A Personal Post

      I discovered this cooperative art project while I was browsing around the Tumblr page for Wil Wheaton. Its a body project kind of idea. Exploring how we as women feel in different ways about our bodies really isn't something super new, but I think the collaborative idea of it really draws me in. Something I have been more perceptive of lately is discovering just how many other people can share a similar experience you have had. Its not until you finally open your mouth to talk to someone about something personal do you realize just how many people you know have experienced something similar. Its such a relief when you realize other people just like you have an idea of exactly how you feel. It might not change your situation, but it sure as hell takes the weight of feeling alienated off your shoulders.
     Back to the project. Its a project about how often at some point in time every one of us (this project is more women centered) struggles with some sort of body image, eating disorder, or self esteem problem. It seems like its the kind of thing we all know other people struggle with, but until you get down to the nitty gritty and REALLY hash it out with someone, it always feels like your floating in your own little corner of self hatred hell. I have known people with serious eating disorders and self destructive habits and I am very grateful I managed to avoid them. The body image problems though I can certainly relate too.
     I've always been on the short side and I've never been very thin (although looking back at pictures I was much thinner then I remember, but I guess thats part of the image problem). Those of you for a long time have known I have always struggled to just accept who I am and how I look. The only way I can describe the feeling is that you are never "right" or you never look "how you should". Its a constant, ongoing thought that invades your day, your mind when your trying to sleep, your dreams. It rattles around in your head constantly and you don't know what to make of it. Constantly telling yourself you need to do better, bet better, diet more, exercise more, look more like this person or that person. Once this is done then you think you will finally be successful and feel "right". Of course you have set yourself up some almost impossible goals and for all the wrong reasons.
     It's only recently have I discovered that myself and other people I know (friends for example) have begun to discuss these ideas in a more distinct manner. Maybe distinct isn't the right word. In a way I guess its almost a discussion in a more abstract manner. Gone are the middle school days of just complaining about being fat, or that your legs touch, or your arms jiggle. Now we have moved on to being able to discuss more of the inner feeling of the beast, and being able to connect WHY this makes us feel the way it does. It sure doesn't make the emotional train wreak days go away, but it does seem to help make them less frequent.
     You become more confidant in who you are, not just the body you inhabit. You learn to be gracious when people tell you to "not worry because your beautiful" where as before this would just make your mind yell "LIAR!". You start to pin point specific things in your life that may have triggered these feelings other then just stars on TV or in a magazine. Times like when you were young (maybe 1st grade) and the ballet teacher told you to "suck in your fat". Not you specifically and it was a school that hoped everyone would go on to be a real ballerina, but still it stayed in your mind. Or how about the time when someone (probably a boy) made a comment about your "fat hips" or "jiggly arms" or how "you were just so short". You noticed that no boy ever told you that you looked pretty. They hurt, you brush them off since you know most of the time they weren't meant to be mean, but it made you realize you were not like the popular star, or the popular girls. You were just you, and suddenly that wasn't ok anymore.
     I won't lie, this was and is absolutely me (if there was any question). No amount of people telling me I looked fine would ever sway my mind. No amount of feel good text set on some flowery image would change my mind. I always felt like an ogre stuck in a body. Then I realized women (and girls) of all shapes and sizes, who were all beautiful, unique, wonderful people who I looked up too, had similar feelings. Some more then others. Even some of my closest friends had these feelings, we had just never been able to articulate them in a way to make us really know that we all felt kind of the same way.
      I had to buy jeans the other day and if you know me this is a once every few years torturous affair that ALWAYS ends in tears. Once again it ended with me sobbing in a dressing room after trying on about 25 pairs of pants none of which fit. Not even close. That feeling creeps in that you must be a freak because you can't even buy a pair of jeans. You fear it will be sweat pants and elastic waistbands forever. You pick yourself off the floor and head home defeated. You go to sleep vowing to diet more, exercise more, and of course not to just be healthier but for all the wrong reasons.
     After this whole ordeal I got some great feed back about where else to look for jeans which was encouraging. Once again I found that I wasn't the only one who really struggled. Its just nice to know you aren't alone. Its just a feeling, no matter how many times you tell yourself how cool you are, how many skills you have, what you are good at, its how you look that seems to overtake everything else. Its all you can focus on.
    Recently I have become a more confidant person. I feel better about who I am, the way I look, liking myself for just being me. I have a wonderful group of people who surround me in amazing things every day. I am so eternally grateful to the part every single one of them plays in my life. They bring me little bits of confidance and willpower if they know it or not. They will listen and not judge, offer advice if needed, or just help me take my mind off of things. So I have learned to take a deep breath and learn to relax a little. Tell yourself things you know you are good at, try to push the negative thought just out of your mind and replace it with something else.
     Now that my long winded rambling is done we will return to our regular blogging. If there is only one thing you take away from this its to be mindful to tell those people you care about that they are a beautiful person. Tell them often. Be specific, be vague, talk about their skills, talk about how much you love their eyelashes. I don't care! Connect with them, love the people in your life, boost each other up, and keep walking the path.

Gaming Season!

Since summer is such a busy time for me I consider fall and winter gaming season. Its that time when I get to catch up on those summer games I never got to play and the fall releases that I just can't wait to get my hands on.
I found myself returning to my roots and breaking out my SNES. Mario 2 and Super Mario World are some of my favorite ways to pass an afternoon. I don't know if it takes me back to my younger years, or if its just that I know the games so well I can play and just relax while I do so, but these two games really allow me to enjoy game time without any of the pressure of needing to beat something I haven't yet.
Then of course there is always the "pile of shame". This is the pile of games you have that you haven't finished yet. Of course something new always comes out and you move on, but you always feel guilty about those games you haven't finished yet. So to dig into my pile of shame I find myself back to working on finishing Skyrim. I'm getting closer but I haven't quite beaten it yet. While I love the game its the kind of thing that I like to dig into for several hours and not just a quick gaming stint. So it waits for those particular Saturdays when I have the time to sit back and relax and really put some time into it.
Also on the pile of shame list is Portal 2. I LOOOOVE puzzle games and most people who know me are well aware of this fact. I have beaten Portal 2 before but on a different system, so of course I have to beat it again. I really like Portal 2 and while I think I like the first one just a bit more, I really love the story and diverse locations in Portal 2.
I've also gotten to try Boarderlands recently. While I really love the art style this game has only reaffirmed how horrible I really am at shooter type games. I find myself struggling to get through even the first few hours despite my best efforts. I have had a few people make some suggestions at trying a different style of character so sometime soon I'll have to take a revisit and see if I have any better luck.
I am also looking forward to the release of Lego Lord of the Rings. The Lego series always provides some good gaming fun and I can't wait to play this one with some friends! We have been waiting for its release with great anticipation all summer and the time is almost here. Although it will have to wait until I get back from Dallas as it release just a few days before I take off and I know I will be too busy to get to it right away.

On that note I'm off to get some gaming in. I think I hear some dragons in Skyrim that need defeating!

Travel and Excitement!

The camping season has come to a close as much as I don't want to see it end. I never enjoy hibernating through the winter or having to wear socks and shoes instead of just my sandals. However it was a wonderful season filled with friends and good memories and it shall be remembered fondly.
I am excited to report that I will be going to MLG (Major League Gaming) Dallas this coming November! I won't be competing but instead I'll be there to cheer on some friends of mine who will be on a team. I'm very much looking forward to the opportunity to see many wonderful people I have met in the gaming industry as well as check out an event without having a tight schedule myself!
I have never been to Dallas and I am looking forward to getting to see some of the city. My friends there have promised they are taking me to some tasty places to eat (hurray!) and I can't wait! Eating in new places is one of my favorite things about traveling.
The one thing I am not looking forward to is flying. I'm not a real big fan of flying and now I have to put on my big girl pants and do it all by myself! Eek! But I know the trip will be well worth the flying and I so look forward to it!

Thats all for now. Here is a picture of me modeling some lovely Renae Taylor wings at the NY Faerie Fest this past Spring! Buy some!

Random Thoughts

I have been so exhausted all week I'm starting to wonder if something is wrong with me. I really miss my Ren Faire friends. I wish I had bought a new corset this season. I should wear them more often. I miss feeling pretty. I can't stand the people I would work with and would take a paycut to have someone to talk to at work. I get really lonely at work. Chilly weather makes me want to cook but also makes me sad. I miss wearing sandals. I love to bake but don't do it very often. I would love to have a new wardrobe. I wish I had more reasons to dress up and had more dress up clothes. There is never enough time for the things you love to do. I should visit my parents more. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I love things made into burritos. I wish I was smarter. I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time.

What A Summer It Has Been!

Hello world!
I feel like its been ages since I have been able to slow down enough to think about blogging! I know thats not much of an excuse for not writing but it's all I have.
I started my season camping with my Hamilton family at the War of the Roses which is an SCA event out in the East Kingdom. The weather was good and it was so nice getting to see friends I hadn't seen all through the long winter.
After that it was off to a weekend working at the NY Faerie Festival with the wonderful ladies at Moresca Clothing. Unlike the previous year the weather was absolutely lovely although perhaps a bit on the warm side. I was blessed to share my camp with some of the most wonderful and talented people! There was music and dancing, beautiful things for sale, and an atmosphere of joy everywhere you went.
After that is was off to another weekend with my Hamilton family. This time Thor thought he would try and get the better of us with a blustery, drenching thunderstorm. But we came through wet but unscathed and continued on our weekend of merriment!
I also got to work two weekends up at the Sterling Renaissance Fair which was a delight! I got to work at Miles Tonne Leather shop with a wonderful guy named Ian who continues his fathers legacy making some beautiful leather clothing. My first weekend there I tested out my "I can sleep in my Jeep" theory and the verdict was...I can indeed sleep in my Jeep! The second weekend Ian asked me if I could run the shop for him and I jumped at the chance! I had a great time working with a good friend of mine Rhiannon and despite it being a slower weekend we had a great time. Bonus points were that I got to sleep in the booth instead of the Jeep. I made some great new Faire friends as well which was a delight.
Then it was off to the big show...Pennsic. Pennsic is a two week long SCA camping event. This description doesn't do it justice because its more like a slice of heaven wrapped in garb but its the best I can come up with. After months of planning and logistics several thousand people converge on one campground to claim their land for the event, sleep in the cars, get up too early after drinking too much, and start setting up. The final head count at the event this year topped off somewhere around 10,500 people. Its a little city of people who are all there to play the same game.
Camp went up, the meal plan worked out, and life was good. I made a few new friends and I got to see many who I hadn't seen in a while. I even got to see some of the new Faire friends I had made while I was there which was really fun. I did lots of shopping and got some really pretty new things, cooked some really tasty food over the fire, and best of all I really felt so relaxed. Its so nice to be somewhere long enough that your brain really shuts off other thoughts like work and is just in the moment. Its a unique experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.
One night while we were sitting around the fire telling stories and enjoying the company of friends the International Space Station passed right over head! Talk about a strange experience. Here we are sitting around a fire, dressed in Viking clothes, drinking out of wooden mugs, having not used technology for a week, and bright in the sky moving along at a fast pace is the space station! It was a very surreal feeling.
The first week back from Pennsic is always a rough one. Its a difficult transition no matter how many times you have done it. I made it through as you always do and enjoyed my first weekend in 8 weeks of sleeping in my own bed at home. You remember what luxury it is to have flushing toilets, 2 ply toilet paper, and a shower with hot water and water pressure.
Since returning from Pennsic I have gotten back into learning how to throw axes, caught up on some TV shows I had missed, started reading a few books, and remembering how to relax. Sleeping in is still something that seems to evade me on the weekends, but I'm ok with this.
Its been a wonderful summer full of great things. We have one final camping weekend coming up next weekend which I am looking forward to with great delight. Although it takes no less planning it's only 40 minutes away from home which is really nice. Its a bitter sweet event since it means summer is coming to a close and the winter months aren't far behind.
I will enjoy every minute and devour the last scraps of summer like a starving hyena. If I've learned anything this summer its to truly enjoy every moment and savor every memory. They are what get you through the dark of winter. Well that and cooking. I do look forward to being able to turn on the oven in my kitchen again without sweating to death.

Thank you summer, you have been wonderful!

I Love Technology but....

We all use it. Some more then others and with varying degrees of success but technology is something we can no longer avoid in the world we live in. I'm one to admit I love tech stuff. I may not always be up on the newest and greatest but I love getting a new gadget, talking to a long distance friend over the internet, or using my phone to get me un-lost when my GPS lets me down. I'm on the computer all day at work and spend a great deal of time on the internet.
That being said there is nothing so wonderful as the ability to unplug at camp. To let the world know you are taking one big step back and disconnecting from the technology pool for a few days. Its a freeing feeling. At first it can be a bit scary, and then you start to go through the withdraw of  wondering who is online, what Facebook has to say, how many emails might be stacking up in your inbox while you aren't looking. But then something magical happens...you stop caring. The world (and the internet) keep going without you. You begin to remember that once upon a time when you didn't always feel that need to be connected.
I have had several projects in the fire on top of work that have kept me busy and putting many hours in on the computer. Some days I feel like my eyes will melt out of my head after work. The sunshine streams in through the window making the work seem to take even longer. At least when I'm working at home I can take the computer out on the porch (yay wireless internet!) and get stuff done.
But really, if you have never disconnected for a few days you really owe it to yourself to try it. Its wonderful when you stop wondering what the internet and everyone else in your life is doing, and simply enjoy the moment of being really aware of where you are and who you are with. Not to mention how awesome to go several days without someone pulling out a phone and texting while you are talking to them (major pet peeve!).

Silence is the morning after a huge party when your the first one to crawl out of your tent, see the mess, and think "it MUST have been a good time". Picture by me:

Coffee in the Sun

There is something so perfectly peaceful about having a cup of coffee in the sun on your porch on a beautiful spring morning. Its like a meditation of warmth and delight. Spring is in full force around here now. All the trees have suddenly exploded with leaves, the sun feels warm, the breeze is mild, and the birds are singing a beautiful chorus for the day. I find myself drawn out here to sit a while, watching the cats attempt the stay awake in the sun beam they have found. Sunbeams are a cats worst enemy.
The only thing that rivals this wonderful morning is that first cup of coffee around last nights fire at camp. Everyone crawling out of their tents looking ragged from the night before, dragging themselves up to the coffee pot, and pulling up a chair to stare into space a while until the mood strikes to actually do something. Or at least until breakfast is ready. Someone asked me once what my favorite part of camp was and I replied that it was that first moment of the day. Before everyone has wandered off to do whatever it is they have in mind to get to that day, before breakfast, just after the coffee has finished perking. The time when we all gather together to sit in the morning sun, laugh about the fun we had the night before, and quietly enjoy each others company and the smell of breakfast beginning to cook.
Although I don't usually have to be awake early at camp I tend to find myself one of the first ones up. The rising sun and chirping birdsong making me decide to greet the day with a groggy hello! Although some days its the intense heat that seems to build up far earlier then you would imagine in my tent that forces me out of bed sooner then I would wish.
Camp mornings are like a strange time bender. I would find myself awake having coffee and making breakfast and think it was almost afternoon. Out of curiosity I would check the time and find it to only be 8 or 9am and I would be horrified thinking "just how early was I awake!? Why can't I sleep in even on vacation?!". Then again when you are at camp there is always time for a nap.
Very soon I will find myself immersed in this wonderful, healing meditation of camp mornings. For now I will just sit and enjoy the moment of a cup of coffee on the porch in the sun with some sleepy cats.

Today I will leave you with a picture of myself cooking camp breakfast. Yes, I always look that crazed when I make breakfast.