Valentines, PantheaCon and Rayna's visit in one big gulp

[rowanf]

Okay, time for an almost weekly update, I guess. I just haven't been in journal writing mode!

I did not go to the Interfaith potluck on Tuesday the 13th but rather went to an early Valentine's dinner with Russell at Park Place in Cupertino. It was very good and I'm glad to have finally tried it. (I'd had drinks there a couple of years ago and though I ought to do dinner... but I can never remember all those places I have that thought about when the time comes to actually make reservations so we end up at our usual spots. Not this time, go us!) This allowed us to have a nice Valentines/Lupercalia at home on Wednesday. *grin*

Thursday the lovely rubibees flew in from Florida and she and I and saffronrose went to CostCo were I got perishables for the suite to go with all the other stuff we'd previously gotten. We also picked up some lovely lamb chops which Russell, Erika, Rayna & I had for supper. Yum!

Friday we got to PantheaCon by about 12:30 which was good because parking was already problematic. We got a spot right near the tower doors and went in search of a cart. The wait was about 30 minutes but we were able to get into the suite and that was great. It turned out this was because they had been confused about my check-in date (the spreadsheet the Con sent them said Friday 2/15 and they had chosen the 2/15 over the Friday part. *sigh* This made me liable for an extra $250 no show charge which didn't get straightened out until Tuesday morning.) We got the cart and got the suite up and running and very soon had folks hanging out there. Rayna went off to do the Morrison ritual and I headed to the Umbanda suite to get ready for Pomba. As usual I was signed up to work for much of it, but this is the first time I've started out working rather than dancing. I had a dance space between work shifts but it was harder to get into the right headspace. I wish that I had gone to Pomba before I joined the House. I have never just *been* there. And esp. if I headwash this year, I probably never will. Duties being my strong suit and all. *sigh*

I had announced I wasn't going to open the suite before 11am and that gave Rayna and I mornings together. We went to breakfast with Kurt and Arthur, Loren, amidb and Linda. We had hoped for Mary Tressa, but she was running late. I really felt like I had to have real food before starting a weekend of mostly eating cheese & crackers in the suite. (We did have fruit and nuts and two kinds of chili - but I couldn't eat the latter because of tomatoes and spices.) We got the suite set up again and then Kathe & JT took over so Rayna and I could go to the OBOD ritual. Thank you, thank you. The ritual had some nice parts but wasn't very inspiring. The woman who sang much of the liturgy was totally indecipherable in her ornamentation and I admit I like to know what is being sung! The spiral dance wasn't as bad as I had feared given the leader asking the musicians to play something sprightly - with that many people if the leader goes quickly the people at the end are whipped around horribly. But it wasn't too bad. I was very grateful she started the line only about 10 people from where we were standing so we were safely in the center.

I hung out in the suite all afternoon until it was time to get ready for dancing with Fontain's MUSE. It was fun and we got everyone dancing and then I got to dance with rubibees which was esp. fun. Then back to the suite where I was drooping visibly enough that Rayna sent me to bed at about 11pm and took over the suite. Thank you, thank you.

Sunday we started off slow with a soak in the jacuzzi. Then it was off to the Kore ritual that Dark Forest was doing and where I was an attendant of Kore. We processed from the elevators and then Kate & I stuck by Kore's side rather than dancing the meeting dance. I spent most of the ritual holding a flowering staff, bower-like, over Kore and holding up a basket so she could reach the tokens. It was only after the ritual that I got to go to the various altars and leave tokens to Hades and Dionysos. The Demeter altar had already been taken down. It is always weird to me when Kore is celebrated in the spring when she returns in November after spending the dry summer months with Hades. And we don't even have the climate to justify the shift. *shrug* The ritual had lovely energy, so I can't really complain.

Then back to the suite for more hang-out time. No one came by for the "History of the NROOGD" talk which was too bad because I was looking forward to hearing it too. *grin* Glenn had brought by an old photo album of Chandria's with pictures of folks from the 1970's. It was fun to see people's younger selves and to remember those days. Holly does look just like Glenn did in her day. Everyone always says so but those photos are totally proof. *laugh*

I got to escape again to attend the Brighid's Forge/Well ritual. I wanted to see it from the outside. We were almost too late to get in before they closed the doors and we had seats that were about as far away from the action as you could get. This meant that the wash of emotion from the keening wasn't overwhelming which it certainly would have been if we'd been closer. It was a good ritual and I'm glad to have seen it from both sides.

We got back to the suite and found folks deep in a debate about ethics. Soooo not the space we were in after that lovely ritual! So Russell, Rayna, Marina, Kurt and I wound up in the bar until it was time for Sabina's workshop. I ordered a Manhattan up with Knob Creek but got well bourbon on the rocks without even a cherry. *sigh* I think the new management of the hotel has a LOT of work to do on many fronts.

Sabina finally had finished versions of her films about modern Padstow and about the NROOGD Berkeley 'Oss. We saw all three films the 1951 and both of hers. The tech folks didn't have any speakers so I ran upstairs and grabbed my ipod speakers. I had brought a cable in case there was anyone who wanted to plug something other than a docking iPod so I was able to provide sound. I want a "tech savvy" ribbbon for my badge! *laugh* Ribbon collecting was definitely alive and well at this Con! The Covenant of the Goddess, Friend of CoG and NROOGD ribbons available in our suite drew a number of people there who might not have dropped by if it weren't for the rumor of ribbons to be had. We gave out more than half of the 100 Friend of CoG ribbons.

Back at the suite after the films there were folks singing and I whipped out my palm and was able to provide lyrics for a number of things. *laugh* I had a great time singing along. I really need to start up the Pagan singing group at my house again. In my copious spare time. But I mean it! I got to bed about 2am after deflecting a half dozen young people who wanted to use the jacuzzi at 1:30am! I am just not a good suite guardian for the night owls. I'm glad I did it, but I don't believe I will re-up!

Monday morning Rayna headed off to get sustenance before her workshop and I got the suite ready to go again. Then off to the Bee Priestess attunement which had 30-40 attendees... pretty good for 9am on Monday morning of Con! It went really well and I really enjoyed doing it again. I think I really should do it at Sacred Connections as a breakout session. Now that I've atteneded twice I feel more ready, I think.

After the ritual we wandered off to the dealers room but realized we weren't tracking very well and went to lunch instead. I had salad and a French dip which was quite good. Ah the Frech dip diet. Yvonne joined us and we talked CoG politics. I am so glad I'm not on the Board this year. In fact, I am fairly sure it will be years before I'm willing to do a National office again. I am still pretty much toast from my previous terms on the Board. Local FO (esp. as Co-FO) is just fine.

Then back to the suite where I was joined by mr_kurt for our jacuzzi date. It was really nice to soak in the tub and let some of the cares of managing things drop away. Rayna went off to programming and the closing ritual and after Kurt left I spent some time inworld trying to get ready for my opening. Hmm. I should post a notice here about that!

The suite was very quiet Monday afternoon and evening with just a couple of visitors. Some of the folks I had expected would want to have it open had instead stayed extra days and gone sightseeing in the City. So next year's person will have to decide whether it is worth having Monday hours or not. I am *very* glad we had decided to stay the extra day because with Rayna's workshop trying to check out before noon would have been nuts! Almost all the food got eaten except a bottle of wine and a giant bag of pretzels which we didn't open. So my estimates of food were right on. Go me. I'll carry the pretzels to the next CoG meeting.

Tuesday we couldn't check out because we had to wait until Sabre had her end-of-con meeting with the hotel so we could get the $250 no-show charge removed. She finally called about 11am and told us it was a go. So we had a nice quiet morning packing, catching breakfast and being online. I think they double billed us for the internet, but we're going to contest it. *sigh* It may be time for a new hotel. The new management at the Doubletree just doesn't seem too on the ball to me. And rude! Oh my.

After Con Rayna and I went shopping at the Travelsmith outlet and a couple of used bookstores, grabbed lunch and three caches. We managed a little downtime before catching up to Russell at E&O Trading Company where we had a great dinner. They had a Year of the Pig special menu so we were able to try some great new things. I hope they keep some of those dishes on the menu! Sea scallop potstickers - yum!

Morning came all too early and I got Rayna to the airport by 6am for her alleged 7am flight. It must have been 10am before she finally got in the air. Work was, of course, crazy after so many days away and the big meeting coming up here. But I am sooo glad I took a day off on either side of the Con! It was fun, busy and blessed by Rayna's presence and that of other friends and lovers. *happy sigh* I have a great community!

Comments

[malterre.livejournal.com]

I love reading your adventures :)

You don't know me, but I'm friendly

[bodhibird.livejournal.com]

It's been my observation that most people in the U.S. who know something about Greek mythology (but not about actual Greek religion) tend to think that Persephone spends the winter with Hades and comes back in the spring, when things get fertile again. It matches the climate of much of the U.S. and so it seems obvious, self-evident. Maybe you have to be a Californian to really understand otherwise. *g* But there *is* one good clue in the story itself: If she's picking flowers when she runs away with her sweetie is abducted, then she must be away from Mom while the flowers are in bloom, which says spring and not autumn.

Re: You don't know me, but I'm friendly

[rowanf.livejournal.com]

Hi, it does look like we have friends and interests in common. Pleased to meet you. :-)