I've sorted through the pics I took last weekend. I've uploaded the decent ones and sadly, there simply aren't enough of them. Maybe thomas_delbroc and I should investigate a camera upgrade with a little bit of the tax return money.

You can find the pics here

In other words, here's an update:

1) I'm currently at $610. I have money I need to deposit and in turn, send out a check to the 3-Day. That should put me over $700.

2) Fund raising: Life has been hectic of late and as such, I've not been as active in my fund raising as I should be. I still need to put up some flyers around work (that'll be done in the next few days). I've got a list of local businesses that I need to go to to ask for donations. I'm also crashing a friends yard sale in a few weeks to try and raise cash. And my cadet and I are discussing something we could do at Pennsic to help raise funds. It's still a ways to go but I'll get there.

3) Sponsors: I think that once I get donations from our local businesses, I'll put those contributing businesses on a shirt. I'll be sure to tell them that they'll be getting free advertising from me.

4) After talking to some friends this weekend, I've decided that one of the days that I'm walking is going to be dedicated to dcis_warrior. I've seen the LJ name here and there but I didn't realize who it was. While I'm not particularly close to her (we've chatted here and there), I *do* know just how awesome a lady she is. It isn't much but I feel just as strongly about doing this as I did when I first saw the 3-Day commercial.

5) Training: Not as much as I'd like. I need to do some longer walks on the weekend and add some cross training into my daily routine. I've been doing a lot of walking at work but that's not enough. Even if I'm hoofing it up and down the stairs every day which is now causing some left heel pain. I've had plantar fasciitis before and I've got that old, familiar feeling... :-/

I started out to do this walk because both my mother, my aunt, and a few close friends had scares this past year. The more I've talked with folks, the more aware I am of just how many folks are affected by breast cancer. I feel even more driven now to finish my fund raising goal and to walk those 60 miles.

( fundraising_widget )

So this morning, I got up around 6:00 and wound my way into Delaware. This is a feat in and of itself since I'm not a morning person at all. But it was to try and raise some money for the 3-Day so I got up even though I really wanted to stay in bed.

ownedbytwins is a member of the First State Mothers of Multiples and the group was having a resale today. I had asked permission to hand out flyers at the event, 'cause they get *lots* of people and man, do they get *lots* of people.

I spent a few hours down there passing out flyers and talking to people. It was a mixed reaction but I expected that. Most people took them without reading them, some weren't interested in it at all but I did have a few people that wanted to discuss the 3-Day more. We'll see what happens.

To those that have donated so far: Thank you! I can't really thank you enough. Your support is so very much appreciated.

For the past few months, I've felt this desire to do something or participate in something that was bigger than me. I've done some research on local volunteer options and while I may still go forward with one of those, it still didn't seem to fit what I was looking for.

And then one day I saw a commercial for this and I *knew* that this was something I had to participate in. I requested an information packet. I followed it up with a local "Get Started" meeting and I signed up for the Philadelphia 3-Day (October 17-19th) right after that without hesitation.

I need your help. First and foremost, I'm fund raising. When I chose to take on this challenge, I agreed to raise at least $2,200 in donations. Donations can be done either online (link posted below), over the phone (call 1-800-996-3329), or you can print out a donation form from my personal page (link below) and mail that in with a check.

Yes it's a lot of money but it's for a good cause. More than 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease. My mom and my aunt, not to mention a few good friends, had to have breast biopsies done this past year. All of their tests were negative but I do think of what might have been.

I want to do my part. I don't want to lose anyone to this disease. I want my cousins, my goddaughter and my friends daughters to read about breast cancer in history books.

The net proceeds from the event will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure
(85%) and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund (15%).

Second, I'm going to need *lots* of cheerleading. If you see me, ask me how the training (no bus for me at Pennsic) or the fundraising is going. I'll be posting about all of this in the upcoming months. This is a big undertaking for me and I'll needs lots of encouragement 'cause both the mileage and the fundage is daunting at times.

I'm looking forward to the journey though and I think, when it's all said and done, I'll be a better person for it.

( link_to_personal_fundraising_page )

Feel free to pimp me out and link to this post.

Ugolino and his sons
Executed in marble 1865–67
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (French, 1827–1875)


One of my favorite series of books to read is Dante's Divine Comedy. In The Inferno we read about Ugolino. Here's a little bit more for those interested: ( Read more... )


FYI: A Guelph was a person that supported the papacy and a Ghibelline was a person that supported the emperor.

In other news, my heartburn is back. :-/ I'm hoping that it's directly related to having Hawaiian Punch this morning. A drink ('cause well it's nasty) I try to avoid but was the only thing I could get my hands on this morning.

I'd prefer the burny stuff to jog on.

Eagle brooches

Gold with garnet inlays

Ostrogothic
Made about 500

Where did common courtesy go? I know it existed at one point but lately, people just seem so rude.

You know, I'm not really fond of the idea of getting up before the sun does.

Necklace with Cross

Byzantine; found in 1902 at Karavas, Cyprus

Made 500s

Made by a technique called: opus interrasile

Opus interrasile means pierced work. This was fine chiselled geometric openwork, often forming round or hexagonal frames for pearls and precious stones. Niello (a black sulphid) was used to fill in the spaces and give a contrast to the bright metals.

I'm curious as to how heavy the necklace is. Part of me thinks that it'd be heavy and yet, I'm not so sure about it. I'd *love* to try it on just to see. ;-)

I understand that at times, some folks may want to immerse themselves in "their craft". But, there are limitations to that. You know?

Aspiring horror writer (currently penning "Cannibalistic Instincts"), suspect in well, cannibalism.

Pectoral with coin and pseudo-medallion

Gold with niello

Byzantine, made about 539-550

From the info card at The Met: ( Read more... )

We've got a fabulous weekend planned. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

The "Antioch Chalice," first half of 6th century, Byzantine

Lots more about this pseudo-cup ( here )

That info was snagged from here. It also includes a much nicer photo than the one I took. :-)

Hope everyone's day is going well.

Byzantine, made 900-1200

Foot and gold-and-enamel mounts made between 1643 and 1715 in Paris, France

This cup was one of several Byzantine objects acquired by Louis XIV of France, whose artisans fitted it with an ornate foot.

My photoshop fu isn't that great. Otherwise, I'd have been able to lighten the picture enough that you could really see the colors on the cup. Versus the Jackson Pollock mutation I came up with.

Here's a little more info about the sardonyx gemstone:

The ancient Egyptians carved Sardonyx into scarab beetles, wearing them as a talisman. In the 2nd Century, Egyptian geographer Ptolemy drew a map of India, which included “Sardonyx Gemstones” in the Sardonyx Mountains.

Roman soldiers went into battle believing they gained courage by wearing Sardonyx engraved with Mars, the god of war. Roman General Publius Cornelius Scipio was known for wearing lots of Sardonyx. The women of ancient Rome regularly wore intaglios and cameos, and Sardonyx was widely used for this purpose.

Sardonyx belongs to the Chalcedony family and is a form of microcrystalline quartz consisting of different colored bands on its basic color. Referred as “striped veins”, these appear in varied patterns and in different colors.

Sardonyx is traditionally orange red in color with bands that are white and reddish brown. However, it is also available in other colors such as yellow, brown, white, purple, gray, black, pink and green with bands that can occur in gray, black and brown.

In Sardonyx, no two gemstones have the same banding pattern, making each one unique. The patterns and colors of the veins are irregular and occur naturally but sometimes the band can occur in a circular pattern similar to the pattern of cut tree trunk. While some Sardonyx can display straight lines in a horizontal direction, they are usually irregular in their thickness.

Otherwise, today was a fairly busy Monday. Thankfully, it's a short work week for me.

Griffin

Marble Panel with a Griffin
Byzantine, possibly from Greece or the Balkans

Carved 1250-1300

"The Griffin is a monster with the body of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle, and back covered with feathers. Like birds it builds its nest, and instead of an egg lays an agate therein. It has long claws and talons of such a size that the people of that country make them into drinking-cups.

India was assigned as the native country of the Griffins. They found gold in the mountains and built their nests of it, for which reason their nests were very tempting to hunters, and they were forced to keep vigilant guard over them. Their instinct led them to know where buried treasures lay, and they did their best to keep plunderers at a distance."

- from Bulfinch's Mythology

( Crusades )

This morning, I still feel washed out but I'm happy to report the head splitting headache is no more. I hope everyone had a good time last night.

We're spending next weekend tromping around the D.C. area for our anniversary. That's going to be a blast.

Wow, that was a long post. I think I'll go relax now.

Fragment of a Marble Relief with Combatant Animals
Carved about 1150, in the region of Umbria, central Italy

Unfortunately, the pic came out a little blurry. I like it none the less.

Weekend preparations are under way and we should be on-site between 5 and 6 tonight. I think it'll be a hoot.

It's been a while since I've actually done a meme. So, here's one I snorched from mrgrumpybear

( Heavenly )

Ottonian

Carved 900-1100 in Germany or northern Italy

Portable reliquery

( more_info )

I know we were supposed to be at practice last night. Sorry we didn't make it.

Oh, fabulous news (certainly makes me feel good): My vacation request for tomorrow and next Friday have been approved. This is teh awesome.

Gilded silver on wood backing inset with sapphire, glass, and crystal

From Monastery of Santa Cruz de la Seros, Jaca, northeastern Spain
Setting made before 1085; ivory carved about 1000 in Constantinople

One of these days, I'll get around to actually doing some bookbinding and paper making.

Lion, bronze (originally gilded and inlaid)

Cast 1000-1100, probably in South Italy
Inscribed in Arabic and Kufic script: on the saddle cloths:

Divine grace, blessing, (good) health, well being, happiness, prosperity, honor, long life to its owner

Coronation has come and gone. The event itself seemed to go well, even if the site felt a little small. The flasks appear to have been a hit and this is a good thing. There were points where I wondered if the guard was going to get banished. We managed (somehow) to go unnoticed.

I wasn't able to chat with the folks I wanted to chat with for one reason or another. For an event where I did a lot of standing, I seemed to have been fairly busy. It's just the nature of the event I think. C'est la vie.

We'll be at Crusades next week. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend with friends. I feel like I really need that.

Hm.