Happy Veterans' Whine

[purchasemonkey]

   First off, a big "thank you" to the veterans out there. I hesitate to start mentioning names, for fear of leaving someone out, but let me tag dancingshaman, ratontheroad, and fornaxus right off the bat. I'll also give the nod to my dad, my stepdad, my uncle, and my grandfather, and his uncle.

Second, thank you to all the folks on my friends list who helped out at Dickens Fair

Comments

[miss_emelia]

I'm sure these grumbles have been made about me as well, but I'm happily wearing my Captain Oblivious hat and haven't noticed. I honestly think one of the defining factors here is the ability to be loud. There are few places in the world where the ability to be very very loud is so highly valued, but in the warehouse, it's a more critical skill than dancing.

That, and like kid_lit_fan said, you happened to be standing there when a need arose. And it just grows freakishly from there.

The only thing I've ever actually volunteered to do at Fezziwigs was the Things bag. Little did I know what a slippery slope that was! You do one tiny thing reliably and somehow the directors take it as "she is dependable" and things go crazy from there and you find yourself spending your lunch hour pouring over Victorian Parlor Games books trying to find something new and suitable.

And for me, I guess I always assume that most people don't want to be doing administrative things. If someone you know is looking for more administrivia in their lives, let me know. I've got tasks I'd love to offload. And your role - seriously, is there someone who wants to be Lady Jane's timekeeper, minder, and loud voice? It's weird how these things get prestige associated when what's really happening behind the scenes is more a question of "Well, who do you think could put up with it for five weeks solid (hopefully without getting sick)?"

Oblivious Shields--activate!!

[purchasemonkey]

Just for the record, I've never heard any of these grumbles about you.

[ladykalessia]

If someone you know is looking for more administrivia in their lives, let me know. I've got tasks I'd love to offload.

BING. Please let me know what I can do.

[miss_emelia]

If you'd be willing/interested, I need not be the keeper of the things box. I could make in inventory sheet for it. I've finished stocking for the season. Then I can bring it opening day and you could be its minder from henceforth, taking it home with you on the last day.

Beyond that, Mr. & Mrs. Fezziwig need a hat and cloak and stick minder to collect these things during the Scrooge meets Scrooge bit and hand it to them in the breath between Joy to the World and before We Wish You a Merry Christmas. They can't duck away to do it for themselves and they can't be dressed to go outside any sooner.

Those are two that come to the top of my mind. Want either? You might also ask Frederik if he wants to offload either the t-shirt or mugshots job.

[ladykalessia]

I would gladly take the Things Box with the caveat that I can't afford to replenish what I don't already have on hand. Not sure how that normally works out.

I will totally take the hat-and-cloak fetching off your hands. Not sure I qualify for taking anything of Frederick's, since I don't know how he's programming the mugshots, and know nothing at all about the stuff he's written for t-shirt tracking.

[miss_emelia]

That's the one tricky thing. I have generally been opting not to pitch in money towards food in favor of replenishing the Things Box in years past. Since we've switched to a potluck model, I've mostly just been replenishing out of pocket. Most years it's about $20 to get back to ground zero and another $10-20 during the run. Dave has previously offered to reimburse if I provide receipts though. Next year we'll need to buy new condoms as those are due to expire in like 01/09 I think (and 12/08 is plenty close enough), so it might be a tad more expensive than average. Meh, it's really no big burden. I can plan to keep it for now. I've already done the big work on it for the year - cleaning out and inventorying everything and figuring out what needs to be replaced. This year's big fun was a spilled container of needles in the second drawer. Carefully, carefully putting them all back, and back into a ziplock baggie.

[ladykalessia]

I will gladly take the Things Box off your hands, and I may even have a few improvements I could make in terms of the sewing stuff in there. A few pre-threaded needles and cheap plastic suspender buttons would be useful from time to time, I think. And my collection of mint tins would finally be useful!