I was quite impressed this year by our friends at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. I am not sure precisely what made 2009 stand out from 2008, but I know for certain that this year's festival is a wee bit different from the last few years. I say to the organizers... bravo!  The husband and I, after finally managing to sell my Ever After dress (thanks, Lord), were able to take those funds and have a merry old time this past Saturday, September 19th. It was both Pirate's High Seas Adventure AND National Talk Like a Pirate Day, so naturally we donned our most pirate-y garb.

I was pleased to see that my favorite vendors, dating back to 15 years ago when I started going to the faire, were still "alive and kicking" and that several new ones were peeking about here and there. We picked up our 2010 supply of Jodi Bee honeys and made sure to do a ton of people watching, this year focusing on the stage shows, which we typically skip over in lieu of hours of extra people watching. Tartanic, the Washing Well Wenches, and a particular gypsy band (that I cannot remember the name of) were wonderful. As a bonus, it was the second annual BBQ cook-off, which my husband (a dyed-in-the-wool carnivore wanna-be) absolutely enjoyed. (I might also add that I saw not one, but two ex-boyfriends who still work there. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing.)

This year our friend Dave came out to meet us and took some absolutely stunning photos, four of which I've posted in my gallery here on RenSpace. (Pick your jaws up, no need to be jealous now good fellows!)  He got no less than five comments on his huge camera lens compensating for his... wit on Saturday thanks to several cheeky actors guild players. The annoyance of posing "chin up, to the left, no the OTHER left, now smile"-style was outweighed by the great shots. Can you say "Huzzah and Happy Holidays" card, or what?

Our video "vlog", featuring a few great performance clips and random fun scenery, as well as some links to the rest of Dave's photos are forthcoming...

The last few months have left me befuddled. Sometimes when we try to get ahead, we take several steps back. I take so many steps forward and back that I feel like I'm dancing or something.

Step forward: Finally listed my Ever After replica Italian Courtier gown on eBay. (Want a great costume, then? Buy it! ;-P ) I wore it as my weddding dress and then to faire one weekend last year.

Step back: We got into a car accident that necessitates buying two cars in the next six months. First, we must replace my husband's Jeep, rear-ended on the 10 Mile service drive. Second, we must replace my car, as its lease is up in January. If you know how to cultivate money trees, please clue me in!

Step forward: I got my massage business off the ground in the past six months or so.

Step back: We have things falling apart in our home and with our cars and with our debts, which necessitate me keeping my full-time job and doing massage only part-time.

Step forward: I landed a faculty apprentice position at a nationally accredited massage school. This is essentially a "graduate teaching assistant" position, for those of you who are higher-ed minded. This will hopefully open some new doors, massage-wise.

So, I suppose I could go on and on about the steps forward and back, but I've chosen to order the above to end on a step forward. I look forward to getting to the Michigan Renaissance Festival at LEAST once, if not twice, since we've had to scale back. (Today, Labor Day, is a day of not working my 9-to-5, nor massaging anyone, but rather altering my husband's garb pants. They're huge and he's small.) I'd also like to make it to the Mid Michigan Renaissance Festival at least once this year, as we've never been.

So then, dear fellow ren enthusiasts, send some "good vibes" my way and I will surely send some your direction as well. ::good vibes, good vibes:: (See, I've already gotten started...)