6:45 pm - Tuesday 3rd April 2001

It's all about the PR…

Up at 6 am. Into work at 7 am. Home at 6 pm. Ick.
Things were actually going ok, and I'd been fairly productive. Then I was chatting to a dear friend late in the afternoon on ICQ and my mood went from tired but ambivalent to tired and annoyed in about 60 seconds. It certainly wasn't anything to do with her, I love her dearly, but I had sent her a birthday present which I had put a lot of work into. I usually don't do presents or packages because the effort involved to make it (IMHO) worthwhile takes a lot out of me. Basically it disappeared. Three weeks and nothing, where it should have taken one week to get there. When Steph reaches the end of her tether, two things happen. First she gets cynical, and secondly she gets verbally very sarcastic.

"Question : Is Steph currently sarcastic and cynical? If yes to both, she is probably pissed off."

She didn't deserve it, she has been quite wonderful to me, but my chance to show her I cared had been ruined by an inept postal service, I seriously doubt either of us will see that parcel ever again. To compound things, on Monday night I missed a phone call from her because I had to rush to get a lift down to yet another SCA workshop to make padded armor vests. At the moment it looks unlikely I will be authorized to fight in the less than two weeks before festival. This is regrettable, but that's the way the cookie crumbles… I'm still going because I've already shelled out $60 for the food fund.

On Sunday, I had archery practice, where I got a new string but have to wait for an arrow rest and nocking point. After that down to Lyons to trace out shields, cut rattan bamboo for sword lengths and trace out breast and back plates and neck protection. Everything is coming along nicely except for the helmets which you cannot fight without. I bought elbow and knee pads on Saturday.
I bussed down to Woden (Saturday) to get the pads, and then dropped over to see S&J who live nearby. We chatted away and then Susan decided she didn't wish to study anymore so we all went for ice-cream, and then she drove us back into Civic (me and Jules) to the Katmandu sale. At the Katmandu sale (hiking clothes and camping gear, way too expensive for me) we bumped into Heather, so we all did coffee and then after that we went around to Burt St to see Bridget. After that Susan dropped me home and I spent the Saturday night quietly at home.
On Monday Red called because I hadn't been able to get to her birthday brunch on Sunday. We went into town and had coffee at Essen before going for our usual walk and chat. It was really nice to see her again, and she should be back in a few weeks for graduation. I cycled back to Uni after we parted ways and chatted to Anthony and Nick who I saw in Union Court. After that at 4 pm was the SCA workshop where I started to learn the basics of using a sewing machine. I did get bitten on the finger by the needle, but it was a nice evening hanging out with the other SCA members and feeling productive for once.

7:35 pm - I tried to ring her to apologize, but she was busy. Oh god I'm so exhausted and I've got a full day of laser samples to run tomorrow…

7:45 am - Wednesday

I don't want to hurt people I care for. This is at odds with the concept of being open and honest in a diary since they may possibly read it...
I'm a scientist, I never say "certain", I say "tested beyond reasonable doubt". Some things are merely air until they are tested, regardless of how soild they may appear on the surface...
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