vanillafluffy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
vanillafluffy) wrote2011-03-27 02:22 pm
vanillafluffy) wrote2011-03-27 02:22 pm
Entry tags:
- gk,
- hats,
- organizing,
- renfest
You can't go home again, but try to enjoy the kilts and other RenFest revelations
Yesterday was a very long day, especially with scarcely five hours sleep to prepare me for it (and even LESS sleep the night before, because I kept thinking of "One more thing!" that needed to be done). Which is one of the reasons GK is going up to GA with BC to see our friend without me. That, and another ten hours in a vehicle with BC might just drive me crazy---both the ten hours part and the BC part.
Backtrack: The RenFest was...underwhelming. The new site is in a wooded area, but because it isn't permanent like the old one, the infrastructure is lacking. NONE of the shows had enough seating, and forget random benches scattered around the grounds. Also, some idjit thought it was a good idea to add wood chips to the ground for...traction? IDEK what brain!fail they were operating under, because this wasn't the kind of wood chips you'd spread in your garden: There were big fist-sized chunks in amongst the smaller chips, which were downright treacherous.
I had no money, and to add insult to injury, my camera's battery decided to die for good an hour after we got there. It was warm and sunny, but there was some shade and I wore sunscreen, so I didn't even pink noticably, but I was wickedly thirsty.
Doc didn't come; he was busy having a crisis of his own. That's why the Savannah trip got rearranged into a one-day whirlwind, we're going over to Sarasota tomorrow to see him.
The highlight of the day was definitely the kilt competition. *smirk* I'm VERY sorry I didn't get pix of that! Twelve fine specimens ranging from teenagers to seventyish strutted across the stage, making their pleats swirl and their sporrans dance. It was...inspiring.
GK took me, BC's daughter and Daughter's Bestie to the Queen's Tea. We got there at the last minute, and ended up sitting at the back of the tent. We were far away from the Queen, who was hostessing a presentation on tea culture throughout the world, but right next to the table where the scones, sandwiches and cakes were, ensuring that we got served first. It was pleasant to sit in the shade, have a nibble and a sip and the Queen (who'd also judged the kilt competion with verve) was a hoot. There were also fops serving the tea and munchies; one of them had the most extraordinary hat,covered with multi-colored roses and trailed by several vivid plumes.
Speaking of which, there was a booth selling the most gorgeous hats. I tried one on and had a very nice chat with the proprietress. (She said that she could tell I was a sister Hat Person by the fact that I could pronounce 'cloche' correctly.) My own hat was a woven straw panama, very simple, with a silk scarf in blues and purples tied around the crown. (I had on a blue top, brown vest and dark green skirt, so you have an idea.) But these hats were far superior! I had palpitations! They were awesome velvet creations with ornate rickrack trimming and rosettes of feathers and bejeweled pins. The cost of any one of them was more money than I've seen this month. I'd have to wear it to church every week for a year just to amortize it. But I got her card, and if I ever strike it rich....
Whoever did the cartography on the complimentary map ought to face the hangman; it was bloody useless. I got lost toward the end of the day, and went around in circles until I was near tears. Finally got out of there and then had trouble finding the van.
I'm very glad I thought to bring my MP3 player, and that it had good, fresh batteries in it. (Not the same size as the camera, alas, or I would've been in business.) I plugged the earbuds in and it drowned out Other Music Selections and the sound of BC droning on. Although at one point, I'd swear I heard GK mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
We got back to town around 9PM. GK dropped me off first---she said I looked "haggard"---and went off to BC's for an hour...then she came back and took me to Olive Garden for a late dinner. I had two bowls of pasta e fagioli soup and an appetizer, she had a salad, shrimp and veggies.
It was midnight by the time we got home. More domestic analysis ensued. I really wasn't planning to start on my kitchen at 1 AM, but that's what happened. Now my pantry has been emptied of non-food items, and I have a to-do list of what's to follow. I've done none of it. GK got up at 7, and so did I, because it was impossible to sleep through. She ran around for two hours before departing, and shortly thereafter, I went back to bed and slept til 12:45.
And now I've blogged for almost an hour and a half, and next thing I'm going to do is have breakfast. I honestly don't expect her back much before midnight, allowing for meals and such, and I'm probably going to be up all night. We'll see.
TTFN.
.
Backtrack: The RenFest was...underwhelming. The new site is in a wooded area, but because it isn't permanent like the old one, the infrastructure is lacking. NONE of the shows had enough seating, and forget random benches scattered around the grounds. Also, some idjit thought it was a good idea to add wood chips to the ground for...traction? IDEK what brain!fail they were operating under, because this wasn't the kind of wood chips you'd spread in your garden: There were big fist-sized chunks in amongst the smaller chips, which were downright treacherous.
I had no money, and to add insult to injury, my camera's battery decided to die for good an hour after we got there. It was warm and sunny, but there was some shade and I wore sunscreen, so I didn't even pink noticably, but I was wickedly thirsty.
Doc didn't come; he was busy having a crisis of his own. That's why the Savannah trip got rearranged into a one-day whirlwind, we're going over to Sarasota tomorrow to see him.
The highlight of the day was definitely the kilt competition. *smirk* I'm VERY sorry I didn't get pix of that! Twelve fine specimens ranging from teenagers to seventyish strutted across the stage, making their pleats swirl and their sporrans dance. It was...inspiring.
GK took me, BC's daughter and Daughter's Bestie to the Queen's Tea. We got there at the last minute, and ended up sitting at the back of the tent. We were far away from the Queen, who was hostessing a presentation on tea culture throughout the world, but right next to the table where the scones, sandwiches and cakes were, ensuring that we got served first. It was pleasant to sit in the shade, have a nibble and a sip and the Queen (who'd also judged the kilt competion with verve) was a hoot. There were also fops serving the tea and munchies; one of them had the most extraordinary hat,covered with multi-colored roses and trailed by several vivid plumes.
Speaking of which, there was a booth selling the most gorgeous hats. I tried one on and had a very nice chat with the proprietress. (She said that she could tell I was a sister Hat Person by the fact that I could pronounce 'cloche' correctly.) My own hat was a woven straw panama, very simple, with a silk scarf in blues and purples tied around the crown. (I had on a blue top, brown vest and dark green skirt, so you have an idea.) But these hats were far superior! I had palpitations! They were awesome velvet creations with ornate rickrack trimming and rosettes of feathers and bejeweled pins. The cost of any one of them was more money than I've seen this month. I'd have to wear it to church every week for a year just to amortize it. But I got her card, and if I ever strike it rich....
Whoever did the cartography on the complimentary map ought to face the hangman; it was bloody useless. I got lost toward the end of the day, and went around in circles until I was near tears. Finally got out of there and then had trouble finding the van.
I'm very glad I thought to bring my MP3 player, and that it had good, fresh batteries in it. (Not the same size as the camera, alas, or I would've been in business.) I plugged the earbuds in and it drowned out Other Music Selections and the sound of BC droning on. Although at one point, I'd swear I heard GK mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
We got back to town around 9PM. GK dropped me off first---she said I looked "haggard"---and went off to BC's for an hour...then she came back and took me to Olive Garden for a late dinner. I had two bowls of pasta e fagioli soup and an appetizer, she had a salad, shrimp and veggies.
It was midnight by the time we got home. More domestic analysis ensued. I really wasn't planning to start on my kitchen at 1 AM, but that's what happened. Now my pantry has been emptied of non-food items, and I have a to-do list of what's to follow. I've done none of it. GK got up at 7, and so did I, because it was impossible to sleep through. She ran around for two hours before departing, and shortly thereafter, I went back to bed and slept til 12:45.
And now I've blogged for almost an hour and a half, and next thing I'm going to do is have breakfast. I honestly don't expect her back much before midnight, allowing for meals and such, and I'm probably going to be up all night. We'll see.
TTFN.
.
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*glares at Fluffy`s camera* I hate when they do that. Mine died when I was at a funeral I had promised to take some photos for. Not as amusing but similarly important.
And I HOPE you two get some good progress with your kitchen!
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Today I've been stuck on 'slow'. I've shifted all the canned goods to the pantry, but that's about it. I think busting ass for the last few weeks is catching up with me.
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Let us hope you can manage some of the things on that omnious list of yours!
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I have all the canned goods in the pantry, now I'm looking at the rest of the stuff that was in there in dismay---and telling myself it'll all be worth it in the end.
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I know my sister's family was underwhelmed when they went to the RenFest a few years back. Very expensive and sort of cheesy were their sentiments.
Hey, it was a day away from home, right? Enjoy your visit with GK- sounds like you have a lot of good thrifting and such planned.
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They didn't forbid bringing things in discretely---I had a reusable 7-11 cup with me---but there were no water fountains, and the vendors wouldn't even give away ice.
I didn't think it was horribly cheesy, but then, I've been going for so many years that I'm used to that. Trouble is, there really weren't any affordable goodies for the truly poor. There was a booth selling geological bits---but their rocks were ungodly overpriced. I could have gotten a tiny bottle of fragrance, but I have perfume at home I've had for ages, I don't need more. So what little money I had, I still have.
I understand that vendors have a hell of an overhead---GK looked into selling garb some years back, and what with lot rent and insurance, you have to clear $2K just to stay even---but of course, there's also stock, meals, lodging and transportation, so add another couple thousand...and that's without the value of the maker's time.
Mind you, if I won the lottery and could do it for fun instead of profit, I might just, at least for a few years.
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I've said for a long time that you can spot a sister hat person if they know that cloches should only be worn with short hair. ;)
there is an awesome tearoom at the Dickens Christmas Faire. If you're ever in the SF area around Xmas time I'll be happy to take you. Actually if you ever want to visit here any time of year, I love playing tour guide and i can take you to cool places we locals know about that tourists don't always get to see.