jjmaccrimmon | Once more back into the breech! - Henry V,

Anticipation is building as Estrella is mere days away. Months of preparation and training, weeks of careful planning and frequent moments of utter panic have nearly reached their fruition. The fencing, the feasting, the drums and the dancers await. For the fencing company I’m with, we already know we have a major role in the fighting. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we won’t be faced with camping in a morass and fighting in the mud. Been there, done that – not fun. It would be especially bad since the kids are coming with me to the War for the first time.

Once again, I’ve stepped forward and help another friend. I’ve ended up having to loan Amanda some funds to help her cover her expenses at Estrella. Her radiator crapped out and needed to be replaced, but that ate into all her travel funds. She’s been so seriously looking forward to this trip and certainly deserves to go. I also know that she’s good for the loan and won’t get weird about it later.

Brenna’s very excited about Estrella and seriously hopes to take many pictures of the fighting, the camps and the people. She really is turning into a good photographer with great potential for the future. I keep showing her techniques to take better pictures and she’s not being stubborn. It’s all too new for her to dig in her heels and not chose to adjust to correct or better ways to frame the shot, use the light, and to watch for the perfect shot. I think we’re going to have around 300 to 350 pictures to review at the end of this. Hopefully I’ll be able to share some of her work and mine.

I’m not likely going to post for the next week or so due to the event and recovery necessary after it. Before I go, I want to say this much. My friends list recently shrank dramatically following some issues. For those explorers and photographers that stayed, you have my sincere thanks. For the folks who used to be on that list still and look at this journal occasionally but do not “subscribe, (yes, I know that you’re out there and have left for whatever reasons) please understand this…

There are two sides to every story and frequently even more than that. Not all of the reasons, background or motivations are always apparent. Don’t be naïve to believe everything one side says or notes. If you only look at one issue or situation and form your opinion around that without looking deeper, then you ignore everything else that formed your previous view of a person or event. Don’t ignore the bigger picture. Sometimes things are not always what they seem.

Nebulous mode: OFF

We now return you to your normal programming.

You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses. -- Tom Wilson (from Lady Sabina)