ramblings

[wendyzski]

Meh - my knee is being annoying. Sometime mid-Sunday it started to hurt - like something was slightly out of place and wouldn't go back. I babied it a bit but kept walking hoping that I'd step on just the right angle and it would all pop back in to place. That happened at a truck stop most of the way home, but it still feels very wierd and unstable. Mostly stopped hurting though. If it's still wonky after resting it tonight I'll find my brace and strap it up tomorrow.

I'll miss being at MiRF this coming weekend, but frankly the idea of being able to just sleep until I wake up has me positively giddy.

I did not win the RESCU auction for the necklace I bid on - it's gone out of my price range but I helped drive the bidding up to $80. So I'll be making a donation to the MiRF RESCU fundraiser - the "Mr. Renaissance 2007" contest. Contestants include Lrd. Nigel Armani (a clear favorite in the "hat" category), Hob the Troll (my personal fave), Kevin from Bocca Musica (who has agreed to let the ladies shave a smiley-face in his back-hair if he wins), and the pirate Captain Pandora (because no one had the nerve to tell HER that she couldn't enter). Pity we can't make the participant party to see the finals, but it's being held on Sunday of 6th weekend and some of us have other lives we need to get back to.

Caroline called during cast meeting on Saturday AM, and we all wished her well. I know she is being well-cared-for by the BaRF folks and FL wenches, and she has asked that charitable donations be made in lieu of flowers. Once someone posts the address to send cards to, I will make one up. One of her favorite songs is "Wild Mountain Thyme" and a verse we came across recently seems sadly appropriate now.

My true love is waiting for me
where the summer lasts forever
and I'll always see him smile
when I walk through bloomin' heather.
Will ye go, lassie, go?

One thing I've been asked to make sure gets around - She hopes to return to MiRF on 6th weekend. While I know that a LOT of people will want to express her condolences, please note that saying anything like that during "Queen Time" (7:30-9:30) is NOT appropriate. The best thing you can do for her is to let her do her job. Queen Elizabeth had no husband, and however well-meaning such wishes might be, they will only serve to remind her of her sorrow. Send a card, or an e-mail, or make a charitable donation, but the kindest thing you can to when she returns is to give her space.

She had also asked us to give our best support to Donna, and we did. For Saturday, at least. By Sunday people figured that she had her feet under her, and so the little fun and wierd things started happening again. The peasant dancers playing "stalk the queen". The Spanish Ambassador came to tea bringing a dessert made entirely of products of the New World - half a baked potato covered with chocolate and tobacco. (ew) A game of "Musical Men" even broke out at Tea!

I think the primary casting criteria to be a Peasant Dancer at MiRF is "Terminal Perkiness". At one point last weekend I got to the Maypole a little early, and found Captain Pandora standing on the back of one of her pirate crew (possibly the least threatening bunch of pirates I've ever seen - theu all look 14!). She was tying the maypole ribbons into a big knot up high on the maypole. Lord Fairfax came by and drove her off, and when the dancers arrived they formed a little cheerleader-pyramid to get the ribbons back down. (I feel vaguely guilty that I was the one who finally told them what the maypole symbolized. Snapdragon blushed the color of her skirts!)

I feel bad for poor Caleb next weekend. Generally we end up being the opening act at the Pub Sing, mostly because no one else shows up ready and on time. Some days we end up being the TWO opening acts, like on Saturday this week. Not sure what he's gonna do while we're gone. I know that anyone who can look out at the audience and say "Wow - what a bunch of inebriated freaks" and get laughter and applause for it is able to wing it perfectly fine. It'd just be nice if he didn't HAVE to.