And so went the weekend.
Tried to get to sleep early on Friday. Not sure how well that worked out. Reading Discworld books tends to make for later times of sleeping as there is always just one more bit to read first. Maybe when I'm done with the Rincewind series I'll take a break for a while before starting in on the next series.
Got up early. Before 5 AM. I was a bit surprised that I managed it, and for a while gave consideration to going right back to sleep. But I got up. Got ready for a faire day. And since it was still early and I had time, stopped at The Ranch for breakfast. This would be cheaper (and likely better for me) than faire food. Also, iced tea would aid in wakefulness.
Drove up to Shakopee, it was already quite warm at 8:30 AM (Yes, MNRF starts at 9, an hour earlier than just about everywhere else.) Got my ticket at the will-call window, also picked up the season pass medallion, which is a bit of an odd thing. The medallion isn't really needed. Show ID, get checked on the list that you're a season pass holder, get a ticket for that day. But it's nice piece to show off.
And then I waited for the pre-gate show to start. In previous years they had the same show over and over and over, at least as far back as I've been seeing them. It was about trying to get the gate open and such. This year it was, at long last, changed. It started later, was shorter, and most importantly, was not the same old thing. Now it is about the mayor upset at the guards for not going out and finding teh royal party... and so they go out and get a king and queen. Well, almost. This happens a few times. Each time (before the real one) they bring back some act. Saturday it was Zilch the Tory Steller, then the Wacky Chickens (a magic act), and I'm not sure who else it was, but I suspect it'll change every weekend if not every day.
I met the NiteStars (or is it NightStars?) from AtTheFaire, who were there despite expecting they would not be. We worked our way to the pavilion and waited for more ATFers to show, and show up they did, at the last minute. We were wondering if everyone else had suddenly went elsewhere. Some talk. Some photos. And then everyone split up. This worked out well - a large group generally means problems having to coordinate everything and who wants to go where. Alone, I go where I please and don't worry about anyone else.
Wandered around some. Didn't see any 'must-sees' on the schedule beyond Vilification Tennis. (Yes, well, there are some, but I'll see them another time when Jay or my folks are there. Zilch. Tuey.) And made my way to Rilla the Spinner. She was there. (There was some doubt as she was at Rosenthorne and didn't bail on it for a MNRF meeting.)
I spent quite a long time talking with (or listening to) Rilla. Well, not all at once. A few times. She was still mentioning how great it was to have met and talked with wendyzski.
At various time I caught up with some folks who had been at Rosenthorne or Sioux Falls and gave them photos. I'll have to find those I took of Rilla and give them to her. But I did, through Rilla, get some to Aquarius. And directly to one of the Scottish Dancers. And to Mistress Bawd (who again mentioned how much fun Sioux Falls was). I was a bit surprised to be recognized. But then I usually am.
I saw Vilification Tennis and there were a few new insults, but I can't remember them just now and I'm not sure I'd repeat them anyway. Saw one act of the Wacky Chickens. And whoever was on before Mistress Bawd's first show. From Rilla's area, I saw some of the Dew Drop Jugglers. And passing by I heard Puke & Snot - and it sounded like exactly the same show I saw a few years ago.
It seems like I didn't do much but talk with Rilla, but I doubt I really missed anything. Sometime Rilla had to go take of things and left me to look after her stuff. I managed to answer one couple's questions about things, though I couldn't show the thing they asked about. Fortunately, I'd seen it, seen it demonstrated, and all at Rosenthorne.
Around 6 I started to make my way out and was on the road at 6:30. All day I'd heard comments on how light the crowd was (it was hot) but seeing the parking lot clinched it. A few cars up front, many gaps where early arrivals had left, and a great stretch of empty field.
I got home and all seemed well. Then I opened the door and stepped into the kitchen. Flashing clocks on the stove and microwave. Joy. Power outage. I wondered how long and if it'd screwed up more than the clocks.
After dealing with faire stuff and washing up a bit, I checked and found that the outage hadn't been long enough to do much more. The UPSes had kept the computers going, though one was grumbling a bit. Jay took care of that when he got home. I had re-set the clocks by then.
Sunday wasn't much. Mostly sleep, it seems. Sore throat and maybe a bit of an ear ache. Not sure about the ear. Salty things were good. I'm hoping it's just the result of being out in the heat and dust and talking a lot. I don't feel bad otherwise. No headache, no queasy feeling.