TMT 2008
- widowed for the weekend thanks to OASIS con in Orlando
- picked up a food poisoning at a burger place in Palatka on the way to the event (cannot recommend either)
- loved the new little chandelier for the tent
- enjoyed the company in the shire encampment despite feeling crummy
- I am blessed with the most charming and well-behaved boy ever
- I missed pretty much all of the cool stuff
- I missed all of the crappy stuff
- I -did-, however, see a Black Racer (that's a snake for those Non-Floridians reading this) in our encampment
- The Sandhill Crane kept watch all weekend
- It wasn't all that hot, really
- Congratulations to our newest Knight Sir Killian
- More Congratulations to our newest baby bird, Mistress Melessee
- And some more Congratulations to our littlest soon-to-be-bird Theadora who picked next week's Art-Sci Faire for her elevation
- I love this hobby :o)
...
Rolling...rolling....rolling
This past week I've been on a roll. I've been making stuff and most of the time I can be found cackling gleefully over yet another little addition to camp or wardrobe. Sunday our local tournament/revel is coming up and I can't wait because it'll be the first chance for the outing of all the cool things we've made recently!
Last night was particularly fun! The girls came over to set up our brand spanking new gallery/dining-fly and it worked like a charm. After that we finally tackled our wood and ended the evening with two finished benches and a half-finished table. This morning while cleaning up the saw dust covered porch I discovered a few cut outs that could be used for ...hmmm ... and ere you could say "Behold!" a new project was born and finished 30 minutes later. This is going to be a surprised for Sunday .... that is if I can keep my mouth shut and not blabber about it because it's soo neat!
Not having to go to work tomorrow will help. I don't think I could not blurt it out sitting next to Milica for 3h straight. I'd need duct tape for my mouth, I swear :) Tomorrow is Finndragon's pre-school graduation. This past year has zapped by so fast and in 3 more months my baby will move on to Kindergarten!
Sheeesh ....
Painful memories
When I was about 5 or 6 years old one of my ittibitty molars had to be removed by the dentist to not impact a new molar breaking through. I was - naturally - terrified of the thought of the dentist jerking out my tooth with a pair of pliers and during the first visit absolutely refused to open my mouth. We had to return the next day for another try and rather than quickly drugging up this resolved kindergarten kid this neolithic dentist forced me into the chair and held me down,all the while yelling at me.
Fast forward 30 years.
Every time I sit down in a dentist's chair I turn into a terrified 5 year old in fight or flight mode *sigh* A high pain tolerance isn't really helping either so by the time I know I cannot avoid going to the dentist any longer (I so wish we were like sharks in that regard) I'm in for bigger trouble than necessary.
Intellectually, I know all of that. I just cannot closet that 5 year old. Thanks to a very very nice and understanding dentist who radiated calmness I actually enjoyed yesterday's root canal. No, I'm not kidding. Hubby was delighted and very relieved to see me in such a great mood after leaving the office. I did take a Zanax beforehand and I received gas but frankly, I do not think I felt either, really. I was fully aware of everything that was going on and occasionally noticed that I should relax my shoulders or my back into the chair. None of that promised dizziness and drunkeness. You'd think that a body that doesn't get anything but a double dose of Ibuprofen during a migraine attack would react happily to so many drugs at once but noooo, not my body. Meh.
Anyhow, it went well, my head is still attached and while it's a little tender all I've needed for now was a single Ibuprofen rather than the K.O. hammer Vicodine he prescribed - just in case.
"Dieses war der erste Streich, und der zweite folgt sogleich!"
Project fun!
Yesterday the girls and I went wood shopping at one of the large home improvement stores and due to several customer service blunders we spent way more time there than we'd intended to. Armed with plenty of wood for a variety of medieval furniture projects we finally managed to flee the store and get home with barely enough time to fix dinner. We were starving!
Dinner was delightful with grilled pork chops, stuffed baked mushrooms, three different salads from leafy goodness to German potato salad comfort, roasted garlic, delicious bread and tsasiki (sourcream with garlic and minced cucumber) for dipping. We ate until we're bursting at the seams:o)
Of course we still have our projects to do which we were hoping to use at Sunday's Bragging Rights Tournament in the Park. Since hubby knows that my favorite thing to do is spending quality time with him and Finndragon we first picked up his motorcycle, then headed for a picnic in the park flying kites to return home for some project time. While hubby was playing with his bike I happily futzed around with jigsaw and drill and now all wood is cut up into the various base pieces for benches and tables and our brandnew sunshade. That way we save time when getting together to do the fine tuning later this week and actually have a chance at finishing at least some of our to-do-list.
I'm just taking a break from sewing the canvas for the sunshade and I can't wait to see when it's done! $40 in material and so far 1h spent - a simple quick project whch is going to have a major impact on the look of our Squirrel encampment. Ever since we were awarded the Crown's Acclaim for Heraldic Display we have felt like we have to improve our kit by leaps and bounds to be worthy of this honor. And one of the first things that have to go is our modern (albeit covered up) sunshade. It's probably going to have one last appearance on Sunday to provide shade for visitors but then it's going to retire for good :o)It's a nice versatile design which will even allow us to add modules to expand! I promise to show off pictures next week.
Tomorrow I'm off to the dentist *grimace* Wish me luck!
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If you're happy and a Laurel clap your hands
if you're happy and a Laurel clap your hands
if you're happy and a Laurel and you really want to show it
if you're happy and a Laurel clap your hands!
If you're happy and a Pelican, volunteer
if you're happy and a Pelican, volunteer
if you're happy and a Laurel and you really want to show it
if you're happy and a Pelican, volunteer
If you're happy and a Knight, then swing a stick
if you're happy and a Knight, then swing a stick
if you're happy and a Knight and you really want to show it
if you're happy and a Knight, then swing a stick
Thoughts and musings of an idle mind
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on." William Shakespeare
Once or twice a week I sit down to browse a collection of blogs and online journals to see what other members in the SCA are up to, here and abroad, costumers, calligraphers, woodworkers, researchers and philosophers. Every other time somebody will contemplate an issue, a problem, an experience made at an SCA function that gives insight into inter-Kingdom anthropologies and cultural differences of this game we play. Sometimes these issues sound ridiculously strange, sometimes they hit very very close to home. And while it is generally comforting that there are some aspects that happen everywhere giving our worldwide hobby a constant, a common base line, it is very disturbing when a complaint reveals itself as a society-wide occurrence.
"Is the interest in the SCA waning?" is the latest poll I stumbled upon and the answers are alarmingly homogeneous, from East to West and in between. The weak economy coupled with rising gas prices is given as one of the main reasons for this trend but I found the collection of "Other" influences much more interesting and thought-provoking
- politics
- burn out
- clique-ish behavior
- old boys club
and so on, and so on. And you know what? I'm not buying it. Now before you start ranting at me for that keep in mind these are -my- musings, and none other but -mine-. I'm not saying I'm right (although I think I am *G*) and I'm not going to hit you if you don't believe me. Continue to read at your own free will and speed. Take it or leave it, use it as food for your own thoughts or simply shrug it off for all I care, but I felt I had to try and write down my thoughts on the matter.
"Politics". The establishing of a social pecking order, the favoring of those that make us look good or help us stay in favor, the moves and decisions you make to remain with the in-crowd, to simply belong, vying for the attention of the cool people - they happen whenever a group of people get together, whether it's a weight support group, a rabbit breeder association, a gardening club, the SCA. Sometimes these social shenanigans can get out of hand, sometimes you find yourself in the midst of it and sometimes they do leave a bad taste in your mouth. Can politics lead to burn out? To a waning in interest in the SCA (or any other club)?
They sure can and certainly do BUT only when there is nothing to fall back on.
If there is nothing than an air mattress smelling of obnoxious plastic waiting for you in a stifling hot tent or a moldy cabin, nothing waiting for you but a creaking squad chair and conversations about rising gas prices, the last car repair, the laundry at home when you flee from yet another uninspiring meeting that leaves you grumbling over yet more rules to follow and another form to fill out, then yes, politics will make you leave.
It's not the politics and squabbling between members that are the cause. It's the lack of anything but that that makes leaving, and not staying, an easy option.
In the past I've had rough stretches of time in the SCA. I've had my fair share of unpleasant moments and experiences and I've been teetering on the edge of leaving for good. No matter how disenchanted I was at any of those times, however, I always had my magic moments as I call them to fall back on, to remind me of the wonders of the SCA. I know there is that beautiful dream alive out there filled with banners fluttering lightly in the first breeze of the morning. I have seen the mist rising over medieval tents sparkling with morning dew. I've gone into the forest to collect firewood when all was still silent only to tease the sleepy heads from their comfortable cots with the first smell of pancakes and (not so medieval) coffee prepared over the camp fire. Goosebumps ran down my arms listening to tales of battles and chivalrous deeds and my memory is still ringing with the laughter over racy filk and sweet tunes sang to the crackling of a glorious fire.
I don't like that "The dream" talk, but I do encourage everyone to dream. No, not the dream that makes you obediently attend meetings and file your report. That is not the dream part of our game, that's just the organizational effort necessary so we have room to dream. Sadly, this part is taking over our game, bit by bit, step by step, one uncovered cooler, plastic chair, mundane dress, paperplate at a time.
Celebrate the romance of the Middle Ages!
Create! Teach! Learn!
Sing and dance!
Return to the roots of the dream and dream once more of noble lords and ladies, of banners, pennons and gonfalons, of clashing swords, flashing blades and whirring arrows, of breaking lances and many colorful artisans, of the glory of your kingdom and the grace of your King and Queen.
Make more than just an attempt. Give it your all and everything to give this dream substance and sustenance.
How, you may ask?
Do not allow our modern lives to creep into our medieval dream world. Within your means support the dream, from your wardrobe to your composure, from the cover over your cooler to the hat on your head. Each little step toward the magic realm of the dream counts. The fewer modern things are around to distract us from where we want to be, the more you are contributing to the dream and the more you are helping weave the magic that makes the SCA this great hobby.
"I don't have the money/knowledge/time/skil ls/etc !"
Nothing happens over night. Take your time and progress in small steps. Nobody expects you to appear with a fully accurate encampment, wardrobe and other accoutrements within a week. That is the beauty of the SCA. Start simple and improve your kit over time, one babystep after babystep. The more you learn, the more you can contribute. Even "peri-oid" is better than modern!
Everybody loves to quote how the SCA started as a medieval party that hasn't ended yet but frankly, I believe we have forgotten how to celebrate the Middle Ages.
It's about time we remember.
