July Coronation...
Well, I don't tend to go to An Tir July Coronation, it tends to be too far a drive for not enough time and not enough to do. But Andrew was MICing the Rapier stuff and I'm tired of always missing out on all the Crown level events that "Ah shit you should have been there, all this great stuff happened blah blah blah pout pout pout for not being there"...so, I decided to go.
So, since it was a relatively last minute thing (well...in my OCD planning world it was) so I hadn't put in the request for a vacation day for the Friday...so it was a right from work to the event excursion. I take off and immediately get stuck in traffic...f#@@#$%. Fine...turn around and take the other bridge...get stuck at the border ('cuz my window of opportunity of a lull at the Aldergrove crossing is now gone) I don't cross the border till 7pm (I got off work at 5). Also...my Google directions didn't have a exit number for the 405 South...and I guess I missed it 'cuz now I'm driving through Seattle...F@#$@#$. Take the 405 NORTH and finally get going in the right direction (another 40 minutes blown). Now I'm awake...cuz I'm fueled by anger and rage...no need for my energy drink.
Finally roll into Union Gap (the town closest to the site) so I get some money and something to eat. Go to the McDonald's and get a Big Mac ('cuz Basileus promises but never delivers...) and drive off. Biting in I notice it less tasty than normal...and as I investigate...it's because there is no meat. DON'T GO THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH, THEY'LL F@#$@% YOU IN THE DRIVE THROUGH. So, lesson learned...in the US you have to ask for the meat. So I go back and bitch...they apologize and get me another Mac...WITH MEAT.
Roll into the site and find my camp...set up by 1:00 AM. urg
So, the morning comes (urg) get organized, fed (yay Chandra!) and out to the Cadet Tourney (luckily spitting distance from the camp). So we start the WS introduction and what we are looking for...and the other WS are giving weak and ambiguous (I don't know what I'm looking for until I see it) kind of responses...well....F@#$@ that. As Enoch mentioned...I channeled my inner Guido and LOUDLY told them that THIS is OUR dog and pony show, THEY were here for OUR entertainment, that this was THEIR time to PASS or FAIL in our eyes...etc. etc. ( I don't remember the exact words...but...something to that effect) ohhh...and I got my adrenaline up (public speaking...me no likey) But I'm pretty sure I got my point across.
So...we had a SCHWACK of White Scarves...14 on the field. Considering the entire list was 32 fighters...almost 1 scarf per fighter. The fighting was good and clean. My only whine...not enough Cadets... maybe a 1/2 dozen of them. I was really winded come the second half (1065feet up...should I get that winded that quickly at that elevation?) The arm held up and I felt good and happy with my own fighting. Did the White Scarf Invitational right afterward, picked Amber as somehow we managed not to fight at all during the entire Cadet Tourney...nobody escapes.
Duo Tourney later that day. Experience fight matched randomly with a well...not experienced fighter. Round Robin. So the usual attack sequence was..."ok..you kill their newb before their newb kills you...or at least take him out with you" This worked quite well. I think of the 9 fights...Team Godfrey lost 3. It was a silly bunch of fun...only crappy part...one of my shots was a little too aggressive on one poor girl, that hit her on a previous injury...ya...my bad.
So...good and tired and sweaty...got to use one of the Coleman camp showers...ya...I'm looking to invest in one now. Nothing says YAY! like being clean. Hobo baths with a bucket of cold water and a washcloth to not compare to hot water showers.
Had our Pre WS meeting Sat night so we could get organized and not look like unorganized idiots in front of Their Majesties. Got a lot talked about. Brought up the idea of moving the 12th Night Rapier Championship fight to Saturday morning. Everyone was on board with that. Just have to get the Current and then the future Majesties on board as well.
Then off to drinking and revelry. Well...no eric parties or really much of anything. Coronation is not that large an event, and this one seemed even smaller than usual. But that didn't seem to stop Andrew...he was WELL into his cups that night...silly lightweight drinker (of course his mix ratio went further and further down with each cup...) and Wren...my favorite Duchess of them all...with her hotdog cart...PARTY LIKE IT'S HOT DOG'O'CLOCK!
Sunday...urg...hotter than yesterday...ok the drinking last night isn't helping...but still...urg hot. Up, dressed, fed (again Yay Chandra!) and drag our sorry asses off to the Bear pits fights...the heat is killer...I'm sucking wind...and winning = losing (kill me so I can get some water and shade). Bow out halfway through (though I still make the top 5...WTF?) Cameron make a REAL good showing...72 wins the next highest is Ciaphus with 30. (I got 20) So...Cameron needs to be watched...for good (if the score is legit...we better watch!) and for bad (to see if all those kills are from GOOD shots and not from crap he should have called back). Hopefully...it'll be for good.
Had our official meeting with the Queen (King MIA) got our recommendations and explanations out, but the meeting ended up being rushed and ended before we could get the idea about moving the 12th night fight time...so...hopefully Billy will get that idea out to them.
Had the "Perk" tourney (only WS, Champions and Gallants) but by that time there was only 5 of us left that wanted to fight...but...I won over Cameron in the final best 2 of three.
Finally got around to packing up...and off site I go. Head to Union Gap to get some food for the road...A&W...YA...I WANT ONION RINGS! But...it seems the US version is different from the Canadian version (US version just a simple batter and fried)...and theirs sucks...ass. Ended up throwing them out. So...fast food in Union Gap...fail...full of fail.
Hit the road (I90 east)...flying along well ...until...SCREEEEEECH...dead halt...then slow drag for about an hour (10 miles). I remember I have a map of Washington in the car...and find a way the hell off this road and up to the #2. It was a slower basic 2 lane highway, but it was pleasant and relaxed. Even got to go through Leavenworth (what a quaint fake Bavarian town) and through a bunch of other odd little towns (Startup WA I think is populated by hippies..."gongs $45"...WTF?)
Finally get home around 10 (7 hrs driving). Make the small chit chat with the wife (I'm still buzzing off of energy drinks) and then try to fall asleep...try....and try and then pass out.
My only whine about the weekend...16 White Scarves on site...did we get together as a group and just fight each other...nope (well we could have at the perk tourney...but it was late on Sunday...too many people tired and packing up) But we should make an effort to do so...at least so I know where I stand in the pecking order.
All in all....fun. Had great fights, great conversations and overall enough entertainment to make me come back again. And thanks Bill and Chandra for putting me up and putting up with me.
So, since it was a relatively last minute thing (well...in my OCD planning world it was) so I hadn't put in the request for a vacation day for the Friday...so it was a right from work to the event excursion. I take off and immediately get stuck in traffic...f#@@#$%. Fine...turn around and take the other bridge...get stuck at the border ('cuz my window of opportunity of a lull at the Aldergrove crossing is now gone) I don't cross the border till 7pm (I got off work at 5). Also...my Google directions didn't have a exit number for the 405 South...and I guess I missed it 'cuz now I'm driving through Seattle...F@#$@#$. Take the 405 NORTH and finally get going in the right direction (another 40 minutes blown). Now I'm awake...cuz I'm fueled by anger and rage...no need for my energy drink.
Finally roll into Union Gap (the town closest to the site) so I get some money and something to eat. Go to the McDonald's and get a Big Mac ('cuz Basileus promises but never delivers...) and drive off. Biting in I notice it less tasty than normal...and as I investigate...it's because there is no meat. DON'T GO THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH, THEY'LL F@#$@% YOU IN THE DRIVE THROUGH. So, lesson learned...in the US you have to ask for the meat. So I go back and bitch...they apologize and get me another Mac...WITH MEAT.
Roll into the site and find my camp...set up by 1:00 AM. urg
So, the morning comes (urg) get organized, fed (yay Chandra!) and out to the Cadet Tourney (luckily spitting distance from the camp). So we start the WS introduction and what we are looking for...and the other WS are giving weak and ambiguous (I don't know what I'm looking for until I see it) kind of responses...well....F@#$@ that. As Enoch mentioned...I channeled my inner Guido and LOUDLY told them that THIS is OUR dog and pony show, THEY were here for OUR entertainment, that this was THEIR time to PASS or FAIL in our eyes...etc. etc. ( I don't remember the exact words...but...something to that effect) ohhh...and I got my adrenaline up (public speaking...me no likey) But I'm pretty sure I got my point across.
So...we had a SCHWACK of White Scarves...14 on the field. Considering the entire list was 32 fighters...almost 1 scarf per fighter. The fighting was good and clean. My only whine...not enough Cadets... maybe a 1/2 dozen of them. I was really winded come the second half (1065feet up...should I get that winded that quickly at that elevation?) The arm held up and I felt good and happy with my own fighting. Did the White Scarf Invitational right afterward, picked Amber as somehow we managed not to fight at all during the entire Cadet Tourney...nobody escapes.
Duo Tourney later that day. Experience fight matched randomly with a well...not experienced fighter. Round Robin. So the usual attack sequence was..."ok..you kill their newb before their newb kills you...or at least take him out with you" This worked quite well. I think of the 9 fights...Team Godfrey lost 3. It was a silly bunch of fun...only crappy part...one of my shots was a little too aggressive on one poor girl, that hit her on a previous injury...ya...my bad.
So...good and tired and sweaty...got to use one of the Coleman camp showers...ya...I'm looking to invest in one now. Nothing says YAY! like being clean. Hobo baths with a bucket of cold water and a washcloth to not compare to hot water showers.
Had our Pre WS meeting Sat night so we could get organized and not look like unorganized idiots in front of Their Majesties. Got a lot talked about. Brought up the idea of moving the 12th Night Rapier Championship fight to Saturday morning. Everyone was on board with that. Just have to get the Current and then the future Majesties on board as well.
Then off to drinking and revelry. Well...no eric parties or really much of anything. Coronation is not that large an event, and this one seemed even smaller than usual. But that didn't seem to stop Andrew...he was WELL into his cups that night...silly lightweight drinker (of course his mix ratio went further and further down with each cup...) and Wren...my favorite Duchess of them all...with her hotdog cart...PARTY LIKE IT'S HOT DOG'O'CLOCK!
Sunday...urg...hotter than yesterday...ok the drinking last night isn't helping...but still...urg hot. Up, dressed, fed (again Yay Chandra!) and drag our sorry asses off to the Bear pits fights...the heat is killer...I'm sucking wind...and winning = losing (kill me so I can get some water and shade). Bow out halfway through (though I still make the top 5...WTF?) Cameron make a REAL good showing...72 wins the next highest is Ciaphus with 30. (I got 20) So...Cameron needs to be watched...for good (if the score is legit...we better watch!) and for bad (to see if all those kills are from GOOD shots and not from crap he should have called back). Hopefully...it'll be for good.
Had our official meeting with the Queen (King MIA) got our recommendations and explanations out, but the meeting ended up being rushed and ended before we could get the idea about moving the 12th night fight time...so...hopefully Billy will get that idea out to them.
Had the "Perk" tourney (only WS, Champions and Gallants) but by that time there was only 5 of us left that wanted to fight...but...I won over Cameron in the final best 2 of three.
Finally got around to packing up...and off site I go. Head to Union Gap to get some food for the road...A&W...YA...I WANT ONION RINGS! But...it seems the US version is different from the Canadian version (US version just a simple batter and fried)...and theirs sucks...ass. Ended up throwing them out. So...fast food in Union Gap...fail...full of fail.
Hit the road (I90 east)...flying along well ...until...SCREEEEEECH...dead halt...then slow drag for about an hour (10 miles). I remember I have a map of Washington in the car...and find a way the hell off this road and up to the #2. It was a slower basic 2 lane highway, but it was pleasant and relaxed. Even got to go through Leavenworth (what a quaint fake Bavarian town) and through a bunch of other odd little towns (Startup WA I think is populated by hippies..."gongs $45"...WTF?)
Finally get home around 10 (7 hrs driving). Make the small chit chat with the wife (I'm still buzzing off of energy drinks) and then try to fall asleep...try....and try and then pass out.
My only whine about the weekend...16 White Scarves on site...did we get together as a group and just fight each other...nope (well we could have at the perk tourney...but it was late on Sunday...too many people tired and packing up) But we should make an effort to do so...at least so I know where I stand in the pecking order.
All in all....fun. Had great fights, great conversations and overall enough entertainment to make me come back again. And thanks Bill and Chandra for putting me up and putting up with me.