2024 Happy Blog Challenge Continues

Thirty years ago today I gave birth to one baby who today turns 30 and goes by Bel.  We thought Bel was going to have a twin sibling.  It turns out that ultrasounds aren't always correct, or I have a mirror in my back?  😉  Today my youngest lives in Maryland and even though they just finished visiting two days ago, I miss them.  Bel is a marvelous hiking buddy.  Next year we are hoping to hike the Appalachian Trail together.   Other happy things from today: I had my first complete physical since before the pandemic.  I say complete physical, but I always feel like something was forgotten.  Anyway, the doctor thinks I'm good to live for another day.  🤣 This weekend I have plans to go hiking and camping with a friend.  In preparation, I tried to set up my tent in my bedroom.  That was a failure so I took it outside.  I think it will go up easier with stakes, but for now, I have refreshed my memory enough that I think ...

It took me about four hours to fall asleep last night.  This meant that I had more of a nap before work than a good sleep.  Here are some happy things from today: Work assigned me to the Problem Solve Area.  I was exhausted, but this was the best place for me.  There is less strain on my body and more on my brain.  I was kept engaged, and it was good.  The area was also a mess when we started.  Some coworkers and I were able to sort through it all and get things done on time.     At home, I fell asleep.  I had a short nap and was able to get a few things done.  Yay, productivity! The apartment is a mess.  Bins of things from Pennsic are spread around the place to dry.  Everything is just a little moist.  The happy part of this is that I pushed myself  to get my things out of the trailer, with Bel's help.  Things only need to be all over the place for a day or two.  It is much better to deal with th...

 Some happy things from today: Last night, I didn't sleep well.  This gave me a later start to the day then I had hoped.  I feel like I worked steadily until everything was packed up and we left.  There were a few people who stayed to help pack up.  I am very thankful for that. Keziah and I talked, sang, and looked at the clouds on the drive from Pennsic to the hotel in NY. Some signs had a Native American place name alongside the name given by early settlers. Bald eagle. Safely at the hotel, it was time to shower and eat.  Keziah stayed at the hotel while Zed, Gideon, our friend, and I went out for pizza.  There will be no drums or singing in the distance tonight.  Tonight we have a building with climate control instead of a tent.  Tomorrow we will be home. It seems to me that the re entry back into regular life is an adjustment no matter what your vacation.  Vacation or not, making good memories is nice. ☮ Thank you for being part of m...

Some happy things for today: It is the first day of breakdown and the last day of food.  The food plan technically ended last night, with all meals today being things to empty the cooler.  Breakfast and lunch were from the cooler.  I am so very, very happy that I was able to participate in a meal plan this year.  It made my Pennsic time even more awesome. The shower came down.  At the end of today's blog, I am going to post pictures of the shower plumbing.  Feel free to ignore them.  I want them handy for next year when I forget how to put it together again.  🤣  We actually used different colored duct tape to color code the hoses and things so it should be easier next year.  This is the first year I remember looking forward to taking the shower down.   I look forward to leaving by the time I've been here for two weeks, but sometimes it would be nice if it all packed up by itself. Gideon has been practicing all week to perform ...

Happy things from today: This morning the new peerage information in the SCA was made public.  Peerages are the highest level awards that a person can get.  Sort of like becoming an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts.  Keziah recently became a peer when she received her Laurel for excelling in arts and sciences.  I have a Pelican for years of service.  There are others.  There were five peerages, this new one will be number six.  They plan to name the peerage Esperaunce (spelling?) which means hope.   This is what the badge of the new peerage will look like. Keziah and me. I finally made it to the archery field.  At Pennsic War the East Realm and Midrealm compete with each other, earning points and bragging rights until the next war.  On the archery range we are allowed to shoot 30 arrows at each of three different types of targets.  These are the clout (100 yard distance), the Advancing Man (distance to the targets vary as does the...

The plan for this morning was to cheer on my rattan fighting champion in the Knowne World Baronial Armored Combat Tournament.  Unfortunately, my champion took a hit yesterday and decided not to fight today.  They were thinking they would marshal the battles instead.  I asked them if they would consider marshaling the champions tournament instead, and they did.  Here are some happy things from today: I attended the tournament even though my champion couldn't fight.  It seemed like a way to show support.  During the tournament, each fighter is asked to present themselves to the assembled baronages and answer some questions.  Listening to the answers and little stories the fighters told and hearing the passion or excitement in their voices, was inspiring.  It was interesting to hear how many of them know that the SCA needs to change somehow, but that none of them had the answer to the problem.  There isn't one answer, and that is okay.  Hea...

Some happy things from today: This morning I got flustered.  A change happened that I wasn't expecting and I didn't handle it as well as I could have.  Thankfully I was able to pull it together after getting a hug from Keziah.  She was part of the Baronial Youth Tournament staff.  It is always uplifting to see her pursue her passions. It was fun to watch the youth fighters.  For the Baronial Youth Tournament, Baronial heads either have a champion at War, or are able to sponsor a youth from somewhere.  There are three divisions, based on age and ability.  There were two youths that Keziah and I got to sponsor.  Both of them did well.  The fighting was cut short due to inclement weather.  Rain doesn't usually stop the fighters, but coupled with thunder, it does. Back at the encampment the rain continued.  There was also hail for a little while.  The ground is saturated and there is a little stream going through the encampment and...