Maidens
Another good Maidens for me. Travel to it was a little foggy, but I've driven through much worse to get to this event. Stayed overnight at the Illini Union, which was very convenient, if expensive. Since I don't make it to too many events, it was worth the price to me.
I enjoyed watching some heavy combat, and talking to a number of people. I got to see Catriona for the first time in a long time (Wow!), and I hung out a lot with birchduck after she was done fighting. Also got to talk a bit with Kambraida, Dolph, Julia, Mary, some of the Wurm Wald staff at lunch, and Terra Finis during dinner at Chinatown. Then hung out at Catriona's party for a while, drank some stout and ate fabulous baklava.
If there was a downside to the event, it was after hours when I was trying to sleep. A gaggle of what sounded like teenage girls were rampaging up and down the fourth floor hallway, hollering and yelling, slamming the door next to my room so hard that it actually shook me awake. They woke me not once, but three separate times (after 2, 3 and 4am). I kept wondering where their parents were, and why they were permitting such ridiculous behavior. Grrr....
The drive home was damp, but again OK. I was surprised (as I always am this time of year) to see large numbers of geese migrating back north. It seems winter just started! It was nice to see the hope of better weather (and possibly the sun?) in their flight. : )
Lots of people missed Rory, and asked after him. Hope he's doing ok.