Preliminary Pennsic report

Pictures will come later, but here's a brief account of Ellid's adventures at Pennsic:

( Read more... )

As for me, I've come to the decision that I'm leaving my job, even though I haven't found anything new yet. It's all but impossible to interview while working there, and after some recent incidents, and a lovely week spent feeling human again (Pennsic was the first time in almost a year I've slept consistently without the aid of medication), it's clear that it's not worth the struggle any more. Thanks to Betty, I don't have to worry about funds for a while, so right now I'm deciding exactly how and when and for how long I'm going to give notice.

But I'm giving notice this week. This is simply not worth it any more.

House Runnymede Dinner

Warning: this post will be very, very image heavy. My apologies in advance.

As some folk know, my fair Barony of Bergental hosted the House Runnymede Dinner. This is the annual Pennsic banquet of the landed barons and baronesses of the East Kingdom, and can range from a simple barbecue to something more formal. We chose to go with formal, and served a Roman banquet that is already part of East Kingdom song and story.

Here is a small photo essay of the dinner:

The setting, set up for a Roman banquet...at least the way the Renaissance might have done it. Guests had previously been invited via invitations hand calligraphed on papyrus by countessinn and islenskr, all in Roman Rustica. The invitations set an incredibly high standard, and we did our best to live up to them.

The appetizers (including fresh melons prepared in the Roman style, later yielded to courses that included tuna salat. We also had a whole roast pig, which was prepared and delivered as promised despite the barbecuer having massive problems after a truck backed into his booth earlier that day.

We also had gifts for Their Excellencies of the East. The bags included fresh herbs, maple syrup from the Baron's farm, and hand-dyed silk thread, all packaged in gift bags made by the members of the Barony. Our Excellencies in turn received gifts from their cousins.

The landed barons and baronesses began to arrive, barony by barony. I regret that I did not know all their names or faces by heart, but I did my best to honor them all. They made a splendid sight, and came in everything from Roman to Renaissance.

We also had entertainment: musicians playing throughout the dinner (including Bergental's own Efa), as well as Clan Tynker, who entertained us with crystal balls, fire, sword swallowing, fire eating and gouts of flame across the sky, and a final bow.

Those who faithfully served included Tabitha, who washed the guests' hands, Sir Tommaltach on gate duty, Cormac the Teeth and divers others, including Odbald, mizpagan's lord. There was also a peculiar "Roman lady" who wandered about with an odd optical device when she wasn't announcing the courses.

Most crucial of all, though, were Mistress Eleanore and her cooks. These included at least two gentles who would not be photographed but deserve recognition as well.

It was a marvelous and magical night, a true example of teamwork by the Barony and her friends. Even though the dinner itself has passed like a smoke ring against the sky, no one who was there will ever forget it.

Vivat Bergental! Vivat the East! Vivant the Barons and Baronesses! Vivant! Vivant! Vivant!


EDIT: here and here are larger versions of the pictures.

Today's agenda

1. Uploaded all pictures from Pennsic and posted the House Runnymede photo essay.

2. Did four loads of laundry, three of them the super-sized $2.50 ones at the local laundromat.

3. Applied for seven jobs.


Right now I'm giving myself a badly needed manicure and am trying to decide what to wear to work tomorrow. The dithery office manager won't be in, so we'll see what happens.