The July Coronation Snooze Report.

.....The weekend at July Coronation was mainly filled with good things. I actually enjoyed it for the most part. I could have done without the really hot weather. I could have gone without some of the foo supplied by members of the Populace who seem particularly bent on having a miserable time in hell and dragging as many others along for the ride as possible. But thankfully, this part was minimal. I'm still on the fence as to whether it is something we 'fix', work around, or just ignore all together.

.....I did feel guilty a couple of times for staying Friday and Saturday nights in a hotel room. But after a flight home from Indiana and a quick turn-around down to the event, I would say in hindsight that this was probably the best decision. I made it home around 1PM or so. After packing and chores it was at least 4PM to 4:30 before we actually hit the road to site. I was already feeling rather zombie-fried by that time, so by time we made it to site itself after checking into the hotel room, I'm amazed I was coherent at all. :-)

.....Madrun makes an absolutely fantastic traveling companion. Just sayin'. :-) We talked the entire way down and the time just flew by. It may have been three hours to site, but it barely felt like an hour or so to me. We talked ideas and gossip and silly things we were thinking we might try. A great trip all together.

.....TBT's back was seriously acting up by the time we made it to the Ranier Budget Inn. So we got her unpacked and then Madrun and I went to site to put stuff into the Baronial and attend Her Royal Highnesses gathering, as well as the vigils happening that night. We never did make it to any of the formal functions, but we did manage to unload stuff and set up banners and such.

.....It is the simple things that are sometimes the absolute coolest. When we made it to the site, the Baronial Pavilion was all set up and ready for us to put stuff underneath it. Albrecht and Magdalena said they were going to do that, and I believed them. But to actually get there and see it all set up made me appreciate it having been done that much more. Like I said, it is sometimes the relatively simple things that make you the most grateful. :-)

.....Countess Aryanna and Count Brendan were set up right next to the Baronial. Countess Aryanna is one of those scary smart people you see from time to time who can just glance at you and basically 'know' all of your thoughts and motivations just by how you carry yourself. There is a reason why she is TBT's mother. :-) We chatted for a bit until it started getting dark.

.....Madrun and I wandered around site for a little bit. We did manage to find Renart and Aelianora. Renart was lending a hand to the Virgin Countess Inn. He worked like a dog all weekend. The food smelled really good. I never did buy any though. That was definitely a loss on my part. Madrun and Aelianora geeked out for a while as only real brainiacs can, until I started falling asleep on my feet. I interjected at the next intake of breath and asked Madrun if we could go back to the hotel. She is a good sport and quickly backed me up on leaving for the evening.

.....I zonked out almost immediately back in the room. I am surprised I lasted as long as I did. A 3AM Indiana wake-up is a Midnight wake up at home. So I had essentially been up for almost 24-hours, with just a short nap on the flight home. Unlike TBT, I had no problems with being able to fall asleep. Although the internal alarm clock awakened me almost immediately at 5AM, and I just could not get back to sleep. Stupid internal alarm clock!

.....TBT and I had breakfast in a local cafe just around the corner. Really good food and an incredibly nice wait-staff. I'd eat there on a regular basis if they were local.

.....Off to site. We finished pulling everything out of Florence, the Wonder Van, and set up the Pavilion for the day. By the time Court had started it was full of people. Just the way I like it. There may be plenty of people who do not like us as Baron and Baroness, but it will not be from lack of trying to include them as members of the Baronial Family, that's for sure!

.....My two active Protege were busy all weekend. Aelianora geeked out on Arts & Sciences, especially with her Embellisher's Guild duties. Adelheidi involved herself with at least a half dozen different activities, from Royal Retinue for Principality and Kingdom, to Baronial Retinue duties, all the way to helping organize and put stuff away all the way until she absolutely had to leave. I have good Protege's and am continually proud of them. :-)

.....TBT and I made sure we handed out tokens to the fighters of the day. There were a handful in the Rapier Tournament. Alaricus competed in the Kingdom Protector. We even had a fighter in the Squire's Tourney. Lord Soren made a good showing. I know it had to be at least a little intimidating to face all those heavy duty fighters, what with all the Knights of the Kingdom standing there and watching. Soren did a great job, and was fortunate enough to score sponsorship in the Tournament by none other than Sir Octamasades. I absolutely agree with what His Majesty said the next day about Sir Octamasades being one of the absolute most chivalrous people in the Kingdom. I think that Soren was a good match for Octa.

.....The morning Pelican meeting went better than I was thinking it might. It was an easy hour. The meetings in the afternoon were easy and informative as well, being the Seneschal's and Exchequer's. I only went to the Seneschal's Meeting as I'm a seriously nosy person and an information junkie big time. But I'm not alone in that regard as Dame Rosamund was right there beside me. :-)

.....court was epically long, but there was much to be done. Several members of the Baronial Populace were recognized for the work they did for the outgoing King and Queen.

.....Of course, the biggest news of the day was the placing of Madrun on vigil. Such a great moment. There was much screaming and shouting. I think she received the loudest ovation of the day. As it should be. She will make a fantastically wonderful Peer.

.....I also was extremely pleased to see Vilius placed on vigil for Knighthood. He is one of those really nice guys who works hard and always seems to do the right things. I thought his recognition was such fantastic news. With both him and Sir Rauokinn being Knights, it will be a wonderful thing to see one of them take the Sable Lion Throne. Their reign will be glorious!!!

.....By the time Their Majesties Vik and Astrid completed Their Coronation Court, we were all tired, tired, tired. We pulled our stuff together and rambled back to the hotel. There were at least thirty of us for dinner at the Mexican restaurant across the street. The food was great! The amenities, maybe not so much. By the time the third or fourth moth had fallen into someone's dinner, we were getting to that point of 'Ew'.

.....The next day was another series of meetings. All of them went well and fairly quickly. The first was the Kingdom Financial Committee, where Dame Ellen supported her apprentice's bid for KAS / KBC next year. It went through easily. The second meeting was Curia, which was mercifully efficient even though I teased Brighid incessently. :-) But one thing that came up was the set up of a Financial Committee to support An Tir / West War in order to make it stand up by itself as an independent entity. Much like Estrella or Pennsic. This is such a great idea! I wish I had thought of it first. :-) Magdalena had evidently already been talking about it. And Etiennette brought it up to Curia to where it was heartily promoted by His Majesty Vik. I volunteered to pull the SCA Corporate structure off of the SCA web-site and start the discussion. This might be kind of fun actually. Certainly exciting.

.....The last meeting was Noble Estate. I did get a plug in there to request help from the surrounding branches of the Western Region for September Crown. It was immediately supported by Madrone, Glymm Mere and Aquaterra. Another great moment.

.....Then the long drive home, which again went amazingly quickly due to great conversation (and a stop at the Drive-Through Starbucks in Kelso :-)). By the time we made it home though, I was tired. I put out my usual message of Baronial happenings at July Coronation. Then asked the Populace to support Hot Summer Lights. Then went to bed. I was done!!! :-)

.....Now to just make it through the long week!

.....Aaron / Arontius.