Buh-Bye Tribe!

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I've decided that I'm NOT keeping my Tribe account. It's a nice site, but what uses I have found for it I get from my existing LiveJournal (that I barely use) or my Facebook account.

So if you REAAAAALLY want to get ahold of me or check up on what's going on in my world, you'll have to add me to your Facebook. Click below to go to my Facebook profile and add me if you haven't already done so.

www.facebook.com/profile.php

Helium Hand Strikes Again!

Well, someone spiked the fruit punch with Helium again. I've been added to the Fall Coronation 2008 bid that our Shire is submitting as co-event steward. *shakes head* I can't say no...really...I can't. *LOL*

So...if this bid gets accepted...I'll have a Coronation and RUSH session to plan. And then the Shire's talking about doing a series of mini-events throughout the year for indoor fighting, A&S activities, and potlucks. (Though I did suggest to incorporate the monthly Shire meeting in WITH the mini-events...*heh*)

Oh...and I've volunteered to teach a class at the Shire level first, and then at Clothier's Seminar in February::
* Dressing the Safavid Persian Man
See what the men of Persia wore during the 16th-century by looking at Persian miniatures of that time.

And let's not forget, I'm most likely going to run a series of newcomer's classes at Lilies like I did last year. Or some variation thereof....

Silk Road Symposium

Well...I'm just a wee bit excited. The RUSH Chancellor approved my idea to host a Silk Road Symposium...and we're already in the process of accepting bids. What I'm even more excited about is that I've heard from two Shires that are putting a bid together already!!! *squeees* I'm hoping to have the final bids in by December 1st so that it can be announced at Kris Kinder when and where the Silk Road Symposium will be.

I'm also very excited to encourage the educating of the SCAdian masses!!! It will be wonderful to see more Near Eastern, Middle Eastern, and Far Eastern information and culture spread throughout the lands of Calontir. Sure...it's not mainstream SCA...but so many people have that attraction to the Silk Road...it'd be nice to have that educational opportunity out there for everyone to take part in. I'm seeing a track of cooking classes...a track of dancing and drumming classes...and a series of costuming, A&S, and cultural classes for each of the primary regions along the Silk Road! There's SOOOO much out there......

Is It Love?

So there's someone somewhat new in my life. He's a boy...he's a friend...but I'm not completely sure if he's a boyfriend or not. I deeply care for him and his companionship and his friendship. But I don't want to say it's anything more than it is...because any time I've done that...it's ended sooner than a sneeze.

Just thought I'd share that...and that I've found an SCA name for him whether he wants one or not. And interestingly enough, he LIKES the name I chose for him. *LOL* So if I DO manage to drag him along with me...he has a name at least. And once I'm done sewing garb this weekend for the Deodar event, I'll have enough stock piled to fit myself and him...so he'll have something to where if he does get dragged along anywhere. *mwuahahahahahahahahaha*

Friday Five: Persona Challenge

[[After spending ALL day trying to get around to my own questions, I've finally succeeded!!! These responses are from the perspective of a Safavid Persian, circa 1531 AD, in the court of Shah Tahmasp I. In this case, from a tribesman who is now a servant to the Shah and courtier of his Court.]]


1) Good morning! You (as your persona) have just woken up to another day. Describe what is around you (ie: bed, the room, etc).

The light of day is yet to be seen as the sound for morning prayer is called and everyone in the Shah's palace is to head off to the mosque. The servant quarters of the palace are quite adequate, though not nearly as extravagant as the Shah's quarters. I may share my living space with others, but it suits me quite fine.


2) As you continue you morning ritual of waking up, you start to get dressed. What do you wear on a normal day?

First go on the libas (underwear), then the salvar (pants) and pirahan (undershirt). After that will go on the kordi (vest), over which will go a long-sleeved ruyi-qaba (coat). Depending on my duties to the Shah for the day, I may throw a joba (overcoat) and some cakchur (leggings) on if the occasion is formal. As for headgear, as a servant to the Shah, I would not wear the taj-e-haydari (turban) of the court nor would I wear the taj-kulah (crown) of the nobles, but I would rather wear the taj-kulah (fur-brimmed hat) that those who worked the land would wear. And of course, I would round off everything with a pair of shoes and a sash from which my dagger would be hanging from.


3) Since you're dressed now, it's time to get something to eat. What would you be having for your breakfast meal?

Food will have to wait until after the morning prayers conclude, but if anything, I'll mostly likely have a small handful of dates and some water before I tend to Shah Tahmasp I.


4) As you settle in to eat, the rest of the family also arrives. What is the average family structure like? Do you have extended family in your home? Is there a family hierarchy?

My family nowadays is the others in the Shah's palace who are there on a daily basis, mostly the other Qorchi (army) who stand guard for the Shah or who serve him in many other ways.


5) Everyone is finished with their meal, and you are now off for your day job. What kind of work do you do? What's your job like?

As Shah Tahmasp I's Qorchi-e-Chaugan, my duties are simple: keep track of the Shah's polo sticks. It's a simple task, and allows me the privileges of the Qorchi (army) as well as the Shah's court. However, as a tribesman turned courtier, my place here is suspect to most, especially those who see the other Qizilbash (tribesmen) as upstarts trying to depose the 17-year-old Shah. I have faith in the Shah, even at his young age, and do not hold the rebellious attitudes of my former tribe. But either way, I'm a pariah to both worlds; scorned by those I left, and not trusted by those I now serve and support.


[[I have a lot more fleshing out to do on this, but this is what Jibra'il would say at this moment in time. Ask him again in a year or two...and his responses might be different.]]

Master Eadward Said It Best....

"You know you have been at the war too long when you can't go to sleep without the sound of the drums."


Amen to that...it is SOOOO true.

Dichotomy Lilies

After doing much reflection on this past Lilies...this is what I'm calling this one.

I saw and heard too many things...from one perspective...and then from the opposing perspective. And I saw and heard this ALL War long. It wasn't just one incident or one person or situation....there were HANDFULS! I cannot believe how much "drama" and "politics" there is behind the scenes in the SCA, in Calontir, or at Lilies. It's just INSANE!!!

And the worst part is...everything I saw and heard...I _canNOT_ repeat in any shape, any format, any medium. So there's no ranting, no venting, no information download, or mental purge possible. The only thing I _can_ do is NOT say anything on everything I saw or heard...because none of it can be repeated by myself. I'm not the one to do so...others need to be the ones to share...but not me. No me dog!

It's An Addiction...

...but I've found more books of Persian miniatures.

MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Lilies War Twelve Step Program

Step 1:: Finish loading the last of the essential non-last minute to pack things.
Step 2:: Turn OFF the Yahoo mailing lists (all 100+).
Step 3:: SLEEP!
Step 4:: WAKE UP!
Step 5:: Pack the coolers and haul down to the car.
Step 6:: Shower ('cause I'll feel gross after hauling stuff to the car).
Step 7:: Get dressed.
Step 8:: Get into car, put key in ignition....
Step 9:: ...drive to the bank to pay loan & withdraw cash for shopping!
Step 10:: Swing by post office to pick up the book that I ordered from India that's HERE in time for Lilies! [[Hot damn...this is cooool!]]
Step 11:: Top off the gas...
Step 12:: ...and hit the open road...en route for Lilies War XXI!!! *squeeeeeeees*

[Random]

I cut out 4 salwar and 4 pirahan and 1 kordi tonight. I still need to cut out the lining for the kordi. That means I'll have SOME Persian garb in process and possibly wearable by Spring Fling this weekend. Maybe....

I'm mostly miffed with men at the moment. Someone that I had some respectable amount of interest has totally screwed things up, and is now not talking to me because THEY didn't comprehend what I told them. *gahs* I said I was going to be in the Des Moines area this past weekend; they said they were going to Davenport with their mother and sister. They then turned around and said they'd cancel their plans and I should stop by; I said to NOT change their plans just for me, because family comes first...period. And when I mention that I was going to the Des Moines and how I'd miss seeing them since they'd be in Davenport, they flipped out because they DID cancel their plans and WOULD be in Des Moines....to which I'd already made other plans on my Des Moines activities before/after Crown Tourney. Because I had told them to NOT change THEIR plans for me...because their family NEEDS to come first. So now I'm the bad guy, the scum of the earth...for following through on what I said and expecting them to follow through on what they said they were originally going to do and what I encouraged them to do. But no...no...they change their plans and get all pissy with me. Men!!! *gahs*

I am feeling extremely exhausted keeping up with E-Mail today. Mother Nature is out to make this last stretch of my tenure as Kingdom Disaster Relief Coordinator as miserable as possible, methinks. My morning started with me checking my E-Mail and seeing one from Master Aaron Fahued Swiftrunner (yeah...you know who I'm talking about) wanting a status update on the Kansas groups in the affected areas. Oy. Vey. And the rain...it keeps on coming. First mildly flooded areas are getting beaten with tornadoes and more rain turning into mostly flooded areas...with MORE RAIN IN THE BLOODY FORECAST!!! *ugh* [[I just hope to god that Mother Nature gets all of this out of her system BEFORE Lilies War, thank you very much!]]

Work has me thoroughly mentally exhausted as well. Between bouts of frantic "do this, do that" to endless moments of thumb twiddling...I'm going crazy. And then the whole overtime/no overtime/mandatory overtime inconsistency is making me go mad. Mad, I tell you...MAD!!!