I've been asked to help blog-sit over at Very Big Blog but I can only get into the mud room (you have to be from up north to know what a mud room is), the rest of the place is locked. I've looked under the door mat and everything. I don't want to break a window to get in, but I am worried about the pets and the plants. And here I was worried about my PC making a mess when I got in there!
In this round of the playoffs, the Lightning have lost every game I've watched. Admitting this may get me banned from Casa LunchBox.
How did it get to be May 1 already?!? Do you realize how close May 24 is? (For my non-SCA friends, this is the day I become a member of the Order of the Laurel.) This means I still have a lot of sewing to do, among other things!
I visited a weird web site today. I mean really weird. It's a place I figured existed, but when I found it, I was surprised and yet not surprised at the contents.
I've been tinkering around with the html code of the corporate web site; need to change some rollover graphics and it's a little mind-bending. In Dreamweaver it's easier to do what I'm working on in the code, rather than the visual display mode. I am liking the challenge though. I've been doing the "web maintenance" thing for a month now. Finished my second Dreamweaver class and I'm ready to start playing around, designing pages, etc.
"Would some power the giftie gie us
To see ourselves as others see us"-Robert Burns
The other day, I found two 3-cent stamps in the bathtub.
Sending spam about stopping spam?!? What's up with that?
Hello, Police? I'd like to report a robbery that took place Friday night. The Tampa Bay Lightning were robbed of a victory when the Andreychuk Modin goal was dissallowed by the stickin' officials up in the skybox. (Is that you?) Modin was obviously (and violently) pushed, and his skate unintentionally pushed the puck into the net. If it were intentional, yeah, it wouldn't count. We were robbed! Friday we also missed getting together with Jen and Mr. Man of Very Big Blog fame. There will be another chance, I'm sure.
Let's see...had lunch Saturday and then visited the Great Big Fabric Store with Sid. The rest of the weekend was given over to sewing. I absolutely love sewing, except when things don't come out perfectly. Apparently, I have this perfectionist streak. Fortunately I don't expect anyone else to be perfect except for me. The fabric I am working with is beautiful though, it's hard to stay angry at anything made of it. I had 4 1/2 yards in my fabric stash, sitting there, aging. I started mulling over the possiblity of using it for the dress for my Big Day shortly after the announcement; I took it as a good omen when the fabric store had another bolt of it after a months-long absence so I could get more. It's not a color I normally wear, but wow, it is yummy. I suppose a minor sewing setback is inevitable in any project, but the costuming endevour prior to this one had no hitches...oh well, it is fixable, one way or another.
I field-tested the sound system on Godfrey's new car Sunday, I drove it to the grocery store, bringing along my favorite Beastie Boys cd. It was fun to watch the rear view mirror vibrate. I tend to blow out car speakers, so I should probably take it easy with the G-Man's vehicle. (No residential neighborhoods were disturbed in the field testing of said car stereo.) Got a haircut yesterday too. Got 'em all cut, except for my bangs. Having long straight hair makes it easy, I just had Godfrey even out the back length for me. I know if I were to ever have one of those magazine make-overs, the first thing some fruity stylist would want to do is cut my hair. No way, pal! It took me years to get it this long.
Skins are on the way. I love the concept of skins, I enjoy accessorizing, so why shouldn't my journal do the same? Leopard print will be just one of the options. Good practice for work, too. Speaking of which, the office is changing health insurance providers, and things are picking up a little too.
I will be doing lots more sewing in the next couple of weeks, so I probably won't be able to post as much as I would like, I will try to keep in touch with my bloggy friends, however. Blogging has become a tad odd recently, but nothing to dissuade me from continuing to blather on and on in cyberspace. "Push away from the table and say, 'No more lime Jell-O for ME, Mom!" as my good friend Mary used to say in high school. Which reminds me, I ought to drop her a line.
You may remember early this year I got spam from my departed father. Well, recently, I got spam with the subject line "I got a little drunk at this party" from Veronica Franco.
Veronica Franco was a 16th century courtesan and poet of Venice; the movie "Dangerous Beauty" was a fictionalized account of her life. Was it a coincidence or a spammer of smut with a little knowledge of Renaissance history? At any rate, if the real Veronica Franco were alive today she'd be too classy to send spam about her vocation, I'm sure.
An interesting discussion on blogs. "What if?" From Da Goddess. Fixed, courtesy of Da Goddess herself! (If that first link doesn't work, visit her main page and check out the May 4 entry. I'm trying to stalk her properly, honest!)
The other day, I was helping one of the sales managers place a graphic in a Power Point presentation, 'cause that's just one of the services I provide here. He was waiting for my compatriot, the tech writer, to e-mail said graphic.
"I'll just walk over there and shag her," he said.
"Excuse me??? You mean, 'snag her,' right?"
"No, shag. It's a baseball term. You know, 'Go out to center field and I'll shag you a few balls.' "
"Have you ever seen any of the Austin Powers movies?"
(Obviously he hadn't.) I then explained, in the most delicate of terms, what 'shag' means in the current pop culture vernacular.
I think I may have saved him from a potential lawsuit down the road. And I get extra credit for not laughing at the phrase, "shagging a few balls."
So, former porn addict David Caton is trying to ban the nudie bars of Tampa. His group is seeking to "Improve your family's moral environment."
Here's an idea on improving your family's moral environment - don't take the kids to titty bars. Just saying. It's a lot cheaper than yet another difficult-to-enforce law.
Oh, another pet project of Caton, according to hatecrimes.org, is photographing and outing homosexuals by posting their photos in the post office. It's all about loving the sinner and hating the sin, isn't it?
At the local Chick-fil-A this very afternoon, I politely requested that my traditional chicken sandwich be prepared with lettuce and tomato, no pickles. The sandwich came thoughtfully packaged in a foil envelope, embellished with two bright orange labels - "Deluxe" and "No Pickles". Yet, deceitfully concealed beneath the soft green lettuce, there awaited three horrific pickles, lurking, thinking to entrap me with their foulness. Fortunately I spotted them before there was a danger of me inadvertently consuming them.
By Grabthar's Hammer, I will be avenged!
The world's precious supply of the beloved snack chip Pringles is threatened as a tornado recently damaged a Pringles factory in Tennessee. The earth's Torengo supply is also at risk. Read the gristly details of the snack tragedy here. I suggest a moment of silence for the beloved reconstituted potato product.
I just called the offices of a trade publication in Quebec, and the receptionist answered the phone in French. Tres cosmopolitan.
"French fries,
French bread,
French dressing,
and to drink, Peru!"
Yesterday the Singing Custodian entered Sector 7G Marketing belting out his rendition of the Beatles' "Michelle". He's an older fellow, so I was surprised he liked the Fab Four and said so.
"Well, at first I didn't like them, with their long hair and all. But they did some very good songs."
It's funny how pop music has changed. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, look how far it's degraded. You don't even have to be able to sing today, as long as you're hot, they can fix your vocals in the studio.
Also notice how our perspective of what constitutes long has has changed.
According to signage on a nearby enclosed retail compound, 'Pants Towne' is having a 'blow-out sale'!
hehheh...there's a blow-out in your pants. [/beavisandbutthead]
ADDENDUM: Is Pants Towne anything like Funkytown?
Now I know just how Brian from The Breakfast Club felt when he couldn't get his elephant lamp to work! I hate writing spam e-mail blasts!
UPDATE: Okay, numbnuts, I can't verify if the links in the spam e-mail blast work if the office Internet connection is down!
Two of my GLOM (Gorgeous Ladies of Marketing) friends are big into rubber stamping. Sid likens this hobby craze to the latch hook rug-making fad that gripped the nation in the 1970s. I'd have to agree, except that rubber stamping is much more cool. Anyway, the Ladies Who Stamp were only too happy to help me make some invitations to a par-tay that I'm being treated to this Saturday. We decided on gold with embossing; you can't see, but the designs are dimensional. Very vogue.
Fortunately I didn't have to make invitations for 1000! Just for some of the extra-special people who will be in attendance. Oh, and there's a small bunch of grapes stamped on the back, for extra panache.
I see each and every one of you. I see where you surf from, your IP address, where/how you found my blog - I assure you, there is no anonymity here. Veddy interesting.
Two rather intriguing searches that brought folks my way recently were "new style of panties" and "shaving jeff". What is with you people?
"Oh my God, Bear is driving! How can this be?"
Seriously, I kid because I love. These folks are part of the Seattle Early Dance company . Lots of way cool costumes - and a little pumpkin cake.
Recent visitors to this journal have been looking for:
bee fabric
klav kalash
emmett kelly pop art
kissed cheek lipstick blog
Kathy over at Mindless Chatter wrote a post recently that reminded me of a running discussion my compadres and I have had about vegetarianism. Why do they make so many meat substitutes for vegans? If you like the taste so much, why not have the real thing every now and then? Do PETA people think that eating faux sausages and burgers is cheating?
And just how do they get that meatish flavor into soy products? The grocery store was having free sample day last time I went shopping. I was brave enough to try faux Italian saugage. It tasted (almost) like the real thing. How'd they do that?
And another thing - why do soy-based artifical meat products cost more than real meat? It's a plant! Vegans are always touting the environmental benefits of their diet plan; so if it's so much easier on Mother Earth, why ain't it cheaper?
Standing up against the forces of darkness, I just managed to update an ASP form on the corporate website. A minor triumph for a neophyte "maintainer of web pages".
Okay, to all my non-SCA friends: this entry may seem a little weird, with mentions of Kings and Kingdoms. Just bear with me. This is a description of my elevation to the Order of the Laurel, the SCA's highest award for artisans.
Friday I took a day off from work, mainly to prepare a luncheon for Saturday. See, there's a long-standing tradition that the new knights of Trimaris bring pizza and beverages to the first Knights' meeting they attend. The Laurels decided (I think it was suggested by Sir Geoffrey Maynard of York, a Knight and a Laurel) that the newest Laurels should start bringing food to their first meeting. And they decided to start this tradition with me. Since we're an artsy group, pizza wouldn't hack it. So I took some time to make an Italian Renaissance-inspired light lunch. (More about that later.) After some last-minute running around, including the thought that I didn't pack my apprentice belt (I did), Godfrey and I caravanned with Lisa and Lunchbox (who I will refer to by his real name, Sev, for the duration of this entry) to the hotel.
Saturday morning, the guys left early to go to the event to take care of some other stuff. Sid arrived so we could all help each other get dressed. She also did my hair. Dressed and ready, the three "Charmed Ones" left for the site.
Okay, there was some minor last-minute chaos once we got there, but I was trying not to panic. I may have panicked a little, but I didn't yell or cry, always a good thing. Despite a couple of minor glitches, the ceremony was perfect. Perfect because people that I care about agreed to be a part of it. Perfect because they all said nice, sweet, touching things. Countess Maisie, as a member of the Order of the Pelican, vouched for my service to the kingdom. Countess Teresa (she's also a Laurel) spoke as a member of the Order of the Rose. Mistress Elfwyn was the Laurel who spoke for me. And, of course, Sev was the knight who spoke for me. I was Lisa's apprentice, so she wanted and needed to affirm that I was ready for this. And Sid got to be my chorus, explaining the symbolism of the cloak, the medallion, and the laurel wreath. The herald read the first part of the award scroll Godfrey made for me in Italian - that was very unexpected and very cool! (The whole thing was in Italian, so for the benefit of everyone he switched to English.) And then it was done! And then there was lots of hugging!
One thing that Maisie and Teresa in particular mentioned was how shy I used to be when we first met. I didn't think I was; I thought I just didn't have anything to say. But even Mum mentioned that I do seem more confident and outgoing than I was a few years ago. Could it be that the SCA had something to do with some positive personal growth? At any rate, I don't feel any different now that I'm a member of the Order. As Sid said to me, "Nothing has changed, and everything has changed." I do feel that there is now an extra level of responsibility that I need to live up to regarding my involvement in the SCA. (I'm sure I'll ruminate about that more in the days to come, so be warned.) I did startle myself later that morning, when I looked up into the mirror from washing my hands and caught sight of the laurel wreath medallion. For a split second I had forgotten that I was now entitled to wear it.
Lisa, Sid, and Godfrey helped me set up the luncheon at the start of the Laurels' meeting. I made a ham, and served various antipasti-cheese, carrots, cucumbers, olives, marinated asparagus (which won me a marriage proposal from a certain Duchess), bread and butter, and almond cookies. I got lots of compliments. So, what goes on in a Laurels' meeting? I could tell you, but then I'd have to shoot you. (Sorry.) In honor of my elevation, Godfrey and I were invited to sit at high table for feast that night. It's like a wedding, where the bride and groom sit with their wedding party, only our bride and groom is the king and queen. The feast was quite nice, all based on Italian Renaissance recipes. And then it was time to go to the dessert reception my friends orchestrated on my behalf.
A couple of days later and I still can’t adequately express how awed, how humbled, how touched I am that I have so many friends who care enough about me that they would go to so much trouble on my behalf. The little hall was completely decorated with heraldic banners, including two new ones that Lisa made for me. After telling me that she couldn’t get a punch fountain, Sid went and secretly arranged to borrow a gargoyle fountain from House Asgard. A couple of household members were a little dismayed to see that Adolf (the gargoyle) had been festooned with garlands and grapes. Apparently he usually presides over less fancy events. There were three tables loaded with cookies and treats – key lime pie tartlets, cookies of all kinds, and my favorite candies – flavored Tootsie Rolls and Lindt white chocolate truffles. Sid made little lavender potpourri sachets for the guests, which a little girl decided to pass out (very cute). Sev wrote a poem for me – in French – (with an English translation, or else I'd still be entering it in Babelfish!) along with a handmade leather blank book for people to sign. The illuminated scroll Godfrey made was displayed and much admired. Dancing, a usual happening at SCA events, was scheduled in the same room, and it was a lot of fun to watch everyone, though I was a little tired to participate, unfortunately. Lots of people came by to congratulate me and to hang out. The band (Sev, Godfrey, Sid and Brian, collectively known as The Calais Consort) performed some songs for me, two new ones they learned for the occasion and a couple of other tunes. We all turned in sometime after midnight.
I understand that Simon, Victor (who hand-cast a pin in the shape of a bee for me) and Seamus were helpful in setting up the room, and Sid got up early Sunday and finished putting everything away.
I hope that everyone gets a similar experience at least once in his or her life, that of your friends coming together and sharing how much you mean to them. It feels great, but, more importantly, it shows you just how lucky you are.
Yesterday was Mum's birthday. Friends have been leaving cards and calling and visiting. Get this: my brother visited her for several hours Sunday! He brought homemade cupcakes and performed a few songs for her on his new guitar. I sent flowers, she likes that sort of thing (so do I, must run in the family). She says that she feels very lucky to have so many people that care about her. I know the feeling.
If I'm lucky, there will be some leftover salad from the Olive Garden lunch that was brought in for Sales and whoever they are trying to impress.
A Laurel and her former apprentice
Block? What are you talking about?
Ginevra and Brian plan to model in the next JCPenney catalog
Godfrey is really happy that the scroll is done!
It's official!
Recent searches which have brought people to this journal include:
Unhappy Clown Picture
Dr. Pepper 23 fruit flavors
"I love this woman" commercial (for the record, I hate it)
And a variety of searches involving The Today Show (seems there are several people distressed by Matt Lauer's hair issue)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - the referrer logs are a goldmine of information. You think I'm kidding when I say there's no anonymity here? I assure you, there isn't.
Here's one I almost missed: Rama margarine advertising.
(Lesson learned: being single-minded can pay off.)
We took the scroll to be framed Tuesday; I hope they don't spill coffee or something on it. That would suck. UPDATED: each page in the above image is now nice and clickable, for your up-close viewing pleasure!
And the gold leaf is all very pretty in person, the scanner just does goofy things to it.
You can justify anything if you set your mind to it!
Last night I dreamt that the stays in my corset were starting to come out. I don't know why my subconscious would care to remind me that it is time to make a new one. The old corset had to be taken in quite a bit, and it's showing its age.
A trend among some costumers these days is to create an on-line diary that documents the trials and tribulations encountered while making a new outfit. Jennifer Thompson's latest dress diary is a good example. Jennifer has a great costuming website called "Festive Attyre". I originally met her on-line a few years ago, we were both planning Renaissance weddings at the time and met on a discussion board. It's nice to "meet" cool people who share your interest in weird hobbies like this. I'm flirting with the idea of a dress diary for my next project, because I think having to post updates would help keep me on-task. At the same time, it's not like daily or even weekly updates would be needed. We'll see. I have a couple of costuming projects in mind. I'd also like to do some major cleaning and getting rid of stuff I don't need anymore. Which means I'll be listing more stuff on eBay, hopefully as soon as this weekend.
But pruning my hibiscus takes priority over anything else.
Oh, and don't worry, I'll be sticking to Italian, with a foray into Spanish or English every now and then. If only the Italians had cool hats!
Talking about meeting people on the Internet-I have to say that as a result of this journal I have made a few on-line friends, people who I may never meet but that I visit with via our blogs. It's amazing how much people are willing to share. It's a calculated risk: someone who hates you can be reading your ups and downs, rejoicing in each heartache. Some unknown troll can come along and leave some awful comment just because he can.
I just read that Margie over at Buzz-a-Roni had a real tragedy in her life. And as painful as it must have been for her to write about it, thank goodness for her that she has also received an outpouring of sympathy and support. And that's one of the good things about blogging. Not the statistics, collecting links, collecting comments, whatever. It's that we can touch, with our words, and be touched.
