Well the First true steps have been made

[Fast Eddie]

I now have one application for membership into the Melha Shriners, A 100 count bag of Qualatex 260Q Ballons, 1 Qualatex purple hand pump, and 1 copy of Shar Levine & Michael Ouchi "The Ultimate Balloon Book".

I am ready to start Learning. Sadly the Shrine Membership will have to wait as I do not have nor do I know when I will have the Dues ammount. With luck I will find another job in short order.

Dartel

[The_Princess_of_Bozonia]

And so it begins Keep us posted on your progress! What balloon sculpture are you going to try first?

[Fast Eddie]

Heck I still have to learn how to blow them suckers up. Dont Rush me! <wheeze gasp pant> Actually I have not opened the bag yet, trying to decide decided if I should try the book on my own or wait till I meet live people to learn from.

Edward

[Luki Loki]

My advice is get a pump to blow the 260's. It is the easiest way and a simple hand pump is cheep

[BIPS]

I agree with Loki. Be very careful if you are doing this by mouth as if done improperly you can actually injure yourself! If you do it by mouth, make sure to stretch out the balloon vigorously so you won't have to blow as hard...

[Fast Eddie]

If you read my first post you will see I do have a pump, I was making a joke. :-) Darn If I can't make a clown laugh I am in BIG trouble. Who took my Giant feather?

Dartel

[Scruffy]

Sorry Dartel! That is a gut reaction that all of us have When we here blowing up balloon by mouth.

[saphireSue]

I do it [blow one up by mouth] once in a while as part of a routine, but I blow it up in advance, then let the air back out, people don't have to know I can't blow then up by mouth [without busting a lung] lol. 8)

[ashes]

I have the ability to inflate 260's by mouth. But I have stopped
doing it because of the health considerations (when they pop,
where do the germs go?)

Ashes

[Scruffy]

I agree. I can also do a couple by mouth before I can't take any more. If challenged to inflate by mouth, I hand a balloon to the challer and ask if they want to try it. Most of the time they won't. But there's always one in every crowd.