That Was The Weekend That Was
Friday, January 8th -- I took the day off from work. We ran our usual Saturday morning errands since we wouldn't be here Sat, including doing a load of wash so we'd have garb for AEthelmearc Royal Twelfth Night. Finally got going to our host's house around 1-ish. Arrived late at night. I wanted to go to this event last year, but it was white out conditions and we chickened out. We decided to chance it this year because the weather promised to hold out. Our hosts had two dogs, both greyhounds. We were in severe danger of being cuddled to death. :) I brought rawhide chewies for both of them. They got to gnaw on them for awhile, then our hostess took them away because too much rawhide is bad for them, she would ration them out over the next week.
Saturday, January 9th -- Royal Twelfth Night!!! I was well prepared and printed out Google directions from our house to our hosts and from their house to the site and then from site to their house and their house to our house. Unfortunately, Google decided to take us two exits past our destination and drop us off on an identically named street in the wrong town! We were late getting to the event, we missed opening court. We were NOT the only ones having this problem, the autocrat was hearing complaints all day.
We were off-board because I mis-understood the ad for the event. It listed Site Fee, Below the Salt Feast Fee, and Above the Salt Feast Fee. I didn't realize that the Feast Fees, INCLUDED the site fee untl after I had sent my reservation in. We bought food thinking it would be sold out, and nearly everyone managed to get bumped up to Above the Salt. Since we bought food and didn't want to waste it, we stayed off-board. We were literally the only people in the hall to do so!
It's a lovely site, with very pretty rooms for court, for meetings and for feast. But there are no elevators and lots and lots of stairs. My wife didn't come watch me perform because it was too many stairs for her. Parking was catch as catch can and since we were late, we parked half a block from the site. There was convienent parking for Royalty, you know, those folks that have squires, retainers and autocrat liasons to carry all their stuff for them. I left stuff in the car simply because I didn't want to carry it, so our banners made the trip, but not into the hall.
I came to this event with two objectives in mind, both of which would be accomplished at the same time. First, I wanted to compete in the Royal Bard competition. Second, I am currently on a quest to perform in EVERY local group in AEthelmearc. I guesstimated it would take about three years, but I essentially took 2015 off, so this is the start of my second years. I have now scratched the Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais off my list. Alas, I accomplished my second objective, but not my first. Baron Will won the bardic.
Sunday, January 10th -- We bid our hosts farewell and left for home. Unfortunately, I missed one turn so our trip was a few miles longer. We stopped at the Kinzua Dam. There's supposed to be a day when they shut off the dam and the raptors come to feast on the fish flopping around. Last year twelve eagles were spotted. Now that we know where it is, we're going to come this year. My plan for the day was going to be come home, unpack, catch up on my #declutter 365 missions that I missed over the weekend, and go see Star Wars 7. It started snowing around Warren PA, and got worse the closer we got home. I unpacked, called it a night and we both went to bed early.
Monday, January 11th -- It was still snowing when I got up, however work was open, there was no travel advisory and the schools were open. They closed the schools just after I left and posted an advisory. If I could have gotten off the Thruway after five minute on, I would have turned around and gone home. It took me over two hours to get to work. 20mph on the thruway the whole way. Most folks didn't make it, including my boss and about half the workers. Naturally, I had to run into my boss's boss, who was actually surprised I made it in. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
Saturday, January 9th -- Royal Twelfth Night!!! I was well prepared and printed out Google directions from our house to our hosts and from their house to the site and then from site to their house and their house to our house. Unfortunately, Google decided to take us two exits past our destination and drop us off on an identically named street in the wrong town! We were late getting to the event, we missed opening court. We were NOT the only ones having this problem, the autocrat was hearing complaints all day.
We were off-board because I mis-understood the ad for the event. It listed Site Fee, Below the Salt Feast Fee, and Above the Salt Feast Fee. I didn't realize that the Feast Fees, INCLUDED the site fee untl after I had sent my reservation in. We bought food thinking it would be sold out, and nearly everyone managed to get bumped up to Above the Salt. Since we bought food and didn't want to waste it, we stayed off-board. We were literally the only people in the hall to do so!
It's a lovely site, with very pretty rooms for court, for meetings and for feast. But there are no elevators and lots and lots of stairs. My wife didn't come watch me perform because it was too many stairs for her. Parking was catch as catch can and since we were late, we parked half a block from the site. There was convienent parking for Royalty, you know, those folks that have squires, retainers and autocrat liasons to carry all their stuff for them. I left stuff in the car simply because I didn't want to carry it, so our banners made the trip, but not into the hall.
I came to this event with two objectives in mind, both of which would be accomplished at the same time. First, I wanted to compete in the Royal Bard competition. Second, I am currently on a quest to perform in EVERY local group in AEthelmearc. I guesstimated it would take about three years, but I essentially took 2015 off, so this is the start of my second years. I have now scratched the Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais off my list. Alas, I accomplished my second objective, but not my first. Baron Will won the bardic.
Sunday, January 10th -- We bid our hosts farewell and left for home. Unfortunately, I missed one turn so our trip was a few miles longer. We stopped at the Kinzua Dam. There's supposed to be a day when they shut off the dam and the raptors come to feast on the fish flopping around. Last year twelve eagles were spotted. Now that we know where it is, we're going to come this year. My plan for the day was going to be come home, unpack, catch up on my #declutter 365 missions that I missed over the weekend, and go see Star Wars 7. It started snowing around Warren PA, and got worse the closer we got home. I unpacked, called it a night and we both went to bed early.
Monday, January 11th -- It was still snowing when I got up, however work was open, there was no travel advisory and the schools were open. They closed the schools just after I left and posted an advisory. If I could have gotten off the Thruway after five minute on, I would have turned around and gone home. It took me over two hours to get to work. 20mph on the thruway the whole way. Most folks didn't make it, including my boss and about half the workers. Naturally, I had to run into my boss's boss, who was actually surprised I made it in. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.