scul pilotage

Flew my third mission with SCUL last night, and was knighted as a pilot at the end of it (in front of the Dunkin Donuts at 2am).

The ceremony went something like this:

Skunk: Have you trained this pilot to the best of your abilities in accordance to SCUL policy?
Zombie: Yes.
Skunk: Have you had your fill of changing dirty maggot diapers?
Zombie: Yes.
Skunk: Do you swear that this maggot is ready to become a full-pledged pilot?
Zombie: Yes.
Skunk: Knight your maggot.

Zombie: Do you hereby voluntarily assume for yourself all risks of personal injury or death which might befall you while participating in space travel, including the possibility of being sucked out an airlock?
LD50: Hell yeah!
Zombie: Do you solemnly swear to pledge yourself to adherence to SCUL guidelines, under strict paramilitary command, for the opportunity to seek glorious fortune with the camaraderie of your fellow pilots?
LD50: Hell yeah!
Zombie: Do you solemnly swear to 'bust the funk'?
LD50: Hell yeah!

Zombie: Kneel before SCUL.
Zombie: On behalf of all of SCUL, I hereby knight LD50 to the rank of Pilot.
Zombie: Three cheers for LD50!

I also produced, for the SCUL archives, a variation on my UK bike tour travelogue book, substituting "LD50" for my name, and "$wife" and "$daughter" for their names; and bound said book with red zip-ties. In all seriousness, when I was planning that trip, I found it useful to read other people's accounts/itineraries/etc, so maybe this will be useful to someone else.

also bought a bed

After 16 years, we're cashing in the waterbed in favor of a conventional mattress/boxspring bed. Delivery scheduled for Thursday, at which point the following will be redundant: California King waterbed w/ mirrored bookcase headboard, 6-drawers platform stand, semi-damped mattress ~10 years old, heater 2 years old, asking $200. Will be posted to craigslist as soon as I get around to taking pictures.