“The people said they wouldn’t let anyone come and trample them again."

This post really isn't part of my SCA posting schedule. I would just like to point out three significant anniversaries for modern Lithuania.

Today (January 13) is the 35th anniversary of the Soviet assault on the Vilnius Television Tower. It was the last stand of a dying empire -- the USSR would cease to exist in less than a year. Fourteen unarmed Lithuanian civilians died, but many more stood up to oppression.

You can read about the event here. Music professor and Supreme Council chairman Vytautas Landsbergis (whom I have actually met) has said, "The people said they wouldn’t let anyone come and trample them again."

Think about that.

Next month, on February 16, is the Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania (1918). Yeah, I know it doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as, say, "Flag Day." Then on March 11 is the Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania (1990).

I wish my father was around to see today's proudly independent Lithuania, the land of his parents' birth. 

Another new year

I hope all who read this are enjoying the new year, despite any upsetting mundane news. Each January is like a shiny new penny before it accumulates all the scratches from circulation.

As I said in my last post, I want to spend this year -- in which the SCA will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its founding -- documenting exactly what I do within the context of the Society, both in terms of arts & sciences and of service. My first idea was to make weekly posts, but when I told this to one of my friends, she said that might prove to be too much of a burden. So ... twice a month? We'll see how that turns out. If I stick to that schedule, that will make the most posts on this blog since 2009.

So, here we go.

Service as chronicler: The Drekkar, Storvik's newsletter, is due out on the 5th of each month. So I'd better finish up the January issue. I've got all the materials for it. At some point I will make a special memorial issue for Baroness Gracie. But I also need to earn some freelance money to keep my head above water.

Service in heraldry: I need to recruit some teachers for the Tri-Kingdom University session that is rapidly approaching. 😱

Musical arts: Dance practice resumes tonight after a couple of weeks off for the holidays. Laydes Fayre continues to rehearse for two upcoming events, one at the Lochmere Midwinter Revel on the last day of this month and another at Kingdom Arts & Sciences Festival (KASF) in March. The Laydes primarily sing, of course, but some of us play musical instruments, so we're rehearsing an instrumental cantiga for the Lochmere revel. I play soprano recorder semi-competently; recently I was given a used alto recorder, so I should try to learn that too. But someone else has already claimed the alto recorder part for this cantiga, so I'll play soprano melody. No big deal. It's a simple piece.

Tangible arts: I have warped my inkle loom for a second Baltic pick-up band. (Woven band, NOT musical band!) One of these days I'll have to write an entire post about Baltic pick-up weaving, but this is not the time for it. I am also planning what to wear to Highland Hearthglow later this month. Some alterations are in order, and maybe one new thing, but I don't have time to create an entirely new outfit from the inner layers out.

I think that's it. For now.