Highland Fling Weekend

I got the faire a bit later than I had planned, because I was waiting on the UPS guy to arrive with the mask I bought to cover my scales so that I could walk around without being immediately pegged as a mermaid.

He showed up around four, which put me at the faire a little before six.

I unpacked my belongings, read for a while, and turned in early.

It was chilly (shocking) but not bad.

I was in the shell for our first performance, singing songs and giving shells to excited little children.

I watched the adult school of sword (half of it, as usual) on my break before returning to the lagoon. (When the Scottish queen walked by, Oskar encouraged the men in the crowd to follow up his “hip hip” with “hubba hubba”. It worked and she looked so surprised XD)

I was in the shell for the second show as well, still singing and posing and joking with patrons, as much as one can with a severe language barrier. (mostly non-speaking, a touch of “mermish” and very very broken English).

We were also all gifted with beautiful roses with encouraging notes from the amazing Mel. She is so good to us. (best security lady ever. Ever.)

Also, I do not know when I picked this up, but after people take pictures of me, or children give me little gifts, or what have you, I wiggle like an excited puppy.

For the second break I stayed in the tent and munched on a sandwich, before returning to the shell for the third and final set of the day.

Afterwards, I had a little time to wander before cannon, so I left the tent and saw Oskar Hasselhoff across the way. I was too shy to go say hello, so I dragged one of the crew over with me so I could talk to him.

I’ll admit I was more than pleasantly surprised when he not only recognized me under layers of garb, cloak, and mask, but that he also remembered my name.

(note to self: work on remembering patron’s names, because I know how special it makes me feel when others remember me)

He introduced me to others that came up to speak to him and I got to (re)meet Thomas Wood, the pyro juggler.

We all spoke for a little while, and when Oskar hugged me, he lifted me into the air and said, “I’ve been reading a book on how to pick up women. How am I doing?” It was so funny! :D

After making sure the tails were securely locked up in my hut, I took Sir Marcus up on his invitation and went to the Stonhenj camp for dinner. It was so delicious. Chicken a la king and good company :) 

 

For example, I used the phrase “you bet your sweet bippy” and was accused of being crazy and making up words. So I got the attention of the rest of the group and asked them to raise their hands if they were familiar with that term. There were a half a dozen hands in the air when I was done speaking (in a group of ten or so) Then we discussed where it came from and old tv shows.

Another example:

I had taken off my shoes and tucked my feet up underneath me in the seat. Later on, one of the mermaid crew got up to leave and was teasing me. When I went to poke him I ended up tumbling out of my seat onto the floor. Of course, the conversation immediately died as all eyes shot towards me and I was inevitably asked, “Had one too many?” and as I had not had anything to drink at all, I had no excuse except to try and explain that I was trying to poke someone and overreached.

But in all seriousness, Marcus and Stonhenj in general are so wonderful and I really appreciate the moral support they provide. (and the food. Food will win me over 9 times out of 10. Food cooked with love, that is.)

I slept well that night.

Day 2 started out with me in “the coffin”. It was the first day I brought a parasol out with me. It may not be the best in the small pool, though I may change my tune when it warms up to more typical Texas temperatures.

We saw the 10^th doctor and the doctor’s wife (human Tardis). They looked great. He looked as close as a man can get to 10 without being David Tennant. 

We also have a patron that is a very unique old man. Every time he comes through he has a different, very bright and intricate costume. When the wizard came through on Sunday, he gifted us each with very pretty moonstones and told us that if we charge them in the moonlight overnight, they would allow us to walk on land for one day. I should keep it safe and save it for a special occasion :P (I have one in mind XD )

I jest.

Anyway, on this break I took my food with me to the adult school of sword. The more I watch it, it more I come to realize I do not believe I have ever seen options one or five on the sword rack, and I only vaguely remember option two. I guess I’ll just have to cheer really loudly for them next time I go to watch.

For the second set, I was in the shell.

At the entrance, one of the things the children are told it that the same way they have not seen mermaids, we have not seen children, so we are excited to see them and they should entertain /us/.

I actually had a little girl ask if I wanted her and her sister to entertain me, so I enthusiastically nodded and watched while the older sister sang and the younger one danced for me. It was so adorable.

One of my friends showed up during the set and I had her stick around until there was a break in the crowd so that I could make plans to walk with her during my second break.

We stopped by a shop that does writing and scrolls, and the man we spoke to had a message in a bottle on his necklace. He sells them for a good price, and I think one would look nice with my mermaid garb, so as soon as I decide what I want it to say, I believe I will return to the shop and purchase one.

I found myself back in the coffin for the third set. (I guess they named it that because it is small and restrictive?) Anyway, it was fun because I had one little boy who seemed very reluctant to sit on the rock beside me, but when asked if he was afraid, he defiantly sat down. While he wasn’t looking I scooted over right next to him, and after the picture was taken, he turned and saw me and jumped back. It was hilarious. (I know, I am so terrible)

We also had a very talented photographer come through with his adorable child.

At the end of the day, we ran around a little before we had to come back and clean off the tails. I was walking with one of the other girls and right after I told her not to be offended if I randomly split off if I saw someone else I wanted to catch up with, I heard my name and saw Oskar waving me over.

I got a hug and this time he introduced me as his favorite mermaid stalker XD (Oskar gives the 2^nd best hugs)

Thomas Wood was there too, and when he greeted me with a hug, instead of letting go, he stared massaging my back. I informed him that at this rate I wasn’t going to stop hugging him, and he said that was fine. Then Oskar began to regale me with stories on how amazing Thomas is at massaging. I ended up getting a hand massage, then wrist, elbow, and shoulder massages. I am just sad that he is not going to be there the rest of the season XD

I didn’t get to experience the highland games, but I suppose it is for the best. I would probably get squished if I so much as thought about picking up a caber, let alone actually attempted to pick one up.

I had dinner with Stonhenj again and kept them from having to take home leftovers ^^ I was more than happy to help with that.

Then I stayed the night, slept in a little, and went to bizarre bazaar with Rex. I specifically did not bring money with me so that I would not be able to make impulse purchases. It was strange to see certain people walking around in regular clothes.

 (also, my rings are giving me tan lines on my fingers! It amuses me)

Over all, another great weekend and I am looking forward to the next.

Legends of the Sea

The second weekend at SRF went very well.

I arrived mid-day on Friday to move into my new lodgings.

It is a shed-type building that the mermaids use to store the tails and get ready in the morning (makeup, costumes, etc.) It is nice and cool at night :) A corner of it is mine, where my bedding and belongings stay, and the rest of it is mirrors and makeup.

I figured out what to do about a “cover up” for walking around on our breaks without being seen. I am using my usual garb along with my cloak. I purchased a venetian mask to hide my “scales” and I am anxiously awaiting its arrival along with a hooded capelet (for when it is too warm to wear my full cloak).

It was a little cool Saturday morning, but we made good time and once we were in our tails it was pretty comfortable.

I started out in the shell and took what I learned last week to improve my performance. I am figuring out what not to do with my face when a camera is pointed at me, and the best way to entertain a stream of patrons when they are going by too quickly to talk to, even if you could speak English.

Also, a group of little girls asked me if I was the princess of all the mermaids and I may have encouraged them by nodding :D

I got to see my sister and brother-in-law, who had come to see me, and met one of her co-workers.

After the first set, I met up with them and took them to see Oskar Hasselhoff. It was great. The first weapon he demonstrated was the grosse messer. (sp?) and he picked my brother-in-law to spar against!

Unfortunately, I had to cut out and run back to the lagoon to get ready for the next set before the second weapon was demonstrated.

For the second set I was in the small pool, which has been dubbed “the coffin” by the other mermaids (not really sure why)

We had two Doctors come through. Specifically the 4th doctor (scarf) who scanned my fellow mermaids with his sonic screwdriver, and the 5th doctor (celery) with real celery pinned to his lapel :D (oops! I think my geek is showing >.>)

On our second break I went with two other mermaids to watch Cast in Bronze. On the way, we were stopped buy a photographer who has taken many pictures of us in the lagoon, but did not recognize us and wanted pictures of the three of us in our mysterious, hoodedness.

For the third set, I was in the small pool again.

We were invited to Marcus’ camp for dinner and indulged in beefy beany bacony thingy. It was very good.

Sunday had a less chilly start, thanks to the extra sleeping bag Marcus loaned me (thank you again!)

I was in the shell first again and found the best way for me (personally) to interact with the patrons walking past.

So I sing :D

Well… not really singing, nor humming. It is more like… vocalizing at people.

Usually whatever song is stuck in my head at the moment. Though I do take requests from the crew :)

No one seemed to recognize the tunes from musicals, or the Christmas carols that our captain suggested, but “drunken sailor” was noticed, as was “the imperial march”.

During the first break, I found a snail in the dressing tent! It wasn’t the kind I am use to, with the long white shells. It was brown with a typical “snail shell”. It was exciting. (I know, I am so strange)

For the second set I was in the large pool.

One of the flower sellers made her way through and gave each of us the most beautiful gladiolus, or "sword lily" (my second favorite flower) We wondered who had sent them for a while until we discovered it was our captain who bought them for his four favorite mermaids :)

I wandered over to watch English wrestling with the first mate and saw Lavanya win her fight. It is nice to see people I was in auditions with happy and doing so well.

During the third set I was singing (vocalizing) “My Johnny was a Shoemaker” and a patron asked, “wait, is that you?” (I don’t know if she thought it was a background soundtrack, another mermaid, or what) and when I nodded she told me that it was beautiful.

While it got a little chilly towards the end, it was a very good day.

The drive home was nice and the night sky was so clear and beautiful. The stars were stunning and I am looking forward to next weekend.

Opening Weekend

Opening weekend was simply amazing.

But since I obviously cannot stop there, get comfortable and let me regale you with the story of my first time working at a renaissance festival.

Firstly, I figured out what to put in my locket. (It is a secret, but I can tell you that the answer is not “nothing”)

Second, I seem to be built for the faire.

I can go all day without eating, without feeling ill or hungry. Of course, the other five days of the week I eat like I have never seen food.

I have also been blessed with an iron bladder, which is great when you are in a silicone tail for two plus hour sets.

Anyway~

I had been suffering from allergies all week leading up to the faire.

I ventured out Friday afternoon to set up camp and help out with various last minute things. I got a little overwhelmed with the sheer amount of people in the campground and was a little worried when I saw that my camping spot had been encroached upon.

I headed up to the workshop to speak with my boss, Rex, about it.

She was busy, so I hung around and saw the many people coming and going, picking up passes and dropping off paperwork and whatnot.

That was when I got to meet Alan Hutton. I was sooooo excited. I love watching Oskar Hasselhoff, German Master of Defense! He was incredibly nice and I hope to speak to him more in the future.

The evening flew by and it was decided that I should stay in the workshop overnight, and figure out the camping situation later.

~

Opening morning arrives.

I had not gotten much sleep, but felt pretty good.

The other girls showed up at the workshop and we prepped for the day. Hair, makeup, costume, the works, then headed down to the lagoon to get into our tails for the first set of the day.

Finagling your way into a custom-fit-to-you silicone tail is interesting to say the least, and I will leave it at that :)

We have three “performances” a day. Roughly 11:00-1:00, 2:00-4:00, and 5:00-6:30. (I say “roughly” because sometimes it takes us a bit to get into our tails. Of course, later on these times will be much more accurate as we get faster and more practiced.

It was a little cool, but not too bad.

I went from the small pool, to the clam shell, to the big pool.

All the while trying to time my coughs for when the other girls were being loud or patrons were out of earshot.

Seeing the joy/wonder/awe on the children’s faces is a treat, but it is really great to see adults just as, if not more, excited.

That night I slept in the workshop again (it was really comfortable, I had multiple layers of fluffy stuff under my sleeping bag, over the floor)

Day two was so very cold. My goodness it was cold.

The water didn’t help, but in a few weeks that water will be a godsend.

I was in the big pool first, then the shell, followed by the small pond.

It is great fun to further embarrass already embarrassed little boys by blowing kisses at them.

After the last set we had our pictures done, which involved twisting (and flopping) around into crazy positions. It was great fun. I have yet to see them, but there are some I am really looking forward to.

At the end of the day I was not starved, dehydrated, or sunburned. I can hardly wait to do it again and I am looking forward to meeting more of the wonderful people who work out at the faire.

All and all, I’d say it went swimmingly :D