DLand - Back in the Saddle Again

Went to Kingdom A&S this weekend. I was well pleased with the day. We got there Friday night and stayed at Vlad's. Had dinner at the Cellar and a beer or two. It was supposedly to celebrate Chantal's birthday, but most of it was just spend eating dinner. I had these images of bar hopping and painting the town red, but actually just got sleepy eating my sandwich and wanted to go to bed. The party life is just not for me, it seems. Saturday was a day of nothing. It was good to see the Smiths and the Gen and the typical crowd of folks down in Black Diamond. The fashion show was pleasant and there were several A&S displays that could inspire me to become more involved in the SCA. I've been a hermit for a long time. But now, work is getting better and I think I might have a weekend or so free to do some fun stuff. So much of the SCA is so dorky. But I think that's true in any organized group - particularly one that has no member restrictions. But this weekend helped me see the stuff that I did like about the SCA and a minimal of stuff I had no use for. Watched the Heloise and Abelard play and that was excellent. I was only vaguely familiar with the story and it was an excellent rendition of it. A well spent hour. I wish I could remember the woman who performed it, because she was excellent. She's one of my favorite field heralds too, because she is the least grating and fairly witty.

The definite highlight of the day was seeing Bera and going to the Cellar again. It was an excellent evening. I only wish Gen could have been there too, but she had already gone out to dinner. You never realize how much you miss something until you see it again. I got to sit at a table with almost every significant friend I had in the burg (minus the aformentioned Gen) and it was fabulous. I don't think we all have had that good of a time in a while. And it was nice to hear that life is working out for well for everyone. There are the ups and downs, like everyone's lack of funds, but overall life is getting good for us all. That was very heartening for me. I've been the Mope Queen so far this calendar year and it was very wonderful to have some good vibes in me. We never did go to Jillian's to dance on Thursday and I never did go bar-hopping this weekend, but I don't feel like I missed much.

The only sucky part about coming home was the hour in which we left (8:45pm) for the 5 hours drive home and the icky car that I own. I HATE my car. If I had money to replace it I would just park this stupid car somewhere and leave it. And I know I shouldn't talk badly about it, because it will come to haunt me, but I can't help it. It's made for midgets. I'm not sure how anyone over 5'10" is supposed to use this car. The back seat is only suitable for car seats or coats and the trunk holds barely a trip to the grocery store. I want a new car sooooooo badly. The Saturn is very reliable and economical transportation and I do appreciate that, but GEEZ, I just can't sit still in this clown car. I have dreams about owning a car that the dogs will fit in so we could take them somewhere. Or even a car that four people could ride in. All I have to do is sell this one and find the car of my dreams. Ah, and to think I used to be fond of the car and think it would be nice to own a sporty coupe with a sunroof and leather. I shouldn't talk to poorly about it or no one will want to buy it from me.

Well, for such a full weekend, this is a short entry. But I look forward to happy days to come and good stuff to write about.

DLand - Oh Fortuna!

I was pretty depressed this weekend. I think work just got me down. And financial woes. I started thinking about taxes and fixing the Jeep and .... ugh. But today was a good day. High of 60, reasonable service calls at work, and FLOWERS! Julie and Annie at one of my sites sent me flowers! I was starting to think all my clients were just losers and lived to whine about the job I do for them. But out of the blue this beautiful basket of wild flowers came. Yippee! I've been on a high for the rest of the day. :) Thanks to Julie and Annie, I feel like I'm wearing a gold star sticker on my shirt. I thought about taking them home but decided to keep them at work so they could cheer me up for the rest of the week.

Sean went up to MD for the last time today. He had come back to work his last day in the Navy and to pick up a few odds and ends around our house. This visit of his gave Jer and I the opportunity to re-meet Zach. I know that we've met him before, but it's all a blur. So we all went to Pizza Hut and Zach charmed our waitress into free wings and breadsticks. And we compared horrible jokes (Jeremy has a full portfolio). Overall it was a good evening given my mopeyness all that day. I have a small inkling (sp) to try out going to Jillian's for their dance night one day. Zach deejays there and it sounds like it could be fun. I'm just not up for ape posturing and drunken carousing. I only like to carouse with people I know. But it could be fun. I'll see how adventurous I feel later this week.

The Jeep should be finished by Friday. Brian the mechanic is fixing it this week and agreed to let Jer help. I'm not sure if the price we're getting is because Jeremy is helping or despite Jer helping. But I'm leaning towards the fact that he's really being of benefit to Brian. Chuck is the other fella there who seems real charming and intelligent for a man with no front teeth. Doesn't seem to bother him none. So I should be very pleased with the cost of fixing this vehicle ($250 for engine and $400 for replacement plus some parts here and there). It could have been much worse. And I think I'm also supposed to be excited about the fact that we'll have a spare 258 straight 6 to fix up and sell. So if any of y'all are itching for a spare CJ engine from 1983 just let me know.

Sean and Rachel also interested me in this dude named Hevia. He's a spanish bag pipe player. It's actually very nice to listen to, similar to the modern Indian music I heard long ago and Huggins and Chin's Thanksgiving dinner. Rachel and Sean say it's because there are lots of Arab influences in spanish music. Or something like that.

Oh, the other excellent news is that Jeremy has two interviews for *librarian* positions for the City. I could call him Conan the Librarian. They're both for public libraries and deal with children. The pay is not outrageous, but the benefits package is very solid (which would allow me to ditch the $450 a month Cobra bill we pay now) and the job is pretty reasonable. He could do much worse. He's actually very well suited to both positions so we'll see if he does well. One interview is on Wednesday and the other has not be scheduled yet. I'm crossing my fingers and I'm sure he is too.

Finished Tokyo Suckerpunch this weekend. It was an overall good read. The ending kinda became lack-luster for me a bit due to my insane depression, but I was still chuckling to myself despite it all, so I guess that bodes well for the book. Overall I think Isaac Adamson did an excellent job on his first novel. It really was a refreshing version of Japanese culture after reading Memoirs of a Geisha last year. Very different books indeed. I think I'm gonna start on Amber Spyglass this weekend. I have already read the first two in rapid fashion, so this will be a good switch. I still need to finished that tangible ghosts novel, but hate the feeling of guilting myself into reading something.

Went whale watching on Saturday. Didn't see a single stinkin' whale but did see about a dozen dolphins and had fun riding the bow of the ship like a roller coaster. It was Jer and I, a bunch of old people from some yacht club and a mom with her daughter who was the cutest thing on two legs. She had long flowing blond hair that wasn't in tangles (which is amazing for a 4 year old) and she just squealed and giggled and we bounced along the waves out to sea. It made me want to squeal too, but I held it in for the sake of the old people. I probably shouldn't have. It really was very fun. We met a guy who should be able to set us up for a charter trip this spring (maybe late March or early April) for about $350. He seemed like a fun fella. I was all jealous of his dark green Carhartt hooded jacket out there. They tell you to dress WARM out there. I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. My most prized recent purchase of late has been a pair of knock-off brand Carhartt bibs. For those not from the farm, these are the dark tan pants that have zippers up the legs and in the front so you can have a quilted pair of overalls to wear over your regular clothes. I get cold really easily and these things rock! My ass was all toasty while these Jewish mothers were retreating to the cabin for half the trip. I think I'm gonna buy a Carhartt jacket in a bit so I can have a nice warm jacket to go with it. I'll be stylin'. The jacket I could probably get away with as a regular coat, if I can keep it clean. :)

So like Ignatius would say my cycle seems to be spinning upwards.

"Oh, Fortuna, blind, heedless goddess, I am strapped to your wheel. Do not crush me beneath your spokes. Raise me on high, divinity."

DLand - Reunited and if feels so good

Yesterday, I had a very busy day at work but I left just in time to head to the forge. Scott had come out to teach me how to make copper roses. It's pretty neato and I'm half way there. None of it has been put together yet, though, so looks like a kindergarten project with sharp metal for now. Jeremy finished some tent stakes. I'm not sure what possessed him to make 10 since I'm not sure I've heard of a tent that needs ten stakes but I'm sure someone at Gulf Wars will need or want them. Ross can sell anything. And perhaps they'll be like a teaser where the customer will be drooling for more tent stakes and commission a bushel of them. We'll see. Or we might have ten beautiful tent stakes.

After that it was off to Fazoli's for a tasty treat (or dinner at 9pm). It was REALLY cold last night being that we had snow! It doesn't snow here so of course the world had gone crazy. I had my lasagna which was basically an excuse for the meatballs I got on the side. And we left.

But that's when the trouble started, only I didn't know it yet. When I left for work this AM, I realized my HAT was back at Fazoli's! Woe as me! I ran back into the house, flew up the stairs and burst into the bathroom where my sweetpea was showering. He poked his soapy head out of the shower and I burst out, "HAT!"

He lookd at me, puzzled.

"HAT! My favorist hat in the world is at Fazoli's! Marooned! You have to save my hat! This morning!"

Nodding, he agreed.

I checked in at 10am to make sure he was on his way to get my hat. By 11 we were reunited. This hat and I have gone through a bit together and it's the sentimental knitted wonder that keeps my head toasty warm. Did I mention it was snowing yesterday? I could have caught cold without my HAT. The Bossman would have been happy to know that the hat was gone (he doesn't appreciate it's sleek wool stylings), but I was much relieved.

Sean took off for Maryland today. He's moving into his own place. We gave him as much crap from the house that he could spare. Living on a ship in the Navy for 5 years can really cut down on your accessories. He should make it, though. His last day in the Navy is on Monday and he starts the new job on Monday the 5th. The job is a 12 on and 12 off job and I can't imagine that being much fun, but he's unphased.

At his suggestion, we rented three movies that all started with an F and had Kevin Kline in them - A Fish Called Wanda, Fierce Creatures and French Kiss. We had to slum it and get them on VHS, but we're managing. Already watched Wanda and I think it's Fierce Creatures tonight.