My LJ, now 60% less emo

I went to MakerFaire today, and it was made of awesome. Lots of very, very talented people and completely amazing things (like a "life-sized" Mousetrap game). I am affiliated with a group of artists that were selling there, so I will have to get in next year, even if it is awfully close to the Austin Celtic Festival. It was totally cool, and if you live in a town with one, you should go, it's completely worth the admission (I got in free, which made it even better).

In order to one-up the catapult book I bought for T's kids last year (which they loved and took to Cub Scouts and built things out of), I was going to get the book M-80 Rocket-Powered Skateboard, but I figured I wanted to live to see the New Year, so I got a kit that makes a moving wooden robot and a book on how to make more toys like that. Hmm. I wonder if seperis 's or dremiel 's sons would like it....? (Just kidding!) I came back with good handmade soaps, local honey, local biscotti, some "Smoky Asian Jam" which I am using on chicken this week--hey, no lunch!--a t-shirt (of course), and four blocks. I would have gotten all 5 but they ran out of one. If I wore any jewelry but my own these days, I would seriously wear these earrings.

The presentation I had at work on Friday went off very well. It was kind of short, but I'd rather be short and interesting than overlong and boring any day. I got lots of nice feedback, everyone laughed when they were supposed to. More importantly, they didn't laugh when they weren't. Speaking in front of people has never been a problem for me (hello, many years as a theater major), so I wasn't that worried about it. But it was nice to see I hadn't lost my touch.

I am running FrameMaker training all week. Monday through Thursday, because of course the two managers can't give me the two new hires at the same time every day. I will be very hoarse by the end of the week.

And because I'm still evil, I leave you with this: