Sunday morning: It's 19 degrees, and I am going to a hockey game . . .

Over the last couple of weeks,  I  have read more Liam-style entries than I have posted.

1. As you might expect, there are some new readers. Let's give a hearty Liamverse welcome to   circe_pleading ,   zen_indie,   feralcheryl , darkfenix and pamelina. I know ladykathryn added me recently too, but she's been around and is a great commenter.

If you are reading me regularly, I would love it if you could add me as a friend.

2. My favorite restaurant blogger, Steve Barnes of the Albany Times-Union tells us about New Year's Eve at 11 Pearl, a ritzy, converted bank lobby in Albany:

Admission starts at $150 per person, including tax and tip, for five hours of top-shelf open bar, abundant food by Classé Catering, which has the banquet contract for 11 North Pearl, and live music. Sharing a table is $175 per person, a table for six is $900, 10-person cabanas are $1,500 and the bank vault, located at the back of the room, can be reserved for a party of 12 for $2,000.  Cabanas and the vault and include a private attendant to fetch food and drink.

Cabana boy!

3. Here's the link  for this morning's hockey story that I wrote for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader. I have another game, same two teams, at 3 this afternoon.

4. If you are going to East Kingdom 12th Night on Jan. 16, can you please put "Bake Cookies" on your calendar for somewhere between Jam. 9 and 15?

5. If you live in the Capitol Area around Albany. and you are interested in a Christmas goose, that is currently still running around the field, you should e-mail my friend Mary Pratt at elihufarm@yahoo.com/ She will have it butchered for you and deliver it frozen next Saturday at the Saratoga Springs indoor farmers' market. You can get it at the farm in Valley Falls as well. You're looking at $60 for a 7 to 8-pound goose that should feed six and will render plenty of useful goose fat.

6. Our holiday plans include being in and around Portland, Maine on Saturday, Dec, 26. We'd like to get together with folks at a coffee shop or health-food restaurant. (It's Vacation from Beer time). Please contact me privately.

7. Believe it or not, some folks have asked me for my Amazon wish list. Yeah, I feel a little cheesy posting that. There are some more expensive things on their specifically for my in-laws. The link should have the priorities.

You know, what, though. All I really need for Christmas are some kind words.

Is it OK to "want" to be a peer -- especially a Laurel?

This came across East Kingdom list, but I think it would make for good discussion here.


The question was posed:

Is there anyone out there who's willing to call wanting a laurel "the wrong attitude" on their own behalf, or is it always the undefined "they" who feel that way?

What I find curious is that this is a Laurel-specific question. Every time this question comes up, it's Laurel-focused.

It's certainly  fine to aspire to be a knight. It's encouraged.

Pelican? I think it's fine personally. If someone asked, "Liam, if I wanted to be a Pelican one day, what should I do?"

That would be a two-beer answer, but I would also already have an idea in my head if the person was the right kind of person for a Pelican. Part of the answer would be, "Just do things, and the awards will come." There's also the proto-knight advice of :Dress nice and get to events!"

The Laurelate has always posed a conundrum for me.

I know a lot of Laurels, and there's really no stereotype, but sometimes I don't understand.

If being a Laurel is the highest honor for someone with A&S skills and SCA leadership skills, what's wrong with aspiring to that?

I do agree, though, you need to be doing it from your soul, not your brain.

Not everyone is bound for a peerage, but I see no issue acknowledging that's where you hope your journey will lead.

Liam
Who just did what he does and tried to be polite while doing it.