Rambles, Rants, and Riddles

Have you heard the word, “farby”, or “farb”? It’s not very common in an SCA context, but I’ve picked it up hanging around reenactors. It’s a fairly flexible word, usually meant in a negative way, but can sometimes have even a neutral connotation. For example, before the public shows up, somebody might say “It’s time to de-farb the camp”, meaning, let’s get all of the Dunkin Donuts boxes thrown away. It can also be used in a more derogatory fashion, naturally.

The origins of the word “farby” are unclear, but it started in Civil War reenacting circles, and while is has come to refer to something crappy, modern, or a not very good attempt, it started a bit differently.

One version of the story, is that some folks in Civil War reenacting would look a newcomer up and down, and say something to the effect of “Far be it from me to criticize, but you done that stitch wrong.”

Ironically, the most prolific snarkers tended to be the ones who really had nothing to brag about at all, but boosted their low self-esteem by picking on other people who were generally to new to defend themselves. These people could be identified by their peppering of conversation with “Far be…” and thus, a term was born. The snarkers tended to be the "farbiest" ones of all.

Don’t be that person. There are good ways and bad ways to get your message across. Sometimes “don’t try at all” is the best way. There are few worse ways then telling people that they’re doing it wrong. If you’re not sure that you can strike a good balance, don’t even try.

1, Welcome to trimguy . Yep, it's Drix, so we have trim and Latin Lessons in equal quantity.

2. The meatloaf came out just fine. ;) Tonight's an all-local dinner of steak, potatoes and corn. I apparently need to buy corn in the dozens for my wife.

3. I did the first part of the Pennsic packing last night (after getting the dishes done). Kakuru "helped." I have a load of washing to do before I can move on with the packing. We're going to do some pre-packing stuff with the car this weekend. I do wish I could be there for tomorrow.

4. Speaking of the weekend, with all the event stuff and Alethea working a couple of Saturdays, we haven't really been able to have a "date day." 

Tomorrow we will head to Nothampton, Mass., sho she can go fondle yarn at Webb's. Northampton/Amherst is a bit of a beer nexus, which three local brew pubs, two (or more) great beer bars, other breweries, and at lest one outstanding package store. There are also bookstores, and we will likely hit Trader Joe's the get Pennsic supplies, The really cool part is that Theresa and Mike are going to meet us there. Perhaps others might show up. We are getting to Webb's at noon.

5. Very important pimpage: A number of my friends -- "Hello, Team Venture!" -- and one of our computers are taking part in Blogathon beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow. My frirend Shadesong sums it all up here: http://shadesong.livejournal.com/3605043.html There is a wide array of causes from which to choose.

6. I leave you with a quote from Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960s.

"Baseball is the background music of America."

All of a sudden being a wine maker is greener than green!

( Prince Charles's Aston Martin is Wine Powered )

Thank you to mrmanx for showing me the link!

Just packed the last kilnload of pottery - all bisque stuff like cookpots and cahfing dishes, so there's no need to glaze or anything. It should drop around supper, I'll crash it before bed, and before I leave in the morning, I'll pack one last box and throw it in the truck.

Also today I'll print up the last of the hangtags and pack the car. I want to do as little as possible in the morning besides roll out of bed and go.

Gakked from ugly_crap and I presume it's work safe since it's designed to hang on the front of red-neck houses

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For anyone who hasn't read or heard of it yet...

Three Cups of Tea chronicles the efforts of Greg Mortenson and others to build schools and other resources in Afghanistan and Pakistan to combat the extreme poverty and other hardships of remote villages. His mission specifically supports free and non-extremist education of all children as a potent weapon against terrorism (as opposed to the militant madrassa schools that recruit and train children for terrorist organizations).

The Central Asia Institute was founded to forward his individual dream.

"Pennies for Peace", a curriculum and donation system for school children, is an affiliated effort, and you can also make donations to the Central Asia Institute by ordering books from Amazon via their link at www.threecupsoftea.com.

I'm thinking of starting a "Pennies for Peace" effort at my school. One of the amazing things about my school is how greatly most of the students I work with appreciate having access to education (whereas in the past many students with disabilities were denied a free and appropriate education). I think that, in their own way, they can understand the needs of these children, as well.

1. The dishes never did themselves, so I did them. The clothes did not put themselves away or into the laundry, so I am doing that. It's been great. I am listening to Toby Keith's Greatest Hits and getting a tone of work done despite "help" from the cats. I got more done tonight than I have all week. That will give me time to catch up on e-mail and make Pennsic plans.

2. So, Liam. What's in the meatloaf,?

Ground beef, from Hickory Grove Smokehouse, ketchup, minced garlic, a bay leaf, salt, pepper, rosemary, paprika, freshly chopped onion, diced smoked Mozzerella, chopped up garlic pickles, Stovetop Stuffing and a smidgen of beer.

3. I love the New York Times.

Only there would you read:
 

By ABBY ELLIN

1) The fire was apparently caused by a malfunction in a gadget called a battery buddy that was attached to the battery to keep it from going flat. This widget is apparently under recall for instillation in a different make and model of conversion van. I have no idea what that means for us.

2) We have sent E for an overnight stay at Mimi and Poppa's house. Honestly, I have to confess that I miss him, but I don't feel in the least bit bad about it. We tried to explain to him what was going on, but he got very confused when he was driving away in his car seat in Mamma's car with Mimi driving. I'm sure he'll be fine, but I think bedtime might be a little challenging for them. Since this was a split second decision I would have normally prepared him a little more.

3) This rain isn't helping.

4) Josh's dad has loaned us yet another van. This will be the third van we've borrowed from them. Its interesting to note that each of the first two were totaled when they caught fire (one running, one not) while parked in exactly the same spot next to our house. I think we're going to return this one just as soon as we can. This does mean that I currently expect there to be on-time for land grab.

5) Everything -- and I mean EVERYTHING in the house smells like smoke and melted plastic. Blurg. (This was a big factor in sending E off for an overnight elsewhere, actually.)

6) Josh is ordering Chinese food right now.

7) If you're going to Pennsic, you should read this. Remember the four rules of Pennsic, people: eat when you're hungry, drink when you're thirsty, sleep when you're tired, and don't make any major life decisions driving to, at, or driving home from Pennsic. (Also, never drink anything that is blue and/or on fire, and never, ever eat at a Pig Roast that you saw advertised in a Porta-John.)

8) Really, all that's left to do here is pack E's toys and books, E's garb, my garb and Josh's garb and we're done. Oh, and pack the van, but that's for tomorrow.

9) I hadn't known that work does "summer" hours for six weeks starting tomorrow, where they close at 2pm on Fridays. So I'll get out of work at 2 rather than 5. That helps a lot.

10) And most important We have really great friends. Really, really great friends. Thank you so much for all the help and support and good wishes today. I so very much appreciate it.

It's 8:00 pm...

I think.... I think I'm packed for Pennsic.

Huh?

.....I send you with these wishes......

- I wish you all dull and boring trips there and back again, for it is the way of my Clann's tradition to wish it as such

-I wish you cool nights so as to sit by roaring fires with a beverage of choice, surrounded by friends and family

-I wish you mild days with minimal sun beating down upon you in which to fight honorably, shoppe merrily and stroll happily through the boisterous lands that is our long lost home for two weeks a year

-I wish you sore shoulders and arms from the hugs you give and receive and the claps on the back from greeting friends you have not seen for nigh a year

-I wish you, in that same regards, sore cheeks on your face from smiling and laughing at the tales and song that you share with these same friends

-I wish you pride and full hearts and moist eyes as you see friends or family honored for their efforts and deeds in court

-I wish you open minds, porous like a sponge, for when you delve into the university to learn a new subject or pass on the knowledge that you have to those so eager to learn

-I wish you all, those with children great happiness at seeing them romp and play, making new friends

-I wish that your Pennsic holiday does not speed by but lingers longingly so that you dont stand by asking where the time went

but most of all....

I wish i were going to share these same wishes and see them come true. I will miss you my friends.

Raise a glass for me if you will...you'll all be in my thoughts back here. 

Where do I want to be in 10 years?

Right about here....

The Good Nights

by Joseph Mills

On the good nights
when the bottle's empty
we always want
just a little more,
half a glass,
a few sips,
a taste.
We know
this desire
can be dangerous
to pursue,
that it can make
mornings difficult,
so usually we
brush our teeth
let the dog in,
lock the doors,
but sometimes,
even as we say
We really should
get ready for bed,
instead of loading
the dishwasher
we will search
for the corkscrew,
all the while
shaking our heads
in wonder
at this willingness
to ignore the clocks
and the fact we have
to work tomorrow,
this irresponsibility,
this evidence
even after all these years
of the unquenchable desire
for each other's company.

Spent much of the morning sanding and packing pots. It's really, really hot in the studio right now, and that won't be changing before I leave.

It looks as though I may be offering attack_laurel's embroidery patterns at Pennsic, and hopefully beyond. For those of you uninitiated, they are Teh Cool, and this from someone who isn't exactly a picture of sartorial splendor. Stop in and check them out.

Gotta keep reminding myself a)to drink water and b)that it's only Thursday.

FWIW, I know how to spell the word "because", really I do. It's just that my right hand types faster than my left and I don't always catch the typo before my right hand is hitting submit.

Stupid hands. Working at their own pace.

Please do NOT get dropped off at an SCA event by your uncle with NO GARB, NO TENT and NO BEDDING, when the weather service has announced nights and days that are COLD AND WET.....When you have had a diagnosis of epilepsy for many years now (and should know better).

Yes, I know you brought your service dog (who is really very sweet) so that she can alert you if your about to have a seizure (which was evidently your excuse for bringing a dog to an event on a working farm where it was asked no animals be brought), but for heavens sake, you know that cold, wet weather has caused your seizures in the past. And the fact that you were supposed to meet up with friends who were supposed to provide your clothing and shelter does not excuse your recklessness. Especially considering they didnt show up and you didnt check that they were here before your uncle drove off.

Also, asking me to abandon my campfire (WHEN I AM FREEZING MY BUNS OFF!!! and quite wet from the leak in my tent that woke me up) so that you can have a private consultation with a Chirurgeon about the seizure you just had at 3am is so not cool. Especially when I am the one with your RATHER LARGE service dog in my lap, trying to keep her warm.

Oh and did you bring your meds? Evidently not.......

This is me forcing myself to post something because the Doctor has told me that I'm letting myself become dangerously disconnected, despite the two trips into highly social situations last week and the week before.


We got home from work yesterday and there was a brand spanking new refrigerator on the landing. I eyed it enviously and wished we were the apartment getting a new fridge because ours is tiny, slowly leaking, the handle is falling off and the grill thingie on the bottom is broken and keeps falling off.

Ten minutes after we got home building maintenance called. The fridge was ours when could they come over to bring it in.

Newer, bigger, more better fridge and freezer with clear produce drawers so we can see what's in them and a cheese/meat drawer that our old fridge didn't have. Woot.


I read this this morning:

Denver officials expect to spend more than $18 million on police equipment for the Democratic National Convention — but the purchases apparently won't include high-tech weapons that use sonic waves to incapacitate protesters or goo guns to immobilize them.

WTF is a goo gun? Have we really resorted sliming our protesters? Am I the only person who feels like she just fell into a comic book? We better watch out or Killer Moth will coccoon us with his goo gun!


Looking around I realized I don't have any pictures of myself. Getting my picture taken makes me extremely nervous so I tend to avoid it. So I have a favor to ask some of you. If you see me at Pennsic and happen to have a camera in your hand...take my picture please? Even better, don't even let me know your taking it. I'd be eternally grateful.


So what's the name of your encampment at Pennsic this year? I'll be at E01 in the House Kaffa camp. The camp is going to be extremely tiny, and quite honestly I think this is the last year we'll all manage to camp together since several of us have announced they weon't be attending next year's war, so stop by and help us say goodbye to our encampment!


I read a Drudge Report headline that said that McCain is meeting with the Dalai Lama tomorrow. I can't quite wrap my brain around this idea since I've always considered the Dalai Lama to be a bedrock of liberal ideals.


This is cool. Pet rabbit hops to rescue to save owners from fire

I'm done. I've been writing this since 8:30 this morning. I guess I *am* getting a little too disconnected.

Getting ready for our trip, Josh has today and tomorrow off to pack the van and get us ready to go. This morning he got up and drove E to daycare while I packed some stuff and then took a shower and got ready for work.

He comes home, and calls upstairs "Hey, did you try and start the van?"

"No, why?"

"Its steaming...."

Bear in mind that it is pouring, pouring rain while this all plays out.

I look out the upstairs window, and, sure enough there is a steady stream of white smoke pouring out of the engine compartment of the van. And its getting worse.

Well, I'm sure you can guess where I'm going with this. Although the van had been sitting for two days and it was pouring rain, the van was on fire. ( Full story with pictures behind the cut )

ETA: Ok, now I'm a little worried. We could rent a cargo van, but it only has two seats, so nowhere for E to sit. That won't work. We could rent a minivan, but that won't hold all the stuff and it doesn't have a trailer hitch, so that won't work...... This is a puzzle.

Oh .  My.  God.  You guys are so amazing - the offers for help with my pattern selling are just leaving me speechless with joy.

I just like making patterns - I've never been totally happy with the idea of running my own shop - tax, business, and other issues (quite aside from vulnerabilities with the design) have been stressing me out.  I'm a bad salesperson, and I just want to spend my time designing.  The opportunities you have offered me are overwhelming in their wonderfulness.

That meme about people online who have changed my life?  It can't express how much I have received from everyone who has offered help, advice, and solutions to the things that scare and bother me.

I am humbled and thankful from the bottom of my heart at having such wonderful friends.

Big wet sloppy virtual kisses to all of you.

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