We stopped when it began to rain, and went back to camp. By then, CedarLight Grove had shown up, and was getting their fairie mound ready for camping.
I stopped in for a few minutes, and got to say a round of hellos, and meet some new people (such as
I got back to the campsite in time to catch Lees and Jim setting up. We chatted for a while, and then I got pulled off again.
That night there was an opening ritual, in which tokens were blessed. This ritual was a rather run-of-the-mill thing, and those who happened to miss it didn't miss too terrible much.
Kirk, Gaand and
Well, they all arrived the next day, some earlier than others.
I was sitting in a meeting on something (there were lots of meetings, and they were all on *something*, but I can't remember what I attended, and as I never actually held a schedule in my hand, I don't know exactly what I went to when), and I looked over toward the end of it (maybe "Grove Building" by
I'd been carrying my bag around for the past 24 hours, wondering when I'd get the chance to put my vicious plan into action. I knew I couldn't do anything until she showed up, so I simply lay in wait, knowing that she'd be there eventually.
Exiting the workshop (after concealing my desire to bolt straight over for two reasons: a) it would be terribly impolite, and b)
(Some background. Every day, I sit, minding my own business, doing Real Work (TM). Around 11:30, as I'm ignoring everything, I get this IM, often with an opening line like:
"AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!"
or
"Monkeys!!!!!!!!"
or
""La la la, the bitch is back." Damn Elton John songs stuck in my head! *shakes fist*"
or
"And the black sheep go.. la la la laa-laa-la-la, la la la laa la la."
or
"And then the GOddess came down and said "There shall be Wiccans!"
Thunder crashed.
"And they shall be crucnhy in milk!""
No, I am not making that up. There is often much fist-shaking. Does she do that to anyone else, or am I the only lucky one? Anyway, we talk nearly every day over IM, our conversations just getting stranger from there. At one point we were talking about Wellspring, and about how if we ever managed to meet, we'd probably just be struck dumb with shyness, and that we wouldn't be able to communicate without IM to help us through. We postulated that we would simply sit 5 feet from each other, never making eye contact, and only talking if we could find a way to IM each other.)
I walked up to
Chronarchy: Hi, [name withheld]!
Chronarchy: Since I don't have the ability to send IM's, I figure I can write them out.
Chronarchy: However, we know I'm lazy, and we know that I can't predict what an Imp will say next, I'm giving up.
Chronarchy: Unless, of course, you want to wait for me to write things out. . .
To which she asked if she wanted me to speak at all. (For clarity's sake, her name was actually in the space marked [name withheld].)
Well, we managed to converse verbally for a while after that, after which (and you'll notice a pattern here), I had to go do something else.
I dragged as many people as possible back to see
On my way back to my tent, and then back over to the pavilion, I was called into the CLG fairie mound by
Later that night was a Norse Blot that was kind of, ah, strange. I'd asked
Can we please teach children that, if they're going to be in a ritual, they need to treat it more like a movie than a playground. Screaming children do not honour the Gods. Laughing children, yes. Screaming children, no.
Thank you for your attention.
Now, after the blot, I got to hang out more with
I went down and hung out in a hot tub for a while after that. Yes, people saw me nekkid. I was amused to find that several people deny looking, and more amused in that I believe them, for I wasn't looking either.
On Saturday morning, I went to a GSP meeting that covered not nearly enough info. I was disappointed by that, but it was okay. We still had some good discussion. I slept through a potluck breakfast that morning put on by the Eastern IE Kin, which wasn't too cool, but I couldn't get myself to move.
I got a shower and hung out a bit more between places. I did that so much that weekend that I didn't manage to get nearly as much done as I wished. I went to the Seer's Guild meeting, which I was decidedly non-fascinated by, despite wanting to know about their SP. I need to get around to joining the Guild, and maybe having some investment, because if I do that, I'll be much more interested in their SP.
For lunch that day, we had the Dance Guild potluck.
After lunch, I laid down for a while. I got up that night in time for the bardic circle, at which Ian and Liafal were given the title "ADF Bard Laureate". The evening was passed nicely giving and getting hugs.
The next day, Sunday, was full again of meetings and workshops. My Gods, the number of potlucks that weekend was astonishing!
I spent time between people, trying to keep my sunburned legs out of the hottub, and generally having a good time. That night, though. . . Wow.
The main ritual, in which
After the rite, our Grove called Jenni back up onto the mound, near the altar (we were going to do this during the rite, but we were forgotten). I said some things that I don't remember, mostly because I was speaking extemporaneously rather than from a script, and then pinned a new brooch on her: a crane. Tears went around, and we all had a good hug.
That night, I spent part of the evening with
You know, it's amusing that every time I get near a bunch of women, another man shows up. *rolls eyes* Not that I begrudge
About a half hour before we got out, a strange guy got in with us. Well, I thought he was strange. We got out, feeling generally refreshed after a couple hours in the hottub and a series of back-rubs, and I headed back up to my camp. I sat out for a while with my Grove and the PSA people who showed up, and relaxed.
The next morning, we got up, and said good byes. I swung by
I said good-bye to my harem, and lamented that I didn't get to spend nearly enough time with them. It was so true.
As we were getting ready to go, though,
Finally, as I was about to get into the car,
After that,
Basically: the weekend was great, except for one thing: I never got to spend enough time with all the cool people I wanted to.
Methinks I have to road trip to see people individually for a while. That's the only way to solve this. Even people who I don't spend so much time with commented on how little time I was spending with others! As much fun as I had, it just wasn't enough.
But I did have fun, and it was especially good to meet some members of my harem that I hadn't met yet, and
To those who were there, thank you for a wonderful time. I go to these things to meet people and to enjoy their company, and you all provided that. Thank you very much.