August 2006

The easy-going nature of northeast Ohio has given way to the 24-8 hustle of the Twin Cities, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and Tortugapalooza 2: Spies 2006 rehearsals.

We said goodbye to Tortuga Minions and festival friends.  Some people we won't see again for 10 to 12 months. With others, the wait will only last a faire or two.  It is an odd and wondrous thing having such countrywide close friendships.  There are people that I don't see but once a year, and yet they are as dear to me, if not more, as some folk I see every day.

 

Tortuga Pal (and Ded Bob clone) Muggsy off the clock at the GLMF

GLMF Tortuga Minion Kary - Signed, sealed, and way too young to let us do this

um... er... No Comment

[Hey kids! Can you figure out which autograph belongs to which Twin, and what each one says...?  It's fun!  - AB]

The guys from Ten Seconds of Harmony are like that.  They really came onto "our scene" last year, and we got to know them well enough to know we liked what we saw.  An up-and-coming, talented act, they had the close camaraderie and wonder at all the good happening to them that we Tortugas share at our best of times.  They are good friends, and we Tortugaz enjoy hanging out with them.

Interestingly enough, I am living with Bruce (Bartholomew in TSOH), his wife Melissa, and their two sons Jacob & Joshua.  I get all the benefits of a close family unit as well as living at ground zero for party central.  The fun never stops at the Dehkes house.  Whether we are hanging in the hot tub with friends or playing World of Warcraft on at least three computers, I am definitely having a good time.  For those W.O.W. fans in the know, I am currently playing on Hellscream with Bruce in his cohorts, while at other times of the year you can find me on Gilneas hanging with Panda's Heroes.  Geek we must!

 

Eric (of TSOH) and Alyssa mug for the camera

Panda's Heroes Rule - Geek We Must!

Jacob stomps my ass at a State Fair game

I hit the Minnesota State Faire twice this year - once for a renaissance festival promo and once for fun - and I've decided that I'm not that big a fan of it.  Don't get me wrong; I like to have a good time.  But, the first thing I noticed when driving up - other than the total lack of inexpensive parking - was that everybody leaving had this exhausted frown on their face.  It was as if the State Faire had sucked the joy out of them and left them the shuffling fried-food-on-a-stick-bloated zombie dead.  Once I got inside, I found out why.  Contrasted with the laughing exuberant crowd that I'm used to seeing exiting renaissance festivals across the country, I should have guessed that I was in for trouble.

Now, let me state for the record that I had a good time with my friends.  And the renaissance festival promo was a hoot.  We performed on a smallish stage for a live audience and the viewers of KARE 11.  Also nice was that Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller and Bullshit! fame was our opening act.  Okay, so he had an interview in the sweet spot ahead of us for his theater show Love Tapes - now showing in Minneapolis - so sue me for being a dreamer.  But, we did get to shake his hand while we were transitioning on and off stage, and that was mondo cool!

The day I went to the State Faire with my friends, we were there for nine hours.  I'm thinking that lent mucho to my not being able to appreciate the full day - that and the fact that we were constantly on the hard blacktop.  What do you think?  Yes?  No?  Maybe?  Don't care really?  Well, either way my feet were aching, and it was only Friday.  I still had a full weekend to perform.  Not happy were my feet.  Green and bumpy like Yoda's did they feel.

 

Cutting up at the State Fair promo

Fair food is so hard to swallow

Anyone order one not-so-dry Tortuga?

Intersperse all my bitching with smiles and laughter, and you'll get closer to the real picture.  I was tired by the end of the day, but I did have a good time.  Will I go back?  Sure.  And most likely, with the same people I hung out with on those two days (TSOH friends & family, my Tortuga boyz, MRF marketing girlz).  However, every so often I get to put on my whiney hat, too.  It's a constant reminder that I'm not perfect... but I like to wear it anyway.  Keeps me humble... somewhat... kinda... sorta... not!!!

Minnesota - the land of milk and money!!!  We are once again entertaining thousands of people, and loving every minute of it.  The Crown Stage rings with laughter whenever we Tortugas and/or Johnny Phoenix step out to do our... doody.  True, my allergies are kicking my ass, but I am sooo happy to be here.

 

Rear view at the Johnny Phoenix show

I'm one hell of a handyman!

Young ladies of obvious High Standards and Good Taste

As far as the allergies go, I'm not really sure why they're being so troublesome.  I am doing the same health regiment that I always do, and yet they're being such a pain.  They're not as bad as years ago, thankfully, but still enough so that I am quite annoyed.  Perhaps I'm fighting something else off as well that's wearing me down in the meantime.  We'll see.  The first cold snap is coming, and with it, I am allergy free.

There's that whiney hat again.  I seem to be wearing it more this journal than all the others combined.  Oh well, a little whine in your day is a good thing every once in a while, right?  Even if you are a self-proclaimed non-drinker?
Whaaaaa... gimme my cheeze!!!
Okay, that's enough of that...

Palooza rehearsals beckon, so I had better wrap this journal up for Tortuga take-out.  I hope that all is going well with you out there in Tortuga Land.  I've been very busy lately, and maybe I'll chat you up about it next time journal time rolls around.  Won't that be fun?  Me talking about personal goals, organizational skills, a room so messy ‘cause time spent cleaning it = wasted work time?  Yeah, I bet you can't wait to hear about that, huh?

Take care of your bad selves, Tortugaholics.  Don't get into no trouble you can't be bailed out from, and don't cause so much trouble that you can't get out to the renaissance festival to see us.  Love to all.  Ciao!!!