Pennsic XXXVI

Pennsic
War XXXVI: Despite the fear of rain we arrive late Thursday the 9^th of August & left Sunday the 12^th with Chris. I set up camp with Compass Rose at N35 at the near end of Long Way Road, meeting Mark & Jody; Drew; Chistoffe’s cousin Megan and her son, Beren, and Ron and Stacey. While there I feasted communally with abandonment and glee. Tired, I went to bed well after 11pm. Chris gave me $80 for spending, another advance on his soon to-be-constructed barbarian garb. One of the purposes of me going to Pennsic was to help pick out supplies to make wardrobe enhancements for him. For which I’ll always be thankful.

And awoke at first light of day, did some Tai chi and read the Golden Verse of Pythagoras and made ready for the day; as Chris left to fight alligators in Mundania, was let off to do some shopping. One of the many of the fine shoppes I perused was The Likely Lotus, a clothier who also made doll clothes that fit my American Girl Dolls (where I hope to purchase a blond male doll in period costume sans sword to add to my collection, as well as some other girl doll garb): http://www.likelylotusblue.com/. After buying some floss and other sewing notions I paused. I ate some breakfast that was purchased by a handsome lad whose tarot cards I read (a special omelet, 2 patties of sausage, orange juice and hash brown square). Afterward, I happened upon Misty Tower Fiber Creations. I purchased a ecru tote bag with two straps and a harp embroidered upon it. I plan to purchase on line some thistle, BWTHSL, embroidered cloth to make a few collars @ $22-24 each, as well as some ornamental thistle and another harp for shoulder @25 each: fiber@mistytower.com. While in the common house where pirates were a plenty, charging up my cell phone where several adolescents were scattered about. One young blond 9y/o boy was rubbing his hand down at his bear crotch and then smearing his sweaty balls juices on other youths. I read some tarot cards, crocheted a hunter green pouch, purchased a wooden comb, sandalwood fan and a straw hat with blue ostrich plumb at Smoke and Fire Company (catalog available): www.smoke-fire.com, 1-800-766-5334 lastly buying some ice and getting a ride up the hill for the day.

That evening we chatted and had a great time with the gang at the campsite. There was an incident of Drew, a.k.a. – kilt man, being in hammock wrapped in foil by Mark and Ron. Photos were taken of Drew, now a.k.a. – space-mothra and the cosmonaut heroes that expedited his aluminum chrysalis experience winged in navy blue and crème cape. Stacey and I prepared some polenta on a griddle, and strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing. The lady in red dress, Teresa, the gang’s friend from another camp site was there socializing. (I braided her hair later in the camping experience.) The cool but damp night air was appreciated by all. By dark Chris returned from Mundania where he had been wrestling alligators. Bert, Megan’s husband came later. After Chris had fixed me a real stiff drink of whiskey and a fruit drink mix so though I so wanted to go to the Bacchanal, I retired to bed around 10:45pm, not sure if it was too much sugar, too tired or too much alcohol.

Awoke at 6:15am Saturday to a misty morning and I did some Tai Chi and as my habit I read the Golden Verses. Had some gluten free peanut butter cereal with chocolate almond breeze on it and a pot of tea. Then Christoffe and I walked down the hill into the market. We stopped to charge cell phones. There we purchased some leathers to make a barbarian outfit of loincloth, vest and cape of earthen browns from cappuccino to sena and tan and white leather at the realleatherpeople, http://www.realleatherpeople.com/. Where I also got a piece of hunter green glove leather for another pouch and a wide hunter leather belt also ordered a blue leather three panel corset. While the green belt was being fixed with the black leather straps and brass buckles on each side Chris went off and I picked out beads to embellish his soon to be constructed barbarian garb at the Bead Lady, thebeadlady02@yahoo.com. Then we stopped at a shoppe for leather thread and there bought a coyote head for the front of one of his loincloths. After securing a job for me to help break down a leather goods tent at Michael Walden, www.aleathercrafter.com, where later for part of my pay I got a tan coloured leather belt with oak leaves and acorns relief on it. Walked by the Argent Fox Music: www.argentfox.com, and dspeer@argentfox.com that sold hand make harps $600 and up and hammer dulcimers around $100. On a handsome instrument I plucked out Ode to Joy in G major with harmony using both hands. We stopped by Historic Enterprises, while looking for Michael Walden as we did have the name, where I arranged to breakdown their building for $10/per hour on Sunday 10 am to 5pm. We walked about finding Christoffe and I hung out at the main house above the showers in the common room charging our telephones and played dice. Christoffe met me after the breakdown at the leather shoppe (Michael Walden’s) 3 –5pm - Christoffe and I ate
gyros, his, a sandwich and mine, a salad in the shade of the barn. The air cooled on the nice hike back to the campsite (N35), hailing others and making friendly greetings to lords and ladies, alike.

At the camp most of the others campers in our wee cot were there. We sat and smoked, chatted and cajoled one another. Teresa was there, but left to collect foodstuffs like chicken breast to add to our potluck. Mark arrived later after dumpster - diving. I took a shower with his instruction. Teresa returned as Joe Keenan and son from below the hill whose site was adjacent to our campsite joined us at my invitation that was everyone’s idea to dine with us. We ate another bite or two, then Christoffe and I walked down to Blue Feather. Met a few guys and a fine, lady, Judy, where I passed out some cards hoping to make new friends while sitting about a fire and the other ate pizza around a fire. We left to go back to camp to meet up with Chris’s cousins and Drew before going to Lost Boys.

On the way back to the campsite (N35) a lord of a certain age said, “ good evening my lord and lady” to which I replied, “Sir, I am no lady!” Megan and her sister, Lynn who arrived that evening, were there from Mundania. All had a wee bit of drink before we arrived. Megan and Lynn appeared to have had a little more than the rest. We hung out. I ate some of the wonderful marinated open fire grilled chicken and baked potato that Jody prepared. And at the time to depart I was unbelted and my Pennsic medallion is tied to a pouch on my new hunter green belt so Christoffe waited for me to redress and catch up. It was a interesting trek down the hill as the sister were giddy from much drink and nude under capes fastened with safety pins. Drew, the sisters, and Bert, Chris and I stopped at the base of the hill where we stayed as Megan said that we ran out of beverage and was invited to enter camp of so Atlantians that requested a story an/or a song I told a joke. We were gifted to hear several songs by their bard one of which was “Feeling Boobies.” At some point on the way there everyone was kissing, Megan and Bert, Drew and Lynn, so Chris kissed me.

At Lost Boys it was an interesting evening with much drinking and merriment. It was sad that one of the original members had died on way to a wedding sometime last year. So at this point a good lot of the throng spoke remembrances fondly of him. The somber moments though heart felt didn’t detour the need to revel. Christoffe met up with a long time female friend. Just before leaving the area I met a fellow masseuse giving him a card. By this time only Chris & I were left to return in duo.

I woke up did some Tai Chi, read the golden verses and spoke softly with the few wake campers at our site. Megan confessed throwing up in a gully and Chris in the restroom before arriving back at the site the night before. I sat eating a few oat bars and drank some tea before Christoffe and I were off to meet up with Historic Enterprises, a reproduction clothier with beautiful garb especially to me the leg wear: http://www.historicenterprises.com/. Gwen and Jeff, the proprietors, were reserved but cordial. I felt that they were tired and a little burned out by the rain that had accosted Pennsic before my arrival. A few other guys helped for a short while then Theresa and Stan, friends of theirs were there on hand to help as well. Gwen left to do other duties. I was so impressed how we worked in chorus to complete the task at hand, breaking down a Tudor building with a ½ second floor. It started to lightly sprinkle but a false episode as no rain followed. The breakdown went smoothly but the loading of the trailer that seemed to take time as Jeff, Stan and Theresa discussed placement of the building parts and other such items. I was amazed that it took so little time and the ease in which we were finished by 4:27pm. Jeff and Stan left to put the trailer in storage. Theresa and I rolled up the carpet pieces and a few other duties and I had time to take a shower before the owners and Stan returned. Dressed as a tomato in reds and orange with my newly acquired green belt, I was paid then we were on the road deflated at the fact that we were returning to Mundania.

We stopped for all you can eat Chinese buffet where other Pennsic campers were assembled at Dynasty International Buffet in Cranberry with I paid for as I had just made $70. I saw Ambroselle, whom I had met in Pittsburgh before and massaged there. He replied, “hi” to my greeting and looked more than reserved in response. We arrived back home at 7:18pm. Then unpacked Chris with his blistered bare feet.

Other shoppes of interest were: Ambrosia Farms, sherryfergus@pa.net, Cameron’s Head to Toe, Elena5@aol.com, The Crafty Celts, craftycelts@mindspring.com, Fabric Dragon, Kristen@fabricdragon.com, Merrimask Designs, merimask@aol.com and lastly Moresca Clothing & Costumes, http://www.moresca.com/.