Well, it looks like I will be getting a new sewing machine in the next few weeks. Mum called last night (had to leave a message since I was at work), so I called her back today. We'd been discussing a new bedframe, but I said that honestly, the thing I needed most right now was a new sewing machine, since the old one was dying quickly.
We discussed the options available, and at $300, the brand new Janome I found on EBay is probably the best one. It's still really simple, but it will do everything that I need for it to do. I quilt, but mostly I tie my quilts - if I want to sew it, I'm going to be in a mind to actually hand-quilt it, not machine quilt it... There's a difference in the feel of the quilt afterwards, and I just like it better. So - I get to have a new sewing machine just in time to finish the baby / sewing room and get some clothing and the baby quilt done before the baby is born. Yay me!
There's another machine that the seller has available, that I'm going to have to look at for leather sewing possibilities - Fred wants a heavy-duty machine that will work with putting leather together. So, I'll be on the lookout for one for him.
This upcoming payday will be the weekend of the table, so I'll have that done, and then hopefully on my next paycheck, we can have a new cat find us.
~M
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Craftiness...
So, here's the latest in the baby craftiness... Lil says that it puts her in mind of fruit loops (LOL), but I like the color scheme. and it's the heaviest and warmest of the 3 that I've made so far. So, we have a really light blankie, a medium-weight blankie, and a heavy-weight blankie. Yay with the blankies!
I'm going to continue to crochet, if only because it keeps my hands busy and gives me something to do on the bus.
~M
Friday, September 28, 2007
General updatings...
Well, Fred and I have decided it's time for another cat. We are going to see about getting up the money to go to one of the no-kill shelters in the area and seeing if someone can find us - after all, that's really how one gets another cat - it's not you picking them, it's them picking you. LOL.
The podling has been more active lately, and I have actually begun to feel her boot (or headbutt) my tummy occasionally. The first time I felt her it was about 3 days ago, and I thought it was a muscle twitch - but it was repeated just next to it, and then two more times across from it. I'm certain this is just the tip of the proverbial iceburg, and by the end of it, I'll be quite bruised inside...
On a down note, Fred broke once again, and is back to smoking. We discussed it today, and I've forwarded him the smoking cessation information from my work. We're going to have him try the lozenges, and perhaps have him speak with his doctor about what options Kaiser has available for a program for him. There's about 5-7 different options for him to try, as opposed to doing things cold turkey, so I'm hopeful that with perserverance, we can beat this whole thing.
On an up note, Fred tossed out the mattress in the back room, which means that all I have to do now is sort out garbage from there going down to the bins, and then get a few more storage bins for such things as yarn and other projects. I'm going to be moving the craft books in there, as well as most of my stuffed hedgehog collection (to make room out front for our burgeoning collection of DVD's). Then I will get the table in from Office Depot (which reminds me, I gotta call them to make sure they have it in stock - if not, then I can order it and have it delivered - or look elsewhere), cover it with some cushioning and fabric, and I'll have a real sewing room.
I also need to get a filing cabinet for bills and banking... I've found that the current filing system (general stacking and piling in corners) does not work at all - and I need to update it to something that people can actually understand. LOL. So, that will be another thing I will be looking for in the near future. And I'll have a little spot in the baby / sewing room for an office, too. yay!
Other than that, things are going well. I will say that I really wish Fred and I had more than half-days together to hang out, talk, and generally just be - but I'm hopeful that at some point in the future, we will be able to do so.
~M
The podling has been more active lately, and I have actually begun to feel her boot (or headbutt) my tummy occasionally. The first time I felt her it was about 3 days ago, and I thought it was a muscle twitch - but it was repeated just next to it, and then two more times across from it. I'm certain this is just the tip of the proverbial iceburg, and by the end of it, I'll be quite bruised inside...
On a down note, Fred broke once again, and is back to smoking. We discussed it today, and I've forwarded him the smoking cessation information from my work. We're going to have him try the lozenges, and perhaps have him speak with his doctor about what options Kaiser has available for a program for him. There's about 5-7 different options for him to try, as opposed to doing things cold turkey, so I'm hopeful that with perserverance, we can beat this whole thing.
On an up note, Fred tossed out the mattress in the back room, which means that all I have to do now is sort out garbage from there going down to the bins, and then get a few more storage bins for such things as yarn and other projects. I'm going to be moving the craft books in there, as well as most of my stuffed hedgehog collection (to make room out front for our burgeoning collection of DVD's). Then I will get the table in from Office Depot (which reminds me, I gotta call them to make sure they have it in stock - if not, then I can order it and have it delivered - or look elsewhere), cover it with some cushioning and fabric, and I'll have a real sewing room.
I also need to get a filing cabinet for bills and banking... I've found that the current filing system (general stacking and piling in corners) does not work at all - and I need to update it to something that people can actually understand. LOL. So, that will be another thing I will be looking for in the near future. And I'll have a little spot in the baby / sewing room for an office, too. yay!
Other than that, things are going well. I will say that I really wish Fred and I had more than half-days together to hang out, talk, and generally just be - but I'm hopeful that at some point in the future, we will be able to do so.
~M
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Randomness...
| Merripan - a dash of playfulness - 2 heaping tablespoons of honesty - 1/4 cup of flirting Serve hot. | |
| 'What is your personality recipe?' at QuizGalaxy.com | |
You can blame this on Lyse and Lilith... I decided to try it myself, and frighteningly enough, i think it's about right. LOL.
Yesterday was interesting... I spent it pretty much on the bus, travelling back and forth, getting all my errands done.
Went to work, to get everything "officially" changed to my new last name. Then back over to Owajimaya's, so I could pick up mussels and clams to make Paella with. Unfortunately, they were out of clams - but they DID have crawfish - $5.99 per pound, live! Yay me! So, I got me some fresh-water bugs to go into the Paella instead.
Then back home to place said bugs and mussels in the fridge to keep them out of trouble, and back out to WinCo to do the rest of the shopping...
Interesting thing happened on the way out of WinCo. Two or three weeks ago, I was on my way out the door to the bus to head to work. Two boys who had been regular friends of Speedboy sat on the stairs, blocking the way down - one is 14 and the other is 16. I asked them to move, and they gave me a snotty look, and finally did move their butts over to one side. I then told them they shouldn't be loitering in the halls (something they've been told before by the property manager), and they could find other places to be.
So - as I'm walking out the door, both their mothers decide to confront me in the doorway of the exit... Because, according to the boys, I was being "mean" and "rude". The conversation went thus:
mother 1: So... I heard that you told the boys not to loiter...
me: Yes - I was trying to get past them to go to work.
mother 1: And were they blocking the stairs or something?
me: Yes, they were. I told them they needed to find someplace else to be.
mother 2: (shaking head) that's NOT what they told me!
mother 1: Well, do you think that next time, you could be a little nicer?
me: Look - they've been told not to hang out in the stairwells and the hallways before by Joe.
mother 2: Let's just go - this isn't going as planned, and it's not working - let's just go.
My first thought was "Oh - so I'm supposed to go whimpering off, apologizing for your kids rude behavior, with my tail tucked between my legs? I don't think so." My second thought was "Which are you more pissed off about - the fact that your child was doing something he ought not to have been doing, or the fact that someone spoke up about it to them?"
I told Fred about it later, and he was pissed off - I'll be talking with Joe about it later today when I head over there with the marriage certificate to have everything officially changed there, too.
Oh, and did I mention that "mother 2" was the one who posted a long-ass note on our door just after I moved in here 2 years ago, telling Fred he needed to quit rotating women through his apartment constantly, because it was bad for Josh - and she signed it "Your Guardian Angel"? Yeah - and what I did was WAAAAAY awful... Whatever.
Today I head to the OTHER bank, get myself removed from the ex-husband's account (I didn't even realize I was in there still, until I got a bank statement with his information on it), and get my name changed, then back home to get the paperwork changed for the apartment, and then clean the dishes. And that's all...
I will have pics of the new baby afghan soon...
~M
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Damned Proud!
I am so proud of myself! I have learned a new crochet stitch that was something daunting-looking (at least, for me). I normally can’t read the instructions unless there’s pictures that go along with it, specifically a close-up of whatever stitch it is they’re trying to teach me. However, my “bible”, the ‘Complete Guide to Needlework’ by Reader’s Digest, helped me out immensely.
I now know how to do a wave stitch. And I am making another baby blanket. While I know I have 2 already, I also know you honestly can’t have too many of them, at least for the first year, what with accidents and messes and things. It’s nice to have several of them, of different weights. Also, once done with them, or out-grown, I’m pretty sure there’s a market for gently-used, hand-crocheted baby blankets.
Yay me! Honestly, I really needed another project to do at home. While there are a number of sewing projects that I need to get to, I can’t really do any of them until I get my table set up and the rest of the room finished. That will, hopefully, be on my next paycheck, if I can find someone with a truck / large vehicle to help get it home – or possibly get it delivered, if the company does that… hope, hope, hope.
I’m also going to be doing some embroidery. There’s a really cute stuffed gingham bunny pattern that my mom found years and years ago, that I still have. I had one as a little child, and all of the babies in our family got one. We also made some for the local hospital children’s wards and the EMT boxes to give out to children in need. It’s a sweet-faced baby bunny, its eyes closed, cuddling a carrot. It can be made from any type of patterned gingham, which makes it all the more whimsical and fun to both make and have. I happen to have a gingham pattern of little kitty paw-prints, which I think would be absolutely adorable for a bunny (chuckle), so I’ll be using that. If you know of someone who would also like a bunny, it’s just as easy to make two as one, so let me know.
~M
I now know how to do a wave stitch. And I am making another baby blanket. While I know I have 2 already, I also know you honestly can’t have too many of them, at least for the first year, what with accidents and messes and things. It’s nice to have several of them, of different weights. Also, once done with them, or out-grown, I’m pretty sure there’s a market for gently-used, hand-crocheted baby blankets.
Yay me! Honestly, I really needed another project to do at home. While there are a number of sewing projects that I need to get to, I can’t really do any of them until I get my table set up and the rest of the room finished. That will, hopefully, be on my next paycheck, if I can find someone with a truck / large vehicle to help get it home – or possibly get it delivered, if the company does that… hope, hope, hope.
I’m also going to be doing some embroidery. There’s a really cute stuffed gingham bunny pattern that my mom found years and years ago, that I still have. I had one as a little child, and all of the babies in our family got one. We also made some for the local hospital children’s wards and the EMT boxes to give out to children in need. It’s a sweet-faced baby bunny, its eyes closed, cuddling a carrot. It can be made from any type of patterned gingham, which makes it all the more whimsical and fun to both make and have. I happen to have a gingham pattern of little kitty paw-prints, which I think would be absolutely adorable for a bunny (chuckle), so I’ll be using that. If you know of someone who would also like a bunny, it’s just as easy to make two as one, so let me know.
~M
Friday, September 21, 2007
Out-stubborning the stubborn...
Or, how to make the ultrasound tech throw up her hands in defeat after 1 1/2 hours of attempts...
Honestly, it wasn't me. It wasn't Fred, either. Both of us were perfectly amenable to what my OB and my ultrasound doc were doing, and neither of us were late or negative in the least...
The BABY on the other hand... well, that was a different matter. Apparently, it was cranky. WAAAAAAAY cranky.
See, my appointments on Tuesday were set up so that there would be about 45 minutes between them. That way, I could get a little something to eat for lunch. I ate breakfast, but didn't take any snacks with me, figuring that I could simply pick something up along the way.
Unfortunately, a call had apparently been placed to Murphy, that weird, wacky guy, and my OB appointment started 47 minutes late. Thankfully, we made it to the 2nd appointment, down at the bottom of the hill, with 3 minutes to spare. Unfortunately, there was no time at all to get anything to munch on.
By the time I'd settled onto the ultrasound exam table, it had been about 4 hours since I'd last eaten, and the baby was having none of it. The tech resident spent a good 45 minutes getting photos of the little tyke, watching it squirm around unhappily and push outwards with little legs and arms in a sort of "I want my space, so get away" move.
At one point, we did find out the sex of the baby - she wasn't happy about getting a good look at arms, legs, the heart or the head, but had no problem showing off pink bits. *chuckle* And yes, it's a girl.
Dr Segal, whom I had spoken with on the phone for the last 5 months on a practically daily basis, came in to do the "official" sign-off photos of the baby. I warned her that things were very active, and the baby wasn't having any of it. She said "Oh, don't worry - I'm stubborn".
After another 30 minutes or so, with the baby going so far as to try and stuff her face up into my belly button to avoid detection, Dr Segal finally threw up her hands in defeat. Apparently she couldn't even get a good picture of a spread-out hand to count the bones in it - baby kept making fists and scrubbing her face with them, or rolling over to show off her butt to the camera.
So, next time, I'm planning on having a turkey lunch with stuffing and mashed potatoes, hopefully to calm her down into some sort of agreement. LOL.
~M
Honestly, it wasn't me. It wasn't Fred, either. Both of us were perfectly amenable to what my OB and my ultrasound doc were doing, and neither of us were late or negative in the least...
The BABY on the other hand... well, that was a different matter. Apparently, it was cranky. WAAAAAAAY cranky.
See, my appointments on Tuesday were set up so that there would be about 45 minutes between them. That way, I could get a little something to eat for lunch. I ate breakfast, but didn't take any snacks with me, figuring that I could simply pick something up along the way.
Unfortunately, a call had apparently been placed to Murphy, that weird, wacky guy, and my OB appointment started 47 minutes late. Thankfully, we made it to the 2nd appointment, down at the bottom of the hill, with 3 minutes to spare. Unfortunately, there was no time at all to get anything to munch on.
By the time I'd settled onto the ultrasound exam table, it had been about 4 hours since I'd last eaten, and the baby was having none of it. The tech resident spent a good 45 minutes getting photos of the little tyke, watching it squirm around unhappily and push outwards with little legs and arms in a sort of "I want my space, so get away" move.
At one point, we did find out the sex of the baby - she wasn't happy about getting a good look at arms, legs, the heart or the head, but had no problem showing off pink bits. *chuckle* And yes, it's a girl.
Dr Segal, whom I had spoken with on the phone for the last 5 months on a practically daily basis, came in to do the "official" sign-off photos of the baby. I warned her that things were very active, and the baby wasn't having any of it. She said "Oh, don't worry - I'm stubborn".
After another 30 minutes or so, with the baby going so far as to try and stuff her face up into my belly button to avoid detection, Dr Segal finally threw up her hands in defeat. Apparently she couldn't even get a good picture of a spread-out hand to count the bones in it - baby kept making fists and scrubbing her face with them, or rolling over to show off her butt to the camera.
So, next time, I'm planning on having a turkey lunch with stuffing and mashed potatoes, hopefully to calm her down into some sort of agreement. LOL.
~M
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Oh, the want...
I have been needing to get a new (or newer) sewing machine for a few years, now. Unfortunately, mine is just not cutting it anymore (or sewing, or wanting to sew)... Even doing major overhauling and cleaning didn't make it better for more than 1 day - so it's time for another machine.
I have found the one I crave... It is here:
It has everything that I want, including the innards being metal rather than plastic. MMMMmmmmmm, yes, it is the tasty. I must want/have. Perhaps a little elf will make sure it's under the tree in time for christmas.
~M
I have found the one I crave... It is here:
It has everything that I want, including the innards being metal rather than plastic. MMMMmmmmmm, yes, it is the tasty. I must want/have. Perhaps a little elf will make sure it's under the tree in time for christmas.
~M
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Period RANT...
If there’s one thing I hate – absolutely hate – it’s the self-righteous, self-important, puffed-up potentates that seem to think they know everything there is to know about a subject… and they’re going to turn around and share it with you, whether you like it or not.
The problem is not the sharing of the information – it’s the *way* it’s done. Normally, people who wish to share information with one another do so with an understanding about it – they don’t treat you as though you’re 5 (unless you really *are* 5), and they don’t look down their nose at you while they’re talking. The sharing of information is based on both people being equal in both mental stature and maturity, and with the unspoken rule that both are looking to SHARE said information willingly – it’s a give and take thing, really.
Those who believe that they are better than everyone else will not share – they will expound, lecture, pontificate, preach, and otherwise generally prove themselves to be a horse’s ass by opening their mouth and braying out facts and figures on whatever subject they feel they’re an “expert” on.
The SCA is *FILLED* with such people. The strange thing is, there seems to be an equal number of them, regardless of whether they are a “Period Nazi” or not. You would think, based on the general image that “Period Nazi” conjures up, it would be more them than others… These are the people who have done everything possible to make what they own as period-looking as possible, whether it be by purchase or by hand, and then point out the flaws of others who are simply going about their day in a relatively decent attempt at being period without breaking the bank.
But, there are also those would-be experts who are not interested in being period, who do not try to be period, and do not wish to be period – and yet will act in a similar way to either defend their actions or prove to whomever they are speaking with that they know all about being period, they just aren’t interested in making an attempt – and provide ample excuses to prove their point.
For those who don’t know what the SCA is, it’s a re-enactment society that works to re-create (to the best of its ability) the Middle Ages, from roughly 700 AD to 1600 AD. The idea of the SCA was launched one sunny mid-summer morning, when a bunch of history buffs got together in Berkeley to celebrate a friend’s wedding. Everyone had so much fun dressing up in medieval clothing that they decided to start having meetings and looking up more and more information on it. Being history buffs, this was certainly not a hardship, and it was kind of fun to get new people involved in it, too – it got everyone excited about actually LIVING history and learning something that wasn’t taught in “mainstream” college history.
It sort of blossomed out from there, and 42 years later, you have where the SCA is now – a world-wide, not-for-profit, member-driven organization, where literally hundreds of thousands of people learn from one another and from historical texts throughout libraries around the world about how life may have been like in any specific time period within the range pre-set by the SCA by-laws. It’s sort of like a college without walls or even a set curriculum, which can be learned from at any time, day or night, regardless of where you are, and without having to pay tuition or indebt yourself to student loans.
Now that we’ve gotten a bit of historical basis down for what the SCA is, let’s get back to the subject at hand: authoritative asses who feel that they know best, regardless of what the notion of “best” actually is…
Honestly speaking, harkening back to its roots, the SCA really is just a huge adult game of “Let’s Pretend” – at least, if you boil it down to its base. Just like a stew, however, there are many flavors and layers within it that make it what it is. Part of that is the attempt at making things at least *look* period on the main thoroughfares at an event. Another (to me, much LARGER) part of it is to adhere to some of the basic principals that were upheld from the beginning – while romantic and possibly froofy, the concepts of chivalry, honor, and general respect for others regardless of peerage or background.
There was a post on Tribe recently that got me thinking about everything I’ve so far experienced within the SCA, and what I miss from when I first joined 14 years ago. Honestly, I miss the second portion of what I always felt the SCA was all about, more than I miss the “period” portions… The level of respect, chivalry and honor that was shown to me on a fairly constant basis made me try to be more period, and learn more. The fact that there were those who were not only willing to help me learn, but willing to teach me new things, so I could expand my knowledge and possibly find even MORE things I could be interested in – THAT was exciting to me.
Being able to make everything from scratch for an authentic and period look is a great thing. I am amazed and admire the fact that some people have that much patience. On the other hand, I’m sure there are those who are just as amazed that I can (when determined) pull some really amazing garb out in very little time. The point is, that it’s a great talent to have – but it’s not what makes you a good player at the game of SCA Life. It’s a combination of things, not the least of which is a good attitude, a positive mindset, and a willingness to share knowledge – not preach it.
Being period is not something that’s a pre-requisite for being welcome around me at an event. Making the attempt, upholding the non-tangible ideals of the SCA, and being open to new ideas and learning things IS.
While we’re here, let’s clarify a few things about making an attempt at being period, shall we? First of all, an attempt should *NOT* break the bank. It should not force you to take out a mortgage on your home, or barter away your child in order to look good (after all, if you’re going to barter away your child, you should save it for something a little more worthwhile – like your own island in the Bahamas, cabana boy included).
Making what would be considered a reasonable attempt might include something akin to a T-Tunic, pants, and shoes that don’t look like sneakers for guys, or a skirt, a peasant blouse, and again, shoes that don’t look like sneakers for girls.
Some people may think that this is *only* acceptable for your first event, or possibly go as far as your first tourney season – after that, you should be moving up in the world. Personally, I see nothing wrong with this type of garb at a lot of events that I go to, the reason being that much of the camp space we end up with for camping is filled with scrub and brambles – not conducive to long, dragging trains or “court” garb at all.
To me, simple garb doesn’t mean trashy-looking, it means practical. If you are going to get technical about it, most people during ANY of the period of time the SCA covers did not have “court” garb. They were peasants, or at least, working merchants. They wore plain garb, accented with very few pieces of ribbon or trim, and embroidery was also rare. It was simple because life was hard, and hard on clothing. You didn’t waste time making something pretty just to go out and plow in a field in it. You made it last.
Yes, there are other types of garb, and other ethnic backgrounds to study. Again, though, it’s something to think about once you are more comfortable in the SCA – Most people just aren’t going to start out with early Tudor garb, hand-sewn with pearls and gems, with all the underpinnings to go with it. Let’s be realistic here – most people aren’t costuming experts, and certainly don’t sew well enough to pull it off.
As for the camping gear that inevitably comes with going to an event, again, don’t break the bank over it. First of all, consider the logistics of hauling everything you would need to make your encampment period-looking… Unless you have a large van with a trailer hook and trailer, chances are, you won’t be able to haul what would look right. Even the smallest of tents need at least two 6’ poles to hold it up – and that just doesn’t fit into the standard sedan or small car. On top of that, put about 80 pounds worth of canvas for the tent itself, and then the bed-frame, mattress, blankets, fire-pit, cooking gear, kitchen, etc… You’ve got a lot there… And we haven’t mentioned your garb bag yet.
I’m all for being period – to a point. But let’s also be practical. Logically speaking, if you don’t have a decent-sized vehicle to transport your gear, you won’t get your gear to an event. If you can’t get your gear to an event, there’s no sense in HAVING said gear.
As for the idea of placing large pieces of fabric over non-period-looking items, I think that’s just plain silly. It wastes fabric, adds to your laundry bag when you get back, and all it does is make it look like you’ve just placed a large wadge of fabric over something. Not extremely attractive, and certainly not something that I’d recommend. Ground pimples aren’t pretty, but sometimes they’re all we have, depending on how far we’re traveling.
In closing, I’d just like to say that I adore the SCA – or at least, what the SCA was. I’m not sure I’ve been enjoying myself in the SCA as it’s evolved over the last 4 or 5 years. I am still attempting to treat everyone the way I was treated when I went to my first event. Unfortunately, there aren’t many others out there who feel that the favor should be returned. Period is as period does – look to your attitude first, then to the furniture that makes up what the person looks like.
~M
The problem is not the sharing of the information – it’s the *way* it’s done. Normally, people who wish to share information with one another do so with an understanding about it – they don’t treat you as though you’re 5 (unless you really *are* 5), and they don’t look down their nose at you while they’re talking. The sharing of information is based on both people being equal in both mental stature and maturity, and with the unspoken rule that both are looking to SHARE said information willingly – it’s a give and take thing, really.
Those who believe that they are better than everyone else will not share – they will expound, lecture, pontificate, preach, and otherwise generally prove themselves to be a horse’s ass by opening their mouth and braying out facts and figures on whatever subject they feel they’re an “expert” on.
The SCA is *FILLED* with such people. The strange thing is, there seems to be an equal number of them, regardless of whether they are a “Period Nazi” or not. You would think, based on the general image that “Period Nazi” conjures up, it would be more them than others… These are the people who have done everything possible to make what they own as period-looking as possible, whether it be by purchase or by hand, and then point out the flaws of others who are simply going about their day in a relatively decent attempt at being period without breaking the bank.
But, there are also those would-be experts who are not interested in being period, who do not try to be period, and do not wish to be period – and yet will act in a similar way to either defend their actions or prove to whomever they are speaking with that they know all about being period, they just aren’t interested in making an attempt – and provide ample excuses to prove their point.
For those who don’t know what the SCA is, it’s a re-enactment society that works to re-create (to the best of its ability) the Middle Ages, from roughly 700 AD to 1600 AD. The idea of the SCA was launched one sunny mid-summer morning, when a bunch of history buffs got together in Berkeley to celebrate a friend’s wedding. Everyone had so much fun dressing up in medieval clothing that they decided to start having meetings and looking up more and more information on it. Being history buffs, this was certainly not a hardship, and it was kind of fun to get new people involved in it, too – it got everyone excited about actually LIVING history and learning something that wasn’t taught in “mainstream” college history.
It sort of blossomed out from there, and 42 years later, you have where the SCA is now – a world-wide, not-for-profit, member-driven organization, where literally hundreds of thousands of people learn from one another and from historical texts throughout libraries around the world about how life may have been like in any specific time period within the range pre-set by the SCA by-laws. It’s sort of like a college without walls or even a set curriculum, which can be learned from at any time, day or night, regardless of where you are, and without having to pay tuition or indebt yourself to student loans.
Now that we’ve gotten a bit of historical basis down for what the SCA is, let’s get back to the subject at hand: authoritative asses who feel that they know best, regardless of what the notion of “best” actually is…
Honestly speaking, harkening back to its roots, the SCA really is just a huge adult game of “Let’s Pretend” – at least, if you boil it down to its base. Just like a stew, however, there are many flavors and layers within it that make it what it is. Part of that is the attempt at making things at least *look* period on the main thoroughfares at an event. Another (to me, much LARGER) part of it is to adhere to some of the basic principals that were upheld from the beginning – while romantic and possibly froofy, the concepts of chivalry, honor, and general respect for others regardless of peerage or background.
There was a post on Tribe recently that got me thinking about everything I’ve so far experienced within the SCA, and what I miss from when I first joined 14 years ago. Honestly, I miss the second portion of what I always felt the SCA was all about, more than I miss the “period” portions… The level of respect, chivalry and honor that was shown to me on a fairly constant basis made me try to be more period, and learn more. The fact that there were those who were not only willing to help me learn, but willing to teach me new things, so I could expand my knowledge and possibly find even MORE things I could be interested in – THAT was exciting to me.
Being able to make everything from scratch for an authentic and period look is a great thing. I am amazed and admire the fact that some people have that much patience. On the other hand, I’m sure there are those who are just as amazed that I can (when determined) pull some really amazing garb out in very little time. The point is, that it’s a great talent to have – but it’s not what makes you a good player at the game of SCA Life. It’s a combination of things, not the least of which is a good attitude, a positive mindset, and a willingness to share knowledge – not preach it.
Being period is not something that’s a pre-requisite for being welcome around me at an event. Making the attempt, upholding the non-tangible ideals of the SCA, and being open to new ideas and learning things IS.
While we’re here, let’s clarify a few things about making an attempt at being period, shall we? First of all, an attempt should *NOT* break the bank. It should not force you to take out a mortgage on your home, or barter away your child in order to look good (after all, if you’re going to barter away your child, you should save it for something a little more worthwhile – like your own island in the Bahamas, cabana boy included).
Making what would be considered a reasonable attempt might include something akin to a T-Tunic, pants, and shoes that don’t look like sneakers for guys, or a skirt, a peasant blouse, and again, shoes that don’t look like sneakers for girls.
Some people may think that this is *only* acceptable for your first event, or possibly go as far as your first tourney season – after that, you should be moving up in the world. Personally, I see nothing wrong with this type of garb at a lot of events that I go to, the reason being that much of the camp space we end up with for camping is filled with scrub and brambles – not conducive to long, dragging trains or “court” garb at all.
To me, simple garb doesn’t mean trashy-looking, it means practical. If you are going to get technical about it, most people during ANY of the period of time the SCA covers did not have “court” garb. They were peasants, or at least, working merchants. They wore plain garb, accented with very few pieces of ribbon or trim, and embroidery was also rare. It was simple because life was hard, and hard on clothing. You didn’t waste time making something pretty just to go out and plow in a field in it. You made it last.
Yes, there are other types of garb, and other ethnic backgrounds to study. Again, though, it’s something to think about once you are more comfortable in the SCA – Most people just aren’t going to start out with early Tudor garb, hand-sewn with pearls and gems, with all the underpinnings to go with it. Let’s be realistic here – most people aren’t costuming experts, and certainly don’t sew well enough to pull it off.
As for the camping gear that inevitably comes with going to an event, again, don’t break the bank over it. First of all, consider the logistics of hauling everything you would need to make your encampment period-looking… Unless you have a large van with a trailer hook and trailer, chances are, you won’t be able to haul what would look right. Even the smallest of tents need at least two 6’ poles to hold it up – and that just doesn’t fit into the standard sedan or small car. On top of that, put about 80 pounds worth of canvas for the tent itself, and then the bed-frame, mattress, blankets, fire-pit, cooking gear, kitchen, etc… You’ve got a lot there… And we haven’t mentioned your garb bag yet.
I’m all for being period – to a point. But let’s also be practical. Logically speaking, if you don’t have a decent-sized vehicle to transport your gear, you won’t get your gear to an event. If you can’t get your gear to an event, there’s no sense in HAVING said gear.
As for the idea of placing large pieces of fabric over non-period-looking items, I think that’s just plain silly. It wastes fabric, adds to your laundry bag when you get back, and all it does is make it look like you’ve just placed a large wadge of fabric over something. Not extremely attractive, and certainly not something that I’d recommend. Ground pimples aren’t pretty, but sometimes they’re all we have, depending on how far we’re traveling.
In closing, I’d just like to say that I adore the SCA – or at least, what the SCA was. I’m not sure I’ve been enjoying myself in the SCA as it’s evolved over the last 4 or 5 years. I am still attempting to treat everyone the way I was treated when I went to my first event. Unfortunately, there aren’t many others out there who feel that the favor should be returned. Period is as period does – look to your attitude first, then to the furniture that makes up what the person looks like.
~M
NOT an Auspicious beginning...
Woke up this morning with a sore throat - again... And my head slightly stuffy. I believe I officially have the first head-cold of the fall season. Ugh.
Fred's phone rang, and it turned out to be the 1800GOTJUNK people. I'd been under the impression that I'd changed the scheduling for NEXT weekend - apparently their website does not allow you to do that - at all. Their website ALSO doesn't have any way of easily finding out how much the cost is for pick-up. We got that when the nice guys showed up.
$109.00 is the BASE PRICE!!! Yee gads, man! I could see it if it was a honkin' huge fridge - what we have is a banana box filled with toys, and a queen sized mattress - NOT something hard or even relatively difficult to deal with. And they wanted $109 to pick it up. Nope, sorry, guys. We'll either cut the sucker in half and throw it in our dumpster, or find someone with a truck and haul it to the dump ourselves, thank you. As for the box of toys, Fred will take that to the local Goodwill to be donated.
Got downtown and found myself with a HUGE-ass headache yet again, and no real way to assuage it. I have now eaten a half a sandwich and some chips, downed some caffeine, and taken 3 ibuprofin. I can only hope that this will make it go away. At least it's my Friday.
~M
Fred's phone rang, and it turned out to be the 1800GOTJUNK people. I'd been under the impression that I'd changed the scheduling for NEXT weekend - apparently their website does not allow you to do that - at all. Their website ALSO doesn't have any way of easily finding out how much the cost is for pick-up. We got that when the nice guys showed up.
$109.00 is the BASE PRICE!!! Yee gads, man! I could see it if it was a honkin' huge fridge - what we have is a banana box filled with toys, and a queen sized mattress - NOT something hard or even relatively difficult to deal with. And they wanted $109 to pick it up. Nope, sorry, guys. We'll either cut the sucker in half and throw it in our dumpster, or find someone with a truck and haul it to the dump ourselves, thank you. As for the box of toys, Fred will take that to the local Goodwill to be donated.
Got downtown and found myself with a HUGE-ass headache yet again, and no real way to assuage it. I have now eaten a half a sandwich and some chips, downed some caffeine, and taken 3 ibuprofin. I can only hope that this will make it go away. At least it's my Friday.
~M
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Pissy takes the cake...
Sometimes, in working where I do, specifically in the line of work that I am in (call center, inbound), I am faced with the horrible reality that some people just don't want to take personal responsibility for their own actions at the time of the issue, and want to blame it all on someone else...
Take, for instance, Liter Liner*, who called in today to speak with the doctor on call because their baby grandchild had an issue. No big deal - it's something that happens fairly often. After finding out first off that Liter doesn't know who the baby's doctor is, and then looking up the information to FIND said doctor, the correct on-call person is found.
Dear Liter calls back not 10 minutes later, and gets the same operator, Sweetie*. Sweetie is subsequently yelled at by Liter, and told that Liter wants someone "smarter" than the last doctor Liter spoke with - specifically, Liter wants the attending physician, because the doctor originally paged was "dumb". When it was explained that the doctor called *was* the attending, Liter then stated that there HAD to be someone else there who wasn't as DUMB as the on-call doctor, and wanted someone "smarter" than Sweetie.
Sweetie places Liter on hold, and gets our lead, Orbit*, on the line. Orbit goes through and lets Liter scream and rant and rave about everything, and then explains that we have a Patient Advocate office that can deal with the issue, and provides the number for them. Mind you, it's a Saturday night, at 8pm... Liter demands to speak with the President of the hospital... Because that's a reasonable request... The request is refused, and Orbit explains again what the options are. Liter hangs up.
Liter's significant other, Planar*, calls in. Planar gets yours truly, and goes off on me on how this is an issue that started back about a month ago, and wasn't addressed by the hospital, so Planar is addressing it now... Seems that the grandchild was born and had what Planar and Liter feel was inadaquate care, as did the grandchild's mother... But it's an issue that's almost a month old... I, having NO idea at this point that Planar's family has called twice already about the issue and has been abusive both times, offer the patient advocates office - which Planar immediately wants to know WHY this office would be offered, since the issue is with the hospital administration and the head of the delivery unit.
I let Planar know what our Patient Advocate office was able to do, but that's not good enough because they're not open right then - Planar wants to speak with someone *RIGHT NOW*. So - I offer to page the Administrator on Duty for Planar, who agrees. I get a call back from the Administrator, and am told that they're very busy, but to please let them know what the phone # is and they would call Planar back as soon as they could.
I let Planar know, and am told that there should be someone above the Administrator. I quietly point out that said Administrator is given that title for a reason, and they're there to oversee all issues within the hospital during the off hours. Since their main focus is issues within the hospital, it could take some time to get back to Planar. Planar makes a snarky comment about how nice it would have been to have had such a thing when the issue was still going on, that way the grandchild would not have had their life threatened. I pointed out that there had been ample time to address the issue at that point, however, unfortunately, apparently it hadn't been addressed and I was sorry for that.
After taking down Planar's number and sending it on to the Administrator, Sweetie and I start talking about the family - and Orbit gets into the discussion and we all compare notes - apparently the issue had to do with not getting the physical equipment necessary to breast-feed or store breast-milk from the hospital... Something that I was never aware that ANY hospital gave out normally. And apparently the issue was never addressed at the time, but instead was only now being brought up to hospital administration. Apparently at one point Liter threatened legal action, stating that they were "lawyering up".
No more than 10 minutes goes by and, unknown to either Sweetie or I, Liter calls back, AGAIN - this time getting the third of our little quad crew of the evening, Cookey*, who pages the Administrator again at Liter's demand.
The Admin calls back, and after talking with Orbit, gets transferred over to Cookey, who connects the Admin with Liter. We all commence to talking about the whole issue, and how idiotic it is that someone is going through all of this trouble for something that could have been taken care of at the very beginning of the issue - had they only said something then.
The Administrator ends up calling back yet again, and says that apparently, Liter decided to be JUST as rude and uncooperative to them as Liter had been to all of us - and we were not to page for the family again, but instead let the Patient Advocate's office take care of things on Monday. At this point, I'm totally amazed. They finally get the one person who could have at least listened to the issue - and instead of being polite and positive, they're rude, pushy and downright arrogant regarding everything - thus guaranteeing no help whatsoever... And for what? An issue that, had they simply said something in the first place, would probably never have had time to fester.
On the other hand, apparently some people *like* being pissy just for the sake of being pissy.
~M
*Names have been changed - I like it better that way.
Take, for instance, Liter Liner*, who called in today to speak with the doctor on call because their baby grandchild had an issue. No big deal - it's something that happens fairly often. After finding out first off that Liter doesn't know who the baby's doctor is, and then looking up the information to FIND said doctor, the correct on-call person is found.
Dear Liter calls back not 10 minutes later, and gets the same operator, Sweetie*. Sweetie is subsequently yelled at by Liter, and told that Liter wants someone "smarter" than the last doctor Liter spoke with - specifically, Liter wants the attending physician, because the doctor originally paged was "dumb". When it was explained that the doctor called *was* the attending, Liter then stated that there HAD to be someone else there who wasn't as DUMB as the on-call doctor, and wanted someone "smarter" than Sweetie.
Sweetie places Liter on hold, and gets our lead, Orbit*, on the line. Orbit goes through and lets Liter scream and rant and rave about everything, and then explains that we have a Patient Advocate office that can deal with the issue, and provides the number for them. Mind you, it's a Saturday night, at 8pm... Liter demands to speak with the President of the hospital... Because that's a reasonable request... The request is refused, and Orbit explains again what the options are. Liter hangs up.
Liter's significant other, Planar*, calls in. Planar gets yours truly, and goes off on me on how this is an issue that started back about a month ago, and wasn't addressed by the hospital, so Planar is addressing it now... Seems that the grandchild was born and had what Planar and Liter feel was inadaquate care, as did the grandchild's mother... But it's an issue that's almost a month old... I, having NO idea at this point that Planar's family has called twice already about the issue and has been abusive both times, offer the patient advocates office - which Planar immediately wants to know WHY this office would be offered, since the issue is with the hospital administration and the head of the delivery unit.
I let Planar know what our Patient Advocate office was able to do, but that's not good enough because they're not open right then - Planar wants to speak with someone *RIGHT NOW*. So - I offer to page the Administrator on Duty for Planar, who agrees. I get a call back from the Administrator, and am told that they're very busy, but to please let them know what the phone # is and they would call Planar back as soon as they could.
I let Planar know, and am told that there should be someone above the Administrator. I quietly point out that said Administrator is given that title for a reason, and they're there to oversee all issues within the hospital during the off hours. Since their main focus is issues within the hospital, it could take some time to get back to Planar. Planar makes a snarky comment about how nice it would have been to have had such a thing when the issue was still going on, that way the grandchild would not have had their life threatened. I pointed out that there had been ample time to address the issue at that point, however, unfortunately, apparently it hadn't been addressed and I was sorry for that.
After taking down Planar's number and sending it on to the Administrator, Sweetie and I start talking about the family - and Orbit gets into the discussion and we all compare notes - apparently the issue had to do with not getting the physical equipment necessary to breast-feed or store breast-milk from the hospital... Something that I was never aware that ANY hospital gave out normally. And apparently the issue was never addressed at the time, but instead was only now being brought up to hospital administration. Apparently at one point Liter threatened legal action, stating that they were "lawyering up".
No more than 10 minutes goes by and, unknown to either Sweetie or I, Liter calls back, AGAIN - this time getting the third of our little quad crew of the evening, Cookey*, who pages the Administrator again at Liter's demand.
The Admin calls back, and after talking with Orbit, gets transferred over to Cookey, who connects the Admin with Liter. We all commence to talking about the whole issue, and how idiotic it is that someone is going through all of this trouble for something that could have been taken care of at the very beginning of the issue - had they only said something then.
The Administrator ends up calling back yet again, and says that apparently, Liter decided to be JUST as rude and uncooperative to them as Liter had been to all of us - and we were not to page for the family again, but instead let the Patient Advocate's office take care of things on Monday. At this point, I'm totally amazed. They finally get the one person who could have at least listened to the issue - and instead of being polite and positive, they're rude, pushy and downright arrogant regarding everything - thus guaranteeing no help whatsoever... And for what? An issue that, had they simply said something in the first place, would probably never have had time to fester.
On the other hand, apparently some people *like* being pissy just for the sake of being pissy.
~M
*Names have been changed - I like it better that way.
It's a long way, baby.
Anyone who tries to convince me that cigarettes are not addictive is going to be up for a serious smack-down! My poor, dear husband is currently living proof.
After being tobacco-free for the last 10 months, his cravings finally got the better of him today, much to his dismay and horror. Poor Fred had been doing so well – other than the “normal” cravings that most people have once they quit (daily, small 1-2 minute cravings that are fairly easy to ignore if doing something else). Today was something akin to what happened 3 weeks after he first quit, where he almost cracked because he was in so much physical and mental agony.
He is going to start over again tomorrow. I am sad that he cracked, but I also understand, having been dealing with my own addictions most of my life – just as insidious, and just as hard to control. I had to remind him that no one said it was easy to do, and that I loved him, and would continue to support him through this.
Quitting *is* a hard thing to do, regardless of what anyone says. There are a very few people who can simply up and quit cold turkey, and not have any side effects or any issues whatsoever. Those are the lucky ones. Most people end up like Fred, or sometimes even worse. Some never quit successfully at all, because it’s so difficult for them.
If you genuinely *like* to smoke, then that’s your choice and it’s up to you. BUT - If you don’t like it, and you want to quit, contact your local pharmacy for options that are available to you, or your physician. The American Lung Cancer Society also has options available to keep you smoke-free. Many work-places and health insurance companies are now providing smoking cessation programs, so check into them as well.
Most of all, if you have a family member that has decided to quit smoking, be supportive. They are doing something that is going to be difficult, but ultimately positive for everyone around.
~M
After being tobacco-free for the last 10 months, his cravings finally got the better of him today, much to his dismay and horror. Poor Fred had been doing so well – other than the “normal” cravings that most people have once they quit (daily, small 1-2 minute cravings that are fairly easy to ignore if doing something else). Today was something akin to what happened 3 weeks after he first quit, where he almost cracked because he was in so much physical and mental agony.
He is going to start over again tomorrow. I am sad that he cracked, but I also understand, having been dealing with my own addictions most of my life – just as insidious, and just as hard to control. I had to remind him that no one said it was easy to do, and that I loved him, and would continue to support him through this.
Quitting *is* a hard thing to do, regardless of what anyone says. There are a very few people who can simply up and quit cold turkey, and not have any side effects or any issues whatsoever. Those are the lucky ones. Most people end up like Fred, or sometimes even worse. Some never quit successfully at all, because it’s so difficult for them.
If you genuinely *like* to smoke, then that’s your choice and it’s up to you. BUT - If you don’t like it, and you want to quit, contact your local pharmacy for options that are available to you, or your physician. The American Lung Cancer Society also has options available to keep you smoke-free. Many work-places and health insurance companies are now providing smoking cessation programs, so check into them as well.
Most of all, if you have a family member that has decided to quit smoking, be supportive. They are doing something that is going to be difficult, but ultimately positive for everyone around.
~M
Happy Birthday, Girlie!
Yes, indeed - my adorable little Anxiety-monster has a birthday today. I just saw her on Thursday, but (as usual) my "mommy" instinct blocked out the fact that she's older than I actually *want* her to be. *chuckle*
The pics Lil (her amazing Mum) put up of her in her halloween costumes prove once again that she needs to be locked in her room until all men are castrated, or blind (just kidding). I should not look at a pic of my teen god-daughter and think "hell, she looks pretty sexy." (Not kidding, now am looking around for sand, feeling rather unclean).
In all honesty, though, Anxiety has turned out to be an amazing young lady, filled with self-confidence, intelligence and smarts, and I'm constantly impressed with her ability to deal with day-to-day stuff that happens around her. She is rapidly moving toward adult-hood, but at the same time, keeps her head level and stays close to the fact that she's still a kid, wanting and needing kid-type things. All in all, a great young woman, destined for great things.
So, Happy Birthday, girlie! Fred and I are both SO impressed with you.
Hugs and loves!
~M
The pics Lil (her amazing Mum) put up of her in her halloween costumes prove once again that she needs to be locked in her room until all men are castrated, or blind (just kidding). I should not look at a pic of my teen god-daughter and think "hell, she looks pretty sexy." (Not kidding, now am looking around for sand, feeling rather unclean).
In all honesty, though, Anxiety has turned out to be an amazing young lady, filled with self-confidence, intelligence and smarts, and I'm constantly impressed with her ability to deal with day-to-day stuff that happens around her. She is rapidly moving toward adult-hood, but at the same time, keeps her head level and stays close to the fact that she's still a kid, wanting and needing kid-type things. All in all, a great young woman, destined for great things.
So, Happy Birthday, girlie! Fred and I are both SO impressed with you.
Hugs and loves!
~M
Friday, September 14, 2007
Almost there...
This weekend is going to be one of cleaning while I'm at home (slowly), and working (obviously, while I'm at work).
Fred, my uber-fabulous hubby has cooked me spaghetti for dinner, which I will happily scarf down once I get home tonight around midnight, and most likely will pack the rest up for lunch tomorrow at work. Yay me!
He also moved the fabric dresser over to the spare room, and cleaned our closet to resemble something other than a sty. I was very happy to learn that the camping gear got stored away for the year and stuff that we simply don't use was pulled out to be either tossed or given away. Yay him!
I'm sending Fred over to the Pirate Festival on the 22nd to pick up more fabric - a nice gal at a stall there has agreed to hand over a LOT of teal rayon-type fabric to me. Since I have to work, it'll be Fred's job to get it. And on the 23rd, we the people from 1800GOTJUNK coming by to pick up the old mattress and a box of toys. I've decided that the fabric I'm giving away (scraps or stuff I simply won't use EVER) will go to the shire along with Josh's old clothing that no longer fits. I'm sure they can find uses for most of it - even if it's only for trimming things.
Small annoyance currently is that even after the mattress is gone, I will still need to wait to get a table into the room... I don't have a way to really transport it until Mum comes down for the baby shower - which means another month, unless someone is awesome enough to not only own a truck, but be willing to pick up and drop off said table at the house. *sigh* Meanwhile, I will have the rest of my sewing stuff completely sorted out and ready to go, taunting me. *chuckle*
I got a birthing ball last night. I broke down finally, realizing that my back and legs simply weren't going to allow me to do the "curling up on the sofa" thing anymore - not until well after the baby is born. My back is killing me, and my legs are constantly trying to fall asleep, unless I continually move. I got home, hand-pumped the darned thing up last night (25 minutes worth - definitely a work-out inof itself), and tried it out. Comfy! Totally comfy! I may get another one for work, just so I can have something to trade off with. I need it, lemme tell ya. I can just imagine taking it up to the hot site on the bus... fully pumped up. The bus is normally standing-room only when I get on it... it'll be amusing, to say the least.
In any case, nothing much more to say, other than I need to get more tiger balm - my back is still hurting. Oh, and a dentist, too... It wants a filling, or a pulling - one or the other.
~M
Fred, my uber-fabulous hubby has cooked me spaghetti for dinner, which I will happily scarf down once I get home tonight around midnight, and most likely will pack the rest up for lunch tomorrow at work. Yay me!
He also moved the fabric dresser over to the spare room, and cleaned our closet to resemble something other than a sty. I was very happy to learn that the camping gear got stored away for the year and stuff that we simply don't use was pulled out to be either tossed or given away. Yay him!
I'm sending Fred over to the Pirate Festival on the 22nd to pick up more fabric - a nice gal at a stall there has agreed to hand over a LOT of teal rayon-type fabric to me. Since I have to work, it'll be Fred's job to get it. And on the 23rd, we the people from 1800GOTJUNK coming by to pick up the old mattress and a box of toys. I've decided that the fabric I'm giving away (scraps or stuff I simply won't use EVER) will go to the shire along with Josh's old clothing that no longer fits. I'm sure they can find uses for most of it - even if it's only for trimming things.
Small annoyance currently is that even after the mattress is gone, I will still need to wait to get a table into the room... I don't have a way to really transport it until Mum comes down for the baby shower - which means another month, unless someone is awesome enough to not only own a truck, but be willing to pick up and drop off said table at the house. *sigh* Meanwhile, I will have the rest of my sewing stuff completely sorted out and ready to go, taunting me. *chuckle*
I got a birthing ball last night. I broke down finally, realizing that my back and legs simply weren't going to allow me to do the "curling up on the sofa" thing anymore - not until well after the baby is born. My back is killing me, and my legs are constantly trying to fall asleep, unless I continually move. I got home, hand-pumped the darned thing up last night (25 minutes worth - definitely a work-out inof itself), and tried it out. Comfy! Totally comfy! I may get another one for work, just so I can have something to trade off with. I need it, lemme tell ya. I can just imagine taking it up to the hot site on the bus... fully pumped up. The bus is normally standing-room only when I get on it... it'll be amusing, to say the least.
In any case, nothing much more to say, other than I need to get more tiger balm - my back is still hurting. Oh, and a dentist, too... It wants a filling, or a pulling - one or the other.
~M
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
TGIO (thank gods its over)
I mean, in fact, the remembrances of 9-11. Now, before you get all up in arms about how horrible I am to not want to remember all of those who died that day, let me ask you: How many of you make a pilgrimage each year to the Vietnam War memorial - or even to your local war memorial? How many of you know the significance of April 19, 1995? It's not that I don't want to remember those who died on 9-11 - it's that it has become so large, and so immense in our minds, that we've forgotten others who have died as well.
Not only that, but there's a link in our minds now that "all terrorist acts must be from Muslim separatists and the like". Yet, neither Timothy McVeigh nor Terry Nichols were Muslim - in fact, the bombing was in retribution to the FBI attack on the Branch Davidian compound the year prior. While recognized as a cult, the Branch Davidians certainly could not be connected or construed to be Muslim in any way.
Since the beginning of 1974, our country has been directly targeted by49 separate incidents - possibly more. Yet we are only aware of one... Perhaps it's because the scale of carnage is so high - yet I think there's another part to it as well... We have become the channel-flipping nation, the drama-llama nation - if it doesn't make headlines for more than two weeks, we forget about it. If we haven't heard about it for over a year, we forget about it. It simply ceases to be important to us.
It doesn't change the fact, however, that others outside the 9-11 attacks died in terrorist attacks, whether they were planned by Muslim extremists or not. It doesn't change the fact that hundreds, perhaps even thousands of lives were irreparably changed PRIOR to 9-11-01. Nor does it change the fact that no one will remember them, outside of their direct families.
Instead of remembering just one terrorist event on US soil, involving US citizens, how about remembering them ALL. Instead of focusing on one single incident, look back and see how many others lost their lives for just being, literally, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Try being something other than what the media expects you to be - a TV channel-flipper with a 15-second memory capacity.
No - I don't want to remember those who died on 9-11... or at least, I don't want to JUST remember those men and women. I want to remember them all. As they deserve to be remembered. As mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sons and daughters. As friends and family, and as members of my country. I want to give them the respect that they ALL deserve.
~M
Not only that, but there's a link in our minds now that "all terrorist acts must be from Muslim separatists and the like". Yet, neither Timothy McVeigh nor Terry Nichols were Muslim - in fact, the bombing was in retribution to the FBI attack on the Branch Davidian compound the year prior. While recognized as a cult, the Branch Davidians certainly could not be connected or construed to be Muslim in any way.
Since the beginning of 1974, our country has been directly targeted by49 separate incidents - possibly more. Yet we are only aware of one... Perhaps it's because the scale of carnage is so high - yet I think there's another part to it as well... We have become the channel-flipping nation, the drama-llama nation - if it doesn't make headlines for more than two weeks, we forget about it. If we haven't heard about it for over a year, we forget about it. It simply ceases to be important to us.
It doesn't change the fact, however, that others outside the 9-11 attacks died in terrorist attacks, whether they were planned by Muslim extremists or not. It doesn't change the fact that hundreds, perhaps even thousands of lives were irreparably changed PRIOR to 9-11-01. Nor does it change the fact that no one will remember them, outside of their direct families.
Instead of remembering just one terrorist event on US soil, involving US citizens, how about remembering them ALL. Instead of focusing on one single incident, look back and see how many others lost their lives for just being, literally, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Try being something other than what the media expects you to be - a TV channel-flipper with a 15-second memory capacity.
No - I don't want to remember those who died on 9-11... or at least, I don't want to JUST remember those men and women. I want to remember them all. As they deserve to be remembered. As mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sons and daughters. As friends and family, and as members of my country. I want to give them the respect that they ALL deserve.
~M
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
And now... We commence to cleaning!
Yes, dear readers... Today is the day I clean out my closet of all my fabric and projects, place them into MUCH better boxes (the sturdy plastic kind you can see into to see what's in there), and move them into the spare bedroom (soon to be the baby's room and my sewing room).
It's my last day off before heading back to work. I figured I'd better do something that was somehow worthy of cleaning (of a sort), and would somehow help with the storing and sorting that has been needing to go on for some time. After today, the closet in our bedroom should be (relatively) clean and tidy, and so should the closet in the spare bedroom.
Yesterday, I went through all of the shelves that still had stuff on them of Speedboy. I found LOTS of broken toys, and toys that he never played with after we purchased them. The broken toys will be going to the garbage, while the ones he has not played with for over a year will be moving along to Goodwill or somesuch. There are two boxes that are his - one is filled with stuff he needs to go through when he comes back up here. The other will be shipped down to him on my next paycheck, and includes a lot more books and his tennis shoes.
The one LARGE thing that I still need which will make this room truly into a sewing room is this:
I need a wooden-topped banquet table... I have a piece of foam that will work top it, and a piece of cotton to go over the top of that, to turn it into a workable sewing and cutting table. I just need the table. Currently, I have less than $20 in my bank account, so... Unless someone gifts it to me, I'll be waiting until I have enough to purchase it AND a way to get it over to my house... No car equals a bloody pain in transportation. *sigh*
In any case, this is my project of the day... Yippee. You can tell I'm thrilled. LOL.
~M
It's my last day off before heading back to work. I figured I'd better do something that was somehow worthy of cleaning (of a sort), and would somehow help with the storing and sorting that has been needing to go on for some time. After today, the closet in our bedroom should be (relatively) clean and tidy, and so should the closet in the spare bedroom.
Yesterday, I went through all of the shelves that still had stuff on them of Speedboy. I found LOTS of broken toys, and toys that he never played with after we purchased them. The broken toys will be going to the garbage, while the ones he has not played with for over a year will be moving along to Goodwill or somesuch. There are two boxes that are his - one is filled with stuff he needs to go through when he comes back up here. The other will be shipped down to him on my next paycheck, and includes a lot more books and his tennis shoes.
The one LARGE thing that I still need which will make this room truly into a sewing room is this:
I need a wooden-topped banquet table... I have a piece of foam that will work top it, and a piece of cotton to go over the top of that, to turn it into a workable sewing and cutting table. I just need the table. Currently, I have less than $20 in my bank account, so... Unless someone gifts it to me, I'll be waiting until I have enough to purchase it AND a way to get it over to my house... No car equals a bloody pain in transportation. *sigh*
In any case, this is my project of the day... Yippee. You can tell I'm thrilled. LOL.
~M
Monday, September 10, 2007
Period is as period does...
Well, technically, I was awake this morning at 8:30 am, after sleeping for a good 12 hours. I only woke up a few times in the night to head to the bathroom (podling was dancing on my bladder something fierce).
Checked the bank balance, and found that, after this weekend and my student loans, I will have exactly NO money left in the bank - not even enough for food for the house. *sigh* Thankfully, Fred gets paid Thursday, so some of it will go for food for the house. It's a good thing I like peanut butter and jam sandwiches. And we like chicken and beans.
The event was... well... Over-rated, from my point of view. It's all fine and good that the group up in WA found an SCA-friendly land-owner willing to do renovations and upkeep on a spot that was (relatively) camping-friendly. HOWEVER, I will not go there again. First of all, the gate fee was $23 per person! Yikes! And that's only for 3 days! Apparently, they were there last weekend, too, and it was the same price, and they said if you still had your site token from last weekend, it was good for this weekend, too. And that's fine - but even PENNSIC has a lowered rate as the days go by! Yee gads! And the majority of it was paid to the land-owner. The actual SCA fee was only $9, including the non-member sur-charge. The other $14 went to the land-owner. We're not sure what for (which bugs me), and much of what we saw already there had been paid for from funds received from 40 Year, held there last year.
Secondly, there was the absolutely NO SHADE issue. I can only HOPE that some of the money taken by the land-owner is going to be put toward planting trees throughout the area, so as to make for nicer camping in the future. Trees would have helped immensely, both during the day and at night. We were in a valley, and with no clouds in the sky, it got very cold, VERY quickly. Trees could have helped keep the warmer air down toward us for a while longer, and helped kick some of the fog out from there, too.
Third, it's a LONG way from anything, and wasn't marked very well. It's 133 miles from my house to the nearest town, Randle, WA, which doesn't actually have even a small grocery - and then another 4-5 miles from there to the campsite. Directions should have included "turn off the paved road", then "turn off the county-upkept gravel road", and then "follow the dust and gravel road past the clear-cut areas". The first sign wasn't even found until after you got off the paved road... Apparently last year at 40 Year, ALL the stores were completely sold out of all alcoholic beverages within 50 miles of the campsite - which is saying something, since the exit from I-5 to Randle is 48 miles from the town!
In any case, it was hot, it was sticky, it was sweaty and dirty, and I forgot how cliquish the Washington SCA group is. They are simply NOT friendly in any way, shape or form to those outside of their little group. That and, for some reason, they've forgotten that the SCA is one big game of "Let's Pretend". Granted, it's a bigger game of "Let's Pretend" than what we used to play when we were 4 and 5 years old, but it's still a game. When we were 4 and 5, it was ok to use a bed-sheet and pretend it was anything from a cape to a tent to a kite to... well, whatever we wanted it to be. In their version, it's not ok to use a bed-sheet as anything other than a bed-sheet - you'd better have purchased or created all your fabric, and made your garb as authentic as possible or they will look down their noses at your attempt and not talk to you. Why? Because you don't look "period" enough to be bothered with.
I am *not* going to be lectured about what is and is not period in the SCA. When I joined, 14 years ago, it was about being as accurate as possible without killing your budget. If that meant that you got a lot of plain sheets from Goodwill and created T-tunics and skirts out of them, then that was a decent attempt, and no one killed you over it. No one even said anything about it. You were attempting, and were willing to learn, and that's what counted. Apparently NOW, it's only good enough if you end up looking like a million bucks - which is extremely hard to do in plain sheets, lemme tell ya.
They don't want to deal with belly dancers, unless they aren't covered in gold mylar, they certainly don't want to deal with piratical personas, and those who are within their first year of events don't get talked to by anyone unless it's a merchant trying to sell something - they, according to most of these would-be SCA perfectionists, aren't trying hard enough yet.
It's interesting... I started as a history buff, in my first year of college. Two or three of the "old-school" people in my area... Duke Sir James Greyhelm and Sir Paul of Somerton, and Vicountess Kareinia Tytar Talvi (well, she wasn't a Vicountess, then, but was very well known). They all were famous in their own right within the SCA. I had no idea - I just knew they looked nifty, loved history, and were delightfully friendly and outgoing. They suggested how I could go forth and, for very little expense, put together some pretty decent garb, and get involved with things that I might like.
I started with doing some dancing, some voice heralding, and just generally sitting next to anyone I could to learn from them. No one minded, no one looked down their noses at me, and no one told me that I didn't look "period" because I wore tennis shoes (I couldn't afford custom-fitted footgear, and tennies were comfy).
When I moved to Portland, I got into painting and illumination, as well as a little more heraldry - the paper and book kind, as well as studying different portions of history that were more favorites of mine than others. I improved my garb, using my sewing talents I'd gained from when I was a seamstress in the theatre department at college. I also created simple, good-looking, inexpensive garb to add to the gold key box for the area I was in. Why? Because I felt it was important to give back what I'd learned to those who came in, interested in what we did.
Yes, I had a few items that weren't exactly period. No, I didn't hand-sew my garb together. No, I didn't shear my own sheep, beat my own flax, weave the fabric together, etc... and my shoes were made on a right and left last (that's a shoe shaper, for those interested), though they were better than they could have been - birks or fisherman shoes, instead of tennis shoes. They looked good with the garb, and were still comfy.
So... With all that said, I think I will avoid most events on the north side of the Oregon border. I just can't get behind people who could care less about those who would continue on with the SCA in the future, once the "old-timers" are gone. Instead of giving information, advice and recommendations like a positive mentor, they give the impression that no one new is welcome unless they have both money and resources to already know everything there is to know about the SCA. And that's just not how I operate.
~M
Checked the bank balance, and found that, after this weekend and my student loans, I will have exactly NO money left in the bank - not even enough for food for the house. *sigh* Thankfully, Fred gets paid Thursday, so some of it will go for food for the house. It's a good thing I like peanut butter and jam sandwiches. And we like chicken and beans.
The event was... well... Over-rated, from my point of view. It's all fine and good that the group up in WA found an SCA-friendly land-owner willing to do renovations and upkeep on a spot that was (relatively) camping-friendly. HOWEVER, I will not go there again. First of all, the gate fee was $23 per person! Yikes! And that's only for 3 days! Apparently, they were there last weekend, too, and it was the same price, and they said if you still had your site token from last weekend, it was good for this weekend, too. And that's fine - but even PENNSIC has a lowered rate as the days go by! Yee gads! And the majority of it was paid to the land-owner. The actual SCA fee was only $9, including the non-member sur-charge. The other $14 went to the land-owner. We're not sure what for (which bugs me), and much of what we saw already there had been paid for from funds received from 40 Year, held there last year.
Secondly, there was the absolutely NO SHADE issue. I can only HOPE that some of the money taken by the land-owner is going to be put toward planting trees throughout the area, so as to make for nicer camping in the future. Trees would have helped immensely, both during the day and at night. We were in a valley, and with no clouds in the sky, it got very cold, VERY quickly. Trees could have helped keep the warmer air down toward us for a while longer, and helped kick some of the fog out from there, too.
Third, it's a LONG way from anything, and wasn't marked very well. It's 133 miles from my house to the nearest town, Randle, WA, which doesn't actually have even a small grocery - and then another 4-5 miles from there to the campsite. Directions should have included "turn off the paved road", then "turn off the county-upkept gravel road", and then "follow the dust and gravel road past the clear-cut areas". The first sign wasn't even found until after you got off the paved road... Apparently last year at 40 Year, ALL the stores were completely sold out of all alcoholic beverages within 50 miles of the campsite - which is saying something, since the exit from I-5 to Randle is 48 miles from the town!
In any case, it was hot, it was sticky, it was sweaty and dirty, and I forgot how cliquish the Washington SCA group is. They are simply NOT friendly in any way, shape or form to those outside of their little group. That and, for some reason, they've forgotten that the SCA is one big game of "Let's Pretend". Granted, it's a bigger game of "Let's Pretend" than what we used to play when we were 4 and 5 years old, but it's still a game. When we were 4 and 5, it was ok to use a bed-sheet and pretend it was anything from a cape to a tent to a kite to... well, whatever we wanted it to be. In their version, it's not ok to use a bed-sheet as anything other than a bed-sheet - you'd better have purchased or created all your fabric, and made your garb as authentic as possible or they will look down their noses at your attempt and not talk to you. Why? Because you don't look "period" enough to be bothered with.
I am *not* going to be lectured about what is and is not period in the SCA. When I joined, 14 years ago, it was about being as accurate as possible without killing your budget. If that meant that you got a lot of plain sheets from Goodwill and created T-tunics and skirts out of them, then that was a decent attempt, and no one killed you over it. No one even said anything about it. You were attempting, and were willing to learn, and that's what counted. Apparently NOW, it's only good enough if you end up looking like a million bucks - which is extremely hard to do in plain sheets, lemme tell ya.
They don't want to deal with belly dancers, unless they aren't covered in gold mylar, they certainly don't want to deal with piratical personas, and those who are within their first year of events don't get talked to by anyone unless it's a merchant trying to sell something - they, according to most of these would-be SCA perfectionists, aren't trying hard enough yet.
It's interesting... I started as a history buff, in my first year of college. Two or three of the "old-school" people in my area... Duke Sir James Greyhelm and Sir Paul of Somerton, and Vicountess Kareinia Tytar Talvi (well, she wasn't a Vicountess, then, but was very well known). They all were famous in their own right within the SCA. I had no idea - I just knew they looked nifty, loved history, and were delightfully friendly and outgoing. They suggested how I could go forth and, for very little expense, put together some pretty decent garb, and get involved with things that I might like.
I started with doing some dancing, some voice heralding, and just generally sitting next to anyone I could to learn from them. No one minded, no one looked down their noses at me, and no one told me that I didn't look "period" because I wore tennis shoes (I couldn't afford custom-fitted footgear, and tennies were comfy).
When I moved to Portland, I got into painting and illumination, as well as a little more heraldry - the paper and book kind, as well as studying different portions of history that were more favorites of mine than others. I improved my garb, using my sewing talents I'd gained from when I was a seamstress in the theatre department at college. I also created simple, good-looking, inexpensive garb to add to the gold key box for the area I was in. Why? Because I felt it was important to give back what I'd learned to those who came in, interested in what we did.
Yes, I had a few items that weren't exactly period. No, I didn't hand-sew my garb together. No, I didn't shear my own sheep, beat my own flax, weave the fabric together, etc... and my shoes were made on a right and left last (that's a shoe shaper, for those interested), though they were better than they could have been - birks or fisherman shoes, instead of tennis shoes. They looked good with the garb, and were still comfy.
So... With all that said, I think I will avoid most events on the north side of the Oregon border. I just can't get behind people who could care less about those who would continue on with the SCA in the future, once the "old-timers" are gone. Instead of giving information, advice and recommendations like a positive mentor, they give the impression that no one new is welcome unless they have both money and resources to already know everything there is to know about the SCA. And that's just not how I operate.
~M
Sunday, September 09, 2007
MMMmmmm... Sleep dep...
So, here I sit at work. It's one of my vacation days. Apparently I don't get to have the 2 hours off for the #$%^%&#$*% "mandatory" meeting that my boss has decided is OH SO important... Important enough that she threatened my job if I didn't come, so I got up at 3am from mid-northern Washington where Fred and I had *FINALLY* managed to get to an event together, and drove down for the bloody thing.
Not only that but I have to re-fill the tank of the car in order to make it back up to pick up Fred, Geoff and the gear, and then make it home. I'm SO not impressed right now. In fact, I'm pretty damned pissed. After the day I'd had Thursday, I now have to deal with this.
Oh, and a double-fun thing happened on my way down: I-5 was closed just as it crosses the bridge from Washington into Oregon. The Washington side had everything blocked, but didn't have ANY detours clearly marked, and ended up sending me across to I-205, about 5 miles out of my way, only to head down, and back over I-85 to go BACK into downtown so I could make it to work. Gah! I was so tired and frustrated, I started sobbing.
All of this along with trying desperately not to fall asleep because I only had about 2 hours of sleep total from yesterday. To say that I'm underwhelmed would indicate somehow that I was, at one point, whelmed in the first place.
Marianne says I should talk with our union rep about filing a grievence since I had a vacation day put in for today - and for the mileage. I get the feeling that it's not going to do any good... While another rep DID get her full day off, I have the feeling she put hers in prior to having the dates scheduled...
Bloody, gods-forsaken blasted mandatory meetings. I got 5 acres of ass - they should be kissing LOTS at this point. Fuq'ers.
~M
Not only that but I have to re-fill the tank of the car in order to make it back up to pick up Fred, Geoff and the gear, and then make it home. I'm SO not impressed right now. In fact, I'm pretty damned pissed. After the day I'd had Thursday, I now have to deal with this.
Oh, and a double-fun thing happened on my way down: I-5 was closed just as it crosses the bridge from Washington into Oregon. The Washington side had everything blocked, but didn't have ANY detours clearly marked, and ended up sending me across to I-205, about 5 miles out of my way, only to head down, and back over I-85 to go BACK into downtown so I could make it to work. Gah! I was so tired and frustrated, I started sobbing.
All of this along with trying desperately not to fall asleep because I only had about 2 hours of sleep total from yesterday. To say that I'm underwhelmed would indicate somehow that I was, at one point, whelmed in the first place.
Marianne says I should talk with our union rep about filing a grievence since I had a vacation day put in for today - and for the mileage. I get the feeling that it's not going to do any good... While another rep DID get her full day off, I have the feeling she put hers in prior to having the dates scheduled...
Bloody, gods-forsaken blasted mandatory meetings. I got 5 acres of ass - they should be kissing LOTS at this point. Fuq'ers.
~M
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Life goes on...
Even if we don't want it to. I have not been dealing very well with Shady's passing. You might say I was simply avoiding it. The fact of the matter is, I simply didn't have the kind of time I needed to grieve in one fell swoop. Unlike when immediate family dies, you don't get time off when a beloved pet passes away. Sunday ended up being a work-day, so I had to go in.
I've been slowly getting used to the idea of her not being here, but it's difficult not to expect her to come trotting out of the bedroom looking for me when I come home, or feel her weight on my shoulder as I wake up in the morning. I find myself wondering where she is, only to have the truth immediately slapped into the front of my brain and I wonder what I was thinking in the first place. I cried most of the day Sunday at work, in between calls, and went through about 3/4 of a box of tissue. Then I didn't cry again until last night. I couldn't - I couldn't afford to be distracted from my job to where I had been on Sunday - my boss wouldn't understand and I didn't want to face a lecture on "responsibility" and the "just a cat" speech.
So, last night, I finally talked to Fred about it again, and started crying because I could - and because I at least had a few hours to give over to it. I slept horribly last night, again, and this morning headed over to the hill to our "hot site" - the on-site call center where we are to get a taste of how the hospital works...
Which is interesting because we're in the basement of an office building, not in the main hospital - not even on the main drag of the hospital. We're in a back room of another office, also NOT patient-related at all, that we end up having to enter and exit from the back office door so as not to bother the doctors and office members that come in for help from that office. In short, the hot site is the red-headed step-child of the hospital.
I got there at 6:45 this morning to make sure that I got there on time, and had time to set my computer up - because, you see, we don't have desktops - they're laptops, with wireless mice and keyboards. We have to lock them up at night, which involves unplugging everything, turning everything off, shutting everything down, and putting them into locking cubbies. I *knew* how to shut everything down and close everything up, since I'd been there for half a day, a few weeks earlier...
However, setting UP is another matter entirely. The "instructions" do not go through how to set up the computer for boot-up at all, and if you'd never used a laptop or a wireless mouse or keyboard (hey - I'm just not that tech-savvie - I don't have one at home!), you can easily get confused... Especially when you have 12 of the bloody things to choose from.
So, here I am, thinking that I'm going to be let in by someone. I know there's someone in the office, but they won't open the door. I call the main call center, to find out who else is going to be there, etc. No one. I get to talk with campus security to get them to open the door. Then I have to track down where they moved the computers to, since they re-arranged everything from last time I was there.
I finally find the computers, but fail to realize that I must get the keyboard and mouse that matches the number on the computer - because the "instructions" don't say that. I haven't quite had enough caffeine in me yet, so I am oblivious even to how to turn the damned thing on - I worked on ONE laptop ONE time prior to this, and its on/off switch was on the side... This one had the on/off switch up at the top of it's internal keyboard.
After several trial-and-error things, I call the call center again, and the lead walks me through - all the while lecturing me on how I should have TOLD someone that I hadn't been trained on any of this... My response was "I was expecting someone else to be here WITH me, for exactly that reason. It's not as though I made the schedules." The final parting shot from the lead was "Well, next time they ask you to do something that you're not trained for, you need to tell them." My thought was "Well, next time they decide to schedule me for something, they ought to ASK me whether I'm trained for it, as a just-in-case measure, since they have the scheduling history to look UP."
After I *finally* got the bloody computer to boot up, and the keyboard and mouse to work with it, I managed to get to page 1 of the "instruction" set, and followed it through. After that, it was business as usual. Linda came in around 8:30, and was amazed at the day I'd already had - and pissed that they had ended up doing this type of crap to me...
It was... interesting. At least Linda is cool to work with.
~M
I've been slowly getting used to the idea of her not being here, but it's difficult not to expect her to come trotting out of the bedroom looking for me when I come home, or feel her weight on my shoulder as I wake up in the morning. I find myself wondering where she is, only to have the truth immediately slapped into the front of my brain and I wonder what I was thinking in the first place. I cried most of the day Sunday at work, in between calls, and went through about 3/4 of a box of tissue. Then I didn't cry again until last night. I couldn't - I couldn't afford to be distracted from my job to where I had been on Sunday - my boss wouldn't understand and I didn't want to face a lecture on "responsibility" and the "just a cat" speech.
So, last night, I finally talked to Fred about it again, and started crying because I could - and because I at least had a few hours to give over to it. I slept horribly last night, again, and this morning headed over to the hill to our "hot site" - the on-site call center where we are to get a taste of how the hospital works...
Which is interesting because we're in the basement of an office building, not in the main hospital - not even on the main drag of the hospital. We're in a back room of another office, also NOT patient-related at all, that we end up having to enter and exit from the back office door so as not to bother the doctors and office members that come in for help from that office. In short, the hot site is the red-headed step-child of the hospital.
I got there at 6:45 this morning to make sure that I got there on time, and had time to set my computer up - because, you see, we don't have desktops - they're laptops, with wireless mice and keyboards. We have to lock them up at night, which involves unplugging everything, turning everything off, shutting everything down, and putting them into locking cubbies. I *knew* how to shut everything down and close everything up, since I'd been there for half a day, a few weeks earlier...
However, setting UP is another matter entirely. The "instructions" do not go through how to set up the computer for boot-up at all, and if you'd never used a laptop or a wireless mouse or keyboard (hey - I'm just not that tech-savvie - I don't have one at home!), you can easily get confused... Especially when you have 12 of the bloody things to choose from.
So, here I am, thinking that I'm going to be let in by someone. I know there's someone in the office, but they won't open the door. I call the main call center, to find out who else is going to be there, etc. No one. I get to talk with campus security to get them to open the door. Then I have to track down where they moved the computers to, since they re-arranged everything from last time I was there.
I finally find the computers, but fail to realize that I must get the keyboard and mouse that matches the number on the computer - because the "instructions" don't say that. I haven't quite had enough caffeine in me yet, so I am oblivious even to how to turn the damned thing on - I worked on ONE laptop ONE time prior to this, and its on/off switch was on the side... This one had the on/off switch up at the top of it's internal keyboard.
After several trial-and-error things, I call the call center again, and the lead walks me through - all the while lecturing me on how I should have TOLD someone that I hadn't been trained on any of this... My response was "I was expecting someone else to be here WITH me, for exactly that reason. It's not as though I made the schedules." The final parting shot from the lead was "Well, next time they ask you to do something that you're not trained for, you need to tell them." My thought was "Well, next time they decide to schedule me for something, they ought to ASK me whether I'm trained for it, as a just-in-case measure, since they have the scheduling history to look UP."
After I *finally* got the bloody computer to boot up, and the keyboard and mouse to work with it, I managed to get to page 1 of the "instruction" set, and followed it through. After that, it was business as usual. Linda came in around 8:30, and was amazed at the day I'd already had - and pissed that they had ended up doing this type of crap to me...
It was... interesting. At least Linda is cool to work with.
~M
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Goodbyes are never easy...
And they weren't any easier last night, either. At 11:22pm, my dear cat Shady passed away in the arms of my beloved husband, Fred. Unfortunately, I was still waiting for the bus to pick me up from work so I could make it home, so I wasn't able to touch her prior to her passing.
Death is never easy, and even less so when the one leaving has been with you a long time. I'd had Shady since I was 12 years old, and she was barely 4 months old. That means she was 21 when she passed away, a long and decidedly full life lived.
The only times we weren't together was my early college years, when I wasn't allowed to have pets in the dorm. She stayed with my mother then, but she still knew me as her mama, and cuddled with me (after she'd gotten over the sulks at being left behind) whenever I visited.
She dealt with my long-term and, ultimately, disasterous relationship with my ex, whom she did NOT like at all, and my short-term relationship with my (now) friend Vlad whom she DID like. She watched me drag myself out of bed at dawn and put myself into bed well after dusk while I was going to school and working, and she snuggled under the covers with me when it got cold and she wanted to be near me.
She moved with me into Fred's apartment, all the while threatening to ignore him and speedboy, only to move to grudging admiration and then finally to adoration of Fred and tolerance of Speedboy.
She went through being the low kitten on the totem pole to being a single cat household, ruling the roost. Throughout it all she was quirky and a little off at times, but endlessly loyal to me, her bestest bud and mama.
I miss her desperately. We buried her today in a nice spot behind the apartment complex. We can see it from our window, and can visit easily whenever we want. I've decided to get a marble or granite memorial stone for her, so that we have something to remember her by, besides just the loving memories of how much she touched our hearts.
I can only say that I did the best by her that I could, and that ultimately, that included letting her go when she needed to.
~M
Death is never easy, and even less so when the one leaving has been with you a long time. I'd had Shady since I was 12 years old, and she was barely 4 months old. That means she was 21 when she passed away, a long and decidedly full life lived.
The only times we weren't together was my early college years, when I wasn't allowed to have pets in the dorm. She stayed with my mother then, but she still knew me as her mama, and cuddled with me (after she'd gotten over the sulks at being left behind) whenever I visited.
She dealt with my long-term and, ultimately, disasterous relationship with my ex, whom she did NOT like at all, and my short-term relationship with my (now) friend Vlad whom she DID like. She watched me drag myself out of bed at dawn and put myself into bed well after dusk while I was going to school and working, and she snuggled under the covers with me when it got cold and she wanted to be near me.
She moved with me into Fred's apartment, all the while threatening to ignore him and speedboy, only to move to grudging admiration and then finally to adoration of Fred and tolerance of Speedboy.
She went through being the low kitten on the totem pole to being a single cat household, ruling the roost. Throughout it all she was quirky and a little off at times, but endlessly loyal to me, her bestest bud and mama.
I miss her desperately. We buried her today in a nice spot behind the apartment complex. We can see it from our window, and can visit easily whenever we want. I've decided to get a marble or granite memorial stone for her, so that we have something to remember her by, besides just the loving memories of how much she touched our hearts.
I can only say that I did the best by her that I could, and that ultimately, that included letting her go when she needed to.
~M
Saturday, September 01, 2007
A poem for a beloved one...
The Last Battle
If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
-- Unknown
If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
-- Unknown
For Sale! Tudor / Elizabethan Dress & Underpinnings
This dress was made by me for my first wedding, and has been worn 3 times. It is in relatively perfect condition, with only a few pearls needing to be re-sewn on. I currently do not have pics of it, but will be willing to pop some up once I have scanned in some from the wedding.
It fit me perfectly until the last time, when I found I was getting a little large for it. It should fit a person who is between 5'4" (heels) and 5'7" (flats) tall, and a rib-cage of about 38"-40" around.
The underpinnings are all based on the Tudor design, and the hoop skirt is not belled out as far as later Elizabethan styles. The hoop skirt has metal hooping purchased from Hedgehog Handworks, dipped in plastic coating to keep from rusting.
The corset is 15 oz cotton duck, with 1/2" metal stays purchased from Hedgehog Handworks, dipped in plastic coating to cover rough edges and keep from rusting.
The corset is made in typical Tudor style, that is to say that it turns the upper portion of the body into a tube, NOT an hourglass.
Underpinnings include the following:
corset with tabs, fitting a 40" ribcage and waist
hoop skirt with drawstring waist
bum roll with long ties
The underskirt is made of cotton for the back, and cream-on-cream patterned brocade in front. The pattern is a large diamond patch pattern, with 3 different designs alternating between a fleur-di-lis, small checkers, and one small diamond in the middle. Each of the intersections has a large, freshwater pearl hand-sewn at it. Each one of the small diamonds has a small, freshwater pearl hand-sewn on it. The waistband has two hook-and-eye closures at the back, which can be re-positioned as needed.
The overskirt is upholstery-grade black cotton velvet. The cartridge-pleats are hand-sewn in, and a 1" wide braid follows the front of the skirt from the waistband down the split, and around the skirt, about 10" from the bottom. Amethests are hand-sewn on the vertical braid. The closure is two heavy-duty hook and eyes, which can be moved as necessary.
The bodice has attached black cotton velvet sleeves in a large bell cut, split from shoulder to wrist and gathered there into a cuff. They are edged with 1" cream braid, trimmed with amethests. The shoulders are topped with a crescent puff of fabric, sewn with gold braid on a diagonal. The body of the bodice has an inset of cream-on-cream brocade at the front, edged on either side with 1" cream braid, trimmed with amethests. The rest of the body of the bodice is black cotton velvet. The closure of the bodice is hook and eye tape at the back, with a privacy panel fold, and can be adjusted as necessary.
I am asking $200 for this, OBO. I will include a small bag of freshwater pearls in varying sizes, as well as a beading needle and thread for repair.
~M
It fit me perfectly until the last time, when I found I was getting a little large for it. It should fit a person who is between 5'4" (heels) and 5'7" (flats) tall, and a rib-cage of about 38"-40" around.
The underpinnings are all based on the Tudor design, and the hoop skirt is not belled out as far as later Elizabethan styles. The hoop skirt has metal hooping purchased from Hedgehog Handworks, dipped in plastic coating to keep from rusting.
The corset is 15 oz cotton duck, with 1/2" metal stays purchased from Hedgehog Handworks, dipped in plastic coating to cover rough edges and keep from rusting.
The corset is made in typical Tudor style, that is to say that it turns the upper portion of the body into a tube, NOT an hourglass.
Underpinnings include the following:
corset with tabs, fitting a 40" ribcage and waist
hoop skirt with drawstring waist
bum roll with long ties
The underskirt is made of cotton for the back, and cream-on-cream patterned brocade in front. The pattern is a large diamond patch pattern, with 3 different designs alternating between a fleur-di-lis, small checkers, and one small diamond in the middle. Each of the intersections has a large, freshwater pearl hand-sewn at it. Each one of the small diamonds has a small, freshwater pearl hand-sewn on it. The waistband has two hook-and-eye closures at the back, which can be re-positioned as needed.
The overskirt is upholstery-grade black cotton velvet. The cartridge-pleats are hand-sewn in, and a 1" wide braid follows the front of the skirt from the waistband down the split, and around the skirt, about 10" from the bottom. Amethests are hand-sewn on the vertical braid. The closure is two heavy-duty hook and eyes, which can be moved as necessary.
The bodice has attached black cotton velvet sleeves in a large bell cut, split from shoulder to wrist and gathered there into a cuff. They are edged with 1" cream braid, trimmed with amethests. The shoulders are topped with a crescent puff of fabric, sewn with gold braid on a diagonal. The body of the bodice has an inset of cream-on-cream brocade at the front, edged on either side with 1" cream braid, trimmed with amethests. The rest of the body of the bodice is black cotton velvet. The closure of the bodice is hook and eye tape at the back, with a privacy panel fold, and can be adjusted as necessary.
I am asking $200 for this, OBO. I will include a small bag of freshwater pearls in varying sizes, as well as a beading needle and thread for repair.
~M
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