Glory looms and Mundania interferes

No, I haven't died. I've been very, very caught up in mundane life lately, and trying not to let it all overwhelm me. When somebody figures out cloning, please let me know. I want another few of me.

It seems like there's always too much to do in the summer, and part of me always has regrets about the invitations I have to decline because I'm already double or triple booked that weekend.

Aye, well. Mundania is there to be escaped from. There's just too many choices!

Thankfully, I was able to coincide a visit to my family last weekend with a trip to Club Dragonsspine. Oh, how that basement has changed! What once was a concrete room, roughed in with 2x4s (and a haven for spiders) is now a sexy, swanky tiki lounge complete with pool table and a better stocked bar than one usually finds in the basement of a non-descript house in suburbia.

Present at the club were of course many Dragonspinians...and a displaced Outlander living in Atenveldt, returned for a visit. Homesick I suspect. I would be.

And yes, I managed to get a couple of rounds of NostaRovias going. As practice for Glory. Right.

It should be awe-inspiring and more fun than I've had since...uh...Estrella War, probably. Plus, this will be my first real camping event with Alexsy.

He got to go to Uprising in Artemisia without me, and apparently fit right in like someone born and raised SCA. I languished at work, with twinges of jealousy. Grrrrr. Why does there have to be black-out dates on vacation time from work??

On his return, he soothed my pout with a lovely silver camel pin. Can somebody say "huzzah" for me?

Like I always say...you can never have too many camels.

Using travel photos as research

Sometimes I pore over the websites with travel photos, just to get an idea of where I'll never be able to afford to go. Well, TrekEarth has metric buttloads of great images that travelers all over the world have uploaded for your viewing pleasure. I've used a few as inspiration for drawings, costumes and maps, and I'm selecting a few for you here that I found funny, useful or both.

I found this great photo of a young boy being dressed in a suit of plate armor during a festival. Looks like he's having the BEST DAY EVER. Jeez. I bet his parents couldn't wipe that smile off his face for weeks.

Here's a great single combat shot without all the rattan and duct tape us SCAers are used to. Rap shot!

Or, if belly dancing is your preference, check out the latest fashions in Egypt.

How about this fabulous skirt on this Rajasthani Dancer? Yes, please, I'll have one of those. See? The costuming ideas are already flowing...

How about architecture? Can I live here? PLEASE?? No? How about here? Though the heating bills would probably be tremendous...

Architectural details can make great designs for garb, woodworking and even tattoos. Here's a nice relief from the Alhambra. And another. Yeah, about those tattoos. Hmmm....

Looking for a portable blacksmithy? Man, what some people can put together! I'd probably yank too hard on the bellows-pull and blow a bunch of hot coals onto myself. Brave man, there.

How about some period tent research? A real black goathair Bedouin tent! A Yurt with a mighty fine door! Curious about how those nomads move thier yurts from place to place? These would come in handy at events.

Those of you who know me may have heard of my strange obsession with Camels. I've selected a few (and there are many) from TrekEarth that made me laugh.

Who needs a car, when you have a camel cart?

Tassel overload. My god. Can he even see where he's going?

Burp.

Ok, enough for now.