The 12 Days Of No Kris

I have had absolutely no contact with Kris McCord  this year, and if it were not for taxes, I would have no contact with her all year. This is very odd, but it is the way it is. Alcoholism was stronger than me, stronger than love for me. I had doubted that I would be ok, but already I am. It is sad, but I have cats.

Catch up Sunday

Today I had lots of reports to do from Amtrak work. I also had 3 mystery shops which I had sign up for the past. I didn't really need them because of my Treasury gig, but a promise is a promise so I went ahead and drove around doing the work. I start of the day, however, making a book delivery to the VA hospital, which was very satisfying. I ended my peregrinations by stopping by Pegasus book exchange and speaking with my friends there. I am basically restructuring my entire life, with the loss of Kris and all my friends who associated with her, but on the plus side I have a lot more self knowledge so I can assemble a community that work closely fits my needs then the pack of drunks that fit hers.
Extending the concept, I realized that I might not need to actually continue doing work with the WSBA; it does not actually do anything for me, and it is  structured badly for effective action. Performing it is beyond my powers, but continuing the work that interesting does not require it that I will miss the world peace through law section but it has been dead already, & I need to accept that.

Now is the Thursday of our discontent

... it does not appear that the training regime is as well organized as some hope, but perhaps that is part of the training.

First phone Wednesday

Today's big achievement was handling my first phone call at the new gig. It was well supervised, and very restricted in scope, also went pretty well. I just put on my community theatre face and played the part! I think it's I'm using that in many ways I'm simply recapitulating Kris's career. I have gone the whole year so far without communicating with her, & I suppose I can go all the way to tax time doing the same. I am sad about that, but otherwise quite happy.

Arthur, king of the kittebs

Our new cat Arthur is a grey tabby, like Imp, but with a different nose

Arthur Sunday

Today we acquired a new cat - Arthur, the one eyed pirate. He is an older cat who was left at the veterinarian office where Nessa works. He needed a home, we were one cat down from a maximum of 6, so here goes.

I am really enjoying having housemates who are full of life and reasonably fond of me. I'm not sure I have had this experience for quite a long time. I recommend it !

Saturday/Dancing Days Are Here Again!

• The good news about hitting the ymca all year is that I feel much more fit.
• The bad news about hitting the ymca all year is that my jeans don't.

Seriously, after barre today I put on the jeans I'd stuffed in my gym pack, and noticed I hadn't included a belt. As a result, the pants which were snug last were were heading toward my knees! I had to hitch them up with one hand like some sort of overage whitebread homeboy. It's not the worse thing in the world, to be somewhat more fit than I was last year, but it is kind of funny.

Then while on a quick train trip to Tacoma, I saw Sherry post this of Kiera and her buddy Danny ...

Just Converted This From VHS Danny Banks and Kiara Hudson back in 2003 Dancing The "Jive"
Posted by Douglas Banks on Saturday, January 2, 2016

... I knew they had talent, but gosh!

It Was On A New Year's Day - A Host Of Knights Did Pray ...

...that from the anvil one could draw the Sword.
As each knight took his turn
He found the Anvil held it firm,
None worthy of a future King and Lord."


I've liked Rick Wakeman's "Myths and Legends of King Arthur, etc. etc." for more than 30 years, but how long ago it was - and how young I was - when first I heard it.
In 2016 I plan to attend the 50th Anniversary of the SCA, as a chance to meet with friends from that time, and because I'll need a vacation by then. I might be able to fit in the Sylveastan surcoat, when I dig it up!

This New Year's Day I tested no swords, although I did finish S.MStirling's latests Emberverse chapter, The Golden Princess. It was basically the first act or perhaps the first scene of an epic, in which Our Heroes Get The Band Together To Do A Show - or the Heroic Quest equivalent. While there were a few good bits - rousing battles with bad guys and all - it was mostly tedious introductions to characters we might care about later, but who for the moment are of interest only as the children of characters from the last series, and children carefully avoiding their parents as they secretly sneak away. Other than the decision to go on the Quest - a bit of a no-brainer, really - there were literally no decisions of consequence to make - a few desperate fights to survive made the first half tolerable, but mostly it was exposition. Let's hope the next has some plot or something.

I am enjoying having my housemates back. We don't actually interact all that much, but they are amusing!

Booking Sunday

On this Sunday after Christmas, I assembled a load of books to drop off at the VA Hospital. It was a little scantier than usual; because of the holidays I've been less active organizing donations, but I filled three shelves on each of three book carts, so that's something anyway. I am getting more organized with the new shelving - the best price was a wonderful set from Costco - and generally getting faster at skimming through the donations and tossing the more obsolete textbooks and paperbacks too battered to use. It's a satisfying activity, and I like making the delivery on Sunday when the hospital is relatively quiet. There are a few regulars there - the lady at the sign-in desk, the Recreational Therapist who wears hats - and I usually reward myself with a soda from the machine.
Afterwards I did a few chores - this week it was an oil change - and stop at Pegasus Book Exchange for more book fun. This week I picked up a copy of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle - one of those classics I've never gotten around to reading - in graphic novel format - because I love the format. Let's see how it works! It was fun talking it over with the staff too.
Other than that, it was housecleaning, cooking ahead for the week (chicken, rice and cornbread) and goofing off - after all, it's the Day Of Rest! I suppose I spent too much time on Facebook but so long as it doesn't get in the way of work and exercise, I'll be o.k. I'm getting used to my new hours and even the cats seem to be getting by- with the help of a plethora of new toys from the Clines and others!