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 :)