Scraps (n. ,fem., singular)

Folks, in place of the well-thought-out, insightful, essay-esque post that was my plan to write tonight (and will try to show up tomorrow night), in place of that I give you this…a small pity party, table for one.

You know, when they transferred the tag to the new car, they were supposed to leave off the “hit me” sign. Yes, dear readers, you infer correctly: I was in a freaking car accident tonight!

First things first:
1) It was so totally *not* my fault.
2) It was yet another teenager who was at fault.
3) The car is driveable and all lights are miraculously intact.

What will need replacing is the fender and passenger quarter-panel. Sigh for the crunchiness of fiberglass.

Once again, I tried to avoid what I saw happening and in doing so probably saved myself more serious damage. Once traffic cleared out of the way I moved out of the road and then jumped out of my car to survey the damage and scream my head off. Yeah, I did not handle this with aplomb or even tact. I believe my exact words were “What the fuckwere you thinking? Did you not see the traffic? I just got this car not a month ago. God bless America!”

I later apologized for cursing him out and he was really apologetic and actually really nice about the whole thing, which made me feel like a tad more of a heel for flying off the handle (did I mention that I actually beat up the steering wheel after it happened. Several expletived were uttered inside the car at that point before I’d even gotten out of the road.). Not that he hadn’t deserved it, he admitted fault and we waiting for the police. 30 minutes. Then another 30 minutes or so while the officer looked up every code on the form as she wrote the report and his two citations (he also had an expired tag I realized when I read the report at home).

It was when I was sitting in the car, waiting for the officer to finish her report, that the tension got to me. We had pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex and in the spot next to me was a car with some sort of plush overlay on the dash, etc. and a couple of stuffed animals (a turtle and a gator to be exact) on the dash as well. The owner came out a little later, left and came back, and I found it peculiar that it was an apparently single male who entered his car through the passenger door. Anyway. It was the stuffed animals that did it. It got me thinking about a past boyfriend or two who would, when I was sick or down, bring me a little stuffed bear or something, just to cheer me up.

Enter pity party. I had been waiting about 45 minutes total by now and it was so weird not having to call someone and say “I’ll be late getting home” or even to feel like there was someone I *could* call that I could whine to about my bad luck, who would ask if I needed anything and even though I didn’t would still show up when I got home (or be waiting for me when I arrived) even if it was just to give me a hug. I miss that dammit. And that weird empty feeling, combined with the stresses of work lately and my overwhelming schedule this month and I lost it. Just started crying. Silly, I know. This is one of the ways I vastly differ from my NaNo MC who–while taking from many of my own experiences because hey, it’s what I know–would have held it together much easily and managed to just laugh it off. But oh well, I miss having someone in my life, not exactly a news flash, one day I’ll have that again at some level. Enough.

So tomorrow afternoon I’ll call his insurance company to make sure the claim is at least being started. I do not plan to even involve my own insurance company in this if I can help it because there really shouldn’t be a reason to. I think I’ll wait and see who notices the car first tomorrow. I’m going to try not to say anything and just wait and see.

To bring you a semblance of a blog entry.

So. freaking. tired.

Not right this second, of course, right this second I’m just merely sleepy and about to go to bed, but this week in general I’ve so over-committed myself it’s insane. I’m insane. But you know I’m loving it!

Tonight was the first night I didn’t have to be somewhere or be doing something. Even Wednesday night I was at least *supposed* to be at zills class, but I worked a smidge late and just gave up. But even then I calligled for a couple hours to get something done. So tonight I mostly vegged with pizza and beer, a smidge of chocolate frosting (my apathy of chocolate seems to be abating…yay), and the Goonies on abcfamily. So awesome. I haven’t seen that movie in ages, probably won’t want to see it for another 10 years, but tonight it was good.

Tomorrow I have a costume class at Chandra’s that will hopefully be accessible since her studio is very near FAMU and its homecoming weekend. Oops. Oh well, life goes on and bedleh bra and belt will be made. Yay for fabric stuff!

Work is. I spent almost 16 hours this week revamping our Chart of Accounts and am now waiting on the CPA to approve my jigsaw-puzzle of a restructure. Then I get to send it off to the software people to be checked over to see that it matches their requirements sometime early next week and then start on the customer files in addition to my other work. The good news is that progress is occurring, and we’re probably going for training in November again, not December. I suppose my MC for my NaNovel will just have to take a business trip as well lol

I go to bed now.

(for better or ill)

Underappreciated The Battleaxe Deliberate Brutal Love Master (DBLMf) Sharp. Hardened. Dominating. The Battleaxe sweeps all before her, smiting and what not. You’ve had a number of serious relationships, so you obviously have many attractive qualities. You’re well experienced in dealing with other people’s weirdnesses, and it’s likely you’re good in bed by now, too. Also, like the drunken housewife chucking Heinekens at her no-good husband, you’ve got a lot of energy. People can tell you’re sophisticated, and so you find yourself the object of infatuations quite often. But it’s how you handle yourself in your relationships that gets you the ‘brutal’ tag. Controlling? Imperious? Overbearing? Yes, please. Your exact opposite: The Nurse Random Gentle Sex Dreamer Remarkably, you don’t mind the same from your men. You’ve experienced enough to take whatever you dish out. Overall, you’re a very good person and a capable lover, and when the time comes you’ll make a fine divorcee. ALWAYS AVOID: The Poolboy CONSIDER: The False Messiah, someone just like you. Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating.

I like the smiting lol, and everything is pretty mcuh true. Yup. Right down to the last line. I only wish that the test-creators had a link to read all the other profiles ’cause I sort of wonder what they mean by the False Messiah.

In other news, Panhandle was great. Met some new people (and really talked with them, not just a hi, how-are-ya), got a little scribal stuff done, and did lots of dancing after feast. It was a slow, simple day and I liked it that way. Also, the desserts turned out fabulous! I will be making the apricot one again sometime, and maybe the phyllo one too (but with much more honey syrup). I’m really looking forward to Martinmas Moot but I’m also glad that it’s a month away–it will give me a chance to get everything back under control (I sorta let my school work slip a tad these past two weeks, though it’s as much because of bellydance classes as SCA stuff…just maximum overload really) and maybe get some projects finsihed (and started for that matter!).

I once thought that would make a good name for my pastry shop, if I ever got around to opening one. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m merely alluding to the fact that I just finished my portion of the dessert levy for Panhandle: 12 apricot tarts (the filling was yummy before it was baked, I think I’ll have to keep that recipe around) and a large platter-full of Koponlazoutos (yeah, like I really know how to pronounce that!) which are layered pastries of phyllo dough, almonds, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds and quite tasty! (there were a couple of pieces left after filling the tray!). Plus I have Lady Isabella’s Cinnamon Bread Pudding and sauce in the fridge to transport tomorrow as well.

Switching gears a bit now.

So, let’s see, yesterday we had the other conference call to determine what was going to be done how. Yes, folks, I may just get my first glimpse of snow since now we’re going to Massachusetts in early December. Just in time for me to be absolutely frozen during the training ‘mission’ and exhausted for Yule. This also means I’ll need to start baking the cheesecakes for Yule Feast a bit earlier than originally envisioned, but that’s okay. I can capitalize on the Thansgiving holiday and the following weekend and have them all complete before I leave. Of course I’m also on orders to make Mom a cheesecake since it’s been sooooo very long since I’ve done any. Maybe that will be this years 3rd T’giving dessert.

Yesterday was also the first night of the Summoning Isis rehearsals. It is just SO COOL right now, and we’ve only learned the first little bit. Lots of silliness abounded as we worked out the opening sequence, but everyone seems excited about it. I just hope everything works out to actually preform it at some point; some issue with the insurance and max.people, etc. And yes, that’s 3 dance classes, one zills class, and one costuming workshop I’m taking this month at Chandra’s . I *am* a glutton for punishment, but at least my vices are getting me out of the house and active!

Tomorrow (well, okay, later today) is Panhandle Skirmishes and I’m really wondering how many people are going to make the trip? I mean, we were told to plan desserts for 200 (which we have supposedly far exceeded), and since ‘feast’ is free for this event, its presumable that everyone would attend, but will 200 people really travel with gas prices, etc. being what they are? We shall see. I hope, for the sake of the organizers, that it’s a good turnout. I’m wearing my red Shinrone again…I don’t know if I’m more drawn to the color or the fact that it’s linen, but regardless it is becoming my favorite garb so far. And tomorrow’s not even supposed to be very hot!

I sleep now.

and we’re stopping ’cause we just ran into a brick wall!

So, more back-tracking from last week, and this time it’s work related. So, if you’ve read far enough back (say maybe two months or so) you know about the computer program that *is* my work life taking that proverbial handbasket trip via the scenic route. Well, wonder of wonders we found a successor program and (are you ready for this) have sent in the deposit and signed a contract and p.o. Wohoo! Much dancing and rejoicing in those few precious moments of relief at the thought of progress.

And then it gets hinky. See, Adam was wanting us to go for training next week so we could be well on our way and have two full months to acclimate to the system before we go live. But before they would commit to a training schedule there are all these other hoops to jump through first so we’ve been waiting since the end of last week and are still waiting for some sort of real answer. Today’s conference call actually had them wanting us to wait until DECEMBER to go for training. Um, no. And again I say, no. Granted, one of the reasons we chose this program is that it seems fairly straight-forward and accessible, and since neither Adam nor I are in any wayt idiots, we could probably figure out the basics on our own…but we need more that a couple of weeks to be ready to use it as our sole system.

Oh well, there will be yet another conference call tomorrow, with the accounting software guru (just before she goes on vacation for a week…wanna place bets on whether I can get a straight answer on earlier dates?) and maybe then we can work something out. Frankly, traveling (oh, yes, did I mention I get to take my first airplane ride ever for this?) in December to Massachusetts is not on my ideal list. As much as I would like to see snow in person, I don’t want to risk being stuck in or out of an airport because of it nor having to deal with it on the drive from Boston to Plymouth. And do I even need to say that I’m not made for such cold weather?

Travelling in November wouldn’t even be ideal since I’ve got the normal stuff plus NaNoWriMo. And if we went on their standard training schedule I’d be booking it to get back from Martinmas Moot in time to catch my flight. And then there would still be the 46 degree temps to deal with. At least October (if we can somehow finagle an end-of-the-month trip) the temp is in the mid-sixties. Still cold, cold enough to justify buying a new coat, but doable.

And in other news: The new boots rock! I wore them all day and found them to be very comfortable and majorly kick-ass in the looks department. I need more black-compatible skirts now to show them off!

And I need to, like, make up for some days, so I’ll be hopping back and forth a bit.

Last week was kind of an odd, crazy week. How does this differ from any other week? Only by degrees I assure you, but they were important degrees.

First off, I’ve been having a streak of positive monetary luck. And that’s not to say I was having horrible financial luck before then, it was just more neutral. And its a little weird, really, how things have been going. First there was the car. Not to rehash the story, but I got *way* more than I really expected to for the Prism. On top of that, when I got the reimbursement amount for the rental car I found out they had gone ahead and reimbursed me for the insurance I’d taken out on it as well. Then, still with the car here, I get the refund for the difference in the flat fee they allow for the tag transfer, etc. and of the $100 the refund was $62!

But really, the icing on the cake has nothing to do with the car: one day last week I get home to find a note on my door. Oh great, I thought, I know the rent check cleared so what on earth is this? Turns out I won some sort of “rent race” and am getting $150 off my November rent! Wow! (and okay, it has a little to do with the car lol, since now I won’t really feel the “hit” of the first car payment this month since the rent reduction this month almost takes care of the car)

So it got me thinking. This was all well and great, but it made me nervous. There were two options really, either I was being prepared for some great disaster to befall me and therefore I should be very very cautious, or that this was a karmic upswing to make up for all the crud I’ve had to deal with over the last several months. Mom seems to bet on the latter, but I’m still trying to be a little careful just in case.

So that was part of last week. As for this week: I found boots! Black ones, stretch microfiber with patent leather details, pointed toes and skinny little 2″ heels. I’m in love and they were on clearance!

You are a Taurus, the sign of commen sense. You
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is until someone bugz you, then , WATCH OUT FOR
THOSE HORNS!! You are a practical earthy sign,
and you tust what you feel, see, hear, taste,
or smell.

-your colors are green for the earth on which you
dwell and baby blue for that great blue thing
we call the sky!

-your metal is copper

-your precious stone is emerald

-your day of the week is friday

-the parts of the body that you rule are the throat
and neck!!

-your best love matches are your own taurus, virgo,
capricorn, or cancer

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Just a tad.

See, the bellydance class got moved up an hour, and then an Intermediate class was scheduled to follow it, so I said…since I’m already here… Yeah, I took two dance classes back to back. I may very well need traction in the morning, but it was so. much. fun.

The thing about it is that no matter how tired, brain dead and blah I am at work when I get to the studio I’m all energy. I mean totally bring-on-the-torture, I-can-do-anything mode. Well, everything except shimmy,’

Seriously, I think my shimmy is broken or something. I can sort of do a shoulder shimmy (though I think I’m faking it a bit) but the hip shimmies are just beyond me. I feel incredibly out of balance when I try them and I think I’m leaning too far forward, so I need to work on that.

Friday night is the First Friday Gallery Hop and I will be dancing the cane dance with whomever else is there. Oh god…I hope someone else is there to dance it with me. There has to be. Oh dear. That’s something I hadn’t considered before. Of course there will be, I’m just being very silly all of a sudden.

And since I’ve paid for the unlimited classes this month, I think I’ll go to the zills class on the Thursdays I don’t have a meeting. Oh, and there’s a beledi costume class at the end of the month. I swear, google obsessive and a link to my pages should be pretty near the top!

But before then, tomorrow will be the first outsourced payroll run. Theorhetically this should *save* me time in the long run, but for a few weeks probably its going to be just as tedious learning the ins and outs of the service. Then the insurance guy is supposed to come it around 11 and then there’s a conference call/demo of yet another prospective accounting, etc. system at 1:30. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day. Sigh…

from the Harvest Event.

Okay, the unthinkable happened…I had almost a complete entry (a LONG complete entry) written about Harvest. Then I accidentaly closed the window. And lost the entry. DRAT! So I will now summarize the events to be elaborated on in another post, when I’m not so tired.

Pas de Armes: I’m a bad heavy weapons spectator. It’s difficult for me to follow who’s doing what and what just happened so I’m easily distracted by the other ladies of the gallery. Still, it was quite entertaining.

Spinning class: No, not the bicycle one. I suck at spinning.

Tavern Brawl: I really prefer the light weapons lyst for the slower pace and ease of not only following who is on the field but also what blow did what. Gotta love the taunting of the turkey legs.

Court: Brief. Lady Isabella’s fealty oath was poignant at the changing of the Herald, so much so that I felt myself go a little misty-eyed. This is what the pomp and pageantry is really all about.

Feast: Huzzah Earnwulf! Very good feast, excellent amount of courses, well prepared, and just all around great.

Dancing: Yay for people willingly dancing! Wish we could have done Gracca Amoroso but there wasn’t time before Wicker Man and all.

Wicker Man: Fire Marshalls Simon and Seamus did an excellent job of building the Wicker Man and yes, the Baldar head went out in a suitable blaze of glory. Many pictures were taken of the conflagration, and will be posted sometime soon.

Overall: It was good to see some people I met at 20th year, better to talk to them and make some new friends, solidify some current ones, and just learn peoples faces and names more. It was a small event–57 people–but the intimacy of it made it a very relaxed event and very friendly.