Glory Stories

I missed Pennsic this year because of the schedules of my internships. Because of that, I missed seeing many of my friends who are like family.

So I am going to take a walk down memory lane and recap my own "glory story" from the fighting last year, Pennsic XL, last year's event, the first time I fought heavy list alongside my brothers-in-arms.

It was the woods battle. Unlike woods battles at smaller events, this was my favorite fight of the war. The bridge battles were fun as well, and I realized for sure that I do not like field battles.

Anyways, back to the woods.

It was midway through the battle. The Eastern Army (made up in part by the unit I was fighting with, the Militia), had stalled the Midrealm. I was on spear, a few lines back, ready to fall in when needed.

I made my way to the 2nd line, when Sir Gareth, a knight in our household, saw me and nodded for me to fill in a spot on the front line.

At this very moment, the Midrealm Army decided to charge. I was in the front line, holding off the Midrealm. I was killed, but we held off their charge, and the Eastern Army won the battle.

Another not-so-glorious story of last year was the squeaky golf cart. I had signed up to do a watch shift with one of my friends, and whenever we hit the accelerator on the golf cart, a sound like a dying squirrel was emitted and it took a good 3 seconds for the cart to start moving.

Basically this is a reminiscing post, and a hope that I will be back to Pennsic sooner rather than later.

<3

NY Week 9 & 10

The last two weeks in NY were hectic, but in the best possible way. I am home now, and so here is the recap of my final two weeks (for now) in NYC.

Week 9: I got sick this week. It wasn't fun. I actually had to miss a day of work (though not rehearsal).

But on the weekend I went and saw a play that one of the Theater Mitu company members was acting in - an adaptation on the '60's movie Persona. The acting was really strong, and the storyline/script had a lot of intriguing points regarding masks, art, and identity.

Week 10: There was a wrap-up meeting where people shared moments of their summer. I was reminded once again what an amazing community I am a part of.

Went to a workshop on the play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo with the author, Rajiv Joseph. It was interesting to see how the play sounded while being read by an ensemble cast with a mix of accents and genders. This workshop and the prep of reading the play was the first introduction I had to this author, and I like his style.

I got more comfy pants. They are wonderful. And the guy at the market remembered me, so I got a discount without having to barter.

My breakfasts all week were Jamba Juice - they had a 'Happy Hour' every morning.

We also presented the RealAD show to the admin, and to the NY Reality Show cast (who I love). I am so proud of the work we did this summer. We came together as a cast, and I think we have a show which will make an impact and help the freshman out, which is the whole point.

Goodbyes were hard, but they were also more like 'See-you-laters'.

I am happy to be home now, and seeing friends, but I am also getting excited to go back to Abu Dhabi.

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My Room is an Anechoic Chamber

I forgot how loud the silence is here.

All my ears pick up are my heartbeat, and my breaths.

The silence is so strong it is like a singing bowl is being played.

I cannot see my hand in front of my face.

My senses are so used to the lights and sounds of the city that their adjustment is slow.

But once I fall asleep, my sleep is that of a traveler returning to the warm embrace of home.

<3

NY Week 7

This week was definitely an adventure.

One of my friends from high school drove into the city to visit, but due to the traffic and weather, I ended up directing her to the dorm at 2AM. We then went out and got gummy bears, almost pulled an all-nighter, and then decided that would be a bad idea. Bed at 5, up at 9.

I also bought groceries this week! Switched from my meal plan to a stipend, and so felt like an adult as I got my food for a week. Peanut butter and jelly is oddly comforting in the city.

The feelings of adult-ness carried over as I saw my face in a mirror. You know how you look in the mirror and see who you've been, who you always see? Well I saw me, but a me that is growing up, moving towards becoming an adult.

S'mac's birthday was this week. Which meant amazing $1 mac n' cheese. Enough said.

I discovered this game server called Steam. My friend had Binding of Isaac on his computer, and the day I happened to look on the website it was on sale for less than $2. I have played this game way too much.

Saw Newsies. It was fun, but still Broadway. I have become disillusioned and cynical - as soon as the first set piece moved, before the first song, I was reminded that this is a spectacle. A fun spectacle, but a spectacle nonetheless.

Contrasted with the powerful work that Theater Mitu is embarking on right now, it is hard to see Broadway as anything other than pure entertainment, with no weight or impact behind it.

And then to end the week, my mom came down to the city to visit. I took her out to dinner, and she got to meet some of my friends, and one of my professors. Some people wouldn't be excited about this, but my mom sees so little of my day to day life I was excited for her to meet the people I spend my time with.

Week 8 is technically not in NY - it is in NJ, and VT. There probably won't be a formal post about those travels, but more sporadic ideas.

Here for a bit, then back to NYC.

<3

Who Needs a Neti Pot When You Have the Ocean?

Also, who needs fancy exfoliating scrubs when you have the beach?

There was rain as well. But not normal rain, where there is a cloud overhead, a simple case of cause-and-effect. Instead, this rain just happened.

A gull was trying to fly forward but couldn't because the wind was keeping him immobile in flight. Philosophical thoughts might emerge from this. But I am on vacation.

I think I fell asleep at one point in my beach chair.

<3

Reverse Culture Shock in NJ

I have always had a perspective on suburbs - I don't understand them. Driving down a street, seeing identical houses lined up always reminds me of A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle:


"Below them the town was laid out in harsh angular patterns. The houses in the outskirts were all exactly alike, small square boxes painted gray. Each had a small, rectangular plot of lawn in front, with a straight line of dull-looking flowers edging the path to the door. Meg had a feeling that if she could count the flowers there would be exactly the same number for each house. In front of all the houses children were playing. Some were skipping rope, some were bounding balls. Meg felt vaguely that something was wrong with their play... As the skipping rope hit the pavement, so did the ball. As the rope curved over the head of the jumping child, the child with the ball caught the ball. Down came the ropes. Down came the balls. Over and over again. Up. Down. All in rhythm. All identical. Like the houses. Like the paths. Like the flowers." (pg. 98-99)


Fun fact: A Wrinkle in Time was first published in 1962. 


This passage has stuck with me through the years.


It speaks to some of the fears I have, the same that stir when I see an office filled with cubicles. 


Suburbs have always been unsettling to me, (I don't know exactly why, it has something to do with the passage above, and the fact that I am a country girl). That unease/confusion is stronger now.


I see the huge houses and wonder how one family can fill them.


I go to the grocery store and am overwhelmed by the choices and the lights. 


I see family for the first time, and am beginning to see some of the ways I have changed through their eyes. 


I think this is what they call reverse culture shock. 


<3

Coming Home

I am not a fan of all of his writing, but in this paragraph, Mark Manson speaks the truth on traveling and coming home. 

"Which I guess is what the paradox resolves into: a devaluing of superficial pleasures and a greater appreciation for simple, authentic ones. I don’t really enjoy the presents at Christmas anymore, the fireworks at fourth of July, or even the parties on New Year’s Eve. I’ve seen bigger parties, been to more beautiful places, and already own everything I’ll ever want in this life. But unlike before, I appreciate every day spent with those who mean a lot to me. A quiet [soda] on a patio. Watching a basketball game together. Going to a birthday party or a barbecue. These are the events I look forward to now and get excited about, days and weeks ahead of time… And that’s probably the way it should be." http://postmasculine.com/international-lifestyle

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