Failures and New Starts

Well - I was due yesterday to have recieved my data from the ICP-MS lab on the samples I submitted. Dispite the assurence of Joel, the head researcher of the lab, that they would run the samples night and day and weekends, there's not a single data set for me to use, not to mention the fact that I still have another needed 100 samples waiting to turn in to them...


So I missed the AAA meeting deadline for presenting my paper, and it looks like I'll have to cancle the URC meeting presentation too. Oh well. Less stress, right? I'll still hopefully have a paper by the end of the quarter to submit for publishing, I just miss out on the whole dog and pony show of presenting the paper to all the you-ha's of archaeology.





Sad. Ah well.





Better news? ANZA is coming up! That's right, I have exactly TWO WEEKS to gear up for it! I'm going up to Chico tomorrow to pick up my musket and leathers, as well as my trousers, pack, and sundry items. The most exciting part is this: I ordered some wool from Burnley and Trowbridge (http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/) almost a month ago, and it FINALLY arrived at the beginning of this week. Since then I whipped out a prototype of an 1806 pattern French Grenadier's habit, cut into my looooovely new broadcloth and am madly sewing to get this beast done.

That's the idea - we'll see how close I get. It's really a lovely coat, and I'm growing more and more fond of it as I work on it. Having nice materials always helps to.

I ordered a large portion of madder red broadcloth not only for the trim you see there but also to whip out a British line infantry jacket (which are much easier to construct, at least theoretically) if this habit doesn't work out. For a base pattern, I'm useing my ripped pattern from my custom Steve Able 1840's NY jacket. The sleaves especially are the correct tight style that is usually overlooked by generic patterns. I haven't had a lot of trouble with the theoretical modeling of the jacket, but you never know until it's all put together... here's crossing fingers!