The Geeky Jacket of Many Patches
This is only a test, if this were an actual emergency it would not be posted here.
Right before I retired I started to collect patches. I don’t know what, but I did. I already had a rather hefty pin collection, but pins are heavy and fall off of things. I recall in college having a jean jacket that had a few pins on it. being a forgetful doofus I must have left it somewhere and that was the end of that.
As I was saying before retirement I had started collecting patches, and figured I would add them to a jacket at some point in time. I had a bomber jacket, along with a few other jackets I had picked up along the way, but after much thought decided the classic Levi jean jacket would be the best option. As of today this is what it looks like.
Yes, it is a bit much, but each patch defines me in some way. Some are from places I have been, others are part of my geeky little soul. I jokingly use this as a test to see how well we might understand each other. Cecil, the Evil GeoCaching Monkey, might look at it as a worthiness test. To understand me, you need to understand my ever changing jacket of many patches.
When I first started this I figured I would just iron on all the patches, sadly, most patches that iron on are more temporary, so I asked Sue to sew some. Sue looking at the daunting task ahead of her, refused. and said I needed to learn to sew. So I did… I’m still not great, but I have learned a few things along the way and most of the patches have stayed on.
Let’s Start With the Back
Left to Right (like your teacher taught you how to read):
U.S. Army Air Corp - Basically the emblem used at the early part of aerial combat. I was raised by a person who loved planes and I especially love the planes from early aviation.
Pit of Despair National Monument - The Princess Bride is a wonderful book and film. One of my favorites from The Midnight Society
Dr. Grordbort Industries Patch - A Kickstarter add-on for pledging to Dr. Grordbort's Scientific Adventure Violence: A Role-Playing Game Setting & Supplement.
Cyborg Patch - Dresden Codak by A. Senna Diaz. I really enjoyed the comic then life got in the way and I need to catch up. The artists redesigns of the DC Superheroes almost 14 years ago were amazing as DC was redesigning all their heroes to make them more contemporary (no trunks for Superman!)
Geocaching HQ - Visited HQ in Seattle
Not All Who Wander are Lost - Dissent Pins because most of the time, I am lost.
Boy Scouts of America (over the shoulder) - Unlike Jim Kirk, I have been a Boy Scout and reached the rank of Eagle around the 13th birthday.
Archery Merit Badge - the last merit badge I earned as a scout… never made it onto my merit badge sash, but I still kept it for decades.
Teslasdyne Labs Patch - Which would mean I read the Adventures of Atomic Robo.
Readers rocker & Skeleton with book - From the Kickstarter for “Badass Patches for Readers & Library People” by Gene Ambaum
“Nuff Said” Speech Bubble - Picked up at a random Maker faire… It’s what Stan Lee said when he wasn’t saying “Excelsior!”
Antarctica Research Program Outpost 31 - John Carpenter’s “The Thing” the remake of Howard Hawk’s “The Thing From Another World” based on Who Goes There by by John Campbell. Hawks move had the best quote ever for 1950’s Sci Fi- “Doctor what you’re describing sound like some sort of super-intelligent carrot”
Science Fiction Double Feature Ticket - Rocky Horror Picture Show. Don’t Dream It, Be It.
Baba Yaga’s Hut - A Kickstarter by Melissa Sue Stanley part of Kickstarter’s Make 100 program in 2024.
Lowell Observatory- Where they discovered Pluto toured during GeoWoodstock XX
Gelatinous Cube - I play D&D picked up at Indiana Comic Con in 2024
Ohio State Reformatory - Where Shawshank Redemption was filmed. The Fort Wayne MINI Cooper Club organized a tour. Creepy, but really a great place to visit.
Ravenclaw Crest - “I read Harry Potter before J.K. Rowling showed she was a Deatheater.” I’ve taken a bunch of those “Which House are you?” quizzes and end up (for the most part) being put into Ravenclaw. The time I’ve been put into Slytherin I blame on Cecil’s bad influence. “The Sorting Hat would only put you in this house if you demonstrated excellent wisdom, wit and a skill for learning. Ravenclaws are often known for being quite eccentric and most of the great wizarding inventors and innovators have come from this house.”
Fargo Wood Chipper - On the way back from MINI Takes The States 2024 we stopped off in Fargo and saw the infamous Wood Chipper.
Nutritional Ideas Label - While visiting Las Vegas- we stopped off at the Omega Mart the Meow Wolf installation there.
Approved by the Comic Code Authority - In the 1950’s Comics were blamed for a lot of societal ills. leading to the establishment of the Comic Code Authority. Basically a censor making sure comics were wholesome.
Jack Knight Starman Logo - Not approved by the Comics Code. One of DC’s numerous reboots of their universe was “Zero Hour” in which most titles were reset to zero and some rather interesting heroes were created. James Robinson and Tony Harris created an updated incarnation of the golden age hero Starman. Jack Knight was character I could identify with- an artist, a younger brother, eccentric, independent. He really didn’t want to be a hero…
Gromit - Wallace and Gromit has always been a favorite of mine. I even watched it with my third graders and had a cheese tasting afterwards.
Montemalaga Elementary - I attended 4th & 5th grade (Yes, I’ve had that patch in my possession since 5th grade). I think I received the patch as a reward for being a “Ball Room Monitor” which meant I didn’t have to go out for recess.
Buckaroo Banzai’s Rocket Car Number - Buckaroo Banzai’s Rocket Car that travelled through a mountain starts off the cult classic film. “No matter where you go… there you are.”
Tyrell Corporation Logo - Blade Runner 1982 film based on Philip K.Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”
Don’t Panic - Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I actually have a signed copy of the first book. I had my friend Greg go up to Mr. Adams when he was at “A Change of Hobbit” bookstore in Santa Monica (I was too chicken). “Life, don’t talk to me about life.” - Marvin
Spartacus - I contribute the comic strip “My Geek Odyssey” to FTF Geocacher Magazine. I finally met Spartacus face to Face at GeoWoodstock XXI
Along the Waist Band:
Welcome to Las Vegas - Iconic logo. I learned the shape is actually taken from the hotel room keychain shape.
Mini Logo - I bought my first MINI in 2005.
London Calling - Attended London Calling in 2025
The Front
Left Sleeve (as you see it in the photo):
First Lunar Mission Patch - Jules Verne’s “From the Earth to the Moon: A Direct Route in 97 Hours, 20 Minutes” which was the original basis for Disneyland Paris’ Space Mountain. It also was the inspiration for Georges Méliès iconic film- Le Voyage dans la Lune. That’s the one with the rocket hitting the moon in the eye.
The Last Starfighter - One of my favorites. the typical story- boy plays video game, get’s kidnapped by aliens, saves the universe. It was one of the early uses of computer animation for special effects.
Battlestar Galactica - Viper squadron patch from the 1980 TV show. I watched this as a kid, you know "Before Starbuck was a coffee chain”
Engineering Division - The Orville. I tend to avoid command when I can and like messing around with stuff.
Galaxy Quest - As with the Orville, its roots are from Star Trek, but for the most part trying parody the franchise and failing. Failing in the fact that both the Orville and Galaxy Quest were great homages to what Star Trek was all about.
Patches on the Front (Left to Right):
MINI Motoring Hearts - A program MINI had early on to promote philanthropy and community service within the MINI Community.
The Flash Emblem - I’ve been a fan of the Flash since around third grade. I recall having a red sweatsuit that I desperately wanted a flash emblem put on… never happened. The Flash’s first reappearance in 1954’s Showcase #4 is considered the beginning of the Silver Age of Comics.
Mothman - I visited Point Pleasant, WV on a whim to see the Mothman Museum and before that did some research on the cryptid. This included watching the rather bad movie The Mothman Prophecy which had very little to do with the actual story of Mothman’s many sitings.
Keep It MINI - Back when MINI Coopers were Mini the excellent PR company produced a lot of weird sag for owners. The Book of Motoring, The Welcome to the Neighborhood package, and some patches. This is to remind me that sometimes size does matter.
Star Fleet Operations Division - In Star Trek this is what is on the red shirts, so those people who keep things going, and are the first to die when beaming down to a planet. Yes, I spent an entire career feeling expendable.
The Adventurers Club - Along time ago Disneyworld had something called “Pleasure Island” which was a nightspot that has long since been morphed into something more profitable (according to the execs). Part of Pleasure Island was a little place called the “Adventurer’s Club” which was a bar and comedy venue based on a 1930’s society. It was my favorite place when I did my first Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship in 2000.
I still sing (hum, whistle) the theme song when marching along in a new place. KUNGALOOSH!
Grape Soda Patch - If you haven’t seen Up you wouldn’t understand. This was a gamer merit badge I picked up years ago at Gen Con. It was awarded to gamers who actually had someone in their lives who cares about them…
Flying Monkey - This goes with my Fez-o-rama fez with the same design on it. It’s the unofficial patch for Cecil’s Aero Circus Squadron from the great automaton war. (yes, I did a drawing once for a gallery showing… it’s around here somewhere.
Petersen’s Automotive Museum - Visited in January 2025. Lot’s of amazing cars… not as many Mini’s as I would have liked.
Bayeux - The last Whimventure and a visit to the tapestry. When someone comes up to me “I have a question…” my usually answer is “1066, Battle of Hastings.”
Flatwoods Monster - Gotta love cryptids! This one we visited Braxton County, WV during GeoWoodstock XXI. Unlike Mothman, the Flatwoods Monster seems to have only been seen once.
Point Vincente, CA - Near where I grew up. It isn’t as pretentious as the actual location- IYKYK.
Abbey Road Studios - Part of the 2025 Whimventure! While I’m not the big into music, I do understand the importance of this location.
Karl G. Lansky Very Large Array - Because knowing our place in the universe is important, and I visited here during GeoWoodstock XX.
Jr. Ranger Raven Award - Grand Canyon SO it’s an award for kids ages 4-7… I’m just a big kid who loves ravens.
Creature of the Night - Picked up at the National Nordic Museum after saying “Hi” to Frankie Feetsplinter. Troll by Thomas Dambo, patch by Studio Arhoj… Yes, it glows in the dark.
Department of Truth - From the Image Comics series by James Tynion IV about a “fictitious” secret government agency that… just read the comic.
Swedish Flag - My ancestors were from Sweden… on my father’s side. From what I can tell all of them. My mother’s side- more mutt like.
Shark Patrol - When I was in Boy Scouts my parent had these made up fro my older brother when he became a patrol leader. BSA did not have an official “Shark Patrol.” You had to buy so many, so when it came my turn… I also lead the shark patrol.
Travel Bug - Yup. This thing is trackable. For discovery only… that is until I pass on this mortal coil.
LEGO Dots - Dots was a theme the LEGO Group created as a way to interest more girls into building. It lasted a while and then vanished. One thing they created was a sew on patch that actually hold bricks (1x1 tiles) pretty well.
Draw or Die Club - I should be dead already…
Right Sleeve (As you see it in the Photo)
Union Jack - I’m kinda an anglophile.
MTTS Drive - Handed out during MINI Takes The States to those who tried out the app and dongle.
NASA - I support exploring space and all the stuff we don’t know NASA does to help us (which is a lot).
Library Scouts - from a Kickstarter by Gene Ambaum
Along the Waist Band:
Cadillac Ranch • Amarillo, TX - a row of cadillacs planted nose first into the ground along Route 66. Yes, I’ve been there.
Buttons & Pins (which can be changed a lot easier)
Collar:
Monkey Kid- LEGO Theme and cartoon based loosely on the Journey to the West. Which I have actually read - thank you liberal arts education!
Left Pocket:
Kaiju Spirit Animal - Picked up at Heroes Con in 2024. Designed by Michael Parla.
The Kaiju: Introverted. Antagonistic. Fortitude.
Secret powers often come in small, or quiet packages. The Kaiju is a powerhouse of abilities that wait until the right moment to reveal themselves in all their impressive glory. Walk in the knowledge that even if others don’t see you for what you are, that doesn’t make you less—only very good at being stealthy.
Cat Rescue - Dissent Pins again. “Shows support for cat adoption and local cat rescue shelters… Designed by Mykola Kovalenko, a graphic designer from Kyiv, Ukraine, who is currently living and working in Slovakia.”
IDIC - Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Yup, It’s Star Trek in all of its “wokeness” from back when Star Trek wasn’t “woke.” Vulcan philosophy in a nutshell, embrace everyone including all their differences because that’s what makes the universe so cool. Wouldn’t be a great if everyone thought like this?
Introverts Social Club - Basically, if you can read this pin- you are too close and I feel uncomfortable.
Right Pocket:
No Nazis - Pretty simple concept. Thank you Dissent Pins for making it so easy to politely tell people what I think about fascism.
Lake Como Comic Arts Festival - Yup I went there, and spent a lot of money (for a retired public school teacher) Looking forward to returning.
The Order of St. George - From the Boom Studios Universe encompassing titles like Something is Killing the Children and House of Slaughter. It’s the symbol of an international organization of monster hunters.
The Winslow - First appeared in comic book adaptation of Robert L. Aspirin’s Myth Adventures comic series by Phil Folgio. He encompasses part of my religious beliefs.
This action will have consequences… - Picked up at Forbidden Planet Megastore in London during the great Whimventure of 2025. From the Life is Strange Comic/Video Game. Knowing what a gamer I am you can probably guess the design and message spoke to me more than any connection to an IP.
As of this posting- that’s what my jacket looks like… tomorrow? Who knows! I have more patches, but very little room. I do have a Timbuktu messenger bag that I’ve added some patches to, but that’s for another day.
Yes, certain geeky franchises are missing. Why? hmmm… I wonder, could it be on purpose?
All links worked when this post was first made… Who knows how long that will last.