Feelin' Sirius...
I've been trying to write about Sirius Rising all week. It was good & it was kinda uncomfortable for me. I'll skip the uncomfortable parts.
I got in Friday night to find the Druid/Asatru pot-luck already in progress. It was fun. Food was good, strange discussions were had. Afterwards, I had the joy of beating my tent into submission while my grovies went to a labyrinth rite. Usually I don't have much trouble getting my tent up- even by myself- but it was being persnickety. We were camping in Druid's Keep, which is a seriously cool little camp that I've always wanted to camp in. It was recently taken over by Stone Creed Grove & since none of their members were going to camp there during Sirius, they graciously allowed us to use it. Pretty sweet- except that it's got this wall around part of it that's made of tree branches & posts. Actually, the wall's pretty cool when one isn't trying to set up a tent right next to it. When one *is* trying to set up a tent next to it, it likes to grab the tent poles. I wasn't amused. I was less amused to discover that the pump for my air mattress didn't work- as in mechanical failure. This would be the air pump I bought right before Wellspring & have used a grand total of 3 times. Fortunately, when my grovies returned, R had a pump that functioned & Grey had duct tape so I could connect to my air mattress. With tent & bed set up, I could properly enjoy myself (I'm one of those people that doesn't settle down until my tent's up).
We all headed over to the pavilion to see the Dragon Ritual Drummers. They were *fantastic*!!!! I danced like a maniac-- exactly what I needed to de-stress. By the time they were done, the rest of my grovies had disappeared (to bed, as it turned out) & I headed up to the candle labyrinth. The Labyrinth told me that I hate people.
Well, not exactly. What the Labyrinth told me is that I am alone & that sometimes I prefer it that way. This was made manifest in the form of a number of other people who were wandering the labyrinth, very drunk, *very* giggly & very annoying. Also in the form of two guys sitting around the Well (which I found oddly devoid of actual water) talking about how the one guy's boss ran into his truck. To which I thought, "Why the hell are you talking about that *HERE*?" In the words of Jayne, "You are disturbing my calm."
On the way back to camp, where I intended to just go to bed since I'd been up since 7 am, I heard a familiar voice in the pool house- jrtheotter! So I popped in & there he was with some of the Brighid's Haven folks, swimming & tossing a beach ball around in grand otter fashion. I chatted with folks a bit & then settled into a nice soak in the hot tub, which was sooooo nice-- and was a good way to make sure my legs didn't cramp up during the night after all that dancing. I met a Japanese man named Tadashi, which is the name of my Metals studio buddy from Japan. He told me that Tadashi is a popular name in Japan & that it can have two meaning depending on the family. I don't remember what either of them were, though.
I slept very well. Too well- I slept through most of the Blessing Rite next door in the Nemeton. Whoops. I did wake up to hear some beautiful singing. Turned out that when I set the alarm on my cell phone, I'd set it for 10 pm instead of am. But I probably needed the sleep anyway. I decided to cruise the merchants. I hadn't planned on spending any money, other than buying a nice bottle of mead. Ironically for a clothing-optional site, I ended up buying some beautiful clothes. First was a short flaminco-style dress in black. Along with it, I bought a red silk wrap skirt that I can wear with the dress or with something else. The nice thing about both is that the dress is a clingy knit & the skirt's a wrap skirt, so they;ll both fit me as I slim down. Later, I saw a beautiful layered black lace & silk skirt & top hanging in the front of a tent. The lady saw me looking at it & called out, "That's 50% off." One beautiful 2-piece outfit for $25 total. Sweet! I wore it to the bonfire that night. It's a fabulous skirt for dancing in. Dinner that night was courtesy of my Grovie, Maggie, who cooked for all of us. I can't remember what it was now but it was very good.
The bonfire on Saturday was wicked. There was a huge thunderbird on the top of it & fireworks inside. They lit the bonfire with flaming swords, which was hella cool. I totally want one now. (what a surprise for all of you). And of course, drums & more dancing around the fire. Whee! My bellydance teacher showed up with her hubby & their little boy. It was a *lot* of fun dancing around & there was much nakedness. Not by me, though. Maybe next year when I have a figure worth showing off. ;-)
Sunday was packing up, cleaning up & going home. Kinda sad, really. I wish I could have spent more time up there & had a chance to see more people. I never did get up to Druid Heights to say hi to the other ADF folks around. Maybe next year I'll take a vacation day or two & head up earlier.
There were some odd sights. I saw the zipper dick guy again (he looks like Santa Claus from the neck up & he's got a series of barbell piercings across the shaft of his penis. All I can think when I see him is *OUCH*!!!!) He appeared to be wearing bungee cords. I also saw the nudist equivalent of the old-guy-in-black-socks-and-sandals look-- an older guy wearing a button-up shirt like my grandpa wore & a fisherman's hat & socks & sandals-- and his tighty-whities. He looked for all the world like he'd just forgotten his shorts.
I got in Friday night to find the Druid/Asatru pot-luck already in progress. It was fun. Food was good, strange discussions were had. Afterwards, I had the joy of beating my tent into submission while my grovies went to a labyrinth rite. Usually I don't have much trouble getting my tent up- even by myself- but it was being persnickety. We were camping in Druid's Keep, which is a seriously cool little camp that I've always wanted to camp in. It was recently taken over by Stone Creed Grove & since none of their members were going to camp there during Sirius, they graciously allowed us to use it. Pretty sweet- except that it's got this wall around part of it that's made of tree branches & posts. Actually, the wall's pretty cool when one isn't trying to set up a tent right next to it. When one *is* trying to set up a tent next to it, it likes to grab the tent poles. I wasn't amused. I was less amused to discover that the pump for my air mattress didn't work- as in mechanical failure. This would be the air pump I bought right before Wellspring & have used a grand total of 3 times. Fortunately, when my grovies returned, R had a pump that functioned & Grey had duct tape so I could connect to my air mattress. With tent & bed set up, I could properly enjoy myself (I'm one of those people that doesn't settle down until my tent's up).
We all headed over to the pavilion to see the Dragon Ritual Drummers. They were *fantastic*!!!! I danced like a maniac-- exactly what I needed to de-stress. By the time they were done, the rest of my grovies had disappeared (to bed, as it turned out) & I headed up to the candle labyrinth. The Labyrinth told me that I hate people.
Well, not exactly. What the Labyrinth told me is that I am alone & that sometimes I prefer it that way. This was made manifest in the form of a number of other people who were wandering the labyrinth, very drunk, *very* giggly & very annoying. Also in the form of two guys sitting around the Well (which I found oddly devoid of actual water) talking about how the one guy's boss ran into his truck. To which I thought, "Why the hell are you talking about that *HERE*?" In the words of Jayne, "You are disturbing my calm."
On the way back to camp, where I intended to just go to bed since I'd been up since 7 am, I heard a familiar voice in the pool house- jrtheotter! So I popped in & there he was with some of the Brighid's Haven folks, swimming & tossing a beach ball around in grand otter fashion. I chatted with folks a bit & then settled into a nice soak in the hot tub, which was sooooo nice-- and was a good way to make sure my legs didn't cramp up during the night after all that dancing. I met a Japanese man named Tadashi, which is the name of my Metals studio buddy from Japan. He told me that Tadashi is a popular name in Japan & that it can have two meaning depending on the family. I don't remember what either of them were, though.
I slept very well. Too well- I slept through most of the Blessing Rite next door in the Nemeton. Whoops. I did wake up to hear some beautiful singing. Turned out that when I set the alarm on my cell phone, I'd set it for 10 pm instead of am. But I probably needed the sleep anyway. I decided to cruise the merchants. I hadn't planned on spending any money, other than buying a nice bottle of mead. Ironically for a clothing-optional site, I ended up buying some beautiful clothes. First was a short flaminco-style dress in black. Along with it, I bought a red silk wrap skirt that I can wear with the dress or with something else. The nice thing about both is that the dress is a clingy knit & the skirt's a wrap skirt, so they;ll both fit me as I slim down. Later, I saw a beautiful layered black lace & silk skirt & top hanging in the front of a tent. The lady saw me looking at it & called out, "That's 50% off." One beautiful 2-piece outfit for $25 total. Sweet! I wore it to the bonfire that night. It's a fabulous skirt for dancing in. Dinner that night was courtesy of my Grovie, Maggie, who cooked for all of us. I can't remember what it was now but it was very good.
The bonfire on Saturday was wicked. There was a huge thunderbird on the top of it & fireworks inside. They lit the bonfire with flaming swords, which was hella cool. I totally want one now. (what a surprise for all of you). And of course, drums & more dancing around the fire. Whee! My bellydance teacher showed up with her hubby & their little boy. It was a *lot* of fun dancing around & there was much nakedness. Not by me, though. Maybe next year when I have a figure worth showing off. ;-)
Sunday was packing up, cleaning up & going home. Kinda sad, really. I wish I could have spent more time up there & had a chance to see more people. I never did get up to Druid Heights to say hi to the other ADF folks around. Maybe next year I'll take a vacation day or two & head up earlier.
There were some odd sights. I saw the zipper dick guy again (he looks like Santa Claus from the neck up & he's got a series of barbell piercings across the shaft of his penis. All I can think when I see him is *OUCH*!!!!) He appeared to be wearing bungee cords. I also saw the nudist equivalent of the old-guy-in-black-socks-and-sandals look-- an older guy wearing a button-up shirt like my grandpa wore & a fisherman's hat & socks & sandals-- and his tighty-whities. He looked for all the world like he'd just forgotten his shorts.