A Certain Lack of Intensity

I’m still not quite up to snuff yet, but I have (what I hope will be) a three-day weekend coming up that should finally give me the chance to reset the internal clock back to Andrea Standard Time.

(Note: AST is about two hours behind any time zone I actually happen to find myself in. But, ironically, I also have a reputation for being early. Not sure how that works, but when it does, it does.)

And getting back to doing normal-person-type things, like going to the bank, opening my mail, and returning phone calls in a timely manner. I did manage to catch up on the e-mails a bit earlier this week, though. (More to follow, if you’re still waiting.)

Shopping, too. I’ve been off my regular thrift/antique/toy store/eBay circuit for nearly a month now, and it’s making me antsy. The positive buzz I’m seeing about the new Palomino Marwari release has me especially curious to see that one "in the flesh". I don’t have a need to buy one right now; I’m good with just looking.

I haven’t been putting much conscious thought into BreyerFest preparations, even though my dream time seems to be obsessed with it - to the point where it might actually be the thing interfering with my efforts to get back to a normal schedule. (OMG I FORGOT MY WALLET. Wake up, cuss to myself, roll over and try to go back to sleep. DID I PACK MY SALE CHINAS? Wake up, again. Lather, rinse, repeat. Urgh.)

I think part of it is because there really hasn’t been all that much new news about it since the info dump at the beginning of the month, and because, duh, that whole country music thing. I’m just not that into it, no matter how hard I try.

And I’m now thinking that maybe I shouldn’t.

There have been some moments over the past couple of weeks where I’ve seriously entertained the notion of doing a completely stress-free BreyerFest this year: no contests, no competitions, no embarrassing and quixotic quests for the rarest or finest. Just pick up the horses, sell stuff out of the room, and socialize.

That’s what we’re all ultimately down there for anyway, right?

And frankly, I’m sort of tired of trying to figure out what it is that judges are looking for. What amuses me and what amuses them are clearly not simpatico, and I probably should just learn to live with it.

The most shocking part is now that I’m thinking that the NPOD might even be a stretch. I know it’s mostly just hot air at this point, but the uptick of interest in the NPOD this year from newbies is starting to unnerve me a bit. That some of them think it’s actually worth skipping out on whatever happens at the hotel on the Thursday night before.

Look, I’m not saying this entirely out of self-interest, but it’s not. Thursday night is probably my favorite time of BreyerFest: the hotel is a beehive of activity and gossip. That's where I get to experience that rare and wonderful sense of truly belonging to something. Even if I don't get myself something, I always get something out of it.

Sitting in a line, in the dark, on the cement, for hours on end, on the chance that you might find something rare and awesome? It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. Sure, you get to do some socializing and gossiping, but with a rather small subset of people, many of whom would be more than willing to impale your foot with a sharpened spork if it means the difference between getting - or not getting - a Silver Filigree Alborozo.

It can be awesome, if you’re prepared for it, and you’re in the right frame of mind. In fact, I’d recommend everyone try it at least once. But I think most first-timers would have better BreyerFest experience if they stuck to the hotel on Thursday night. Like any other high-risk investment, your chances in the Ninja Pit comes with a rather high rate of failure. Not the best way to start out an epic experience for most folks, I think.

And also: if I do decide to go ninja this year, I’m bringing the bullwhip.