Question – Why did you decide to accept a squires belt from Artos?

And somehow, those names just keep popping up. Okay — they volunteered me for a lot of stuff. Sometimes I wonder what I’ll be volunteered for next.

Sorry for the rant. As Sarah will tell you, it’s a pissy ranting sort of day. Blame Gannett.

Pardon the language, but it’s really pissed me off as a herald to be thrown to the fire — pretty much being told as I’m heading out to show people the route that I’m not a guide — I’m suddenly the Meridian herald (now, it’s Gleann Abhann herald) and I have to come up with something to say — while leading the march — and usually while heralding something else.

I would absolutely relish the opportunity for a little prep time! Imagine how I might be able to embellish and verbally spar with other heralds of the known world, if I came with a full pack of tools rather than a single nail and hammer!

And it’s not just for opening ceremonies. I’d love to know I’m heralding a court before I actually show up on site for once! At least before the day of… and… sorry, ranting here. Wrong place. Sorry again.

Ahem. Don’t mind me. It’s just one of those things that would make so much more sense to my tiny lil’ brain.

And – for the record, because I can be a tiny, tiny bit vain – It was three GW’s. Queen Meridies – Princess Gleann Abhann – Queen Gleann Abhann. And I will indeed blog you an answer. It’s in the pipe. As a short form – I agree.

As someone who has sat on the Thrones thru 2 Gulf Wars – What do you think about Opening Ceremonies? Wouldn’t it be great if we put more effort into them? Enough effort that people would want to show up? And to start down the path to improvement do you think we should remove the horses that hinder us so much from the equation? (we can always give them their own parade…)

Okay I stole this too

Okay – I have seriously SHITTY short term memory issues, so I may not remember the particulars of any given meeting. AND, as I am in a LOT of polling orders, they start to run together over time. AND, I am kind of a stickler on confidentiality issues. BUT, if we are referring to that particularly evil Meridian service polling order, I can give you some insight:

First is something that has always perplexed me – somewhere over the last few years, even before I got the Pel, people started giving my words a WHOLE lot more weight than I think they justifiably deserve. I am one person with one opinion, and I REALLY, TRULY, mean everything I say to be taken with exactly that weight. The second problem is that people have a very hard time recognizing that I am one of those people who, when in these kinds of situations, separates the person you are from what you do. In other words, I can love you as a person, and still be critical if I think you dropped the ball on something. And I have a rather minority take on the holding of offices, but that is fodder for another conversation. Don’t take my word for it – ask Lyzianor. I love the woman to death, but NOBODY nags her like I do. Or, ask my associates – I am a tough-love kinda Peer. Few of them have escaped unscathed. Luckily, it’s over quickly and generally behind us almost as fast.

If I remember the timing correctly, there was a certain level of frustration over the Topaz office and trying to communicate over scroll issues. I will admit – I am not a phone person, and that is where I can be criticized (and I did mention that) – but I assure you that my comments were confined to what you did IN THAT CAPACITY. I usually am pretty good about getting second opinions (ask Gabby, she will testify to my many annoying phone calls to her), but I think anything that was added to it in the repetition was just that – read between the lines. I actually dislike fewer people than I am given blame for. I am just a Yankee – abrupt and unfortunately, sometimes too blunt. On the other hand, no matter what side of a political situation we were on, I have always defended yours and Reys right to express and support your own views without being castigated.

So – why did I change my mind? In short, I actually probably didn’t. I have never had a bad opinion of you as a person – just frustration with how you handled one office (and only the last bit of that). However, I will admit that my respect for both you and Rey took a quantum leap upward by the support you have given and shown the new Kingdom despite your opinions on our readiness. That takes real class of a truly noble nature, and you seriously have my admiration for it. I also really admire what you are doing with archery, since that had been a pet project of mine, and you managed in Gleann Abhann what I could only attempt for Meridies. That’s very cool.

So – I hope that cleared it up. I really consider you and Rey friends, and I am glad I got the opportunity to air that out. Thanks, I really mean it.