Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to War I go!!! (or... Doing the Time Warp Again!!!)

Some of you may remember that this is the time (give or take a week) that I head off to a huge gathering called Pennsic War, which is essentially **the big** international convention for the Society for Creative Anachronism (the SCA). Camping out with 10,000+ friends, fighting in battles with as many as 1500 to a side (and sometimes more), lots of parties, dancing, flirting (lots of it) and seeing friends we don't get to see but once a year. And this year... while attendance may be down (the economy plus folks saving up to make sure they can make it to Pennsic 40 next year, which may top 20,000 attendance), it will still be fun, but different. I am in personal fealty to the hosting King and Queen, so it will be very busy for me in a different way as well, setting up thrones for court (and coordinating with those working for other royals in some instances)! It is also one reason (besides our having made promises that we would not drop off the face of the earth), that we are going...

So you won't be seeing me on DC until probably the 15th, though I hope to have some limited network access to check email and take a look at the job boards, and may post some pics to Facebook around the 9th when we make a quick trip back home. One of the advantages since we live only about 30 miles away. Of course, maybe I might also get a call for an interview during this time... But with some luck, we might even have some pics with me fighting, though that depends on how my sore tailbone feels.

Anyways... have fun killing bugs while I have fun storming the Castle. And what Castle is that you ask?? Click here and take a look at some of the pics Alas, no cow jousting this year.

LOL

Huggs! (and special ones for some of ya who I will definitely miss!)

Spacey, known for the next two weeks as Bonheddwr Cinnion map Liuelin map Higuel.

Have fun storming the castle!
Think it will work?
It would take a miracle.

Hail and onward brave sir.
Have fun you deserve to !

"It's a trick get an AXE!"

get a shovel and tunnel under the walls

Have a great War!

WAIT!!! you can build a ballista and tie yourself..(or someone else) to it and fire it over the walls and then you can attack from the inside!

YEAH! THAT"LL DO IT!! that's the plan!!!!

So far, this year has been a real mix weather wise... we have had a few days filled with halfway heavy rains off and on, and some days it has been so hot and humid some days you feel like you are melting into the puddles left by that rain. Today was cooler, and no rain. I got way too much sun last Sunday setting up AEthelmearc's (our kingdom's) royal encampment, when it was way WAY too hot to be unloading a semi trailer we use for storage, and setting up like 6 20x30 pavillions (think small circus tents). Since then, the wife and I have been catching up with old friends, and spending about 10 hours a day working at Herald's Point, where we have been helping create armory (think coats of arms) and names which would have existed between 600 and 1600 for people. Tomorrow is Opening Ceremonies, where my Royals will be standing up front while the royals for the other kingdoms, including the East and Middle, will parade in with groups of their people to declare which side they will be fighting with (with the East or Middle).

Also, lots of parties. Thursday saw me going to the camp of the Lost Boy's of Never Never Land (yep... you got it... and we have lots of friends there who are mostly fencers) with a local friend of ours, where we had fun up in a large cargo net hammock, dancing in a drum circle, drinking for those who wanted, etc. We have a repeat next Thursday, where we will be also seeing something called Pan Juice (a drink which looks like glowing antifreeze, tastes yummy like cool-aid, and sneaks up on you to hammer you like one of those balls used to knock down houses... YIPPEE!!! one of the few things I drink). I know of at least 3 courts I will likely have to setup for (perhaps more), and lots of other fun.

More later!