http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/go_fug
Meanwhile, I suspect that I was having mild Braxton Hicks contractions all damn day. I couldn't actually feel them, but I was crampy and sore all afternoon and I felt uncomfortable and very "off." The baby kept kicking me which just added to the joy. Then just after Pub Sing ended, I sat my exhausted self onstage and waited for Glenn to come and carry my hammered dulcimer (or perhaps me) out of the pub. Glenn showed up and I told him that I wasn't feeling right, and then I asked him to give me hug so I could hide my face in his shoulder. I didn't want anyone to see that I had suddenly started crying. The tears came on with no warning at all and surprised the heck out of me, but I calmed down pretty quickly.
(Note: Today I'm at 38 weeks, which is technically full term. So while going into labor at Pub Sing would be inconvenient, the baby wouldn't be premature.)
As we were gathering our stuff, I felt something that seemed like it could be an actual contraction. Then I felt another, which kind of confirmed that, yeah, that was probably a contraction. I started warning my fellow pyrate types that I might not be at the festival the next day. As we walked to my car, I felt several contractions. During the 1-hour ride home (Glenn drove) we timed the contractions. 4 minutes apart... then 3 minutes, yikes! Don't panic! 6 minutes apart... 4 minutes... 5 minutes...
We got home and I lay down and kept timing contractions while Glenn made some dinner. I just had this feeling that this wasn't the main event, and I wanted to be really sure before calling the hospital. 4 minutes apart... 6 minutes... 9 minutes... I dozed off... and the contractions stopped. I had some dinner and watched a little television. Baby kept kicking me, the little stinker. Now I feel perfectly normal, like today never happened. In fact, I feel better than I have all day, I'm not crampy or sore at all.
So, uh, I guess I'll be reporting to Revel Grove as per usual tomorrow morning.
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE, 7 am: Yup. I slept like a log last night and woke up feeling normal. It's back to work for me.
OOPS. Wrong. Mask Day is Oct. 11.
My solo set schedule remains the same as it's been all season: 1:30 pm and 5 pm -- Area B, Near the Royal Stage and Stub Toe Lane.
This is my final contracted weekend playing solo music at MDRF. That doesn't mean that I won't go out and play Ye Bonkeye Thinge later in the season if I'm feeling ambitious. However, I won't be on the official schedule after this weekend. I'll still be playing with the Pyrates for as long as I'm able, though!
Unofficial theme for this weekend: Don't Give Darcy a Hard Time About ANYTHING.
No, I haven't had a rough week. In fact, I've had a wonderful week. Then why the theme? Because *looking at the clock* I am now officially at 37 weeks, which is close enough to full term that I could go into labor right this minute and my doctor wouldn't bat an eye. So! I can do whatever the hell I want from now on. NYA NYA NYA.
Notice that I'm carrying my hammered dulcimer? Don't give me crap about it.
Catch me eating raw fish? Keep your thoughts to yourself.
Witness me sipping on something that looks alcoholic? Don't comment, lest I laugh in your face.
Feel the need to offer me a foot rub? Hey, don't let ME stop you!
SO THERE.
I guarantee it will be far more amusing to the person who catches you doing that than it will be to you, is all I'm saying...
1:30 pm and 5 pm -- Area B, Near the Royal Stage and Stub Toe Lane
It may rain Saturday, it may not, but it won't be as bad as last Saturday. Que sera sera. If it rains during my solo sets, head to Tiger's leather mask (and other artwork!) booth on Stub Toe Lane for dulcimer music under a roof!
BUT NEVER MIND THE WEATHER! Did I mention that I'm co-hosting Pub Sing this weekend? *flail*
Special Featured Performances
Albannach -- 10:30am, 12:30pm, 1:45pm & 3:30pm at the Blackfriars Theatre
The Rogues -- 11:30am at Blackfriars Theatre; 1pm & 5pm at White Hart Tavern; 2:30pm & 3:30pm on Market Stage; 6:15pm at the Dragon Inn.
Scottish Country Dance Society of Washington -- 2:30pm & 4pm at the Market Stage
Caber Toss in the Joust field: -- Demonstrations at 10:15am & 2:30pm. Competition begins at 4:30pm
Maggie's Music: A Celtic Fair -- 12noon on the Gatehouse Stage
Esty's Harp & Voice -- 11am & 3pm near Customer Service, 1pm on Stub Toe Lane.
Macbeth in 20 Minutes or Less by Shakespeare's Skum -- 2:30pm on the Globe.
9/14 only: Chesapeake Caledonian Pipes & Drums -- 11am & 12:30pm in the Joust Field
9/14 only: Columbia School of Highland Dance -- 12noon & 1:30pm on the Market Stage
. . . And at 6 pm -- enjoy Kat Fairbanks' and Emrys Fleet's Highland Fling and Pub Sing at the White Hart Tavern
-- Then the Female Human refused to throw the ball for him in the front yard like she used to. Something about how he runs off after squirrels / cats / the mail man / the UPS truck / the FedEx truck and there's no fence and she can't trust him to not get hit by a car. She's just no fun at all.
-- Fetching the ball in the back yard is just not the same and she knows it.
-- The Male Human got home from work and then IGNORED him because he was too busy doing something in the kitchen. The Male Human clearly loves the kitchen more than Colby.
-- The Humans finally took him for a walk, but it was later than usual and he didn't get to chase his darling Riley.
-- The Humans still won't let him play with the kittens down the street.
-- Then just before bed, the Humans washed out his ear AGAIN and put goo in it AGAIN. WHY DO THEY KEEP DOING THAT?
...he sulked for a whole 10 minutes over that last insult to his dignity, but he finally went to bed just now.
Well, there is a big dumb dog here pestering me for a walk. :) So that's one thing that's different.
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
ironbeagle) and who comments on my LJ with one more unsolicited "warning" about my pregnancy and something that they perceive as a safety issue that applies only to me because I'm pregnant will be banned from commenting here. Seriously, people. I've been pregnant for the past 8 months, which in some cases is 8 months longer than you. The baby and I are both ridiculously healthy. Give me a break, give me a little credit, and give it a rest. If you don't, (hey guess what, it's MY JOURNAL and furthermore, MY PREGNANCY) then you're not allowed to comment anymore.
And for pity's sake, do not email me with an apology. Or walk up to me this weekend and apologize. Just leave it alone.
1:30 pm and 5 pm -- Area B, Near the Royal Stage and Stub Toe Lane
NOTE: I can't play in the rain, and rain is expected on Saturday, so I'll likely beg a vendor to let me use a corner of his or her roof. It'll probably be a quiet day anyway, so just listen for the tinkly noises along Stub Toe Lane.
Other Irish performances as listed on the MDRF web site:
9/6: CeolmoCree (Irish dance & music) -- 2pm & 3:30pm at the Globe Theatre
9/6: James Gallagher & Off the Boat (music) -- 6:30pm on Market Stage
9/6 and 9/7: Keltish (Molly's band!) -- 5:30pm at the Globe Theatre and 7pm at the White Hart Tavern
9/6 and 9/7: Maggie's Music (music) -- 12 noon on the Gatehouse Stage
9/6 and 9/7: Faith & Begora (Irish dance & music) -- 12 noon on the Boardwalk
9/7: Culkin Adult Irish Dancers (Irish dance & music) -- 2pm & 3:30pm at the Globe Theatre
9/7: The Wild Rovers (Fifi le BonBon's band!) -- 6:30pm on the Market Stage
Extra added performances:
9/6: Cercamon -- 7pm on the Gatehouse Stage
9/6 and 9/7: The Interpreters -- 7pm at the Globe Theatre
I'm playing solo hammered dulcimer in "Area B" -- more specifically, at Stub Toe Lane near the Royal Stage -- at 1:30 pm and 5 pm.
I guess somebody had a bad day.
From a comment made by
dashrippington -- "There are still 27 pics from the Festival on her myspace... but the ones in question have been removed.Her pic site: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cf
You may need to be logged in to see. I suggest anyone that can... take a look at the remaining pics and see if they belong to them."
Also, very importantly, I just heard that she DID NOT try to sell a photo, as I was told earlier. So I apologize for posting inaccurate info.
My sincere thanks to everyone who trusted my word on this issue.
Click on the links below and decide for yourself whether these images weren't obviously stolen.
UPDATE: After getting a bunch of emails and comments about this, she has deleted or hidden said photos from her MySpace account. Nice work, people!
original | stolen (on MySpace, so you need to sign in to see it)
original | stolen (on MySpace, so you need to sign in to see it)
original | stolen (on MySpace, so you need to sign in to see it)
I'd love to comment on these: "Nice photo. A shame it's not yours," but I need to be her "friend" to comment. GRRRRRRRR
Sorry, folks, this part is wrong:
And, I survived mostly intact. Believe me, I was a little concerned that my delicate condition could put a serious damper on things. I did notice a difference, of course, how could I not? My energy waned earlier in the day than usual, and my legs and feet were barking like dogs well before closing cannon, even with the wonderful foot rubs that
ani_moore provided. Also, I wore sandals which may have kept my feet cool but also showed off my chipped toenail polish and my lovely pregnancy-induced cankles. Yeesh. But really, I think I got off easy. (On the other hand, like I told some folks this summer: "It's not like I'm digging ditches, I'm just standing around and singing.") So my priorities -- besides singing and playing for you silly people and making a lot of pregnancy-related jokes -- are to sit down a lot more often and drink a lot more water. I've been told that dehydration can cause early labor and HELL NO KIDS, WE DON'T WANT THAT.
Oh, the jokes. They just came so easily. SO MUCH FUN. And we still have the rest of the season. It's just going to get worse.
I said, "SURPRISE!" to a lot of people. So many hugs, so many delighted smiles, and so many people telling me that I was glowing and that they were happy and excited for me. Well, how could I not glow after all of that lovely attention and good energy coming my way? Yeah, a few people touched my belly without permission, but they were just too quick for me, darnit. The vast majority of people asked first, and the non-askers? Eh, it was over so fast and it didn't ruin my day, so WHATEVER. The only person who really annoyed me was the same one who is downright fixated on my so-called "new identity" as somebody's mom. *cue eyerolling* He felt compelled to repeat that philosophy of his to me again when he stopped by the Pyrates Royale camp. I said, "Um, no." And I said it again. If he brings it up one more time, I AM going to tell him, "Look, you're being tedious. Give it a rest or I won't have time to talk with you any more." Seriously.
Speaking of the camp, the new tent top looks terrific. But Let Us Never Speak of This Again. *THUNDER CRASH*
This weekend also featured foods that were so odd that I couldn't decide whether I liked them or not. There was the chocolate-covered bacon courtesy of
reggiemental. I didn't dislike it, but I just couldn't decide if I liked it. But thanks for sharing it with me, Uncle Val! Also, I've shared my love for Ginger Chews with a few friends/castmates, and I recently discovered a new flavor: Hot Coffee. (I found it at the World Market, if anyone is curious.) Which is Ginger Chews made with real coffee. It's every bit as weird as it sounds, I think. I had to eat, well, a lot of them before I could decide that I liked them. And I'm pretty sure that I like the Original Ginger Chews more. Now, the Peanut Ginger Chews are my absolute favorite, hands down, but I have to mailorder them, I can never find them in the stores. Anyway, I had a wonderful, wonderful weekend, I love my job, and I talked with so many delightful people that I really can't list them all here. Well, I could try, but I'm embracing my lazy today. I have managed to shuffle around the house and do a little bit of tidying up, but I've spent a lot of the day with my feet up. My legs are sore and still a little swollen.
The End
P.S. Let us never speak of this again.
Oh yeah. No tent top arrived, more than a week after it was supposedly shipped. Tentsmiths utterly unresponsive. Cancelled the order and got the charges reversed on my credit card.
Today
skivee called me and told me that he got a call from the co-owner of this "company." She actually got defensive with him and asked, "Are you accusing me of not shipping it to you?" (NOTE: Please remember this for The Shocking Conclusion...)This, obviously, made my head nearly explode. I'm amazed that blood didn't start squirting right out of my eyes. I mean, THE NERVE. So I'm doubly glad that I did not let Tentsmiths interrupt my phone call yesterday with my credit card company, because, really, I would have ended up in the ER trying to explain to the medical staff how exactly I managed to melt a telephone and fuse it to the side of my face.
skivee then told me that Ms. Tentsmiths Co-Owner said, "UPS doesn't know where the package is, maybe the label fell off." How reassuring. Had I been on the line, I would have said, "Oh well, lady, I guess you have a problem there, and it's not mine." She offered to cut and assemble a whole new tent top and send it overnight shipping to us so that we'd get it on Thursday or Friday or thereabouts. That's when I washed my hands of the whole matter. Why? Because I did not trust Tentsmiths at this point. All that they had shown me was incompetence, unresponsiveness, deplorably neglectful customer "service," and defensiveness. I basically told
skivee that I had no intention of involving myself in any further transactions with Tentsmiths, and sorry, but someone else would have to cover this. Because I was done. Done and done and done. I didn't want to spend another minute, not another second talking about or thinking about this clusterfuck. ( The Shocking Conclusion. WARNING: PROFANITY DEAD AHEAD. )
Monday after close of business: I called
skivee and asked if they had called him or sent an email. Nope. skivee suggested that I wait until noon on Tuesday. Tuesday: I was distracted by relatives visiting and I didn't even think about the Tentsmiths debacle until around 5 pm. I called
skivee again to see if they had gotten in touch with him. Nope. He offered to call them one more time, which is more than they deserved in my opinion. He called me back to let me know that the company's voicemail box was too full for him to leave a message. "I guess they're dead," I said. I called my credit card company at about 5:25 PM and WHILE I WAS EXPLAINING MY SITUATION TO THE DISPUTE DEPT., my Call Waiting beeped at me. Take a wild guess who was trying to call me. No, really. I could NOT believe it. I was like, "Are they psychic or something?"
Did I take the call? No, I did not. I had just gotten my money back and I wanted to get back to my visiting relatives, thank-you-very-much. Have I called Tentsmiths? No, I have not. I do not feel any good or compelling reason to give them any more of my attention at this point. That "company" can go piss up a rope for all I care.
On to the game...
The Omnivore's Hundred is a list of foods the gastronomic Andrew Wheeler thinks everyone should try at least once in their lives.
The rules of the meme:
1) Bold any food that you have tried
2)
2a) Italicize any food you'll never eat again.
2b) Put an asterisk next to any food you'd be interested in trying but have not yet.
( my results AKA I'll try anything, apparently... )
Apologists, you can tell me that they're a great company 'till your head falls off, but that won't change the facts here:
-- The Tentsmiths staff assured
skivee that this order (a tent roof, not a whole tent) would arrive by Wednesday, August 6, a deadline that he had discussed with them. -- Then one of the staff called on about August 6 to tell
skivee that they had made the item in the wrong size, and they tried to sell it to him anyway. That's like telling a bride who ordered a size 6 wedding dress that they made a size 10 instead. It WON'T FIT, OKAY??? He told them no, of course. -- Tentsmiths then promised to send the correct item by August 11. I received an email from UPS which promised me that it would arrive on Wednesday, August 13.
-- Well, here it is, Friday August 15 and it hasn't arrived. According to UPS, the order hasn't even gone into a single damn truck.
--
skivee called the Tentsmiths phone number multiple times during posted business hours yesterday, and nobody ever picked up. Which has been typical in the past 6 weeks. They NEVER answer the phone. -- A Tentsmiths staffer finally called
skivee back today. She had NO EXPLANATION for why we hadn't received the order yet, or why UPS didn't even have it. She told skivee that she would "look into it" and call him back. -- She did not call him back later today. Nor did she send an email, or try to call me or email me... Tentsmiths supposedly has multiple contact numbers to reach either
skivee or me, so not getting back to either of us with an answer about an overdue order is completely unacceptable. -- I have been checking the UPS Tracking information on this order all week. It has never been updated to say anything more than that the billing information was received by UPS. I finally called the UPS customer service number today, and I learned that while UPS received the billing information on Monday, UPS did not get the actual package. UPS doesn't have the package itself, so it hasn't even been shipped yet.
To sum up: What we have here is a missing package that is at this point 9 days late in arriving when promised and according to UPS, hasn't even been shipped out yet, and no explanation from Tentsmiths. This order was paid for
If this doesn't get resolved to my satisfaction next week, I am canceling the order and telling my credit card company to reverse the charges. Hell, I may do it anyway because I am just that angry. I have NEVER experienced such shoddy customer service, EVER.
I repeat: JUST DON'T ORDER FROM TENTSMITHS. There are plenty of other period tent makers out there that do a better job.
THE PLOT THICKENS
Part 3
But WAIT! There's MORE!!!
The End
Small businesses have their quirks, and often not a lot of staff. But seriously, how difficult is it to return a phone call? (Or for that matter, answer the phone in the first place?) Multiple phone calls from me and from a second person were not returned in a very timely manner. They were actually more responsive when I used their sort of online order form, which was not secure and therefore did not take credit card info. Instead, I had to print out an order form and fax it to them with payment info. Sure, a small business sometimes operates a bit oddly, but I would hope they'd make up for that with good CUSTOMER SERVICE.
I just felt like I had to woo them in order to throw money at them. That doesn't make sense to me.
Also, ah, having two contact people for the same order seemed to cause a great deal of confusion... don't know why, isn't that what Post-It Notes are for?
EDIT: (Forgot to add this) Last week they called The Other Contact Person to let him know that they had screwed up our order by making the tent top too big. Would we like to buy it anyway? Um, how about NO?? Because IT WON'T FIT OUR CURRENT TENT??? *facepalm* That's like telling a bride, "Hey, I know you ordered a size 6 dress but we made a size 10 instead... you want it?"
A few days ago I got an email from UPS telling me that the order was processed on August 11 and the ordered item would arrive at my address Aug. 13. Well, today is Aug. 13 and wouldn't you know it, I didn't get a delivery. So I checked the email again and tried to track the order using the UPS web site. Seems there is no updated info... in other words, yes, the order was supposedly processed, but UPS apparently doesn't have the actual item in their hot little hands yet.
So yeah, it's time to call Tentsmiths again... if only they'd answer their damned phone.
I'll be playing solo hammered dulcimer in the lanes through the end of September, but my solo set schedule will change from week to week -- the Information Booth near the Front Gate prints a weekly schedule of music and dance acts.
Oh yeah, and I'll be performing with some pyrates, too:
11:00 am -- Globe Theatre
12:30 pm -- White Hart Tavern
2:30 pm -- White Hart Tavern
4:00 pm -- White Hart Tavern
6:00 pm -- PUB SING at the White Hart Tavern
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