Woohoo! I return to the world of weekend employed tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to having weekends to work since I haven't worked a physical job since April. Being out of my garb for almost 4 months has been a nice break and it makes me excited to be getting back into it.
There are a lot of friends I'm excited to see who I only get to see at the Maryland faire. I'm not camping on site and I'm actually a little grateful for that although it makes life easier when I'm there - being able to walk to work, sleeping in a little later, hanging out in the evenings - all good things. But by not being on site I won't have to deal with the shit stirrers drama, the mud when it's raining, being alone, having ot drive out to do laundry or spot-a-potties. All in all I'm glad I ended up staying put where I am.
I'll be working for a new business this year so that means new skills, new merchandise and new faces. I'll be working next door to some folks who I adore so that's a plus too.
I'm looking forward to the season even though I'm getting no play time. At least I know solidly what my house are plus there aren't many acts that I am dying to see - well none actually. My favorite acts aren't there this year so there are faces I'm going to miss seeing but who knows, maybe next year.
I'll try to get some updated pictures!
Hello to Visitors from Blogging the Boys
A user over on their site put a link to my website in a comment thread and my traffic has been going crazy ever since so I just wanted to give them a little neighborly internet nod and wave. If you're a NFL Cowboys fan, stop by their site and visit for a while. http://www.bloggingtheboys.com
Wait What? It's Almost August
It occurred to me that I haven't updated here recently. I'm still alive and kicking just not too much to report. Well, that's not entirely true. Last time I updated I was in San Marcos, TX and had just celebrated my 39th birthday.
Much has changed.
I'm currently in Maryland, where I've been since the end of May. Staying, once again, on the property of some very generous friends. I never saw the rest of Scarborough Faire after allowing myself to be fired from sales because it wouldn't cause the owners of the business any stress. Although they still wanted me in the production process doing piece work. Yeah, if that sounds weird to you, imagine how it sounded to me. I was fairly offended and then things turned ugly. Ugly enough that it caused me another trip to the emergency room due to anxiety and stress. The odd thing in all of it was that I was there to help some folks I deeply cared about and instead was thrown into managing a business while dealing with failing equipment, their financial/personal/ legal problems, a tense house where people yell at each other and their animals a lot - all of this leads to a stressful living situation. I choose to live in a van to avoid this sort of drama. If I had the ability to deal with all of that I could have just gotten and apartment and a 9 - 5 job. I just can't deal with that sort of stress anymore. I could have managed the business if I didn't have to deal with the other stressors while also being told they really can't afford to pay me and changing my job description in the middle of a job arbitrarily by expecting me to do piece work that I generally could bank a lot of extra pay on just because business is slow (which it generally wasn't) and they won't have to pay out the piece work. You also can't be a business owner and choose to not hear the concerns of your employees just because the subject matter makes you uncomfortable. I began to feel taken advantage of, which causes resentment. As far as I knew when I signed up for the gig I was going to be a sales person and doing some production, not managing entire festivals on a salary that wasn't equal to the work and definitely not working 16 straight weekends with no break especially given how miserable the weather was the first 8 weeks.
I left Texas stressed to the same point I was when I lost my house - not sleeping, not eating, physically and emotionally drained dry to the point of not even being able to drive to get myself back to the East coast. Hence the trip to the emergency room. They pumped me full of fluids, prescribed some Ativan and I was lucky enough to be able to crash at a local vanner's house for a few days to recover enough to drive back to MD. Gods bless the vanners! Not only did I get to recover but some fixes The Inn desperately needed happened and I was able to safely make it back to my home state.
Once again, I spent months and months in Texas and didn't get to see anything of quality to me because there simply just wasn't time for Randy and I to do so. This is not the life I signed up for when I decided to live in the van.
Life is mucho better now. The weather in MD has been gorgeous and not at all like summer. The heat and humidity we usually experience this time of year has been minimal. I've only had to use the A/C a handful of days.
I've not accomplished much of what I wanted to do as far as creative projects due in part to some laziness and in part to space constraints. I have gotten to see a lot of my long time friends and my best female friend is now just a slight drive away. Hopefully, my drive to create will return soon.
I've secured summer work once again with a vendor at the Maryland Renaissance Festival which begins in just a few weeks. At a pay rate equal to what I was making as a "manager" of the other business. Sadly, I'm not camping on the grounds this year which is making transportation a bit of an issue but I'm sure that will work itself out. Also sadly, The Rogues were not hired on for this season so in a way I'm glad I'm not camping there as I would probably be fairly lonely without Randy's company. I'm definitely looking forward to the work, maybe learning a new skill and meeting a bunch of new folks.
The kitties are all doing well. Unfortunately I walked Dandy several times here and ended up with a bit of a flea issue but I think we've finally got that under control.
I've cut my hair short again and donated to Locks of Love (because they're the only ones who would take color treated hair). The short 'do has been much more comfortable and easier to manage then my long hair was. I was at a point with the long hair that I never bothered to wear it down anymore so really, what was the point of having it? I think I'll be much more comfy at faire when the heat of summer finally kicks in (which I know it will)
I still work for The Rogues as their website manager and the band is doing well with gigs across Ohio, Texas and Washington state. Hopefully, they'll be able to come back to the East coast next season and hopefully, after this summer, I'll be able to go back on the road with them in Texas come the Spring when other living area becomes available. That's the plan for now anyhow. With any luck my summer job will allow me the finances to relocate before winter is in full swing as I'm not so sure I actually want to do a full winter in MD, though this past winter in TX proved to me that I can survive in the Inn in temperatures that are consistently below freezing (as long as I have power to run an electric heater).
I'm still learning to hoop and have gotten much better now that I purchased polypro hoops. Tricks are so much easier though I still lack a "dancy" quality to my flow. I cut down my hoop collection by giving away hoops that I don't really play with anymore to new hoopers who will get more use out of them.
I've also gotten to spend a lot of time around a toddler. He's a great kid and I'm rather proud of the fact that I've managed to be a babysitter for short periods of time without a complete meltdown on either his or my end. That's truly a feat for someone who has never spent any amount of time around any child - ever. We read a lot of books. Well okay, he points and I read a lot of books. I'm now fully versed in construction equipment and vehicles
Much has changed.
I'm currently in Maryland, where I've been since the end of May. Staying, once again, on the property of some very generous friends. I never saw the rest of Scarborough Faire after allowing myself to be fired from sales because it wouldn't cause the owners of the business any stress. Although they still wanted me in the production process doing piece work. Yeah, if that sounds weird to you, imagine how it sounded to me. I was fairly offended and then things turned ugly. Ugly enough that it caused me another trip to the emergency room due to anxiety and stress. The odd thing in all of it was that I was there to help some folks I deeply cared about and instead was thrown into managing a business while dealing with failing equipment, their financial/personal/ legal problems, a tense house where people yell at each other and their animals a lot - all of this leads to a stressful living situation. I choose to live in a van to avoid this sort of drama. If I had the ability to deal with all of that I could have just gotten and apartment and a 9 - 5 job. I just can't deal with that sort of stress anymore. I could have managed the business if I didn't have to deal with the other stressors while also being told they really can't afford to pay me and changing my job description in the middle of a job arbitrarily by expecting me to do piece work that I generally could bank a lot of extra pay on just because business is slow (which it generally wasn't) and they won't have to pay out the piece work. You also can't be a business owner and choose to not hear the concerns of your employees just because the subject matter makes you uncomfortable. I began to feel taken advantage of, which causes resentment. As far as I knew when I signed up for the gig I was going to be a sales person and doing some production, not managing entire festivals on a salary that wasn't equal to the work and definitely not working 16 straight weekends with no break especially given how miserable the weather was the first 8 weeks.
I left Texas stressed to the same point I was when I lost my house - not sleeping, not eating, physically and emotionally drained dry to the point of not even being able to drive to get myself back to the East coast. Hence the trip to the emergency room. They pumped me full of fluids, prescribed some Ativan and I was lucky enough to be able to crash at a local vanner's house for a few days to recover enough to drive back to MD. Gods bless the vanners! Not only did I get to recover but some fixes The Inn desperately needed happened and I was able to safely make it back to my home state.
Once again, I spent months and months in Texas and didn't get to see anything of quality to me because there simply just wasn't time for Randy and I to do so. This is not the life I signed up for when I decided to live in the van.
Life is mucho better now. The weather in MD has been gorgeous and not at all like summer. The heat and humidity we usually experience this time of year has been minimal. I've only had to use the A/C a handful of days.
I've not accomplished much of what I wanted to do as far as creative projects due in part to some laziness and in part to space constraints. I have gotten to see a lot of my long time friends and my best female friend is now just a slight drive away. Hopefully, my drive to create will return soon.
I've secured summer work once again with a vendor at the Maryland Renaissance Festival which begins in just a few weeks. At a pay rate equal to what I was making as a "manager" of the other business. Sadly, I'm not camping on the grounds this year which is making transportation a bit of an issue but I'm sure that will work itself out. Also sadly, The Rogues were not hired on for this season so in a way I'm glad I'm not camping there as I would probably be fairly lonely without Randy's company. I'm definitely looking forward to the work, maybe learning a new skill and meeting a bunch of new folks.
The kitties are all doing well. Unfortunately I walked Dandy several times here and ended up with a bit of a flea issue but I think we've finally got that under control.
I've cut my hair short again and donated to Locks of Love (because they're the only ones who would take color treated hair). The short 'do has been much more comfortable and easier to manage then my long hair was. I was at a point with the long hair that I never bothered to wear it down anymore so really, what was the point of having it? I think I'll be much more comfy at faire when the heat of summer finally kicks in (which I know it will)
I still work for The Rogues as their website manager and the band is doing well with gigs across Ohio, Texas and Washington state. Hopefully, they'll be able to come back to the East coast next season and hopefully, after this summer, I'll be able to go back on the road with them in Texas come the Spring when other living area becomes available. That's the plan for now anyhow. With any luck my summer job will allow me the finances to relocate before winter is in full swing as I'm not so sure I actually want to do a full winter in MD, though this past winter in TX proved to me that I can survive in the Inn in temperatures that are consistently below freezing (as long as I have power to run an electric heater).
I'm still learning to hoop and have gotten much better now that I purchased polypro hoops. Tricks are so much easier though I still lack a "dancy" quality to my flow. I cut down my hoop collection by giving away hoops that I don't really play with anymore to new hoopers who will get more use out of them.
I've also gotten to spend a lot of time around a toddler. He's a great kid and I'm rather proud of the fact that I've managed to be a babysitter for short periods of time without a complete meltdown on either his or my end. That's truly a feat for someone who has never spent any amount of time around any child - ever. We read a lot of books. Well okay, he points and I read a lot of books. I'm now fully versed in construction equipment and vehicles
Holy Crap, It's April!
Where did the last few months go? I've been a drained little bee. The weather has not been normal here in Texas. Last winter in Houston, it got a little chilly and rains quite a bit. This year in San Marcos has been FRIGID.
The Inn is nice and toasty when it's chilly outside but the tent that I worked in for Medieval Moccasins at the Sherwood Forest Fair was not. I said before, Sherwood is a lovely little festival with the exception of starting in February. 8 weeks, every weekend was horrible weather at least one (and most cases both) day(s). Ridiculous. We managed to do okay out there given the weather but not without sapping the energy out of my entire being.
Scarborough Renaissance Festival started this past weekend (which Sunday was also my 39th birthday) and felt like the weather just isn't ready to be Springish. Opening day was good despite being overcast and gloomy but then there was Sunday. Sunday started with thunderstorms and pissing rain and that trend continued until just after midnight when Randy and I pulled back into home in San Marcos.
Here's hoping this weekends weather is better. At least the booth at Scarby is actually a structure and not a tent. It makes riding out rough weather a lot better!
This past week I've also purchased a Brother XL2600I sewing machine and plan to undertake some sewing projects. There are some things I need, some things I want and some things that just look hella fun to make. I'll be posting updates here and directly to a Facebook Page which I will announce later. First, I need to get the machine here and find some space to learn how to use it.. Second, I need to pick out one of the hundreds of projects I've been collecting since I pushed the purchase button.
Randy bought me a little portable music player so I can have music to hoop to, as soon as I remember where I put my webcam I'll be getting some sort of video up.
I've also been gardening up a small storm. As much as I can do and still expect to feasibly travel with my plants.
I'll try to update here more often, with a goal of at least once a week with a new project if nothing else!
The Inn is nice and toasty when it's chilly outside but the tent that I worked in for Medieval Moccasins at the Sherwood Forest Fair was not. I said before, Sherwood is a lovely little festival with the exception of starting in February. 8 weeks, every weekend was horrible weather at least one (and most cases both) day(s). Ridiculous. We managed to do okay out there given the weather but not without sapping the energy out of my entire being.
Scarborough Renaissance Festival started this past weekend (which Sunday was also my 39th birthday) and felt like the weather just isn't ready to be Springish. Opening day was good despite being overcast and gloomy but then there was Sunday. Sunday started with thunderstorms and pissing rain and that trend continued until just after midnight when Randy and I pulled back into home in San Marcos.
Here's hoping this weekends weather is better. At least the booth at Scarby is actually a structure and not a tent. It makes riding out rough weather a lot better!
This past week I've also purchased a Brother XL2600I sewing machine and plan to undertake some sewing projects. There are some things I need, some things I want and some things that just look hella fun to make. I'll be posting updates here and directly to a Facebook Page which I will announce later. First, I need to get the machine here and find some space to learn how to use it.. Second, I need to pick out one of the hundreds of projects I've been collecting since I pushed the purchase button.
Randy bought me a little portable music player so I can have music to hoop to, as soon as I remember where I put my webcam I'll be getting some sort of video up.
I've also been gardening up a small storm. As much as I can do and still expect to feasibly travel with my plants.
I'll try to update here more often, with a goal of at least once a week with a new project if nothing else!
Hoop Challenge Fail
I failed at the 30 day hoop challenge so I'll try again next month (only it'll be a 28 day hoop challenge). Why did I fail? t got freaking cold in Texas.
When I first moved into The Inn on a full time basis it was in April, in Maryland. That first night in the van it went to 24 degrees and, until a couple weeks ago, that had been the coldest night I spent in here. Not anymore.
It went down to 16 degrees here in San Marcos. That 24 degree night was a walk in the park, with 6 cats (again, each putting out 62 btus at rest) sleeping on me. Right now I'm only keeping one or two of the cats in the van at night and the rest are camped in Randy's RV where they have more room to run and be obnoxious.16 degrees was cold. There was frost on he inside of the windows from the humidity inside and Dandy wanted to sleep under the covers which is unusual for him. I was throwing many, many thanks toward Maine and Dave Hufstader who gave me a small electric space heater for the van since I hadn't (and still haven't) inspected the furnace and propane systems.
Not only did it get cold but it got very windy for several days. Hooping in 20 mph winds isn't fun and if it's not fun, it's not worth doing.
I have been hooping though and I think I'm finally finding my flow. I still really, really want both a LED and a poly pro hoop but my work with the heavy hoop I have now has gotten tons better.
When I first moved into The Inn on a full time basis it was in April, in Maryland. That first night in the van it went to 24 degrees and, until a couple weeks ago, that had been the coldest night I spent in here. Not anymore.
It went down to 16 degrees here in San Marcos. That 24 degree night was a walk in the park, with 6 cats (again, each putting out 62 btus at rest) sleeping on me. Right now I'm only keeping one or two of the cats in the van at night and the rest are camped in Randy's RV where they have more room to run and be obnoxious.16 degrees was cold. There was frost on he inside of the windows from the humidity inside and Dandy wanted to sleep under the covers which is unusual for him. I was throwing many, many thanks toward Maine and Dave Hufstader who gave me a small electric space heater for the van since I hadn't (and still haven't) inspected the furnace and propane systems.
Not only did it get cold but it got very windy for several days. Hooping in 20 mph winds isn't fun and if it's not fun, it's not worth doing.
I have been hooping though and I think I'm finally finding my flow. I still really, really want both a LED and a poly pro hoop but my work with the heavy hoop I have now has gotten tons better.
Hoopy 30/30 Day 2
Day two of the hoop challenge brought with it an interesting obstacle - wind. Hooping in 19 mile an hour winds is difficult. I hooped for about 20 minutes and was so cold I couldn't even move to keep up with the hoop.
I did work on reverse flow hooping (hooping the opposite way that you usually do) and waist breaks, however, it was not pleasant and so I didn't meet the full 30 minutes for this day.
I'll make up for the 10 minutes I missed in day 3.
I did work on reverse flow hooping (hooping the opposite way that you usually do) and waist breaks, however, it was not pleasant and so I didn't meet the full 30 minutes for this day.
I'll make up for the 10 minutes I missed in day 3.
Boots, Hogmanay and Hoopy 30/30 Challenge
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| Tobacco Elk Medieval Moccasins boot |
Ros and Paul Shepherd throw the best New Year Eve party I have ever experienced. It's called a Hogmanay. Picture, if you will, the most talented musicians on a variety of Celtic instruments, tons of people - from everywhere. Fabulous food. A midnight parade around the neighborhood (seriously) complete with bagpipes, percussion, flags in which the entire party takes place. Neighbors come out of their houses with their kids and cameras - it truly is a spectacle. Unfortunately, this was their last one here in the states as they are moving to Spain some time this year. I am so blessed that I got to participate at this party for the past two years.
While at the party I took a bit of time for myself. I've agreed to participate in a hooping 30 days challenge - hoop for 30 minutes a day for 30 days. So at 1am I took to the empty street in front of the house and hooped for about an hour under the new year sky. What a great way to start a new year and a new challenge.
Stay tuned for daily hooping updates.
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