public domain photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amalthea_Julien_Louvre_CC230.jpg
“Life is meant to be sacred, fun, and enjoyed … with the goal of bliss. Listening to the Universe will set you free if you follow her course, if not, then you’ll stagnate and become simply a sheep following the orders of other sheep. Sometimes you have to follow the other sheep to get up the hill as the footpath is narrow, but once the fields open up … its time to be free and to wander towards bliss … we are soon to evolve into a family of mountain goats.” ~ Leaf McGowan, 2013
Thursday, 20th June 2013
Fort Jackson / Columbia, South Carolina
As you can tell from the lack of posts that Sir Thomas Leaf has been absent from his travels as of late. Sir Thomas Leaf and Etain de Danann had to relocate from Ireland to South Carolina to aid caretaking for their mother who they thought just needed to be watched over because of an increase in alsheimer’s symptoms. What they discovered, quickly upon arrival in September 2012 was that she didn’t have alsheimer’s, but rather a UTI, Leukemia, severe dehydration, and Diabetes. Once diagnosed, she quickly plummeted and passed away early November. Sir Thomas Leaf and Etain had to relocate to South Carolina, moving to Columbia during caretaking, preparing for the arrival of young prince Cian, and work for the Army. Nesting took place and the lovebirds wove a settled existence in the heart of the south, adjusting to the cultural differences that came with such a move. The heat, the bugs, and a warm climate, in a region where they lacked community, extended family, and a support system. They made the best of it, knowing they would be there only for a maximum of a few years while their mom needed them. As she had passed away less than a month of settling in, the couple needed to stay put to wait for a few months to pass after delivery of the baby, other life obligations, as well as finishing the lease on their house – then freedom abound for new horizons, as the south was not for them. Financial backing and growth with Technogypsie Productions, Pirate Relief, and The Tree Leaves Oracle opened up an opportunity for the team to relocate to the Pacific Northwest to set up a store, shop, and home base with festivals to attend along the journey to fund the cause. The scouting mission was accepted by the exploration team of Sir Thomas Leaf, Lady Etain, and young Faerie prince Cian as they would break free from the world of the 9 to 5 working sheep and transition to the freedom as adventuring mountain goats. A potential of Sir Rob Wildwood from Glastonbury might also fly in to join the adventure. So the journey has begun … the path is being cleared.
Sir Thomas Leaf continued on wrapping up the program troubleshooting between Lectora SCORM and blackboard on a training module he had to take over from a co-worker that was let go. It is never fun to take over someone else’s undocumented code and scripting, but a challenge none-the-less he was eager to solve. Last minute health insurance doctor visits and tasks blended into the last few days for him and lady Etain, as they pack up for their scouting journey awaiting the road before them. Evenings, Sir Thomas Leaf were spent on the roof of the “Tir na nOg” vardo, laying out Flexible Solar Panelling connected to the Sunforce Charge Controller to charge up the house batteries for the adventure. He also added a Marine/RV battery exclusively for laptops and Technogypsie productions, connected to its own single Instapark® NEW All Black 5W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel with 12V Solar Charge Controller and wired into a Energizer EN1100 Power Inverter, 1100-watt. Being a cartographer and world explorer, and not an electrician, he nervously bypassed hiring an electrician to do this work, and tried it himself. Successful lights on the controller appears he did the righteous job correctly. The journey of course will display efficiency or in-efficiency. Time shall tell. Packing up the inventory atop the bunk bed above the driver’s cab, with cargo netting and a hand-built wooden frame so they won’t go flying, all of Pirate Relief and Tree Leaves Oracle merchandise fit snug as a bug. Laced and bound on the rooftop lay festival tarps, rugs, chairs, tents, and tables. Sprinkled throughout the RV/Vardo are camping gear, tools, equipment, and sundries for further exploration. In case he gets an independent contractor Archaeology gig in August during surveys in southern Oregon, his archaeology tool kit of trowels, shovels, tape, levels, dental tools, knee pads, snake guards, and excavation/survey gear resides under the dining room table. Flat screen monitor and desktop PC replaces where the sub-standard RV tv and VCR would go for late night entertainment, strapped to the walls with bungee cords. The infamous wood gnome nestled strapped to the wall amongst the ferns, underneath the pirate flag ready for exploits. Packed with bountiful treasures of silk, clothes, jewelry, pendants, art, oils, essences, herbs, teas, and spices … these otherworldly merchants of Tir na nOg are soon to embrace the merchant trail out west ….