In which I almost submit to a corset stereotype
and faint in a puddle. Let me set the scene:
Worked 3-11:40 Thursday night. Went to bed around 1. Got up at 4 to work 5-1 Friday morning. Ate my 'lunch' at about 10am. Rushed home after work to get a change of clothes that would be more suited to changing in a public place. Went to Robin's apartment to meet up. Drove to the Met. We changed in the parking lot (and I was glad I'd gotten that change of clothes!) and then were shuffled around until somewhere between 6:30 and 7 we ended up doing poses for a little sketching class in one of the galleries.
I'm not too great at standing frozen in place for long periods of time, apparently; the sketching-director wanted us to stand with exaggerated leg-poses so that the sketchers could see SOME leg-movement, which meant in my case that I was standing in a very exaggerated contraposto position, with all my weight on one leg in order to poke the other toe out from under my skirt, as suggested by the SD. The one guy said our poses would be about 10 minutes, but they were definitely longer, probably more like 15 minutes. Second pose was similar, but I switched my weight to the other leg and leaned over a bit to look more mournful or something. The lights were very bright and the room was pretty darn warm, and I'm sure my heavy poly jacket didn't help (though I wore it on a very warm September day with no discomfort). About 8 minutes in the room seemed to dim, sort of like when you stare at one thing for too long and the surroundings fade out. But this was like 'blood isn't getting to where it should' dimming. I felt a bit faint, haha. I had experienced a similar feeling when I stood for a friend to make me a paper tape double, and had to be cut out of it so I could sit down. This time I was determined not to succumb, so I imagined myself a statue, or a rock, things like that, but it was no good. No matter how determined I was I knew if I didn't move I would fall over, and I didn't ACTUALLY want to faint in a room full of people. Who does? So I dropped straight down into a crouch, which helped almost immediately. One of the sketchers nearest me asked if I was okay, which was nice. A few minutes later I felt fine and would have stood up, but it was clear that at least one of the sketchers had been sketching me in my new 'position', and I didn't want to irritate them any more than I already had, so I stayed put. This resulted in cramps in both calves and very uncomfortable fingers on the hand I used to balance myself. I felt the cramps for the rest of the night, annoyingly... but at least I didn't faint?
Lesson: get more sleep and eat some food before posing with all your weight on one leg for 15 minutes in a hot bright room.
One bonus of the event was I had a chance to rewear my bustle outfit. Any time I wear something more than once I feel pleased, since so often new things 'must' be made for events. It wasn't strictly mourning, but it was black and purple and close enough, I guess. I barely show up in the CBS clip anyway. Possibly the best part of the evening was Robin wondering who the creepy photographer guy was and being told with MUCH hilarity that he was a Very Well Known Photographer. I thought he was just annoying with his 'ss-ss' noises and eye-stabbing camera flash. In our defense, it seemed only the NY inhabitants knew who he was.
Next up is try to make a wool jacket for Siege Day at Fort Mifflin. I have VERY low expectations of this actually happening - I'd need to be done by the 9th! - but it's also not crucial, since I can always wear my caraco.
Worked 3-11:40 Thursday night. Went to bed around 1. Got up at 4 to work 5-1 Friday morning. Ate my 'lunch' at about 10am. Rushed home after work to get a change of clothes that would be more suited to changing in a public place. Went to Robin's apartment to meet up. Drove to the Met. We changed in the parking lot (and I was glad I'd gotten that change of clothes!) and then were shuffled around until somewhere between 6:30 and 7 we ended up doing poses for a little sketching class in one of the galleries.
I'm not too great at standing frozen in place for long periods of time, apparently; the sketching-director wanted us to stand with exaggerated leg-poses so that the sketchers could see SOME leg-movement, which meant in my case that I was standing in a very exaggerated contraposto position, with all my weight on one leg in order to poke the other toe out from under my skirt, as suggested by the SD. The one guy said our poses would be about 10 minutes, but they were definitely longer, probably more like 15 minutes. Second pose was similar, but I switched my weight to the other leg and leaned over a bit to look more mournful or something. The lights were very bright and the room was pretty darn warm, and I'm sure my heavy poly jacket didn't help (though I wore it on a very warm September day with no discomfort). About 8 minutes in the room seemed to dim, sort of like when you stare at one thing for too long and the surroundings fade out. But this was like 'blood isn't getting to where it should' dimming. I felt a bit faint, haha. I had experienced a similar feeling when I stood for a friend to make me a paper tape double, and had to be cut out of it so I could sit down. This time I was determined not to succumb, so I imagined myself a statue, or a rock, things like that, but it was no good. No matter how determined I was I knew if I didn't move I would fall over, and I didn't ACTUALLY want to faint in a room full of people. Who does? So I dropped straight down into a crouch, which helped almost immediately. One of the sketchers nearest me asked if I was okay, which was nice. A few minutes later I felt fine and would have stood up, but it was clear that at least one of the sketchers had been sketching me in my new 'position', and I didn't want to irritate them any more than I already had, so I stayed put. This resulted in cramps in both calves and very uncomfortable fingers on the hand I used to balance myself. I felt the cramps for the rest of the night, annoyingly... but at least I didn't faint?
Lesson: get more sleep and eat some food before posing with all your weight on one leg for 15 minutes in a hot bright room.
One bonus of the event was I had a chance to rewear my bustle outfit. Any time I wear something more than once I feel pleased, since so often new things 'must' be made for events. It wasn't strictly mourning, but it was black and purple and close enough, I guess. I barely show up in the CBS clip anyway. Possibly the best part of the evening was Robin wondering who the creepy photographer guy was and being told with MUCH hilarity that he was a Very Well Known Photographer. I thought he was just annoying with his 'ss-ss' noises and eye-stabbing camera flash. In our defense, it seemed only the NY inhabitants knew who he was.
Next up is try to make a wool jacket for Siege Day at Fort Mifflin. I have VERY low expectations of this actually happening - I'd need to be done by the 9th! - but it's also not crucial, since I can always wear my caraco.