Did I fall asleep?
Feb. 23rd, 2010 01:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysobelleMy G-d. It's been a month since I've updated. I've been all over Facebook and-- G-d help me-- Twitter. So much so that I'm wondering if I still remember how to structure a full-length paragraph.
I've been so very busy, though, I'm not surprised my attention span has been roughly that of a squirrel. I'm finally done with Wicked Faire, and I have to say, every year, it just becomes more and more deliriously fun for me. I didn't blow the doors off as far as business goes, but it wasn't my worst year, either. And in this economy, just holding steady is growth.
Unfortunately, I had to do exactly what I didn't want to do: spend large chunks of time up in the hotel room, sewing. I was there for load-in and set-up Friday night, then, once Galia and Athena came down, I went upstairs and stayed there until midnight, when it was time to come down and close up for the night. I did get to see "Repo!", with the attendant shadowcast, which was lovely. I then decided to "go see what Eric was playing." Just for a bit. I wasn't going to stay, you know. I wasn't dressed for it. I was tired, and I had to work. But then...then Eric went into a late80s-early90s set. All the stuff I danced to in Tampa, running between clubs in Ybor. Seriously, what was I supposed to do? Really? I didn't get upstairs to bed til 4am.
Probably the most ridiculously silly part of the evening, if not the whole show, was in the elevator on the way up. The elevators had been misbehaving notoriously-- slow, temperamental, somewhat tempestuous. I was packed in with a few hundred of my closest friends, when one gentleman lightly crushed against the back wall commented, "These elevators are crazy. You could end up anywhere. Like...the roof!"
Without even thinking, I burst out, "The ROOF! The ROOF!" And then led the entire cabin in a chorus of "The Roof Is On Fire!" Everyone joined in, loudly. As we arrived in perfect timing at my floor, another reveler dubbed it "The best elevator ride, EVER!" I jumped out into the hall, and as the doors closed, everyone waved me goodbye, and I called after them, "You kids have fun!" I staggered down the hall-- literally weaving on my unutterably painful feet-- and giggling like a madwoman. It was delightful.
I don't remember much about falling asleep, only that it was quick and painless. Less painless was the phone just before 9am. But I managed to get a bit more sleep, then get up and get some more corsets finished before going back downstairs around 2. I even ordered sushi for lunch. I was brought almost to tears by the thought: I'm in civilisation here! I can order in sushi!
I wish I'd gotten more of a chance to run around and actually see all the vendors, and maybe some acts. At a regular Faire, I already know a lot of them, so there's not much impetus. Also, there never seems to be time: it's always busy. At this show, there's the desire, but not a shred of time. I can make specific, targeted attacks on vendors, but I have no idea who's there half the time. I barely got around the room I was in. And this time, I was so determined to go buy some club clothes! Dammit. It didn't help that we were slightly short-staffed-- one minion missed the entire day, so no one could really leave. But business was fairly good, if not spectacular, and I had a lot of fun. The people at the show are delightful, and I'm devoted to it. There was even flirting. My goodness. See what happens when I come out from under my rock?
I finally got to hang out a bit with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jaborwhalky and gdfalksen, whom I keep passing at shows like late-night frigates. I am contractually obligated to swoon, "Oh, JACK!" at the latter, a joke whose lustre, I am sure, will fade in time. I'd link you to the video, but it's mysteriously disappeared. I also got to dance again-- this time, properly accoutered. I dragged myself away by sheer force of will a mere ten minutes, apparently, before galiagodel arrived. Alas. But I haven't danced in ages upon ages, and it shows. I'm in terrible shape. I'm working on that.
Sunday was a blur. Good friends and a lovely time, yet again, but all too soon, time to break down. It wasn't too painful, and we were soon enough packed and on the way for sushi. Which really, you'd think would be simple. Not so much. The first place, recommended by the hotel? Closed. The second place, recommended by iPhone? No answer. The third place, however, was the charm. Midori Sushi, on Raritan Ave in New Brunswick. Jesus, that was good. http://www.midorisushinj.com/ , if you're in the area. There were eleven of us, and they didn't so much as blink. The food was excellent, the prices good, and the company beyond compare. It was then time to pile into various vehicles and wend our way southward. By midnight, we were all fried and feeling completely useless. Thankfully, it took very little convincing to getpatsytheloomer to admit driving back halfway across the state would be a bad idea. Thus I wound up with every square inch of my living room-- and the stairs!-- covered in sleeping bodies. Alas that I only got to vacuum after the event. This morning, we finished the weekend off with an almost obligatory brunch at Denny's, and a long, slow, lazy afternoon of "We really should get on the road," followed by yet more talking. It's the first time in a long while I've been surrounded by people constantly for days, but I don't feel drained by the end of it.
It's not the time spent in the booth, I must add. That I find energising and empowering. When my energy flags, I can remind myself that this is what I've built for myself-- this is the life I've created. Me, myself. I've had wonderful help, but I'm the one driving the train, and that's an astonishing feeling. When I'm at a show, I don't work for anyone else. No one gets to tell me what I should or must do. And I get to create pretty things that make women feel beautiful. There's such joy in that.
On the whole, really, how can I not love this life?
I've been so very busy, though, I'm not surprised my attention span has been roughly that of a squirrel. I'm finally done with Wicked Faire, and I have to say, every year, it just becomes more and more deliriously fun for me. I didn't blow the doors off as far as business goes, but it wasn't my worst year, either. And in this economy, just holding steady is growth.
Unfortunately, I had to do exactly what I didn't want to do: spend large chunks of time up in the hotel room, sewing. I was there for load-in and set-up Friday night, then, once Galia and Athena came down, I went upstairs and stayed there until midnight, when it was time to come down and close up for the night. I did get to see "Repo!", with the attendant shadowcast, which was lovely. I then decided to "go see what Eric was playing." Just for a bit. I wasn't going to stay, you know. I wasn't dressed for it. I was tired, and I had to work. But then...then Eric went into a late80s-early90s set. All the stuff I danced to in Tampa, running between clubs in Ybor. Seriously, what was I supposed to do? Really? I didn't get upstairs to bed til 4am.
Probably the most ridiculously silly part of the evening, if not the whole show, was in the elevator on the way up. The elevators had been misbehaving notoriously-- slow, temperamental, somewhat tempestuous. I was packed in with a few hundred of my closest friends, when one gentleman lightly crushed against the back wall commented, "These elevators are crazy. You could end up anywhere. Like...the roof!"
Without even thinking, I burst out, "The ROOF! The ROOF!" And then led the entire cabin in a chorus of "The Roof Is On Fire!" Everyone joined in, loudly. As we arrived in perfect timing at my floor, another reveler dubbed it "The best elevator ride, EVER!" I jumped out into the hall, and as the doors closed, everyone waved me goodbye, and I called after them, "You kids have fun!" I staggered down the hall-- literally weaving on my unutterably painful feet-- and giggling like a madwoman. It was delightful.
I don't remember much about falling asleep, only that it was quick and painless. Less painless was the phone just before 9am. But I managed to get a bit more sleep, then get up and get some more corsets finished before going back downstairs around 2. I even ordered sushi for lunch. I was brought almost to tears by the thought: I'm in civilisation here! I can order in sushi!
I wish I'd gotten more of a chance to run around and actually see all the vendors, and maybe some acts. At a regular Faire, I already know a lot of them, so there's not much impetus. Also, there never seems to be time: it's always busy. At this show, there's the desire, but not a shred of time. I can make specific, targeted attacks on vendors, but I have no idea who's there half the time. I barely got around the room I was in. And this time, I was so determined to go buy some club clothes! Dammit. It didn't help that we were slightly short-staffed-- one minion missed the entire day, so no one could really leave. But business was fairly good, if not spectacular, and I had a lot of fun. The people at the show are delightful, and I'm devoted to it. There was even flirting. My goodness. See what happens when I come out from under my rock?
I finally got to hang out a bit with
jaborwhalky and gdfalksen, whom I keep passing at shows like late-night frigates. I am contractually obligated to swoon, "Oh, JACK!" at the latter, a joke whose lustre, I am sure, will fade in time. I'd link you to the video, but it's mysteriously disappeared. I also got to dance again-- this time, properly accoutered. I dragged myself away by sheer force of will a mere ten minutes, apparently, before galiagodel arrived. Alas. But I haven't danced in ages upon ages, and it shows. I'm in terrible shape. I'm working on that.Sunday was a blur. Good friends and a lovely time, yet again, but all too soon, time to break down. It wasn't too painful, and we were soon enough packed and on the way for sushi. Which really, you'd think would be simple. Not so much. The first place, recommended by the hotel? Closed. The second place, recommended by iPhone? No answer. The third place, however, was the charm. Midori Sushi, on Raritan Ave in New Brunswick. Jesus, that was good. http://www.midorisushinj.com/ , if you're in the area. There were eleven of us, and they didn't so much as blink. The food was excellent, the prices good, and the company beyond compare. It was then time to pile into various vehicles and wend our way southward. By midnight, we were all fried and feeling completely useless. Thankfully, it took very little convincing to get
patsytheloomer to admit driving back halfway across the state would be a bad idea. Thus I wound up with every square inch of my living room-- and the stairs!-- covered in sleeping bodies. Alas that I only got to vacuum after the event. This morning, we finished the weekend off with an almost obligatory brunch at Denny's, and a long, slow, lazy afternoon of "We really should get on the road," followed by yet more talking. It's the first time in a long while I've been surrounded by people constantly for days, but I don't feel drained by the end of it. It's not the time spent in the booth, I must add. That I find energising and empowering. When my energy flags, I can remind myself that this is what I've built for myself-- this is the life I've created. Me, myself. I've had wonderful help, but I'm the one driving the train, and that's an astonishing feeling. When I'm at a show, I don't work for anyone else. No one gets to tell me what I should or must do. And I get to create pretty things that make women feel beautiful. There's such joy in that.
On the whole, really, how can I not love this life?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 07:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 07:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 04:58 pm (UTC)It is oft-quoted in my circle.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 07:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 07:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-24 05:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 01:29 pm (UTC)Wicked Faire sounds like a good event to get to.
Semi-off-topic... any fun new designs in your corsets? Did you add any more to that fairy-tale set you were doing a while back? (I'm still blown away by the Rapunzel corset.)
no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 02:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 04:17 pm (UTC)Don't forget about my corset now!
For a little while.
Date: 2010-02-24 05:14 pm (UTC)And I *so* remember that elevator ride.