One of these days...

I'd planned to have the vardo well and truly finished by now. Really, I did. But this summer has been so disgustingly hot and humid that the thought of doing anything at all outside has been very unappetizing. Actual construction is just going to have to wait until fall when it starts to cool down a bit...

I haven't been completely idle, though. I have material lists worked out, and a lot if ideas regarding trim, painting, and decoration. I missed my self-imposed deadline for Gulf War earlier this year, obviously, but I'm planning on having it ready and road tested for Gulf War XX next year...and maybe, if life treats me decently, even Pennsic.

Thinking about all this reminds me that I need to start planning the electrical system. The outside lighting will be solar powered landscaping lanterns; I've found some very nice pseudo-period ones (probably more 19th century than medieval / renaissance, but they'll look great on the vardo) for around thirty bucks each. I was already planning on putting in wiring and hardware to use a variety of power sources for the air conditioner when it's installed, and I'm currently thinking about installing a RV type battery array to allow a bit of lighting and perhaps a fan to operate at Gulf War and the like when I probably won't have a power hookup available. It could probably go in the back half of of the under-bed storage areas, with access and ventilation from the outside...

My current plan is to work on accumulating materials during the rest of the summer and be ready to start construction sometime in October. My hope is to have it ready for a shakedown trip to Castle War in late November, although painting and finishing work on the interior will be going on pretty much all winter. One way or another, though, the beastie is getting built!

Things have gone nicely on the other fronts since my last post here. I moved to a new apartment that I like much better than my last one, and things are promising in the work arena. I hit Dreamstone back in April, Lusty Month of May (which was wonderful as always...there are things from that weekend that will have a very cherished place in my memory forever...), and Royal University in July. My next planned event is Red Tower in September (the event that will mark my 21st anniversary in the SCA - I feel so damn old when I think about that); August is a no-go because of the disgusting heat and because the first weekend in September is DragonCon, also known as Geek Mardi Gras...that's where whatever money I scrape up after dealing with bills and obligations is going!