July 2006

I'm sitting in the New York Renaissance Faire's front office.  It's Wednesday at noon, and I'm waiting for Marketing and Public Relations Director Eric Michael - my buddy Emo. He's done a brilliant lateral move into the world of "rennie corporate."  He's worked this type of gig once before at theArizona Renaissance Festival.  Not only is he doing something he's good at, but he's getting paid a fyne salary while he learns even more about the marketing biz.

I'm here in New York, middle of the week, visiting friends.  I'm sitting here in NYRF's front office waiting for Eric, because we're going to the gym for his lunch break.  We'll grab something to eat before he heads back to work, so it's all good.

It's been quite the travel season for me this year.  I've already mentioned in my last journal almost everything up through my travels to Charlotte and back.  Since then, I've been working the Great Lakes Medieval Faire with those Tortuga boyz.  This has given me ample opportunity to reconnect with my jouster chums from back in the day... and the gorgeous women they surround themselves with (read: wives).

It is an interesting family dynamic, going "on the road."  I have seen people meet, fall in love, get married - or not - and raise families.  This all while picking up and moving every six to eight weeks or so.  We rennies are the second largest group of what the government has labeled the organized homeless.  I'm not sure which is the largest.  Any guesses?  Circus people?  Carnies?  Snowbird Canadians? [Kidding aside (it happens sometimes!), I believe it's migrant workers from Mexico - AB]

I have also seen friends put down roots all over - this mostly due to where and with whom they happen to fall in love.  Me?  I'm still a ramblin' man at heart.  But, that doesn't mean I'm not lookin'.

 

A shot of me with the camera-shy Mighty Thorson

Look kids - it's Art! From Bronze Age Studios

Tortuga Hotel Hosts Omar and Dan

That being said, I did manage to spend some time with the Mighty Thorson while in New York.  That would be Kristin - the fabulous woman that I was seeing in Georgia - from my May 2006 journal.  As always, we had a wonderful time together, and we are hoping to do so more in the future.

Fast-forward a bit.  Jef and I took a trip to San Diego's International Comic Con.  Years ago, it began as a comic book convention.  So much so that the hard-core comic book vendors would always sneer at the few fantasy artists that would dare to grace the convention halls, and demand to know why they were there in the first place.  Those comic book people never let the poor fantasy types play in any of their reindeer games.

 

Welcome to San Diego's International Comic Con!

Raphael Tortuga, House Elf Emancipator

Authors Jordan, Thompson, and Williams celebrate their new -Angels- book

Today it is a different story.  It's become a media circus incorporating both the comic book and the fantasy world.  You can thank the Lord of the Rings trilogy for that.  And we do.

Anywho, Jef and I went out there to shop around a Tortuga Twins comic book idea, and to garner some direction for the project.  It was a huge success.  True, we didn't sign any deals, but we did talk to a few artists and comic book publishers.  They were all very helpful, and the told us what we would have to do to be looked at for submission.

 

AZ Tortugaholic Ali Rae enjoys the Comic Con

Some people lose their heads at these conventions

Peace Out! on the Dark Side!

So, right now everything is in the planning stages - soon to be the actual writing and developing stage.  We're expecting to have a finished product put together by summer 2008.  Sooner if we find a publisher willing to jump at next year's Comic Con.  Exciting, huh, Tortugaholics?  Yeah, for us, too.

The final thing I want to jabber on about is the winery gig we Tortugas put on towards the latter end of our Ohio run.  The Grand River Cellars in Madison, Ohio "... is a restaurant and winery located in the heart of the Grand River Valley Wine Region."

Here's the scoop: GLMF is shifting their focus towards "family friendly," and they asked us not to do our rated 'R' show.  Being the consummate professionals that we are, we complied with their wishes.  However, having the entrepreneurial spirit that we do, we saw an opportunity and not a problem.

Actually, it was Jef who hooked up the gig.  He was out visiting wineries with his wife Sharon - a fave pastime of theirs - when the idea struck him that we could do our Swordfighting & Stupidity show at a non-festival venue.  After a little nice-nice making with the owners of the winery they were at - another favorite pastime of Jef & Sharon - the winery gig was born.

 

Nothing says Yummy like sexy jouster women on a toilet seat...

Nothing says Fun like half-naked Tortugas (at the Winery show)

Hot Jouster Chix at a Cool Winery Gig

We did two nights on consecutive Thursdays... and a great time was had by all.  How could they not?  Fantastic food, excellent wine, and half-naked Tortugas - a definite recipe for fun and debauchery.

Well, my Tortugaholics, this spells the end of my latest journal.  I hope you're out having as good a time as I am... and I'm sure that you are.  You are, after all, Tortugaholics, and you always do us proud in the fun department.

Ciao for now, all!!!