I hate mondays

[sabine]

Damn damn damn! The most annoying person I know, the loathesome coworker of mine, just walked in the door! He'd been gone for 2 weeks. This was wonderful. I did NOT want to see him ever again. In fact, I was kinda hoping that he'd left the school. Wishful thinking, on my part, but still...

*sigh* I don't really have time to be indulging my homicidal fantasies toward him. I need to download more information into my brain in the next 3 days than I've had to assimilate in a long time. I know I can do this, I'm just going to be very much on edge and bitchy until it's done. Once over, I'll go out drinking with my friends and let the data slowly trickle away. This is as it should be.

---

So, anyway, we went to the Bristol Ren Faire this past weekend. I wore my dancing outfit, and all was right with the world. As my friend was belting on her various blades and armor/bikini, she said, "You be Grog's dance girl. Be distraction while Grog sneak up and kill." *grin*

I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to all-out dance. The couple of times I heard drumming that could've worked one of two things stood in the way. Either we were on gravel and I dance barefoot (ouch!), or by the time we got to the point where I could dance, they stopped playing. Bastards.

I did enjoy the stares that Grog and I got, though. The little kids were charming. One girl, maybe 7 years old, stood about a foot in front of us looking at from one to the other. The little girl was in a straw hat and cute dress, but her expression was something like, "You mean girls can wear that? How old do I have to be before I can do that, too? Why are they wearing those?" and so on. The older people were both entertaining and infuriating. The stares that said, "Who let you out of the house dressed like that? What would your mother say if she could see you?" These sort of stares make me have one of two reactions. I either want to strangle them with their own entrails, or I start walking with more shimmy, sashay, strut, attitude.

The best stare I got was just before we left for the day. Due to the not-being-able-to-dance frustration and the how-dare-you stares, I'd started doing hip rolls while walking. This was entertaining me, making me jingle more, and probably encouraging the stares. Darn. Grog and I were walking up to a shop when I noticed the clerk at the next store over looking at me. His eyes were transfixed by the scarf and motion of my hips. I started grinning and kept my eyes locked on his face (luckily, I didn't trip and fall), knowing that he'd eventually look at my face. When he finally made eye contact, he saw my "caught!" grin and tipped his hat to me. I really liked the way he had no shame in staring/watching/appreciating. Kinda warmed my little black heart. Thinking about it still makes me grin with the good evil.

---

Between the Art Fair on Saturday and the Ren Faire on Sunday, I could use a couple of days to rest. *sigh* Ah well, it was a nice change of pace from work. I got to go into every booth that had anything to do with clay on both days and talk shop with the artisans. I love doing that. I like seeing what they've made, and then being able to ask them questions about their techniques. The people I asked about throwing technique, glazes, or construction all were open and willing to tell me about their forms. I think a lot of the openness was aided by the fact that I'm an amateur with no intention of turning pro and competing with them.

The ceramic artists seem to be the most down-to-earth of the creative-type people. Maybe it's due to their connection with clay and dirt; maybe it's because pottery is primarily a functional art medium; maybe it's because I like it the best and can identify with the love of the material.

At the time, all the walking and such of the weekend seemed easy. I was a bit tired, but still could've kept going. Today, I'm paying for it. I have the feeling I was borrowing energy from the future to use then. So, once again, I'm substituting caffiene and sugar for sleep. I've got the coffeepot sitting about three feet from me right now, and I've almost finished the german chocolate cookies I brought with me today. They were supposed to be part of my lunch, but I made the executive decision that I needed them to buffer my stomach against the acid of the coffee. It's not quite strong enough to dissolve my cup, but I have a feeling that it's getting close. mmm...good coffee = strong coffee.


*stretch, popping back and neck*

I feel better now. Maybe my motivation fairy has come back to encourage me to work with the Hammer of Prelim Anxiety. Or something like that.