The Con

Yesterday was a very, very full day.

We left the house around eight-thirty and took Elizabeth to Oma's for the day. Then we headed for Toronto. Piet got me into the Con by going to the PR room and running into thebitterguy, who confirmed for the staff member there that he had access to an extra guest pass for me. I got to be a booth babe!

So we got to bypass the huge lineup to register and another lineup to get up the escalator, and went straight to our little corner of a table. On our left was brand_of_amber, who was fun to talk to since he understood and could add to most of my teaching stories. On the right was Steve, whose last name I don't know, also selling lotsa roleplaying games. Piet and I were selling three books: a D&D supplement about fantastic weapons, of which we sold two or three copies; Albedo roleplaying game, based on the comic by the same name, of which we sold one; and Usagi Yogimbo roleplaying game, of which we sold six. With the money I spent and the cost of food and parking, we came out a hundred bucks ahead of our float, but we'll still have to unload the D&D supplements at least at cost in order to claim that as actual profit. Piet's going back today, and there will be sales, especially in the last two hours of the con when people realize they have money they haven't spent yet.

Not far from us was a stall of goth-type clothes. There were some corsets, some long, flowy velvet dresses with lacy sleeves, some tops that looked very similar to the dresses but only for the waist up, and some capes that I simply loved. A lot of it was in black, not my best colour, but the nap of the velvet made up for that. I quickly figured out that none of it would fit me, and realized that buying a commission might not be a good idea.

I thought about it, and mused, and pictured those tops in different colours all day, and figured out that by adding a deep baby-doll tuck in the front and making it of slate blue instead of black, I could have a top made that would make the transition to maternity wear very easily, and be work-appropriate. Long story short, I talked myself into it. The lady is going to make it up for me in slate blue, with a darker blue inset and trim, longer than the styles they had (hip-length) with the tuck. It was fairly expensive as such tops go, but since it's destined to be a staple piece in my wardrobe through an upcoming pregnancy and beyond, I figured it was worth it.

She wore blue velvet. . . :)

I took a break in the afternoon and walked down to St. Lawrence Market. It's been many years since I strolled along Front St., and I chose a good day for it. There was a busker festival on, which I didn't stop for, but it was fun to listen to as I passed. The Anime cosplayers made for even more interesting people-watching than is usually possible in downtown Toronto, though few of them strayed as far as the busker festival. At the market, I bought some Irish Breakfast tea at the little place where my mom and stepdad buy their loose teas. I'm not into loose tea; I find it too messy to justify the extra flavour, even with a tea ball. So I bought mine in bags. I also got some scrumptious cinnamon/cranberry/raisin rolls, and a scarf with many colours, the main one being teal to go with my skirt. (I'm on a real teal kick this season. It's a good thing it's in style.) It was a good walk, and I was wearing my comfy sandals and a pretty skirt, and feeling very feminine. Such things are happy-making.

I have to get dressed and get ready for the in-laws to come over in a little while. I think I'll make them Irish Breakfast tea. I suppose I should get the little girl dressed, too. I'm thinking a comfy sundress will work for her today, too.

Trunks

I finally cleaned out what has been affectionately called the "boot trunk" for Piet's whole life. It has been in my living room for years, pushed up against the mantle since Elizabeth arrived. I converted it from storing my china at the apartment, to storing wrapping paper and gift stuff, not long after we moved into the house. It's been fulfilling that purpose ever since.

Well, the new cedar chest is going into that spot, the boot trunk is going to Oma and Opa's house to live out its days, and that meant evaluating my wrapping collection and paring it down.

I threw out two old rolls of wrapping paper that I didn't like too much, half a dozen bags and boxes that weren't in very good shape, and reorganized the rest so that it takes up a fraction of the space it did before. I also took the cases designed for storing fine china and found a home for them in the new chest. My tissue-paper stash is smaller now, since I threw out all the wrinkled stuff that I'd been hoarding. And there's still lots of room in the cedar chest for the blankets, tablecloths, napkins and other linens that I wanted to store there. So I'm happy.

Of course, as soon as I got all of that sorted out, I realized that I should have emptied both trunks, moved them while empty, and then reorganized my life into them. Oh, well. The full chest only has to move a few feet. Piet's a strong guy, he can handle it. :)

Busy, people?

Lj is dead today. I'm glad everyone has such busy lives, but really - I'm bored, here!

On a more sombre note, I hope any of you who are in the path of Katrina are safe and will continue to be so. Let us know when you can.