Simple Pleasures

[Rebecca Iavelli]

Most of the time, it seems like we are such in a rush, that enjoying what I call the simple pleasures just pass us by without our noticing.

So I thought I would post a few of the things I saw this past week, when I stopped and took a big breath and just looked around.

First on the list was a double rainbow! We had a good storm run through earlier this week, but it cleared up about mid day, and one of the guys came by and told me there was a rainbow outside, so I went out and looked, and saw that it was a double. It was cool that you could see both distinctively, with a darker band between them.
Then later that day, as the sun set, on my way out the door to go to my car, the clouds were lit up in a beautiful golden pink on top, with a silver grey on the bottom. Darn I wish I had my camera that day!

Then the other day heading back to work. I am stopped at a red light, and a couple walking their dogs walked by. First dog was a black mix, but the second dog was a full blooded basset hound. Do you know how funny a basset looks when he is jogging, lol. It was soo cute. Both look to be very happy dogs, though, and enjoying their walk.

Also on a drive to work, a blue crane (as in large stork like bird) was just taking off from the bridge I was traveling over. Wow, those birds are huge, and it was something to see as it took flight. It was less than three feet from me.

Had a beautiful cat come up to me as I headed out to work on Wensday. Was a Siamese mix, with tiger striping on its head and legs: body and legs had the Siamese tanish brown coloring, but the face, which was all tiger striped, was grey, with blue eyes. Pretty cool, and a friendly cat, so I figured it belonged to someone. Thing about Siamese, is they tend to wag their tails almost like a dog, and he was quite busy wagging his. I gave him a quick pat, but had to be on my way to work, and he continued his walk on the sidewalk, heading up the hill.

I am going to have to remember to start carrying my camera with me.

[Rebecca Iavelli]

Today I took a different way to work, and was lucky to see 2 horses by a fence. If I hadn't been going to work, I could have stopped and petted them, they were so close. Sigh.

[Rebecca Iavelli]

Well, this isn't so pleasurable. Couple of days ago I must have gotten bit by a spider, on my arm, just above the back of my wrist. Its still a little red, but finally the swelling is going down, and I got it to drain. Aggravating thing. So far, I haven't developed any superpowers either, (though I was crawling up the walls at work because it was soo boring and slow),so I guess it wasn't radioactive.

Today I get home from work, and what do I find in the bathroom. Yep, a spider. Don't know if it is the one that bit me, but it paid the price anyway, and got flushed down the toilet.

[Rebecca Iavelli]

The weather was pleasent today, warm and with a slight breezy wind, made me think about flying kites. I'm going to have to go buy one, haven't flown one in years! Otherwise today was quiet at work, as most people are away on vacation now. Speaking of vacations, I am officially on mine now!

[Lady Grace]

Indulged in a nice bottle of Spanish Tempranillo wine tonight (Radio Boca). Very good and reasonably priced!

[Rebecca Iavelli]

Now that we've been back a few days from Gen Con, I miss the weather there, lol. We had really, really nice weather every single day. Probably in the mid to upper 70's, maybe occationally in the low 80's but no humidity, and a light wind. Just totally perfect.

Yet I will have to say that the Blue Moon yesterday, was absolutely magnificent! Crisp and clear in a cloudless sky. We now have to wait til sometime in 2016 for our next Blue Moon (can't remember exact date from the item I read about it this morning, just the year).

[CaitlinCallahan]

Had an amazing day at the Bristol Renaissance Faire yesterday. Got to hang out with good friends, eat fantastic food, see some amazing costumes (really need to break out my sewing machine and fabric - don't currently have any Caitlin-appropriate garb), and thoroughly enjoyed several shows (I love Dirk and Guido....)

They've added a number of fairies to the cast (this weekend's theme was Monsters of Myth and Legend), and some of the costumes were breathtaking.

[salamanca]

I went to Pittsburgh renn sunday with my friend, Becca and had a good time. There was an interesting Carillon player (it's a 4 ton organ made of bells) and the shopping was decent. Their cast had a good gossip/town crier and an interesting fairy who does not speak except in peeps and clicks. The rest of the cast must have been invisible, we ran into nobody except at the gates. But the entire place is on a steep hill. 7 hours of cardio just wandering around. I should push to make Ohio Renn but schedule is quickly filling up. and I bought more forged D6s. (now I have a set in iron and steel).

[CaitlinCallahan]

Spent the day at Bristol again today, this time went solo and in costume. Got to spend some serious time shopping (the boys sometimes get a little impatient if we spend too much time in one store), and found that when you wander the fair alone in costume, you get approached by a lot of people. I spoke to a french artist, the Earl of Leicester, and was actually flagged down by the Italian prince (who is not a favorite of the Earl's). I broke down and bought a velvet mask that I'd been coveting on both of my previous visits, since it was marked down almost 50%. All in all, a very good day.

[Rebecca Iavelli]

Ohhh, now, you know you need to take a picture of it and post it, so we can drool over it.


Mark was supposed to go to King Richards Fair today with his kids, but I don't know if he did or not. I was soo wanting to go, but I had to work. Hoping to trade a day with one of the other women at work, so I can get a Saturday free to go this year, as I have missed the last 2 or 3 years because of work.

[daundelyon]

I have a brand new niece, and she is absolutely adorable. ^_^

[Rebecca Iavelli]

Yeah! Pictures of bouncing babies of joy are also allowed!

[salamanca]

If you attend a renn faire alone in period appropriate gear, people do wander up and talk to you a lot. (i shudder to think how much more it happens if you happen to be a pretty lady). However, to save time, most of them say the exact same thing, "excuse me but cn you tell me where the restrooms are?" or "can you show me where the atm is" and "which way is the place we came in?". You are alone, you are dressed rigght, you must work there. I thought it had to do with a subconscious comfort level but I got just as much of the same at Pittsburgh. As for spending time in shops, You can only watch a guy stick a lit torch in his mouth so many times...

[CaitlinCallahan]

Actually, I didn't get too many of those types of questions. Most people commented on or complimented my costume. I was watching the courtly dancing when the Earl struck up a conversation, which was mostly about the dancers, and the nonsensical Italian prince.

There was a funny moment when I took the picture of the fairy. I think this guy must have thought I worked there, and was apparently disillusioned when I pulled a cell phone out of the pocket of my overskirt,

[salamanca]

Yeah, you never want to spoil the magic with a phone. As I never get signal at ours I leave it in the car. Fortunately, our faire has a Trevor. He takes it upon himself to spend every day taking pictures and posting them on his site, "medieval mayhem" (google it if you wish) if you click the banner for the page, it links to pics divided by year and subdivided by categories. He has a knack for catching me with hat hair. every faire should have their own Trevor.

[Rebecca Iavelli]

Ah, the simple things you see, or rather don't see....

Driving home tonight, I was just about 5 minutes from home, and driving down a straight slight incline. I could see cars farther down the road, heading up the hill towards me, but for some reason they didn't seem to be moving. Here I was figuring out that maybe the guy in the front car was waiting til I went by so he could turn, but he didn't have his blinker on. So still heading down towards him, trying to see what was the problem while being blinded by his headlights, just as I get almost up too him, I suddenly notice the reason he hadn't been moving. Just off to the left hand side of the road, a shadow suddenly up and leaped away from my car, heading into the dark unlit yard. Oh Dear! Oh, I mean Deer! I only saw one, but there were probably a few of them, considering how long I had noticed the car facing me had been stopped on the road as I drove down towards him. Never saw a shadow of them crossing in front of him though. Weird.

[Rebecca Iavelli]

Today was AWESOME!!! We went horseback riding! I haven't been in about 20 years (and I'm feeling it now, lol), but it was pure bliss for me. Thank you Jenny and Mark for my Christmas Present!