Jumping ship and joining the crowd

Well, update time. I know it's been a while, and it feels like things have slowed down but I feel like I am constantly rushing. Brandon has started flag football and absolutely LOVES it. It is nice to be able to have him take classes on the techniques and rules before jumping straight intot he football season.

He gave me wonderful roses for Mothers Day. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful little boy. I am really looking forward to this weekend.

He is so cute...see the following:






I have movie but can't get it to load.

My foot is getting better. I am starting physical therapy and can start doing foot work in two weeks. I would like to fight for Sapphire Joust, so the Orthopedist gave me this velocity brace thing that was much more then I thought it was going to be, however after doing sword work and not using my feet except to stand (ok there was some rocking involved), I paid for it yesterday and today. So now I can be confident I won't twist it again with the brace on.

Bubba and I are going to have a blast this weekend. Can't wait. He is so much fun and hopefully the weather will be great so we can play ball outside. He really is getting good at sports and is incredibly coordinated. PROUD MOMMA.

BTW, Sheep and Wool last Saturday was AWESOME. Much more fun then I thought it would be. Met up with Alyce. We hung out and visited the ladies, AoD and Gen at their demo. Way shopping fun. I hadn't had the pleasure of hanging out Alyce on a one on one basis, but let me tell you...she is the bomb. We walked around and reveled in how little we knew about what was going on around us. Many times, we got frustrated and yelled "I know this tool has a purpose.....TELL ME WHAT IS THE PURPOSE SO I CAN LEARN IT!" All in good fun. We ate wonderful food, including Crack Corn (Kettle Corn fresh and hot). We are also experimenting with a rug item...that is going to be started as a pot holder to test the theory :-)

That night was friends and food at Gen and Alans. Much fun, many tired individuals.

Will post more later. Enjoy the pictures.

So Bubba has started flag football on Wednesdays. It is absolutely adorable watching him run drills. The coach is actually really cool and teaches these 6 and 7 year olds the basics. He always tells them to put their "football face" on.

OK, and proud Mommy moment. Brandon has some of the best hands out there. We have been working on throwing the football and the correct technique, and although I can't move much with my foot, it is still pretty cool to watch....

He is not afraid of the abll either. When it comes to any ball, he just has no fear...he does diving catches and is not afraid of the ball hitting him or him hitting the ground.

If he continues to like it, I would love to see him do PeeWee.....I will take pictures next week and post the cuteness....

I mean, manliness.....

or boyliness.....

Well, last week was hell. The auditors were in town for the week, which meant stress and walking. Both of which suck for me right now. I did more walking then I should have granted, I used a cane, it most likely set me back some on recovery on my foot. However, the audit was a HUGE success...beaming lights, and all......

My foot is getting better, but I am concerned that I can only step down and step back up. NO TWISTING, NO TURNING, NO MANEUVERING of any kind. Actually I caught my good toe on Brandon's new race car set and caught myself with my bad foot, which caused pain so bad, it made me nauceous. So I kept the boot on again today. No crutches or cane though. I have to try and make steps towards recovery. This last weekend I didn't have Brandon, so I tried to stay off of it as much as possible. Granted I have not been great, but unfortunately circumstances have not warranted that.

I have been tired though. Can't keep my eyes open. Stress is over now, so hopefully things will get to some semblance of normalcy.

I am starting thermal vac testing for the next month....hopefully only a month, which means times I don't have Brandon I will have to be here. This may screw me for attending Sapphire Joust, but I have to wait and see how much progress we make.

Bubba has been so wonderful with my hurt foot. He told me yesterday how much he wishes my foot was better cause he doesn't like seeing Mommy hurt. He really goes the extra mile and does things that he knows would be a problem for me (cleaning up after himself, putting things away, etc.) I am so damn lucky. I am trying to figure out something fun and cool to do with him this weekend.....that doesn't require to much foot activity...sigh, this has such bad timing in so many ways. Maybe a camp out in the living room....make smores, hot dogs, etc....

Maybe I can see if there are any Spring Fesitivals going on.

We planted some seeds in his window two weeks ago and he was so excited to see the little plants poking out. I planted some strawberries, tomatoes and herbs on my patio as well, and they are doing great. He loves the fact the plants are in HIS window and that they are showing signs of life.

I had an amazing weekend. Really it was great!

About 2 months ago I had asked Mom to come into town this weekend, since I had Brandon and I also was wanting to fight at NOTT. I knew I wouldn't fight if he was at the event, and since it is the premiere rapier event (in my eyes)and I had been working really hard to gear up for it, I would play the Grandma card just this once and have her watch him for the day.

This was of course before I knew I was going to sprain my ankle and not fight (GRUMBLE). However, I had made other commitments I intended to honor (reservations, strawberry tarts, and music), so I stuffed my foot in "the boot", put my boys clothes on (cause corsets and skirts just wasn't happenin) and made my tarts, packed up the reservations, picked Mom up at the airport (Thursday)....and planned on a great event. Which it was.....

Brandon and Mom had a great Saturday. Car track, purple spiked hair, temporary tattoos, Brodie......they had a blast.

My event was rainy but strangely fantastic. Got to see and reconnect with friends. Everyone loved my strawberry tarts (loved helping out with the Queen's Tea), sitting with Sandy and AoD sewing, really good day.

And it ended with a blast. Was honored with being named Baronial Rapier Champion and my very first clothing award, the Coral Branch!! YEAH!! Very happy and VERY HONORED. Wish I would have dressed better.....LOL Then the evening continued with visiting with new friends from Gardiners and of course Tara, and close to Bob and Laura. Fantastic food, and closing the evening out with music with my closest friends, which hasn't been done in a while. I love when people come around when Laura and I do Banks of the Lee. Pulled out some of the oldies but goodies and was pleasantly surprised when we didn't suck! LOL

Sunday was a chore run around day, but doing fun and productive things......Took Brandon to a playground with Mom..... She really was such a help with Bubba this weekend. I am not able to do the physical fun things (like running for footballs, and baseballs), so she stepped in....I watched and sat with the flowers he picked for me. I love my Boy. The sweetest was when we were walking back to the apartment. Of course he and Mom got there before me since I am hobbling around. But he had left a flower at the doorstep waiting for me. About cried over that one. Ended the evening with some Star Wars action.

I am so damn lucky. I thank whatever higher power has blessed me so deeply.

This week is going to be hectic. Late nights early mornings. The audit I have been preparing for for the last year is this week. So I won't be at Tuesday night practice. They have a tendency to run late into the evenings. Thursday Gen and Susan were talking about doing a gathering......we will see.

Great to see everyone ....

The good news is my foot isn't broken...YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The bad news that it is a bad sprain and I am going to have to be in a boot for at least 2 weeks, which means definately no fighting at NOTT.

Yes, for those of you laughing at me, I was holding out hope....

That hope is now officially gone.

And no, I am actually quite bitter and upset about it.

(insert favorite explicitive here)

Sorry I haven't written in a while. Been a bit preoccupied.

We will begin our saga last Thursday night where I fell coming out of Bob and Laura's apartment. I have been singing with my Laurel on Thursday again...trying to boost up my Apprentice MoJo. Thank goodness Bob comes out to watch me walk to my car. Coming down the stairs, I was trying to make sure my Beth Patterson cd didn't fall from it's precarious position in the crook of my arm, when I managed to miss the bottom three concrete steps. I came down on my left foot (well the TOP of my left foot), which left me sprawled on the ground screaming. Bob came out (see above reason), and shortly thereafter Laura did.

They got me back into their apartment. Let me tell you, if you want to get hurt (ok that just sounds weird), do it at their house. Or don't...sorry guys....but I really do have the best friends. Bob got me back in the house and within 5 minutes had the foot wrapped, medication administered, and my right knee (which is majorly cut up) cleaned and bandaged. About 15 minutes later, I realized it was getting really bad and we headed off the the ER. See Laura's post about the 6 hour wait and the wonderful nurse suggesting the Nighttime Pediatrics Care (and adult care too!). They had me in immediately. They took an x ray (which I am now finding out wasn't a "real" xray....), and diagnosed a sprained ankle and gave me some crutches. Bob and Laura got me home.

Stayed home from work on Friday.....spent the day dragging myself around the apartment trying to get it ready for my Dad, Cindy and half brother to come into town. Oh yeah, did I mention having company with a sprained ankle....yum. Tara was wonderful Friday evening. She drove me around to get Brandon, my prescription (and some groceries) and helped move some heavy stuff around the apartment. Id rove to pick up Dad and Cindy at the airport and collapsed.

Saturday was the party (but in the meantime I spent the day on crutches driving around to get the last remaining items for the Poison Ivy costume for Bob's Party. Laura promised that if I still came to the party I could get set up in the comfy chair downstairs and relax. Well, I got bored and started moving around, but was reminded to "Sit to Fight".

Yeah, did I mention Night on the Town a week from this Saturday that I have been training for since September....sigh......

Anyway, the party was amazing...had a great time. Once again the party of the year has outdone itself. Amazing time.

Sunday we went into DC for the circus. I was on my crutches for the long haul but tried to get around without them when I wasn't going long distances. Had dinner at a great Tapas restaurant across the street from the Verizon Center.

Monday I attempted to go into work with the crutches for the long walk from the car tot he office but for some reason was amazingly clumsy and managed to trip and catch myself on the stairs WITH MY BAD FOOT! Sigh.

Finished up my visit with my family that night (they flew out Tuesday afternoon). It was great to see them again and they liked my apartment. I miss them. Tuesday I tried to do work without the crutches, which was a big mistake. I walked way to much (long walks form car to office nd back again). I was supposed to go to practice and do some chair/blade work, but I couldn't even imagine going up and down the three flights of stairs to my apartment, in the car, out of the car, across the school, etc....I had Brandon as well because Greg was out of town for work, so that added a whole new walking element to the equation.

Sigh...so I am at work (with crutches this time), but my wonderful co worker brought me in a cane for use around the office. Crutches for long distances, cane for short ones.

I have a doctor's appointment Friday to see what I am doing right / wrong/ and what the chances of me fighting at NOTT are. Quite frankly the idea of those short stops, starts and lunges on uneven ground makes me cringe, but if I am feeling better why not....

So if you are still reading this (wow, long post), and have sprained something...give it to me straight......What are my chances.....? How long am I supposed to have it wrapped? I tried to keep it unwrapped last night and it is killing me this morning. Tara brought me over her air cast.....How long should I be on these crutch things?

Well, just taking a moment to say Happy Easter to everyone.

This weekend have shaped up nicely....really nicely...

Had a nice dinner of sushi with friends Friday night. Yes, it is true, sushi is best done with good company...by the time I got home, the cosmopolitan went straight to my head and I was exhausted. Although not before I had a very enlightening conversation with Tara about appropriate Muppet names for our various drink concoctions for Saturday evening festivities. It is actually quite hard to describe Muppets over the phone.

Saturday was spent preparing food and drinks for a Muppet gathering at Rob and Wendy's. Very impromptu as a release from Wendy's hard week....but it really was fun. Worked on my outfit for Bob's party a bit and then Tara and I headed over to the aforementioned festivities. Had a blast trying to figure out the perfect color of purple for the "Mnahamana's" and reveling over Wendy's new Perfect Pennsic drink....suitably named the "Kermit" because of the color of the mint.

The music and Muppet fun continued...all who had not been suitably adorned with Muppet avatars were dubbed.....I was told I was Skeeter, Scooters more intelligent sister...although she never did make an appearance. Then the party got even more mature when Kynyburgh and Helmut (sorry for the spelling, kids) showed up with Peep Food Art. We all took turns at preparing Peep diaramas (once again, it's late and spelling really sucks tonight). I was responsible for VooDoo Peep and Pac Man Peep....but I will say my favorite was Tara's Atlantian Three Peep Melee. Complete with toothpick schlaggers. Pictures were taken....

Today I got Brandon back after his week spring break vacation with Greg. We had a great Easter....Really a lot of fun. Tomorrow I am off from work because Brandon has his day off from school, so more fun will ensue....

I need to start scrubbing house for my Dad, Step Mom Cindy and youngest brother's arrival on Friday.

But I do hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

So after a VERY HARD week, Brandon and I hanging out this weekend. It is actually kinda cool. He is getting to an age now where he is fun to just hang out with. We have a lot fo fun together.

Friday night we saw Horton Hears a Who. It was actually pretty entertaining being a kids movie, but being that the voices are Jim Carrey and Steve Carrell, you would imagine the comedic timing is one that adults get as well.

Saturday morning we got up and went to a Spring Egg Hunt sponsored by Howard County Park & Rec. He had a blast....note the picture below for proof.



He is such a ham.

Saturday afternoon was spent napping (for both of us) and playing the Spiderman P2 game.

This morning, we had a big breakfast and are now working on Easter decorations for the house. Later will be coloring Easter Eggs and walking Brodie for Ms. Tara. Then more video game for a little bit.

Nice weekend, and since he will be with Greg all next week for vacation during Spring Break, it was nice to spend some quality time with him.

He's pretty cool.

ACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

SO BUSY


TO BUSY TO WRITE

ACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

But I am still breathing.....

Barely


ACKKKKKKKKKKKKK*COUGH*ACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

HOWEVER....with all due respect to the Catholics out there...really I mean that....

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????????????

Vatican lists "new sins," including pollution
By Philip Pullella Posted Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:00am PDT

(Stringer/Reuters)VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of "new" sins such as causing environmental blight.

The guidance came at the weekend when Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, the Vatican's number two man in the sometimes murky area of sins and penance, spoke of modern evils.

Asked what he believed were today's "new sins," he told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano that the greatest danger zone for the modern soul was the largely uncharted world of bioethics.

"(Within bioethics) there are areas where we absolutely must denounce some violations of the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments and genetic manipulation whose outcome is difficult to predict and control," he said.

The Vatican opposes stem cell research that involves destruction of embryos and has warned against the prospect of human cloning.

Girotti, in an interview headlined "New Forms of Social Sin," also listed "ecological" offences as modern evils.

In recent months, Pope Benedict has made several strong appeals for the protection of the environment, saying issues such as climate change had become gravely important for the entire human race.

Under Benedict and his predecessor John Paul, the Vatican has become progressively "green."

It has installed photovoltaic cells on buildings to produce electricity and hosted a scientific conference to discuss the ramifications of global warming and climate change, widely blamed on human use of fossil fuels.

Girotti, who is number two in the Vatican "Apostolic Penitentiary," which deals with matter of conscience, also listed drug trafficking and social and economic injustices as modern sins.

But Girotti also bemoaned that fewer and fewer Catholics go to confession at all.

He pointed to a study by Milan's Catholic University that showed that up to 60 percent of Catholic faithful in Italy stopped going to confession.

In the sacrament of Penance, Catholics confess their sins to a priest who absolves them in God's name.

But the same study by the Catholic University showed that 30 percent of Italian Catholics believed that there was no need for a priest to be God's intermediary and 20 percent felt uncomfortable talking about their sins to another person.

Today is Brandon's 6th birthday! Can you believe it? For those of you who don't remember....





We've come a long way BABY. Took him to Red Robin for dinner last night. He is obsessed with the idea that once he is 6 a tooth will fall out. He got his presents last night and a pancake and sausage breakfast this morning.

Man, I am blessed with such a great little boy. Happy Birthday, Bubba. Mommy loves you the mostest.

Eclipse....hurry before it's too late....

So I had Bubba for a long weekend. It is the weekend before his birthday, so I have been trying desperately to think of some cool, unusual things to do with him. Originally I had thought about flying him out to Houston to go camping for the weekend on Lake Conroe with my Mom. The flights early on were horrible being that it was a holiday weekend and all. So Mom was going to come out here, but that just didn't work out.

I was going to take him up to go tubing in PA, but after talking to many who have done it, I was told a holiday three day weekend WAS NOT the time to do it. Said I would spend most of the time standing in line, which didn't seem very fun for him.

So I decided to pretty much let HIM decide. Friday he decided he wanted to see Star Wars. So we went to the video store and rented three Star Wars movies. He was in light saber heaven. Actually he is quite intuitive...he asked me who the little boy was in the first movie. When I explained he became Darth Vader, he asked why. I explained that he just "got really angry". He stopped for a moment and then asked "Well, where is his Mommy when he turns into Darth Vader". I thought for a moment and started laughing.

A friend of mine called right about the time that occurred and we had quite the little Saturday Night live skit going on about what the discussions would have been like between Darth Vader and his Mom. Much like, "NO, you can't go to the darkside tonight....it's a school night." "I don't care if everyone is doing it....if everyone jumped off the Death Star would YOU???" and the favorite was "Well, I am not the Emperors MOTHER AM I, Mister?"

We also "changed his check into money" from my grandfather so he was able to relive the shopping excursion. Mom had sent him a box of Valentine's goodies, so we flew the small frisbees in the house, played with the disc shooters (looking for Storm Troopers hiding in my bathroom). Sunday we did go out to the Science Center in Baltimore, which was fun. Pictures to follow. He wanted desperately to walk Brodie, so we went over to Tara's for a bit. Went back tot he movie store to return Star Wars and let him pick out whatever he wanted. He chose another Star Wars movie, a NASCAR IMAX experience movie and Game Plan with "The Rock".

Today we went to a FANTASTIC donut shop called the Fractured Prune with Tara. Being that weather was fabulous, we sat outside and Bubba actually ATE a cinnamon sugar donut. I was so excited. We repeated the Brodie walk and play time afterwards and came home nap and MAD bouncey ball fun.

Soo all in all, it was nothing extravagent, but it meant something to me to let him do whatever he felt like whenever he did.

AND BTW....I WANT A DOG. Tara told me about the one at Ymir, and had I seen it, I would proabbly be Molly's proud owner.

Wow, what a week. Surreal doesn't even begin to explain it.

I am looking for some fun things to do with Brandon this weekend. We usually do the normal, bowling, movies, play, stuff like that, but this is his birthday weekend (well birthday is technically next week), so I wanted to do something special.

I thought about tubing...I think he would dig that, but if anyone has any other suggestions, I would greatly appreciate them. I think one night is going to be camping in the living room night.....maybe tonight...

Off Monday because Brandon's school is closed, so I have more days with him.

He has taken to infomercials. Wednesday night he informed me I had to get "green bags", because it keeps your produce fresher 30 days longer.

"Mommy do you want soggy carrots, or carrots that go SNAP!"

"Well, of course Brandon, I want crispy carrots."

"OK, the reason it gets soggy is because when it is in a bag, the gas is caught in the bag, but with green bags the air is let out."

"That's great, Brandon"

He grabbed the phone.

"And, if you order now, you can get 30 bags."

"I think I will call some other time, Bubba."

You should hear his plug for the leather womans handbag where you can carry 2, yes 2 water bottles and you won't miss a phone call again.

LOL

So with the weather and all, Brandon's school was originally supposed to open late. However, in the process of Greg dropping him off here so I could take him in late, the school closed. I haven't seen Bubba in a few days because of scheduled school closures and illnesses. Greg had him those days, so I was more then thrilled to spend an entire day with him. Brandon had asked me last week if I would be his Valentine. Hehehehehe.

So I got a beautiful made card and a gift from him this morning. My plan for him was to hand him $20 (trying to teach about money) and let him choose something in the store as HIS Valentine's present. He got to learn about how you can get one thing for $20 or two things for $9.99 each....things like that. He really enjoyed the experience of shopping. Fun lesson. He picked out some Star Wars figurines.

However, in the midst of all this I am in the middle of internal audits for the Space Department. It is a new thing for me, and although I like it and am trying to change the attitude that an audit is not an attack but a way to improve, I am freaking out a bit.

My co worker is fantastic. She is new and we share an office now. Because I had to stay home today she actually gathered all my notes and my lap top, my work cell bill and something I had on the printer and braved the weather to walk them outside to me in the parking lot so I could conitnue my checklist entries for the audit at home. She and I make a great team. I actually got an email from my boss today saying "I thank God for the two of you on my knees every night." Can't get much better praise then that.

But I am freaking out now because I am scared to death I have gotten in over my head. I take on challenges, especially at work, very often and can't think of a time I didn't rise to the occasion. However I HATE learning curves. I think I should just know eveything right now, or I am useless. This is the first real official audit I am involved in and although when it comes to the nitty gritty stuff (inspections, non conformances, hardware, calibration, ESD, training requirements, corrective and preventive actions, etc.) I hit a home run every time. It is where my background is in every day work. But the "product realization" stuff I am weak on....understanding AS9100 terms and applying them to R&D is near impossible. How can you meet a requirement or a specification when there ARE NONE.

There is so much riding on this. Additionally, I am still doing the work of another person and a half at work and still going to school...which cuts partially into my work day on Tuesdays and Thursdays....I am freaking out a bit. I suggested to my boss that I skip taking a class this semester, but she is trying to make me a QE, so I need to show I am working towards a degree. I don't want to look like an idiot, but I am starting to understand what people mean by not having enough hours in the day. Quite literally. I bring home work with me and I AM HOURLY. Half the people who see me doing it say I shouldn't do it because "I have to take a lunch by law, and blah blah blah" and the other half just assume I am salary so they schedule things as such. I hate having to remind them that I have to ask for overtime approval if the meeting is going to go over my 8 hours or 40 hour week...blah blah blah and feel like a jack ass that looks like I am afraid to work any over what I should be doing. Which is not the case. However because of the work I do and the circles where I perform this job function, people forget.

rgjdhhjsdhjsdffhsdjlkjsdfhlehdfhdsfljd *head hitting keyboard*

If you actually are still reading this, I feel worse for you. I just needed to vent. Now I am going to go soak in a bath, lay on a hot pad and start all over tomorrow trying to play catch up.

I have Brandon this weekend, so that is good...and it is a LONG weekend since he has no school on Monday.

Welcome to my silver lining.

So very sorry to hear about Brian's loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.


This weekend was Ymir. Drove down with Tara on Friday afternoon, which turned out to be a blast. We were able to stop in Fairfax to have lunch with Havorc, that afternoon. It was good to see him again (had seen him on Tuesday for fighter practice). It hadn't dawned on me that I haven't seen either of them for 5 years....Wow.

Did sewing in the car and drove for a bit for Tara. Had much fun with joking and singing (ABBA's not a super group????? WHAT?????) and it made the trip go by much faster. Got to the site Friday night and realized that much of the stuff we were doing, people make horror stories out of. "Hey, Tara, let's just walk through this deserted path through dark creepy woods without a flash light to the cabins without telling anyone where we are..." Yeah that's a good idea. We met up with Wendy, Roland, Christie and Sean. Wendy, Roland, Tara Sean and I set out to find food. I had sewing basket in hand because my outfit WAS going to get done DAMNIT. Gosh I hate last minute rush.

Then we moved into the sequel of the Ymir horror story, where technology takes over and the GPS voice sends the 5 unknowing people onto the other side of the tracks. Instead of a restaurant they find some screaming kids and a man with a chain saw hanging outside of an abandoned train station.

So we ate at McDonalds. :-) I didn't sew.

We got back to the cabin, where I sat down to attempt to get some work done. What a sight to see me working on my button holes and Thjora on the other end of my doublet working on the trim. You rock, girl! About 2 amish I passed out in bed under my electric blanket...YUMMY.

Saturday was a wonderful day. I managed to not only authorize in Schlagger (FINALLY), I was convinced to sign up for and fight in my VERY FIRST TOURNEY! I was so excited and honestly had a great time. Didn't do well, but I had broken out of my mold in more ways then one, so in my opinion I won my own little battle against critical Lisette. Thank you to Laura and Bob for their support. I would salute you ANYTIME!

Ran back to the cabin in time to shower while Gen helped me put my fasteners on the back of my skirt. Thanks, Hon! Moral support followed by Tara and Christie. Talk about a group effort. The damn thing has taken on a life of it's own. But I finally got everything done and wore it to feast. The doublet was to long in the torso, so it didn't quite fit right, and the skirt was to long. Thankfully all fixable offenses. I know it looks simple, but alot of time went into it. I am turned a bit sideways in this picture to show the sleeves. I hate pictures of me.



Saturday night was a great time with friends. Sunday we had to get on the road so Tara could pick up Brodie the same day. So, I apologize for not being able to help with clean up.

But all in all, it was a great weekend. Thank you to everyone.

OK, so panic mode has officially set in. This week has been crazy and surreal. However my main focus is how in the hell I am going to get done all I need to do before tomorrow with no time in between. And that is completely NOT an exaggeration.

I stayed up late last night again, and managed to get the sleeves done, and the tabs on the doublet. I made a ton of trim so I can work in the car ont he way down, but I am afraid I have to take my iron. Come hell or high water, this new ensemble WILL be done....and as tempted as I was to pull out my sewing machine last night in a desperate attempt to get more done, I DID NOT GIVE OVER TO THE DARK SIDE.

Tonight is dinner and Beth Patterson. Should be a hoot.

If you'd like to see it, I will post pictures of the completed ensemble after Ymir. I will have someone take pictures of it, but since I HATE modeling my own stuff, it will most likely be on the hanger. *giggle*

And mildly freaked. I really have got to put the pedal to the metal in order to have my doublet done by this weekend. Driving with Tara, I may be doing some sewing on the road. As long as I can get all the stuff done that needs an iron. Sigh.....yikes.....

Trying diagonal type stripes on the sleeves...nothing to fancy and probably sucked up to much time, but oh well. It's on there now.

Went to work from home yesterday because of not feeling well, and lo and behold wouldn't ya know it, the roofers (because my roof is leaking.....again) decide TODAY would be a great day to climb into my attic from my bathroom and fix it. So no nappy for the 'Sette.

Class at 4PM....don't even get me started. Technical Writing will be an easy A.

Class over at 5:15...go home and get ready for practice.

Because I haven't been feeling well, the idea of running around or possibly...no PROBABLY getting hit in the stomach did not sound appealing. I have also been told that drills would be a great thing for me to do. So I hit Bob up for drills and Laura for Rolaids, both of which ended up being REALLY productive. Taught me some offensive / defensive moves to be effective without closing. But the really fun part started when he put a long sword in my hand. I told them there should be a rule that the weapon shouldn't be as tall as the person using it. Matt said that was a dumb rule. Shorter girl + Longer weapon = good time.

Also got to see Brian (Havorc) for the first time in something like 5 years. I hadn't realized it was that long. Time really does fly. Despite the matter that brought him out, he looks great and it was really nice to visit with him for a bit. I should do a trip down south so I can visit BOTH of them + 4 sometime.

Picking up the Bubba early today because of parent teacher conferences, then I have got to finish up sewing. I am going to dinner / Beth Patterson with Tara et al tomorrow and then driving around noon with Tara on Friday for Ymir. So I need to buckle down and get this thing done.

That is the most entertaining 4th quarter I have seen in a football game probably EVER.

Loved it.....incredible amazing.....

We had a great weekend. Mom was in town, so he weekend was a lot of going and doing, but man was it fun/productive. Got shopping done I needed to do. For Brandon's up coming birthday Mom redid his room in sports stuff. CUTE CUTE CUTE.

We tried bowling on Sunday morning, but after having to wait 30 minutes for a lane we went to Dave & Busters for an hour. Then hair cut and fun with making his Valentine Box for his Valentine's Day party at school. We played video games and did puzzles. I also managed to get a ton of sewing done. It is going to be close considering all the other things I have got going on this week (WHEW), but with Tara driving on Friday and having Friday evening at the site to sew, I think I will be ready.

I am liking how it is turning it out so far. I went over to Bob and Laura's on Thursday after taking Kirsten from airport to her car in Columbia. Laura gave me some pointers on how I could have done some things better on the skirt, and then helped bring my doublet in, which was close to 2 sizes to big. Definitely going to have to redraft THAT pattern. They had invited me to stay for dinner, which was not only delicious, but GREAT company.

So today Brandon has soccer after school, tomorrow I have class from 4-5:15, fighter practice from 6:30 to 9ish and will probably go out afterward since I might be able to visit with Brian. Wednesday I have Brandon and Thursday is school from 4-5:15 then dinner and Beth Patterson with Tara, et al. Friday leave half day for Ymir travels.....

Like you really wanted to know all that, but deal because you already read it......BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Can't take it back...neener neener.

Bubba and I had a great weekend. Worked on an "All about Me" poster for his class. It was officially HIS DAY. WE played Junior Scrabble and Operation. He helped me with shopping.

But the part that I remember the most is the bowling on Monday. We have taken up bowling because it is a great activity to be doing in the Winter. However, Monday was classic. We were on the lane next to a lesbian couple and two kids. One of the women was...well, masculine looking. So Brandon, being so proud of himself for following all the rules (waiting, walking, etc.) turned proudly to me and announced loudly that he was "Waiting for that MAN to go, like a good boy". The woman heard and him and probably noticed the bright red color that face inevitably became....

Went to practice last night....fought three of the four people there....Got constructive feedback from all of them. I really need to work on point control and smaller movements. According to Brian I have to get out of the "Squish like grape" range. It will be very helpful for me to get back into starting practice with drills. Remind my muscles.

I brought my skirt (almost done) and the corset( kinda done) to practice to get feedback on progress. Thjora seemed to like it and said the green is not nearly as bad as I thought. I want to take it to AoD and get her feedback on my progress....I wasn't thrilled with the hand stitching on the corset, but I have to remember hand stitching when I haven't been doing it for as long as some others, isn't going to be completely straight.

But I am getting better at letting it go and moving on.....no obsessing, unpicking, restarting, etc. It is nicer that way. And I am trying to stick closer to my schedule deadlines, so if I kept starting over I would never get done. Take the lessons from one garment and input into the next.

Because the events I will be able to attend are distanced apart by at least a month, I would like to have a new outfit for each event....

I still have my cotehardie that I need to finish (only have to take in and add lacing holes) that was started with the help of Theo GOSH probably 4 years ago. I also have some blue linen that would not be appropriate for my period, so I figured it would make a good cotehardie. And it is my heraldric color. Would like to try and make one off of AoD's pattern as well.