Renfest

[valis2]

Ah, Renfest. How I used to love you so.


Musings on going to Renfest yesterday. Involving strange attire, pets, lovely weather, and good friends.

This year is the eighteenth year anniversary of my first visit to Renfest. And somehow I just feel...well...uninspired.

It just isn't the same.

Over the years I've really had some amazing experiences, and I do love the opportunity to dress up, and more importantly, see friends. But it just doesn't feel as important as it used to. I used to feel guilty if I missed any days. Now I'm lucky to get out there twice in one season.

Has something changed? Well...no. Just my perceptions. I suppose everyone goes through a shift in their lives. Some year or span of years during which you begin to understand a little more how things fit together. I'm not casting any aspersions here. I'm just saying that at some point I realized that I wasn't really getting anything more from Festival. I no longer think that I'll attract a potential mate's attention there. I've seen all of the shops so many times that I'm not really overly excited to spend money, and I also don't really decorate in a "Renaissance" style, which makes it ludicrous to purchase anything for the home. Plus, I only go once or twice a year...why spend $300 on a new bodice? Nope, not necessary. I have three outfits which suit me just fine.

I remember when it was all about the new bodice, the next walking staff, some cool creature to perch on your shoulder. And now, I look around, and I'm just impressed by how many people are there. I walked around with my sister, and at every booth I had some bit of gossip, or could tell her what it had been previously. I know the shortcuts, and I know where everything is (most of the time), and I can avoid most of the Evil Much Too Sunny Places, and I know where to find the shortest lines, and the cleanest privies. But I just don't really seem to want to spend a lot of time there anymore. I don't know enough to be a true playtron, or even "in-the-know"...yet I'm not totally a newbie either.

OK, so the attire. And general observations.

Amusing, sometimes inexplicable:

1) Guys wearing reproduction Civil War hats. If you're really trying to get into the spirit, then you must understand that wearing divisive headgear from two centuries in the future is mystifying, not alluring.

2) Girl in overly tight emerald green cheapo velvet dress: Please understand that, though you are average-looking, you are not cleared for that level of tight. Sorry. And the white tennis shoes and bobby socks do not contribute any sort of chic to your outfit. Any sort. Not even the chic that resides on certain denim accessories. Even that chic would mock you.

3) Ah. You are dressed entirely mundanely, except for a Princess Cone Hat. I envy you. Yes. Truly.

4) Yes, sir, "privy" is quite the foreign term. Honestly. I can't imagine anyone knowing that they refer to Port-A-Johns. It boggles the mind. And yes, "privy" is for both men and women.

5) Oh. You have purchased your costumes from a Halloween store. The fabric is simply sumptuous. I assume that you are aware that it is, in this light, see-through.

6) Hey, it's the shop Where We Burn All Of The Patchouli At Once! Yay!

7) I am not amused by your spawn. No one is amused by your spawn. Especially the people being struck by his wooden sword.

8) Thank you for hawking at earsplitting volume, girl-in-borrowed-and-ill-fitting-garb. There might have been one person who didn't hear you otherwise. No, don't bother to change your line. The more repetetive, the better. And louder! That would be great.

9) I am laughing at you now, drunken man. Earlier? Chortling, some chuckling. Now? Outright guffaw.

10) You are a very large woman. Yet you have purchased the tiniest pair of wings. One might think that they were actually wings for very small pets. Like hamsters. Are you aware of the dichotomy you are creating?

All in all, I still have a special place for Renfest in my heart, but I guess I've outgrown it a little. Very sad.

bob_the_mighty, bookwench2096, and arachniaarkhe made it lots of fun though. (Despite rumors of Sock Ninja icons and attempts to sway me to Star Wars Galaxies.) The thing is I don't need to go to Fest to see them...they are lovely friends in RL too.

Didn't get to my Kill Bill blather. Must do that tomorrow.

Sane thought of the day: They always forget the rolls.

Comments

Durmstrang Academy

[durmstrang-inst.livejournal.com]

You have personally been invited to join Durmstrang Institute located at: http://s4.invisionfree.com/Durmstrang_Inst/

Come be a student, professor (many teacher positions are still open), or an outsider (shopkeeper, witch, wizard, etc). Join the dark force, the 'good side' and duke it out. Hang around, make friends, and just have fun!

Students get sorted into original houses, and even get sorted their own animal while at their stay at Durmstrang.

Welcome, and have a blast!

--- Igor Karkaroff

[kitschicat.livejournal.com]

*snortchortlelaugh* OMG I miss you and your fantastic wit so much, woman! :)

Re: Durmstrang Academy

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the invitation. Unfortunately my job requires me to travel often. I am gone for anywhere from a week to a month at a time. So I am not really a good player for that sort of thing, where you get involved in a storyline and you should, as someone with decency, play out to the end. But it's very sweet of you to invite me. Thanks!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It was wonderful seeing you! I had so much fun laughing with you guys. Too bad bradd wasn't there.

Glad to see that String-on-a-Stick (TM) is still quite the laugh factory, too. ;)

[saruwatari.livejournal.com]

LOL @ the list. Patchouli!

Gah, I wish they had those sorts of things around here. It's something I think I'd really like to see.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The patchouli was impressive. arachniaarkhe and I walked past the booth in question, and we both kind of looked at each other. I mean, really, for there to be that sort of astonishing amount of scent at an open air booth is...well, amazing.

And yes, it is a lot of fun to see. Really.

[(Anonymous)]

I had the same experience a few years ago, though I was never as much of a devotee as you were (evidence: I do not own a single bodice). I'd like to see you all dressed up and making surrepticious snarky comments however. :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

;) I like to fade in the background. My outfit is pretty plain and simple, and I think at this point that it's a lot more flattering than a lot of garb I've owned in the past. I just go with my little pad of paper and Sharpie and write down things as I see them.