Three Cheers for Friday

That's all I can say! I've been having to stay late to finish the work I've been given during the day. I hate that, but I'm just not stimulated enough to work as fast as I know I can.

I'm not looking toward a restful weekend, there's drunken people in lederhosen weekend at the faire, and then the last game of the Washington National's first season on Sunday. But at least it's Friday!

A Scary Thought

I have been in communication with an old friend of a friend. We'll call this person Rain. Rain was asking for information about our friend (who remains mine, though it no longer theirs).

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG BECAUSE WE SUDDENLY REMEMBERED SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO!!

My friend, if you are reading (the friend with whom I worked for by special request this summer and is responsible for the kayaks. Yeah, you.) It's about those jobs this summer, I have an important W-2 question, don't let me forget!

THANK YOU, NOW BACK TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED BLOG!

We'll call this other friend Les. Rain wanted information about Les, because Rain wanted to know 'the truth' about what happened between them. I told Rain I would say what I knew only if it did not break any confidences I had with Les, and would bring harm to no one.

I did just that, I told Rain what I knew of the situation, based on what Les had told me (which wasn't much) and withholding the information that I thought should not be shared for either of the aforementioned reasons. Rain had their own version of the situation to tell me, and ask me to confirm those things. I told Rain I could not, I could only take as true what my good friend told me.

The reason I'm telling this story is because recent information has been brought to my attention from someone whom I would always expect to tell me the truth; that someone is Les. What's the scary thought? I'm starting to think that Rain might be right. Which means Les, with whom I've been friends for seven years or so, was not telling the truth.

I don't know how to take that at all. I don't know what to do with it. And I don't like it one bit. I try to be truthful always in word and deed, I expect no less from my friends. If you cannot tell me the truth, there is no friendship there. The explaination I got from Les was some drove about the heart wanting things, that still didn't answer the question I put to Les to be answered, why was I told no when the answer was yes?

I can't be a part of someone's life who thinks it's ok to lie to me because of pride or fear or whatever. That is not a friendship. I am counting on my friend to give me a better explanation of the situation when we meed face-to-face (whenever that may be), and I may find it is not so bad and I can be forgiving. However, judging from Les' last communication, this does not look promising at all.

New Problems

But I've found a few things that can help. They won't go away, but at least I can learn to deal with them.

Tell me this, though.

If you are in a relationship with someone, and you're really happy and excited about it, wouldn't you really want to share the news with your close friends, especially when you have done so in the past? What are the reasons that anyone denies a relationship? Because they're guilty, not proud, doing something they shouldn't and know it? And also, if you want your friends to stand by you, you tell them the truth, right?

See, true love is not the ability to love a different person every month, or even every year. It is the ability to love one person for the rest of your life.

And a true friend is not judgemental. It is someone who will be by you when you mess up, when you disagree, when you are sad, when you are happy, when you are lonesome, when you are the life of the party. A true friend will tell you when you've done wrong and love you anyway. There are only two things that must be consistant with a true friend, those are truth and trust. You must always be true to them, and you must trust they will do so with you. That is how a friendship will last.

Lies, deception, and hiding are not a part of this.

Happy Birthday, Mom

I am honored to be able to call you Mother and Friend. I love you.

What Do You Do

when the person you would normally talk to is the source of the problem?

Didn't Last Too Long

My mother and I went to the RenFest today, but the dust was really aggrivating, and we only stayed a couple hours. At least I got to take out my pirate costume (which is pretty impressive, if I do say so myself).

We came home and played our new video games! Not a bad birthday weekend!

Super Mondo Shopping Day!

It looked gloomy this morning, so my mom decided she'd rather go shopping instead of kayaking. (Of course, it turned out to be a fine day for kayaking, but I've still got that lingering cough and I'm sure it was best I stay in.)

So, instead of quality time with the 'yaks, we went shopping! We bought some clothes, and a new video game for GBA (Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town), and then I took mom to see Flight Plan. It was pretty good.

It's easy to get tired when shopping!

Mom's Birthday Weekend Incoming!

I will not be working at RenFest this weekend, I took off both days so that my mother and I can do whatever she wants.

It is Pirate Invasion, and I'm sorry I'll be missing it, but that's ok. My mom wants to see a movie, or go shopping, or go kayaking or all of the above! And she's got two days! Her birthday is actually next Tuesday, but I'll be at work, and we all have to work the next day anyway, so the weekend is a good time to do stuff.

Who wants a few hours of party, when you can have a whole weekend?!

Ah HA!

You thought I missed a day didn't you?

Shows what you know!

Out of Here Someday

My friend is receptive to moving to Orlando instead of LA, but it looks like it won't be until next year anyway. That's a long time to wait, we'll have to take a few vacations and scout out some places first. I hope it's a long enough time, though, I've still got lots of debt.

I recently acquired a new $2700 laptop from Dell (don't be too concerned, it only cost me $1500 and change). I've wanted one for a while, and it was the right time with this sale. I've got one more gown to buy at the Faire this year, and hopefully that will be it as far as major purchases for me. Yes, I'm still working on that second kayak debt. I hope that next year will be enough time to take care of all of this.

I can't leave before June anyway, because I have to be here for my best friend's wedding. I might as well work one more year at the Faire if I'm going to stay through June, so we're either looking at August or November next year.

I love my parents and I love my home, but I'm starting to itch to get out. I'm not ready just yet, but it's got to happen. I know I won't say in this area forever. Someday....

Fiddle Dee Dee

This is going to be a long week. I'm doing other things at work (than my regular stuff) and I still don't like it much. So, since I should be working, I'm going to tell you this story.

Remember when I mentioned the Baby Dragons, the anoles they sell at PA RennFaire? I wanted one, but was sure my cats would eat it.

Just before dinner on Wednesday night, poor Miss Luna started coughing. We like to move the cats on to the tile floors when they do this (easier to clean, and us holding them seems to calm them down), but they tend to run from us. I caught up with Miss Luna, and knelt on the floor to pick her up. I noticed something wet and slimy against my ankle where I knelt, and was sure she had already coughed up the hairball.

She stopped coughing so I rolled over, cat in arms, to see what was on the carpet. It was not a hairball, or anything else one would expect a cat to cough up. It was a slimy, tooth-marked, headless anole body! I hollered for someone to bring some paper towels and a wet one I could use to clean my ankle. We were a little surprised, to say the least. Not that Miss Luna would have killed one, but how did it get in the house anyway?

Yup, I was right. I can't have a Baby Dragon. My cat would eat it!

Less Hot, Says Who?

Yeah, remember how I said they said it was supposed to be less hot yesterday? pffft. There was a bit of a breeze and maybe it was not as humid, but it was pretty hot.

So, even being sick, I did some walking. I'm in the market for a chemise or two (I'd rather have them as blouse and skirt rather than one piece) in green and lilac, or white that I can dye to my needs. And I'm still looking for a silver gown of some kind. This will take some shopping.

In the meantime, I went to work though I probably should have stayed home one more day. At least no one's giving me slack for not coming in last Thursday and Friday.

I need a nap.

All The Way Through

You guessed it, I stayed for the whole thing, even through *most* of dinner. We went to Jaspers and had some of the most horrible service. It took a good 20-30 minutes just to bring us water, even though we said we were all dehydrated and needed it. Then half of the drinks came out. Then we had to ask for the soup/salad orders. Then the other half of the drinks came out (after going to the kitchen and asking for them), and half of the meals. Then we had to ask at least 3 times for drink refills (the caraf of water he brought us was 3/4 ice). It was just unbelievable.

We were only a party of 6, not the usual 10-20, and should have been no problem. We were not a rowdy bunch, and we're not hard to please. When we go out, it's simple. Bring us water, keep it coming, bring us food, get the empty glasses/dishes out of the way. We tend to leave a pretty good tip for these simple things. I doubt this guy even got a tip as we were discussing, but I wouldn't know because it took him so long to even come and ask if we were ready for the bill that I had gone home already.

I can tell you, this won't be a place we will return to any time soon.

Today is supposed to be less hot, but I had a really hard time getting to sleep. Our neighbors had a loud-music party until midnight. Then I just couldn't get to sleep (too much tea at dinner, maybe). We'll see, same rules apply as yesterday: mask, go home if I have to.

Not Allergies, By The Way

Because allergies don't come with the muscle aches that I've got.

The stubborn little juice-drinking, cat-hugging, sicker-than-a-puddle-of-slime person that I am still intends to work my shift at the Faire today. I'll get a scarf or something to cover my nose and mouth so I'm not inhaling all that contaminated dust. I'll also pick up some more juice to bring with me in convenient travel-sized bottles. (Can you tell I'm ill, I'm talking silly?!)

If I can't make it through the day, I'll come home, and I'm sure the in-charge person will understand. But I'm going to try all the same.

Once More, With Feeling

One of these days, I'm going to run out of a unique daily blog title.

I stayed home again today. I still have a fever and I've started to cough (groan). I'm drinking lots of O.J. and cuddling with fuzzy kitties!

My sweet calico jumped up on the bed and started purring when my alarm went off this morning. I know from experience this is her way of telling me I need to be in bed. Happy to oblige!

Well, I Made It

But it wasn't easy! And I didn't make it today. I just got up, and I'm going to get some juice and watch a movie (sleep during a movie is more accurate).

Sick is no fun, but my kitties are cute. And both of them are hanging around me; outside my door, in the kitchen when I get water or juice, on the couch, in the hall right now. I love those furbabies!

Not Sure If I'll Last

Back at work. I felt a bit better when I woke up this morning, but that's all gone away and I feel rotten again.

I keep watching the clock, if I can just make it to 1130, that's the half day that we work when we have half days (it's not really half, it's 5.5 hours). But then, if I make it to 1130, why can't I make to to 1200, or 1300, and before I know it, it will be 1530 and time to go, right?

I'm trying. I'm trying.

Maybe It Really Is Allergies

But I don't know. I don't have a fever and feel pretty miserable. I'm so tense, everything is sore; my jaw, my neck, my shoulders, my back.

Yup, I still came in to work. There's so much to do, and so many other ways I'd rather spend my leave. It'd be nice if we had a decent amount of staff and a separate pool of sick days.

I don't know what it is, but I want it to go away!

What Is In That Dust?

Something icky.

I don't get allergies, but I've got something. It's all in my throat and feels more like a cold than an allergy.

And yet, here I am at work, trying to catch up, trying to keep my eyes open. At least I can sleep on the way home.

The Dust Flies

My mom and I went to the Faire. We walked through clouds of dust that rose up in droves from the village walkways. Dust, dust, dust.

Mom bought a coat from Half Moon (I've been wanting one for years). I got a new moonstone to replace the broken one in my divination kit. (I don't think I told you about that, it's a lithomancy kit and the moonstone came in three pieces. The funny thing is, by chance, I got three moonstones to replace it!). We watched the Squire walk on a burning wire for the first time, and then went home early. It was a long weekend.

(ThriveFest wasn't all that. There was lots to do, mostly for kids, and a lot of really good food. It was fun, but we didn't stay long.)

So, I turned in my work this morning. And Mom and I watched a movie when we got home from Faire. It was nice to rest a bit. Four years ago had a very different end to a very different day. And even in four years, those people are constantly in my thoughts.

Fantastic!

What a great game! (Nope, never heard from my friend).

My parents and I decided to drive to the stadium rather than take the Metro, because it was getting late and we wanted to be sure to get there on time. Driving is really easy, it's only $10 to park and it looked like they had plenty of space. It's definitely more convenient to us than taking the Metro.

They played the Atlanta Braves, scored one run early on, then were losing to 4 until good ole Vinny hit a home run in the 8th inning. Final score 6 to 4. And I still haven't been to a losing game!

We did get back a little late, so we decided not to kayak this morning. We'll just take it easy and go to ThriveFest this afternoon. Sounds like a good deal to me. And while we're at it, I'll get my lesson done!

I Wanna Go To The Game!!

How's this for good fortune?

I still haven't heard from my friend, but OBC had some business with Cox Communications and they have tickets for tonight's game! My dad asked if we wanted any, and I told him to get three (they're free, you know). So we don't lose anything if my friend calls, and we'll be going to the game one way or another!

Yay! Now, hopefully they'll win!

Looking Towards a Busy Weekend

I'm tired of looking at my swamped workload. Let's explore what we've got going on for the weekend!

Let's see. I'm supposed to go to a Nats' game with a friend tomorrow. But I haven't spoken with him in a while. If he calls I'll be ready to go, if I don't hear from him it's no big deal.

On Saturday, we plan to go kayaking in the morning, then to the big Kaiser Permanente ThriveFest (which is essentially a super huge office party, my mother works for them).

Then on Sunday, my mother and I are going to wander around the Faire all day.

Doesn't that sound like a wonderful weekend?! I love being busy, as much as I miss having nothing to do.

Let Me Tell You About the Tail

So, I bought a tail at the Renaissance Festival. I think they said it was once a lynx. Yes, it is an actual tail that was once a growing part of a little furry critter, and I clipped it to my basket. I've never had an urge to buy a tail before, so the fact that I did still surprises me.

So, I'm getting ready to go to the Faire to work. I put the basket down on the floor and went to make breakfast. I heard this strange sound and knew that the kitten, Miss Luna, was playing with the tail. I went in to watch and she, upon seeing me, grabbed the tail and turned to run. But she's not strong enough to pull the basket, so the tail slipped out of her mouth. She turned back around and tried again. Same thing. And again. And again the same thing! The fourth time, she turned around, looked at me, looked at her toy, then ran off without it. It was so cute!

The next day, I put the basket down knowing she would play with the tail again. I was right, and this time she didn't run when I watched her. I saw her jump against the wall, kick off, and pounce on the tail from above!

That kitten! How cute!

And That's the Weekend

But it was nice.

See, I'm trying to be more affirmative. Like turning a negative thought like "I'm going to be late" into a positive thought like "I will arrive at work safely." If I think negative things, that's all I need to bring them about. But we all know that's not what we really want. So, replace that negative thought with a positive affirmation.

Then meditate, pet soft purring kitties, read an children's book before bed, and play in a garden. That's all you need for a nice, relaxing day. It's especially important now when we're being bombarded with scenes of disaster and the blame game.

This is unhealthy for us and our lives. Lives go on, and so they should, and so they shall. I want my life to be filled with positive influences. Support, kindness, strength, and love are key.

Over the weekend, I started every day with a meditation exercise I learned in acting class (yes, actors meditate and practice Yoga and Pilate's as a form of actor-training) and another grounding exercise. I went through my day, and ended each by reading a story to my cat.

On Saturday, I read Yurtle the Turtle, by Dr Seuss. This is one of my favorite stories from my childhood. The book had records on each page and a little record player. I can still remember the voice of the woman reading. I must have drove my parents nuts! While I was reading to one purring cat on my bed, the other cat pushed open the door and sat there to listen. it was so cute. I love my kitties!

Don't let me forget to tell you about the tail!

Some Things Don't Always Work Out As Planned

My mom forgot that she had planned to come to faire, and so made plans to play tennis. No big, we'll try again next week. I managed to be off all weekend, so we'll go kayaking and to her office picnic on Saturday, and faire on Sunday. Good deal.

I met up with some friends today and saw Shakespeare's Scum for the first time (though neither of my friends believed me when I said I'd never seen them. Honestly, when am I going to see them? If I'm not working, I'm usually at the tavern or watching the Squire of the Wire, or the joust or something. They know this. Silly people.). So, we had a good time and I left early to grab some dinner and get to bed on time.

What a wonderfully busy weekend!

Ten Hours

New shoes are great, because now I know the pain in my legs is from 10 hours on hard wooden planks, not awful shoes!

It was busy today, but we're not breaking any records. I know, people are buying gas for their cars, not tickets and hats at a Renaissance Festival. It's a shame, because the Faire can be therapeutic if you need it to be.

Tomorrow, my mom said she'd be coming, and I'm not working! Yay!

Shoes = Bad

Yeah, I know you're wondering about this.

I bought a pair of black leather moccasins that I can wear on festival days. The strange thing about them is that they are size 9 and I wear 7. One would think they are too big, but noooo, they are too small! They are a little wide around the heel, but cut into my feet along the ball and over the top. OUCH! I stood all day at the festival in those horrid things! I took them off during dinner, but my feet protested when I put them back on to go to the car and drive home.

Tomorrow at faire, I'll get some new, comfortable, shoes!

I'm Feeling Better

By a bit.

I've been low on energy lately, like there's too much to do and only one of me to do it. It's a really good thing that EverQuest Guiding isn't one of them right now! Though I do miss it still, I'm enjoying the freedom I have without those obligations.

My cat has been sleeping with me the past several nights. I don't want to draw energy from her, but wonderful things happen when a cat purrs you to sleep. My card designs have been coming along. It's not an easy task; I'm using two programs that don't talk to each other so I have to use a third program to put the completed images together. There is therapy in creating, I don't miss the energy I use to design.

There are new products on my webstore! Some new shirts and postage (yup, actual stamp you can stick on an envelope to pay for mail) are already up, look for a mini button, rectangle magnet, 2006 12-month calendar, light colored hats, and a few other things will be coming soon(tm)! Get looking! I'll start putting my tarot card images on merchandise if you let me know you want them!

The Last Night

The Wednesday Night Racing Series came to a close last night. And such a close! Lots of wind, lots of waves, it was great! And wet....

Our standings are not great (they weren't on the last boat I sailed either) but that's not why my dad and I sail. It's for the wind and the water, for the boat and the crew, and for the spectacular sunsets that so many people go through their lives never noticing.

This time of year makes me very sad. I miss the boat I sailed on for 10 years, I miss the good times had there, and I miss the captain who was my friend very dearly. At the same time, I am so thankful for our current captain, who allowed my dad and I to sail on his boat, so we didn't have to stop experiencing the wonders that sailing on the Chesapeake Bay has to offer.

For on the deck, my Captain lies....