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Lost_Warrior

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  1. Lost_Warrior
    I LOVE MY DREMMEL!!!!
     
    Random blue stone lying around the house, seed, silver, and rainbow obsidian beads.
     

     
    My new natural alexandrite ring:
     
    (sunlight)

     
    (incandescent light)

     

     
    I'm just taking it easy today. I have had three panic attacks in the past two days, and I'm trying to relax, and get this under control before I have to go back to work tomorrow. I'm somewhere in between "keep myself occupied" and "don't do anything stressful" and hoping for a good day.
     
    Merry Christmas everyone!!!
  2. Lost_Warrior
    We did all our Christmas stuff Friday, and yesterday. I have a 4 day weekend, so mom figured I might as well have my stuff so that I can use it on my days off. She gave me a dremmel (well...similar thing) which I am going to have a ton of fun with. I have a bunch of stones in various states of tumbled, polished and unpolished, and I have plans for them! I made one thing yesterday, a beautiful piece of Montana agate with a gold sunrise etched on it...for Cernnunnos in honor of Yule.
     
    I was very pleasantly surprised to find that my Polychromos colored pencils work on stone!!! WHOOT!! The possibilities are truly endless.
     
    There is a piece of moss agate upstairs awaiting it's fate to become my newest piece of bindrune work.
     
    I also got some Artclay, and an electric shaver (which is something I really wanted...yay no more bathtub acrobatics to shave my legs!).
     
    My favorite thing, though, is a natural alexandrite ring. I knew I was getting it, for months, actually, because it's impossible to keep a secret from me for long; but I can't believe my mom found one that CLEAR. There is a tiny flaw in it...which I haven't seen but others have...which can only be seen under very high (11x or so) magnification. So it IS real. But wow.
     
    Merry Christmas everyone!!
  3. Lost_Warrior

    Cows

    By Lost_Warrior,

    I'm not usually the superstitious type, but dead cows in the road at 5.30 AM are a bad omen.
     
    An overturned cattle hauler turned my 15 minute morning drive into an hour and 45 minutes, during which I got lost, and went I don't know how many miles out of my way.
     
    Fortunately, my boss and supervisor both thought it was hilarious. When I got there they asked me if I needed a map to get to the other side of the shop. "Can you find your way to the Robodrill?" "Better paint some arrows on the floor for her Joe". Yea sure.
     
    When the fire chief says "Funny you should want to come through here" you know it's not good.
     
    I have used up my sanity quota for the day. If you want sanity, leave your name and number. There is a waiting list.
  4. Lost_Warrior
    I completed another bindrune pendant--this one goes on the rear view mirror of my car, for protection during travel. It was inspired by a rather harrowing journey home from work last Thursday.
     

     
    It's snowing again, GRRRR. Snow and ice. *Knock on wood* the power did not go out. We thought it would, with all of the ICE and snow. I hope to hell I can get to work safely tomorrow, or that it's bad enough that I can call off...because I nearly didn't make it into work Friday morning. Oh, the roads were fine, but I was spinning my wheels (and burning rubber) trying to get into the parking lot.
     
    Of course I had to give Chuck hell because after I FINALLY got in (on the 7th or 8th try), went inside and started work, THEN Chuck grabbed the snow shovel and went outside. I said "Oh, sure Chuck, NOW you decide to shovel the parking lot! After I had to try 8 times to get in!!!"
     
    I don't think I'll be visiting my family for Christmas...the weather up here is too unpredictable and it's been storming a LOT...like, every weekend. I don't want to drive 200 miles in this s***.
  5. Lost_Warrior
    It's been a while since I updated this, so without further ado, I give you:
     
    Tribal Carnival!!!
     

     
    It has been a long four weeks, LOL. Here's hoping the next few are a lot better. I need to ask tomorrow about what we're doing at work for Christmas. I need to know, so that I can make plans to see the other half of my family. Hopefully I'll be able to see them for a few days, at least. I'm sorry to say that my grandmother is not doing so well, and I want to get to see her as much as possible now.
  6. Lost_Warrior
    I suppose I should count myself VERY lucky concerning today's events. And I feel quite free to laugh about them now.
     
    So today started out relatively normal; I got up at 5:05 or so...I have to leave at 5:30 mind you to get to work. But this is normal, and I usually wind up leaving at about 5:35 and getting there five minutes or so early.
     
    So I'm driving to work, as usual. I am almost there, and just as I am entering New Albany (I'm slowing down, as the speed limit changes from 45 to 25 right up ahead) I go around a blind turn. And there, right in the middle of my lane is...
     
    A deer.
     
    Sprawled completely across my lane. Quite obviously DOA, and very much in my way. Now, I came around the turn going probably 35 mph...when I saw the unfortunate creature I slammed on my brakes. To late, of course, to stop completely. I could not swerve right, there was not enough room. If I'd swerved left, I would have had to be in the other lane. Nothing was coming, however I had no time to swerve, either. So I aimed my car directly for it, thinking if I "straddled it" I would do the least amount of damage to my 2 year old car.
     
    Keep in mind, the bumper of my car is only about a foot off of the road. It's a small car, with a low hanging plastic bumper, and low profile tires.
     
    So, inevitably, I hit the deer, going about 15 or 20 mph...I would guess. And drove over it. My front right tire, I think, went over the head. The rest passed under my car; scraped my undercarriage...
     
    And left my car completely undamaged. Now, I do have a few hairs on my bumper and underneath the car. I do have a "hot dead meat" smell when I drive the car. What I don't have, is a single scratch from the incident.
     
    In hindsight, it's pretty amazing. And pretty funny. I bet it was hilarious from an "outside" point of view; a small, sporty Ford Focus driving completely over a deer. One expects this sort of behavior from the drivers of large, tough SUV's...not small sedans.
     
    I'd already knew my car handled snow well. Now I know it handles deer well as well.
     
    So, I'm at work, and it's almost lunch time. Scratch that, it IS lunch time. I'm deburring a part and the scraper slips--I slice my thumb open, and it immediately starts bleeding like crazy. Now, as soon as I finish deburring these three parts (I'm working on the first of them) I can go to lunch. Wiping the blood off on my pants doesn't work; it just keeps bleeding, so I grab a shop towel and wrap my thumb in it, and try to hold it there while I keep working. When I'm done (not an easy feat with a towel wrapped around your thumb) I ask my boss for a bandaid.
     
    Now, I'm hungry. Have been for an hour or more. Usually, my own blood does not bother me...to badly. But I'm hungry, and the cut is deep (into the meat) I can tell by the feel. I notice the depth of it when I'm washing it off and waiting for my boss to return with the bandaid. So, while he bandages my hand, I sit on the arm of a chair, staring at the ceiling, trying not to pass out. The blood didn't bother me a bit, but the knowledge that I'd cut into the muscle, did.
     
    As soon as he's done I grab my lunch...and sit there for a few minutes waiting till the dizziness passes. Then I get some sugar (gatorade) in me and chow down. I return to work, feeling OK and finish my shift.
     
    I was going to wash my car on the way home, but the way this day has been (two bad incidents and two "near misses" that could have been worse), I decided to head straight home. The roads are still wet from the snow and rain, and it is salty, so washing my car today wouldn't do any good anyhow. I'll wash it sometime during the coming four day weekend.
  7. Lost_Warrior
    OK, I must deserve some sort of prize for this one. You know, for my superior grace and dignity.
     
    Here's the story:
     
    I was coming down with an ear infection this weekend. Now, I'm prone to ear infections, especially in my right ear. I know what they feel like. They can be excruciating! Normally, I would get myself to the doctor for antibiotic drops STAT however it was Sunday. I was no way no how going to the emergency room for an ear infection, so I did what I could to patch myself up at home. If it wasn't better by today, I planned to see a doc.
     
    To that, I added a prayer to my deities and a promise of a half a bottle of sparkling grape juice (I normally offer a few ounces every week) and this was accepted. I got the feeling that it was accepted immediately, and lo and behold, this morning, my ear was feeling much better and continued to get better throughout the day. (Keeping in mind, that it had gotten bad enough that it *doesn't* improve with home remedies. It was well beyond "I feel one coming on" and had gotten into "definitely infected" territory).
     
    As promised, I poured the half bottle (more than that, actually) into my libation bowl on my altar. A whole bottle wouldn't have fit even; the bowl was quite full. I said a few quick words of thanks and left it on my altar for a few hours. After that, I planned to take it outside and pour it into the ground; I don't like to leave juices on my altar overnight they tend to turn sour.
     
    I *planned* to take it outside; here's what really happened:
     
    I picked up the bowl, and took it out of my room, as usual. I started to walk down the steps, carefully (!) carrying the bowl. Halfway down the steps, I slipped. Classic, feet in the air, flat on my ass, butt plant in the middle of the stairs. A veritable fountain of grape juice all OVER the stairs. All OVER the walls. All OVER my clothes, AND my head. I screamed and sat there quite stunned for a moment. Commenced swearing. Got up, started scrubbing as best I could, the grape juice out of the stairs and off the walls. Pour what's left of grape juice outside. Come inside, change clothes, take a second shower, wash grape stained clothes.
     
    Whoever decided that stairs should be carpeted must DIE I tell you!!! Fortunately the carpet is old, ugly, patterned and pretty non-stainable. Nothing will show up on it.
     
    I don't know what hurts worse; my ass or having to clean up the mess!!
     
    So who did I piss off?
  8. Lost_Warrior

    Wheel of the Year

    By Lost_Warrior,

    I finished this, finally, in about 10 hours of work. There's a lot more symbolism in it than I intended...actually the unintended stuff seems to be the more meaningful. I made this to use with Runic divination.
     

  9. Lost_Warrior
    This week was actually pretty good, all things considered. Still, I'm tired. I was sick over the weekend, and started out the week not being able to eat well, so I was already off to a nasty start. Add to that hormone fluctuations and a few other things, and well, it went well but I'm glad it's over.
     
    My beads from Fire Mountain came yesterday, and I made a couple of bracelets. I'm not entirely happy with them, for various reasons, but I am mostly satisfied with how they came out.
     
    Elemental Fire bracelet:
     

     

     
    Elemental Water bracelet:
     

     

     
    The Firelands: (a single image of a volcano in Hawaii. Photomanip. The original image looks nothing like this, it can be found Here. )
     

     
    Flight of Desire:
     

     
    Enjoy!!
  10. Lost_Warrior

    Oy Vey

    By Lost_Warrior,

    Wow it's been a long while since I wrote something in here!
     
    I'm really starting to enjoy my work, not that I wouldn't rather be home, but because I don't have anything to worry about when I come home. It's wonderful! My boss switched my hours this week, so I start at 6 AM and get out at 12 PM...not bad, not bad at all. I have the whole afternoon off.
     
    Life has been crazy though, not so much on a physical level but on a spiritual one. I'm not complaining but I could do with a break sometimes. With Samhain fast approaching it only promises to get crazier!!
     
    Just ordered a bunch of beads from Fire Mountain, well actually, will send the order in soon. I can't wait until they get here, I have a few ideas for jewelery which I can't wait to make!! The harp playing isn't going as well as I'd hoped, I seem to have lost interest while I was getting all of the issues straightened out. However, I hope to get some time to play soon. This weekend promises to be devoted entirely to rest, laying around on the couch, screwing around on the computer...etc. I'll have the whole house to myself and I'll NEED the rest, so I can't wait.
     
    I have been fluish all day (and unfortunately this is upsetting my stomach). I certainly hope I feel better tomorrow!! I don't want to call off work, as I know my coworkers need me to be there, and I actually like them, so I'd hate to disappoint. Flu or no, I'm going through with my Full Moon rite tonight. It should only take about a half an hour...consists only of chanting, really and some 'basic' energy work. And a journal entry which I'm doing as soon as I'm done here. Not stressful at all, and even though I'm sick it is important to me to keep up with it.
  11. Lost_Warrior

    NEW New Harp

    By Lost_Warrior,

    She's here, and in good condition. There is a small odd mark in the finish however that can be remedied with some furniture polish and I'm not worried about it. I'm not tuning her a lot at one time, giving the strings and frame some time to "rest" in between, hoping to avoid undue stress on her.
  12. Lost_Warrior

    Bindrune Pendant

    By Lost_Warrior,

    This was my first attempt at doing anything even remotely like this (on all levels) and I am very pleased with the result! When I do something like this again (I will, because I truly enjoyed making it) I will hopefully have a better woodburner, (what I have is a soldering iron which can't really do curves...and doesn't get hot enough to really mark the wood) and I will be a bit more careful with the colors (the gold tends to smear). I'll also be pickier about my wood.
     
    Made from a slice of Hemlock, some colored pencil for the color (these particular pencils work great on wood) and some beads on waxed linen cord.
     
    The Runic design is for Strength, Health, Protection and Courage (bonus points to anyone who can figure out which Runes I used.)
     

     

  13. Lost_Warrior
    Watching my blog slide down the list I realized it HAS been a while since I posted anything, so here goes!
     
    The harp has been sent back for a return. It arrived in Florida yesterday, so a new one should have been shipped today. I'm guessing it will be here Wednesday or Thursday. Hopefully this one will arrive safely and undamaged.
     
    Work continues to go great, my boss has gotten into the habit of sending me on road trips in company vehicles (one of which is nicknamed the "old gelapi" and driving it was quite interesting) which does get me "out and about" a bit. Overall I enjoy it, though I have some stressful days, I don't have many (I occasionally feel like the guy who is training me the most gets fed up with me...he doesn't really show it but I do get that feeling).
     
    These past two weeks have seemed to just FLY by, even though they have worn me out. I've been working through some icky past life memories and a few other things, trying in spite of everything else I'm doing to keep up with my Pathwork and still attempting to find time for my artwork and writing. I also finally gave in and downloaded Pixia again, so I can once again do digital art.
  14. Lost_Warrior

    My Harp is Here

    By Lost_Warrior,

    ...and looks like it's going to have to be sent back. There's what looks like a crack, or at least, a shoddy glue job, where the two pieces of the frame meet. At the very least, it will probably effect the sound. Still waiting to hear back from the girl I bought it from, to see if it's an issue. Mom is *insisting* that it's not a problem but I think it probably is.
  15. Lost_Warrior

    Just an Update

    By Lost_Warrior,

    My new job is going great, I feel like my old self again, and I haven't felt this good since...well...it's been probably a year now!! I'm starting to write poetry again, too; I haven't written in quite a while. Picked up a book of Tennyson poems at a used book store, and that has definitely renewed my interest in poetry.
     
    As for the harp, well, it appears as though the crack is getting bigger. it also looks like the top part of the frame is listing off to the side. There seems very little chance at this point that the damage is merely cosmetic, despite what my mom says (she has never played a harp before, and there are plenty of people who have happy to contradict her). I think unless I find out from the maker otherwise, I'm going to have to send her back for an exchange. so it will be a little while (a couple weeks) before I have a playable harp again.
  16. Lost_Warrior
    I just bought a beautiful, brand new, rosewood and mahogany Celtic harp last night!!! I can't wait until it gets here!! I can't imagine what possessed me (I spent about three weeks' pay on the thing) but I am so excited about it!!!!
     
    I got a pretty good deal on it, harp, case, two books, extra strings and tuning tool for about 300 bucks.
     
    This is the harp I'm getting, but I found it as a combo deal on Ebay instead of buying it from here.
  17. Lost_Warrior

    First Few Days...

    By Lost_Warrior,

    My first two days of work have been tough. Yesterday was bad because I had practically no sleep for the two nights before that. Today went fairly well, and I am really starting to enjoy it...but I'm still hoping that I made the right choice, because I'm having "darker moments" of extreme doubt...which I really don't understand. I go from feeling like this job is the best thing that could have happened to me to feeling like I've had a bad feeling about it all along and I should have listened to myself and now I'm "stuck"... I did kind of want for this job *not* to work out so I could just take the job at the Market and everything would be easy...but this job is perfect in so many ways!! The hours are great, the pay is OK (not great, but not terrible either), my boss and coworkers are *really* laid back, and so far the job has been really easy and relatively safe as well.
     
    I really don't understand these moments of doubt...it feels almost like I'm bipolar or something. The past week has been downright awful...I don't know if it's hormones or what. I am feeling pretty crummy right now as a matter of fact. It doesn't feel like blood sugars...because blood sugars cause different symptoms than this. I'll be feeling great, and relaxed, and carefree one minute, and the next I won't even be able to remember ever having been happy or imagine ever being happy again!! This SUCKS!! And I really don't know what's causing it, which double sucks!!!
  18. Lost_Warrior

    I GOT A JOB!!!!

    By Lost_Warrior,

    OMG YAY!!! I got a job!! A totally awesome job, with wonderful hours, and I talked to my boss on the phone and in person and he seems REALLY cool. It's doing machine/metal work, and I've done that manner of work before and I LOVED IT!! I'm SO excited to start tomorrow!!
     
    WhOoT!!!
  19. Lost_Warrior

    Earth and Fire

    By Lost_Warrior,

    Ye gods, today has been a day!! I'm exhausted!!
     
    I've now got not one, but two jobs "on the line". Yesterday I put in an application at the Dushore Market...again. This morning, after going on a mad search for a wood burning tool, I picked up a newspaper and saw an ad for a machine operator at HTM. I went up and applied, except they were only looking for night shift (shift ending at midnight). I told them I really didn't want to work nights, but I put in an application anyway, and he said he'd keep it on file in case a day position opened up.
     
    I got home and talked to my mom, and she said I *should* take the night position (I don't know why really) and I had been thinking about it, so I called them and said I'd be willing to try the night position. He said he'd still look for day hours for me. So I am expecting to hear from him in a few days. Everyone seems so happy there!! It seemed just perfect!
     
    Right after I got off the phone with him, I got a call for an interview at the Market. I went, and I was very upfront with the guy about waiting to hear back from that other job. The Market job seems a lot better, in terms of hours, distance and pay (the man from the shop offered me less than minimum wage...I'm assuming that is a mistake on his part as I didn't even know when minimum wage went up). So now I'm supposed to call him on Tuesday and let him know what's going on with this other job prospect.
     
    Now I really don't know what to do. I really think it would be better for me to work at the Market, but I don't want to blow my chances on either place until I see what's going on. I'm pulling my hair out here!! But I've got until Tuesday to decide, so I'm going to try to take it easy.
     
    I just put up another Wordpress blog for all of my artwork. There isn't much in there yet, but it's here: Earth and Fire.
  20. Lost_Warrior

    A Little Gloating

    By Lost_Warrior,

    ...OK, a LOT of gloating.
     
    Copper is so much fun!!! This is what I did today after turning in two job applications. I did it in two parts, mostly because I had to give some serious thought on how to attach the leaf without it looking silly (I wasn't sure how well it would work with the leaf coming directly off the stem as it is. I'm really glad I did it!)
     

     

     

     
    Now I need to acquire more scrap. Amazing what you can do with a few pieces of copper, some MIG/TIG wire (for the stem) and a plumber's torch!!!
     
    I'm so FREAKIN' proud of myself right now!
  21. Lost_Warrior

    So What's New

    By Lost_Warrior,

    I finally got my butt in gear and wrote that article about Morrigan for the site. It's in for editing/feedback now and it should be published sometime soon I hope. I did that a few days ago. I also made my mom a snake out of Sculpey clay. It's beautiful, and I can't believe I did so well. Neither can she; I had a hard time convincing her I actually made it.
     
    Still looking for a job, but I'm enjoying the time off. I went back to the two places where I put in applications; one doesn't have any positions open right now, but that's OK by me because I kind of knew that when I put in the app. I was just hoping... At the other place I was assured that my application had been received, but it was in a big pile on the manager's desk and she hadn't gotten to look at it but would soon. So I reminded her, in person, which is always good.
     
    The other day I received some great news!! My friend Mari's son Thomas got his kidney transplant! Poor Mari has been through hell trying to get the transplant for her son, first attempting to be a living donor (but the doctors said she had to lose weight; which she did. Then they said the wouldn't do it because she doesn't have the right insurance, and due to certain family concerns she "wasn't allowed" to take her son to another hospital that would do it.) Then, out of the blue, she got the call that her son got a kidney!! Thank the Gods I'm calling it a miracle! He's doing extremely well; the surgeon said that his kidney "just slid into place and fit like it was meant to be there". It was producing urine before the incision was even closed!
     
    Part of my pathwork involves studying a form of divination, so I've been amusing myself by doing Rune readings for people on a pagan forum I frequent; it's a "closed" forum meaning only members can see it so I made a post offering to do the readings for people. I'm not about to try it on one of the larger forums because when you do that, you end up with literally hundreds of requests and that's way too much to handle. I'm almost out of "guinea pigs" from there, so if anyone here is interested let me know!! I'll be glad to do it, but it might be a few days before I get to it.
     
    Yesterday I was looking for a Celtic ring with a green stone, and I stumbled upon Lytha Studios. I fell in love with a pentagram pendant and my mom fell in love with a Tree of Life pendant. Well, we both fell in love with a lot of things but those are the two I ordered yesterday. This place could really get me in trouble; I'm already amassing a HUGE mental wish list!
  22. Lost_Warrior

    Hopeful

    By Lost_Warrior,

    Well I talked to the guy who would have been my boss today. He said that he really was only looking for a subcontractor (and that I really hadn't made an issue by calling too much; I and my friend had both blown it out of proportion). I'm unable to be a subcontractor until I have a shop to work in, but I said I'd give him a call as soon as I had a place to work. He asked for my number as well which shows me he definitely is interested. He also filled me in on the name of the guy in Beaver Lake. I had been looking for him.
     
    So I went to yellowpages.com and searched for the guy in Beaver Lake...I found two that seemed likely and the first one I called was it. I left a message, I hope he calls me back. Wouldn't it be awesome if he could use another set of hands in the shop?!
  23. Lost_Warrior
    Well, I'm back safe and sound in PA. I really missed Pennsylvania, and any thoughts I once had of moving out west are now completely gone. I love this place.
     
    Yesterday we went to Green Dragon...it's a HUGE flea market both indoors and outdoors. It's enormous. I didn't buy anything but a sno cone and a pretzel, but I had a good time just checking everything out.
     
    This afternoon my cousin is getting married. It's going to be so weird that Becky is going to be a Pearson instead of a McJilton! Ack! I'm really happy for her though; I hope she and her new husband are very happy. I made her a vase full of silk flowers for a wedding gift, and painted their names, and the date they will be married on it.
     
    I've come to the conclusion that my family has figured out that I'm Pagan, but are ignoring it. I'm not going to rock the boat and bring it up, they are rather Fundamentalist Christian (I wouldn't go so far as to call most of them "Fundy"...at least, if they were once, they've mellowed out quite a bit).
     
    The other day I officially dedicated myself to Morrigan. I've been dedicated to her for years, I just did it officially in ceremony the other day. Short, to the point, and spontaneous. I'm not sure why exactly she wanted me to do it but I did it anyway. Half the time I have no clue why gods want me to do things.
     
    I wrote a few more posts for Love, Hope and Life and I put in a table of contents. Breaks things up into slightly different categories and lists every post on the same page. It was a pain, now I'm just going to have to remember to update it every time I write a new post. I'm working on getting everything "set up" and then I'm going to initiate myself....on the surface it seems like an initiation is rather pointless, but it feels like the right thing to do. Plus, I want the experience of how ritual initiations work so that if I'm ever working on one for someone else, I'm not "flying blind". If I'm going to screw it up or have some sort of unforeseen undesired consequence, I want it to happen to me and not someone I'm working with.
     
    Today I finally was able to speak to my friend, who is having a very rough time of it. It's a huge load off my mind to hear from her that she's doing quite well. I am still worried about her, and have been for some time; but it was nice knowing that she's alive and well, and that the prospects for her future are indeed bright.
     
    Tomorrow I'm going to New Hope and it promises to be an excellent day!! I'm going to get some Dragon's Blood oil (real thing, and scented. Not the fake stuff I have now, or alternately the stuff that has no scent) and a set of Rune stones. I have been looking for the Runes but haven't found them yet, I know where I will probably get them. They're calling me, I think I'm ready for them now.
  24. Lost_Warrior

    Going Home

    By Lost_Warrior,

    I'm going back to PA tonight at 3 25 AM (yay?). I'm exhausted and so NOT looking forward to the trip. I am really going to miss being out here in MN and working with Al. I've learned so much, I can't wait to get my own shop set up and see what I can do!
     
    The birdbath stand that was such a pain in the ass got taken out by some wind, it's a real shame after all I went through with it. It was a good project though, I learned a lot. We went to Raven Works Forge and I got to meet Joel and Sue; they're really cool, and I had a great time talking to them. I learned so much just from seeing things from a different perspective. It was so inspiring.
     
    Yesterday and today I worked on a "letter opener" that turned into a mini replica of an Amazon war spear with a Norse Rune engraved handle (Uruz, if you must know. I'm thinking of getting it tattooed on me somewhere. My ankle maybe?) It was a lot of work but I'm finally happy with the result. Wish it was a little sharper. I also made an armband that kind of matches my tattoo. I'm totally psyched about it and can't wait to wear it everywhere and show it off! Fire is such a fun addiction....
     
    I got some bad news this morning, apparently the place I had a job lined up for is not hiring a full time blacksmith (of course, this came from the boss' wife, not himself. I just asked her to take a message for me that I'd be home in two weeks). I was a little taken aback by it but I'm not that upset. While I don't feel completely ready to set up my own shop yet (I'm not talking about hanging a sign and being an official business...just having a place to work on my own stuff) it looks like I'm going to have to and to be honest, I'm quite excited about it! I just wish I had more money to start out with. I don't want to have to get a loan...I've got my mom on it; if anyone can ferret out an opportunity, she can!
     
    Of course this means that my NEPA newsletter might not be able to be in print like I wanted; at least not unless advertising can cover the costs. That's OK with me, although of course it's a disappointment. I can always do it the free online way!
     
    I've been busy, and I didn't get to read all the books I had planned to or all the writing done either...I guess I'm just not the bookworm I used to be. I would say I'll get alot of it done on the train but I know I won't. I'm hoping to sleep as much as I possibly can.
     
    I am really not looking forward to the train ride over two days. It's only two layovers and shouldn't be as harrowing as the ride out here but at the same time I'm nervous about it. I don't like giving up control. Next time I come out here I'm definitely going to drive...driving is fun, and I really enjoy long trips in the car. On the train, not so much.
     
    See you Sunday night! (or Monday morning).
  25. Lost_Warrior
    On Saturday I didn't get to go to the horse show, so I went to the Farmer's Market with Kathy. I am sure glad I did (I'm not disappointed at all about missing the horse show anymore. I was there for a little bit.) I met three people who I could talk about paganism with. The first was the salesgirl at a clothing store; she approached me and asked about my jewlery. It turns out she's Wiccan and we talked for about fifteen minutes on the subject of religion. The second was Robin who works at Brigid's House (a pagan store). We talked for at least an hour and a half about all sorts of things, and then I found out that someone we know is also pagan. More "wanna-be" than anything else but it was still cool talking to her.
     
    Such a warm and open pagan community here leaves me longing for such contact when I return home. There are many pagans where my dad lives, but when I still lived there I was not able to appreciate it. On Sunday I was parusing around Witchvox and I ran into the NEPA pagan group. I quickly joined, and I'm hoping that through the NEPA group I will make lots of real life pagan friends in my area. I've actually considered writing pagan essays for the local newspaper and seeing if they'll print them. It's probably not a good idea to do that (I live in a very conservative area) but I feel it's really a step in the right direction towards tolerance and acceptance. I'll have to think about it for a while (am I prepared for all the hate mail? Or I could always write under a pen name.)
     
    One person came back to a pagan forum that I'm a part of, and already is trying to bait me into something. I'm flat out not taking the bait. If she wants to play that game, she can play it in private. I will not be baited into a public argument if that's what she wants. I'm hoping it just blows over but I think she'll cause more trouble if someone else takes her bait.
     
    I finally finished the bird bath stand for Kathy. Boy was it ever a pain in the ass! The leaves I forged kept breaking off...I overworked the poor things...and they had to be MIG welded back on too many times to count. I had difficulties with everything...and was really starting to feel like I couldn't do it, but with a lot of help from Al, I did. And it's done!!! I also made my first horse shoe the other day; I gotta say, really not bad for a first try. Of course I wouldn't put it on a horse but still...and the thing I like most about it is the holes, because I never was able to punch holes before.
     
    I just have to remember how far I've come, when I start to feel bad about what I can't do. When I got here, I couldn't even light a fire; now I'm doing things I couldn't even dream of doing before. I really do think that I have the knowledge (experience only comes with...well...experience!) to do what I need to do when I get back home. And I am truly enjoying it!
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