5 Reasons I Go to the Ren Faire

Let's face it, the Renaissance Faire is that thing that normal people laugh about in the open, but secretly desire when they're home alone.  Yes, there are those brave souls who have absolutely no shame and can openly love and enjoy it, but those are the same souls who stay home over the weekends sewing costumes and creating fake chain mail.  Needless to say, I'm not one of those people.  I'm not very good at sewing and the thought of trying to make chain mail makes me feel ill.  I am, however, a fan of the Ren Faire (though I have to be careful who I say that to) and here's why:

1. Jousting.  It's a real thing people.  I mean, it's actually done today, in the present, in this day and age.  And apparently the group that goes to the Ren Faire in Utah is like the world champions, because other people actually compete in this.  Did your mind just blow up or what?  Because I totally thought  jousting was a thing of the past.
   
2. People Watching.  I used to go to Comic Con just to people watch, but it's become such a hassle with SO many people there, that it's not even really worth it anymore.  Instead, I've replaced it with the Ren Faire, which has some sweet/dorky costumes, far less people, and where you can overhear some classic phrases such as, "Falconry is fly, bro!" "Can you pass me that sword?  I'd like to go slay a dragon."  "Do I like him or is he just tall?"  "It's been one of those days for like two weeks now."  Also, can we all just recognize that I legit saw Gandalf watching the Jousting?  I couldn't get a good picture of him, but he was laughing and apparently Gandalf likes watching men be idiots just as much as I do (which actually explains a lot about those quests....)
3. Armored Combat.  Again, what can I say except there's something really amusing about men in metal suits just hacking away at each other?  Why does this happen?  I  have absolutely no idea, but I'm not here to question it.
   
4. You can LITERALLY be anyone or anything you want.  Okay, I'm not one for dressing up, so I don't do this, but it's really amusing to go and see other people who do this.  As my friend put it:"I don't understand why there are elves, fairies, witches, pirates, and mermaids at a Renaissance Faire."  Me: "There's also Vikings, Gandalf, someone who's dressed like a Mistborn from those Brandon Sanderson books, and that guy who's got furry pants on and little horns on his head...I think he's supposed to be a satyr."  Because apparently nothing is off limits at the Renaissance Faire.  The best part is that this encourages hours of entertainment of trying to tie these random characters to Renaissance.  Hint:  People started exploring from Europe in the 1400s which leads to piracy which leads to mermaids which are closely related to fairies and elves.
   
5. Random plays are performed and they have some amazing one liners.  "Can't you be a man and defend yourself for once?!"  "She's an untamable shrew." "I'm kerfluffled!"   "You know the saying...when one door closes, get yourself a battering ram and show them who's really king here!"

WARNING! Don't Feed Your Fingers to the Animals.

This post is a little late, but I went to the zoo on Friday.  I swear this guy was just asking for me to take pictures.  I mean, look at the flipper on hip action.

#Can'tTouchThis #IDoThisAllDay #HardToGet #ComeHither

I think the zoo is an amazing place to remember that we're part of a much larger world.  Seeing all the animals, reading the signs about them, and learning always reminds me that there is so much out there yet to be learned and seen.  I just looked it up and it turns out humans cover about 10% of the Earth's surface (which makes sense when you realize how much of the Earth is covered by water...).  Now take an individual human...an individual human is not likely to go visit every area that has been inhabited by other humans (even if they are travel freaks).  It's just not realistically possible to travel to every country, city, town, and village.  Which means that there is a lot out there that we haven't seen yet.

And that makes me want to go explore.

The Conspiracy

Today at the library, I got to shelve the kids magazines...and I came across this:

Seriously?  Infiltrating the homes of innocent families with adorable magazines?  That's not even sly, Disney, you old dog.

The biggest question I have, though, is why in the world do you need three different magazines?  At bare minimum, can't Frozen and Princesses be combined?  Or do Elsa and Ana not count as princesses?  (I guess technically Elsa was Queen...)

Also, these are just the magazines that the library has.  I just looked it up and there are about twenty other Disney magazines.

It's a global conspiracy to take over the world one child at a time.

Starry Starry Night

I decided today as I was running under the stars, that the coolest thing about the eclipse a couple days ago wasn't the eclipse itself.

It was that for an hour, people stopped looking at their phones and instead looked up to the sky.

I wonder how different life must have been in the past before people had so much technology to distract them.  When I was living in India, I loved how simple life was.  I never drove anywhere and I didn't have a phone...I didn't even have internet that often.  It was like being freed from a lot of burdens and when I talked to people, it seemed extra precious, because I was actually present in the moment.

I honestly think if we let go of the things that are binding us so tightly to a virtual life, we might be quicker to recognize the beauty in our actual lives.

Sprinkler Shower

I was thinking earlier today that we're only granted so much time to be a child.  All too soon, life requires that we grow up and with today's world and media, I think that there's added pressure for children to grow up even faster.  I'm always shocked working with kids by how these eight year old girls walk in with make up and looking like they're 14.

So, on that note, I decided that it was time to revert to being a kid and enjoying the world.

In a sense, I want to actually participate in the life around me.

Which is why I totally ran through the sprinklers after going for a run.

"Real Christians Have Chest Hair"

My friends and I were discussing a little gem I came across a while back.  It's a Harry Potter fan fic that was rewritten to be more "Christian" appropriate.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all about people expressing their creativity, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that this fan fic hasn't been a source of constant hilarity.

I can't read more than one chapter at a time, because it's THAT much.

But my favorite part is how the author goes on and on about Hagrid's hairy chest...and then my friend bursts out with the best line ever.

"Real Christian's have chest hair."

So, when you're feeling down, remember that the internet and friends are really good sources of cheer.

YO-YO

My parents are in town staying with my sister and I went over there to have dinner.

Afterwards, I was lying on the ground next to my little nephew watching Mickey Mouse.

I overheard my mom say, "So, I just heard..." And then she kinda just stopped talking.

So, being very mature, I call out, "That she's pregnant!"

Right then my little nephew shouts, "UHOH!!!!!"

*I burst out laughing before I realized he was actually trying to say "yoyo" because Mickey had gotten a yoyo from Toodles*

But hey, it's the little mistakes that sometimes make the day bright :)

Cuppa Tea

 "Some days shine bright.

Some days must wait for stars.

Some days things can change with a whisper.

And some days a speck can grow into something glorious."

I really wanted to love this book.  The artwork in it is stupendous and right up my alley.  It started out rather grand, full of symbolism about growing up and leaving home, but still finding power in our memories and roots.

I don't know what it was about the ending that left me just a bit dissatisfied.  I think it started out with such beautiful symbolism and then the end was just...less symbolic to me.  I do like the taglines at the front of the book, haha (see above lines).

Either way, the artwork was incredible.

This page was easily my favorite and I'd love to paint something similar to this:

Why was the jack-o-lantern afraid to cross the road?

My roommate's garden has really taken off.

There's one particular pumpkin plant that is starting to worry me.

At first it was just creeping steadily along the fence.

Now it's branched out and is heading towards my room which is on this side of the house.

Pretty sure one day I'm going to wake up and  be wrapped up in its vines.

Let Lythronax eat cake

I was walking through the museum and came to this section featuring Lythronax. Note that there's a facial reconstruction on display along with a model of the fossil skeleton and a real fossil skull:

As I was walking past, I noticed this mother with her four year old (?) daughter.  The girl was sobbing uncontrollably.  I stopped to ask if everything was alright.

The girl was too shy to answer me, but the mother pointed at me and said, "She works here, so she has to tell you the truth!  You can ask her."

Me:  "Uh...what did you want to ask?"

Girl, after mom's continued urging, tearfully asks: "Why did you behead him?"  She points trembling at the Lythronax facial reconstruction.

Me, fumbling to explain facial reconstruction to a four year old: "Oh, it's just what someone imagines he looked like and they made it, kind of like an art project."

Girl, very confused and still sniffling: "So it's not real?"

Me:  "Definitely not."

Girl: "Oh."

Mom, as they're walking away: "See, I told you it wasn't real."

Me inside my head while watching them walk away: What kind of four year old not only knows the word behead, but actually grasps what it means enough to think that a replica is an actual head?

*Fun fact: The facial reconstruction for Lythronax was done by the same guy who reconstructed Otzi the Iceman and in the Nova video about the Iceman, when they interview him, you can actually see the partially finished dinosaur head in the background!*

Dinosaurs don't read....now they're extinct...coincidence?

I was working the circulation desk yesterday and this young guy walked up to me and handed me a bunch of books.

Me: "Would you like to check these out?"

Patron: "No, I'd like to rent them!"

Then, while I was out shelving, this lady approached me.

Patron: "The last time I was here, a librarian recommended a book to me, but I can't remember what it was.  Do you remember?"

Me: "Do you remember which librarian helped you?"

Patron: "No."

Me: "Do you remember what she looked like?"

Patron: "I can't remember that either.  Don't you keep track of what you recommend somewhere?  Like a spreadsheet or something?"

Me *Mental facepalm*

I then spent almost ten minutes trying to explain that we can't feasibly keep such a record because we have hundreds of patrons coming through the library. 

She eventually walked off in a huff.

Thursday Tennis

Found some friends to play tennis with who aren't my family...it only took me almost 25 years!

I swear that I know other people who play, they just don't seem to want to play with me lol

Is it because this is the perfect tennis meme for me?

Perfect Wednesday Pick Me Up

This book is adorable and it made me tear up a little reading it.

"If I hadn't endeavored

and found my wings clever,

I never a sky would have scaled,

never a world would have seen,

and never a friend would have found."