"MDRF Weekend the Sixth (AFR Invasion)"

10/04/2001

SATURDAY
Well, I almost made gate. I was walking towards it when the cannon went off and car alarms protested. The cool weather thinned out the crowd some from previous weeks so I was able to walk directly in. On my way to the Dragon Inn, I stopped and got my faire brunch -- clam chowder in a bread bowl. With the temperature hovering around 60 that morning, the warm soup was just what I needed. I filled out my Secret Otter form (more on that later) and turned it in. I didn't even put any snarky answers down either. Oh like, for example, say in answer to the question about favorite body part. I could have written "Big Toenails" but I didn't. See? I can play nice!

I spent much of the morning just hanging around the Dragon trying to wake up and meeting people as they came to sign the Otter Guest Book. Danicia informed me of a Rogueing that needed to be done in the afternoon for a visiting Wench from CA. Once I heard who it was for, I eagerly agreed since I have been wanting to get my hands on her for ages. *ahem* Strictly in the spirit of Faire, you understand.

What?!?

Anyway, about then the lovely Nicole showed up, sans Josh. We hung out in the Dragon for a while. So many new faces -- so many lovely lasses. I greeted and kissed on those that I knew. I noticed a couple that I would really LIKE to know *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* but figured they were out of my league anyway. It was getting later into the afternoon so I dragged Nicole off to shop. I picked up a couple of items for a Rose Hit later and then we headed up the Gatehouse Stage to catch Teatro performing Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew". (Excellent show! What timing! What daring acrobatics!) Just before the show, Ani brought over Anneliese, who made the spurious claim of having too much lipstick on and needing to get rid of it. Ever ready to offer assistance I graciously allowed her to cover my neck and face with kisses. Then, in the interest of being thorough, I bent her back and kissed her most soundly upon the mouth. *sigh* The things I have to do for my flock.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! I kissed Anneliese!! *ahem* Where was I?

After "Shrew" finished, Nicole and I waited near the gate for Josh. He had gone shopping for some new kilts at the Rockville G Street Fabric store. Now why he couldn't go during the week, I don't know. Once he arrived, the three of us headed back to the Dragon Inn for the aforementioned Rogueing. Since it was getting close to my time to guard the Meet and Greet Table, I made sure someone would be there in case the Rogueing went long -- which it looked like it would. You'd have to ask Kate or someone who counted noses to be certain, but I think there were about 20 of us. She swooned, she blushed, she shook, she laughed, she teared up. All in all I would have to say it was a pretty successful endeavor. Excellent work, Gentlemen.

I spent the next two hours sitting at the Meet and Greet Table, so there isn't really anything to tell about that. Once we cleaned off the table, I headed for the White Hart to catch the last of the Final Pub Sing. On the way, I found Sunni, Rusty and Sue getting their faces painted. Sunni and Rusty were done so I took a picture of them. Why they waited until 6:00 pm to do that, I don't know, but to their credit, they did leave it on all through dinner that night. After Pub Sing ended, everyone headed for the Hotel Otter or their respective Invasion Dinner restaurants. Several of us wanted to avoid the crowds and went to Mike's on Riva Road for seafood. There was much silliness and drawing on the table with crayons. Once we left Mike's, we proceeded to drive around looking for some kind of pharmacy. I needed drugs badly. We got back to the hotel around 11:30pm I think. I stayed up until almost 3:00 am crafting my "Secret Otter" letters for the next day. Hey, seduction takes time... *g*

SUNDAY
I coughed and couldn't breathe for most of the night so I didn't get much sleep. Then I had to take Annette to BWI so I didn't get on site until after 1:00 pm. I ran into Godling, who was also running late, and Columbina with her Stupina marionette (See?? I didn't call her a puppet! *g*). I then headed for the Dragon Inn and sat down. At this point I was still kind of groggy from lack of sleep. I kept looking around for a rose person since I had my "Secret Otter" hits to send. Finally I found one, purchased the roses I would need, and set the hits on the Meet and Greet table. At this point, I still didn't know what my target looked like or where she was.

After some time spent flirting and chatting, Ani points out my "Secret Otter" (Mayven). Mmmm... cute and she's with Kate and another cutie (Celly). Then someone comes up and delivers my "Secret Otter" hit. It's a rose and piece of burgundy cloth. Hrrrmmm... do you have any idea how many people wear burgundy?!? I start looking around and just for fun hold up the cloth and compare it to Kate and her party's garb. They're all wearing greens, yellows and browns but I make a show of closely examining them. Then I notice the cloth that Mayven is using to cover her basket with. I make a comment about it sort of matching that.... then I stare harder and feel the texture, comparing the two. Suspiciously, I ask if I'm right and have I discovered my "Secret Otter"? Mayven says she doesn't know and I should examine it more closely. I start looking and finally she hold up the cut corner of the cloth. I place my piece against hers and it fits!

Oh, just stop it. All of you.... jeesh, a person can't even tell a simple story anymore without a parade to THERE.

I say "Yay!", hug her and do the "Secret Otter" Happy Dance. *g* We officially introduce ourselves and I inquire as to whether she's gotten her hit or not. When she answers no, I nonchalantly point out that I *thought* I saw something on the table with her name earlier. (Sneaky, ain't I??) She rushes off and collects her two letters, rose and bottle of Trask's Peach Mead. I watch from a distance as she reads the letters and then she comes back saying she has to go get help figuring out the clues.

About ten minutes later, she rushes up hugs me and calls me evil. :-) I guess she figured it out. While we're laughing about it, Kate and Celly joined us and wanted to go on the BIG slide. They asked if I would come along and take pictures or "catch us" as they put it. Naturally I eagerly volunteered. I mean, who am I to turn down three delectable wenches?!?

The four of us wandered over to the BIG slide and I waited at the bottom while they stood in line. Eventually they came down, one at a time of course, and I managed to snap a couple pics of each of them. We headed back towards the Dragon Inn and stopped to take pictures of the chapel. Kate said she would go over to the White Hart and grab some seats for Final Pub Sing, so the rest of us gathered our things and went to join her. I had been flirting with Celly so I made sure to sit next to her. (I think she made sure to sit next to me too. *blush*) The flirting continued throughout the show and at one point, Kate took a couple of pictures of us. Isn't she pretty?! And there was more kissing going on.

Everyone that was left from the Invasion went to an Italian restaurant near the hotel. I think we were the only people in there. The service was excellent and the food was wonderful. Still more kisses. People wandered from table to table. Lots of pictures were taken. Everyone turned to stare at Sunni (who was at another table) several times... I think to find out if it actually was possible to laugh yourself to death. *g* Just what WAS going on over there anyway??

After dinner, Kate, Mayven, Celly and I, Audrey and Renfoole, Danicia, Mercie and Rowland, Dave Lister and a couple others all went to Jim Noble's room for drinks and to wind down. Kate had been keeping a list of quotes all weekend but I think we doubled its size in the next two hours. It was close to midnight when everyone finally decided to head for their respective rooms. I had to work the next day, so I took the long drive home... after more kisses, of course. *eg*

Yeah, you could say that it was a very, very good weekend. :-)

Everyone turned to stare at Sunni (who was at another table) several times... I think to find out if it actually was possible to laugh yourself to death. *g* Just what WAS going on over there anyway?? You're just jealous 'cause you weren't in on the jokes. Of course, I don't think *I* was in on the jokes either .... It had to do first with chunky coffee. And then Mary Poppins made an appearance, which led to wobbly wenches on winches. And then there was the fact that I don't have a beard. See? I knew you'd never understand. :P ~ *menacing* i tell you @ 10:22 p.m. EST on 10/04/2001