Fighter Practice, Social Practice - It was so COLD and WINDY here last night! My poor little car was being buffeted and tossed around on the roads, both on just side streets near work and again on the freeway. But with a tight two-handed grip on the steering wheel, I got safely to and from all my adventures.

I brought the stringed instrument of loan and great mystery[1] (giggle) out to the park, ostensibly to practice further for the competition in January. At one point the wind tried to take the instrument, case and bag, and fling it off the picnic table. From then on, I was clinging to it for dear life. I have a stash of blankets in my car, and I curled up in a fleece and a quilt, wrapping it around me and the instrument, and still worked on playing. Tuning in that kind of cold was futile, but I did figure out some chord progressions that make me about 85% happy.

I also had a wonderful chat with Ungust, the marshal for the heavy weapons in our area. None of the heavy weapons fighters came out to practice at all on Boxing Day, but the Rapier Fighters were out on the field with exhuberance. [Or to keep warm, something like that.] So Ungust had nothing to do, *and* his interest was piqued at the instrument I had with me. He has one too, that he's never learned to play, so we ended up chatting about instruments, reading music, pitch, and all sorts of musical knowledge. He apparently builds harps and lyres and things, too, so we're going to work on a joint project together. He'll build me an instrument (probably a small, easily portable, very simple lyre or harp), and in trade I'll teach him how to read music and maybe how to play some of the things in his collection. Oh. My. Goodness! Wow, very cool! We'll start looking at details in maybe a month or so -- I've got to get through this competition first.

Shosh came out to the park, and by then my whole body was frozen. Even the chemical first-aid pack (that you put on your muscles that heats up) was no longer warming my fingers very much. So we retreated to her car for the rest of the hour, chatting and catching up in life. Then by 10 pm everyone was ready to retreat to IHOP for food and HOT DRINKS, and what we now call "Social Practice."

Cassaundra joined us this time, joking that she needs more practice at being social. It was actually really nice to sit and chat with her, since I've often wanted to spend more time getting to know her. Unfortunately her Christmas wasn't as nice as it could have been, this being the first one without her dad (who passed away recently). That, among other foibles, made for a rough couple of days for her, and I was glad to elicit a few smiles as we chatted together. She's really quite a facinating person, and I'm going to keep looking for ways to get to know her better.

Overall, dinner out with everyone was lovely -- Lot, Marcos, me, Cassaundra, Dylan, Raphael, Shosh (Anabella, if I'm being consistent with SCA names), Meala, and Don Alexander Baird made the long drive from Altavia (from Canyon Country). Meala's been baking cookies, and she came prepared with a Christmas gift of cookies for our favorite Wednesday night waitress, Nicole. Darn, I wish I'd thought of that! What a great idea!

Generous Coffee Strangers - This morning I went to my favorite Starbucks drive-through, and as I pulled up from one direction, there was clearly another car ahead of me, waiting from another direction. As the line pulled through, of course I motioned for her to pull in ahead of me. That made sense: She was there first. I thought nothing of it, really, and placed my order as usual. When I got to the payment window, the gal was grinning ear to ear as she announced that the car in front of me had paid for my order. I was stunned, and had to ask twice, "You're not kidding me? Really? Really?" Wow.

Now the nice lady in the coffee window said, "Yup, some people just like to do that." And I imagine it might have something to do with letting her in first in line, or maybe because it's the day after Christmas. But still, what a sweet thing! I had breakfast and coffee for free, because some stranger in the car in front of me decided to gift me with this one bit of sunshine.

Here's to her: May her day be filled with all goodness and sunshine, indeed!
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Today's Blessing That I'm Thankful For: Surprises and the sweetness of strangers

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[1] Postscript: It's not that *I* think the instrument is of great mystery -- I know exactly what it is. I'm just being silly and not telling people what I'm working on, unless they've seen me in person working on the music. See? I'm being sneaky (right!)...