Aelia Apollonia
mka Krista Barber
About Me

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I have two main hobbies: dancing and embroidery. My first performance was when my mom was the 6-month pregnant party guest in her (later, our) company's production of The Nutcracker. I was placed in ballet classes not long after I could walk, and my first performance post-utero was when I was 5, again in the Nutcracker. I grew up in dance studios and on stages, doing ballet, tap, and belly dance, sometimes right alongside my mom.

In high school I perfomed in both the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of San Jose (now Lyric Theater) as well as Monta Vista's Madrigals group. I stopped performing in college and only recently took it back up. I poked around dance classes for a while but have settled on hula dance with Kumu Hula Marlo Caramat. I have learned hula from him since 2005 and continue to enjoy it.

In the SCA, I have taken the persona of a lady in the court of Theodora and Justinian, early 6th century CE Constantinople. Although this is my official persona and my first cultural love (I am, afterall, of Greek descent), I can often be found in the clothing and stitching the patterns of different times and places.

I have been involved in the SCA for about 6 years. My first SCA anything was a choir practice, and I have continued to be active in the choir ever since. During that time I have been chatelaine (person who gets newcomers acquainted with the SCA), seneschal (local chapter president), guild participant and minister, choir member, court member, embroidered an arse-load of regalia and items for other people, and met so many people who have become my dearest friends and family that I am hard-pressed financially to provide a gift at Christmas time to everyone who means something special to me.

My device is to the right, per pale azure and or, three bees and a chevron, all counterchanged. As this has been passed by the college of heralds, only I am allowed to bear this device. My unregistered badge is the counterchanged bee, and has been the basis for the favors I have made for those who have fought for me on the field of honor.

My boyfriend Jeff and I have been dating for almost three years. He lives in Danville and we trade off making the trek to see each other, but he is well worth the effort. He is a wonderful man and I am incredibly lucky to have him in my life. We are great friends and take much comfort in the other's company. I could wax poetic about him and bore you all, but I've promised not to embarrass him by doing so.

But I will say he was super cute as a child . . and still is. :D

My mom and stepfather Larry live on Maui, Hawaii where they have been retired for 5+ years. They often travel and work as educational consultants for local schools and leadership groups, and are very involved in their local Rotary club. My mom also works at the Kihei Curves and Larry also plays softball. Between the two of them, I seriously doubt there's anyone on Maui that they don't know.

My mom also made good on her dream to dance in a grandma's hula troupe, and currently is learning from Kumu Hula Ulu. She will hopefully perform in his 2008 show, which if it doesn't conflict with my kumu's performance I would like to try and go see. It is nice to know that even though we are an ocean apart, we still study the same dances as we have done for all of my life.

My father and stepmom Mandy live not but a few miles from me in their condo, while I housesit their house for the next year. Mandy recently retired and is working as a substitute teacher for elementary schools.

My dad still works as an educator at Quimby and Harker schools, and plans to do so for the next couple of years. They are planning to retire close, which will be nice as I'm down to one parent left in the area!