w e l l ~ B L O G ~ t o ~ y o u ~ t o o !

29 March 2004
So I'm a young biddy  
Kate and I are such goofballs. We are. We really really are. We smuggled knitting into the theater when we went to go see Return of the King last night. Knitting. Knitting! Like two little old ladies who either live alone with cats. Or in Kate's case, lives with a pair of cats and a companion. Yes, we are young biddies. Does this mean that when we're like 70 or so, we're going to be biker grannies?

I meant to get online before this to write a journal, but I didn't. Friday night, went to see Hidalgo with Kate and Ginger. It was a need. The first weekend without an event since the movie opened, and it was a need. Had to get our Viggo Fix somehow! :) Anyway, trailers were semi-interesting. Beef was shown in the way of Walking Tall, and got to see the entirely drool-worthy trailer for Troy.

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 10:09

26 March 2004
Learning Fiber Arts...  
So anyway, last Sunday, I had stopped to get knitting needles and yarn from my mom since I knew I was going to have basic knitting lessons last night. I ended up going home with knitting needles, yarn, nummy flat bread, two microwave-safe pots that I can cook rice in, 10 yards of white broadcloth, 3 yards of stuff to make into bathroom curtains for my mom, $50 in cash, and a whole bunch more.

Anyway...

So at A&S, there really weren't a lot of people there to dance. We only had 3 couples at our highest point, making it so I couldn't teach the Windmill dance that I constructed, and had Lyev's help with. :) Thank you Lyev, you are so subtly evil, I love it! :)

But Kate and I learned how to knit. Just basic stuff. Svanna hadn't taught a lot before, but she did just fine. Especially when she was helping to guide my hands to get in the rhythm, to make the light go on. Sometime later, she'll have to show us how to cast off and how to do other stitches than the basic knitting stitch. It's fun. Something to do while watching TV or in the car or at fight practice (If I don't start fencing).

Of course, when I got home, I had to rip it all out because I had made too many mistakes. I think I kept catching the wrong bit o' yarn. But anyway, I restarted it... cast on all by myself! And have started again. I should have a scarf eventually. YAY! knitting is fun.

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 10:25

25 March 2004
To be a Minion...  
political rant

Why, Shrub, Why? Why do you want to put discrimination into the Constituion of the US? Do you think it will get you more votes and help you in your re-election, or are you just doing this to have another issue to try to distract all of us about how you got caught in your supposed "War on Terror" which was really just an excuse to invade Iraq, even though for once, they weren't doing anything overtly nasty to their neighbors. In your single-mindedness, you forgot that there would be the aftermath, and now you've shoved the US into a miserable position because our soldiers are getting killed even after "regime change", and yet, we CAN'T leave until the Iraqis aren't going to get another dictator. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Thanks Shrub.

/political rant

Now onto the usual random musings. It's been nice enough out that the cats are going outside again. That means of course that Mr. Orpheus has to go and save Mr. Figaro's pansy ass from the other local cats. Yeah, on Monday, I heard screaming that would be the nice sounds of cat fights starting, so I rush out the door in my socks, and Mr. O is standing right there, yowling and hissing at the other black cat (who I think is homeless, it makes the Old Cat Lady™ in me want to adopt it... well aside from the fact that my cats hate it). So I turn on the light, and Mr. Orpheus, in a big show of bravado stalks this other cat off. Won't even let me tell him how brave he is, he's all No coddling now, I'm being macho, despite my neutering. So I walk back and Figaro is cowering under my car being all Save me! Save me! So I open the door and let him come running inside. Silly stupid idiot-child.

Orpheus comes in later having successfully defended the property.

That's my cat-story, and I'm sticking to it!

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 09:32

24 March 2004
National Orange Day @ Beanie's Dragons  
Yep, it's that day o' the year again. It's National Orange Day. Perhaps you'll remember my Orange Day layout from last year. I put it up on March 24 then too. Just like I'm putting it up on March 24 (well, technically it was up last night) today.

This layout again features my painting "Floating Orange with Imaginary Leaves" which is hanging in my kitchen. It was resized downwards to make the fun border along one side. The banner was made in Photoshop and it was all coded in Notepad by me.

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 09:23

22 March 2004
Ice Dragon Funness  
Obligatory Ice Dragon Stuff

-So thankful for the covered walkway between the feasthall and the merchant hall!
-Oooh! pretty new sparkly with dangly bits. I like dangly bits. They move and swish when I dance.
-Oooh! pretty new belt! Okay, so it's not pretty, but it's a belt and I needed one. So I'm happy. I even got taught how to fasten it (through the hoop, under, through the loop).
-Watched Lyev dance. If there's enough interest, he said next time he's up a-Delftwood-ways, he'd teach the sword dance. Oooh, sword dance. It looked so immensely cool. While we were waiting for judging, I had a good conversation with a woman named Hilde (Hildegard) about Celtic things and Viking/Saxon things. Oh, it was fun.
-Stayed to hear Lyev play the harp. Even though Kate told me before that he played, I think I forgot it in all the list of things tha Lyev did.
-Stayed to hear Ex Arca play in their fabuousness. They ended up winning. Wee!
-Talked to Lyev afterwards with regards to the evil plot about the Windmill song. I think I have given him a challenge. Must forward the lyrics to the Windmill Song to Lyev that he might help the evil plot along.
-Sat in Camp Delftwood, it was fun.
-Got compliments on my garb from a woman who has a mideast persona as well. Go me!
-Had dinner at Jack Astors. Drew on the table cloth, and made a scroll, then caligraphed in crayon. :)
-Gonna get taught how to knit! Yaaay!
-Zzzzz

Non-Ice Dragon Stuff

Visited my mother after grocery shopping. Had to get knitting needles so I could learn to knit. Not that I'd know what to make with my knitting, but hey! Anyway, visited her. She wanted to go buy fabric to make curtains for her bathroom. I think I might have to start charging for my sewing services! Anyway, it turned into an expidetion to Hancock Fabrics... and that turned into my buying 10 yards of white cotton broadcloth.. because it was on sale for 99 cents a yard, that's why. I needed white to blend into the Delftwood Community at Pennsic and it's white cotton broadcloth, so it could be used for just about anything! Linings, interfacings, etc. It is a useful thing.

Then, I was a slug for the rest of the day. Crawled into bed by 10pm, zonked out by 11. That's about it.

... Lizzy, that 10 - 11pm time bracket was spent scrawling bits of The Grimalkin in a notebook. Then in my utter forgetfulness, I neglected to bring it here so I could actually write it in. Sorry. I'll try to get the sucker up soon for ya.

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 10:21

17 March 2004
It's official... a foot of snow in mid-march.  
Song: Springter Wonderland, to the tune of Winter Wonderland.

It's March, so it's snowing
And the bitter wind is blowing
We had more than an inch
A foot in a pinch
Walking through a Springter Wonderland.

We had Spring for a bit there
But it turned back to winter.
It falls and it blows
Spring lake-effect snows...
Walking through a Springter Wonderland.

In the meadow, we can bulid a snowman
'Cause everyone's had practice all before.
We're all thankful that it is just snow, man...
'Cause last Springter gave us an ice storm!

So we sit and we bitch here
When the Spring turns into Winter
We face unafraid
The fronts that we hate
Walking through a Springter Wonderland.

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 09:16

16 March 2004
Time for the mid-Spring blizzard  
Yep, it's March, so we're due for a foot of snow. That's what's been predicted. *sigh* I finished up my taxes last night. Yep, I owe the government and the state. Thank you Mr. Bush. You're not getting my vote in November. But on the bright side of doing my taxes, I was at my parents house, and they fed me (yum) and gave me more food to take home (yay!) and bags and stuff, like they always do. Mom might even take me out to lunch on Thursday (yay!) 'cause she has the day off.

So anyway, saw another friend's journal go into 'friends only'. Seems to be a trend. That there are psychos out there, and they seem to be attracted to my friends' journals... or their lives, I'm not sure which. Psycho people, go away! That's all I have to say to you. It's odd, I've had a blog for well over a year, I think going on two (metnal note: check when I need to renew my webspace)! I've never had a problem with people reading. Of course, a lot of it is empty-headed crap because my online persona is a flake, I do believe. Anyway, I've been doing this for a while and haven't attracted psychos, not that I'm putting a call out for any... Just I've been on the edges of online (and in person) drama for several friends now, and it's like ENOUGH. They shouldn't have to make their journals 100% private as a default just because of one freaking psycho. Ugh. I really don't like them.

In other news, wearing my other new shirt today! Weee! And one of the sparklies I got at Bear's Tavern. Weeee! It's never been worn before, so...

Mental Note: Must make a layout for National Orange Day, March 24.

Shoutouts to Lizzy for commenting. It was just a tired/moody thing. :)

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 09:33

13 March 2004
because I'm tired and philosophical...  
These things tend to come in pairs with me--tiredness and waxing serious. I had my tarot cards read, though I'll need them read again in a much more private place, because... well, there were enough people around that I didn't feel comfortable voicing my question to the woman reading my cards. However, they did provide enlightenment--though she had to speak in vague terms and I answered in vague terms, once again due to the people around.

Then again, I'm a very private person, and I don't really care for other people to know my business unless I tell them. Thre are some things that I will keep close to the vest. I suppose it stems from emotional baggage left over from growing up. High school and college, etc.

Had an interesting conversation with a friend on a car ride home from a party tonight. Some people, I think, bring problems on themselves, and then can't seem to stop fanning the flames that they've created, when sometimes, it's just better to take a step back and say you know, I don't need to deal with this!

Also had a thought at a party last night, and again with a reiteration from the tarot cards tonight, that I really should be doing writing for myself. It's something I can do in bed before I go to sleep. Write a little on some stories. After all, I've got tons and tons up in my head who are screaming to get out.

I've also started to realize that I'm a jealous person at times, and that said jealousy can be a bitter bitter thing. And then, a little after it pops up, it subsides again and I think, I'm okay with what I have. Sure, there are things in life that I want that I don't have. Sure, sometimes it looks like I won't get it, and then, sometimes, I'm very much okay with not having it. It's wierd. I've gotten very accepting of not getting all I want. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing yet.

I really should avoid online journals when I'm tired, because when I'm sleepy all sorts of philosophical or psychoanalytical crap comes out. But I think on where I was like four years ago, and realize that I would be reduced to tears if I was feeling like this. I'd be weeping and crying--and yes, that was ON the medication. Now, that I'm off of it, I'm much more okay with myself, and though I can sit here and think that I'm not 100% happy right now, it's okay to be that way. I've found middle ground. Of course, I've had this for a bit now--this being okay with myself, this having normal changes in mood, but not the extreme highs and lows that I've suffered before. Then again, my life is much more simple in some very important ways, and it's much more full and rich, and I've got some very good friends now. Ones I can see on a daily/weekly basis.

On a different note, I got some cotton that I believe is the right shade for Delftwood Blue. I think I'll be making me some harem pants and a matching top, to be overlayed with white so I can match at Pennsic.

Speaking of Pennsic, any suggestions on the type of tent I should get?

And if you have no suggestions, go visit Lizzy because she tagged my tag-board and I haven't done shout outs in a long long time.

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 23:43

11 March 2004
Support Public Radio!  
Me and my kitties were announced on air! :) Furthermore, we were announced as part of the Elizabeth Christensen fan club. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha!

*don's public service announcement hat*

You should support your local public radio station (or mine). Keeping Liz C employed is a good thing.

Oh, and there are other benefits too.

*takes off public service announcement hat*

Yoga leg workout from hell update: still feeling it a little bit.

I'm wearing halloween socks.

*bounces*

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 09:37

09 March 2004
Legs on strike...  
As many of you know, I tend to glow about yoga. And I'm not changing my tune, but gah! we did a lot of leg-work last night and I'm feeling it sooooooooo much. I went to put creamer in my tea (yes, I'm freaky that way), and just the walk there, my legs were going "BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! We don't want to work for you! BWA HA HA HA HA HA!"

*sigh* Anyway, it snowed last night (poo). I'm really gunning for spring and white stuff on the ground is not my idea of spring. I'm just going to have to have a little chat with my heathen gods.

So how happy was I that fight practice is moving to Wednesdays? It meant that I could go grocery shopping after yoga and not have to do it during my 2 hour nap after I got home from the event. And I still got home before 9pm! weeee!

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 09:50

07 March 2004
Long long weekend...  
So I was invited along with friends and attended an event along with the same friends down near Peekskill, NY. It was a tavern event, which was really cool. It gave me a lot of neat ideas for possibilities for events... or at least part of the events. I was happy, though. I didn't have to drive (YAY!) I think I would have been a lot more uptight and enjoyed the event less had I have been driving. Of course, I'm sure there were people there who thought I was being uptight and didn't enjoy the event.

Of course, it was a 'Tavern' event, which had a really cool premise behind it. There would be food all day and wenches who would serve food. Of course, to get the wenches to serve you, you had to bribe them. You were given a bag of 'swag' at the door, though we had been warned beforehand and brought our own. The wenches would then retrieve for you greatly yummy food from the overly-stressed feastocrat who I don't think slept all weekend. Poor guy.

So anyway, there are thoughts to perhaps use the concept at some of our own events. We'd have to discuss it with the autocrat in charge of said events. I'd be getting really really involved then, which is very cool.

But back to the Tavern event. There was a lot of drinking to get absolutely smashed. Of course, I'm not one for heavy drinking. In fact, I rarely have alcohol at all. I got the aura that if you weren't totally smashed, you weren't having a good time or if you weren't going about taking advantage of the cloved fruit and sucking face with all and sundry there, you weren't having a good time. I guess, I'm just one of those people who currently likes to sit and observe and just take in good food and a nice fire.

*sigh* I'm very sleepy, so forgive me.

So there were drummers, and partway through the day, I got to scamper around in my dancing garb. This was because the waisty-bit that I had was starting to hurt to wear it. So I was scampering around and there were some drummers, so I started dancing of course, because I really love doing it and can't help myself. But there were some others dancers there who were more 'local'--or at least had been there before. Well, the pair of them, I think, were just used to dancing as a pair and were remarkably selfish, effectively discouraging myself and Kate from dancing.

I wasn't an great fan of their dancing style. It just kinda seemed they were showing off instead of having fun. I dunno, belly dancing to me is like getting in touch with the more earthy sensual part of myself. It's like what Papa Boris said--you have to have the spirit to dance in you. I also happen to think that the spirit is in all of us, though it's buried in some people and close to the surface in others. And it definately shouldn't be squashed.

I mean, because of these two show-offs (and one was more of a showoff than the other), someone I know who can dance and who dances well was reluctant to. As I said before, they effectively closed out myself and Kate from dancing. They don't want to teach and spread the joy, despite there being interest in it. And they've probably been dancing longer than me, and I've never taught before and don't thing I'm very qualified to teach yet! However, I was there, showing the basics to two very interested people.

I guess I'm lucky that Delftwood is a very sharing and caring Barony. We're lucky to have Papa Boris, Chris, and Kate who are willing to share knowledge of dancing to others.

Well, if those thoughts aren't just jumbled and random, I don't know whate is. I shoulnd't philosophize when I'm tired, I just get this way. *sigh*

On the other hand, it was good to see Kierin and Dennis again and meet Umi and a lot of the other people down there. The autocrat of the tavern, Bear, gave great hugs. :) And he gave all the women little bears as site tokens. I got a happy yellow one. He's going to ride on my basket which is currently collecting tokens. :)

All right, it's getting late-ish, so I should continue to go to do low-key things until I fall asleep.

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 21:50

04 March 2004
Monster snowbanks are gone!  
Weee! You can actuall get into my driveway without smashing your car against the monster snowbanks! Wee! This is what 50 degree days in early March will do for you! *dances*

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 09:38

01 March 2004
It's Springlike today! Weee!  
So, it's supposed to get into the 50's today, which is great for March. It got into the 50's all weekend, which was fantastic. I got to wear my new coat that I had made for garb to the grocery store. It was fun. Then Mom & Dad came up and fixed my garbage disposal--which was very good. At least that part of my sink will drain now.

Obligatory Oscar bit
I'm so happy for LotR that it swept their nominations. What a fantastic bit of news that it got 11 nominations and 11 wins! Especially on some of the bits, it had some stiff competition (Sound Editing for one--I heard on npr what went into the sound for Master and Commander, which was impressive! And then with best song, there were a bunch of great ones!)

So anyway, yes, I went to bed after midnight, because, well, that's how long the Oscar's lasted.

And you watch the show and you see how ponderous and slow and dragging it is in the beginning, and you just want to go "hey, hurry up!" And then in the last 10 minutes, you get the 5 big awards. Now, I understand why they come at the end, BUT, it seemed like it took the first hour and a half to get the show into a good TV rhythm. There were bits when it seemed like it was just filler. And maybe, that was because of some unforseen bit that had happened on stage, since they are, essentially "live". Still, there's probably a good bit that can get cut to make them go to commercial faster to get back faster, so it can run in the time alloted. And though it's wonderful that they give out awards for the short films and animated shors, documentaries, documentary shorts, and foreign language films, what bit of the TV viewing audience has seen them? Not many. And even though after seeing some of the clips for the animated shorts I'm intrigued to go see some of them (a dancing sheep!), How in the world would I be able to? So really, those could all get out of the way quickly. It's not that I want more time for the other awards, just less time overall so that the show can run in the time allotted.

But that's just me.

Anyway, it's spring out today! WEEEE!!! *dances*

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 09:35