A quiet night, a stack of books, a tuna melt on rye

Well now, I haven't updated in forever or, you know, a couple of days.  It's much more difficult to remember to write something on my four days, when I  actually get to do something, than on the ten days when I get to sit in a hotel room after work. 

( Things I did this 10-day )

Now it's back to work on the project that just seems to get worse and worse.  Now they want to take away our travel days. 

    Last night I played this game with Daniel, Bernie, and Arynne.  Tres Fun.  It's an interesting mix of clue and guess who.  With the added interest of ringing a little bell, getting sent back to mass every couple of turns, and having to chant like monks for a couple of rounds.  Chanting like monks is, of course, even more interesting to the people milling about who are not actually playing the game.  I won, go me! (Boo! Brother Cuthbert.) Everyone else was right behind me.  If you have a chance, I would suggest taking a look.  

Tonight I went to a masquerade ball at my Alma Matter.  We all were to dress in formal or at least semi-formal wear and a traditional Mardi Gras mask.  A lot like the swing party I went to on New Year's Eve.  I even wore the exact same outfit,  Other than the masks, the rest of the occasion bore a striking resemblance to high school dances.  

A few realizations:

1. I'm getting too old for this.  Though, looking back on my previous reactions to dances, I was born too old for this.
   
2. In general I like the trappings of dances much better than I like the dances themselves.  I like having an occasion to wear pretty dresses.  Despite what it may look like, I've always been more attracted to skirts and dresses than I have to pants.  In fact, I refused to wear any pants until I was ten years old.  Picking  out  a mask was fun.  As was seeing the kinds of masks chosen by the others in attendance.  What was not particularly fun was the pounding music, the repetitive dancing, and spending all night trying to find the people you came with and/or people you were supposed to meet there. 
   
3. We seem to be a ridiculously boring dance generation.  While, yes, everyone can participate in the bobbing and swaying back and forth, where is the fun in learning and practicing a tango, foxtrot, swing or hell, even a hustle.  Also, to the girl who danced by simulating pegging her boyfriend, no one needs to see that!  I suppose there was the line dancing ("Superman, That Ho"?), which does require learning.  Not so much my cup of tea. 
   
4. Live music = way better than recorded music.  The best bart of the night was by far the Restoration Jazz Band.  Well, that and the chocolate fountain. 
   

This probably all sounds like I didn't enjoy myself, which is not true.  I just wont be seeking out this kind of entertainment very often. 


In other news we discussed having an Empire themed tea party, where in we would all come dressed as counties from the height of the British Empire.  I get to be Britania!  Costume suggestions anyone?

Happy Birthday to me. 

Is there a better possible birthday activity that going to the Panto.  I think not.  The Dame was as good at ever, the silly song was very silly, the messy bit involved mushing grapes, and I got a piece of candy.  Yeah!

Also  yummy, yummy, curry.  It was like a little bit of England here in south eastern Pennsylvania. 

Went to the swing dancing party tonight, which is always a good time.  As usual I didn't get to dance nearly as much as I wanted, but there was a steady string of partners.  Even three with possible Chin The Second which I thinks marks my advent into intermediate dancing.  Yeah!

Also, there was possibly the most fugly outfit I've ever seen.  A man with dark blue jeans.  On top of the jeans he had sewn mock chaps.  Red with a light green star on the front of the left leg, light green with a red star on the right leg and the opposite on the back.  A matching vest. And a red fur cowboy hat with a red leather studded band which said "love slaves."  It was a  strange mix of kink and hoe down which didn't really do much for either set.  *shudder*

Then went to T's "Life's a Beach, Let's get drunk" party which was supposed to be a companion piece to his "White Trash Christmas Bash" held this summer.  I'm disapointed I didn't get there early enough to get a coconut to drink out of, but  I did, of course, get a lei.  Now I'm and feeling all floaty.  Yeah floaty. 

I am officially converted into a Renn Faire goer.  So. Much. Fun.  I was a little worried about the driving six hours both ways, since we were only on a two-day.  Definitely worth it.  The costume I made last four-day turned out well, though the bodice was slightly too small and I had the most modest blouse ever.  Which frankly I'm okay with.  We saw some rocking bagpipe and drum music, baudy songs sung by some not very good women, and a good traditional type band.  Also jousting.  My night (England) won.  Woot!   Next one in December.

I just got back from the crew's Halloween party.  I dressed as Alice from Alice in Wonderland, a decision I reached thusly. 

Me: I really like this headband.  In England they call headband Alice bands.  I should dress at Alice for Halloween so I can wear my headband. 

Yes! my entire costume was based off a headband.  I also had the purple dress from Target with puffed sleeves, an under skirt and a sash that made me look like I was five, white tights, and my black character shoes.  Also the white pinafore that I sewed this afternoon.   I think this is my first costume ever when people could actually guess what I was.  Much easier than  trying to explain every five minutes. 

Katy made her pink panty dropper drink and there was bobbing for liquor instead of apples, so this  post may be more rambly than normal.   Also Danielle and I did the Time Warp which we spent a lot of time discussing when the head of the company took the crew out to the bar for dinner, and  also the next day in the field.  Somehow Kansas made us think of Rocky Horror, I don't know why. 

I think that is all.

I am no longer in Kansas.  I enjoy that fact muchly. 

Also  there  is  supposed to be a Halloween party tonight, but I  never got the  email invitation and I don't know when it is.  I don't enjoy that  fact muchly. 

My sewing party last evening was a success.  I have most of a costume for  the Renaissance fair next weekend.  yeah. 

is a combination cheese grater and umbrella, because one never knows when one might have occasion to grate cheese in the rain. Yeah, so I heard that on a commercial on the radio today and had to share. On to the actual post.

1. This goes out to the lovely Adams, with whom I visited this weekend and who chastised me today for my lack of update. Duke, while have many detriments, such as an overabundance of grade-grubbers when compared to Tulane, also has a yearly Viennese Ball which I attended this year. So. Much. Fun. I got to use my waltzing, salsaing, jiving and minimal polkaing skill. Go me! and Go Arynne! for inviting me and Go Arynne's Brother! (yes I know his name, but this is more fun) for being in the wind symphony which the ball benefits. Oh and Boo to Douchbag (pronounced Duh-Bog) and his stupid fedora for slighting the lovely Adams and her dancing studio. We shoot dirty looks in your general direction.

2. Snow White and the Seven Horny Dwarfs is extremely amusing cartoon porn. If you haven't seen it I really must show you sometime. Unless you are undy_niable because that would just be creepy and wrong. Sorry.

3. Snow, oh how I love you. What with all your magicalness and your beautifying of the landscape and your funness to sled down. Things are looking up for a white Christmas. Now If we could just not have to do the 64 luminaria bags. Trust me, Not Fun!

So I guess that's all

Wow, isn't that just the best title anyway?

1. I am such a dork. Driving both to and from the airport we passed signs for Nassau and all I could think was "That's where the Bartlett for America headquarters were". I have quite possibly seen to much West Wing even if I haven't watched it in a while.

2. Visiting my Aunt is the best because she has pets. Three whole dogs. One > bernese mountain dog
named Duece and two > norwich terriers
named Tyla (possibly Tyler) and Brady. I think the latter two sound like yuppie children, but they are named after football players. The terriers are so adorable, they put their little heads up between your knees when you sit down and look at you with big eyes saying "pet me, pet me". Duece sits down next to you looking all regal, knowing that you can't miss him.

3. Played risk again with undy_niable and his friend (who may have an lj but I don't know). Did much better, as they kept going back and forth trying to conquer Asia, and I was left on my own to take over Africa, South America, and North America.

4. Found out that the Shriner's parade is the highlight of living in Hanover. Not nearly as exciting as Mardi Gras. I think I may have been ruined for parades for life.

5. Dad has found some job for me to apply to at his office, which does not have anything to do with Archaeology or Museums, but which I can't really not apply to. I would at least get lots of money for graduate school, and would be in the South West with lots of free time to volunteer at a musuem and tour all the southwest arch. sites (or at least some, since I don't think anyone could ever see them all). We'll see how it all goes

I think that's it.