The 2013 Leather Card
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Finally, a true “Twenty-teen”! I've not had a whole lot of energy or creative ideas for leather cards this year, a fact partially explained by the text which accompanied this photo. (See that text at right, and the photo at far right.)
The front of the card included in very big print,
“MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR”. |
This has been an interesting year at Leather Oaks! A health scare last winter had me in and out of the hospital for parts of three months. By the time I was beginning to regain my strength, it was mostly too hot to do much out of doors, so the Rubber and Rawhide Railway reallly suffered, with ‘traffic’ shuddering almost to a standstill. This November, we finally got the trains running again, and held an Autumn “Open Garden”. My friend Tracy caught me resting on (or in?) a stone hand.
I hope your year was everything you expected, and that next year will offer even more pleasures! |
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The 2013 Rubber Card
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I've been focusing a lot more on exercise since my operation. I lost a tremendous amount of energy and weight, but have built up to 26 miles of weekly walking. Now that we're getting almost wintry weather, that has meant walking four miles in a full wetsuit, sometimes even over a thermal suit. These two photos were from a good-sized set I made immediately after such a morning walk. Here's a hint: I wasn't wearing the neoprene hood and gasmask. That thing's too warm!
The photo on the reverse included the appropriate note, “David, Discobolos and Harold wish you the most rubber-encased of Holidays, may your next year bounce even higher!” |
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It's been interesting sharing a garden with someone actually featured in the Bible. David has been more understanding than you might think. He even let me take these last two poses. Perhaps it was unwise to get too familiar with a man who has just slain a giant. Is that why I'm at his feet in the photo at right? |
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“In the the bleak mid-winter” I sometimes get my warmest rubber ideas. This time, Poseidon is sharing the rubber stage with my rubber-lined wadersuit. Discerning viewers will note that it's that same Blue Seventy wetsuit I wore on the Official Rubber Card being employed under the waders. Warmth, you know.
Why am I biting my tongue in the second photo? Well how else does one get any attention around here? |
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Speaking of hot rubber, as we were you know. It's hard to conceive any thing much warmer -- and more snugly fitting -- than four layered wetsuits. The waders and dive fins were just to add a trifle more improbability to the gear mix. Yes, I did “swim” in this outfit, although it was more of a Rubberman Float!
The photo to the right gives just a hint of the underlayering involved in this exercise. It's difficult maintaining an impressive bulge when adding on upwards of an inch of neoprene rubber. Addional implements include JockUps (of course, since I make them!) and knee guards from leather racing suits, enhanced by other “Proprietary” techniques. |
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The “Shoulda-been” 2013 Leather Card?
Convention? CONVENTION?? Surely you jest!
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| WHERE ARE ALL OF THE OTHER CARDS ? ? |
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There were two cards in 2012! You can see all of their photos by clicking the icon to the left. |
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There were two cards in 2011! You can see all of their photos by clicking the icon to the left. |
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There were two cards in 2010! You can see all of their photos by clicking the icon to the left. |
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There were two cards in 2009! You can see all of their photos by clicking the icon to the left. |
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There were two cards in 2008! You can see all of their photos by clicking the icon to the left. |
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There were three cards in 2007! Click the icon to the left for the Leather and Pleather Cards, or click right for the Rubber Card. |
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| There are twenty-six more years of photos to page through, and they're all just one mouse click away! Click on logo at the right to continue your Christmas journey. |
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