Work so far for Intercon

Cast The Stand run at Intercon today, and just sent out casting and costuming hints. It was a tougher cast than I was expecting, and I ended up with a lot of final choices that I wasn't thinking of when I first read through the casting questionnaires, but I think it came out mostly okay. Still, I am worried about one or two choices; I did the best I could, so I hope everyone is okay with their roles.

Have begun writing character sheets in earnest now. I have finished my first and have several others started, but I want to pick up the pace. My goal is to have all twenty-five of them finished no later than a week before the con. I don't want anyone to have to get theirs at the last minute, so I'd better buckle down. I'd like to finish two or so by the end of the day.

Jared and I elected not to get a hotel room this year after being reminded how close the con is to home; it is more economical that way. We also don't want to have to rely on food bought at the hotel for meals that weekend. I plan to pack a picnic basket with lunches and dinners for the appropriate days and try to eat only from that as much as we can. If anyone cares to go in on this with me, they are welcome; just help me buy supplies and I am happy to doing the prep and cooking.

Beef brisket

So I made the brisket last night, the first one I've ever attempted. I used my mom's recipe that she got from a Tyler Florence cookbook. It's a braise in red wine at a low temperature for several hours. My first thought was to put a meat thermometer into it and cook it to temperature, since recently I've had a lot better results with red meat that way. But the alarm went off within less than an hour, so it must have been measuring the cooking liquid more than the meat, and I just put on the timer for the amount of time the recipe suggested. I think I should have cut the three-and-a-half hour time down to three hours, as the brisket came out just a wee bit drier than I like. My oven runs a little hot, and the two briskets I cooked were more like three and a half pounds each rather than four as was called for. Also, I would have thought seven pounds would be enough for eleven people, but I wish I'd bought more. Still, it wasn't bad. It's a good recipe-- fabulous when my mom makes it --and I definitely think I will make it again.

Grownup corner 2.0

I have recently upgraded my grownup corner.

The flowers in the blue vase died, as all flowers eventually do, so they had to be removed. There is also now a little blue urn on the corner there, a nice little touch added, I believe, by Charlotte. But you will notice the new copper pot hanging up next to my lucky-find skillet. I bought it off of eBay the other day, and it came in the mail yesterday. I wasted no time in hanging it up beside its fellow.

I find few things so beautiful in the world as copper cookware. It is lovely, it is functional, and it is incredibly cheerful-looking. I can think of no more perfect way to decorate a kitchen than with beautiful specimens of the tools you use in it. I shouldn't be spending money on silly things right now, but this was only twelve dollars, which is a steal for copper. (For reference, even a piece of lower-end new stuff can cost a hundred dollars or more. And let us not speak of the price of the breathtaking Mauviel, the highest quality on the market today.) It makes me a little happier just looking at it, so especially right now when I could do with small joys, perhaps this wasn't so silly a purchase after all.

On to positive things

Now it is time to focus on some good things, so as to not to go back into Victorian suicide mode.

I got my hair cut the other day, FINALLY. It was sorely in need and I was starting to hate it. Heh, today for my Examiner article I wrote about how much it helps your everyday look to keep your haircut maintained. I am a bad, hypocritical style writer. Still, the point stands, and my head is proof-- I look and feel much better when I do. I am keeping the look I got last time, the longer layers with the sideswept bangs. Now that the bangs are shorter again they're back in my eyes all the time, which is a little annoying, but I'm getting used to them again and I really like how they look.



Bernie got me a Teavana Perfect Tea Maker for a belated Christmas gift, and MY GOD, does it make a better cup of tea than my tea ball. It is mug shaped, which allows the leaves to float around and steep properly, and then you put it on top of your mug and the tea strains out through the bottom. Works like a charm, and it comes out delicious. I think I will be keeping it at work to make individual mugs, as I prefer to use my lovely bone china teapot, a thoughtful gift from Jared, when I'm at home.

I got my first casting for Intercon, in this case for Clockwork Cafe. I am asked not to say who I am playing, but from the character outline I think she will be interesting. Even better, I'm pretty certain I already have my costume figured out, with no need for any new purchase. I have decided I will be casting the Intercon run of The Stand this coming Monday the 31st. Annoyingly, I'm still missing three casting questionnaires, all from people I don't know. I have been poking them pretty agressively to get them in before Monday, because I really hate casting people with no knowledge whatsoever. I will then send out character and costume hints, which should allow people sufficient advance notice to prepare.

I am ridiculously pleased with my Sudini Minna leather rain boots this season. I bought them two years ago seeking stylish tall leather boots that could be worn in all weather. These have served that purpose beautifully, looking great and keeping me dry and warm. I've been wearing them almost constantly since the weather got bad. Though they are not cheap, they are incredibly high quality, so I highly recommend them. I think at the end of the season I will take them to a cobbler to have them refurbished, because I think with proper care these could last me for a long time.

More bad news

Having a hard time shaking the malaise that's been over me for the last week. I was sure I would have perked up by Friday, when I went to a party I had been very much looking forward to, but even then I found myself feeling low and, even worse, shockingly unable to connect to anyone around me. I think I may finally be normalizing, but still, I feel really disconnected from everyone.

That next bit of bad news I was anticipating happened. I am sad to say that Merely Players won't be able to happen this semester. We were unable to get performance space at a workable time, so it looks like the project is going to have to be shelved. I'm pretty down about that, I've been trying to keep my life full and productively lately because it makes me feel better, so that's one less positive thing I will have to do. HTP has been thinking of doing it next semester instead, which I am trying to see it as something for the best. The club's schedule will be much freer then. It's not like I don't have a ton of other stuff to do in the next few months-- writing two larps, preparing for two larp cons, being in a dance production, helping if they need it with Othello, and trying to do normal person things like see friends, eat occasionally, and shower regularly. And next semester there will be a lot of people who are abroad now who will be back then, like Steph, April, and Gigi, who would then have a chance to audition. And I'll have more than enough time to polish up the piece to get it exactly where I want it to be.

I don't know. I am trying to move forward, but it's tough. I have too much to get done to lose time to being a mope.

Ragequit



If my life was a video game, I would have ragequit this week. The difficulty curve is too steep for my level. I'm not having fun anymore. Unfortunately for me, it would be in very bad taste to ragequit being a person for the sake of all the people whose unenviable task it is to deal with me, so I am trying to be normal and find some way to deal. In the meantime, forgive me my grumbling and growling.

So, other stuff. Jared got back last night, which was nice. I made veal marsala in honor of it (a favorite of mine, very special for me to actually buy veal) and we spent some time hanging with my roommates and with each other. The rest of the week is filled with nice stuff for us to do together, which I hope will lift my spirits a bit.

I have put myself on a strict diet. Lots of vegetables, lean protein, whole grain only. No fatty stuff, nothing fried, no refined sugar, no potatoes, no pasta, no white flour. I have kept it up for a week now and though I miss tasty bad things, it's not that tough to abstain and physically my body feels better, noticeably more energetic. Bernie recently introduced me to edamame, which I enjoy a lot more than I thought I would, and satisfies my search for a non-animal protein that I actually like eating. Let's see if I can just get some exercise in there besides the occasion bout of shoveling snow.

There has been a lot of bad news bearing down on me recently. Signs are indicating that something else is going to not work out like I planned very shortly. I'm out of cope at the moment, but unfortunately things don't seem to want to go easy on me for it. Let's see how I do.

Asymmetric acessorizing

Normally my opinions on how to dress stylishly are very classic. I would describe my personal style tastes as a blend of classic chic and modern sexy, as in shoots for timelessness with a little more skin than is traditional. I tend to not like anything all that trendy or edgy. But one avant-garde idea I'm interested in and would like to try a little bit more is asymmetric accessorizing. At least in theory, I like the idea of, when considering accessories that tend to be in matched sets, choosing two unmatched that are different from each other in some complimentary way.

Shoes in two different colors. Might be a little tricky to mismatch workably; they would have to be the same height and angle to make walking comfortable. I think I would like this best if the shoes were identical in every way except color, but I could see if you chose carefully enough coordinately differently styled shoes if they complimented each other. Shoes can be great accents, especially in a neutral outfit, so I like the idea of giving them even more pop.

One style of earring in one ear and a different style on the other. Maybe one stud and one dangling made of the same materials. Maybe the same style but in different colors of stone or metal. With the hair worn up to draw attention to the pointed asymmetry.

Eyeshadow that is done one way on the left eye and another way on the right. I don't wear makeup or know much about it, so I'm not sure how you could accomplish this in a way that didn't look exaggerated or even clownish-- might never work for an elegant or everyday look --but I think it could be interesting and remarkable.

I think you'd have to do any of these things carefully and thoughtfully to keep them from looking silly. But I think it could be done in such a way as to look edgy without being too out there.

Quietly rich

I think it would be cool if one day by some miracle I could be one of those quietly rich people. The sort that you never would guess is rich, because they don't obviously look or seem it. Always dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, never throws cash around, doesn't have any unusual lifestyle habits like a driver or things like that. And yet, still able to accomplish whatever they would like or need at the drop of a hat with no trouble at all. Picking up dinner, paying for parking, being comfortably able to lay out to make things run more smoothly and more pleasantly. With my upbringing, no matter how rich I ever am, I will never be the sort to spend frivolously or ostentatiously-- I see it as the ultimate in bad taste, and irresponsible to boot --but I like the notion that no matter the context, "doing things right," from trips into the city to see special plays to sending my kids to the college of their choice, will never be beyond me. I like the power and the choices that confers. Of course, who doesn't? It has been the root of so many of man's pursuits for well and for ill. I am no great lover of material things, but the security of having the means to handle things, as well as the freedom to do what I want, is as appealing to me as it is to anyone else.

Four years

Jared and I have been together for four years today. Four years with my wonderful, loving, brilliant, brave, sweet, fun, fascinating, maddening, complicated, beloved best friend in the world.

I don't believe we've ever actually been in physically the same location on our anniversary before-- hell, we even got together over the phone. But we always just celebrate when we get back. Still, the day itself is worth a mention.

Happy anniversary, love.

Dark thoughts

Thoughts have been very dark lately. Not healthy, trying to shake it off. I have entirely too much work to lose focus to that. Spent an hour last night on the bathroom floor with those dark thoughts. Not for the first time, it occurs to me that I am a prideful thing. Makes me do some pretty awful things, just for the sake of my self-conceit. And yet at the same time, when I find myself wanting to do the wrong thing, often my pride reminds me how ashamed I would be if I did the wrong thing, bringing me back to the right path after all. I am blackly amused by the fact that the very thing that's killing my soul is also keeping it alive.

No matter. Must write. Much write until my brain liquifies itself and seeps out my ears. Merely Players is due in one week. I want to have it done in time for people to read before auditions. It's no small challenge to keep it witty and smooth. It's coming fairly well, I guess, but I'm starting to get stalled, which I can't afford. It is my first priority until it's done, after which I can focus entirely on The Stand and Resonance.

Grateful

It is incredibly hard for me to ask for help, from anyone, with anything. I feel like if I have a problem, especially if it's my own fault I have that problem, it's my responsibility to fix it. I hate to be irresponsible, or weak, or incapable, and I hate to impose on or take anything from anyone else. I get ashamed when there are witnesses to my screwup, or worse, my inability to handle it myself. And even when seeking help is otherwise reasonable or acceptable in all other ways, there's always part of me that can't help but think, "Why would anyone want to help me?"

Bernie, Matt, and Jonathan dug my car out for me. It was an incredibly kind and loving thing to do, and it means more to me than I can say that they were willing to do it. I am inexpressibly grateful.

Thank you.

I HATE SNOW AND HATE YOU FOR LIKING SNOW

Furious. Have been shoveling snow all goddamn morning, and I am sick of it, and because I was an idiot that parked in the parkling lot behind Shakespeare Street, there is so much snow I have no hope of moving my car. I had assumed that the lot would get plowed and save me some work, but nope, it's surrounded by a foot and a half of snow that I can't drive through. Mercifully didn't have work today, but I don't know how the hell I'm going to get to work tomorrow. Also I want to murder my parents, who are pissed at me for getting the car stuck in the first place, and have not made a single helpful suggestion this entire process. Fucking sorry I called them at all.

I hate snow. And I hate all of you who like snow. Clearly you don't have a goddamn car to dig out or icy roads to slide on. You all can fucking deal with all this bullshit if you like snow so much.

I meant to spend today writing, but I am too upset right now.

The aftermath of signups...

So I'm sure most of you experienced the madness that was signing up for Festival last night. The site experienced technical difficulties that infuriatingly prevented people from registering for games until they were dealt with. Fortunately natbudin* heroically stepped in and straightened things out, allowing things to proceed at 7:30 instead of 7. I am really sorry for the trouble, and I hope it didn't screw up anyone's plans too badly. I received no fewer than five phonecalls at once at one point, which I apologize I didn't answer, but I was already on the phone with Nat trying to understand what was going on and what I could do to help. And, you know. There were lots of you at once.

I was kind of upset about it happening at the time. I've been working really hard to get things going well for the con, and that felt kind of like a disaster. But you know, if I wanted to be responsible for this thing, that means I need to be ready to deal with the problems that arise as well. And I think things ended up okay, though much more thanks to Nat than to me. I hope nobody was too mad. I am feeling better about it now, but at the time I felt pretty horrible that things screwed up on my watch.

As usual, things filled FAST. Most games already have a complete roster, and in fact there are already some timeslots that are totally full. Still, there are many great games that still need players, so I encourage you to jump into those if you haven't already. I plan on watching how the schedule goes from here on to see if anything needs help, or if any adjustments should be made. For on, I just want to admire the mostly-full con and send out my casting questionnaires. Both Resonance and The Stand are good to go, so I'd better take advantage of all the advance notice we GMs have got.

Larpercalia signups tonight!

Tonight, my babies, Festival game signups are going live! I am so excited, I can't wait to see what everyone signs up for. I have my little plan ready, and I know what many people are thinking due to LiveJournal posts, but we're up to seventy-nine attendees for twenty games and there are so many interesting possibilities! I just am buzzing with anticipation to see what happens.

I wonder if it would be in bad taste to set up a betting pool. You know, with categories like "First games to fill," "Longest waitlists," "Most overall signups"...

Yes, that would be in bad taste. I still kind of want to do it. :-)

The magic happens here at 7PM EST!

Someday, a cookbook



Someday, I think I would like to write a cookbook. I enjoy cookbooks immensely, particularly when they contain more food writing than just recipes. It has been a trend in cookbooks lately to include little anecdotes related to the recipe's history in your family or some such, and I often do enjoy those, but I particularly like when cookbooks have interesting information about food in general. The Silver Palate Cookbook, for instance, contains spreads on how to use common herbs, how to pair an appropriate wine with your meal, identifying different cuts of meat and their uses, and all manner of interesting food concepts. It makes it a particularly enjoyable reference for me, because it teaches me about food in general, not just how to make a certain recipe.

At the moment, I am not an advanced enough cook to do such a thing. Most of the things I cook are still straight out of the books I got them from, and I do not yet feel confident enough to start really designing recipes. I'm still working on figuring out how to alter current recipes to suit my needs and tastes, and while I'm getting better at it, I am hardly an expert in culinary improvisation. Improving my facility with that is still my current cooking goal. But eventually I hope to get to the point where I am designing my own versions of recipes, constructed entirely by my own experimentation and experience. I think it would be really cool to put together a book of those recipes, and add my own little interstitial bits about my thoughts and viewpoints on cooking.

Not right now, but someday maybe. I'd better keep on cooking, then, right?

Tea and vanity

Noticed last night that my hair is in desperate need of being done. It's long enough that my new sideswept bangs are no lot much different from the rest of my hair, which now falls below my shoulder blades. It doesn't look bad, but it's starting to get heavy and lose its body, as it always does when there's too much of it. I really let these things go for way too long; last styling was in August, for crying out loud. Not the habits of a stylish lady. In the coming week and weekend I should have more free time, so maybe I should schedule an appointment. 

I am getting back into the habit of regular tea drinking. I've mostly been having it at work, for several reasons-- it's helps to keep warm in the chilly office, it curbs some of my urge to snack on junk food, and it keeps me hydrated when my tendancy is to dry myself out. I keep my tea is a metal thermos in my desk with a collapsible spoon, a mug, and a cheesy little teapot-shaped tea ball. Still drinking the same Samurai Chat Mate/White Ayurvedic Chai blend from Teavana, because it is fantastic and I am an addict. The only problem is that it's better the longer it steeps, but it doesn't usually develop really strong flavor until it's steeped so long the water's gone cold. I wonder if there's something wrong with my brewing technique. I am only using a stupid little tea ball, while I know that tea steeps best when allowed space to float around, so maybe that's it. It does tend to come out better in the basket in my teapot.

I have not been utilizing my large scarf collection to best advantage. Last winter I did a fabulous job coordinating the many colors of scarf I own to my cold-weather outfits, and felt really pleased with it. Lately I've been focusing more on having matching scarf and gloves, which is a chic look when you're all bundled up, but once I take my coat off that often leaves me a scarf that doesn't really go with my clothes. I got gorgeous red leather gloves for Christmas, so I've been wearing my red pashmina as a scarf a lot, but it's such a bold bright color it doesn't work with just anything. I could just take it off, but as I said my office is chilly, and I find myself wanting the extra warmth. I should do what I did last year and choose the scarf first, then match the gloves to it.

Unsettled, trying to be hopeful

Nervous today, unsettled. Brain is going a mile a minute in a million different directions. Have been pretty productive, though; got all my work done so far and even wrote my third Examiner article for the week; that puts me way ahead of schedule. Maybe I channel some of this intensity into writing now. That would be great. Haven't done enough writing this week; the weekend will have to be devoted to it.

There are lots of people I don't know following me on Twitter. Wonder why that is. Maybe it's from my Examiner profile? I think that's the only place my Twitter name is posted with a high likelihood of being seen by people who don't already know me. It could be their way of following my articles. If so, that's cool, I guess. More readers, more hits, eventually more money. It doesn't make much at all, but I suppose it's more than I'm usually paid for writing, eh? Maybe eventually it will work its way up.

Again and again, I am confronted by how against my nature it is to hold out hope. I am a realist on my best days, a pessimist on average, and on my worst certain the universe might as well just kill itself now. Right now I've got something ahead of me that could be really good, something that should be proving to me that there are reasons to stay hopeful. But I'm having a hard time shaking the thought that I have been in this position many times before, and it's never worked out the way I wanted. What I should be focusing on is that this is a new chance, something that came from my efforts to make things better. That should be reason enough for hope. It's just really hard for me to get rid of the thought of "Why should this time be any different?" I am learning. I am resolved in 2011 to try to learn.

I dressed up pretty today to try and feel better. It helped a little. Black skirt with simple tan floral pattern on it, white tuxedo skirt, red leather jacket, black tights, black strappy ballet flats. Amber earrings, anniversary necklace. I look nice, if a little formal. The jacket mitigates that a bit. Would look nicer with heels, but I'm not sure how much walking I'll have to do today. You'd think because the skirt is neutral I'd wear it with all kinds of colors on top, but for some reason I always just seem to pair it with black or white. Should try something more creative. Went with the tights are because they're prettier, and my leggings have finally bit it. Reminds me, I've been meaning to get some new leggings. They're good for wearing certain skirts in the winter, and I like the way they look under my tall boots. I wonder if I could pull off any color besides black. Maybe gray, but I'm not sure I'd like the look of chromatic leggings on me. Who knows, captainecchi* looked fantastic in purple tights on New Year's, maybe it's worth a try.

God, my brain is scattered. Still, I seem to be able to be productive in spite of it. Should be writing something for the projects. Trying to work up The Stand bluesheet. Wanted to see if I could do it in the form of a newspaper, to add to the diagesis without sacrificing information. Wish me luck.

Resolutions

It occurred to me yesterday that I hadn't made any New Year's resolutions yet. It's kind of a silly tradition, but it's nice to set goals for yourself to work towards, I guess.

Last year's resolutions were to learn how to dress more stylishly and to be less of a grouch. I think I did okay on the dressing one. Not so much on the grouch thing. I think in many ways I just traded some of the anger for depression. I may be slightly less angry, but it's probably because that emotional energy is more often directed into being sad. :-P

So, I guess in no particular order, some things I plan to do/try to do in 2011:

1. Make some professional improvement. I am not going to define this specifically, but I am not satisfied with my current just-okay situation. Have already begun some more serious efforts; we'll see how this goes.

2. Get back into healthy eating and exercise habits. Jared and I have already started eating better; let's see if I can add regular workouts in there too.

3. Write, cast, direct, and put on Merely Players.

4. Write, cast, and run The Stand at Intercon and Festival

5. Help write and run Resonance at Intercon and Festival

6. Make certain that Larpercalia this year is the best Festival it can be

7. Spend time with my parents. They need me right now, and I love them.

8. Be nicer to be people. I'm a bit tired of people thinking I'm a great big meanie, but it's probably my own fault. Keeping the temper in check would probably be a good place to start.

9. Develop some better stress management techniques. I guess I don't have any truly bad reactions-- I don't drink, I don't overeat, I don't hurt myself -- but what I'm doing isn't really enough. My tension and emotional upset level is getting out of hand.

10. Learn how to be hopeful. I really don't know how.

Finally eating healthy again

 

Since Jared has gotten back, my eating habits have taken an unexpected turn for the better, and accordingly his have too. We've resolved to help each other stick to a sensible budget, and I am proud to say we have cooked dinner and made most lunches almost every day since we've been back in Waltham. We've been very busy, what with all the errands we've needed to run in order to get his new living situation in order, so we have been active and without a lot of extra time to snack between meals. Also because we haven't had a lot of time, we've been eating a lot of salads because they are quick and easy to prepare. My vegetable intake has been way up, and my calorie intake has been way down. Physically I feel better and healthier than I have in a long time. I'm hoping that if we keep it up we will both take off the little bit of extra weight we've put on. Plus, a pleasant side effect of cooking at least once day is that it forces us to keep up with the dishes, because we know we will be needing the kitchen clear again shortly when we prepare the next meal.

My personal Larpercalia plans

So, in the midst of this depression, let's try to focus on something positive. The Festival schedule is up and looks absolutely gorgeous, thanks to our wonderful GMs for bidding so many fantastic games. It's going to be a really good con. We currently have seventy-one people already signed up. That's less than I am expecting in total, which ultimately is around a hundred, but I'm uncertain of whether or not everyone usually signs up in advance, or whether they wait until they can actually sign up for games, or whether we'll get many people late rather than early in the process. Still, I expect a full complement of attendees by April.

Now! My personal plans for the con. As I said, there are so many good games, but alas, I have two slots taken by what I am running, and even then great games had to run opposite each other. Alas, there is nothing for it. Here is what I have elected to settle upon:

Friday night I am excited to play in The Prince Comes of Age. It looks very fun, and I am delighted to support the writing team, which is headed by morethings5*, who now holds the title of newest larp writer to come out of Brandeis. A Crown of Hearts also looks fantastic, but I will have to wait to play that one later, as I am already promised to Prince. :-)

Saturday morning I will be running The Stand, my newest solo project. It's shaping up to be one hell of a game, and since this will be the second run, hopefully by then it will be totally-fine tuned. Hope you'll consider playing, if you weren't among those kind enough to go for the Intercon run!

Saturday afternoon I have also promised to play in Epoch's Waning, Chapter 1: Ruins of Grandeur. Frankly I hate the title, but I am interested in the setting and tone of the game. Again I want to support the writing team, and since this is Bernie's baby, I have agreed to play and give what suggestions I have.

Saturday night I am running Resonance, the experimental brainchild of natbudin*, emp42ress*, and simplewordsmith* that they have graciously asked me to help write. It should be intense and novel, not to mention with a really unique structure, so if you're in the mood for something weird and deep, give it a try! I'm sorry to miss Better Off Dead and the others, but them's the breaks sometimes.

Sunday morning I will probably sleep like the dead, like usual. Still, all the games look pretty fun. Might have to break my no-Sunday-games rule, but we'll see.

So. What are you all playing in?

Ten Day Meme: Day Ten

Day ten: one confession

1. Sometimes I hate myself for not being perfect. I hate my acne and my cellulite, I hate my temper and my judgmental tendencies, I hate my average intelligence and my weaknesses of character, fortitude, and ability. I hate myself for everything I can't do well or can't be well. Sometimes I can't understand why people can stand me at all when it's so glaringly obvious how imperfect I am.

New year, no progress

I was going to do the meme I did last year, where you examine the first line of the first entry of each month of the previous year and examine how it represents what was going on in your life. But when I looked back, I not only didn't feel like they did much to represent my life, but reminded me of what really went on all last year-- and that is, no progress. I find myself with the exact same set on problems on my plate as I did last New Year's, and I am incredibly disappointed and frustrated by that. It's not that nothing good happened last year-- I helped write a new weekend-long game, and I got to direct a fantastic version of my play, to name a couple things --but I didn't solve any of the issues I knew I wanted to deal with this time last year. I knew what was wrong and even though I resolved to fix it, I look at them now and I'm not in a different place with a single one of them now. It's not that I haven't tried, but everything I could think of to do didn't make a difference to such a degree that A WHOLE YEAR LATER I'm still in the same place.

I don't know what to do now. It's getting to the point where I'm out of ideas, and losing the will to keep grinding when no progress is being made.

Festival schedule is up for viewing!

Hello, lovely larpers,

This is just to let you all know that the schedule of games for Festival of the Larps is up on the website (http://larpercalia.festivalofthelarps.com/events/431) for viewing! Game signups will open on January 10th at 7PM, so get a look now and get ready! Also, pass the word around to your fellow larpers to sign up for the con before everyone descends on the games. :-)

Thanks for everyone's help in making this awesome schedule possible. Looking forward to seeing you all in April!

Your loving con chair,

Phoebe