The last 2 days have been mondays at work and so many things are going wrong that I really want to throw up my hands and scream "MULLIGAN" at the top of my lungs but I know it won't help. I'm just going to nod and accept the fact that things are odd right now and I need to take it in stride and just work hard and not stress about it.

Got home yesterday after 11 hours. I ate dinner and relaxed in front of the telly watching Warehouse 13 quite pleasant that one...neato stuff. Then it was time to get dressed for fighting and I managed in not to long of time. Got to the park and started getting into gear. I was slow at that but got help from Ruteger on punching more holes in my straps so the body harness fit much better...but I have no more room for taking it in without moving the straps. Sighs...loosing size is nice but maintaining armor and SCA clothes is getting to be a hassle. Its almost to the point where I need to make all new stuff for this current size and take it in from there. Sighs. I know I'm complaining but man, its annoying.

I fought Ruteger, Justin and Baron Sir Morgan. Ruteger and I tangled pretty well, I killed him from his knees pretty easily. I was happy about that. Had some stoopid moments with Justin..I'm still not happy in my own skin so I'm stiff...course that could be more of not picking up a stick in the last month. Sighs again. Fought morgan and was getting frustrated about my inability to get into my A and B range with him...he's wiley and my timing was way off. Things to work on. course, everyone always tells me I'm thinking too much, how the heck do you stop that? I still haven't figured that out. The only thing right now I can turn my brain off for is crochet or painting or calligraphy...fighting just isn't there yet. I guess more practice will make things fluid as anything else. I gassed out and was dizzy by the time I was done with morgan. My nasal passages have been irritated and my lungs weren't happy either (lack of exercise is making the asthma come back). So, I got out of armor and talked with a few people. Met up with Argyle to get potter transferred from his house to our car. April has a faboo workshop. I've got to take pictures for her on the pieces and get them delivered to Mons on Saturday. I also need to put gloves in my gauntlets so I can fight at the tourney. I'm actually kinda excited since I've never fought in this one due lack of gauntlets.

We got home latish and I was sore and tired. Got a shower and I read for a while. I thought I was going to have trouble sleeping but I didn't. So, I'm hoping today is not so long and I get to head to knit night and then to kung fu. I think I'll grab my knitting needles, my book and a ball of yarn and have a good time...if I make it.

Well, work was okay. I got out of the engineering review tomorrow cause my project is on time and under budget so I can just work on the project versus working on slides to talk about said project. I scheduled a business trip to Virginia (blacksburg area) for the 20-22. Found out that mel will be at some base somewhere from 22-24...which is the sad. I hope our hotel has a work out room. Anyhoo.

Did errands after work which were to involve Kiwi Knit Shop and GNC. But the actually involved driving to Kiwi and noting that they were closed until the 11th. Sighs. Then I drove to the mall and while chatting with Ari on the phone I ran into icka. Which was cool. She found some neato stuff at Cato for her work outfit and we parted ways at GNC. I headed there to get a small container of protein powder since I've figured out what I like and got a shaker cup with one of the wire balls for mixing. I liked shanda's. Then on a whim I had a 10 Minute massage from the Chi Masters (chinese massage guys) and man did that feel good. I will probably go back to them when I have time for a full 30 min. It was so nice and it relaxed my shoulders which I knew were tight. Biking and pushups just do that too me.

Then I headed to eddie bauer to check out their sale and I found I fit into a size smaller than I expected shorts and bought them and got a new water bottle for cheap. After that I headed to ELYS. And was pleasantly surprised...the cranky gal didn't seem to be helping customers and the gal that helped me understood my needs and showed me the parts of the store for what I needed. Now, its funny. They have crochet classes and it says "crochet friendly" on the door but yanno...doesn't that mean you should be selling crochet hooks? WTF? But it was a good experience there for once but the did not have any of the sock yarns I've been hearing about on Knitmore Girls so I will hope that Kiwi has them. I might have to make a trip out next tuesday to see them.

Got home and changed to do some weight training and did that and ab stuff for 30mins. Had dinner and then it was time to get ready for practice. It was hella humid...but I took breaks to get air and water and cool my head off. I was sweating but it wasn't getting through all of my layers, like my kerchief I wear over my hair. So I kept soaking it. I fought 5 folks about 5-6 passes each throughout the night. Not bad. After a few times on my knees I needed to not do that any more...plus Oslaf hit me in my right knee (its pretty blue right now on the side) and zippy hit my in the left on the side but its okay. I'm sore in the arms and legs from the last few work outs but its the good, I used those muscles sore. I got a little nauseous towards the end...not sure if it was too much water or what but I pushed through. Poor mel wasn't so lucky.

He got too tired and just worn out about 30 mins before me. He was cooling down and talking with the possible man-at-arms about armor etc but he was DONE. I got off the field cooled down, chatted with HE atensibilla and thyririgain and then I dragged his butt home. He was pretty unable to talk when we drove home and he got his armor stored and cats fed and curled up on the floor in the family room. I do mean curled up, like fetal position. So, being the good wife, I figured he'd overheated. So I got an ice pack out and put it on his neck and that started to bring him around. We sat for quite a while while he moved the ice about his head and was very happy to see him hit the "I can communicate" stage. He got a quick, cool shower and I think he was asleep before I started reading.

I slept well but I was sore so I tossed a bit. I really, really didn't want to get out of bed this morning...neither did the girls, they were pretty snuggly. But here we are at work. I forgot to refil my Kashi container for work so no crunchies in my yogurt. Sighs. Oh, well. I have lots of meetings today so that should make the day quick. I hope to get get home, do my work out tape, eat dinner and head to grandma's until kung fu. It will be good. After kung fu I think it will be early bedtime and maybe a bit of laundry. The fighting clothes are already in the washer, I just need to turn it on.

Well, monday was actually really, really productive at work. I didn't get too distracted with other things and stayed on task. That was nice. Left work a bit late (but I got in way late so that was okay) and then headed to glenn's for an adjustment. Their baby, I think its andrew, is gonna be a line backer. He's a big boy and so cute! The adjustment was good and this was one of those times when I just wanted to sleep afterwards. I was very weary. Got home and mel and mingo were moving the trailer. Got the rest of mingo's stuff out of the sca closet..though there still the box of booze to return. Eh. I then laid down and was descended upon by the cats for snuggles, warmth on the places that were sore and a bit of a sleep. I got up about 30 mins later, made myself a really nummy salad and then I felt much better. I cleaned up the front room and then settled in to finish watching an episode of FK until folks arrived.

cecilia_mowebray was the only person for a long while which meant I got to chat with the BFF twice in on week! woot! We kibitzed on many things and I got to clean up my studio while we chatted which was nice. Then Sioux showed up and more chatting ensued. Mel was home by then and it was a good and enlightening evening. Folks left about 9 ish and then it was showers and bedtime.

I got a Jessicurls Hair Products sampler pack in the mail yesterday so I tried out the hair wash and the daily conditioner. All of the products are for folks with curly hair. Now mine isn't uber curly but it does need the extra moisture that other products have not been helping me with. I figured I'd try it and see. It was nice to use last night and today my ends are softer. I think I will do a deep condition later this week and see how that works. I'm all about getting my hair longer and healthier and this is all sulfate free stuff which is nice. I'll keep you posted.

It was very hard to get out of bed this morning. The girls had been snuggling with me most of the night and I it was really nice and warm in bed. I so didn't want to get up. But here we are at work and things are moving along. We get free lunch today due to a dept all hands and that should be good. Hopefully its good food. My plan after work is to mail off packages that need to be mailed, do a small work out and then got to practice. Yup, I'm finally making it back out. I figure I'll work on some slow work and then do some pick ups and see how I do.

But things are done.

Weekend was nice..not quite everything I hoped but it was nice. Allergies are kicking my ass, even fully medicated today I feel off...maybe a few more days of steady meds things will be better. Not sleeping great but eh. The fiber fest was fun, had a really nice time and the tambour brought folks in to see stuff. Got some pie, got some yarn and got a cast iron dutch oven for cheap.

Had a nice lunch at BBC and then home to nap for many hours. Then I had a really nice time with shade_scribbler and hubby at elinor_dear's grad party. We missed you ecogryff! Got home and played Hexic on xbox, slept bad and got up for arts stuff.

Now, to show my accomplishment for the weekend besides keeping my kitchen clean (I figure about 60 hours of work or so):



Next will be the Thor's Hammer's for Hrafn's coat. I hope to have them done this week since they will be less intense in the shading part.

Work was tiring but I got handed a new project, not happy about it but it looks deceptively easy and that is worrisome. I do need to figure out if I need to present the quad chart on it today or tomorrow. I guess I will find out. So, I had things to occupy my time that wasn't working on the qual report that I've been not working on. Its dull and I'm regurgitating rather dry boring test data...I'd rather be regurgitating dry archeological texts instead, sighs.

Got home later than normal to make up time and then I tried to nap but got up to work on the studio...things aren't done yet and I ended up quitting about 8pm and just watching tv. Its almost there. I have to figure out where the broken framed prints are going and where my drawing board will be stored. I had had them all tucked away hidden before and now they will be exposed..probably stacked up behind the dress form I think. then I need to go through two baskets of stuff and vacuum and things will be almost right. I also plan on going through all of the fabric and getting rid of the bits and bobs that are too small and get rid of the fabric that isn't in period set of things. Plus I need to see if I can get 2 of my small tubs into one normal sized tub.

I did not get to my embroidery and that makes me annoyed. I guess I'll have to buckle down and get it working tonight. I'm overtired and sore and not really sure what is up with me. My legs ache all over, not just the knee, which has been doing really good. I'm gonna try kung fu tonight and see how that goes and gauge to see if I can go full speed on thursday or not. I'm hoping so.

Course I also have to admit, I put Brimstone Kiss down to read Turn Coat...80 pages in and the stuff is already hitting the fan.

To Do this Week...
1) New tires on car
2) Clean up studio 90%
3) Rearrange guest room
4) Carve mold for casting
5) Work documentation..slow going
6) Go see Watchman
7) Clean up bedroom
8) Sort through clothes
9) Work on embroidery project
10) Work on kennings for poem.

The heat was on this AM. For those of you who have ever been to our house in winter we don't keep it too warm. It was 60° in the kitchen when I was making my breakfast and the heat was going which was nice. But man I didn't want to get out of bed. I managed to get myself off of the couch with some hot tea and got the banner finished. Its nice and I'm happy with it and then I got a shower, fed the girls and went to bed. I was zonked out before 930. I didn't even hear mel come in at all and I didn't wake up until the second alarm went off. Mel and I stayed in bed until the last alarm went off..the girls weren't even wanting to stir. Tired family.

Got bundled up and was glad I didn't have to scrape my windshield. The top of the car was frosted completely bu the windshield was good. I was very happy to have the half gloves ari made me. Got left a voicemail from DOM and he was all upset he didn't get to say good bye to me before he leave for the Caribbean for 10 days...which over laps my vacation..ah, poor dave. He can cope. I hope to maybe get out of here by 3pm to get some grocery shopping done and then home to work on documentation. I have lots of scans to do from books. Maybe kung fu...not sure. If I'm still headachey and tired...probably not. Which sucks.

I hope to have things figured out tonight on a few fronts, have friday scheduled for tasks and to maybe catch our breaths over the weekend...maybe.

To Do for This Weekend:
Make 2 new baronial silk banners
1) Make sure richard and mel work on pig projects
2) Make Chilli
3) Make Stroganoff
4) Seal A meal #2 and #3
5) Make gift bags for the gift baskets
6) Put buttons on my old fighting coat
7) Set up land
8) Get all scans for Documentation.
9) Finish class handout for 10 books
10) Household who is bringing what list worked out
11) Household who is cooking when list worked out
12) Laundry
13) Pack SCA clothes or at least pull so we have things set up.
14) Get work instructions from Steffan and Ivan for docs.

I worked on documentation last night and laundry...I got a good ways done on the documentation...laundry not so much. I was so tired that I went to bed at 10pm or so. I left Ivan and Shanda and steffan chatting away.

I slept like the dead and slept well until the alarm went off. Got up, got family breakfast at joe's and then we packed up for war practice. I was a bit worried about the arm but I made it out and it worked great. We did some open fields and then moved into drills which were fun. Oslaf and I rocked it out as a good shield team. Then we did a gate battle and we pushed through...I got tangled up on the side of things and then pushed to a boundary and killed by a few stout shots. I sat for a bit while the battle raged on and then realized that tears were falling down my face and my body was rebelling against me. I'd had this happen before (at pennsic) and I knew my blood sugar was crashing and I'd need to quick eat something to recover. I got off the field, and desert_moloch got me my tangerine and a pbj sammie. I slowly ate them and a big cup of cold water and waited for the world to stop being weird in my vision and to stop feeling woozy. It didn't. I drank more water and I really didn't feel better. I guess my color wasn't good either and after getting to my feet and stumbling onto the field for a field court I was sure that I was done. I had to slump against ivan to make sure the world wasn't spinning.

I got out of armor and hit the bathrooms and then took a nap...hit the bathroom again and took another nap. Got a snack and then things were finishing up. I got another pbj sammie and felt better but not great. We got things torn down and then I was woozy again. Sighs. We all got home and then it was time to head to a quiet small dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. Had a nice meal there...their bean soup is good. We're home now and I'm falling asleep. Shower will be soon and then bed.

I'm pretty sure I'm in the stage of changing how my body does things and its really not sure what it wants to do...I had enough carbs (I thought I did) but I think that I didn't have enough carbs last night or in the morning to carry me through...course maybe I should have had a sammi before...I don't know but what ever I did it didn't work. I just don't have the energy right now and I'm sure that in another week things will be fine and I won't have to worry about it but its that transition period where the body is having to do things differently. But now I'm very, very worn out and the arm is stiff but working..we'll see how I am tomorrow.

Well, yesterday afternoon after our potluck I was feeling...off. I was tired beyond what is normal for me and I was getting a rather scratchy sore throat. I made it through the afternoon only because I had things that had to get done and I got them done and then went home. I slept for about 2 hours on the couch and then made tea..wasn't hungry and laid about more dozing. I got a shower and mel was nice enough to heat up some meat for me. My head was still pounding but I snuggled up and slept rather well.

My voice is kinda raspy this AM. I've got tea and alka seltzer cold to keep me company. I have a few meetings today but the rest will be restful paperwork at my desk. If I had the vacation to spare I would be home right now. I'm doing okay but I'm sure by the end of the day I will not be...sighs. Eh. I'll survive. Its the weekend...it will be okay.

Things on the docket...being baroness for a good chunk of the weekend...cutting out fabric, doing laundry and packing for south carolina. Next week will be very, very busy.