Dress shopping and Synning!

So! The dress has at last been pilfer… er, purchased! Hey, after the haggling I did for this, pilfered is close!

The day started with lunch at this lovely little Indian place, Tiffan, with Xap and George, my shoppoing henchman, and Raven, because all us birds have to eat. George, former roommate and lovely in short hair which I’m still getting used to, was taken aback by Xap and I, which was adorable. Xap and IO were in rare form, gearing up for Pixie invasion the fiollowing Tuesday at Life Force Arts, then WisCon on Memorial day weekend.

Then off across the street to one of the many, MANY places to go Sari shopping, Taj Sari palace, recommended to me by Thistle. We walked in, and I wanted it all wrapped up in a bag to take home with me. ALL OF IT. We were surrounded by color and beauty and gorgeous embroidery and I wanted it ALL. We moved through the bargain wracks, finding things that were close to the necklace that my sister had purchased for me in New Mexico. Finally, the lady behind the county started bringing things out for us, and I looked up. There was one particular sari that was peaking out amongst the others in a stack, and I asked to see it. IT was the ONLY one of that color that caught my eye. She spread it out before us, and I knew. Right then, I knew that was the one I was going to be married in. Nothing else would do.

Then I looked at the pricetag. And it was ON. She cut the asking price in half because of a sale, which was great, but my budget was set, and I wasn’t moving (mostly because I couldn’t). In the end, the price dropped $500 (SQUEAK!). And off I went with what would soon become my wedding dress as soon as I got a hold of Amy Dostia, seamstress extraordinaire! Even now I’m still vibrating over it!

The afternoon was spent at Guitar Center, where Raven wanted me to try out a mic he thought would work for me onstage for Cheshire Moon. I was glad to, because I love Eric, but the SM58 is his mic. We tried a couple different, comparing Old Faithful (the SM58) to the Encore Blue 100 (decent sound but not as powerful as I need it to be. I couldn’t unload on this without it objecting), the Encore 200 (requires phantom power, which is a fowner, but also has a compression aspect that I don’t’ like. The main reasoin for having a unidriedctional mic for me is so that Eric’s acoustic instruments don’t get picked up by my mic. He plays hard enough, he doesn’t need to assistance), and one other that I can’t remember. Finally, we got to the Senhaisser e835. JOY. A Hypoer-cardiod with a solid range pick up, and VERY unidirectional. I come off that top axis, and sound pick-up goes AWAY. It’s glorious. I just have to keep it in line, and it’s also not as pop-prone as the SM58. Wheee!!!

After that, Raven and I flew off to Synphoria. Admittedly, a small crowd for a Saturday night, and more new faces than old, which was slightly sad. I was hoping to reconnect with more people, but got to meet people and forge new connections, which rocked out. Raven had aq good time as well, and I hope that he will continue to go to Syn without me so that he can continue to enjoy it. It’s a beautiful experience.

Got home Sunday despite headwind from HELL (insert echo effect here), and showed my findings to Eric, who squeed. Yes, I showed my wedding dress to my fiancé before the ceremony. I’m also getting married in a sari and I have no heritage connected to India at all. We’re getting married at a convention, and the real reception will be at another con where as many people as can attend can help us celebrate. You think I’m concerned about your traditional tradition? Off with you now, else you shall feel my wings! I may be small, but I am…. actually very small. As WSPA-2 has shown me recently by catching up to me in height. Oy, that child! <3

Minneapolis surprises! (Memorial Day Weekend)

Huzzah! We have managed the stealthy missions, animal antics and free-for-all giggling of Memorial Day weekend! SO SO happy!

Eric and I got a Ton of stuff done on Friday. Running around to various offices and stores and other credenzas and dun, and it’s a good thing, too! Because Saturday yielded breakfast explosions and the ZOO! The kitchen spent the day in recovery while me, Eric, WSPA-2 and WSPA-3 traipsed off to the zoo, picking up a Shari on the road! I mean really, who could resist that face?

Otters! Peacock-like birds attacking! Lazy lions, tigers on rocks, animatronic dinosaurs, and micaks! I didn’t spell that right and I don’t care! It was a gloriously cool, lightly overcast day, perfect for zoo adventures.

And before Eric tells this story AGAIN (oy, dude, I love you but damn), I got to show Eric the mic that Raven and I scouted for Cheshire Moon. He can keep the SM58, but we’re likely going with the Sennheiser e835. SO much joy. Also, as I was showing him the range pick-up on the four that we tried, there was another guy trying out an amp on his harp. It was clear he was going to use it for stage performance, and he needed something that gave him a lot of sound, with the solid, southside of Chicago overdrive to go with it so he could cut through and be heard. Very sweet sound he was getting. Anyways, I started trying out the mics, and according to my fuzzy love, this guy looked up as I dug in, stunned. I DIDN’T KNOW THIS. He was standing behind me, and I thought he was changing settings, being polite, something. No, apparently not. I didn’t even find out about this until Eric told me later in the car. *FLAIL*

Next up, we had a lazy Sunday morning, dropped off the WSPA bunch and headed north to Minneapolis! The drive was lovely, I didn’t make Eric too terribly crazy with my driving, and we made it to Celia’s house with a but of time to spare. Eric brought out the Quattro, and we started a new song in her backyard. We recorded his riff, I got a bunch of lyrics written that so far make no sense but something tells me they will soon enough, and then off toi Everest on Grand with Celia. *swoon* Nepalise food for the WIN.

After dinner, off to Sacred Paths!! We surprised a Sooj and a Kay and a Betsy with Super Stealth Mission of hugs and love!

PLEASE NOTE: Leanann Sidhe. If you don’t know, you NEED TO. www.leannansidhe.com GO FIND HER. Her album, Fragile Dreams, comes out July 9th and is available for pre-order. I’m getting one, and so are you. Now GO!

Pixies and cellos and chainmail and love. Got to sing with a lovely bard, use my dicebag as percussion for her song D&D, share kitty pictures and stories and braid Kay hair and every good thing. We got to meet so many lovely people. Sacred Paths is a glorious place that we will have to frequent more often, most definitely.

Breakfast with Charles Monday morning was, as always, a fiendish delight. We dined in a normal restraint, with normal people, and managed not to scare them. Much. A storm kept us at bay longer than we’d planned, but we got to visit with Charles and see the Geek center, which was lots of fun. Philosophical debate and political natter and far too much cattiness not to love.

Our journey home was a windy one, but we arrived safe and sound. Now, off to a short week, a dress fitting, and swimming with the kidlets as often as possible as we move, despite all the rope I own, despite nerves and anticipation and trepidation and catty jabs at stupidly insufficient people, toward Duckon. Love to Xap and Megan. They are going to need it, I fear.

So much has happened…

Ok, for the sake of being clear and being able to parse all of this, the next few posts will be out of order and chunked up by major event. I apologize in advance for those of you keeping score. Keep your cheat sheets ready, decoder rings out, and crash helmets at the ready, because here we go!

Capricon of SHINY!

Vibrating!!! Eric Coleman asked me to marry him last night. He announced to the filk circle that he had a new song that he was only going to perform once, and he asked me to hold his lyric book. I did so, and he sang me a song. And there I was, holding his book, face to face with this man as he sang out his wish to spend his days with me, and when the song was done, I set the book aside and damn near knocked him over with a hug. Pictures exist of the look on my face when he was singing to me, because apparently I was a sight to see. I believe I was referred to as 'leaf quivering.' Yup, that's about the size of it.

So yeah, Cap was good.... but more about Cap in detail.

This was my first anniversary of meeting Raven, so we got to spend a bit of time together. Not nearly as much as I would like and we'll be doing something about that this week, but yeah. Happy making. His birthday party went pretty well, a quiet affair with people who care about him, uincluding the nutjobs who are in his band, Toyboat. He's very dear to me, and Cap marks a fun and special time.

Got to hear a bunchy of awesome music, and I also learned somethign very important. I CAN in fact handle on the ground con issues with style and flare. We needed volunteers, I rustled them up as fast as I could and got just enough to handle the problem we had and make it snazzy. We (Duck) had a decent party, and it all looked good in the end. I got flyers top hand out at the area cons, and I got so many wonderful hugs. Xap ran a helluva Cafe, and I got up on stage with Eric and a sparkly new friend, Andy, on fiddle and mandolin. Oooooh, so muc WIN. I think he's going to end up being a long-running Guest Villian just because this needs to happen more often. Oh my WOW.

Jan Magic has officially impressed me. For the record. Not because of her healing abilities, but because of who she is and how she gets things done. I'm a fan. Officially.

I look forward now to MarsCon, where Raven and I will be bussing the 8 hours up to Minneaplois, filled with shiny bits like a Charles and a Celia and a wonderful con I've never been to before.

Jan 12th: Freedom of speech has NEVER meant freedom from consequences

Ok, so I’ve been a lurking a bit recently given the nature of my busy life, and especially given all the insane public events of late. However, as things have finally started to concertize, I find myself needing to get out a couple things regarding the recent shooting in my home town.

That’s right, I was born in Tucson. St. Joseph’s hospital to be precise, a place that accepted some of the shooting victims from last Saturday. I heard about this and immediately started gathering facts. News groups across the internet were conflicting as reports flooded in, and my mind kept running backwards to the many pages and words and actions of violence and violent incitation done by so many in the political spotlight these past few years. It’s as if a floodgate had opened and out poured a wide and colorful spectrum of suddenly acceptable target practice.

A few names spring to mind on the subject. For example: Sarah Palin, a disgusting, gun-toting, violent-minded, dimwit with delusions of grandeur who whores out her own family for the sake of attention; Glen Beck, and undereducated would-be Mormon with a sewage-spewing fear machine for a mouth; Rush Limbaugh, a racist, sexist drug addict who sees fir to piss on anything he chooses day to day and seems to think that by being anything other that white you are filth; Sharron Angle who feels that 2nd amendment solutions are just fine even though we are currently headed by a president who has had double the death threats of any other on record just because he’s brown and then turns around to defend such rhetoric in the face of these events.

I will say that this remarkable trend of using violence as a tool of fear is nothing more than a last stitch effort of a floundering political party that doesn’t know how else to rally their supporters. Frothing, seething, wild-eyed people that don’t really know why they’re angry because they’re only told that they should be angry. They’re lied to about their values being attacked, they’re lied to about children being harmed and they’re jobs being lost. They’re lied to over and over and over by the lying liars that they look to for comfort and answers (see previous list of names, adding others because it’s a LONG damn list). They’re afraid and they’re misinformed, or worse uninformed, and they want to do SOMETHING to try and make it all just go away. And these are the people that those in power would prey upon to do their dirty work, using slogans of reloading and sniper sites on lists of opponents’ names and defending every right anyone ever had to own a weapon simply because they know it’s only a matter of time.

That time came last Saturday. And these profiteering, fear-mongering fucks are ALL to blame.

It has to stop, people. We are supposed to be a country where we can speak freely and live as we wish, not live in fear of some maniac with a gun and a mission from a political mouthpiece. Anyone who uses violence as a political platform doesn’t deserve that platform, and politics doesn’t need them.

Yet there is a part of me that burns at this in a different way. I've been around guns my whole life. gun safety has been drilled into me ever since I was old enough to identify what I was looking at as an object. My father taught me well, and gave me both his great shot and his appreciation for the magnitude of what I was doing. We are a family of hunters, law-enforcement, and farmers. Yet deep down, this kind of thing makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong simply because I'm not viciously anti-gun. I know they're dangerous. I know they're weapons used for exactly one thing. I also know that not every hand that holds them wields them against innocent people. Does that make me wrong somehow? No. But I cannot say that I want every gun ever melted down, either. After what happened Saturday in my home town, that thought burns.

And do not even GET me started on those useless Westboro fucks trying to picket the funeral of a 9-year-old. They changed their mind at the last minute of course and decided to go beat on a Judge’s family instead, but these people are no church. They are the extended family of one man in Kansas who fancies himself important. He’s not. THEY are not. they are disgusting, misguided and need very serious mental evaluation.

Rape: the Definition STAYS

I’m so incredibly disgusted. In case you hadn’t heard, the GOP has been trying to rewrite exactly what does and does not constitute rape. Specifically, they have been trying to say that rape is only when bruises and broken bones are present instead of the sane reasoning of a lack of consent.

Look, people, the entire reason that rape is defined as such it to PROTECT WOMEN. It is meant to protect women from being exploited and attacked without consequence. And now the GOP wants to not only try and take away those protections, they want to then use those changes just to reduce abortion funding: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/09/abortion-forcible-rape-language-hr-3_n_820846.html?ref=fb&src=sp

I’m vibrating right now. I barely have words for the level of rage running through me right now. I cannot fathom what kind of slime it takes to do something like this, but then I found out. It turns out that even after a huge public outcry and a whole lot of bullshit being flung by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the bill STILL HAS THE SAME LANGUAGE ABOUT FORCIBLE RAPE.

So apparently, these guys have absolutely no interest in what the public wants. They are not their to represent the people as they swore to but their own interests. So why is it that these men keep their jobs while trying so hard to exploit some of the very voters that got them elected, ie women? And why are these women even supporting these fucks?

A very dear friend of mine, Sarah, used to be a councilor. She worked with the response unit that dealt with rape victims just outside of Chicago in Will County. She saw just about every kind of human abomination you can think of and a few you can’t. Trust me, I couldn’t either. the stories she came back with made me physically sick. And she not only saw them, she had to help get these women through these atrocities, right down to helping them cope with having to relive these horrific moments in court to ensure these fucks went to prison for as long as possible.

I would like someone like Sarah to take Rep. Chris Smith for a day. I would like him to see exactly what rape truly looks like, and why it is so important that these monsters get put behind bars for life and that these women get protected, not left in the dust. This isn’t about abortion, not really. This is about a specific section of people getting the shaft to further the agendas of the rich and powerful.

Not happening. NO VERY NOT HAPPENING.

WindyCon Wrap-up

Wow, what a weekend! I don't think I've ever been so crazy busy at a convention EVER! But what a way to go!

First off, I was tapped for Filk Second about 3 weeks from the convention, which made me Pixie Wrangler in a whole new sense of the word! Tricky Pixie needed drums? We got them drums. They needed stuff before the con? We got them stuff before the con. And hugging a S00j anytime of the day or night makes for a very happy Lizzie. :)

However, I have to say, Xap was INSTRUMENTAL (no puns, please) in making things work for our Filk Guests this year on the ground. I can never thank her enough for all her efforts in keeping them safe and sane, to say nothing of taking care of me in my frazzledness. Thank you, sweetie.

Tomboat. WHAAAAAAAA, Tomboat! Combo of Toyboat and Tom Smith in the key of HOLY CHEESE AWESOME!! I really hope they got this recorded, because WOW, that was GREAT!!! And I got pulled up on stage to sing one number at the last second which only freaked me out ENTIRELY because I really don't feel like I'm on par with these maniacs yet. Yet...we'll see.

Also got to see Heather Dale, which is always such a joy. Heather's a dear, her beau Ben Deschamps is a treasure, and they called ericcoleman and I out on stage for getting them to come after Strowlers in St. Louis last September. SO glad they were able to make it. Currently in Super Secret ninja meetings with them to get them back to Chicagoland very soon. *CONSPIRING*

Then, of course, TRICKY PIXIE. Holy stick monkeys on fire, TRICKY PIXIE. Cannot thank Vlad enough for agreeing to have them as our Guests. The concert was nothing short of pheonominal, despite the early onset of pixies in the sound equipment. A situation handled BEAUTIFULLY by out tech guys, gundo, our Filk Head and fearless leader, dave_iversen, dracos666, lonotter, Jerusha, and everyone who helped out. You guys are the ones who made this whole thing happen. Thank you all so so much.

As for me, I'm only here because of the stellar works of Xap and ericcoleman and raven_ap_morgan. Those three kept me from falling to pieces on more than one occasion over the course of the weekend, even going so far as walking me into con suite Sunday afternoon and ensuring I sit my little tail down and REST for the first time really all weekend. You three have my undying gratitude. Love you all. I really do.

OH! And I supported the London Bid for the 2014 WorldCon. Did YOU?

So much love. So many wonderful people. SO much music. SO much sleep to catch up on. Worth it. SO BLOODY WORTH IT.

Moments of Mayham: the UGLY Hat

I tried to tell myself it wasn't that bad. I really did. then I took a solid look at the hat I've been knitting for a couple days and realized, "Nope, this is by far the ugliest hat I have ever knitted EVER. See for yourself:



Sad, isn't it? but it's also found a home with Emily Klik of Synphoria, so that's happy making. she's fabulous, and this hat will simply be swept into her awesome and therefore BE awesome. I'm ok with that.

We're so fucked. Well done, America

Friend posted this - "On my way home tonight I heard a woman interviewed at a poll in NC. She voted for O in '8. Since then she lost her job, draws unemployment, is going back to school & has no health insurance. So this time she's voting a straight R ticket. R's won't extend unemployment, didn't back increased Pell grants, want to repeal health care & have 0 ideas for jobs. So that's who she voted for."

That sums up last night pretty well. I’ve seen a few moments of American stupidity in my day, but this was a pure moment. And we have only ourselves to blame.

Those of us who dismiss the Tea Party and their idiocy are in fact correct. They are idiots. They’re also well-funded and LOUD. And that volume alone gets the attention of the sheeple, not the facts. Organizations like NOM and Concerned Women for America and Focus on the Family have raised their voices high in outright lies, and people believed. The facts didn’t matter because the people with facts didn’t wave their flags high and hard and fast. We have ourselves to blame.

Matt Yglesias has the best tweet in reaction to the networks calling teabagger Rand Paul as the Senate winner from Kentucky: "Finally we have a Senator willing to stand up the tyranny of the Civil Rights Act!"

And our fearless leader? Our fierce Advocate? Yeah, about him. Obama had the cards to play. He did something 2 years ago that made the world take notice. He took some of the lowest voting demographics in this nation and mobilized them not only to vote, but to gather together their not inconsiderable resources for one common goal. It was a firestorm, and it got him elected by a LANDSLIDE. That and Palin is an imbecile, but that’s a post for another day.

But where has our advocate gone? Where is the man I voted for 2 years ago? Where was he during the election season? Covering his ass and doing damage control in the last 3-4 weeks for his party AFTER barely lifting a finger to help those same demographics that made sure he got elected. *sigh* DADT will end on his watch, huh?

Iowa is where my main concern lies now. The judges who got ousted by Tea Party lies and who will be replaced by TRUE activist judges who will NOT uphold the laws? We're all feeling this one. We did you wrong and for that I am sorry. the tide has turned, and dark days are ahead for us.

Well done, Democrats. You had a powerplay in your hands, and you did nothing with it. Now you’re got a fight on your hands you weren’t ready for when you HAD power. These next two years are going to be very, very hard.

Frogs are falling from the sky... and other treasures of meteorology

It’s been a roller coaster couple of weeks. Pythonacon = WIN!!! SO much win. Had a wonderful time with raven_ap_morgan and ericcoleman and xap and bunch of amazing people for the Monty Python-filled birthday of Gundo! I finally met WSPA-3. I have a FAN in WSPA-3. SO much mischief! Fairly certain ericcoleman is shaking his head right now wondering exactly what he’s done. Awww, it’s not so bad. He’s simply unleashed an unstoppable tidal wave of cute. That’s all…

P-con was incredible. Funny and heart-warming and served as the unofficial debut point for Cheshire Moon! We debuted ‘Widow’s Garden,’ the song ericcoleman and I wrote at Strowlers in St Louis a few weeks back. *shiver* We wrote a song. We’re a band. Breathing. Breathing. SQUEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

….and then I got sick. Violently sick. Sick to the point of considering a Dr. visit and I’m out of sick time kind of sick. It got better, but my tummy is still a bit fragile. Blarg!

BUT! So much happening soon! Duckon is on the move and getting off the ground. Very excited, and it’s meshing well. Getting to know a lot of really wonderful people in fandom. WindyCon is RIGHT around the corner, where s00j will be kicking Faerie into high gear with Tricky Pixie! You have to go. It’s a RULE.

And can I just say TOMBOAT!!! I’ve been going to rehearsal, and jumpin’ jeepers on a cracker with cheese, this is going to be GOOOOOOD.

Furr Fest is coming up as well. Belly dance Panda, GO! Vampires and unicrons, oh MY!

Then on to Thanksgiving and everything after. I look at the November calendar and cry a little…..