I'm seriously toying with the idea of celebrating the 'new' job by going and actually buying myself an outfit for the work Christmas party instead of making do with what I have....complete with matching shoes of course. hmmm...style ideas?

sometimes I'm such a girl.

So, I think I'm ready for this weekend... I'll likely have two newbies on Saturday at the tavern, so I'm hoping it is a rousing good time. One friend I was hoping to see won't be there, so that's disappointing...but other good friends will be...so it should be fun. Am planning on fighting Sunday, but must dig out my old sword  and make sure it's good to go. My 'new' one didn't like cutting practise in the cold last night and the tang broke. Thankfully I do have another blade, just need to get the bits of the tang removed from the pommel. And the blade altered so it will fit in the hilt.

Right now the next 'important' thing is to figure out a hair style that I can do for Saturday...I really like this one:
http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/aria/aria_assets/SK-A-3989?lang=en


Otherwise I'll just put it 'up'. Maybe with a veil for fun...but probably not.

Since the company I am currently working for will be moving to Chilliwack next summer, the company (SP) that shares the space will be needing their own office manager. I was asked to apply for the job, and did so. Starting in the new year, I will continue to work half days in my current position, but will also work a half day at the other company, learning to do all the fun stuff that's entailed there. When the move occurs, I'll stay with SP at the Surrey location. Yay for a 10 minute commute! And for no time lost with benefits/medical coverage.

I'm thrilled that they want me to work for them. I even applied after they'd interviewed someone they liked enough to offer the job to...yet I got it!

sigh...hello less time...hello paycheque...

Finally got around to trying on my 'fancy' dress and am delighted that it does still fit. A few tweakings that I'd like to do to it...but it was my first official SCA dress, and is pretty...even if the inside isn't. But, it does mean that I'm set for Bard & Banquet! Except for a hair-do that I can do. That will be the interesting part. (R...I need you!)

oh...btw...I also found a lovely large black silk scarf in my stash (maybe 5' by 3'?)...would anyone like it? (yes, I'm trying to keep non-essentials down).

Have my garb in order for Investiture too...a doublet that actually fits! Ditto for a skirt & bodice. Only thing that isn't 'right' is the sleeves for the bodice...I just don't like them. Perhaps if I do some tweaking er...ironing ...a proper lady would really have sleeves on her dress. We'll see if I have time.

crap. I've a sneaking suspicion I need to go back to wearing the mouthguard at night.

Thrift shop find...3 curtains 52" x 86" gorgeous red silk (2 one dye lot..1 different). $4 each.
Am thinking one will become a red dress. :D and the other two will get dyed (assuming silk dyes nicely?) to become my fancy brown dress. Assuming, of course, that I can get it to become a nice shade of brown. Advice please?

I'm so hoping this coming week doesn't have the surprises of the past one. Too many not fun things to process right after another isn't my idea of fun. But, that which doesn't kill you, merely makes you stronger...so I'll think positively about it as a learning experience.
At least there were good things...time with various friends (including some I rarely get to see!), fun compliments (I'm still smiling over the "a*s-tastic"), getting garb modified a week before the event I need it for, getting rumballs made and rolled (over 360! with and without rum). I even managed to do a fair bit of tidying (next to tidy & sort papers).
And even though the week did include the sadness of wishing I'd had more time with Lasairiona, I can't help but be grateful for the time I did have. People who do "lead by example, word & deed" (her SCA motto) leave such an impact on our lives that we often don't realize it. I thought perhaps I could become someone's cadet, but now I'm not so sure. As a friend termed it, I'm a free woman with no fealty ties at present. And yet, I'm blessed with so many wonderful friends and some pretty awesome mentors.

A friend encouraged me to think of doing more in the SCA with my sewing...and it is an idea...but I'm not sure. Maybe someday, but I think the idea will have to grow on me a bit first.

Feels so weird to be at home, while most folks are at Baroness'. First one I've missed since I started playing 3+ years ago. But...c'est la vie. 3 events in 3 weekends would really be too much. I am looking forward to Investiture though...both the tavern and the fighting. And the reason I was asked to attend by one of my honourary brothers...I hope it goes well for him. I like the fact that even though our 'official' family status is no longer...we are still close.

Am spending today productively....chatting with good friends, tidying, laundry, sewing, voting, rolling rumballs while watching a movie and I really should sort some papers. I even found a partlet pattern online! I like having hand sewing projects, and found some linen/silk blend that should work nicely.

Tomorrow also looks nice & low key...sewing time!
Monday will be a lot of fun...3 friends in one day! Am really loving how the last few days have been full of friends I don't get to see/hear from very often.


The must get done list:
- laundry folded & put away
- skirt waistband resized
- doublet taken in (need it for next weekend!)
- vote!
- put garb away
- find space to roll rumballs
- roll rumballs (done with help all in one day!!! - THANK YOU)
- mail letters
- return library book
- find addresses/directions for Monday.

In other 'fun' news...I now know how to break a thumb. Funny how someone's comment "you can break the fingers, but not the thumb" can be taken as a challenge. Here's hoping he's actually smart enough to not try again.  (this is in response to someone I barely know trying to tickle me thru my bodice lacings)

ow.
waking up with a headache is not fun. I really need more sleep. Or at least some decent sleep for a change.

Rudyard Kipling If   If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on"; If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

 

quick...someone smack sense into me...I'm sorely tempted to volunteer to serve at Baronial Banquet....eeep!

why do weird dreams often come with a weird night's sleep?

Ahh...I love a burst of productivity followed by some relaxation. Had a chockful Friday with 4 errands/visits in one afternoon/evening. But, I got to sleep in until about noon on Saturday which was lovely (and I'm guessing needed).
I had stuff I could do...but somehow never got around to it yesterday...although I did get the library hold picked up so I could watch the movie today. And did a couple errands. Today has been about the same pace, although I tidied up my space in preparation for a friend coming over to visit & help with garb. Here's hoping I don't have to alter my fancy dress much.

To do list:
- alter doublet so it isn't quite so baggy. Must be done by Investiture. Will find out tomorrow what would be best to do to it.
- finish coat...if only perhaps finishing the shell until I figure out what to do with the lining. Must also soak the lining to see if I can it to stop bleeding.
- iron new skirt so it fits. yay linen...except for shrinkage when you wash it sometimes...I need it to relax just a bit!
- clean leather jacket from hanging out with friend's horses. You'd think I'd have remembered to do this before now! It's only been 2 weeks!
- buy ticket(s) for concert in Dec.
- wash leaky fabric & stop it from sharing its colour.
- catch up on correspondence.
- exercise!
- figure out what Christmas shopping I have left to do.
- make rumballs (with and without rum)
- get rid of this cold.
- tweak bodice again? for some reason the back is longer than the front..odd way for it to shrink...but meh.
- rip off and re-do waistband of skirt. Should be done by Investiture as it doesn't look nice from the back.
- wrap Grandpa's birthday present...maybe bake him something too.
- plan when M. will look at my car...probably next weekend.
- plan when the computer Dr. will look at my computer. Hopefully it is just a 'bad driver'.
- watch Passchendaele on Tuesday.


upcoming projects:
- new bodice it will match my burgundy skirt :)  This skirt is tempting to make as an accompaniment
- partlet...found I have some pretty patterned silk/linen blend that should work quite nicely. Can anyone recommend where to find a pattern?
- new doublet...though I think I want to put some research into what my persona would have actually worn.

In listening to a song that became dear to me at the death of a friend who the song could have been written about (Risk, by Paul Brandt) I think a personal motto has 'happened'.... Rischio da Vivere. Risk to Live.

Life in itself is a risk. One has the choice as to how you are going to live. We can make choices where it would be 'safest' to do one thing, as we won't be hurt. But yet, the risk of taking the chance often will give more back to the risk taker. It's choosing to live outside of your comfort zone. To take a chance on making changes for the better, regardless of the risk. It's living life to the hilt.

Found this for $1 at the library book sale rack today: (mine is green, not red)


It has some pretty artwork in it...anyone want it?

Anyone want to go see it?
It's showing at the Langley Colossus on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 12:40pm. Seeing as this is right after the cenotaph ceremonies, I thought it would be an appropriate time to see a movie about WWI.

1. Stop talking about politics for a moment or two.
2. Post a reasonably-sized picture in your LJ, NOT under a cut tag, of something pleasant, such as an adorable kitten, or a fluffy white cloud, or a bottle of booze. Something that has NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.
3. Include these instructions, and share the love.

Somehow, in the few tournies I've been in where an inspiration was required, I had someone to fight for. Baron Devin as a good friend, Lasairiona or the friend who is no longer a friend. All were chosen because they inspired & encouraged me...something I always take into account when choosing whom to ask if I may fight for them.

I am really hoping to fight at November Investiture (first tourney since the accident) and I've not been sure who to ask to fight for...I have so many friends (*waves*...yes you!) who've been an encouragement & inspiration in the past few months especially. But, I'd feel akward in asking one above another. Admittedly, part of that is because I've been 'burned' a bit by gossip and wish to avoid more. However, as was pointed out to me...my friends are worth more than gossip. And that I don't have to choose just one person.