Meme-ity!

Things underlined I've done, asterisks around things I'd like to do.

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band
*Visited Hawaii*
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland - been to Disneyworld
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
*Visited Paris*
Watched a lightning storm
Taught yourself an art from scratch (quilting)
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
*Seen the Mona Lisa in France*
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitchhiked
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a Marathon
*Ridden in a gondola in Venice*
*Seen a total eclipse*
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
*Been on a cruise*
*Seen Niagara Falls in person*
*Visited the birthplace of your ancestors*
Seen an Amish community
*Taught yourself a new language*
*Had enough money to be truly satisfied*
*Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person*
Gone rock climbing
*Seen Michalangelo's David*
Sung karaoke
*Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt*
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
*Had your portrait painted*
Gone deep sea fishing
*Seen the Sistine Chapel in person*
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business with a partner
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
*Seen the Changing of the Guards in London*
Broken a bone
Been on a speeding motorcycle
*Seen the Grand Canyon in person*
*Published a book*
Visited the Vatican
*Bought a brand new car*
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Had chickenpox
Saved someone’s life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby x2 - so far.
*Seen the Alamo in person*
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee
Read an entire book in one day What? That's not normal?

Some minor updating

Parte the firste:

I have finally bullied my husband into setting up an LJ account. I think it will be good for him in a number of ways. Actually, reading his initial entry, I'm hoping it'll improve his spelling. *g* For those who don't know him, he is a 10 year veteran of the Marine Corps, currently being Stay-at-Home Dad to one autistic 7 year old and one infant. He's busily wallowing in self-pity, but he's a very good Daddy. Within the SCA he's primarily into heavy combat, brewing (ales, not meads), and beginning to add cheesemaking and charcuterie to the list. Go say "hello" if you're so inclined at quintussergius.

Parte the seconde:

I was debating about the A&S 50 stash challenge. Then I hit on a better idea for me. I launch myself an A&S 50 UFO challenge. Yes, I really have (at least) 50 unfinished objects rattling about my home. Some have gotten no further than the planning stages, but still. I'm not going to list them here just yet, as I'm not in the mood to be held to it. But I'll trumpet as I finish each and keep a running tally going.

Parte the thirde:

The above challenge will probably take a back seat to Holiday Stuff. Meaning, I'm making the girls each a few things for Christmas. And have some candy-making and baking plans as well. For instance, I've been busily helping test bake recipe for Peter Reinhart's new book. It's fun, and I get to play with his recipes first. ;-) So far, I've tried his French Bread and a Chocolate-Cinnamon babke. Bagels are next.

Parte the Fourthe:

Later I may expound at length on my own take on the authenticity vs SCAdianism dichotomy. If I feel like it. Stay tune - or not - as YOU feel like it.

The Great Debate

Caveat #1: I tend to let flame wars go by me not out of wisdom, but out of sheer laziness. I write posts in my head, but don't often bother to sit down and type them. Yada yada.

In this case, my interest was piqued by the recent dust-up on the SCA community. So I've mused and muddled and considered and come to a conclusion or two.

On the surface, it looks like there are two camps - Authenticity wonks vs. Bunny-fur clad fun types. But that's not really the case. It's not a dichotomy, it's a continuum. And very, very, exceptionally few people exist on the far outpost of either end. Most of us find a spot comfortable for us somewhere in between. The problem is, there is no (and likely never will be) agreement on what issues are really a big deal and what are not. It's all about what pushes our buttons.

I'm a terrible example to newbies. Not out of expense, but out of lack of time or (again) laziness. AKA exhaustion. Nine times out of ten I can't find my veil. My coif isn't quite finished and has been in that state for months. I didn't remember to bring the extra cut of brocade I usually use to cover the cooler. I can barely keep us all in garb (badly) let alone get the other "want-to" projects done. I have an infant. Yes, damn it, I bring the stroller. I can't juggle both girls without it.

On the other hand, pink hair, body piercings, black lace stockings, and polyester T-tunics make me roll my eyes and mutter rude remarks.

Am I any better? Nope. Do I have some sort of a feeling of superiority because of my choice of anachronisms? Patently. And I shouldn't.

I'm hoping what keeps me in the good graces of the folks who can truly carry off a Laurel-quality event presence is that I want to and I try to improve something a little and each event. And if you remind me I'll go grab my wooden goblets and dump my drink in it. Though, quite frankly, I'm likely to continue to bring Anneliese's various electronic entertainments. I bow to the weight of her disability and no amount of condescension will shift me. If you don't like it, I invite you to vent all you like - somewhere else.

Though the whole business has me musing on an Early New Year's Resolution.....