Post Pennsic reflections
Aug. 14th, 2007 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
storytimewithjoeOld dogs CAN learn new tricks. After past years of facing the harsh reality of returning too quickly to the real world after Pennsic, I added one extra vacation day so that I could spend a day unpacking, cleaning, and getting my bearings. By the time I got to yoga class last night, I had finished the grocery shopping, the unpacking, the gardening, and the return to some semblance of normal. Following a great yoga and cardio session, I stepped on the scale to see that I lost four pounds. WTF? Over a week of not working out, eating far too much fattening food, and drinking like a fish and I LOST weight? I just don’t get it!
This Pennsic found me in a world of reflection – about the society, about myself, and about the directions I would like to travel. Here are just a few of the random thoughts I have concluded:
- Attitude. I need to adjust my attitude. I got politely called on the carpet by a dear friend about being too catty. Sure I can be catty. I don’t deny it. And to the best of my knowledge, I typically do so in response to what I perceive as somebody else launching their claws. I am, after all, a product of the Trimarian Shark Tank. I certainly don’t mean to hurt any feelings. To me, it is simply playful banter. Regardless of the intent, the possibility exists that feelings can get hurt, and that just isn’t right. People deserve better treatment, and this is something I need to work on.
- Direction. Let’s face it – I ain’t a young pup anymore. (Le Gasp! Le Shock!) The Italian Renaissance clothing that I really like to wear and to make is young man’s clothing. If I were to truly, truly, truly dress my age, I would be wearing the equivalent of either boring senatorial blacks or complicated, hot, and non-fitted floorlength housecoats. Blech! Boring! Along with other reasons that I’d rather not go into, I’m thinking of hanging up the whole 15th century Italian thang. This may not sound like a big deal, but for me it is huge. 15th century Italian is the very foundation upon which I have done pretty much everything in the SCA. What to do instead? Well, I enjoy the 9th century thang. It is infinitely comfortable, practical, and works well in our climate. It also gives me an outlet for embroidery. In addition, I’m thinking of doing more 14th century. It sorta cracks me up – the sewing is far less complicated than 15th century, and it is much more comfortable and practical. Who knew?
- Focus. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I have TOO MANY HOBBIES! On the one hand, I really should focus more on some areas. But the reality is there are just too many Really Cool Things to do and to learn. Maybe some day I’ll achieve focus. But for now, I’m still like a kid in a toystore – fascinated and intrigued by all the things out there. It really is humbling.
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:00 pm (UTC)Or you could stay with the 15th C. Italian, if you've got it flaunt it.
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:13 pm (UTC)doood!
You are NOT old!
We are too close in age for that to be allowed.
Granted my hubby is 42 and a grandfather thus making me a 37 year old grandmother (Michelle is a step, but I raised her!).
But darnit I am not old, I am thrilled to be where I am, I am reaching into myseld for my own power and happyness. I am taking control and I like that.
OLD is for sissies. You are NOT a SISSY.
No more of this old/ageism idea.
You are young, strong, beautiful, independant, talented, passionate, charismatic loving and loved! I feel safe in stating this given everything I have ever heard about you and your darling husband.
Old My Foot!
Now cut it out!
Moira
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:17 pm (UTC)Besides - do you really want to be 16 again? *g*
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:19 pm (UTC)You could do early Tudor. Think of the fun you could have designing your large codpiece.
;-)
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:23 pm (UTC)When Henry was happy with Wife #1?
Or late Henry VII - I LOVE the hats!
Granted there is something sinfully charming about Mid 15th C Italian.
What about Early 15th Flemish? or even Mid Burgundian.
You get to stay with 15th C.
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:25 pm (UTC)And the GINOURMOUS codpieces!
That would make our Pepe happy!
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:41 pm (UTC)I was using the gutter luge brain when I read that. **Grin/snerk**
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:48 pm (UTC);-)
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Date: 2007-08-15 12:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-15 12:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:18 pm (UTC)I read that as "Post Penis Reflections". ;)
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:23 pm (UTC)But the doge hats are fantastic!
As for 14th century, do you mean Italian? I know your 9th is mostly Irish, so I was wondering.
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:28 pm (UTC)Naked and tattooed!
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:38 pm (UTC)LOL
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:42 pm (UTC)Actually, as I recall, our dear Giuseppe has already had adventures with woad. Why, one of his early appearances as Baron featured much woad application, although there were also more clothes involved than are shown in your example. :)
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Date: 2007-08-14 08:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-15 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-15 07:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-15 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-15 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 08:41 pm (UTC)- Joe Cook-Giles may be A Certain Age, but Master Giuseppe can be whatever age you make him.
- In the 15th c., men were old at 35. In the 21st c., 35 is just coming into your own.
- You have the physique and the health to wear 15th c. Italian cute young buck stuff.
- Trecento clothes are bo-ring. Of course, there's no embroidery on them, which would allow you to do other hobbies (Yes, I'm enabling you.)
- You are the only man in Caid who is doing 15th c. men's costuming RIGHT--it is your obligation as a Laurel and a guy and a fop to do this until someone comes along to pick up the torch.
- You are eyecandy in your 15th c. Italian and it would be devastating to all of your viewers to take that away.
Yes, I'm laying it on desperately thick, but you know what I mean. Please, Joe, say it ain't so.no subject
Date: 2007-08-15 12:33 am (UTC)Well, I've TRIED to get the torch passed for quite some time. In fact, I'll be teaching men's 15th c. Italian costuming at the next Collegium. People take my classes, but I really have yet to see anybody get that spark in their eyes and run with it. Le sigh.
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Date: 2007-08-16 04:17 pm (UTC)I've had much the same experience trying to get men into 15c. Italian. I think there's a certain level of clothes horse-ness required to wear it, since it doesn't lend itself to casual wear as well as, say, 14c. English. Most of the clothes horse types skip straight to the flashy 16c. styles, which are easier to fake and have less of an "eek, hose!" factor.
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Date: 2007-08-16 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-16 07:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-14 09:02 pm (UTC)re: young Italian clothes - (and damn, that you were still on the Straight and Narrow Path when I was busily showing you my doublet linings!) - yeah, that's one of the major things that has kept me from doing "just a few" SCA things. I kind of want to go back to an event or two - but I've grown up (and out) so much that I don't know what I'd wear. I was always so attached to that cinquecento glory of waist-length hair and silk and velvet. I put on something that (with vigorous lacing) nearly fit for a Halloween party a year or so ago, and a paraphrase of Shakespeare ran through my head: "His youthful hose, well saved, a world not-wide-enough for his fat arse.."
I've seen some portraits of big robust Renaissance Italians - even made one of the suits for a friend of mine. But I just don't know if it would be the SAME without the very, very, tight tights.
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Date: 2007-08-15 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-15 12:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-15 03:09 am (UTC)And Yeah for too many hobbies - life is too short not to try as many things as possible once. Better to regret having done than not, etc. etc.
just popping by for a quick look-see!