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Current Mood: calm

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Current Mood: calm

I left work early, went home, did final packing and loading of the car, and headed to Blue Earth where I was to pick up the faire programs from the printer. I got there just as someone was about to close up and leave for the weekend. Had I been there much later I might still have gotten the papers, but would likely have had to wait around a bit for someone to show up. I was surprised to see only two large bundles of newsprint on the pallet. I was expecting to have to haul more and packed accordingly. Curiosity number one: the gal at the printers told me, "I was told a woman would be picking these up." Uhm...

The trip to Des Moines was nicely uneventful, and the directions I'd gotten from irpooh got me right where I needed to be at the Candlewood Suites. The place was very nice - I didn't take advantage of all the place offered, but I was only staying two nights.

Calling irpooh and foolscap001 to make supper arrangements, we agreed it might be easiest if they came to the hotel. Then after a couple exchanges, they'd navigate while I drove. I can still hear the comment as I opened the door to the hotel room to let them in. "We've been staying at the wrong places!" (I wound up at Candlewood via a Hotwire reservation Jay made. For what I was paying, I was expecting a Motel 6, really.) I showed them the picture I was giving to ginafae which amused them. Also, I had found some tamarind candy of sorts and bought it for James. I hope it's good. Billie gave me quite a stock of Licorice Altoids.

We made our way to a Thai place, The King and I, and had way too much good food. There was also much conversation, most of which I don't specifically recall. Something that was mentioned was that Billie had called JP and someone had told him the programs had arrived already. Really? What are those bundles in my car, then? Curiosity number two, that. And then James mentioned that while this faire was "NEW" and listed as such in Renaissance Magazine, it was also listed as having an attendance of 12,000. Not predicted or estimated, Just "12,000." Really? I picked up 2,000 programs. Call it curiosity number three if desired. Afterward, we drove back and I was a given a ticket to the faire that they were not going to use - figuring that somehow I'd not get compensated for hauling the programs. Billie and James drove home and I called JP.

JP came, and was also surprised that there were just two bundles. Ah well, only 2,000 copies and only a single sheet each, so not that much. I did get a couple tickets from him for hauling the programs down. We talked in the parking lot for some time, before he left and I went to bed.

Current Mood: calm

jmaynard summed up our the final day of MNRF. I realized again just how much I don't like huge crowds. I like the first day of MNRF much better than the last day as there are fewer people. The first day is by no means empty, but if I want to get from point A to point B the first day, at worst I have to weave through folks a bit. On the last day, it's more of a struggle to even maintain momentum.

The will-call window was taking payment for next year's season passes at an alleged discount. Jay and I decided not to get season passes for next year. A friend might be getting us comp tickets. If not, well, I realized I was going almost every weekend mainly to "get my money's worth" out of the pass, and to see a few friends. If I end up paying for individual tickets, it can still be savings by my simply not going every weekend. I don't need to go every weekend. It'd be nice to have some weekends of not really doing anything - or perhaps I should say, where I can more easily do something else.

This coming weekend (Oct. 2-3) I plan on not doing too much. I could go to Albert Lea for the Big Island Rendezvous, but there's not all that much of a reason for me to do so. It'd likely chew up about 4 or 5 hours of my time.

The next weekend (Oct. 9-10) , I plan on being at the Des Moines fall fair - and I'm not expecting much as it's being put on the same folks (person) that puts on IRF. I'm going to see a few friends, really, and to see irpooh's theatrical performance.

The weekend after (Oct 16-17), Saturday evening is the Siouxland Harvest Feast. And then my faire season will be over. Then my concern will turn toward the upcoming holidays and to MFF in November.

Also, I expect to catch up on COLT during October. I'm halfway or more through dealing with issue #18 and then only 19 and 20 will be left. They might even get taken care of before I get the next new issue. It's getting close, I feel a bit of a need to press on and finish things. Last night I felt a bit guilty about not doing anything with #18 even though I was ahead. It will be nice to be caught up.

jmaynard summed up our the final day of MNRF. I realized again just how much I don't like huge crowds. I like the first day of MNRF much better than the last day as there are fewer people. The first day is by no means empty, but if I want to get from point A to point B the first day, at worst I have to weave through folks a bit. On the last day, it's more of a struggle to even maintain momentum.

The will-call window was taking payment for next year's season passes at an alleged discount. Jay and I decided not to get season passes for next year. A friend might be getting us comp tickets. If not, well, I realized I was going almost every weekend mainly to "get my money's worth" out of the pass, and to see a few friends. If I end up paying for individual tickets, it can still be savings by my simply not going every weekend. I don't need to go every weekend. It'd be nice to have some weekends of not really doing anything - or perhaps I should say, where I can more easily do something else.

This coming weekend (Oct. 2-3) I plan on not doing too much. I could go to Albert Lea for the Big Island Rendezvous, but there's not all that much of a reason for me to do so. It'd likely chew up about 4 or 5 hours of my time.

The next weekend (Oct. 9-10) , I plan on being at the Des Moines fall fair - and I'm not expecting much as it's being put on the same folks (person) that puts on IRF. I'm going to see a few friends, really, and to see irpooh's theatrical performance.

The weekend after (Oct 16-17), Saturday evening is the Siouxland Harvest Feast. And then my faire season will be over. Then my concern will turn toward the upcoming holidays and to MFF in November.

Also, I expect to catch up on COLT during October. I'm halfway or more through dealing with issue #18 and then only 19 and 20 will be left. They might even get taken care of before I get the next new issue. It's getting close, I feel a bit of a need to press on and finish things. Last night I felt a bit guilty about not doing anything with #18 even though I was ahead. It will be nice to be caught up.

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I'm still pondering Rocket City Furmeet though I likely won't be able to do anything about it until sometime in February. But now something else is happening on the very same, Memorial Day, weekend: The new Des Moines Renaissance Faire. This fair will take place at the site that Salisbury Faire once used and it's being put together by a group that not only has some experience but is successful at it.

Before, the choice was really easy: if I had the time and money, I'd go to RCFM. Now it's not quite so easy.

Pro Faire: The Faire is would be cheaper to go to since it's only a few hours drive. There'd be no hassles with airport check-in. I'd see some folks I know and haven't seen for several months. I don't know, but it might be a chance to see Minstrosity - which I won't see at Waterloo this year as I'll be in Sioux Falls that weekend. If I took any time off work, it'd be only an afternoon.

Pro RCFM: I'd see a smaller, and I'd expect therefore friendlier (not that AnthroCon was unfriendly - it was just so easy to be lost in a sea of people) furmeet. RCFM is established, at least in that this is the second time for it. I'd meet at least one person, KinkyTurtle, I wouldn't have seen in months. I'd almost certainly meet others I've only read about or such. While getting there wouldn't be cheap, the admission is low and it might be the least expensive way to find if furmeets agree with me or if AnthroCon was trying to tell me something. Also, it'd still be somewhat new to me.

Anti Faire: It's yet another Iowa faire, and there'll be a few more in the year, with many (though not all) of the same people. While the site and organization is proven, it's still a new faire and will likely have new faire problems. It will be at the mercy of the weather. Sure, all faires says 'rain or shine' but all but the lightest rain stops things pretty much dead unless there's good cover.

Anti RCFM: It'll mean either dealing with the hassles of commercial air travel, or a two day drive (maps.yahoo.com says 16 hours each way - I can do 12 hours on the road in a day, but it isn't something I'd want to do. Eight is a reasonable limit). Either way it's more expensive than Des Moines. I'll need to take at least one full day off work and probably two, three or four if I drive it.

A couple other factors are: One, that the very next weekend is the Siouxland Renaissance Festival and I'd like to get my folks to visit it, which means finding them a room for a couple nights as well. And as they'd be visiting, that's probably more time off work. Not that I'm against taking time off, I just have to balance it so I do so without problems. And two, I don't know Jay's schedule (neither does he, for sure). While I can fly alone just fine, I've never done the rental car bit myself and am always leery of driving around a strange place. Doing so in a strange car wouldn't help.

Somehow, I'm still leaning toward RCFM. If it were just me alone, I'd probably take the extra days off and drive it. I'd still have to drive in unfamiliar areas, but at least I'd have a car I know.

Current Mood: Pondering