I'm pretty late on my journal, Riki and Jef, who have been far more truant in their journals than I lately have BOTH gotten theirs in...
Additionally, Because of the stuff I have to report this month, my maximum one dozen photos have rapidly swollen to 46! Â [Not that you actually kept it to 12 this time, either... but it's only 13 (plus two videos), so at least it's close-ish... - AB]
Here's what I'm going to do: I'll jot down a quick journal, covering the most important stuff, and then have a second part, which our long suffering Webmaster can tack on (mostly photos).
 Funny coincidence |
So, first and most important news: A few astute observers, diligent readers of this journal and those who peruse my many photos might have noticed the tiniest thickening around the waist of my delicate flower of the orient. It was comical enough to me, that during our trip to KC a few months back... I took this photo, amused by the synchronicity of it all.
Don't for an instant think I'm being a pig... or that my gorgeous Heather is getting slovenly... or too plumped by our comfy lifestyle... Au Contraire! Heather IS getting the tiniest of tummy bulges right now, but only for the BEST possible reason... Allow me to introduce you to "Lump Bauman".
We call this special visitor "Lump", "Peanut" or "Baby"... We're not certain of our soon-to-be child's gender yet... but we have a pretty good guess. We get a better determination on this coming Wednesday... Sep 5th, so look for more in the nextjournal...
Yes - I, Ronn, am having a baby! (Actually Heather is, but you know what I mean.)
Heather and I found out just before the end of the GA show... so the long period of non-work, random trips around the country, set-ups in Minnesota, RV repairs and all were even further complicated knowing that Heather had a bun-in-the-oven!
Was this a planned, blessed event? Well, that really depends upon how you look at it. Heather and I have planned all along to have a baby... We thought we might start trying next year.
When we first found out, I was (as you might expect) both elated, and terrified... I have ranged the entire set of emotions you'd see in a sixties sitcom about having a baby. I've read several of the books, gone to all of the OB/GYN appointments (there is nothing quite like hearing your baby's heartbeat the first time. You should have seen my facial expression!) We loved the amazing things in SONOGRAMS now -Â science ROCKS!
 Baby inside |
 Click for Video |
 It is for real |
That's not going to happen.
 Too damn cute |
My mother already has NINE grandkids... but boy is she giddy about this one... there was even a brief period when we suspected we were having TWINS!!!
Besides reading the books, we have done a little shopping... I DID hyperventilate at Babies R Us... but the clothes are so cute.
Now you think that would be enough of a newsflash for one journal right?
But if you have been paying attention, or have found my myspace account you'll know that that's not the ONLY life change I have been through prior to the opening of the Minnesota renaissance festival...
Before we go on; a brief note: I adore our fans... love 'em, wouldn't have the amazing life I do without them... however, please don't be offended if I don't accept you as a 'friend' on myspace. I tend to keep that more for folks I know in 'real' life... though there are exceptions. Haven't you noticed that I, Ronn, am not a friend of the Tortugas?
But I digress.
 Wedding Montage Click to view at full-size |
If you HAVE been following myspace, and judging by all of the congratulations I got starting opening weekend of the fair LOADS of you do, you'd also know that I got married!
Now the photos I have to include in the second part of the journal are all about the trip, ELOPEMENT! To Key West, fabuuuloous Key West.
Just before he died, my grandfather offered to pay for a ceremony for Heather and I. He really liked her. Mom took a bit of her inheritance, and paid for the event.
Why elope?
Well, things just started getting unwieldy. I originally wanted a big ceremony, all of our friends, probably in KC... Heather just wanted something simple, easy, and on the beach. Guess who won?
Then we were going to do a destination wedding, but the more we tried to coordinate, the more complicated things got... Passports, expense limits, friend's schedules... sheesh! Finally (and happily) It was just Heather and I, and for one just two days my mom showed up with her Fiancé. If we could have done it without them, we would have... but that would have been a little hard to pull off and impolite since it was on her dime.
SO other than the BABY, and THE WEDDING TRIP (which I'll write about more in part two) I guess all I have to write about might be The Winery Show, and moving our house.
I want to thank the Kinseys, who delivered us to and from the airport... even the night the darned bridge fell down. And took wonderful care of our cats while we were away... just a few days after we returned from the Keys, it was time for me to pack again, and head off to the winery show. Baby-cat (Berlin) seemed to think if she lay upon my bags, I wouldn't leave. This trip was easier than the last, we left at a reasonable time, and the planes actually left and returned on time. As with all good gigs, first we hit the bar... we arrived later than we were scheduled to, but the wonderful, and oh-so-patient Linda Gould waited for us, stood by us while they lost our bags (again) even picked me up the next morning and ran me BACK to the airport to reclaim our wayward luggage. Riki, at least, didn't have to perform in street shoes... we'd packed carry-ons, but it doesn't do a lot of good when your SWORDS are lost enroute!
 Baby-cat doesn't want me to go |
 Two tortugas walk into a bar |
 WOW or not so much |
We got a lunch with a dear old friend named EMO, then (finally) headed off to the first of two night's gigs.
The shows were a success, Jef's near crippling slip notwithstanding... there was much wine drunk, many folks laughing, worker-bees we'd missed, selling their little hearts out and finally a WAY TOO EARLY departure from the Cleveland Airport... complete with this cryptic message in the all-but-deserted airport. Two days after returning home, Riki and I had an impromptu reunion with Johnny Phoenix's Phoenix Flamers, including "Sexy Ben" who was off to boot camp at the same place I had graduated so many years ago. Casino buffet, surely THAT helps when you wear tights? Finally it was time to pack up our belongings, and our house and move from behind Jack's shop to our normal campground... this was made a bit more difficult by the torrential rainstorms. Jazzy-mo almost floated away!
 Emo!!! |
 Worker Bees |
 Click for Video |
It was miserable, rainy, slow, we didn't make any money, and they even closed the festival early for what may be the first time in 37 years! The only bright spot was Monday morning I got to go to breakfast with my "dad" David Dew, (and his son Kurt). David was delighted to finally meet Heather.
 Buffet at the casino |
 Drought in Minneapolis |
 Dave Dew |
Kiss-kiss!
