Friday, June 23, 2006
It is on..
I could have labeled this post with a comment about reaching in to the past, or "Here I go Again," (now playing on ITunes as I type, ironically.) Anyway, I was ay a NYSFAAA meeting at the Mohonk House, an upscale hotel/resort/spa in New Paltz. This is no run of the mill B&B. This was a weekend retreat for a wealthy NYC family at the turn of the century, and now a playground and preserve for the very wealthy. We're not talking about just and NYC family, either. The Vanderbilts or FDR would have been very cozy in this enormous facility. It was so nice I was actually intimidated, like I didn't belong. The staff was friendly, but I felt like I was being sized up at the same time. Guests of Shawnee may have had the same reaction; I don't know. Anyway, the hotel brought me back to working in the Poconos, and I was quite glad I didn't feel any pull from the hive of activity around me.
That being said, I also went to my own personal maelstrom: the Ren Faire. I thought I was actually ready to give it up, but wanted to stop by and see if there was a place to camp. If not, then I wouldn't work. Yes, that means I was trying to let the Faire decide for me, but I was cool with that. I was putting the choice in God's hands, right? No, not really. Anyway, I left with little resolved, but everyone was happy to see me. Camping space was indeed limited, but the person I needed to speak to was not present. I left with nothing resolved. I held an internal debate; I could either just head home, or grab some Dunkin Doughnuts Munchkins and coffee for the office manager. A doughnut run had two reasons: 1) play the big shot and 2) remind everyone having me around has it's perks. Driving home would have really been letting go, but I was not either ready or willing. Grabbing the Munchkins and two coffees, I drove back to the offices and lo and behold, the camping manager was there, and not only does he have a space for me; it will be a really good one. There was serious confusion when I first worked at Faire, and he wanted to make up for it. That answered a bunch of questions, and they're obviously expecting me to work. I was near elated when I drove away, and this reaction is always dangerous. With every high there comes a serious crash, and I felt it around 45 minutes later. I'm actually ready to call it a mini-panic attack. Confusion washed over me while I was driving home, and I was at a loss to decide what to do next. I called a few program people, but they weren't able to talk. Eventually I drove up here to Yorktown, and gratefully ran into a friend I could talk to. I'm obviously feeling much better, and my reaction is a culmination of a few things I've been doing, so I can't blame Faire.
essentially, I'm resorting to old behaviors by working Faire, and this always comes with a price.
Anyway, working at Faire effectively puts starting a business on hold for the moment. This is not really a bad thing, as I'm accomplishing what I'd set out to do either way: make more $. The Faire should be worth around 2K or so; I'll make more if I get placed at one of the more popular bars. Note I did not say better bars, as I was quite happy working at Gamer's Glen. We were never very busy, and I got to hang out with people and play the games next to the bar. I was also not nearly as stressed, either. This was a big plus. I actually stand to make more money this summer anyway, as I won't be driving to and from Peekskill on Saturday night into Sunday morning. I'll drive to Faire on Saturday morning, camp Saturday night, and then drive home Sunday night. More later...
That being said, I also went to my own personal maelstrom: the Ren Faire. I thought I was actually ready to give it up, but wanted to stop by and see if there was a place to camp. If not, then I wouldn't work. Yes, that means I was trying to let the Faire decide for me, but I was cool with that. I was putting the choice in God's hands, right? No, not really. Anyway, I left with little resolved, but everyone was happy to see me. Camping space was indeed limited, but the person I needed to speak to was not present. I left with nothing resolved. I held an internal debate; I could either just head home, or grab some Dunkin Doughnuts Munchkins and coffee for the office manager. A doughnut run had two reasons: 1) play the big shot and 2) remind everyone having me around has it's perks. Driving home would have really been letting go, but I was not either ready or willing. Grabbing the Munchkins and two coffees, I drove back to the offices and lo and behold, the camping manager was there, and not only does he have a space for me; it will be a really good one. There was serious confusion when I first worked at Faire, and he wanted to make up for it. That answered a bunch of questions, and they're obviously expecting me to work. I was near elated when I drove away, and this reaction is always dangerous. With every high there comes a serious crash, and I felt it around 45 minutes later. I'm actually ready to call it a mini-panic attack. Confusion washed over me while I was driving home, and I was at a loss to decide what to do next. I called a few program people, but they weren't able to talk. Eventually I drove up here to Yorktown, and gratefully ran into a friend I could talk to. I'm obviously feeling much better, and my reaction is a culmination of a few things I've been doing, so I can't blame Faire.
essentially, I'm resorting to old behaviors by working Faire, and this always comes with a price.
Anyway, working at Faire effectively puts starting a business on hold for the moment. This is not really a bad thing, as I'm accomplishing what I'd set out to do either way: make more $. The Faire should be worth around 2K or so; I'll make more if I get placed at one of the more popular bars. Note I did not say better bars, as I was quite happy working at Gamer's Glen. We were never very busy, and I got to hang out with people and play the games next to the bar. I was also not nearly as stressed, either. This was a big plus. I actually stand to make more money this summer anyway, as I won't be driving to and from Peekskill on Saturday night into Sunday morning. I'll drive to Faire on Saturday morning, camp Saturday night, and then drive home Sunday night. More later...
