A New Day.

[arontius]

.....Yesterday marked a small milestone of sorts. Almost three months of torture wrapped up in the space of a two hour meeting. The beatings lasted until the very last minute, with follow-on penance actions committed to on paper. But today I feel as if a heavy burden that I hadn't even realized was hanging there had been lifted.

.....But if I were asked if a lesson had been learned by me, I would emphatically say 'YES' and that I'll never perform the same error again in the future. Back in May, on Friday the 13th as a matter of fact, I pushed through a work agreement for the Project on which I'm currently the Planning Manager. It was the Friday before the entire thing was due to start on Monday. People had waited until literally the last minute before providing me updates to the agreement. I accepted a number of these updates without doing any second guessing or research on them. Which was my undoing!

.....On Monday the 16th the NAVSEA regulators had reviewed said work agreement, of which I had literally shoved through the signature cycle, and thrown a red flag. I had assigned work without getting the proper authorizations. Everything unraveled at that point. There were countless meetings where my process was investigated under a microscope and every single step along the way discussed in excruciating detail. I was flogged on many occasions.

.....But, in the end? What was being found was that I was doing a better job at living to the actual written requirements than many of my colleagues in other Projects. The final meeting was yesterday, and it drug out past the two hour mark. Lasted until after work. The offices outside of the Conference Room had even shut down the lighting for the evening by the time we exited. But I survived. I went home and felt a lot better than I usually did for a Monday.

.....So now it is time to put the issue aside and get caught up with things. It was amazing how much time and energy has been spent in responding to the issue. The inbox on the desk is overflowing. But this year seems to be the year of learning how best to catch up with thing on which your falling behind, both at work and the SCA.

.....I have learned so much this year in the SCA! I'm just not sure my brain has the capacity for all of it. :-) Next year will be so much better than this year. In some ways I'll at least have an idea of what to expect from various situations and from various people.

.....It's been amazing what I've learned about people this year. Some people have amazed me with what they can accomplish. Their capacity for doing good things under the radar and not wanting to be noticed. Other people have surprised me in their capacity for doing what is best for themselves before, or even caring about, what is best for the organization. In all of these cases I wouldn't have predicted the outcome correctly either. People can have a truly pleasant exterior and a rotten heart. Others can come across as totally bitter and self-centered, and be truly giving and angelic at heart. I'm 44 and still naive about people in a lot of ways. Which I take as a good thing actually. I still think of most people as essentially good, until they prove otherwise to me. I prefer to keep that attitude if I can.

.....Serjeantry is proving to be a real challenge! Every day throws out a new crisis of judgment and decision. We've managed to work our way through all the issues so far. But there will be many more along the way I'm sure. I just feel a little sorry for this first class of candidates as they have to live through the initial growing pains. But I've been incredibly impressed with their ability to roll with the issues. Their inquisitiveness and willingness to try new things has been a joy to watch. My one really big worry now is that on the day of the Trials, if TBT and I have to look at one or more of them and say 'I'm sorry, but you need to start again next year', it will be one of the hardest things I will have ever had to do. I'll have to lean hard on TBT for help on that one. She is a lot more pragmatic than I am, but it isn't going to be easy for her either. Having watched the struggle of these good people for a span of six months, just to tell them 'No'. I'm just hoping, hoping, hoping for the best.

.....If we can make it through this summer of madness, TBT and I will have to hit the road hard to line up judges for the Trials themselves. Madrun was telling me about a Serjeantry meeting they had at her house last night with Master Ralg and Dame Ellen in attendance, which reminded me that TBT and I need to talk to them about getting involved. We have some plans for them, if they are willing. Just haven't had the time to corner them and talk. There are some others we need to snag as well.

.....Finally set up the September Crown / Team Haggis III e-list. We're off and running! Need to set up our first formal meeting for sometime in the next four weeks. Then schedule a walk-through sometime in September. Many of the major roles are filled, but there are still a few I'm really anxious to fill. The biggest being a Gate Coordinator. I really want one on board now to start establishing the rules of the gate, as well as to start scouting out groups to volunteer shifts and / or days. If they can get started now on the commitments, it could be easy by the time next September rolls around. Have someone on board for pre-registration. If we can get that set up early and push it hard, gate could end up being a real breeze.

.....The other big role to fill on my list is a Marshallate Coordinator. We've been discussing the addition of this role to the June Faire Board and I'm really liking the concept as we have discussed. This is a single Point-Of-Contact who can coordinate the schedules of all marshallate activities. They would also help coordinate the space needed, the help needed (i.e. lists, heralds, etc.), the infrastructure needed (i.e. hay bales, eric ropes, etc.). They wouldn't do the work per se, just ensure it got done. It's actually a largish job, and could become very important and needed, and I'd like to see it happen for Team Haggis III.

.....This month is still extremely full. This weekend was supposed to be Autumn War, but a Shipyard function is happening Saturday that I'm committed to attending. Which pretty much wrecks the weekend. I'm going to try for Friday as there is a Youth Combat function at Autumn War and I REALLY want to support Myrick in it. But it is a severe lesson learned about over commitments. Need to take this as a lesson for the future about not committing to things before you know for sure, if at all possible.

.....The weekend of August 20th is Sport-Of-Kings. I know I'm going to be there on Saturday. The details are whether this is a day-trip on Saturday? Or show up early Saturday and stay until Sunday morning? Or just drive there after work on Friday and stay until Sunday morning. I have good friends as several have already offered tent space.

.....The weekend of August 27th is Tir Righ Investiture. I'm headed up there to see Mistress Lenora sitting on the Storm Thrones of Tir Righ! She is a super nice person and Tir Righ is headed for a golden era of chivalry for the next tenure. It will be wonderful to witness in person. :-)

.....Then September Crown. THL Mateusz is in charge of the Baronial Encampment. I've already given him the measurements for TBT and myself. We have about half of our camping equipment put together due to preparations for the picnic. So it will not take a whole lot of effort to finish thankfully. :-)

.....Oooo, that reminds me, I've got a couple of things to grab from Lobelia before Fight Practice. Must run now....

.....Aaron / Arontius.