 Hangin' with Chief Seattle |
It's Saturday morning, and I'm not working! Can you believe it? Me neither.... So here I sit, banging away at my laptop on a rare weekend-day-off, working my delicate fingers to the bone. That's right, no ren. fests. for the Rikker this week, and yet I'm slaving away so that I can finish my soon-to-be-late Tortuga internet journal. I'm actually surprised that I have yet to receive one of  Webmaster Andy Blau's gentle proddings [Admit it - you loooove my gentle proddings... - AB]. And by 'gentle' I mean like American Tourister Luggage in the Gorilla cage. (I'm afraid that only the older kids are going to get that last reference. But, what the hell - I'm 41. So, sue me if my point of reference skews slightly left of the 70's/80's.
The last two weekends were spent doing some mondo travel. I left the Atlanta area and the Georgia Renaissance Festival on June 6th, headed northeast for Niles, Ohio. But first, a stop/visit with North Carolina friendsEJ & Charity. More dinners, more Xbox, and more self-flagellation via my whip training.
After too few days with my Carolina buddies I was yankeeland bound once more. I'm now staying in sparkling Niles, Ohio with my good friends Todd Jordan & Ruth Thompson (husband & wife). For those of you who have not read my journals from last year around this time, she's a fantasy artist known far and wide at renaissance festivals and fantasy/gaming conventions alike. You'll have to wait a while if you're interested in finding more about her via the Internet. Her web site is in the process of undergoing a major overhaul. It should be back up sometime this month or the next, however. So, stop by and take a look aroundwww.tarnishedimages.com. I've played the 'right place at the right time' card over the last few years, and managed to pose for a couple of her paintings - can you guess which ones?
Todd helps run her business - more of an empire, actually - and lends much needed mental-creative calistenics with the healthy geek stress relief that we like to call gaming. (That's Dungeons & Dragons, kids. Careful - here there be nerds.) It's fun, and Todd runs a good game. This is important 'cause I wont play unless it's good. No willy-nilly geekery for me, no sir. This dweeb's got standards!
After a short couple of days at Todd & Ruth's house - the boyz, meanwhile, are staying in their trailers north of here - we were off to Iowa and the Renaissance Faire of the Midlands. All went well this year - unlike last year's evil-bad-storm trauma. We had a grand time staying at the Harrah's Casino, and I managed to win a little money from the craps table (my fave, BTW).
And then came the trip home....
Everything was fine on the first leg from Omaha to Chicago. Then the plane we were taking back to Pittsburg developed mechanical difficulties just before take off, and we were ushered back into the terminal while they attempted to fix the problem. Delays turned into cancellations, which then became 'sorry, no three spaces left on flights back' till many hours later. So, we merrily (not really) bopped over to the Hilton, where we watched updates on the Michael Jackson verdict. This kept us from being too bored. (Again, not really.)
 Pittsburgh Airport Fans |
 Jef's ready for Iowa |
 Todd's stuck at the Chicago Airport, too! |
All in all, the flight back was more annoying than anything else. It didn't bother me too much, though, what with the mechanical difficulties our plane was having and all. Like I always say: better late than dead.
The next weekend found us bound for Washington state. We flew into Seattle, hopped in a rental car (thanx, Dollar Rental), and took the very scenic, very beautiful route northwest to Port Angeles. It was pirate festival time, complete with tall ships, a pirates ball, and your favorite Tortugas. We even made billing on the poster... but not on the brochure - what's up with that!
 Jef with Mary Egan and other Washington State Tortuga Fans |
 Sardinian Pirates |
 Oh, what a tangled whip we weave... |
Needless to say, we had a great time (like we always do), and even had time to take in some Seattle sights on the way back. There was the Space Needle, the Science Fiction Museum, and Ronn even got to take a tour of the Seattle Underground. He liked it. Meanwhile, Jef & I hung out in a pub, did some shopping, and visited (yes, only visited) a tattoo parlor. We liked that! No problems heading homeward this time. All in all, it was a good trip.... Which brings us back to the present!
 Soooo much baggage! |
 Ronn undresses at the Sci-Fi Museum |
 New fan art |
It's now Friday, almost a week since I've begun this journal. I have by this time most definitely missed my deadline. (BTW, I have heard from our webmaster, and I cower in fear. Webmaster Andy is a cruel mistress!) We've been very busy setting up for the Great Lakes Medieval Faire. We have a concessions booth - as opposed to one of the carts that are our usual fare - that we are 'borrowing' from the festival. So, we've spent the week touching it up, trying to make it more presentable, lockable, and rain proof-able. (Not so much on that last one, actually, but we've got all our stuff in plastic containers. We should be good.) Ronn and I have been taking shifts on the work out there - I live an hour south of the festival, and Ronn has other businessy-stuff to do. The role of Mighty Tortuga is currently being played by Jef who is our in-house workaholic. He's been workin' at the site everyday, eatin' nuthin' but nails for breakfast, and walkin' uphill both ways in a snowstorm on his way to school.... Okay, maybe not...but he has been working awfully hard to get this shit done, so give him some props, people!
Okay, enough on the glories of Jef. I need a little me time.
 Where's Spongebob?! |
I'm planning a trip to the south of Spain for the winter holidaze. I'll be visiting my birth mother who happens to live in Malaga. (Did I ever tell you that story? Yes? No? Maybe some other time.) Tickets are pretty reasonable now at only $620 for the round trip from Pittsburgh, but I haven't locked anything down yet. Too much else is going on, and I need to hold my money in reserve for an upcoming real estate deal. Things should be much clearer by October, and I'll cement all my machinations then. Ooh, the intrigue, the skullduggery of it all.
It's that time again. Time to dust off the Palooza 2 script, and gear up for the Minnesota performance in September. Johnny Phoenix is also currently performing at the Great Lakes Faire, so we should get in some good rehearsal time. Also, he should be able to show us a new thing or two on our whips. Of course, he doesn't know this yet, but he will. And yes, he will comply. Why wouldn't he - he loves us! And what's not to love? (Please don't answer that; we have our own lists.)
Well, that about wraps up another journal entry for me. I hope that you're having as much fun out there as I'm having... uh... in here? Well, you know what I mean. See youse guys at the festivals. (Said in an Italian accent. Don't know why; just is.) Have fun, and don't forget to say hello when you see us!
Ciao, bellos!
