knowing that I made the thing seems to make it fly better and do more tricks than almost anything else in my hands. I've made a few single-line kites, but this first dual liner has been (for me) a bigger thrill. Now, if only I had one of those nice Pfaff sewing machines instead of the old beater Singer... Cheers, George -- ============================== George W. Gilchrist gilchgw@zoology.washington.edu University of Washington Department of Zoology Box 351800 Seattle, WA 98l95-1800 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =