tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26788934610508594382024-02-07T11:50:14.136-08:00The Dining Room WallPandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404296349820415069noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678893461050859438.post-35238704842657141832011-09-09T09:39:00.000-07:002011-09-09T09:39:18.613-07:00Soggy UpdatesSince the rain has closed HACC for the third day in a row I finally have some time to update my blog. The ONLY good thing to come out of the flooding (I'm currently drying out about 40 books that got saturated when our basement flooded but at least it wasn't as bad as some people have).<br />
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I have been busy, busy with the start of school. I'm taking five classes this semester and I'm in various stages of three different research projects (why did I think this was a good idea?). Truly though, I'm enjoying all of my classes and learning a lot.<br />
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The other big thing that has been eatting all of my time is Faire. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I have had the joy of exploring a new character this year- Barbara (Babs) Norris the Fishmonger. As I suspected, she is a little crazy. She likes to say she can catch anything- including husbands (why stop at fish?). Currently she is under the employ of no fewer than 10 people, all looking for husbands, including the greatly feared Duchess of Sussex (who has had seven husbands already). She is also trying to catch a giant squid which she intends to turn into a scarf and deeply believes that this will be the latest fashion craze. Like I said, she's a little nuts :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yRMtVF_5HcVUwiwxeUFgp7pwJs22nwM6Numu28j0DRGzvWYqSaOc-9MVCa3kFzdLa9UrSwG14ieRg7inR4E8EJU4IFAQGQzMCxvdBEbx_X51CCEo4meXoH3ssMvuNGhOJtEG8-tIPQWv/s1600/Fishmonger+Babs+Norris.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yRMtVF_5HcVUwiwxeUFgp7pwJs22nwM6Numu28j0DRGzvWYqSaOc-9MVCa3kFzdLa9UrSwG14ieRg7inR4E8EJU4IFAQGQzMCxvdBEbx_X51CCEo4meXoH3ssMvuNGhOJtEG8-tIPQWv/s320/Fishmonger+Babs+Norris.bmp" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My alter-ego, Babs Norris.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Despite being busy I'm having a wonderful time. I'm even looking forward to join my writing friends in just a month and half for NaNoWriMo. Though how I will fit that in I have no idea!<br />
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With greetings from Mount Hope England,<br />
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Pandora aka BabsPandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404296349820415069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678893461050859438.post-68636813212670445142011-05-24T20:26:00.000-07:002011-05-24T20:26:34.247-07:00Educational Adventures<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Earlier this year I decided I was finally going to go to college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My higher education was put off years ago by my continued ill health and it wasn’t until recently that I felt I could finally handle continuing my schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus began my search for a major that would work best for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been an interesting adventure.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have always had a number of interests, all of them on opposite ends of the spectrum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally, when I sat down to compile a list of possibilities for college, I was greeted with a group of utterly unrelated majors and a minor headache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does one decide which interest to pursue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you pick the one that is most practical?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or do you choose the one that excites you most?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there a middle ground?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you write them all on slips of paper, throw them in a hat and choose at random?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I leave the decision up to my dog Jasper?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there even a right answer when it comes to making up your mind what subject you would like to spend thousands of dollars to learn?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Despite my initial lack of ability to choose a major, I am excited (and if I’m being honest a little scared- its been six years since I was in a class room).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking over my list of possible electives makes me want to jump around like a little kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean I can take a Yoga class for my physical education credit (certainly beats running laps and playing dodge ball!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could also learn Arabic (to ease my someday travels to Egypt), diagnose my entire family after taking an abnormal psychology class, or introduce myself to planetary astrology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Beam me up Scotty!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(sorry, couldn’t help myself)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With all these ideas spinning around in my head you will be happy to know that I did finally make a decision- I think (and no, my dog didn't help).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like I will be majoring in Social Science Education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love history and if I procure my masters I can work in a museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the practical side I can teach (do not fear, your children are safe in my hands- I can’t possibly mess them up teaching them history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not like I could if I was teaching them chemistry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should never be allowed a job where playing with combustible chemicals is required!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I'm rambling…)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will be starting at HACC, Lebanon Campus in the fall (provided all my financial aid comes through) and I will be sure to post all of my adventures here, despite what will no doubt be a crippling amount of homework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure I will have some great stories!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> W</span>ish me luck (I'll need it)!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hoping this wasn’t a stupid idea,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Pandora</div>Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404296349820415069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678893461050859438.post-62897814078011567892011-05-06T08:20:00.000-07:002011-05-06T08:20:03.214-07:00Goodbye Gypsy, Hello FishmongerSo this year my time spent at the Ren Faire will be a little different. For six summers now I have worked seasonal staff on the swing shift. My days have been spent running around, helping everyone out as the slightly crazy, half English Gypsy Pandora. For my seventh season I decided it was time for something a little different. That’s how I wound up auditioning for the volunteer cast back in February. And after nearly having a heart attack during the actual audition (the Gods only know why) I officially made cast (duh, it’s not like I’ve been doing this for six years or anything).<br />
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Now after many long years I must set aside the gypsy to become someone new. Just last week I found out who my new alter ego will be. I'm thrilled. If I have to say goodbye to the gypsy (who is, by the way, in Europe trying to take over Romania) I can think of no better person to move on to.<br />
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Thus do I introduce Barbara Norris, Fishmonger. Don't know much about her yet. She was born just outside of Billingsgate Market in London in 1540. She's very good at catching things (fish and otherwise). Beyond that she is a mystery to me. I think she's a sweet heart but I suspect that you should keep your eyes on her- she might do something a little crazy at the drop of a hat. I suppose we will have to wait and see. <br />
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Just be sure to stop by the Faire in August and say hello. She'll be the one running around with the fish.<br />
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Suspecting there is still a little bit of mischievous gypsy in there,<br />
<br />
PandoraPandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404296349820415069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678893461050859438.post-58835356603274047402011-03-21T13:58:00.001-07:002011-03-21T13:58:25.259-07:00An Odd Welcome to Spring<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It’s amazing how fast time goes by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a fare while since I’ve found a moment to post anything here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But today, at last, I have a moment to breath and think things over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last twelve months have not been the easiest for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A year ago today my father passed away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that moment the world flipped on its head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since then, it has felt as if I were racing to put things right again, praying desperately that the world would make sense again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking back over the last year I think the world has finally righted itself again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is a different world then the one I remember and oddly I find myself all right with that.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">This past year has taught me that life is all about changing and growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about learning when to hold on for dear life and when to let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about finding happiness in the stupid little things that come along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about learning that things will happen in their time and that the universe can’t be rushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And its about remembering that a single decision, going left instead of right, those tiny events lead us to where we are now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">A year after the world flipped on its head I can finally say that I understand how I found myself here and that I have no regrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been tears and pain, no doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love a few more minutes with those who have passed on to other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for the first time in a long while I find myself beginning to grow comfortable with where I am and who I am becoming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is a gift.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Spring has finally arrived and the world is waking up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it feels like I am waking up too, from a long hibernation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So allow me to shout out my welcome to this new world that I find before me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to getting to know it better and starting my next great adventure.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Welcome back spring, with all your possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good to see you again.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Pandora</div>Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404296349820415069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678893461050859438.post-48450649102622779152011-01-16T06:23:00.000-08:002011-01-16T06:23:29.326-08:00Mush, Blank Rooms and Death by Sheep<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">So why is it that when you are trying to write something totally brilliant your brain churns out nothing but mush?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All your ideas are horrible, your plot lines have gapping holes and at the end of the day all you have to show for your troubles is a pile of crumpled and partially singed paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when you’re trying to get to sleep because you’ve just gotten home from your grueling job and you haven’t slept well in a week, your brain suddenly goes into overdrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of catching up on your zzzz’s you’re vaulting from bed every ten seconds to write something down because you know if you wait, by morning all you’ll have left is a pile of mush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the Muses just have a very sick sense of humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re all, sure you can write brilliantly but you won’t get any sleep so in a year’s time you’ll be a raving lunatic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Provided, of course, that you aren’t all ready crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that’s what happened to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm, something to think on I guess.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Now here is something else that bothers me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I can’t sleep because my mind won’t shut up, I try to calm my thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually start with an empty, blank room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very calming and soothing right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would think so, but oh no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me, I’m suddenly annoyed that the room is blank so I have to start decorating it or blowing it up or something and my mind is off again, a billion miles a minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So then I try to count sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very traditional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I don’t know about you, but my sheep are always jumping over a fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One sheep over, two sheep over, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now I’m wondering, why the hell are they jumping fences?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean have you ever seen a sheep jump a fence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, neither have I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve ridden a sheep once when I was like five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was some ridiculous rodeo my parents entered me in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thought it would be loads of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha ha ha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks a lot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hung on by clinging to the side of the sheep and the only thing that kept me from falling off was the overwhelming fear that I would fall and be trampled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then my death certificate would read: Killed by sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A rather pathetic end really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway that’s my random rant for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m done now.</div>Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404296349820415069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678893461050859438.post-64687029127924343252010-12-23T18:38:00.000-08:002010-12-23T18:38:33.871-08:00A New Venture<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">After much encouragement from my writing friends I have finally started this blogging thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s probably something I should have done a while back but better late then never.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus is the Dinning Room Wall born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One part diary, one part place to get my work out there and one part my brain exploding all over a word document.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I apologize in advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will probably be a lot of brain exploding.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">This past year has been a particularly trying one and I would be a fool if I didn’t admit that the words saved me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also in the words that I’m rediscovering what makes me tick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I beg you to bear with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be a lot on here that is experimentation, a lot that I’ve never attempted before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of it will no doubt be brilliant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest will be used to line local litter boxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is the beauty of writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s allowed to be brilliant and horrid all at the same time.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So to everyone out there, I thank you in advance for reading and in case we don’t chat again before the holiday, I wish you all the best and the making of some fabulous new memories.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">With hopes for a great New Year and a large glass of Eggnog,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Pandora</span>Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404296349820415069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678893461050859438.post-36769360672703386712010-12-23T18:21:00.000-08:002010-12-23T18:21:34.192-08:00An Ode to You<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Another year has almost come and gone</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The hardest one yet</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I couldn’t watch you fade away</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And now it still seems unreal</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Shattered dreams and shattered plans</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A strange new world, without you in it</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Somehow I’m still breathing</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Still searching for something I can’t name</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Now it’s your voice in my head</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">That tells me to keep going</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The old is wiped away</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The new path sits unclear</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I watch the sun come up and wonder</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">What comes next</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Do I stay</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Do I stand and walk away</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Can I find the strength to leave behind</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The dreams we used to have</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">New fears, new hopes</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Bred of death</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And the life that followed</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Clearer eyes and truths finally faced</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Learning to remember</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While finding the will to let go</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I say goodbye, take a step forward</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Heart in my throat, tears in my eyes</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Farewell, you were loved</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">But it wasn’t a waste</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Life or death</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For you carry on in me</div>Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404296349820415069noreply@blogger.com1