Why is it that campfire smells so good at two in the morning but smells so yukky two days later in your dirty laundry? Since this was only my third Gulf Wars I don’t have much to compare it to, but I really had a great time. The highlights :
Sunday:Hanging around camp with Celestine and learning that pretty pedicures and sandals don’t go with camping with briers and fire ants. Seeing the face of the Baron and Baroness when they saw that they had a banner to fly after all, (thanks to quick thinking on Gabrielle’s part)
Monday:The Scavenger Hunt. I went with April, Ellie, and two ladies from Anstioria and had a blast. Halfway through the hunt one lady sat out and Peyton joined us. We had someone do the Macarena in the street, saw a photo album of someone’s kids, a stupid squire trick, learned new pickup lines, stole a beer from Ansteoria, introduced two strangers and found a baby peer and newlyweds, and many other wonderful feats. It was much much fun. WE WON a lovely palm tree which graced April’s campsite the rest of the week and made an appearance at the Gleann Abhann Social.
Tuesday: Gleann Abhann Social. We Southerners can really throw a party even if we don’t have sweet tea. Its like having almost all your favorite people in one place. Some people couldn’t make it til later in the week, so it wasn’t all the favorite people. Striped hosen, good mead, good food, lots of people watching. Chocolate.
Wednesday:The whole entire siege cookoff from beginning at 8 a.m. to end at 5 ish was great. The preparation, the cooking, the people’s creativity. The processions. It was so much fun and I look forward to it next year.
Thursday: Yoga, my legs were so happy for it after all the walking, Asian dance, very interesting, Security, was glad it didn’t rain and was more walking and talking and hanging out, was impressed that after fighting and being tired, people still have the energy to volunteer, walking around with Nonnie, visiting people and listening to the deep serious stuff, made me think deep serious thoughts.
Friday:The fighting, Seeing our Queen passing out water, hearing a child ask her mother where they would have to move so they could be part of Gleann Abhann because it was the best kingdom, wishing I was in armor, passing out Gatorade and oranges, making sandwichs, seeing the smiles of our army as they thanked the auxiliary for their work, listening to Alina tell about our youth combatants and how our army walked beside them singing as they went to fight. Getting ready for court, going to court, seeing SGB and the traveling party and just feeling at home, Hearing Ricky’s name in court and just “knowing” why it was called. Screaming myself hoarse when I was right. That whole surreal night, watching person after person come to visit him. Drinking coffee at 4 am when I was so cold I couldn’t feel anything. Seeing Sara looking so beautiful in her blue dress. Laughing with Nonnie as she was cutting up and making jokes as she waited in line. Walking through site as most of the world slept.
Saturday: A whole lot of shopping, Greek food, tiny pies, napping, grilling under the stars, a much needed back massage and a good nights sleep.
Sunday: Feeling really good on the way home, comparing it to last year and where I was at that time. Happy to have a 30 min drive on Sunday instead of a 8 hour drive like the year before. Having an interesting lunch where a whole bunch of us ended up, a group of people came in wearing matching t shirts that looked like parents and kids of a motor-cross group, I leaned over to Alina and said “freaks.”
Its all in the perspective.
Days I don’t remember which:Listening to Scott, Bill, Johanas and others tell jokes and cut up in camp, being attached by a squeaking bug, watching the campfire, seeing my banner fly, painting scrolls, volunteering at information point, (because the people there were so nice.) painting scrolls, listening to a lady read descriptions of scrolls in history. Paul and Kat working so hard in the Scroll area. Kelly running things so efficiently in her area. Mabe everywhere, working, working, working. Learning that a coincidence is sometimes a very good thing. The stars, the rain, walking in procession to the battle field, wishing I was in armor. Sitting watching people work on crafting skills they had perfected, talking to friends old and new, taking classes,. Walking with Celestine back to truck to move it, like a three mile round trip in the dark, hoping no boogie man jumped out. Leaving a candy trail of first M and Ms and then splenda, I mean really, Grilling under the stars, pina colada’s and not much of them, orange whip, Millie and Olaf’s adorable baby, very special Pirate Flip Flops, shopping, shopping, shopping for much of nothing, just looking. Being far enough away from the noise to actually sleep. Watching Kat sneak around painting a scroll while its recipient sat not 5 feet away. The miracle of finding the DOA banner, not knowing who delivered or where it was put, that miracle is defiantly owed to the 8 pound 7 ounce baby Jesus.
The bad things?
People who think that taking a 2 hour shower while people are waiting is ok. I’d recommend a 5-10 minute cut off for showers.
Fire ants, they really need to be burned or fried or something,
Walking, walking, walking, even with a variety of shoes, my feet hate hate hate me.
Dust, wish it had rained early in the week to cut down on dust and pollen, many people got sick.
People who got snitty cause the tea was unsweet
An air mattress that couldn’t keep from going flat.
People’s wild children, although the one who probably peed the bed was kind of funny.
Coffee, Shoes, and Ramblings 
