You Know What

It's times like this when you want to stop watching the news, it's just upsetting. It makes the part of life that is supposed to go on like nothing happened seem so pointless.

Katrina's Wake

To all those in Katrina's Wake, I send strength as you heal and rebuild your homes.

Well... Well What!?!

Well, I don't know!

My supervisor is off every day this week (this is cause for celebration). But that also makes it easier for me to do things other than work. I helped out with another job today, given that my regular stuff is somewhat inhibited because of the errors I'm still getting.

Enough about work! I was speaking with someone about the image titled Globes (on my Photosite) and really wanted to play more with Vue. So when I got home, I did!

I've always wanted to design my own Tarot deck, you see. While it's a far cry from the 78 card deck, I did get the Aces completed. It only took three hours or so for four images. I think the look great (all things being considered!)

What do you think? (Click on The Aces post, or photos to see it! I've been busy creating tonight!) [Archiver's note! You're going to have to go to my website, www.burninglakearts.com and click on the Tarot album to view the card spread in question. I'll try to get it up here as well, but that will just have to wait!]

It Continues!

Well, yeah, all Weekend posts from now until 23 October (with few exceptions) will be about my day at the Faire. I hope you won't get tired of it! I won't! You should come by, if you can. MD RennFest has been hailed as one of the best in the country, you know.

Today, I met up with my friends and saw the Scottish play (those who know know what I'm talking about). I also ran across my brother and sister-in-law and we got to catch up a bit. One day I should ask her if she'd rather be known as my sister-in-law or my brother's wife. Well, she's the same wonderful person anyway!

I didn't do nearly as much shopping today (a good thing), and my new dress matches the cloak I got at the PA Faire very well.

I did what I said I would do, go home and get to bed rather then go to dinner with everyone. My dad went to dinner though. *tsk* He's going to feel it in the morning!

Here's to a really tiring but fun-filled weekend! (Just wait, in another week, I'll be wondering when it will end, but not before my birthday!)

It Starts!

Woohoo! Yippie! Weeeee!!

Yup, I was back at the Maryland Renaissance Festival today!

I was supposed to meet a friend (so I thought), but he never called (I do hope everything's alright).

But that's ok, I walked about with my friends who work in the booth with my father. I bought a new dress (one of two that I want this year), and a few other odds and ends. I was exhausted by 1500! But I stuck it out and went to dinner with the group and had a great, tiring day!

Yay!

I Love Ya, Tomorrow!

Yes, still getting error messages!

But tomorrow is the official start of the Maryland Renaissance Festival!! Yay! Cheer! Haroo and Huzzah!

I will be returning to the festival in the hat shop, Tall Toad. Our humble store is just at the end of the boardwalk on Mary's Dale Way.

This year, King Henry and his wife Jane Seymour will grace the festival time of the humble walled village of Revel Grove. In honor of the Bard, a full production of the Scottish play will be at the Globe Theater every day of the festival!
Merchants have new wares for selling to enhance your festival experience, as travellers come from far and wide to celebrate with the King and Queen and the merry-makers of our fine town!

The annual festival runs through October 23rd, hope you'll join us!

That IS What It's All About

No, I'm not talking about the Hokey Pokey, I'm talking about sailing!

The wind must have been blowing 7-10 knots (I didn't really take note of it). We were first across the start line, in fact, no one was anywhere near us at the start! I think we should just end the race there.
But I'll tell you about the rest of the night anyway. We were trucking down the Bay at 5-6 knots. The race committee set a 7-mile course, sending us to the two marks that are furthest out from our starting area. We lost major ground on that first leg, but the wind held up and we finished just around 2100 or so.

It's always great when there's wind!

And I'm still getting error messages!

The Day of Errors

They were doing a major system update last night and this morning (that only minutely changed the face of the applications I use everyday). As with any update, there are bugs, bugs, bugs!

I think I've mentioned how I can to 80-120 jobs in one 8-hour period. I've done 15, and the day's half over! An error message pops up for EVERYTHING! This is so annoying, and it's like a wasted day. What's the point of even trying to make us do work if they system isn't cooperating?

I know, I'm the only person on the face of the planet who will ever complain for getting paid to do nothing. At least there's sailing tonight!

And on another bright side, I got my grade and have permission to move on. HooRah!

No Problem

So, day 2 was the worst, but I got through it. I brought Cheerios to work for breakfast today, and I had one piece of chocolate with my tea. It's nice to be back on food again!

I could do it again (next month) but I would definitely recommend to anyone who wanted to try it to be at home with lots of things to keep their mind off food. I'll probably have to be at work because of the Renaissance Festival (which opens this weekend!), but I could do it again. I feel really good right now, and I'm not going to eat too much today!

And to top it all off, I'm finally back to my regular work again! Yippie!

Day Two

If you want to know, this was spurned by the blatent failure of 3 months of Slim-Fast.

Today's a bit harder to deal with, because work doesn't distract/stimulate me like home does. Today, I want nachos, chocolate, hot dogs, chocolate, soup, chocolate, beef stew (which I never crave!), chocolate, a bananna, chocolate, Cheerios, chocolate. As you can see, I really want some chocolate! And there's a zip-lock bag of PoundPlus from Trader Joe's sitting in my cabinet at work. GAH!!

It's ok: want chocolate, sip juice. Want Cheerios, sip juice. Want chocolate, sip juice.

My mother and I were going to make bannana muffins soon, I thought we should do it when I get home so I can have one tomorrow morning. GAH AGAIN!! That's crazy talk! We'll make them tomorrow so I can have one fresh from the oven. =)

I can make it, I can make it!

Day One

In my attempt to lead a healthier lifestyle, I started a two-day all liquid detoxifying and cleansing diet. For two days, I can consume only 32 oz of this special diet juice mixture and at least eight 8 oz glasses of water. No food, no caffene, no tea, just this 'berry flavored' stuff. And it's important that I exercise, so I got on a machine this morning.

Honestly, it doesn't taste bad, a little like the Tropical Diet V-8 that my friend has been drinking. It's got 80% of many vitamins like A, C, B, B12, and others in one 4 oz serving (of which I have 4 a day).

Now, I'm the kind of person who shakes when I need to eat, and I haven't been shaky at all. If I feel hungry, I drink more juice. If I feel like chewing, I drink water. The only thing I really noticed about today is that I'm not sure what to do with myself. I want to work on my obi, I want to play a video game, I want to take a walk (then I remember how oppressive the heat is outside and don't do that).

The diet boasts that one can lose 10 pounds over the two days ( a website that talks about it says 4-14), I'm not expecting to do that, and that's not why I'm doing it anyway. The webiste study recommended doing it once a month.

So far, I'm in pretty good shape, and thinking of food hasn't been driving me crazy. We'll see what happens tomorrow at work.

I turned in my next step of work today! This was much easier than the first lesson, I must say.

Out and About

No talking about work on weekdays, so....

My parents and I went kayaking! We were only out for 2.25 hours (and before you get mad at me for not calling, you know who you are, I tried but it said it was long distance. Imagine that. Someone else knew, though.), and just down our regular creek on the Patuxent. We actually got out early(ish) like we said we would!

Then we came home, scrubbed down the 'yaks (they needed it), scrubbed down ourselves (we needed it), and went to lunch at Bertucci's. Then it was off to Trader Joe's and Jo Ann Fabrics for some material to make an obi and obi-jime for my kimono.

I'm a little sad that I didn't make it to Otakon this year, both my friend and I had other things to do. Maybe next year it won't be so late.

All in all, it was a great day!

So Much For That

Yeah, I didn't play EverQuest last night. I'm starting to think that I've grown out of it and should just cancel the account.

Did I just say that?! I thought I'd never say that!

I'll think about it for a bit. Of course, cancelling my account means I could never return to the Guide program unless I start playing again. I'm ok with that though. I love the Guide program and the wonderful people there, but I love the time I have now too.

Ok, next week, if I don't log on to the game at least once, I'll cancel my account. No use wasting that money if I'm not going to use it.

I Think

It didn't like me ranting about the bathroom?

In any event, what I wanted to say yesterday was that I did finish my work, bathroom stalls are too small, and I heard a great joke on Sunday. I'll revisit these last points one at a time so as not to upset the blogging powers that be.

So, this performer at the sing-a-long on Sunday comes onto the stage and says, "I am a magician! I am here to magish for you!" When the chuckles die down, he adds, "Just be glad I'm not a wizard!" That was funny!

We had hardly any wind last night, but enough that we didn't rely on drifing. We did encounter one chap on a boat that normally races in the spinnaker fleet, who was just a jerk. We were over the starting line early because he was claiming right of way. He was right, but he didn't have to be an @$$ about it, you know? Some people....

I'm struggling with this book club book. I think I need some good hardy EverQuest tonight.

You Know, This is Annoying!

I'm not sure why it is, but I've tried to submit something for this date twice (this will make 3) but it doesn't post every time!

I wonder what's up?

I'll just have to tell you about everything later....

Green Grow the Rushes

Ok, so the songs from PAFaire's end sing-a-long have been running through my head all day. Some of them because I found them anoying, some because they are actually quite catchy.

I found that Green Grow the Rushes (a rush is an aquatic plant, a kind of reed) is an old English children's counting song, not unlike the Twelve Days of Christmas. There are tons of Christian references in that tune.

So, I was off of work yesterday, so today is acting like Monday. I'd better get to work! And when I get home today, I'm going to finish my second assignment, even though I can't turn it in for a week. Struggling with the book club book, if I thought Ancestors of Avalon was bad, this is worse.

One Day Is Not Enough

So they say, and so it is.

We were at the PA RennFaire site for Celtic Fling, I don't remember if I told you about that. I didn't buy a cloak there because the size wasn't right. The cloak people were back, and they did have my size!

So, I met up with my friend from the book club and her husband. They are a couple of really nice, fun-loving people! We all hope they'll be able to make it down to our faire this year (maybe so with people to meet up with there, right? =). So you've got the picture; the group was these two fine people, my dad, a couple of our friends, and myself.

I didn't buy a Baby Dragon, again. I sure wish I had though, they're so cute. And my mother was saying that I should have, even though she was saying not to when I had her on the phone! There was something that my friend said she would pick up for me when they go back in October, but I've forgotten what that was already! I hope she or her husband remember! I don't even remember why I didn't get it then (probably lack of cash, of course!). There was also a tent that had vintage kimonos (for a price that was way below what she could get for them, if you ask me!), so I had to have one. The big sing-song at the end was fun, not as much as Pub Sing, but that's because I'm used to it.

We had a fun time finding the hotel and a place for dinner, and we were all stiff waking up. Dad and I sent our friends on their way (vacation time!) and we drove home, stopping in Crownsville for our employee badges for the Festival. (I suddenly remembered that I wanted to suggest to someone about the booth employees having some kind of guild ribbon to mark them, so patrons know they can ask us for directions or something.)

Then we met up with mom and had a really late lunch. Or an early dinner. It's too late to take a nap though, and I'm tired!

Probably Not the Best Thing

for me to be doing right now is typing.

Last night, I had a heck of a time getting to sleep. It wasn't from excitement (though that's a part of it) or for lack of being tired. It was because my wrists hurt. Both of them. From the bones of the joints down through my thumbs. Immensly. So much that I simply couldn't sleep for the pain. After tossing about for what felt like many hours (but it was thankfully only 2330) I got up, took the last two ibuprofen in the house and found an ice pack. 45 minutes or so later, I took my ice pack to bed and slept. That's never happened before.

Now I'm going to finish lacing my bodice and get out of here! I hope you have a fun day, I will!

A Little Lagoon

Well, I'm sorry to say that I'm out of film.

My parents and I were planning on being in the 'yaks for about two hours, but we only lasted one in the heat of the day. We didn't get started as early as we wanted, and putting the kayaks on the new racks took longer than we thought (because it was the first time).

While we were out, we went down a creek of the Patuxent called House Gut, and saw some new vegitation and creatures. There was a moth-type thing with a white head, a red crawfish-like tail, and wings that fluttered like a humming bird. We then headed back up to Jug Bay and found a little opening in the reeds. It was almost like a little (three feet deep or so) lagoon. If it wasn't for the muk on the bottom, I would have jumped in!

We decided to head home after only an hour of being out. We were tired, hot, hungry. We really expected to be out much sooner in the day, but just didn't make it. We'll know better for next week.

My mother and I got Sunshine on the car with no problem, but had some trouble with the Mirage (hard to lift 45 lbs when you're tired and hot and hungry and have just finished lifting 40 lbs). We got it eventually and went on our merry way home, had dinner. Now I've just got to pack, as we'll be leaving for the faire around 0700 or so tomorrow.

No Spoilers Here

For those who read this and Harry Potter, I'm just going to say a few things. Yes, I finished it. I was wrong on all counts (regarding the questions within the book and how I thought they would be answered). The Prisoner of Azkaban is still my favorite. And, finally How in the heck is she going to do the last book?!?!

That said, I sat and read last night. The new book club book, The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, is not going to be an easy read for me. I'm not a fan of Anne Rice as it is.

This weekend will see my parents and I kayaking for a bit, then my dad and I will join our friends (and someone from book club, yay!) at the PA Renaissance Faire, and doesn't that sound like fun?!

No List Yet

Yeah, I'm still putting off calling the doctor. I haven't found my insurance information (despite the time I spend online, I haven't looked up their website either) and I haven't prepared the list of things I need to discuss. I know it will simply amount to taking a day or two off of work to see the doctor, but I have to prepare first!

We had a bit of wind for most of the night, and they set a 6 mile course (yike!). It was shortened to 4 miles, but we thought it should have ended at about 3. For boats that need wind, light air isn't too good! My friend actually got to do some sailing, so that was a good thing.

I know, you want to know if I've finished reading. Tonight! I'll finish it tonight!

Taken Into Account

This is going to turn into a long and healthy rant, so I'm going to take it one thing at a time.

First, make your way to my website, www.burninglakearts.com where you'll find a brand-new album for things like lighthouses and pretty boats! It's got five lighthouses right now, and more will be added (as I find the pictures and scan them in) in time. I'll put up a new album, coming soon (tm), for sailing and kayaking pictures.

I didn't finish my book last night like I wanted to, but I've got 8 chapters to go. Tomorrow is the day!

Now here's the big one.

I started a Slim-Fast diet in May. Somewhere between then and February, I had gained nearly 30 pounds and much of my clothing no longer fit me (I've so far gone through the summer on two pairs of shorts). I did the two-shake-a-day thing every day for the first month, and then every day except weekends thereafter. I had lost 7 pounds in that mix, so I upped my activity (at least, I thought so) and added a few more calories so my body wouldn't start hording. Last night, feeling particularly uncomfortable in my own skin, I realized I had gained 2 pounds on that total from May (meaning the 7 that I lost came back plus 2). I spent the evening being really mad at myself for not doing everything I could to lose this extra weight (yes, I'd been slacking off my exercises, but I've been more active on the weekends, so I guess I didn't find the happy medium I thought I had). And I know it's not muscle gain, because my clothes still don't fit.

I was ready to take in nothing but water for the next three days, but my cat purred me away from that crazy notion. I packed my food for the day as usual, and did a more rigorous exercise this morning. I'm still too tired to exercise when I get home from work, but I think I'm going to just have to deal with that to get rid of this extra weight.

Now, let me give you a scenario:

I say, "I want to lose weight. My clothes are no longer comfortable, and I feel uncomfortable in my skin."

My friend (pick one, because the only people who haven't given me this answer were my parents. And if you were one of the people who did say this, don't take it personally, you were not alone.) says, "I think you look fine."

Please tell me, how does that help? I've just told you that I feel uncomfortable and you say I look fine? The only thing that response is going to do is make me feel like my concerns are unimportant, which will make me more lethargic and depressed (which equals to, you guessed it, putting on more weight). Why can't you just say "I support you and I want you to be healthy and happy"? How hard is that? Don't add in your opinions of my appearance, I've already told you it's not about that, it's about how I feel. No wonder people in this country have such a hard time losing weight, they have no support!

Now that we've established that, remind me that I've been wanting to see a doctor about a few things. It will probably end up being several doctors, so I guess I should prepare a list!

Cheers!

Halfway

Well, I thought I was further through the book than I actually was, so now I'm about halfway through. I will be pretty hard pressed to finish it tonight, but I'll try!

I forgot to mention that I had over 100 jobs waiting for me yesterday! A few more came in during the day, but I got to down to in the 70's. I can catch up if the other group continues to process their own while I do it. One can only hope!

This is interesting: I once called myself a Tarot deck collector. I've been trying to learn the cards again, and I looked through my collection this morning. I have 28 decks of divination cards (some are not official Tarot)! That's a lot of cards! I almost bought two more this weekend, but I bought something else I had been wanting instead. I think my mother and I plan to go and get some things for the car rack and things for the cell phones on Friday, so I'll see if I can swing by a bookstore then. I've been itching to add to my collection that's had 11 years to grow for a while now.

I've got a few things to do on the computer tonight, but I can finish the book if I really put my mind to it!

Monday Monday!

Back to the normal stuff at work! Yippie! And my supervisor finally approved my taking off next Monday (after some reminding) so I can go to the PA Renaissance Faire with my father and our friends! YAY and YAY!

I'm doing well on my work, so I left it home today to get some reading done during my break. I'll get this sucker read, dangit!

Forgot to tell you, that thing that I mentioned on Friday about something that I missed, I recovered later that day. A bit of a set-back, but I know it was right. And that's still all I'm going to say about it.

Last Time!

Today was the last RenFaireGroup Brunch in Annapolis until the Festival starts and ends again. My dad and I and our friend went to all 10 brunches, and we call the plan a success. Every year, our circle of RenFaire friends says we're going to keep in touch in the off-season, and every year we fail. I think we very much did not fail this year! This time next month, we'll all be at Faire again! Yippie!

We took the boat tour to three Chesapeake Bay lighthouses, Thomas Point Shoal, Sandy Point Shoal, and Baltimore. If you know me, you know I love lighthouses! And you can only get really close to these by boat. It was very nice. I hope to have an album up on my website soon.

A friend of mine unexpectedly and in a way I could not avoid told me one of the things that happens at the end of HP 6. Thankfully, there's only one book left, but when that comes out, I'm not speaking to a soul until I'm done reading it! *grumble*

Not Early Enough

My parents and I were going to hit the 'yaks this morning, but we didn't get moving as early as we wanted to, given that it takes an hour or so to put the kayaks on the cars as it is. We decided instead to go out and buy a Thule rack system for my car, so I can put Sunshine and the Mirage up on my own if I have to. With them stacked, that was impossible, though I could take them down.

I had to go to a wedding with a friend in the evening, while my dad fitted my car up. The wedding was nice, the bride was glowing, and I spent some time in some less than pleasant company. My godson was infatuated with the little flower girl. He kept calling her is girlfriend. It was very cute. I wish Beth and Dan many years of happiness.

I'm sorry we didn't get the kayaks out today. We won't have time for them tomorrow either. Fooey.

*BONK*

Ok, have you even been given an opportunity? Something that might have been perfect if you just took the chance? Everyone has permission to bonk me on the head like I just did; I let something go last night that I wish I hadn't. Granted, all is not lost and I can recover, but why oh why did I not take it when it was handed to me?

That's all you're going to get about that, so don't even ask. No use reporting on nothing anyway.

In other news, a very old and dear friend of my father is very sick and going into the hospital sometime today. I am sorry that I'm not going with my father to visit him, but I have nosocomephobia (look it up). I do hope the problem is not what they think it is, but please send our friend some nice healing energy or prayers (whatever burns your bush).

And hugs and health to you all while I'm at it.

Still, Still, Still

That was the Bay last night! My friend came out to join us again, and there was no wind! We drifted across the start, we drifted down the first leg, they shortened the race and we sneezed our way across the finish line. He's got one more Wednesday with us, so I really hope we get some good windpower next week. Call the wind, get it blowing! Sailors everywhere need YOU!

That said, I am also still not doing my regular duties at work. We are even more behind and they need me to help catch up. The reason for the more behindness is because OBC got a new bank over the weekend, but we didn't give any overtime to get them fully implimented. That's all on the head honchos. OH! I'm going to add my very first picture to this blog so you can meet Harold and Gertrude! They are a symbol of our company, and have been with us since we moved into this building in December.

I still haven't finished Harry Potter #6. Don't worry, I'll get it done soon! Very soon! Like, Tuesday night. I predict I will finish reading Tuesday night. So says I!

At Least There Are Three

That's right, three work days to endure before my weekend. I got to catch up with a friend who recently left the company today. She's hoping I can find a job closer to home, because she knows how much my 50 mile commute is eating away at me.

It sure would be nice, don't get me wrong, but how am I supposed to go on interviews? I have to give my supervisor 2 weeks notice to request off a day, I don't have actual sick leave (it all comes from the PTO pile), and I can't take my lunch break because it would take me an hour to get in the right area. It is beyond frustrating.

I have faith that if it is something I really need, it will happen. Possibly in November (when I had intended to move anyway) I will be able to do some hunting. With the Renaissance Festival coming up, I won't even have kayak time! But, that's also my choice, so I'm not complaining. (Lots of things are waiting for November....)

One Day Is NOT Too Much To Ask!

Well, I originally wanted off yesterday. But my supervisor said I couldn't have it because we've been backed up at work (not my fault). So, in compromise, I took off today and left early yesterday. That's not a bad deal, really.

So, I sat at the computer and finished my work (and am able to move on to the next one right away!). And then I ate and sat on the couch with my cat and read. Then mother came home and we went out and bought new cell phones. We're back on a contract now (icky) but the phones were free, and it's not costing us much more per month.

I wish I was off tomorrow too, but I still need that check coming in. It was a very good day.

Happy Lughnasadh!

Today, people around the world give thanks to the harvest and the farmers who work the fields.

The name Lughnasadh comes from the Celtic god Lugh, Lughnasadh being Lugh's Assembly, as it is said he started such a feast day. This day is know as Lammas, or loaf-mas, to Christians and is the church's thanksgiving day.

Harvest something for the coming winter today! And as you break your bread, don't forget to thank the farmers who sowed the seeds that grew into the wheat that was ground into flour and baked in an oven so you can slather it with butter and eat!