Sun Sep 18 - This morning I thought I was just going to jet early from Dayle's place, but after having so much fun hanging out with everyone chatting after the event, we did the same over breakfast. Brianna and Su each bought both of my CDs, for which I am again excessively thankful. It amazes me sometimes how wonderful my friends in the SCA are, even the friends I've just gotten to know.

I've known *who* Brianna and Su were, for years now. But just a simple evening and morning chatting at a friends house after an event can propel an acquaintance into full friendship in a matter of hours. It still amazes me how easily that happens. We are an affectionate and friendly society, and I am thankful to be here.

I headed out to our monthly lunch with Grandad and family, and had a wonderful time. Two great-aunts and one great-uncle were there again, a cousin and her boyfriend, Grandad and Grandmom, my sister and her two girls, my mom and pops, and my step-sis and her daughter. Grandmom has been sick for a few years now and has finally gotten better, so it was a HUGE and wonderful deal to finally see her at one of the montly lunches. She even joked with me that I had to "share" my birthday lunch with her as her "coming out party" for finally coming out into public again. I had to chuckle at the comment, since that phrase means something entirely different to other people. We just won't say anything about that to Grandmom, okay?

Then a drive back to the coast and off to a movies/bday party. Theresa and Alan opened their home and we all brought potluck for the day. I was actually somewhat glad that we never really ate any of the lunch I brought to the event *and* that I hadn't gone home yet. I just had to buy some ice in the morning to replenish my cooler and then I had all my potluck offerings ready and on hand. I had fresh fruit salad, whole fruits, bread, pita, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, tabouli, meat slices, cheese slices, and chocolate truffles. My roomie made a chocolate bundt cake with cherries baked inside, that was scrumptious and to-die-for rich.

We watched British comedy from noon until midnight (although I didn't get there until about 2:30-3:00 or so). I got some new lucet drawstring cord made for some of my costuming—who would have thought that I would still be interested in making lucet cords after the past two weeks? It was actually amusing in the late evening to walk into the living room and realize that all the women had hand-crafts in their laps, and the guys were just glued to the television. Mariam and Mel were knitting, Erika was hand-stitching a corset, and I was making lucet cording. Isn't it always the women who get the work done? (wink wink)

The only downside to today is how incredibly sore my legs, ankles, and feet really are. After all the walking on Friday (in new shoes, so I even have new blisters), the lack of sleep Friday night, the long day on both Saturday and Sunday, I am limping slightly. I think it's time to make an appointment with someone's hottub, sometime soon.

But finally, it was time to just get home and curl up in bed, smiling and enjoying a wonderful birthday.
* * * * *
Recently Listening to: Poe "Haunting"

Recently Watched: "Red Dwarf" and "Coupling" (UK, seasons 1 & 2)