Endure

I am excruciatingly awful at keeping up with this.  Let me touch on a few events of the summer.

First, my sister lost her home in the Black Forest Fire here in Colorado.  Many people came forward and helped us dig through the ashes, and help them financially.  It was quite inspiring to see.  Even saved a couple relationships that I had thought completely doomed, because sometimes, there are just things that are more damn important than petty grudges.  Anyway, they are now mostly back on their feet, and just received orders to Japan.  That will be something I touch on in a future blog, because there’s just too much emotion there to handle it now.

Due to my sister losing her home, I was also running our chainmail booth at the Renaissance Festival.  Thankfully I had a lot of help from a wonderful team of folks, but that ate up a ton of my time with making pieces and trying to keep the parts that I was responsible for running smoothly.

Along with both of those major situations going on, I got a new job.  Said new job has been the best I have ever had, and I truly count my blessings every day.   I am now working with a small software company in the automotive industry.   I am in their IT department, and as of late I have also been working with billing, setting up new accounts.   Never have I worked for a better company, and I very much look forward to spending my career with them. 

Now, with all those excuses out of the way, I am really going to try and keep up with this more.  Not only to keep in touch with my out of town folks, but because of the crazy events that I take part in that just take up too much of my heart to stay inside.

That video illustrates one of them.  Back in March many of you came forward to help me raise money for this amazing cause.  Together, we raised $660 for these kids and this cause as a whole.   When I saw that video above, I couldn’t stop the tears.  Magic was made for those kids, and in a small way, we were a part of that.   I can’t think of anything better I could possibly do with my life.

 

There was also the phychotic-ness that was GISHWHES (The greatest international scavenger hunt the world has ever seen).  Though not directly involved with Random Acts, it is put on by Misha Collins, and we do work in conjunction with RA each year for certain submissions.  This year we helped fill a home that was being built for some folks that luck just hasn’t liked as of late.   Throughout this event we spread joy, kindness, and killed the crap out of normal.  Here, have some pictures!

One of the submissions was to do something you’ve always wanted. So we had a food fight. This is the aftermath.

I still have acne from this.

Yes. That is us in a dumpster. Yes. It was gross. It also gave me the biggest bruise of my life.

For more of these shenanigans, you can see my album on Facebook. 

Now we are moving in to a whole new event.  Endure 4 Kindness.  Myself and some of that crazy bunch of folks you see above will be baking for as long as we possibly can and then taking all of the goods to those in need.  I will be giving more updates on that mission as we get closer to it. 

In the mean time, we are moving in to a new apartment, and we have a show coming up shortly as well!  Speaking of all of that, I need to hop back to packing.  I promise not to stay gone for too long this time!

 

 

Etsy Selling and Social Media

Hi there everyone,

Not much new to report.  Lately it’s been all working on Social Media for several groups, which is the purpose of this post.

Khatovar Chainmail, the chainmail company I work for, has a shop on Etsy.  We’re trying to get it as advertised and out there as possible.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/alinkabove?ref=si_shop

You can click on that badge to get to Khatovar’s Etsy shop, A Link Above.

If you’d like to follow me on other sites you can find me here-

Twitter- Browncoat_Auror

Instagram- aemberwing

Rise

My last blog post before I dropped off the side of the Earth was about the shooting at the Century 16 Theater in Aurora.  I find it appropriate that my first one back discuss it as well.

In situations like that one, an unfortunate thing always occurs.  Few people can tell you the names of the victims, but everyone can tell you who hurt them.  It’s infuriating and absurd, but that’s how our media today works.  I’m not here to rant about that today though.  I’m here to talk about moving forward, no matter how difficult that may be.

It is rare that people who play your heroes on screen do things in reality to be worthy of that title, but without prompting or question, Christian Bale and his wife hopped on a plane to come see the victims.

When I say see the victims, I do not mean he popped in to a room filled with them and waved and walked out.  He went to them individually.  He sat with them, had conversations, and when he was done with that, he went to the memorial site to pray with those there, specifically requesting that the media let him be and make it about those they were there to pray for.

In light of tragedies like these, it is simple to just give up.  To lay in despair, and to shun the places where the unthinkable have occurred.

Alex Sullivan was at the theater that night to watch his hero save Gotham.  It was his 27th birthday, and it was the night that he died at the hands of the monster who destroyed the lives of so many others.  One could not possibly fathom the pain that his family, or that any of the other families went through upon hearing the news, but despite his son dying on a day that was to celebrate his life, Tom Sullivan encouraged anyone that could to make their way down to the theater’s reopening.

Just last week, the Century finally reopened its doors to the public.  During the months it was closed it underwent a complete remodel, and I would like to mention that during that time, they continued to pay their employees.

Through all the mess, the tears, the funerals, the physical therapies, the attempted suings, idiots using the disaster for their political agenda, all of it, I have to say I was truly blown away when we arrived for the Re Opening.  So many people had shown up! Some were donning ribbons, some were just there to catch a movie, but regardless of the ‘why’, they were there.

Many of the families, and even citizens with no ties at all to the victims were outraged by the theater opening its doors again.  They called it macabre, outrageous and insulting.  Several of the families called for boycott of the theater, and were disgusted by those who planned to attend.

These people have the right to grieve however they need to, but I very much think that they were and are wrong.

The monster who killed those people does not get the power to keep us from any particular place.  They do not get the ability to make us live in fear.  Everyone who went to that theater stood against people like the shooter.  They said that they would not give anyone the power to divert them from enjoyment.  They said while a part of them was afraid, they would still rise as a community.  Rise against people like the shooter, and rise for those who could not.

This post is in remembrance, and in love, for those who were lost or injured.  This post is to tell them, wherever they may be, that we will always rise for them.

To see statements from Tom Sullivan, please see – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/04/tom-sullivan-whose-son-wa_n_2410579.html

Le Gasp!

I live, I promise!

So– a quick review of things missed:

-Despite the efforts of the owner, Faire was survived.  Not the best season, but a few new friends were made through the crapiness, so that’s something.

-The shooting… that happened.   I thought about writing a blog immediately afterward.  I was a furious little bundle of rage.  Still am, but at the end of the day decided I didn’t want to give it more publicity at the time.  Long and short of it– we weren’t at the theater, we found out when we got home, went to the vigil later to protect the families from the Westboro Baptist Church, ended up on TV (did not want -.-), families were able to mourn in peace, douchebag rotting in prison, the end.

-Babies, babies, babies!  Everyone is having babies!

I do believe that’s about it up to this point.  

The political season is in full swing, and unlike most, I adore this.  I hate the mudslinging, but I do love politics.  Right now that means I get to hear Obama speak more, which I adore, and I can get involved at home.  I thrive in it!   More to come on that later though, I am sure!

Updates on this will likely be sparse again for a while.  Our finale for Avistrum is quickly approaching, Khatovar has a show, and I have undergone a new project with a coworker– which will be to sufficiently geekify another coworker.   You should follow her, she is updating on the shenanigans with us!  http://tiannahurtado.wordpress.com/

Look What I Can Do!

So, because I don’t have enough going on, I decided I wanted to learn a new craft.  That sentence is misleading, because I always want to learn new crafts, so let’s instead say that I finally put forward the initiative to learn a new craft.

Please don’t ask me why I am mentally challenged and decided on the second busiest month of my year to pick up a new skill, I have no answer.

Appropriate for an Herbology Professor, no?

With that being said, I love it!  Obviously, since I do chain maille, I have some unreasonable love for repetitious tasks, and knitting makes warm things!  I love warm things!

It also gives my wrists a break from making chain maille, which is good for them, and on top of that, is very calming.  When you rock a temper like mine, calming tasks are great things to have.

Busy Faerie!

I’ve been out and about lately, so I feel a few updates are in order.

 

Promptly after Brian returned home, we celebrated our anniversary, which falls on St. Patricks Day.  It was a whirlwind of a weekend for sure.  Saturday we went to the Metaphysical faire, I had never been and Brian wanted to take me, it smelled terrible, but it was very nice to walk through and see all of the wares, and it was far nicer to spend the day with Brian.

After the Faire, we went to our favorite restaurant down south, a little Mongolian BBQ place owned by a delightful family who always recognize us when we come in.   We proceeded to down an unprecedented amount of food, and then prepare to head up to Brighton, where the week of goodbyes to Josh and Susan would continue with their going away party.

One more Spartan Boot was had per Susan’s request.   She asked for one last one, but it wasn’t their last.

On Sunday we went to one of my favorite places in Colorado, the Buell Theatre.  I had never seen Beauty and the Beast on stage, and Brian wanted to ensure that I saw that before it left the stage.  It was, of course, magical.  The cast was brilliant, the choreography and ever present Disney genius.  I got all dolled up and donned my five inch heels (required to make my dress not drag, with the exception of the train that was, of course, supposed to), and got to see one of the best shows I have seen off Broadway.

Now comes Monday, which while not a part of the anniversary weekend is still relevant.   I raced home from work to gather Brian so we could head downtown to Josh and Susan’s apartment for the last time.   Then it was clean, clean, clean, and finally, after not eating most of the day, a birthday dinner for Josh.

With the exception of some poorly made drinks, a good time was had by all.   After shots and toasts were had by all… it was time to say goodbye.   What was left of the cleaning crew walked Josh and Susan back to their apartment and said our goodbyes.   I even managed to hold it together until we turned away from them.  Thankfully Brian drove us home.

 

Honestly, those are really the only notable things that have happened since St. Patricks weekend.   In the mean time I have been working on my class, and other things for our second biggest show of the year coming up later this month.   I’m teaching for the first time, that’s given me the jitters.  On top of Starfest, I’ve been working away at all the jewelry that we need made for the 2012  Faire season.

It’s been a juggling act to be sure,  but stress is the glue that holds me together.

Rather mundane blog post, I know!   I just figured I’d stop and give an update before I disappear in to the month of April and don’t come back out again until after the show is over!

 

 

Enraged (Mature)

Disclaimer: Filled with rage.  Easily offended?  Don’t bloody read.

For the second time, the Republicans of Colorado have passed a motion to go to the Senate to ban abortion in Colorado, included in cases of rape and incest.

<rant> How fucking dare you tell me what I can or cannot do with my body?  How dare you bring your religion (of which you obviously don’t remotely understand) in to my life, in to my politics!  You give those rapists a permanent grasp over those girls!? You stand outside with your fucking picket signs against women getting birth control?  You refuse to educate your poor children?   I assure you, when you stand before your maker he will not only mock you, but send your worthless, bigot ass down to the deepest circle of hell where you can play with those rapists who you’re giving continual control over those girls!  </end rant>

Now for facts.  Why?  Because learning is fun!  Agree with me?  Find the list of the people who voted in favor of this blatant raping of our rights and fucking beat them in the face with a book.

Fact 1.) This entire belief that a fertilized egg is a person, while not new, has spent the majority of its time in history being rather unpopular .  It was around for a while between the 2nd and 4th century, then St. Augustine came forward and brought the concept that a human soul cannot live in an unformed body.  Then several (and by several I mean 12) centuries later, some Monk, and Pope Pius the IX decided that was inaccurate.  Despite that many cultures had some form of abortion or other available to their people.  The exception to that was Rome, which while a great empire, had other great ideas like pinning humans against large animals for sport.  It can’t survive without being in the womb?  It’s a parasite.  A parasite that has the potential to grow in to something wonderful, but still not a person with a soul yet.  A parasite.  The end.

Fact 2.) “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ”  I pray to the gods that this requires no explanation.  If it does, please stop reading my blog and go read a book.

Fact 3.)  I am child of parents that did not want me.  While I am thankful to be alive now, I was not the first 18 years of my life.  That is an extremely personal thing to share, but I needed a good enough reason for people not to come out with the “YOU DON’T KNOW!!”  I do know.  I spent the first 18 years of my life being abused physically, mentally, and sexually.  Why?  Because Mommy didn’t want me and Step Daddy thought his new daughter had a nice rack.  I wish that on no one.  And in the argument of pleased to be alive, in MY RELIGION and to Christians with half a bloody brain, we believe that if a soul is meant to be on this earth it will.  If the gods (including the Christian one) believe that a soul is meant to be here, then it will.

I am free.  It is my body, my right.  You take your nonsense and shove it up your ass.

There are many additional facts going against this, but honestly, it took a lot of restraint not making this entire thing one giant rage post.   For other fun facts please see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/soraya-chemaly/womens-reproductive-rights_b_1345214.html

Because I Knew You…

I’ve been AWOL for a little while, my apologies.

Last week was bad for me.  The fact that I have completely flipped my schedule upside down finally caught up with my mental state, I believe.  I found myself in a completely foul mood for little to no reason.   This made all the things going on in my life right now (both good and bad) weigh down on me in a major kind of way.   I do believe I am on the upswing though.

Last night was the start of a sequence of nights of saying good bye to a couple of great friends.  Susan and Josh will be relocating to New Orleans.  This is a great move for them, they are elated, and the lot of us couldn’t be more happy for them.  That doesn’t make it suck any less though.   Anyway, throughout the next week there are several outings/gatherings to see them off and help them pack and clean and such.  Last night was Karaoke, something that the group has been going out and doing long before I became a part of it.

It was a wonderful, albeit emotional night.   I got to sing an opera piece for the first time in quite a while.   I don’t usually sing it when we go out because it’s obviously something only some people enjoy.  I futzed a few high notes, but it went over well for the most part.  Josh smacked me in the face for not telling him I could do so.  For those of you who don’t know Josh, that’s his way of telling me good job, haha.

Mikey went up to sing Danny Boy, and in the middle Josh went up to join him, which was when the majority of us finally broke.   It’s so hard to think that next week they wont be here.  Starfest will come around and we will be without them.

This is my first show without Susan.  She has always been there, and her character eventually became the mentor of my own, so in character and out it is going to be rough.

With all the sadness aside,  I am endlessly happy for the both of them.  It takes more bravery than I can say to just pick up and relocate.   They are biting the bullet and just going for it.

I know at the very least that Susan will be reading this… honey, I am so proud of you.  Never stop chasing your dreams, and always follow your crazy…   I love you so, so much.

Sit Still? You Can’t Make Me!

I am terrible at relaxing.

For the past nine months and change, I have been working 7 days a week.  That is on top of all the stuff I have to do for Mischief Managed, and for Khatovar.  Now, I finally have a job that doesn’t require me to work all week long to make enough money to get by… yet here I am at 5 am on a Sunday working OT.

I haven’t just worked OT this weekend.  Yesterday I went in for half a shift, came home, and worked on chainmaille and a new line of merchandise I want to start selling at Mischief Managed shows.

Today I’ll go home and clean the house, walk the dog, and likely work on those two things all over again until I feel suitably accomplished for the day.

Result?  I am exhausted.  Yet I can’t do the necessary thing and just *sit down* for a moment.

Your Strong Personality and You!

For some people it takes strength to show who they truly are.  For one reason or another they are ashamed of themselves, or what people will think.  I haven’t had that problem since a very young age, and I am very thankful for that, but on the flipside I am graced with one heck of a personality to deal with.  I marvel at the people who are brave enough to be who they truly are, and that person is a kind, mild mannered, delightful person to be around.  Seriously people, I aspire to be you!

I am loud, and opinionated.  You have heard me talk in the past about how I’m kind of a guy a lot of the time, and I treat my friendships as such.  If you don’t understand what I mean by that, my brief explanation is always this: Men treat friendships like a football, and they last forever.  Women treat friendships like a glass slipper, and they shatter with the smallest of falls.  Another personal favorite is men spend their friendships trading insults they don’t mean, women spend their friendships trading compliments they don’t mean.

With all that being said, I’ve put together some simple tips for mastering that strong personality of (mine) yours, so (we) you can find a way to walk that delicate line of having a strong personality, and being a giant bag of jerk.

1.)  Location, Location, Location!

This is number one for a reason, kids!   There is a time and a place for that strong personality of yours.   Corporate world?  Not one of them.   You have opinions, that’s fine.  Shut up unless it’s your turn to be talking, and to be clear, if you’re not sure, it’s likely not.   I am in many situations where my temper and personality need to be shoved in to that deep, dark corner of my mind until we’re done playing with the other kids.   It’s not gonna be easy, and that’s okay, get over it and do it, or you’re going no where in this world.

This brings me to the next place:  Facebook/anyothersocialmediasitethatmakesyoufeellikeyou’retoughwhenyoupostyourbigbritchesopiniononit.   Guess what, princess?  You’re not tough, you’re talking trash over the internet.   You have opinions, that’s fine, and if you want to post them, that’s also fine.  Your butt better be respectful when you do, and don’t get all upset if someone disagrees with what you have to say.  You’re entitled to your opinion, and they’re entitled to think you’re an idiot for it.

2.) Being Ornery has its Place.

Remember how I was just talking about how guy friendships are?   My friends say some mean crap to me!  I say some pretty mean crap back.  None of us ever mean any harm,  it’s just kind of the relationship.  I spend more time beating on and insulting my brother than  I do saying nice things to him, and I honestly think he’s one of the greatest people on the planet.   That mean behavior doesn’t have a place with someone you’ve just met.  Everyone’s different, and you need to get a feel of how your relationship with that person is going to be before you go throwin’ around the playful insults.  Words hurt, and if someone doesn’t know you well enough to know you don’t mean it, you could actually hurt them.

I also have friends who I’ve known forever who I don’t have that type of relationship with.  It’s not that we’re not close, it’s just that’s not how we are with one another.  Every relationship (whether you have a tough personality to deal with or not) needs to be evaluated differently.

3.) Let Them Know You Love Them.

If you have an abrasive personality, that makes it even more important to remind the people in your life that you love them.  Even if you know they know you care, you still need to remind them.  They’ll likely make fun of you and you’ll poke at each other about it for a while, but I promise you, it’s important.  Do it.  (no Linda!)

4.) It’s NOT the Same!

“I’m not rude, I just have a strong personality!” is the same as “I’m not fat, I’m just big boned!”  Sorry sweets, you’re rude, or fat, or possibly both, but for the purpose of staying on topic, you’re probably rude.   Having a strong personality is not an excuse to be a rude jerk to everyone you meet.  You say please, you say thank you, you mind your bloody manners, or you are just rude.  Rude is not good.  Fix it, or go crawl in a hole.  Thanks.

5.) Be Who You Are.

This can be hard when some people have a tough time dealing with your personality.   We have all lost friends at one point in our life because our personalities simply did not mesh.  If you’re a healthy human being, you go through a period of introspection to decide whether it’s you, or it’s them.  Or whether your behavior is acceptable.  Again, that’s healthy.  You should evaluate yourself on a constant basis to better yourself as a person.   With that being said, if you have healthy relationships with several people, and this one person (or one clique of people if you’re really unlucky) has decided they don’t like you, you need to think of the possibility that it could be on them.   If you like you as a person, and the people you love and care about like you as a person, then don’t change just because one person couldn’t deal with you.   There are gonna be people who can’t.  In fact, since you have a strong personality, several people probably wont like you.

It’s a hard line to balance.  I am lucky having a wonderful support group of friends and family filled with people who smack me upside my tiny, thick skull, when I become a twit.   On the flip side,  they poke, prod, beat, and nurture the heck out of me.   Which takes me to number 6.

6.) Acquire the Right Friends.

This is important for everyone in life, not just people who are occasionally a little hard to handle, but I mention it here because it is so important for you if you worry about that balance between being somewhat of a spitfire, and being a complete jerk.    Again, I am graced with a fantastic group of people who back me when I’m right and smack me when I’m wrong.   When ever I’m concerned about that line, or having a sad introspective day of  “oh no, is it me? doom/gloom/whine!”, they are there to give me the honest truth.   It’s usually one of three things: a-Yes, it is you, chill out, don’t be stupid, and come back when you can play with the others, b-no, it’s not you, don’t worry, or c- Yes, it is you… but that’s okay!  And that takes us to 7!

7.) Yes!  It Is You, and that’s Okay!

I can not stress this enough, and this is to people with all types of personality, not just ones that are sometimes hard to handle.  Some people just aren’t gonna like ya.  I can name five people off the top of my head who have never done one thing to me that I just do not like for one reason or another, and I can name far more who I can’t think of one thing that I could have done to piss in their cheerios (and trust me, people’s cheerios are like my favorite tree some days), and they just don’t like me either.

Not everyone you meet is going to like you.  Get over it, right now, all of you, regardless of personality.  I am so serious.  You will live a far, far happier life when you get that cold hard fact through your skull.

You have countless things against you. Pharamones, Hormones, xylophones, conditioning, environment, really, the list goes on.   Some people just ain’t gonna like ya.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little list I decided to make at 5am this morning.  Find your balance, be happy with you, and always remember that Dr. Suess had it right:  Be who you are, and say what you feel.  Because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.