Belated Crown report

Hmm, I think a narrative would be boring. Here's my good, bad, and mixed highlights from Crown:

The Good:

-- I talked to acanthusleaf about getting a coronet. This discussion started awkwardly, because I had no idea what I wanted. I went into the discussion with only one notion, namely, that it say "viscountess" to people in other kingdoms so that when I get to Estrella I optimize my chances of being treated well. Yes, I admit this is very shallow and self-serving of me, I should be a better person, but there you are. Poor acanthusleaf, this criteria was of no help.
Eventually, I brought over Marguerite because I knew she could rein in my indecisiveness and herd me towards a design (how's that for a metaphor? ;-) ). Then Marguerite played the "this or that" game, just like at an eye exam.

By the end we did not have a design, but we did have a good direction. this coronet will be based on some sort of pierced-work design with red and blue stones with small center pearls for accent. My Cross of Toulous will probably be there, perhaps at the four cardinal points. Acanthusleaf has the action item to sketch up some design possiblities, and then I will have the action to start sending her money. ;-)

-- Getting to see the lovely g0atface be happy with Cathyn. My apprentices deserve to be happy, damn it! Welcome Cathyn!

-- Getting to show Ysuelt of Summerhall my pavillion. She was instumental in my paint design, and I wanted to show her how it turned out and to thank her.
:-)

-- Her Majesty Ginevera's Sunday Performances. I haven't had such an enjoyable Sunday at an event since forever. Sitting in the shade and being entertained can not be beat. It's nice to see the effort to Take Back Sundays, begun in earnest by Eliska when she was Queen, is continuing. And I confess that it warms the cockles of my little Laurel heart to see the Crown devote a huge chunk of time to something other than fighting. :-)

-- Dinner with the Company of St. Teresa. I thought it was a particuarly good spread, and we had a good group of folks come by and get fed our ubiquitous leftovers. :-)

-- Her Royal Highness Mari asked me to do something really cool (IMHO, anyway). I've told many of you about this already, but gut feel tells me not to post it in such a public forum until I hear from her again. I am truely honored (she doesn't know me, really, and I am a bit shocked that she thought of me at all) and I hope to do a good job for her. :-)

The Mixed:

-- The Salon. On the plus side, it happened. Anna Serra, Veronica, Ellen and I played 2 games of The Royal Game of Goose (I won both times! And it wasn't because they were my dice ;-) ). Isabella, the dance instructor from Crosston, joined us and we managed to discuss religion (in period and in the SCA) and some other appropriate topics.
I knew going in that the Salon would probably just Veronica and Anna Serra and I because A) When the Salon was brought up on the Courtier School list there was virtually no response, and B) There was so much else going on, especially the Bardic Pro Am competition.
Add to that confusion as to where the Salon was. The location had been publized as being at Anna Serra's household sunshade, and not my pavillion. But I was told by a few people that they came looking for it at my place and no one was there. I did not help that Anna Serra and Veronica had to set up thier encampment so far off the list field. But, truely, I don't think that was the main problem. The main problem was that there was too much competition.
In addition -- and this is something part of me is feeling guilty about -- there was a lack of publicity. The Salon was not pushed like the Beltane ones have been. I confess that I had not pushed it because I had not gotten much of a response from the list (indicating a lack of interest). Teresa's death did not help this my lack on enthusiasm.

-- My food spread memorial for Teresa. Again, I copt to the problem being mostly my fault. I was so focused on getting my coronet going with acanthusleaf that I did not stick around to host once I had set things out. I had several people tell me later that they came by but did not partake because no one was there and to eat, therefore, seemed impolite. I don't think this was a complete failure, however. I did get to serve misagillian and I brought some food over to acanthusleaf, and I managed to serve friends 2 bottles of champagne. Oh, and I got the memorial armbands done, which was something.

-- The Chocolate Duchess Drink. Drank a full glass. Rather different form of tipsy for me. My brain was I Must Keep It Together. My body, however, was not in my full control. Walking and staying upright was something of a challange. Eventually Narah saw me safely back to my Pavillion from the bathroom and my evening ablutions.

The Bad:

-- Friday was really stressful. It took me well over 3 hours to pack Horace the Minivan because I'd never done it before. Got exhausted, had to eat and take a break, then got to Trader Joes and Safeway, and so didn't leave my house until 3:30. By that time it was *pouring* rain, and the first hour driving was super stressfull (unfamiliar and packed vehicle combined with not being able to see the road for the water). Then I hit Bad Traffic (TM). The drive, which in no traffic takes about 1hr 15 min. took 3. Arrived in not the best headspace. Many thanks to Juana and Ivar for stuffing me full of morrocan lamb stew and helping me set up.

-- Coming home and getting sick. Again. Me and my stupid throat and sinuses. Started to get a sore throat Monday night and woke up at 4 AM this morning with the most painful sore throat I've had in a long time. Now I have a full blown can't breath cold. :-( . I know I'm prone to this sort of thing, but this entire year, beginning with 12th Night, has been super bad. What am I doing wrong? I drink plenty of water, I exercise (Brandee!) and I don't eat a lot of junk food. I take multivitamins. I need to find a solution because I've just lost too many days to illness and this can not continue. (The whole appendicitis episode does not count.)

Now it's time to focus on Investiture. I spent most of yesterday on email with feast reservations and final "are we ready"-sort of stuff.