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(no subject)
Apr. 11th, 2025 11:32 amI almost got a spit-take when I delivered my exchequer limerick. I'm pretty happy with that reaction.
(no subject)
Mar. 31st, 2025 01:51 pmWe went to Mists Coronet yesterday. We had a pretty good time, mostly sitting and socializing. The wife helped judge the arts competitions, so that was helpful.
I stepped up as Principality exchequer, and I was glad to see that the office medallion had not gotten lost. The then-Prince (2017ish?) thought the office needed more bling and made this. It's a 3" heater shield with a dollar sign, on a heavy ring chain. It is the bling-iest exchequer medallion possible, completely non-period and obnoxious like a rapper medallion, and I love it. I may not wear it again until I step down, but it tickles my sense of humor. The job stuff for the day went pretty easily.
The rest of the Company was dining onsite, but we did not feel inspired and planned to bugger out instead. We stayed in a local hotel overnight because I had to attend the officers' meeting Sunday morning - which ended up getting rescheduled for a Zoom call due to incoming rain. It was getting very cold and windy, so after helping our hosts break down their sunshade we were happy that we weren't staying. We drove to the hotel, changed, and ended up at a local Mexican restaurant for dinner. Pretty good birria tacos.
We took our time leaving Sunday since we didn't have any obligations. We were still pretty drained and honestly, I am glad we didn't have to make the two-hour drive home Saturday night.
I stepped up as Principality exchequer, and I was glad to see that the office medallion had not gotten lost. The then-Prince (2017ish?) thought the office needed more bling and made this. It's a 3" heater shield with a dollar sign, on a heavy ring chain. It is the bling-iest exchequer medallion possible, completely non-period and obnoxious like a rapper medallion, and I love it. I may not wear it again until I step down, but it tickles my sense of humor. The job stuff for the day went pretty easily.
The rest of the Company was dining onsite, but we did not feel inspired and planned to bugger out instead. We stayed in a local hotel overnight because I had to attend the officers' meeting Sunday morning - which ended up getting rescheduled for a Zoom call due to incoming rain. It was getting very cold and windy, so after helping our hosts break down their sunshade we were happy that we weren't staying. We drove to the hotel, changed, and ended up at a local Mexican restaurant for dinner. Pretty good birria tacos.
We took our time leaving Sunday since we didn't have any obligations. We were still pretty drained and honestly, I am glad we didn't have to make the two-hour drive home Saturday night.
(no subject)
Nov. 17th, 2024 09:56 amWe went to Investiture yesterday. It was good seeing people we hadn't connected with as much recently. The site was small (apparently the church double-booked, and we got moved) but worked okay. It was significantly colder than we expected; I was glad I wore a felted wool hat, but the linen outfit was insufficient.
I sat with gate recon as I volunteered to take Principality Exchequer next year. I'm not actually insane; it's been five years since I stepped down from Kingdom, and Principality is a lot less work. I expect I will spend a more time at first getting everything humming along the way I like it, but that's okay. It's not that the current exchequer is doing a bad job, but I will be making some changes for efficiency and also based on how my brain works. (Spreadsheets and Google Sheets are my friend.)
The outgoing royalty started a new order, called the Keystone. Named for the arch piece that keeps everything in place. It is given to greater officers when they step down, and they call up all the members when they are giving a new one. Of course that number is small right now, but in coming years it will be impressive. This is exactly the sort of appreciation that punches far above its weight in recognition. I made sure to tell both of them as a former and future officer how much I loved the idea. Also, the incomings gave their officers coins. Again, that small token means a lot for what is often unappreciated work.
The handyman did a good job putting up the scrolls. It was a good thing we had our giant uneven folding ladder for the stairs (it was an Xmas gift from my dad shortly after we moved in here - eminently practical even if we don't need it very often).
I sat with gate recon as I volunteered to take Principality Exchequer next year. I'm not actually insane; it's been five years since I stepped down from Kingdom, and Principality is a lot less work. I expect I will spend a more time at first getting everything humming along the way I like it, but that's okay. It's not that the current exchequer is doing a bad job, but I will be making some changes for efficiency and also based on how my brain works. (Spreadsheets and Google Sheets are my friend.)
The outgoing royalty started a new order, called the Keystone. Named for the arch piece that keeps everything in place. It is given to greater officers when they step down, and they call up all the members when they are giving a new one. Of course that number is small right now, but in coming years it will be impressive. This is exactly the sort of appreciation that punches far above its weight in recognition. I made sure to tell both of them as a former and future officer how much I loved the idea. Also, the incomings gave their officers coins. Again, that small token means a lot for what is often unappreciated work.
The handyman did a good job putting up the scrolls. It was a good thing we had our giant uneven folding ladder for the stairs (it was an Xmas gift from my dad shortly after we moved in here - eminently practical even if we don't need it very often).
West Coast Culinary Symposium
Feb. 20th, 2023 08:47 amThis last weekend we attended the WCCS, which was back after a pandemic break. It usually rotates up and down the coast. It was less than an hour from us in a Girl Scout camp, making it even more convenient.
( Semi-random notes from the event )
Miss Beatrice told us loudly how much she missed us, and I suspect she will be glued to the wife's lap for the next couple days. She also spent some of the night on our bed, which isn't that common for her.
( Semi-random notes from the event )
Miss Beatrice told us loudly how much she missed us, and I suspect she will be glued to the wife's lap for the next couple days. She also spent some of the night on our bed, which isn't that common for her.
(no subject)
Dec. 24th, 2022 11:22 amWe opened this year's aged boozy eggnog yesterday, and it was as delicious and dangerously non-boozy tasting as ever. We'll be sipping at it for the next couple days.
I took a small amount to the dairy folks at the farmers' market today. (Since I used their half-and-half in it.) I had thought about doing that each week over the last month, and then... didn't. It worked out better than I could have hoped: it was just the local manager there, and he was feeling depressed because it's the anniversary of his mom's death. So me showing up with a shot of holiday cheer boosted him far more than the nog itself.
Sometimes, little things like a gift from a random person with no ulterior motive have a greater impact than the actual gift.* I've been on the receiving end a few times in recent years so I'm happy to have been a giver this year.
*ETA: This is also one of my big complaints about officer burnout in the SCA - although it's not unique to the SCA. Basic acknowledgement by the Royals should be a bare minimum for thanking greater officers, but most of the time isn't done. Then there are other small awards that could/should be given: for example, the West's Defender of the West is for supporting the Kingdom in out-Kingdom wars, but basically "everyone who goes to Pennsic." I should have gotten it any of the times I worked the entirety of W/AT as war exchequer three times in a row.
I took a small amount to the dairy folks at the farmers' market today. (Since I used their half-and-half in it.) I had thought about doing that each week over the last month, and then... didn't. It worked out better than I could have hoped: it was just the local manager there, and he was feeling depressed because it's the anniversary of his mom's death. So me showing up with a shot of holiday cheer boosted him far more than the nog itself.
Sometimes, little things like a gift from a random person with no ulterior motive have a greater impact than the actual gift.* I've been on the receiving end a few times in recent years so I'm happy to have been a giver this year.
*ETA: This is also one of my big complaints about officer burnout in the SCA - although it's not unique to the SCA. Basic acknowledgement by the Royals should be a bare minimum for thanking greater officers, but most of the time isn't done. Then there are other small awards that could/should be given: for example, the West's Defender of the West is for supporting the Kingdom in out-Kingdom wars, but basically "everyone who goes to Pennsic." I should have gotten it any of the times I worked the entirety of W/AT as war exchequer three times in a row.
Beltane thinky thoughts
May. 2nd, 2022 12:49 pmIt had been a long time since we went to an SCA event - Twelfth Night 2020 in fact. Significantly longer since we camped; during my exchequer tenure (drink!) we mostly stayed in a hotel, because I didn't really have the bandwidth to deal with setting up and breaking down. Or the time, since I spent much of the event running around doing the job. I'm not actually sure what event we camped last. Maybe West-An Tir 2018?
( Abbreviated for length and rambling )
Tired today - I could have used a vacation day to recover from my vacation. It was good though.
( Abbreviated for length and rambling )
Tired today - I could have used a vacation day to recover from my vacation. It was good though.
Quite a few years ago, we realized the way had been doing dinners was flawed. Having lots of ingredients on hand so you can whip up whatever you feel like is great, but it requires inspiration and sometimes planning. Too often we fell into "It's 6 PM, I don't know what I want to have, let's get Chinese food."
So we started weekly meal planning. Near the end of the week we make up a shopping list, and most of the time involves plotting out the coming week's meals. I get bored very quickly if all the meals are similar ("meat and salad" can only happen a couple times in any given week, even if the meats are different like fish and chicken). I also try to look at the calendar and think through the week to see how much work I am willing to do. When I was Kingdom Exchequer (drink!) many more of the meals were simple and/or "the wife puts most of this together" because I didn't have much spare time or bandwidth.
I don't plot out when most of those meals will happen. We typically decide the night before. That allows the wife, who likes more spontaneity, to make changes on the fly. But it's also not locked in - last night I suggested we postpone today's meal because it would create lots of leftovers, and we already have several lunches' worth in the fridge. Instead I'm making a salad with leftover beefsteak. It's important to allow for changes when a meal that sounded good the previous Friday just doesn't appeal... we had onion soup on the list for two successive weeks before taking it off the dinner plan for now.
Not triggered by anything in particular. It's worked well for us for probably 20 years.
So we started weekly meal planning. Near the end of the week we make up a shopping list, and most of the time involves plotting out the coming week's meals. I get bored very quickly if all the meals are similar ("meat and salad" can only happen a couple times in any given week, even if the meats are different like fish and chicken). I also try to look at the calendar and think through the week to see how much work I am willing to do. When I was Kingdom Exchequer (drink!) many more of the meals were simple and/or "the wife puts most of this together" because I didn't have much spare time or bandwidth.
I don't plot out when most of those meals will happen. We typically decide the night before. That allows the wife, who likes more spontaneity, to make changes on the fly. But it's also not locked in - last night I suggested we postpone today's meal because it would create lots of leftovers, and we already have several lunches' worth in the fridge. Instead I'm making a salad with leftover beefsteak. It's important to allow for changes when a meal that sounded good the previous Friday just doesn't appeal... we had onion soup on the list for two successive weeks before taking it off the dinner plan for now.
Not triggered by anything in particular. It's worked well for us for probably 20 years.
12th Night recap
Jan. 5th, 2020 03:23 pmSummary: kind of strange.
That's mainly because for the first time in about five years, I wasn't working the event. Also, for the first time in over 25 years, there was no GSP play. This meant that I had no responsibilities and could simply be social. And check out the arts display. And go to peerage meetings (which I had said I wouldn't, but I ended up caving to a vague sense of duty... and they were fine; we didn't have the ritual flogging. Which is good, but also a number of us were prepared to publicly walk out if it had started. And that would have made its own important point.)
It was good to see people, most of whom I hadn't seen in at least six months as we'd been on a break since I stepped down in June. I avoided all the courts, not out of any personal animus but because I Didn't Have To Be There. With no responsibilities, I felt free to retreat to our room on one occasion - partly to have a cup of coffee because I was flagging, but also because I needed a break from socializing. Along those lines, the wife and I went out to dinner Friday and Saturday without anyone else. (We might have gone with other people had we been invited, but being on our own was nice too.) We had an adequate Turkish/Mediterranean Friday and a very interesting (in a good way, but pricey) modernist Indian Saturday.
I did go to the exchequer meeting Sunday AM. I am still the emergency deputy so it seemed like a good idea. I only interjected once; it's his show to run and I am trying to reinforce that to myself if nothing else.
The cat missed us and has told us so in no uncertain terms. I am sleepy.
That's mainly because for the first time in about five years, I wasn't working the event. Also, for the first time in over 25 years, there was no GSP play. This meant that I had no responsibilities and could simply be social. And check out the arts display. And go to peerage meetings (which I had said I wouldn't, but I ended up caving to a vague sense of duty... and they were fine; we didn't have the ritual flogging. Which is good, but also a number of us were prepared to publicly walk out if it had started. And that would have made its own important point.)
It was good to see people, most of whom I hadn't seen in at least six months as we'd been on a break since I stepped down in June. I avoided all the courts, not out of any personal animus but because I Didn't Have To Be There. With no responsibilities, I felt free to retreat to our room on one occasion - partly to have a cup of coffee because I was flagging, but also because I needed a break from socializing. Along those lines, the wife and I went out to dinner Friday and Saturday without anyone else. (We might have gone with other people had we been invited, but being on our own was nice too.) We had an adequate Turkish/Mediterranean Friday and a very interesting (in a good way, but pricey) modernist Indian Saturday.
I did go to the exchequer meeting Sunday AM. I am still the emergency deputy so it seemed like a good idea. I only interjected once; it's his show to run and I am trying to reinforce that to myself if nothing else.
The cat missed us and has told us so in no uncertain terms. I am sleepy.
Muse and Musing
Sep. 9th, 2019 02:27 pmI basically stopped making charcuterie in the last 1.5 years of my exchequer tenure, because I had no bandwidth for art projects. I did produce a few things, but mostly because I had to fulfill orders. Not because I was enthused or inspired to do so. As you might expect, that was drudgery rather than fun.
Once the weight of the exchequerate was lifted, I thought about making All! The! Things! but... I didn't. The spark hasn't fully returned. Also, the downstairs storage freezer is pretty full - and we're not going to events for a while, which additionally reduces the need to produce lots of cured meats.
Still, after looking at the supplies I decided to make another batch of lonza. This is a reliable go-to, whether eating at home (it makes a great pizza topping) or an easy nosh for an event. The recipe I've always used involves a heavy brine, and to keep the end product from being too salty I have then had to soak the cured meat for half an hour as a salt flush. This seems... inefficient. I looked around and found a dry-cure recipe that looks promising.
However. As I tiptoe back into charcuterie, I realize I had blanked out the annoyance of lack-of-immediate-gratification. The pork loin will be in the dry cure for a month. Then I hang it for three months. Then I vacuum-seal for a month to equalize the salt and flavors (and help with case hardening). Five months until I know whether it's any good!
Are we there yet?
Once the weight of the exchequerate was lifted, I thought about making All! The! Things! but... I didn't. The spark hasn't fully returned. Also, the downstairs storage freezer is pretty full - and we're not going to events for a while, which additionally reduces the need to produce lots of cured meats.
Still, after looking at the supplies I decided to make another batch of lonza. This is a reliable go-to, whether eating at home (it makes a great pizza topping) or an easy nosh for an event. The recipe I've always used involves a heavy brine, and to keep the end product from being too salty I have then had to soak the cured meat for half an hour as a salt flush. This seems... inefficient. I looked around and found a dry-cure recipe that looks promising.
However. As I tiptoe back into charcuterie, I realize I had blanked out the annoyance of lack-of-immediate-gratification. The pork loin will be in the dry cure for a month. Then I hang it for three months. Then I vacuum-seal for a month to equalize the salt and flavors (and help with case hardening). Five months until I know whether it's any good!
Are we there yet?
(no subject)
Aug. 10th, 2019 01:22 pmThis weekend's plans were slightly derailed by one of the costermongers* having Gravensteins today. I grew up with Gravenstein apples, but they have a short harvest window and they don't travel - so they are ever more vanishingly local. In any case, I have a batch of apple butter burbling away right now.
Other plans:
* I love being able to use this word absolutely correctly.
Other plans:
- Bills (sigh)
- Pretzel buns for tonight's house-cured pastrami sandwich dinner
- Some exchequer work I volunteered for (looking at war financial policies)
- Making food (tomorrow) for the homeowners' meeting: ricotta dumplings, and a chocolate icebox cake for dessert.
* I love being able to use this word absolutely correctly.
(no subject)
Jul. 22nd, 2019 03:05 pmI should be able to pick up the car today. It's about as expensive as I feared - they fixed a combination of things. The main being the fuel injection misfire, but also replacing the rear brakes and a couple other more minor issues.
This is the first serious maintenance we've had in a while. I'm afraid the car is approaching the point of needing it more often as we rack up the miles and years. (155k I think, and 15 years) We probably have to start thinking about a new vehicle for next year. I put on 9k miles over the last three years doing official exchequer travel...
This is the first serious maintenance we've had in a while. I'm afraid the car is approaching the point of needing it more often as we rack up the miles and years. (155k I think, and 15 years) We probably have to start thinking about a new vehicle for next year. I put on 9k miles over the last three years doing official exchequer travel...
Alaska Trip, part I of (x)
Jun. 27th, 2019 11:47 amA series of short(ish) musings about the trip.
One of the main reasons for our going was my stepping down as Kingdom Exchequer after year 3 of a two-year term. I planned to step down in morning court for two reasons: the semi-silly one of Being DoneTM *, and the more prosaic one of my successor being in charge of the event, so he deserved to have the title. I had gotten the okay from the royalty and signed up on the list. However, the morning court wound up and they hadn't called me in. So I ran around back and urgently asked about my business. "Oh, we're doing that this evening," was the response. (Mind you, no one had asked or informed me of this.) "Unless you really need it now..." And my immediate "I really need it now." So they re-opened court and did my stepdown. Sheesh.
I had bought a very nice bottle of Scotch to share with Etaine when we both were no longer in the job (that I had optimistically labelled "June '18"). The maker was Blair Athol, who I had never heard of but came recommended by the shop. It was a very nice, smooth, happily-warming, not peaty or smoky Scotch that appealed to most people. So it was a good choice for mass consumption. The bottle was almost completely gone by Sunday morning - which was the point. I didn't get drunk or hungover as I drank lots of water while alternating sips.
The stress bar across my shoulders isn't magically gone, but it is lower.
* But also a totally true one.
One of the main reasons for our going was my stepping down as Kingdom Exchequer after year 3 of a two-year term. I planned to step down in morning court for two reasons: the semi-silly one of Being DoneTM *, and the more prosaic one of my successor being in charge of the event, so he deserved to have the title. I had gotten the okay from the royalty and signed up on the list. However, the morning court wound up and they hadn't called me in. So I ran around back and urgently asked about my business. "Oh, we're doing that this evening," was the response. (Mind you, no one had asked or informed me of this.) "Unless you really need it now..." And my immediate "I really need it now." So they re-opened court and did my stepdown. Sheesh.
I had bought a very nice bottle of Scotch to share with Etaine when we both were no longer in the job (that I had optimistically labelled "June '18"). The maker was Blair Athol, who I had never heard of but came recommended by the shop. It was a very nice, smooth, happily-warming, not peaty or smoky Scotch that appealed to most people. So it was a good choice for mass consumption. The bottle was almost completely gone by Sunday morning - which was the point. I didn't get drunk or hungover as I drank lots of water while alternating sips.
The stress bar across my shoulders isn't magically gone, but it is lower.
* But also a totally true one.
In seven days (less by this actual time) I will no longer have my volunteer job.
It's been a long three years. More specifically, this last one. But I am going to specifically try to avoid the "dancing away with glee" thing - because I kind of feel it demeans the effort involved and the volunteers involved.
I'm not sure I'm wording this right. But "I'm free!" makes it sound like it's a sentence rather than a duty worthy of praise.
It's been a long three years. More specifically, this last one. But I am going to specifically try to avoid the "dancing away with glee" thing - because I kind of feel it demeans the effort involved and the volunteers involved.
I'm not sure I'm wording this right. But "I'm free!" makes it sound like it's a sentence rather than a duty worthy of praise.
(no subject)
May. 28th, 2019 07:13 amI had a strange dream this morning involving my upcoming step-down.
It wasn't a bad dream, but it was strange. I guess it makes sense that the step-down is occupying a prime place in my subconscious, even if I am not apprehensive.
It wasn't a bad dream, but it was strange. I guess it makes sense that the step-down is occupying a prime place in my subconscious, even if I am not apprehensive.
I have started counting events remaining. (One, Collegium. June Crown doesn't count because I am not in charge.) I haven't started counting down the days yet - that may happen in June.
ETA: I am looking forward to cracking the expensive single malt I bought in 2016 as a step-down treat, so that worked! It's even better that all three of the Principality exchequers who I worked closely with will be there to try it too.
ETA: I am looking forward to cracking the expensive single malt I bought in 2016 as a step-down treat, so that worked! It's even better that all three of the Principality exchequers who I worked closely with will be there to try it too.
Weekend(ish) recap
Mar. 24th, 2019 05:20 pmFriday was the wife's birthday. I took the day off work (which I needed - but that's another, longer post). We went to the Monet exhibit at the DeYoung. It was fabulous. We also saw the Gaugin exhibit, which was meh. Then we had a very nice dinner at SPQR, which is a regional Italian restaurant the wife has wanted to try for some time. (I had blood noodles with blood sausage. It was yummy.)
Saturday AM we got up early and drove to Crown. I spent the day running around like a mad thing. I had lots of paperwork to deal with, with multiple people. We (that is, me and my June successor) got it all done. We did gate and the standard stuff. However, we (that is, me and the wife) buggered out early; part of burnout maintenance has been acknowledging and planning for it. So we skipped court, Etaine's protege ceremony, the anniversary potluck for John T, etc. Instead we checked into our hotel and went to a decent burger joint near campus.
I have a spiffy new silver fealty chain made by an Oerthan friend. I like it very much. (Good, considering the cost.) I also demo'd the 14th c bucket straw hat. It looks just like the pictures!
Slightly sunburned on my shoulders, slightly dehydrated, very sleepy. But the event went as well as could be hoped.
Saturday AM we got up early and drove to Crown. I spent the day running around like a mad thing. I had lots of paperwork to deal with, with multiple people. We (that is, me and my June successor) got it all done. We did gate and the standard stuff. However, we (that is, me and the wife) buggered out early; part of burnout maintenance has been acknowledging and planning for it. So we skipped court, Etaine's protege ceremony, the anniversary potluck for John T, etc. Instead we checked into our hotel and went to a decent burger joint near campus.
I have a spiffy new silver fealty chain made by an Oerthan friend. I like it very much. (Good, considering the cost.) I also demo'd the 14th c bucket straw hat. It looks just like the pictures!
Slightly sunburned on my shoulders, slightly dehydrated, very sleepy. But the event went as well as could be hoped.
(no subject)
Jan. 30th, 2019 07:15 amI didn't sleep well last night. Lots of work fu going on, plus exchequery arguments with the higher-ups (they keep assigning massive expansions, and not acknowledging the additional work). My brain wouldn't shut off.
Then at the bus stop, I see this: Next bus, 86 minutes. I was pretty sure it was a lie but you can't trust that it's not.
It's been a crapstorm of a few days and the cat has picked up on the stress, puking more. Why is it only Wednesday?
Then at the bus stop, I see this: Next bus, 86 minutes. I was pretty sure it was a lie but you can't trust that it's not.
It's been a crapstorm of a few days and the cat has picked up on the stress, puking more. Why is it only Wednesday?
Twelfth Night, briefly continued.
Jan. 8th, 2019 04:59 pmPart of the burnout has been a lower tolerance level for socializing. Both the wife and I are introverts, but under normal circumstances SCA events tend to be less stressful in that regard. However... with having to go to more events, and having to do a job at those events rather than enjoying the event itself, the stress is there.
Twelfth Night is a weird SCA convention event. It's a giant cocktail party interspersed with tons of court. I've been avoiding court in general unless I have a reason to be there. And... we mostly avoided the cocktail party. Friday we went down to chat with Francisco & Anna, who we haven't seen in way too long. Unfortunately the circumstances don't look like they'll change that. But as soon as they left, we went back up to the room - we just didn't feel the Friday night party.
Saturday, as I mentioned, we had dinner - not with anyone else - and then went back to our room. No parties. Sunday if it hadn't been for the exchequer meeting, we probably would have buggered out relatively early.
I guess I feel like I should feel bad about not socializing. But I really don't.
Twelfth Night is a weird SCA convention event. It's a giant cocktail party interspersed with tons of court. I've been avoiding court in general unless I have a reason to be there. And... we mostly avoided the cocktail party. Friday we went down to chat with Francisco & Anna, who we haven't seen in way too long. Unfortunately the circumstances don't look like they'll change that. But as soon as they left, we went back up to the room - we just didn't feel the Friday night party.
Saturday, as I mentioned, we had dinner - not with anyone else - and then went back to our room. No parties. Sunday if it hadn't been for the exchequer meeting, we probably would have buggered out relatively early.
I guess I feel like I should feel bad about not socializing. But I really don't.
