Re-cap, lengthy, with photos
I'm home sick today. After struggling against lethargy the first three hours of my day, making that decision was curiously liberating. Permission to lie around sipping soup and watching dvds all day, laundry be damned!
So, how about a little LJ catch-up? :)
I started my new job at the Viking Sewing Gallery (inside a Joann Superstore) on January 15. So far there's been very little training and a lot of hitting the ground running! I'm amused that I've already sold four machines, three of which I'd never used before but somehow managed to demonstrate (thank God, machines have similarities between them). My favorite night so far was when the manager asked me to show two little girls how to wind a bobbin on their new machine, and my co-worker and I wound up (no pun intended) teaching them to make cute pillowcases.
Our first two matches of the year went very well. I managed an Expert score in an 80XTC for the first time, despite the fit of conscience that cost me a saved round (a potential 10 points) because I stopped shooting when the match director yelled "TIME!". Oh, and Scott out-scored me for the first time, by 3 points, which I'll allow because it was his birthday. I surprised him by enlisting his parents to bring lunch for everyone to the range after the match.
Last month I volunteered at The Last Stand, the Florida state SASS championship. Oh my, that was fun! This is definitely going to be my next shooting sport. How could I pass it up, when I'd get to costume, too? After the match I camped out in the host hotel lobby to get pics of everyone's finery on their way to the Governor's ball. I also acquired a new cowboy hat and a fancy derby, for which I now need to design a day dress!
I spent a half-day with Laura, Beth and the Orlando System gang at FX. It wasn't very well organized (the staff didn't even know there was a big fat information booth in the middle of the floor!), but the facility was nice and I accomplished my primary mission, to have Adam Baldwin sign the new A1 butt-stock for my rifle, "Jayne". After a few moments' thought he decided to quote Mel Gibson:
I also met Ron Glass and Christina Hendricks. I selected a photo of Christina in period 40's costume for her to sign, upon which she told me that her character in that photo was named Audrey! At the end of the day I attended a Eureka panel with Laura and Beth. I'd never heard of Eureka, since we don't get the Sci-Fi channel, but now I really want to see the show.
Oh, and I ran into 9mmed! We hadn't seen each other in person since the night we first met at the ROTS premier, so it was very cool that he picked me out of the crowd and I recognized him right away, too.
Check out the incredible prancing reindeer that showed up behind my parents' house at Christmas!
I joined Beth and Laura on their annual pilgrimage to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and loved it. In addition to trying all sorts of cuisine from around the world (I got a recipe book!), we saw Jon Secada in concert. We also heard the Disney a capella singing group Voices of Liberty, which everyone in my high school choir wanted to join when we grew up. They were just as fantastic as my high school memory of them.
Whew! That about sums it up. :) Oh, and my neck and back pain are improving. I now have up to a few hours each day with very little pain. Oddly, my chest cracks when I sneeze; I have to hug myself and remember to keep my head upright to prevent it!
So, how about a little LJ catch-up? :)
I started my new job at the Viking Sewing Gallery (inside a Joann Superstore) on January 15. So far there's been very little training and a lot of hitting the ground running! I'm amused that I've already sold four machines, three of which I'd never used before but somehow managed to demonstrate (thank God, machines have similarities between them). My favorite night so far was when the manager asked me to show two little girls how to wind a bobbin on their new machine, and my co-worker and I wound up (no pun intended) teaching them to make cute pillowcases.
Our first two matches of the year went very well. I managed an Expert score in an 80XTC for the first time, despite the fit of conscience that cost me a saved round (a potential 10 points) because I stopped shooting when the match director yelled "TIME!". Oh, and Scott out-scored me for the first time, by 3 points, which I'll allow because it was his birthday. I surprised him by enlisting his parents to bring lunch for everyone to the range after the match.
Last month I volunteered at The Last Stand, the Florida state SASS championship. Oh my, that was fun! This is definitely going to be my next shooting sport. How could I pass it up, when I'd get to costume, too? After the match I camped out in the host hotel lobby to get pics of everyone's finery on their way to the Governor's ball. I also acquired a new cowboy hat and a fancy derby, for which I now need to design a day dress!
I spent a half-day with Laura, Beth and the Orlando System gang at FX. It wasn't very well organized (the staff didn't even know there was a big fat information booth in the middle of the floor!), but the facility was nice and I accomplished my primary mission, to have Adam Baldwin sign the new A1 butt-stock for my rifle, "Jayne". After a few moments' thought he decided to quote Mel Gibson:
I also met Ron Glass and Christina Hendricks. I selected a photo of Christina in period 40's costume for her to sign, upon which she told me that her character in that photo was named Audrey! At the end of the day I attended a Eureka panel with Laura and Beth. I'd never heard of Eureka, since we don't get the Sci-Fi channel, but now I really want to see the show.
Oh, and I ran into 9mmed! We hadn't seen each other in person since the night we first met at the ROTS premier, so it was very cool that he picked me out of the crowd and I recognized him right away, too.
Check out the incredible prancing reindeer that showed up behind my parents' house at Christmas!
I joined Beth and Laura on their annual pilgrimage to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and loved it. In addition to trying all sorts of cuisine from around the world (I got a recipe book!), we saw Jon Secada in concert. We also heard the Disney a capella singing group Voices of Liberty, which everyone in my high school choir wanted to join when we grew up. They were just as fantastic as my high school memory of them.
Whew! That about sums it up. :) Oh, and my neck and back pain are improving. I now have up to a few hours each day with very little pain. Oddly, my chest cracks when I sneeze; I have to hug myself and remember to keep my head upright to prevent it!