Sometimes, and I know I have said this before, I feel like I have fallen down a rabbit hole. Just like Alice. Maybe it's not quite so strange or quite so fearsome, but still, a rabbit hole of sorts. So what have I been up to?
The lease was up on my car and I turned it in. Now I have to say, I have very much enjoyed driving this car. But I was ready to let it go. I hadn't really tired of it, but I was just done with that type of car I think. This is the first time, I believe, since i have been driving, that I haven't had a car of my own. It's a sort of strange feeling. Asbjorn has a car and of course, I have Bruce so I am not without wheels. Here is the car I turned in:
A Cadillac CTS. With a manual transmission, if you can imagine that. A friend told me they didn't think that car was me at all. Maybe not, I don't know. I plan to go without a car for a while, but not as long as I first thought. I test drove one of these a few weeks ago and I have to say I really liked it and plan for it to be my next car. And yes, it does come with a manual transmission (one of my requirements, the other being a decent stereo).
What else have I been up to?
We went to the Renaissance Faire last weekend with a friend and I have to say that was a lot of fun. Right after we got there and had walked around just a bit, Asbjorn decided to try shooting some arrows:
Then Forrest shot a few arrows:
I have to admit I did try to shoot an arrow and am very glad no one got a picture of it. I shot an arrow right down into the ground. I think there's a knack to shooting arrows.
I had been to a Ren Faire years ago when we lived in Ohio, but here, I couldn't believe all the costumes. Plus it was in a recreation area with trees and a lake and really had more of a village look rather than a faire in the middle of a cornfield. I had always enjoyed that one but I have to say, this faire was really large and had much more going on.
There were processions (I believe this was the Queen's procession):
And what I guess to be some sort of funereal traveling musicians:
There were stages with actors waiting around until their next performance:
The people working the Ren Faire had on some amazing costumes but so did a lot of the people that attended.
I did see some amazing chain maille. And I also saw more than one bawdy pirate lass:
I don't know. Those corsets just look painful to me. I did try one on at the Steampunk clothing stall. They had some jackets, skirts and corsets that could be worn to this faire. A corset is not a very flattering thing to wear if you have a certain type of body, I discovered. I think I'd rather dress like a man.
But what else did I find intriguing at the faire? The tents.
I would run across a tent like the one above here and there. Then I came upon an area where a lot of people must actually live for the duration of the faire.
They were quite fancied up with the obvious intention of putting down roots for a time. Sometimes, as I walked past, I almost had the feeling of peeping into someones windows. Still, that didn't stop me.
As I walked around this tent village, I was reminded of how many people have asked me if I camped while I was on my motorcycle trip last year. No, I did not camp. Not even once. Perhaps, if I can figure out a way to camp out like this, then maybe I will camp while on a motorcycle trip:
Now that is cozy. I would like to set up such a tent at least once in my life just to see what that would be like.
I discovered a few things about myself while walking around the faire. Dress up was one of my favorite things as a kid and I was a bit surprised at myself that I had never gotten into making a historical costume of some sort. I like to sew. I still like the idea of playing dress-up (some things you really never outgrow) and I enjoy learning about history. But the thing that probably surprised me the most was if I were to pick a subculture to immerse myself in and to dress in costume, it would be Steampunk. Without the corset. I am currently reading a bit about Steampunk so you may see some influence from this in the months ahead.
And that is about it to report on during my blogging absence. I had hoped for a little motorcycle trip, just for a few days up north, but alas, there's a lot of work for me to do and I just can't do it right now. Still, the road calls.
I hope everyone has been having a fantastic week!
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