How innocent he sounded when he wrote that. The sneak. And it goes much better if you get your thumb away from the lens, silly.
OK, so I flew in Friday night. Kass McGann and Medb (aka Mabbina or 'Bina) picked me up at the airport, we found food and beer, then drove to site. None of the event staff is there, so we find our rooms at the lodge. Kass had been comped a room as the keynote lecturer, 'Bina and I were sharing with Despina, who didn't get in until 2 AM.
Kass burst in Saturday morning in her German kampfrau gown with a woeful tale involving no heat or hot water in her room (no wonder it was free). Since our fourth ended up staying with someone else, we insisted she join us for the duration as that morning, at least, we appeared to have hot water. I dressed in no-sode (sideless surcote), gather up my class materials and we went downstairs to sign in at gate and such.
We entered the merchant area and I looked around: clothing, more clothing, pottery, "ooh, books!" armor - what's an ori eboshi doing on that armor table? Only it's not ON the table. I moved closer and discovered our Esteemed (Sneaky Prevaricating Son of A Rat) Moderator sitting on the floor by the armor merchant's. I screeched. I think. I'm not entirely sure I remember
what I screeched. Suffice to say, I was not expecting to see him. I'm fairly certain he enjoyed my reaction because he took liberties!
He
hugged me!
In front of the kami and all the neighbors!
Or at least in front of my friends and the merchants. I introduced Kass, Mabbina, and Despina. Kass, having a rough morning, asked if he knew of any place to get coffee. (I was thinking the liter of diet Mountain Dew was not a good omen). Otagiri-dono vanished for a few minutes, then reappeared with a tray:
Airfare from San Francisco to Kansas City, $289.
KWCS Tee shirt, $15.
Traditional Japanese Coffee Ceremony, PRICELESS.
(Watching Jehanne de Wodeford vibrate through solid matter on one cup of black joe, TERRIFYING.)
My surcote class was a sellout and I felt like it went well.
Traditional blurry portrait of Our Moderator from minimum safe distance while participating in a great weapons class taught by His Grace, Paul of Bellatrix, Bestower Of Headaches. I'm pretty sure it's Our Moderator - he's wearing brown hakama. Who else?
Seriously, the bit I watched looked like fun.
I always thought a keynote address was done at the beginning of a conference, for perhaps 30 minutes, then everyone was turned loose to pursue their activities. For reasons known only to the event coordinators, Kass' keynote speech was a two hour time block at 3:00 PM, scheduled against other classes. She did get attendees and it more or less evolved into a "What do YOU want to talk about?" session after she'd made her opening remarks. I got to meet Diarmuit Ui Dhuinn (Marc Carlson) in person, as well as some other folks I've only ever corresponded with. The class is interrupted by an emmissary who invites Kass to sit with the King and Queen of Calontir at the feast. Big huffy sigh - we wanted Girl's Night Out (What happens in Atchison STAYS in Atchison).
Despina decided to "help" Kass buy pottery. In self defense, I find a very wabi sabi sake set and a larger vessel (suitable for the kind of bigass cups of tea I prefer), figuring I will spend a
lot less if she doesn't help.
We were starting to think about what to do for dinner when I spot Otagiri-dono outside. I wish I hadn't suffered so much of a brain cramp because it would've made a great "Don't do this" pic for "Samurai Eye." Eboshi. Kegutsu. Tshirt. Jeans. Yes, really.
Seeking revenge for his public assault upon my person that morning, I double dog dared him to have dinner in a High Estrogen Zone with three women, one of whom is 13 weeks pregnant. When we came back down after having changed, we discovered he'd called in reinforcements and brought Sir Alaric along.
Saturday night in Atchison Kansas - we closed the restaurant some time after 9PM. (I owe you dinner, tomodachi - somewhere between the bathroom run and the apple pie the check vanished.) Back to the Dorm of Inadequate Plumbing and a party in our room, with 'Bina's contraband cherry brandy cordial. I KNEW there was a reason I bought those sake cups.
Sunday morning I got up far too early for comfort to shower and stain my teeth, a process not helped by Mabbina trying to get me to talk as I'm drooling grey over the basin. FINALLY, suitably attired and made up, I book downstairs because I want to check out the Men's Japanese Clothing class. The original instructor, Takahara Otoshi (no clue who he is, BTW), couldn't make it, but his Laurel, Gerald of Ipsley was going to teach it instead. As it turns out, we have mutual friends in the West - and more importantly, seemed to hit it off pretty quickly. The entire class attendance was female - and staying for mine which was to follow, so we just tag team taught and morphed it into one big class. I looked at the way the ladies were all sitting - some of them have no idea how to move correctly in period European clothing - and just started talking about how to move in the clothing. Gerald and I demonstrated differences in how men and women sit, how a superior hands something to an inferior, etc. It was fun. After class he told me he's writing a book on Momoyama textiles and asked if I'd be willing to be one of his editorial readers. Oh, twist my arm please!
Traditional blurry portrait of Our Moderator from minimum safe distance while participating in a spear class:
Despina had to leave for her drive back to Fargo. None of the photos taken of the three of us were picked up by my digital camera - I think you have to have a degree in astrophysics or be an onmyoji to get it to work, sometimes.
Rare, heretofore unseen photo of Our Moderator, having been cornered by two very determined women:
Kass' last class was an overview of Japanese clothing. Periodically, Otagiri-dono or I would get up and play model so people could see how things were constructed, etc. However, we pretty much sat with 'Bina on the Group W bench playing with the pencils and being the kind of silly that sleep deprivation only enhances.
Otagiri-dono and Alaric left before the class was over as they had to drive back to Colorado.
I chiseled off the toothblack and got cleaned up. Alcyoneus joined us for dinner, which we ended up having at a country club bar. Our waiter fortunately had a light night and was perfectly content to silly back at us.
Kass had a 6:30 AM flight this morning so we all got up this morning before God does, to go to the airport. 'Bina headed back to Colorado as well and I napped in a chair until my plane left at 10:40.
We came, we saw, we looked fabulous! Oh, and we laughed our asses off.
Much fun was had - and Mabbina is trying to convince Kass and me to attend Caerthe Twelfth Night as it is going to be a Japanese themed event.
Nap. Need a nap.....
Saionji