Ars Gratia Artis

Over to teh doctor this morning. Long bout of sequential viral illnesses topped by what felt like a strep throat go round. I woke first around 12 AM with nausea and a sore throat–it was the pain in my throat that drove me to wakefulness. Same thing again about 5:30 this morning. I got up [...]

… a story about me and the monkey that I want to share with you. It’s supposed to be part of the broadcast tomorrow morning, but the streaming audio segment is available now. If you are not aware of vocalo.org (and why would you be, if you are not near Chicago?), it’s a sort of [...]

Sock Monkey holding a message from K, inscribed in a wax tablet.
Another Boar’s Head gone by, with an in-persona write up here: http://merouda.blogspot.com/2009/12/on-ye-eue-of-ye-day-of-saint-nicholas-i.html
That would be all there really is to say about it; I went, I enjoyed visiting with people, I left. I had st00p1d amounts of trouble putting a winter outfit together, and eventually [...]

WHO is the light bulb that decide a tin wind-up doll was the best way to represent the message?
I am referring to the commercial for Pristiq, the most recent antidepressant to be shoved down our collective gullet.
“Take this pill, and instead of a being a sad automaton, you can be a happy automaton: hollow [...]

The first actual webisode from a series:

Here is the relevant ranking: List of Best to Worst States for Healthy Living in America.
Wisconsin pulls in at #12, which is surprisingly good, based on the heavy drinking, heavy saturated fat dietary style, obesity issues that are going on here. But it’s also a place where outdoor living is encouraged, where being active despite [...]

A Veteran’s Day editorial from WI’s Veterans Dept Secretary:
Support for Veterans is Essential
It doesn’t surprise me that reintegration and mental health assistance isn’t big on the support agenda. And I have been concerned about this for years: I knew it was going to be an issue. It’s been an issue all along. There’s never been [...]

You are a disgrace to soldiers, officers, men, helping professionals, and Muslims everywhere. Enjoy your new life in the DB, asshole.

I’d like to make this. My patterning skills make it outside my reach right now, though, although the stitches are easy. I love it exactly the way it is:

The most perfect hoodie for me would be, of course, something pink, with a ribbon-wearing skull and crossbones pattern. Yay! I saw exactly the one I want [...]

Look up from all the things that are keeping you from doing everything you want to do (like blog so that your friends know you are okay) and say, “Holy frak! It’s almost been a month!”
School is going fine, although taking a math class reminds me of my struggles with dyscalculia. Because I am overall [...]

Back to school last night, and so very happy to be in the class. I’m wildly enthused about it. I sat there in the class, working through the problems on the board, slowly, old cogs that haven’t had to turn in a very long time, rust flakes drifting to the ground and releasing the faint [...]

I ordered a copy of Ethan’s book from Amazon.com; it arrived today. Coincidentally, I followed a link on the facebook page for Ethan’s book to an interview: http://grindingtovalhalla.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/reading-the-text-ethan-gilsdorf/
I’m the Queen of the Geeks. LOL. At least, for that one day. I always knew the SCA would make me a Queen. LMAO.
Meanwhile, Ethan’s book is [...]

Part one of this year’s Post Pennsic Planner.
So, for the past couple of years, I have been working on refashioning some linen under dresses as my primary costume project. This is a wrap up entry that discusses what I have learned from the experience and what I plan to do going forward.
First, let me talk [...]

I’m almost home. I’m in Bensenville. I should be resting but can not sleep. While that may be an odd thing to write at 9 AM, I will point out that I got to bed around 1 AM and have been up since 6. I have been dealing with a lot of insomnia these days.
Pennsic [...]

I believe I have already spent all the time I could. But we are here, I am tired, and hungry, and have been thinking heavily about how I want to approach Pennsic in the future.