Sabre's Squirrel

Though it's unintentional. I've just gotten busy working on stuff for A-Kon, belly dancing, doing web work, designing jewelry and costumes and well...the list just seems to go on. I know I should write more often but the knowledge that few read my blog makes it hard to get motivated to write, especially when there seems to be so many other things that need my attention. I'll try to be good and check in weekly but unless a lot of things change, I probably won't return to a daily blogging schedule.

but I am here. Belly dance classes are progressing nicely and I think I am getting better still though I can still use all the practice I can get. Graduation is at the end of June and my big goal between now and then is that I polish what I have been learning.

We're gearing up for A-Kon again. This means I'm about to set up a new website for A-Kon TV (where I am a volunteer staff member) and start editing the stuff I plan to show. I haven't decided if I want to devote my weeknights to editing or just my Saturdays or whatever but I'll need to get things figured out within the next week or so.

I got my supply order in and plan to start work on some new designs when I'm not writing for my sites or editing video, practicing belly dance or attending park. If there is ever a time I felt like I needed staff writers for my sites and a personal assistant, it's now. *sigh*

I'm less than thrilled about the time change this weekend (not that it's a surprise) and I really wish we (as a country) would do away with daylight savings time. I know that once upon a time when more of the country was farm that it was important to make use of daylight savings time but we are now mainly an urban/suburban populace that's on a 24 hour schedule and lights are pretty much always on in office buildings and the like even when no one is there. It's just such an impractical way to continue to do things and there is no real reason to continue ("we've always done it" is a poor reason for continuing to do so) and I'd love to know who to write to in order to initiate change. I guess for now, it goes on the 'to do' list.

Belly dance class was fun as usual and afterwards Seth and I had a few hours out in the world. We perused the mall and saw Epic Movie and had lunch out. I got a bit farther on the tea boxes (I'm working on two of them at the moment) - one of them is completely sanded and free of paint and the other is half way done - so I purchased a woodburning set to work on them. I still need to pick out a motif to use and transfer it to the boxes so I can burn it then I think I'll use a light stain and seal it and I want to try to line the inside with felt or leather.

After my busy day yesterday, I was sick last night and we are guessing lunch out to be the culprit. Since I'm recovering, I've tried to keep today easy and so I've done a little hand sewing (patching seams) on a medieval dress that I'm in the process of making into a choli-esque half shirt and dance skirt. A little work will be needed to get it to look the way I want it to but I am confident I can make it happen. I plan to work on articles this week (and do my two nights of practice) and see what I can get done in time for the end of February update.

And again I could do with a longer weekend. *sigh* I got the DIY coin hair stick tutorial posted to both sites, am still working on additional articles to post, checking with people about writing articles for my sites, looking for cat girls for my A-Kon TV project and about to start updating the Balthazar's Keep site. I still need to grocery shop, make new jewelry, take jewelry pics and work on converting the wooden tea box (and take pictures as I go so I have it for the tutorial I am writing) but it doesn't look like I'm going to make it.

We started dancing with veils in class yesterday. Very fun experience. I think I'm getting better with my dancing as a whole and it is possibly because I did a video one night last week. This week, I hope to be able to do two nights of practicing with a video. I'm hoping that if I can work on improving the basic steps with video during the week I can devote more attention to getting the choreo down in class.

I'm skipping on running a Valentine's Day sale (those haven't exactly been stellar in the past) but I think I'll run a Spring Equinox sale in March (hey, why conform?)

Even though I got a lot done, there was more I wanted to do.

We called park due to cold and rain and wanting to keep people healthy (not that there is much of a populace at the moment but warmer weather should start helping with that soon).

I started work on the tutorial I am writing for converting a wooden tea box from the 99 Cents Only store into a cool LARP accessory. I grabbed the empty tea box, photographed it and then began the process of removing the paint. I managed to get 5 of the 6 sides done and will be taking a few more pictures soon. I should probably start writing the intro for the tutorial and maybe the first steps. I probably won't do it tonight but I can do it tomorrow on the train or at lunch.

I organized my bedroom a bit this weekend. I still need a few more shelves (though these will go in my closet) but my room looks a lot better because of the attention I was able to give it this weekend.

Belly dance class is progressing nicely. I think I have improved my dancing in just the three sessions I have had. I have done a little practicing at home but I need to do one of my videos at least two nights this week and see if I can't make even more progress. If I'm going to wear the clothes, I should have some skill to back it up, right?

Still working on articles and new designs but I have no definite deadline for my work.