Why does this description sound familiar?

“They are characterized by hierarchial command structures, initiation rites, and socialization processes, oaths of loyalty, codes of silence, a uniform mode of dress, and outwardly symbolic accoutrements of rank and achievement.” That’s a quote from a dissertation by Mitch Libbert, Bridgewater State ( Read more... )

Thanks to everyone who posted replies! I am touched and appreciative. Rassy has been with me so long its like losing an arm or leg ( Read more... )

       All beginnings inevitably have endings as well. Sometimes they inspire smiles and sometimes not, though a truly uncomfortable number of times they inspire a mixed bag of both. This is one of those latter moments.

In the case at hand, I offer the pre-eulogy for a dog, a collie actually, named Rasputin. This coming Saturday morning he ( Read more... )

There are times, especially when my Lady laughs and looks oh so adorable, that I am reminded why she is my Everything and Only. Not to get mushy, but een though I get frustrated at the situation or the kids or the looooooong commute everyday, I still see a future togethor with no expiration in sight. Maybe I'm situationally blind, but for all my ( Read more... )

Things going well ( Read more... )

OK. I love anything east of Germany and and west of China, and since my true first love has always been costuming, I’m an Eastern Fop…No, seriously. My court caftans have just over 15,000 freshwater pearls sewn on them with room for 30-40,000 more without looking tacky….just overly opulent!

Lately, I’ve been working on an 8th century  Khazarian ( Read more... )

Damn, I hate missing Pennsic! And this is the second year in a row! I’d hate missing GW even more but that’s neither here nor there. If a deal I’m working on right now gets up and running, I’ll be flush enough to do that again, towing my new mini-me vardo behind  but traveling light so I can pack it with 20-30 cases of Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale I’ll ( Read more... )

 
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…are sometimes also stupid humbling tricks, but only when you realize that your own impetuosity probably screwed the goat on a subject line that had potential for good and needed changes. For me, they are one in the same this morning. Let me explain.

In the early dayz of my teenager journey, I discovered  that if I thought about a problem just as ( Read more... )

 Jeez, if I ever utter any intentions of missing Pennsic again in favor of a staycation with a house full of teenagers, you all have my explicit permission to duct tape me soundly, throw my gear on top of my hogtied frame for the duration of the ride to Pennsic and pour liberal amounts of alcohol down my throat untill sanity returns. I wish my ( Read more... )