Third weekend, done and done! Last week seemed to be just a series of annoyances one after the other, so this week I'm determined to have a better one. I have to say it isn't starting out promisingly, but last week started out awesome and ended up as it was, so hopefully there'll be another flip-flop.
Friday, as I wrote, was pretty terrible, but I woke up on Saturday determined to have a good one, and I did. I didn't have any cash to get a coffee or any Redline (aka my crack juice: it's an energy shot like 5 hour energy but vastly superior.) so I had to pop an excedrin just for the caffeine. As soon as I did I felt loads better, and people were buying wings, and buying BIG, expensive ones, so I was happy. Yesterday, however, was the crappiest of crappy faire days. The patrons were like zombies shambling around, giving nothing back but blank stares when I asked them how they were doing or said hello. I wondered if it was just the wing booth, but later I went to watch a little bit of the Clan Tynker show (more about them in a minute) and they were performing amazing feats and stunts, and the people watching barely clapped or hooted. It was pretty hot, the hottest day yet, but come on, it's ARIZONA! What's the point of even coming to a Renaissance Faire if you're just gonna be boring and not enthusiastic about anything?
Speaking of enthusiastic, my new favorite show at the faire (besides London Broil, forever the best show at any faire ever [and i don't say that just because I used to date one of them...it's true!]) is Clan Tynker. I'm mostly just intrigued by them as people, because I want to know every detail of their upbringing and being 5 siblings who travel around doing amazing circus tricks from around the world is just awesome. I have a little girl-crush on Serendipity, who doesn't speak but does a lot of twirling and bubble-blowing and has a super long black braid and her face painted pale white and pink. Anyway, they do all sorts of Stupid Human Tricks and it's awesome. I love Stupid Human Tricks! maybe one day I'll learn one (note: this will probably never happen.)
The Clan Tynker page...check it out!
I had a bunch of notes written out about yesterday, because I was bored and had time to write notes, but I don't remember many.
-A quote I heard, by Miguel of Don Juan and Miguel: "holding hands, eh? watch out, that leads straight to stretch marks and labor pains!"
-A dude walking around shirtless with long, messy dreads (not the good kind), and a torso full of Mistake Tattoos...two huge pot leaves surrounded by smaller pot leaves on his chest, one of those Juggalo running man things on his arm, a poorly done black and white skull on his ribs, and various others. He of course was hand in hand with a girl who seemed perfectly normal. How is it that these walking Bad Decisions always seem to find some poor person to be their mate?
-Some teenagers you can just tell are going to grow up to have really weird sex lives.
I think I'm going out sometime this week to watch Louie and the other dudes do Comedy somewhere in Phoenix. He said he'd text me and I could ride with them. That would be so nice. I said I would go, and I know Louie pretty well, so I must repeat to myself I will-I will-I WILL go, i will not-I will not- I WILL NOT bail out to just sit in my tent alone all night instead.
It's really super windy outside, but there's an old and a young dude playing chess at one of the tables outside of the coffee shop, so I'm gonna watch them do that now.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
the wind do blew
I'm in a highly irritable mood today. It's most likely due to PMS, but every little thing that happens makes me kind of HARRUMPH! I was woken up at 6 am by the walls of my tent violently flapping and snapping in the heavy wind, which it's been doing since then. I made some peanut butter and nutella toast, had an apple, and loaded myself into the car to head to gecko. On the way out, I noticed the camp director's chalkboard sign ordering everyone to clean their campsites, which I guess are a little too cluttered for his taste. My campsite is pretty much spotless (in fact, I was hauling the huge cardboard box that had sat in my yard for a while, and a trash bag, to put in the dumpster) but the sign still made me HARRUMPH! the curse of being a Brat...anytime anything like an Order is given, my body fills with resistance chemicals and I want to do just the opposite...and I wasn't even being singled out! I keep my trashcan inside, and my yard isn't cluttered at all, just my table, chairs, water jug, ashtray, and now the stove and a pot and bowl. But I still got all mad that someone was telling me what to do. But not even ME! Sigh. I can't wait for this phase to pass. Ever since that dude yelled at me I've been on tenterhooks, worrying that I'm being spied on constantly and someone's going to catch me doing something wrong that I didn't even know I wasn't supposed to do, and yell at me again. I'm even nervous about throwing my dishwater over the fence into the desert, even though it's just water and biodegradable camp soap. Actually writing it out makes me feel less bad about it. I'm not gonna dump it in my own yard, and where else can I put it? It's certainly not as bad as all the people who take their dogs out into the desert (we're not even supposed to cross the barbed wire fence, and I never have.) I'm sure that doesn't help keep coyotes away, piles of unfamiliar canine shit in their territory. I guess the point is I'm not really comfortable yet, and feeling kind of disillusioned. I don't want to stop or go home, by any means, it's just a learning experience and a process. I know it'll get better soon.
Anyway, in better news, I got a camp stove, and kitchen things, so I can actually cook at home now! I figured out how to work it, and managed to make mac n cheese, and a can of chili yesterday, and as I mentioned, toast this morning (I got a little toast caddy that sits over the flames. The toast didn't get super toasty, but I blame the gales of wind for that, and my impatience.) I went to Trader Joe's and got lots of canned stuff, like beans and chili and stuff that isn't very perishable. I also got a thing of milk, but it got sour already, even though I kept it in the cooler as cool as possible. Hopefully I'll be able to find smaller ones so it doesn't go to waste. But I need milk for my cereal!
The most annoying part about living out here I would say is the lack of proper refrigeration. It severely limits my food options, and getting ice every other day is fine and all that, but it's really annoying when it melts and everything is floating in water and then water gets everywhere when you take it out. This is all just kind of complainy whiny stuff that is small in the long run. There's definitely more good than bad living out here. I'm just going through the awkward, getting-on-my-feet stage. At least I have a place to come relax and use the internet and tune everything out and stop worrying for a second. And I'm going to do just that! Third weekend starts tomorrow...
Anyway, in better news, I got a camp stove, and kitchen things, so I can actually cook at home now! I figured out how to work it, and managed to make mac n cheese, and a can of chili yesterday, and as I mentioned, toast this morning (I got a little toast caddy that sits over the flames. The toast didn't get super toasty, but I blame the gales of wind for that, and my impatience.) I went to Trader Joe's and got lots of canned stuff, like beans and chili and stuff that isn't very perishable. I also got a thing of milk, but it got sour already, even though I kept it in the cooler as cool as possible. Hopefully I'll be able to find smaller ones so it doesn't go to waste. But I need milk for my cereal!
The most annoying part about living out here I would say is the lack of proper refrigeration. It severely limits my food options, and getting ice every other day is fine and all that, but it's really annoying when it melts and everything is floating in water and then water gets everywhere when you take it out. This is all just kind of complainy whiny stuff that is small in the long run. There's definitely more good than bad living out here. I'm just going through the awkward, getting-on-my-feet stage. At least I have a place to come relax and use the internet and tune everything out and stop worrying for a second. And I'm going to do just that! Third weekend starts tomorrow...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
uncle fuckin' rotten tooth
Ooh, y'all, I finally get to rant about something.
So, I'm returning from my coffee/internet/grocery shopping/ice trip, and had just stopped by my boss's trailer to get paid some more money for helping set up the pirate booth before the faire started. I was driving very carefully down the extremely bumpy road, as usual, staring at my speedometer to make sure I wasn't going over 5 mph. Driving 5 mph is fucking HARD, by the way. I basically was just letting the car coast and steering it, which is what I always do. I stopped at my tent, and was rooting around trying to find something when I hear a VIOLENT knocking on my window, and open the door to see an angry, creepy sunken-faced toothless old rennie dude glaring angrily at me.
He then proceeds to yell at me about how I'm ALWAYS speeding, and THEY have to breathe the dust, and if you're kicking up dust you're going too fast, and he watches me drive in and out and I NEVER go 5, and he only just now caught me. I was just staring at him, aghast, and finally said, "I'm really sorry, I was watching my speed the whole time, I thought I was going 5…" and he said "YOU WEREN'T. I'm reporting you to Rook!" the camp director. And he walked away, as I said "okay…I'm sorry…."
Now, this angered me, because I ALWAYS try very hard to only go 5 mph, as I said. It's hard, and I don't even put my foot on the gas. This particular time, I was making especially sure. Of course, 3 minutes after this dude was on his way, my neighbor comes peeling in, definitely faster than 5 and definitely kicking up dust. Yet did HE get yelled at? Oh, no. (at least, I don't think so.) Anyway, what is this guy doing that he just WATCHES me driving around and apparently speeding? Does he have a speed gun? Of course my car is kicking up dust…EVERY car is kicking up dust, no matter how fast or slow they go. It's the fucking DESERT, and the road is full of deep, giant potholes. If I was going fast, my car would be fucked up. Also, he REALLY didn't have to YELL at me. If he had stopped me and just said politely yet sternly that he had noticed me kind of speeding on more than one occasion, and that it makes too much dust and etc, I would have been totally understand and apologetic and made extra care to drive super slow from now on. I'll make sure I'm driving super slow from now on, but now I hate him. Nobody likes the grumpy old dude who sits around policing how fast the kids are driving through the neighborhood. It also surprises me whenever anyone yells at ME, because I am so quiet and unassuming and always try to be as polite as possible and not rile anyone up.
Anyway, I'm pissed off. I don't even want to go do anything tonight because I'm in a bad mood now, thanks, dude! I'll probably just take something to calm me down, have a few beers, and go to bed early. Also, none of my friends are actually going to this thing tonight, one is going to some drum jam firedancing thing in the desert and one has been drinking all day and is probably going to pass out early too. Bah! I am NOT just going to go by myself and hope I see someone I know, because that only works at EB's. There will be other parties, I'm sure. I'm just not in the mood for any of that right now, I want to go to sleep and wake up tomorrow only mildly annoyed by this instead of supremely pissed off.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
book exchange and community corner
nice title, huh? i had trouble coming up with one, so i just looked around gecko and typed out the first sign i saw.
well, president's day weekend is finally over! now the weeks will be normal, just 2 days of work and 5 days off. yesterday was extremely crowded because it was 2 for 1 tickets. we sold some stuff, but didn't kick as much ass as I wanted, mostly because we didn't have the stock we needed. but patrick was happy, so i was happy.
with the money i made from 3 days of work as well as the 2 student days last week, i went and bought myself a "kitchen", that is, a camp stove, pot, pan, utensils, cutting board, plate, bowl, a storage shelf for food and a smaller one for cutlery,etc. hopefully i'll figure out how to, you know, use the stove. it involves a can of propane and holding a match up to the burner to light it, so we'll see. hopefully i won't light myself or the desert on fire.
there's a mardi gras dance party thing going on tonight at the local bar. they have shuttles to and from the front gate, so i'll be going for sure. it'll be a good chance to drink and socialize. the bazaar in the mornings is a nice social gathering, but as i usually walk up there alone, and am not usually drunk, i don't really talk to anyone. i curse my awkwardness and shyness, so much. i feel i'm getting a reputation of being a loner, since i hardly ever talk to anyone and am only seen alone. i don't want to be a loner, though! it's just hard for me to just walk up to people and start a conversation unless i've been drinking, and i can't very well go around being drunk all the time. i do have people that i hang out with, and things will become more normal now, that is, when people invite me to hang out i actually will, because i won't have to go to bed early to wake up for the faire, during the week. katie, the girl who runs the booth that i work at in carolina, and who i'll be working for in texas, invited me to come hang out anytime, so i'll do that. i have to start hanging out because i'm not just going to write a blog about how lonely i am all the time! i was lonely most of the time in charlotte, too, to be honest.
Today a guy with no arms came into gecko. he was all decked out in biking gear, with his friend, and the baristas were questioning him about how he bikes. he told them he has a recumbent, which you just peddle with your legs. i was intensely curious, too, but didn't go out to look. he made me feel extremely lazy.
after this i'm going to trader joe's, which is exciting. their food is so cheap and awesome, and i haven't shopped there in forever, and i like shopping there almost as much as i like actually eating the stuff. my kingdom for an oven! or a microwave! george forman grill? 2 burner camp stove...? well, okay.
well, president's day weekend is finally over! now the weeks will be normal, just 2 days of work and 5 days off. yesterday was extremely crowded because it was 2 for 1 tickets. we sold some stuff, but didn't kick as much ass as I wanted, mostly because we didn't have the stock we needed. but patrick was happy, so i was happy.
with the money i made from 3 days of work as well as the 2 student days last week, i went and bought myself a "kitchen", that is, a camp stove, pot, pan, utensils, cutting board, plate, bowl, a storage shelf for food and a smaller one for cutlery,etc. hopefully i'll figure out how to, you know, use the stove. it involves a can of propane and holding a match up to the burner to light it, so we'll see. hopefully i won't light myself or the desert on fire.
there's a mardi gras dance party thing going on tonight at the local bar. they have shuttles to and from the front gate, so i'll be going for sure. it'll be a good chance to drink and socialize. the bazaar in the mornings is a nice social gathering, but as i usually walk up there alone, and am not usually drunk, i don't really talk to anyone. i curse my awkwardness and shyness, so much. i feel i'm getting a reputation of being a loner, since i hardly ever talk to anyone and am only seen alone. i don't want to be a loner, though! it's just hard for me to just walk up to people and start a conversation unless i've been drinking, and i can't very well go around being drunk all the time. i do have people that i hang out with, and things will become more normal now, that is, when people invite me to hang out i actually will, because i won't have to go to bed early to wake up for the faire, during the week. katie, the girl who runs the booth that i work at in carolina, and who i'll be working for in texas, invited me to come hang out anytime, so i'll do that. i have to start hanging out because i'm not just going to write a blog about how lonely i am all the time! i was lonely most of the time in charlotte, too, to be honest.
Today a guy with no arms came into gecko. he was all decked out in biking gear, with his friend, and the baristas were questioning him about how he bikes. he told them he has a recumbent, which you just peddle with your legs. i was intensely curious, too, but didn't go out to look. he made me feel extremely lazy.
after this i'm going to trader joe's, which is exciting. their food is so cheap and awesome, and i haven't shopped there in forever, and i like shopping there almost as much as i like actually eating the stuff. my kingdom for an oven! or a microwave! george forman grill? 2 burner camp stove...? well, okay.
The Twilight Bark
I sat down to write after working today and I'm so tired I can't think of anything that happened!
Oh yeah. I was selling wings when 2 dudes walked up with their kids and asked to buy some. One of them started hounding me, bigtime, asking to take me out to dinner, and when I demurred, breakfast. (in a tone suggesting the breakfast would occur after a night filled with spicy latino lovemaking) I told him coldly that it was a school night and if I took the day off I'd lose money, so he joked that he'd pay me double AND give me a free breakfast. I said, "Nothing's free", demurred again and told him I was spoken for, (a big fat lie) and that stopped him. He just said "he's a lucky guy!", and I laughed, and they left after buying some wings, saying: "man, white girls are hostile!" I'm not hostile, I just have an empty perfume bottle where my heart should be. Also, he was short and not cute. I haven't been flirted with like that in a while, it was semi-flattering but mostly uncomfortable. At least I got 2 sales out of it.
At the end of the day, as everyone gets back to their campsites, the air fills with the sounds of dogs barking and howling, eager to be fed, walked, and loved on. It makes me miss my dogs at home so much. I'm glad I don't have the extra responsibility of caring for a dog, but every time I see one I just want to pet it.
My neighbors are all gathered outside, probably smoking an end-of-day bowl. Actually, they definitely are, I just heard them offering smoke to a newcomer. I don't really smoke anymore, but now that i'm out here I definitely see why people do, and I have a few times. I have to remember that no one cares if I act silly or say dumb shit, because they're all baked all day anyway. I've even started smoking cigarettes during the day again, at least on faire days. But I don't drink nearly as much, usually because I'm so exhausted that I pass out after one beer. I haven't even had to take my melatonin since I've been out here, I fall asleep so easily.
Time to venture out and feed my rumbly tummy. I'm so excited to buy my camp stove next week so I can finally cook at home! Rennies love ramen, of course, but I'm not a fan. I'm so spoiled! Looks like I'll probably be surviving off of mac and cheese, beans and rice, chili in a can, and whatever else comes in a can.
Oh yeah. I was selling wings when 2 dudes walked up with their kids and asked to buy some. One of them started hounding me, bigtime, asking to take me out to dinner, and when I demurred, breakfast. (in a tone suggesting the breakfast would occur after a night filled with spicy latino lovemaking) I told him coldly that it was a school night and if I took the day off I'd lose money, so he joked that he'd pay me double AND give me a free breakfast. I said, "Nothing's free", demurred again and told him I was spoken for, (a big fat lie) and that stopped him. He just said "he's a lucky guy!", and I laughed, and they left after buying some wings, saying: "man, white girls are hostile!" I'm not hostile, I just have an empty perfume bottle where my heart should be. Also, he was short and not cute. I haven't been flirted with like that in a while, it was semi-flattering but mostly uncomfortable. At least I got 2 sales out of it.
At the end of the day, as everyone gets back to their campsites, the air fills with the sounds of dogs barking and howling, eager to be fed, walked, and loved on. It makes me miss my dogs at home so much. I'm glad I don't have the extra responsibility of caring for a dog, but every time I see one I just want to pet it.
My neighbors are all gathered outside, probably smoking an end-of-day bowl. Actually, they definitely are, I just heard them offering smoke to a newcomer. I don't really smoke anymore, but now that i'm out here I definitely see why people do, and I have a few times. I have to remember that no one cares if I act silly or say dumb shit, because they're all baked all day anyway. I've even started smoking cigarettes during the day again, at least on faire days. But I don't drink nearly as much, usually because I'm so exhausted that I pass out after one beer. I haven't even had to take my melatonin since I've been out here, I fall asleep so easily.
Time to venture out and feed my rumbly tummy. I'm so excited to buy my camp stove next week so I can finally cook at home! Rennies love ramen, of course, but I'm not a fan. I'm so spoiled! Looks like I'll probably be surviving off of mac and cheese, beans and rice, chili in a can, and whatever else comes in a can.
Friday, February 17, 2012
season of the gecko
well, I survived the first weekend and kid's days! I'm sitting at Gecko now, drinking a chocolate peanut butter freeze and creating this blog. This is the first time I'm actually writing as it happened...the previous posts were all written at random times.
Tuesday was the first kid's day and it was cold and rainy and miserable. I had a little extra cash, so I got myself a cheap motel room and had a shower and lounged about all night eating In-N-Out and drinking beers and using the internet. It was extremely pleasant.
The wing booth is pretty weird. I haven't quite got the hang of it yet but I've been making sales anyway. I'm right in between the Flying DaVinci machine and the new world joust, two rides that my ninja neighbors work at. All day long, when the others aren't looking, they'll hop the fences and "kill" each other. Danielle, my rose-girl friend, is also involved, but I think I'll stay out of it and declare myself Switzerland. Or maybe Sweden. You know, one of those neutral countries.
Last night I went over to Ash's camp and hung out with him. He's one of the pirates at the other booth, and we'd worked together all day kid's days while Patrick manned the wing booth. I was hired purely as security, to make sure kids didn't steal any of the jewelry or toy pistols. To make myself more menacing I carried one of the pistols around. One of the kids exclaimed, "She's got a gun!" which made me laugh. But back to socializing, it was nice to, finally. I've been secluding myself mostly because I've been extremely tired and my computer's battery is shit, and I have nothing to plug it into, so I can watch about half an episode of Sherlock or Downton Abbey before I have to close up.
I wake up really early every morning though, like 6:30, which is great because it gives me time to do more stuff, and by the time I lay down I sleep all night, except for the occasional 4 am wakeup to use the bathroom, an excursion usually fraught with terror because of the coyotes. I haven't actually seen any, but a few nights ago they were RIGHT outside the tent, so close I could hear their footsteps. Paw-steps. I huddled under the blankets for a bit before steeling myself and grabbing my flashlight and running to the bathroom. Way down the lane I saw a canine figure, standing, and thought: "okay. it's okay. it's more scared of you than you are of it...coyotes are just the middle ground between wolves and foxes and you love them..." Then it started barking at me! It was just a dog, probably woken up by the coyotes just like I had been. What a relief! I promptly went back to sleep and dreamt that I was accosted by a pack of 14 coyotes and they ripped me to shreds. Thanks, subconscious!
Anyway, I'm enjoying myself out here thus far. It can be a bit lonely, even though I'm surrounded by people, and they're all very nice and friendly. I'll catch my groove soon enough.
Tuesday was the first kid's day and it was cold and rainy and miserable. I had a little extra cash, so I got myself a cheap motel room and had a shower and lounged about all night eating In-N-Out and drinking beers and using the internet. It was extremely pleasant.
The wing booth is pretty weird. I haven't quite got the hang of it yet but I've been making sales anyway. I'm right in between the Flying DaVinci machine and the new world joust, two rides that my ninja neighbors work at. All day long, when the others aren't looking, they'll hop the fences and "kill" each other. Danielle, my rose-girl friend, is also involved, but I think I'll stay out of it and declare myself Switzerland. Or maybe Sweden. You know, one of those neutral countries.
Last night I went over to Ash's camp and hung out with him. He's one of the pirates at the other booth, and we'd worked together all day kid's days while Patrick manned the wing booth. I was hired purely as security, to make sure kids didn't steal any of the jewelry or toy pistols. To make myself more menacing I carried one of the pistols around. One of the kids exclaimed, "She's got a gun!" which made me laugh. But back to socializing, it was nice to, finally. I've been secluding myself mostly because I've been extremely tired and my computer's battery is shit, and I have nothing to plug it into, so I can watch about half an episode of Sherlock or Downton Abbey before I have to close up.
I wake up really early every morning though, like 6:30, which is great because it gives me time to do more stuff, and by the time I lay down I sleep all night, except for the occasional 4 am wakeup to use the bathroom, an excursion usually fraught with terror because of the coyotes. I haven't actually seen any, but a few nights ago they were RIGHT outside the tent, so close I could hear their footsteps. Paw-steps. I huddled under the blankets for a bit before steeling myself and grabbing my flashlight and running to the bathroom. Way down the lane I saw a canine figure, standing, and thought: "okay. it's okay. it's more scared of you than you are of it...coyotes are just the middle ground between wolves and foxes and you love them..." Then it started barking at me! It was just a dog, probably woken up by the coyotes just like I had been. What a relief! I promptly went back to sleep and dreamt that I was accosted by a pack of 14 coyotes and they ripped me to shreds. Thanks, subconscious!
Anyway, I'm enjoying myself out here thus far. It can be a bit lonely, even though I'm surrounded by people, and they're all very nice and friendly. I'll catch my groove soon enough.
door to door
Well, I couldn't be more happy with today!
But let's start with yesterday. It was my first day of work. I went to Treasures of the High Seas (hereafter to be referred to as TotHS) to help my boss and his two pirate workers do some things. I mostly just stamped receipt pads and put jewelry out. Patrick (my boss) is really harried right now getting everything in the booth set up while also making wings, so he was a bit short with us, but I can tell he's a cool guy. The other pirates are cool as well. That's about all that happened yesterday besides checking in with Matt, my mom's friend and one of the jousters.
Today I went to the grocery store down the street to use the coinstar, thus tripling my funds (I can't wait for faire to start so I'll have some money!) I noticed a little cafe beside it that advertised free wifi so I went in. Everyone was really nice, and I was informed that rennies get a 5% discount if we show our pass. Awesome! As I settled in next to an outlet, 2 girls my age walked in giggling. They weren't hippie-ish so I thought they might be locals until the woman behind the counter asked where they were from and they said the renaissance festival!
Apparently they're from Pittsburgh and only one is working here, her best friend just came to make sure she survived the drive, but she's leaving after this weekend. It's Danielle's first time on the circuit as well, so we all spent about 3 hours just gabbing away, much to the amusement of a young native with a door to door painting business, who listened in and joined our conversation.
I can already tell that Danielle and I are going to be good friends, because she's really similar to me and sweet and uninvolved in any drama. If Nicole was staying we'd be good friends too, but she said she was glad Danielle would have someone to hang out with. We've already made plans to take day trips to a wolf sanctuary in new mexico, sedona, and various hiking adventures. I'm excited to have a friend finally! Hopefully she'll keep me from being too much of a hermit. So not only did I make a friend, I found a place to sit and charge my computer and use the internet and hang out! Several rennies came in and out so it seems like a nice, Ren approved spot.
When i got back to site, I called Jim (my friend in the ninja camp) and he helped set up my perma-tent. It's HUGE and spacious and I'm relaxing in it now.
I need to get a little dust buster to de-dirtify the floor because it's pretty bad. Add that to the list of Things To Buy When I Have Money. This weekend will be hectic, then next week is student days, also hectic, and then NEXT week is a 3 day weekend! Instead of fretting about all the work and such I just keep thinking: I'm going to make SO much money! Stay positive, right?
But let's start with yesterday. It was my first day of work. I went to Treasures of the High Seas (hereafter to be referred to as TotHS) to help my boss and his two pirate workers do some things. I mostly just stamped receipt pads and put jewelry out. Patrick (my boss) is really harried right now getting everything in the booth set up while also making wings, so he was a bit short with us, but I can tell he's a cool guy. The other pirates are cool as well. That's about all that happened yesterday besides checking in with Matt, my mom's friend and one of the jousters.
Today I went to the grocery store down the street to use the coinstar, thus tripling my funds (I can't wait for faire to start so I'll have some money!) I noticed a little cafe beside it that advertised free wifi so I went in. Everyone was really nice, and I was informed that rennies get a 5% discount if we show our pass. Awesome! As I settled in next to an outlet, 2 girls my age walked in giggling. They weren't hippie-ish so I thought they might be locals until the woman behind the counter asked where they were from and they said the renaissance festival!
Apparently they're from Pittsburgh and only one is working here, her best friend just came to make sure she survived the drive, but she's leaving after this weekend. It's Danielle's first time on the circuit as well, so we all spent about 3 hours just gabbing away, much to the amusement of a young native with a door to door painting business, who listened in and joined our conversation.
I can already tell that Danielle and I are going to be good friends, because she's really similar to me and sweet and uninvolved in any drama. If Nicole was staying we'd be good friends too, but she said she was glad Danielle would have someone to hang out with. We've already made plans to take day trips to a wolf sanctuary in new mexico, sedona, and various hiking adventures. I'm excited to have a friend finally! Hopefully she'll keep me from being too much of a hermit. So not only did I make a friend, I found a place to sit and charge my computer and use the internet and hang out! Several rennies came in and out so it seems like a nice, Ren approved spot.
When i got back to site, I called Jim (my friend in the ninja camp) and he helped set up my perma-tent. It's HUGE and spacious and I'm relaxing in it now.
I need to get a little dust buster to de-dirtify the floor because it's pretty bad. Add that to the list of Things To Buy When I Have Money. This weekend will be hectic, then next week is student days, also hectic, and then NEXT week is a 3 day weekend! Instead of fretting about all the work and such I just keep thinking: I'm going to make SO much money! Stay positive, right?
last night i saw a jackrabbit with a woman's face
I'm here! It's 4:30 am. I fell asleep early because i was exhausted and sore from setting up my temporary tent and all the walking. I'm pretty much at the farthest end of "Camp Paradise", in what is known as The Quiet Zone. When the camp director was bringing me around to look for spots, I saw a few good ones but they all had something weird about them. Then we came to the last spot, and there it was. The perfect little campsite, with a tree spreading branches over the whole area for shade and a rock border built by someone years ago. Room enough for my car, and close enough to run power out of it. Unfortunately, my actual tent didn't arrive yet, so I had to borrow david's which is much smaller, but still works. Of course I fought to set it up but the Painted Lady, who gave me a whole bag of french hard rolls as soon as I arrived, saying "welcome to the neighborhood!", noticed I was struggling and helped me out.
The wind was pretty gnarly when I went to bed, but it's calmed down now. I am most pleased with my bed. I'm all snug and warm, tucked in. At first I was a little too warm, but then I woke up cold and pulled my second comforter over me and it was perfect. I just can't wait to get my real tent so I can set everything up and unpack my car, which is an unholy mess.
There was a full moon drum jam last night out in the desert. I almost went, but when I went back to my tent to grab a lighter jacket my group left and I couldn't find them again. Then my phone died, and I got lost, so I just came back here and watched Sherlock. I examined my feelings about missing out (and getting left behind when I'd only been gone 5 minutes) and I didn't really have any. I'd probably have been a little uncomfortable and wanted to come home early anyway. As it was, i fell asleep within an hour so it wasn't a big deal. It would have been fun, but there'll be plenty of opportunities to be sociable later on. One reason I like this campsite so much is because I have no immediate neighbors, so i can be as hermit-like as I choose, and I have the entire desert as my backyard. (not that I can go out in it, but it is nice to look at. ) I heard a coyote or two crying out in the night. Little babies!
My first day of work starts in a few hours. There's always so much to do before the faire opens! And on top of that I have to go get my package with all the rest of my stuff, take down this tent, set up the real one, and unpack! I don't know when it'll all be done but I wish I could fast forward through it. But that's part of the life!
erasmus snow and william jordan flake
We made it to Snowflake, Arizona. I still have 3 and a half hours before I go to the festival site, but my traveling companion's parents offered to let me stay an extra night before I go out there (mostly because my tent hasn't arrived yet.)
The rest of the trip was mind-numbing. The most interesting part landscape-wise, new mexico, we of course drove through at night. At least the moon is almost full, so i could see the shadows of snow-capped peaks and mountains while I tried not to drive off the road from exhaustion or be run over by an 18 wheeler. My stomach has been angry at me since the trip began. Travel is of course very stressful, and stress manifests in your GI tract.
But we're here now, and I'm glad that I got to stay here for a day. David's mom gave me a tour of their house, which is deceptively huge. The layout makes no sense, but there are lots of rooms and a million skylights. In the very center of the house is the "healing room", home to a big massage table, a giant dreamcatcher, and all sorts of new age books and CDs that play all day, piped into the rest of the house. Around every corner there are geodes and crystals and glass bowls filled with rocks and crystals and divining rods. She told me that she and her husband found their true calling was in spiritual work. It's interesting to me that "spiritual" "new age" people are actually just super chilled out christians who believe in magic. I guess ALL christians have to fundamentally believe in magic (jesus doing all his cool tricks and all that) In addition to all the crystals and witchy stuff there are pictures of Jesus and saints and angels. I'm a staunch atheist, but I'm really interested in new age practices. I guess it's part of my wiccan background, but I think it's mostly aesthetically pleasing. It's like catholic imagery mixed with a kind of kooky witchiness. They believe in the saints, and each saint has his or her own powers that you can use as you need. Kind of like Pokemon. My saint of choice is St. Christopher, because he's the saint of travel and there's so much of that involved in my life now, but also because of the St Christopher medal I took from my dad and wear every single day. Of course I don't really believe in that stuff, but I'd rather believe in a different god for EVERYTHING, than just one god. Obviously my preference is not believing in any gods.
Their artist friend is currently parked in her RV in their driveway. She's apparently the most spiritual person they've ever met. I couldn't tell from meeting her. It's her birthday so after dinner they put a candle in a fresh made coconut cream pie and we sang happy birthday. It was an adorable moment. Also that pie! I don't know how anyone can eat whipped cream from a can or a tub when it's so easy to make and tastes a million times better.
Anyway, they're good people. They're so kind that talking to them gives me the nice tinglies. I'm not sure if I believe in spiritual energy and healing vibrations and crystal powers and all that, but I do feel at peace now that I'm actually out in the desert, which is how I always feel when I'm here. There is definitely Something About It. I'm extremely pleased that it will be my home for the next 2 months.
the journey (is about to) begin!
In just a few days I'll be leaving the security of my cave-like room in my little blanket-festooned futon nook at my parent's house in Huntersville, NC to drive almost across the country to Phoenix, AZ, there to join the Renaissance Festival circuit.
There's a whole story about how I got started in the festival, but I think I'll save that for another time. This is the year that I am finally able to head out on the road, something that I've dearly wished for since I was 16. I'm excited, nervous, scared, mostly just happy that I've finally found something that I want to do and that I've wanted to do for longer than 6 months. Well…I haven't done it for 6 months in a row yet, but I'm fairly confident it will work out. Oh god, now that I've written it, maybe it won't? How many times have I thought 'THIS is what I really want to do and what I've really wanted to do all along!' and then gotten bored of it or haven't been able to follow through? A million times that's happened, but I can definitely say that this has been a dream of mine for 10 years. Even if I hate it, I'll have done it. Somehow though, I don't think I will hate it. All of my friends think it's perfect for me. My mom, who I started the faire with, is most excited of all, because she knows it's something I've always wanted to do, and she's always wanted me to do. She even bought the tent that I'm going to live in!
Here's some logistics: I'm going to be living in a tent, in a campground on-site. There are no REAL bathrooms…just shower houses and porta-potties (eek!) I'm only bringing one suitcase of clothes in addition to my faire clothes. (I was very surprised to find that I OWN more than one suitcase of clothes, since I feel like I wear the same thing all the time.) In Arizona I'll be working for a guy who makes dragon wings and bat wings, selling those. He also runs a pirate store. The rest of the faires I'm going to I'll be working at and managing the shop I manage in Carolina - Ophelia's Fyne Clothing. It's period clothing like dresses, chemises, skirts, bodices, doublets, bloomers, etc. all handmade by a little dynamo named Leanne, as sweet and talented a "boss" as I've ever had. I will know some people when I go out there - including my ex-boyfriend, one third of a comedy juggling act - but largely I'll be all on my own.
I'm super excited to start out on my weird gypsy nomad hippie/carnie traveling life. I'm a little different from a lot of the people who do this for a living. You could call me more hipster than hippie, that's for sure. I'm into things like music and fashion and the internet and trashy reality TV. I'm curious if I'll find anyone out there to share some of these things in common with. I hear it's a very community-driven place, and I can be a bit hermit-like. Hopefully this will help me to come out of my shell a bit more. It'll be very interesting to find out how my particular brand of black magic meshes with the attitudes of those around me.
Only one more full day before I leave…I'm excited to start this journey! I am not, however, excited about driving 2,000 miles across the country in 2 days with all my belongings in my little nissan centra. Don't people usually take planes? And sleep in hotels, on real beds? Oh god, what have I gotten myself into…..?
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