Tuesday morning: Comes the dawn . . .

1. The nice thing about reading the Internet at 5:30 a.m., on the first of the month is there's lots of list admin e-mail.

2. If Gatorade came in standard six-packs, I would be on my second already.

3. Pretty crappy last night, but the Darvocet, the hot shower the afore-mentioned Gatorade helped a lot. I am human enough to post the the internets without being two terrible wrong.

4. Writing and reading may prove to be my main amusements today. Other than possibly holding a trial to see which of the two cats pooped on the bathroom rug. It may have been a joint effort.

5. Is this good: I got a note from the library that the Sarah Palin book I reserved is in.

6. I am so tired of Tiger Woods and Charlie Weis.

7. To whomever (and it may not have been here), who recommended "Rice Boy" to me, thanks so much! It's was perfect for the mood I was in. Callabash has been showing up in my dreams. ;)

Three sets of questions

OK, I think I have tracked down all the questions, and I have even picked up a a few more.

Here are three more sets of answers. A couple more to come.

If you want to ask me five questions, go right ahead.

This is therapy right now. I am feeling pretty miserable, and hopefully, focusing on this will help. (Actually, it did.)

From 1_big_grizz:

1. How did you come up with the name Liam St. Liam?

A goddess gave it to me.

My mundane name is William Donovan Toscano.

So I started using Liam O’Donndubhain. (Liam, by the way, is a “problem name,” it wasn’t in use until 1658.

No shit, there I was at a blazing hot Pennsic, maybe 1994 or so, and I had a bottle of ice water. Rhiannon14 is working toward me, a vision in beauty and clearly thirsty.

I gave her the water and she said, “Liam’s you’re a saint!”

Now remember, she’s kingdom seneschal at the time.

I asked if she could do that, and she said there was nothing in Corpora that said she couldn’t.

2. If you could give the SCA BOD one directive and they HAD to do it, what would it be?

Revise the board, A member from each kingdom, elected every two years. Replacements elected the year before they go on the board. Limit of two terms. Google Wave, teleconferencing, etc., would allow them to meet regularly with the meetings (except for executive sessions) available to watch or replay.

3. Are you ready for winter in the North Country?

As ready as we can be. There’s not a whole lot you can do to repair. We have moved to the Glens Falls, so there will be far less commuting. Snow *can* be fun.

4. What's the stupidest thing you've ever done?

I could take that at so many levels and tell you so many stories.

I cannot think of the right example for here.

5. I know you love beer. Ever tried brewing?

I get asked that a lot. Many of my relatives and friends have suggested it. I think it’s because I like good beer, and I a, insure I can make good beer.

I think it also takes a little of the mystery out of it.

From gwenlianna:

1. If either coffee and beer were going to cease to be available, and you could only save one . . .which would it be?

Coffee. I need it to start my day. You cannot start you day with beer.

Beer is for the soul.

Coffee makes the body function, No body, no soul.

2. What's your favorite holiday? why?

Fourth of July. The weather is good. The food is good. Of course for the last 15 years it’s been Northern Region War Camp, and now I live here.

3. What would you do as a profession, if you could pick anything, without consideration for actual aptitude?

Professor of poetry (and captain of the local men’s rugby team) at a major Midwestern state university.

Fromelasait:

1. What made you decide to go into teaching?

When I was in college, I made a conscious decision to choose newspapers over teaching or government.

About 10 years later, I am working every Friday, Saturday and every other Sunday and loving it.

But I am not seeing Nataliia and the kids. She asked me if there was something I would like to do besides newspapering that would allow me evenings off to an extent.

She helped me to go back to college, I got my Masters, and I became a teacher. She later did the same think.

I teach because I believe I can make a difference in kids’ lives.

2. If you were independently wealthy, what would you do?

I would apply to Harvard to do a four-year undergraduate degree in English.

3. Which Eastern Pelican are you? :)

I am the Ernst/Steffan/Freya/El of the Two Knives Hybrid.

 4. How did you become an honorary Calontiri?

I showed up. I sang.

I attended Lilies with Tibor in 1999 and fell in love. I stayed on the Calon list and visited at Pennsic. I carried water with the Falcon tabard. I sang.

I accept Calontir for what it is, and it accepts me for what I am.

5. What's your strongest memory  from your peerage vigil/elevation period?

Being escorted into court with a daughter holding each arm.

Polar Plunge photos are up! Take 2

Here!

Also, I was the top individual fund-raiser for the second year in a row at $1,250.

Thanks to everyone!

Agni Dentati raised close to $2,500 as a team and finished second for the second year in a row.

We got beat out by Old Navy, which raised $2,2000, but saw it doubled by the company.


Thanks again!

Mew York Same-sex marriage vote may come tonight or tomorrow

From the Times Union Capital Confidential:

Senate sources say a debate and vote on gay marriage is still likely to follow close upon the heels of passage of the $2.8 billion deficit package currently being hammered into vote-ready form.

If there's a phone call you can make, please make it.

If not, a prayer would be great!

This made me stop and think

A friend posted this quote in response to my please to various places regarding the same-sex marriage vote in New York.

"Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don't think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the "wrong kind of person" for me to marry.

"I believe . . . Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people's religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people's civil rights.

"I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all about." 

Mildred Loving, plaintiff in Loving v. Virginia (1967) on the 40th anniversary of the decision.

Last two sets of questions . . .

Well, now there's one more coming, and I am still open for business . . .

From bdeb:

1. How did you get into photography?

That's something no one has ever asked me. Cool.

We got a Canon Rebel back in the mid-1980s to take pictures of the family for for some possible freelancing.

We stayed with the film camera, replacing it once with another of the same general  model, I think, into the early 2000s, and one day I found a great deal on a digital Nikon D50. (I
 had always wanted a Nikon). That is what I am still using, with a good telephoto.

I had the great advantage of already having edited and cropped photos for the newspaper, so I could visualize well within the viewfielder.

I find it adds to my enjoyment of events and makes a lot of people really happy.

2. What haven't you done in the SCA that you plan on doing someday? What did you try and decide "nope, not for me!"

I have not made it to Estrella of Gulf Wars yet.

I have not really made an effort at A&S at this point.

Note for me? I made it from cantonial to baronial to regional seneschal. And all of a sudden, it wasn't fun any more.

That, and fighting. Medically, I cannot fight anyway. I have a heart condition, and I am now on blood thinners. But I have suited up a couple times, and there was just too much sensory input to handle.

3. Do you like to travel or are you a homebody?

Other than when I am depressed and just want to stay home, I love to travel!

I learm so much when I travel, especially when I go to a place a second or third time.

I love to drive. I could drive 10 or 12 hours for a couple of days straight.

Example: From Lilies 1999, I rented a car with no mileage restrictions and put 2,800 miles on nit, driving from Kansas City, through Nebraska, out to Billings and back via Little Big Horn, the Badlands and Iowa. I loved it!

4. What are some of your favorite movies?

Since the last time I started ot answer this question, I saw "Casablanca: again and was reminded what a great movie it was.

Folks who know me know what's coming: "Animal House," "Bull Durham," "Henry V," "Gettysburg," "Saving Private Ryan," "For Love of the Game" (a different Kevin Costner baseball movie)., "Miracle," and, "The Quiet Man, "Armageddon. Also, any other John Wayne movie where he's not a cowboy, a cop or in the service (though I do like some of the war stuff), a few Clint Eastwood movies, mostly non-traditional like "Heartbreak Ridge." I am sure I am missing some.

5. What would you change about the SCA if given the power to do so?

I have already posted a similar answer, which basically replaces the BoD with directors from each kingdom, elected every two years and meeting using modern technology with the ability for all members to watch.

 From valr

1. What is the least useful advice you've ever been given?

"Don't make waves."

 2. Is there  any book that you would tell anyone (or everyone) to read?

"The Power of One" is anamazing book about overcoming racism and prejudice.

 3. What would  you do for a Klondike Bar?

I would go Scutum Racing for a Klondike Bar.

 4. Have you ever meet a beer you didn't like?

Several, actually. Usually two or so a year. The biggest disappointment was when Magic Hat, a brewery I love, made a period style beer -- a Gruit -- and it almost exploded out of the bottle (not it was not chaken) and tasted like, well I do not want to insult dishwater.

5. Mathematics - Given 10 elements with independent preference for matching, the SRP guarantees a solution in all cases given what caveat?

The sky is blue.

Answers for zarhooie

1. If you could have any one SCA-related talent, what would it be?

I would like to be able to write compose and sing -- in a glorious voice -- songs in a period style and songs about the SCA.

2. Which SCA decisions have you made that you regret?

That's a hard one. I was on a track toward kingdom-level seneschalate work, I backed off. I do not know that I regret that.

I like who I am in the SCA.

3.  Do people really run away screaming when you sing?

Only sometimes

4, Why the Travel Fund?

A royal couple asked me once if I could help. It made have been 10 or 12 reigns ago. Since then, it's pretty much, "Your Majesties, what may I do for your this reign>" and the answer has been "Travel Fund," of course.

I do it because it needs to be done and it lets me see the positive side of people. Honestly, and the roya;s appreciate it.

5. Why do you love rugby so much?

It flows so much better than American football. It's much, much more of a game of position rather than possession. You're not afraod to kick the ball away to gain better field position. You can see the guys a lot better and the violence is that much "cleaner" without all the pads.

Then there are the nicknames, the songs and the pageantry. And the fact that so many more people care.