I must say that I've been experiencing some pretty wild goings on at my hobby desk. Things that I had been unable to explain until I set up one of those baby monitor cameras and pointed it at the top of my desk.
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As some of you are aware, I picked up a Canoptek Spyder model on eBay a few months ago and it wasn't until recently that I had a chance to put it together. Little did I know the chain of events I would trigger once that seemingly simple task, building the Spyder, was completed.
It was only a little while after I finished constructing the Spyder, that I began to notice that the contents on my hobby desk had been rearranged. Now, in as active a household as we have, little things here and there are going to move around a bit. Someone will borrow an X-acto knife or glue. A particular color of paint might attract someone's interest, a bottle of glue might shift from the left side to the right, but those are fairly common occurrences and to be expected.
I think as a result of my dyslexia, I am very positional with everything I come into contact with.
<below the fold>
As some of you are aware, I picked up a Canoptek Spyder model on eBay a few months ago and it wasn't until recently that I had a chance to put it together. Little did I know the chain of events I would trigger once that seemingly simple task, building the Spyder, was completed.
It was only a little while after I finished constructing the Spyder, that I began to notice that the contents on my hobby desk had been rearranged. Now, in as active a household as we have, little things here and there are going to move around a bit. Someone will borrow an X-acto knife or glue. A particular color of paint might attract someone's interest, a bottle of glue might shift from the left side to the right, but those are fairly common occurrences and to be expected.
I think as a result of my dyslexia, I am very positional with everything I come into contact with.
"A place for everything and everything in its place" is certainly a phrase that resonates very well with me. I don't have to have a hyper organized work area to be productive, but I am somewhat driven to keep items in a particular geographic location so that I don't have to think about where they are. I can just reach for them.
When something moves...I just know it.
What I began to observe is kits for projects I hadn't kicked off, showing up on the desk and actual construction taking place. Now we all would love for some "Hobby Fairy" to show up and do things while we're away at work or sleeping, but I was actually starting to experience that exact thing, which was odd and intriguing at the same time.
However, I don't believe in "Hobby Fairies", yet that certainly seemed to be what was going on.
Since I'm just not wired to let things go like that, I had to know what was going on. There are enough things that can occur in our hobbies to drive one crazy, though it is usually a result of something we're doing. It doesn't happen because of things that we're not doing.
After a few nights of observation by the baby camera, I now know what is going on. It was the Canoptek Spyder.
I have photographic proof.
Early camera shots
When something moves...I just know it.
What I began to observe is kits for projects I hadn't kicked off, showing up on the desk and actual construction taking place. Now we all would love for some "Hobby Fairy" to show up and do things while we're away at work or sleeping, but I was actually starting to experience that exact thing, which was odd and intriguing at the same time.
However, I don't believe in "Hobby Fairies", yet that certainly seemed to be what was going on.
Since I'm just not wired to let things go like that, I had to know what was going on. There are enough things that can occur in our hobbies to drive one crazy, though it is usually a result of something we're doing. It doesn't happen because of things that we're not doing.
After a few nights of observation by the baby camera, I now know what is going on. It was the Canoptek Spyder.
I have photographic proof.
Early camera shots
At this point, it appears that the Spyder has built itself a herd.
What was then eerie to behold is that there appeared to be a plan, a set of next steps. Unfortunately, I was not able to capture any pictures of this next phase as the baby monitor was fixed in a static mount and as soon as the herd moved off camera, I lost the ability to record their actions.
What I do know is that those seven figures came back from the garage painted. I found one of the cans of GW Leadbelcher spray missing from my paint can shelf, the top not only removed, but actually fractured as if great force was applied to remove it. At this stage, I'm not sure what would happen if I were to disturb the placement of items at my spray painting session, so I haven't moved anything.
This next picture is very odd and it took me quite awhile to determine what it represented.
What I do know is that those seven figures came back from the garage painted. I found one of the cans of GW Leadbelcher spray missing from my paint can shelf, the top not only removed, but actually fractured as if great force was applied to remove it. At this stage, I'm not sure what would happen if I were to disturb the placement of items at my spray painting session, so I haven't moved anything.
This next picture is very odd and it took me quite awhile to determine what it represented.
It seems like a series of metallic color chips were tested and then test applied on the Spyder, in what I would describe as a "Nickelback" effect. Eventually these colors were applied to the entire herd.
The way the color chips are arranged, it seems like the base Leadbelcher color then had a darker metallic sponged over the brighter Leadbelcher, then the nickel color sponged over that. As I sit and look at the images, I get the impression that the metallic areas now appear to be aged and worn. I admit t be fairly confused as to why they would take these additional steps, but I do appreciate the visual texture the technique renders in different lights.
The way the color chips are arranged, it seems like the base Leadbelcher color then had a darker metallic sponged over the brighter Leadbelcher, then the nickel color sponged over that. As I sit and look at the images, I get the impression that the metallic areas now appear to be aged and worn. I admit t be fairly confused as to why they would take these additional steps, but I do appreciate the visual texture the technique renders in different lights.
Next after dipping themselves in my Future's "Children of the Dragon" mixture, it appeared that the herd fired up their dimensional destabilization matrices and routed power to their directional stabilizers.
Disappearing from my desk top shortly thereafter.
But they did return.
In fact, it appears that much like a pride of lions, at night the Canoptek herd gathers around the paint watering hole after what I can only conclude is a full day of hunting.
Disappearing from my desk top shortly thereafter.
But they did return.
In fact, it appears that much like a pride of lions, at night the Canoptek herd gathers around the paint watering hole after what I can only conclude is a full day of hunting.
Lastly, I must admit to being a little concerned about this last set of pictures.
It is clear to me that in the first picture there is some sort of communication taking place. Perhaps the Spyder is actually teaching or sharing lore, as one can infer a certain level of deference given to the Spyder, judging by the positioning and body language by the rest of the herd. Although that is troubling enough of a concept, it is the second picture, which has captured the herd adopting what is clearly a defensive stance upon being discovered by what I am guessing is sounds from the camera.
Since these shots were taken, the herd has not returned back to my desk. I have begun to check other open sources of water for signs of spoor indicating their new meeting location. Perhaps they have begun a migratory pattern while in search of prey which takes them to the various water sources in the house. I do not want to believe that they actually might leave the house while foraging.
I should also note that since their disappearance, the character named "Morpheus" has also gone missing. I don't know that I am prepared to accept that these events might be linked.
Prior to his leaving, he was observed in the following outer wear.
Since these shots were taken, the herd has not returned back to my desk. I have begun to check other open sources of water for signs of spoor indicating their new meeting location. Perhaps they have begun a migratory pattern while in search of prey which takes them to the various water sources in the house. I do not want to believe that they actually might leave the house while foraging.
I should also note that since their disappearance, the character named "Morpheus" has also gone missing. I don't know that I am prepared to accept that these events might be linked.
Prior to his leaving, he was observed in the following outer wear.
I suppose he could have changed his clothes since he left, though I am uncertain how he would be able to manage wardrobe changes without arms.
