1. Work/Programming
No change so far with my work situation. I’m employed through the end of the year.. and still up in the air as to what will happen next year.
On Tuesday I completed my part of the multi-departmental big huge giant “make work” project. My part at least seems to have gone off without even a whimper. On Tuesday afternoon I told my boss that I was looking for work (as in.. “hey boss.. I’m kinda bored.. and you should give me something to do”). We’ll see what comes of that. In the meantime I’m getting to spend some quality time with the CTOs pet project. It’s fun.. and I’m figuring cool stuff out.. but it’s not .. real work. There’s no real deadline.. and it’s not yet actually slated to ever deploy.. at the moment I’m just poking at it.
In today’s one-on-one boss and I spent a little while discussing the future. There’s still nothing formal.. but it sounds like TPTB are trying to figure out how/if I fit into a future budget. I told my boss I like the sound of that and reminded him that with the baby coming in November I’d really like to have something firm in hand (so I don’t need to worry about it) before I go out for maternity leave. We’ll see what comes of that.
Frankly I’d planned to put off the whole discussion until after the wedding. #ToManyIronsInTooManyFires
2. Home
The Vegas trip was fun.. though it ended up more as “a group of friends hanging out in Vegas” than “a rocking Bachelorette party”. I blame my “great with child” state for that. It’s hard to party-hearty when you can’t drink.. and you get tired after walking two blocks.
Last weekend we stayed home and did nothing. It was a struggle too. Fearghus kept coming up with things for us to do to fill the empty time.. and I kept (gently) shooting them down. He really doesn’t know how to relax at home with no one here but the two of us.
I did manage to finish my work on my wedding dress. I’m pleased with how it’s looking. I just need to try it on one more time (with proper undergarments) before I can declare that project done.
3. Health
For the most part the Vegas trip was without incident. We drove down.. and I really didn’t notice any new discomfort with the long drive. It was no more uncomfortable than any other long drive I’ve been on. I did have one issue.. the heat rash on the backs of my calves flared up after we’d spent our first night in Vegas walking on the strip. It looked worse than it felt. I took a bendryl pill and rubbed anti-ich bendryl cream on the rashes and it tamped down somewhat.
On my last day in Vegas I stopped by the Hotel spa and got a message. It was one of the thigns I really wanted to do while I was there. The massage was nice but not world changing. Essentially I paid $80 to have a very nice chatty older gay man rub me head to toe with lotion to the point where I was (in Fearghus’ words) slimy all over. There are worse things. I think that since I indicated that I bruise easily (which I do) he went very soft during the massage. I could have done with a bit more pressure.
Erik’s pokes and prods have become more pronounced. Nothing terribly painful so far.. just.. odd. Fearghus hasn’t felt it yet. Everytime I feel Erik as being very active either Fearghus is no where nearby.. or Erik stops as soon as Fearghus is touching the area. Stubborn boy.
4. SCA/Projects
As I said, wedding dress work is done. I’ve tried it on with my normal bra under it.. and it was ok (need a way to keep the straps out of sight) but I want to try it on with a corset I have.
Now, now, don’t worry.. I’m not going to “squish the baby” or “got to extreme measures to look skinny at my wedding day” (pshaw like any ole corset is going to be able to do taht). Nah, when I bought the “corset” I nearly returned it because it was way too big.. regardless, if wedding dress + corset is uncomfortable I’ll stick to just wearing a bra under the dress (and figure out what to do about the bra straps).
On the SCA front..
Right after we got back from Vegas I taught a class about the styles and clothing worn by the Landknecht and Trossfrau. I like the idea of having folks work on that.. but I think a lot of our local folks are intimidated by the idea. I need to make a Waffenrock for Bob.. so I’ll be working on that in the next few weeks.. but I actually don’t expect anyone else to start on a German project.
Today and tomorrow I’m teaching a workshop about how to construct a waisted kirtle(handout) . A couple of the local gals expressed interest in that and that’s one I do think will end up with participants.
Other than that, all of my next projects are kind of mundane. I need to make Fearghus a new fighting tunic and fighting pants and fighting surcoat. Not exactly stunning research activity.. but they need to get made. After that I may finally have time to work on my Anglo-Saxon research and start on the tunic.
To be fair I’ve actually already done quite a bit of research.. and for the most part I know what I’m going to do.. but taking it out of my head and turning it into a tunic has proved difficult. Everytime I start to work on it some other project with a short deadline pops up.
Ok. So project list:
1. Fearghus’ fighting tunic, pants and surcoat (deadline Mist-Cyn War, Sept 14).
2. Sylvie’s Anglo-Saxon tunic (deadline October Crown, Oct 5)
3. Bob’s Waffenrock (deadline 12th night, though sooner is better)
4. Baby garb
5.
I’m just going to sit here.. and stare at my belly-button for a while. Don’t mind me. I’m relaxing.
Future:
August 10: Teaching Cotehardie Workshop
August 17: Multi-Unit War Practice (daytrip)
August 23-25: Purgatorio, Arcata, CA (maybe.. maybe not…)
August 31, 2013 My wedding in Billings Montana (Wedding website: https://sites.google.com/site/stroudwed/)
September 7: Return from Montana
September 14: Cyn-Mists War
September 21: FREE WEEKEND!!!
September 28: Mists Fall Coronet (maybe)
October 4-6: October Crown
October 9-14: Great Western War (F will be going, I will not)
October 19: FREE WEEKEND!!!
October 25: Alton Brown Tickets
October 26: Cynaguan Fall Coronet (daytrip)
November 2: FREE WEEKEND!!!
November 9: Collegium Occidentalis (maybe)
November 16: FREE WEEKEND!!!
November 18: Baby Due Date
December 7: Boar Hunt (maybe)
January 3-5: 12th Night, Concord CA? (maybe)