Holy crap.

I'll be 25 in a week.

WHAT?!

When did I become an adult, and how can I make it stop?

Had some nasty storms Monday. This bunch dropped a tornado on Trenton (or not far from it), and the storm slightly west of that dropped dime- and quarter-sized hail on us.

Still gave some great photos, right?

I can talk again, barely, and my lymph nodes are going down. If I weren't all sick-like, I'd entertain going to Feast of Eagles. However, I don't want to get other people sick, especially before Pennsic, so I'm staying put.

Please let me know how it was, if you go, all right? I'll hopefully be at Coronation, provided I'm not working that weekend.

Hot damn!

I figured out how to play Korobeyniki on mandolin! Granted, it was just the melody, but I figured it out! YES! Tetris, eat your little pixelated heart out!

Well, I'm getting better. My voice is starting to go, but I can now keep food down. It's a trade-off I'll take. Meanwhile, it gives me time to work on the icon project for Queen's Prize. My current shopping list comes to $60, which just proves that I can do this inexpensively. A lot of the paints will get used for other things (other icons, mayhaps), and it's not like I'll use all of the gold leafing. At least, I hope I don't.

Meanwhile, I've been dealing ( with some unusual circumstances... )

Anyway, I'm going to go to bed. Maybe. Sleep is good.

And I've been up for the past eight hours kneeling before the porcelain-throned gods.

I'm sick.

Dammit.

Of all the times to not be, this is one of them. Bah. I guess it's a good thing that I'm not going to Raid or Trade this weekend.

Take that back. It is a very good thing I'm not.

It is official.

I am music-geeking right now.

I got a birthday present from the Bender today. Songs from the Labyrinth and The Journey & the Labyrinth. It's the music of John Dowland...sung by Sting. And it has a lutenist on it, too. Edin Karamozov. It is beautiful. And I -have- to learn this stuff. It's beautiful.

John Dowland kicked butt.

And hi. I'm Zephyr. And I'm a music geek.

softpaw, a photo for you. We had volunteer columbines this year, but I wasn't able to get the pink ones photographed before they died. Still, it's a beautiful lavender.

You like? :D

So, Anti's parents are deciding to come in next weekend. Not the weekend after that. Not the weekend I have nothing to do.

The weekend of Raid or Trade.

Argh.

There's a chance (and probably a strong one) that I'm not going to be able to go. And that SUCKS. A lot. ARGH!

scooterheather, I'm really sorry! (The boy is going to try to talk his parents out of coming, so hopefully, I'll still be able to. Cross your fingers!)

I now officially love the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Byzantine Art!

If only you could see how far my jaw has dropped. I am squeeing now. And this is why I chose what I did. It purty.

Let's see. I've, oddly enough, tossed this idea around.

If I were to start a restaurant, I'd probably have an Irish/New American gastro-pub. I love the soul of Irish food, and I don't think it's a cuisine that's really tapped here on this side of the Pond. I'd call it Sócúl an bhaile, or comforts of home.

As for appearance, I love the idea of making it look like a pub, but also having a grand ballroom of sorts, where it looks like an Irish castle. Maybe.

I am officially entering panic mode for Raid or Trade.

I don't have a ride yet (eep!), and so I'm trying to see if I even need to buy a tent or not, at least starting off (the answer is yes). Earth pimple (lrdfaelan, great phrase. I'm stealing it!) it will be, no lie, at least until I can afford a nice wall tent. Thankfully, I already own a sleeping bag. That's not something that's scaring me at the moment. I will even meet people in Bethany to save them time and gas, too. And I'm even offering to chip in for gas, provide direction from Bethany to site and back again, and I also don't take up a lot of room. I know it's early, but I figure I better get on the ball now and confirm things. (Mom was an event planner. Can you tell?)

If I don't go, I guess that'll be okay, but I'm jonesin' for a time with my Scadian pals. I don't get to see you guys all that often, and it saddens me. (which isn't to say that I'm not working on getting something started here in the 'Ville. It's just taking time.)

So, BFSers and nearby gentles, if you can't go, but you know someone who is, could you ask for me? If you need my email to give to people, use cowtownchick AT hotmail DOT com. I will be indebted to you! (and it gives you an opportunity to have a servant-for-a-day in payment, with terms to be discussed at a later time and date. An ornery one you'll get, but one nonetheless.)

Thanks. You rock!

YES!

After months of searching, I found Dr House's "bitchin' cane."

I must have.

Sure, it won't -quite- be historically accurate, but...it's the bitchin' cane! It's great for days like today when my hip and knee decide to hate me.

Squee.

Sweet Mother of God, I found pre-made egg tempera!

Sure, it's not making my paint by hand, but it's a cheaper alternative, and it gives me a chance to work with material I've never worked with before!

Hee!

Dammit.

This means I -have- to enter Queen's Prize now.

Cathus, I hate you. Not really. But it sounds good.

So, who wants to make my birthday and get me the deluxe set? :P I kid. Sort of.

I've got a remnant or two from a café au lait I had as an infant on both knees. That's the closest I've got of that. One looks like a demented bunny. The other one's faded and I can't really tell what it is.

How did I get talked into submitting something to Queen's Prize?

How?

I blame Cathus. End of story.

I may paint an icon. Not sure, but I'm heading that way. And while I can't afford doing egg tempera, I figure I can get close with acrylic. Maybe.

Again. How did I get talked into submitting something for Queen's Prize?

Game was crazy, but not as crazy as it has been in past weeks.

( Quotes await. )