Arontius of Bygelswade

.....Yesterday was the Baronial Picnic and final Baronial Polling Q&A. Held at the Manchester Fuel Depot. It was a very beautiful location, directly across from Bainbridge Island with a magnificent view of downtown Seattle. I love the point there. Although the wind was a little biting. I'm not sure if it is always windy like that or if it was just the weather for the day. But I would certainly love to use that location again if Jahnkin will let us.

.....It was fun to sit and chat with people at the picnic. I brought the proverbial 'stuff to do' but did not get around to doing any of it really. I meant to play some music, but didn't ever get to the point of actually pulling out the gemshorn.

.....Brought my books for heraldry consultation but never did connect with Magdelena and her husband on their devices. We're going to meet up at Tuesday's Fight Practice and I'll bring my books with me then.

.....I was the Baronial Book Herald for a number of years, but would never have described myself as a professional. :-) I mainly taught myself the basics, and a bit more, in defense of my own stuff against the SCA College of Heralds. It took me over five years to get a device passed that I could feel comfortable in displaying. I'm still not 100% happy with it, but I can live with it and its alternative back-up.

.....But I learned enough to where I actually enjoyed the mystery and research involved in heraldry and I enjoy helping people when I can discover their own name and device for registration, so I help when I can. I always try to remember to tell people to run their final ideas past a 'real herald' before submission though. :-)

.....As usual there was so much food at the picnic that no one went away hungry. Great selection. And plenty of burgers and dogs for everyone. I think everyone was comfortably full and contentable in time for the final Baronial Q&A at approximately 4PM.

.....I had again keyed myself up for the Q&A. I don't know why I do that because I haven't been handed a question yet that was not straight-forward and actually answerable, even if the answer is 'I honestly don't know at this time'. There was a lot more of the standard questions. But I could see that as there were a number of people in attendance who were not in attendance at the first Q&A.

.....All the candidates appeared to handle their questions with little frustration. More questions on Sargeantry. Some more on the various directions the branch might go and how a Baron and Baroness ought to interact with the branch and its populace and officers. Another question on children's activities. A couple of interesting questions on persona. Some thoughtful questions and none that were 'pointed' or purposefully negative, which I considered a win.

.....The 'Principality' Question was asked. A year or so ago, had I been asked that question, I would have given the asker a dissertation on why we needed to start working toward that now in the Western Region with all motivation and speed. But now, I'm content with the waiting. There really does need to be a ground-swelling of support to make this happen, and a real REASON as to why this would be advantageous to the populace of the area. Is all the work we would have to do to make this happen really worth it? Right now it would be difficult to argue completely that it is, but give us a few more years to get some more motivated people, maybe.

.....Being a dreamer is not necessarily a bad thing (MASTER RALG! :-)), especially in someone like myself who is willing to back it up with the work required to make that dream a reality! :-) Just sayin'...

.....Sargeantry is the other topic where the dreamer in me really comes out in full force. I have lots of ideas floating about to really bring about my 'Arthurian Quest' concepts into focus and I'd love to sit down with a group of people to see them quantified and qualified into a concept that can go forward. Although TBT do disagree on a number of aspects of how this is going to work. If you get both of us on this committee, expect some lively discussion. :-)

.....After the Q&A I felt drained. And we were off to another gathering in Seattle, so we had to pack quickly and leave. I felt guilty for leaving the tear-down to those still on the scene, but we were in a car-pool and I couldn't hold them for too long. I really should have thought that through. If I had I would have driven my own car and let the rest of them go ahead. I knew that I was going to be tired and that I would have wanted to help with the tear-down. Oh, well, something to remember for next time.

.....We went off to Wallingford for the annual Summer South Seas party at Giuseppe's house. It was a nice time and a good crowd. I'm really glad that TBT went as a lot of her peeps were there and she got to talk to people she doesn't see very often. We are kind of isolated a little in Kitsap County and I wish she had the opportunity to visit her Seattle side friends more.

.....Plus she had some drinks too. :-) And was smiling and laughing like you wouldn't believe. :-) Everyone ought to have a few drinks every now and then and just not care for a little while. :-)

.....I stayed in the corner and chatted with Brummbar, Talia, and Tsuruko for a couple of hours before Gwen marshaled the troops and we hit the road home. I zonked out completely in the car. I'm glad TBT and Talia stayed awake to keep Gwen company. And we made it home a little after midnight.

.....A good day actually. Next up in the queue is September Crown. I would have liked to bring Lobelia down for a clean and stock. But gas is expensive for an R.V. and I need to wait a couple of days to make that one happen. So it will be a hurry-up offense come Wednesday or Thursday. And a whirlwind weekend. Glad our Project is done at work for the moment, it'll be easy to get away on Friday. :-)

.....Aaron / Arontius.

.....The Baronial picnic was a lot of fun this year. And so much different than last year. Many people commented on that fact. The obvious difference was that last year we were in the midst of the Baornial polling. The entire place was segregated into different camps of people and there was an almost audible tension in the air. People watched what people hung out with who. Others listened intently to conversations. It was an, hmmm, interesting experience. :-)

.....This year was 180 degrees different. Everyone had fun. Everyone mingled. There were no obvious 'encampments' that I could see. I went from group to group to group however my feet happened to wander at the moment and I never once felt like I was not welcome in any one place.

.....I showed up kind of late. I did not sleep well on Friday night. Friday itself was a full day at work and then set up at Renarts. Not like it was tedious or anything. I had a lot of fun. Any kind of work goes so much faster and better in the right company. :-) But I was still kind of keyed up when I got home and basically managed just to take a catnap early in the morning before I got moving again for the day.

.....Stopped by Lobelia and picked up a few things. I was going to lead a dance practice at the picnic, but it never came up. I was also going to get into armor for a fight practice as well. But I managed to not do that either. That was disappointing. But only because time slipped by so fast with the good times that by the time I thought of doing those things it was almost too late. :-)

.....Got to watch Marquessa Laurellen felt. She is amazing! She makes anything look so incredibly easy. I watched her manufacture a felted bag for me out of a rust colored wool. Took her about 15 to 20 minutes. I was intently watching the process, but everyone around was talking about whatever came to mind and engaging Laurellen in the conversation. It was like she was stunt juggling. Do a pouch with one part of her mind and engage another part of her mind on something else. Wish I could do that just as easily. :-)

.....Towards the end of the day Their Excellencies had a little mini-Court where they handed out a few awards. They surprized me by calling me up twice. They asked me to pin the second Thrones' Favor earned by Dragon's Laire onto the Baronial Banner. I thought that was a nice touch on Their part and I was deeply honoured that They thought of that. I was even more touched later when They called me forward to thank me and give me Their personal tokens for the help I've given them over the past year. They did not have to do this as I would have helped them in any case, whether I received recognition or not. I consider Brighid and Cedric to be two of my best friends. They've been there when I needed help. They've laughed at me and with me. They've been unwaveringly supportive when I've been in difficult situations. They are the kind of people that would be there no matter what the problem and give you the proverbial shirt off Their backs without hesitation. I'd follow them anywhere and do practically anything they asked of me. I love Them both very much.

.....After the Court was a fantastic feast. AS usual there was so much food that we didn't know what to do with it all. Xian spent a large part of the rest of the evening trying to give it all away. :-) AFter the feasting, I was reluctant to go home I'd had so much fun being there that day. :-) But when the mesquitos came out in full force I started changing my mind. :-) Finally made it home around 11PM or so. Slept like the dead until about 8 this morning.

.....Today we went out there to tear down the site. Once again, with so much good help the place came down in no time whatsoever. The run to the storage unit was easy. I'm now trying to get my weekly chores done and psych myself up for another week of work. Definitely already looking forward to next weekend. :-)

.....Arontius / Aaron.