Week Eleven: "...let me dance in the glitter."

The dedicated blog readers who have been with me from the beginning (February/March 2010), or who have read back that far*, will recall True Colors, the absolutely fantastic conference for lgbtq(etc, etc, etc**) folks.
If you haven't, and don't feel like going back to look it up, or I haven't been non-stop yakking to you about it already, here's a refresher.
3,000 lgbtq youth and the people who support us, rainbows, laughter, friendship, entertainment, all packed into two full days of workshops, keynotes and even a dance.
This year will be my first time presenting, but my fourth time at the conference overall.


Being in a place full of such acceptance and unconditional love is such a heartwarming feeling. Not to say that I don't have that at home, which I do, most certainly. Spending a weekend with 3,000 people who are all so wonderful is simply energizing.


Four years ago, I went to the conference as a 14 year old, straight ally daughter of lesbian moms.
This year, I will be going as a 18 year old, third generation queer*** presenter.
I've grown and learned a lot about myself, and I'm beyond happy with both who I am, and where I'm going.

It's not only the anniversary of going to TC, but it's also the anniversary of this blog. (In my mind, the February 2010 posts don't /really/ count. Even though they do.)

I'd like to thank each and every one of you. You've let me into your lives, and I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed getting to know you all. Each comment, each follower and every one of you who attempted/are attempting to do BOW'11 with me mean so much.
Thank you all so very much, and let's go onto another year!

One more thing:
Bring on the rainbows, and let me dance in the glitter.
~Whimsy

* Or those who speak to me regularly on Skype or another social network.
**Forgive me for using the short string of letters, please. I'm not writing out the whole QUILTBAGPIPE initialisim every time, but I'm doing it in my head, believe me.
***My grandad, my mum and now myself are all queer. ^___^

BEDA, Day 25: Three Part Blog

Greetings, blog-friends, this blog comes to you in THREE PARTS!

Part One: Packing

Part Two: Sad news

Part Three: Images

-------

Part One: Packing

Today, I am packing up.
"Where are you going, Miss Whimsy?" you ask.

I am going to an unschooler's conference.

Now, packing for an unschooler's conference is very different than packing for a normal vacation.

For a normal vacation, you need clothing, personal hygiene products and money to spend on tourist trinket stuff.

For an unschooler's conference, my list includes (in addition to the above items), my guitar, rolls of duct tape, as many hats as can fit in the car, Artist Trading Cards, a pack of sharpies, old cd's, and things to tie-dye.

There is a concrete reason for all of those items.

My guitar: Used so that I can play along with my friend, and perhaps at the talent show one of the nights. This will be the first year I'm bringing an instrument.

Rolls of Duct Tape: There's a funshop (like workshop, only not) all about duct tape. I'm bringing my own stash so I can make epic things happen.

As many hats as I can: I have QUITE a collection of hats, and I wear them all proudly. These will be simply accessories to my ensembles.

Artist Trading Cards: are little works of art that one makes, then trades for other little works of art. I have a three ring binder full of them, and hope to get some more before returning home.

A pack of Sharpies: The first year I went to the conference, I saw that sharpies were a theme. One used them to draw Hug Buttons on your skin,(when someone pushes the Hug Button, you give them a hug), to color your hair (yes, this works), and to write on clothing. Every year since, I have brought my own pack.

Old CD's: For the Media Exchange. You bring in YOUR old stuff, and other people bring in their old stuff, and you swap. Then, everyone ends up with new stuff, and you've recycled.

Things To Tie-Dye: You may have guessed that there will be tie-dying at the conference. You're right. ^_^

I really can't wait. There will be much awesome.

Part Two: Sad News
Esther Earl turned 16 less than two months ago. In her life, she made the world suck so much less. She was instrumental in helping the Harry Potter Alliance win $250,000. I met her once, through a skype call. She was so kind and happy, despite the battle she was fighing against cancer. At 3:30 this morning, Esther Earl passed on. Today, Nerdfightaria lost a completely made-of-awesome member. We will ALL remember Esther.

If you want to leave her family a message, you can do so here.

Part Three: Images

Here is a photo of The Elusive Whimsy!

Yes, I really look like that.
*Shakes head no*

Okay, I lied. I look like this:

Yeah. More of what you thought?
Thought so.


Anyway, see you later, bloggians.
I have to go pack up!

~Whimsy

P.S. Look for exciting news in tomorrow's post!

BEDA, Day 23: I'm BACK!

Hello people!

Whilst I was away at the Faire, I noticed that I have hit ten followers. Hooray!

Hello, new people! If you haven't already, I suggest you read the "conversation with you, my blog reader" page, as it tells much about myself.

So, having spent the past two days away from the computer, I now have SO MUCH TO CATCH UP ON. Wow, lots happen over the weekend.

Anyway, I spent the weekend with some of the most wonderous people I know. We went to the RenFaire on Saturday, and then camped over into Sunday, it was funnly awesome...then, at 1am on Sunday...IT RAINED. *cue DOOM music*

SO MUCH WET. I woke up and realized that my only pair of shoes was left outside in the torrential downpour. >.<
So, we packed up the tent and all the rest of the stuff, and decided to go the Faire again that day. It had stopped completely downpouring, so we ventured out into the dampness. It was splendid, it really was. We walked about in the wetness, and then the skies opened once more. We took shelter at first, but eventually just gave it up and frolicked in the torrential rain.

We danced in the rain, caught marshmallows in our mouths from the marshmallow-catapult vendor, told jokes to Robin Hood's Merry Men, ate middle eastern food, and listened to lovely Rennish music.

Sometimes, getting soaked to the skin (Not kidding, NOTHING WAS DRY) and having a three hour ride back home in wet clothes while cold, and cavorting like a mad woman is so worth it.

Think of the memories.

OH! GUESS WHAT I BOUGHT?

Yes, that's a PURPLE ROBIN HOOD HAT. I have such plans for this article of clothing. ^_^

That's all for today.

~Whimsy

P.S. Yes, I'm wearing a plaid shirt. I'm in my PJ's. I'm comfortable.

BEDA, Day 22: Renissance Faire!

So, right now I'm at a Renfaire. A Renfaire is a Renissance Faire. (Think King Arthur, etc.)

This will be my first time at said faire. I have gone to faires before, oh, yes I have.

When I was younger, I spent my autumns at the faire in the state I live in. I mean, this was from around age 6 to around age 13, maybe. These actors (who will ALWAYS be their characters to me) knew me since I was tiny.

Spending my September and October weekends in the company of knights, mud beggers, singing executioners, swashbuckling pirates, gypsies, swordsmen, royalty, the fey and townsfolk was a pretty dang good time, I have to say.


I made sure that I caught the pub show (rated PG-13...so I sat in the back) every day. I know more Rennie* drinking songs than any teenage girl has the right to.

When I go to that faire now, I keep hearing how much I've grown.

The singing executioners (who have a stage show that I could recite from memory back when I did the faire) always are happy to see us. I think I've seen them ONCE without the back masks that they always wear.

I wanted to be a knight, instead of a lady, so when I got enough stamps on my card from the kiddie play yard, I asked the king to knight me "not Dame Irisa, but SIR Irisa." Repeatedly. I was THE MOST knighted person I knew. It was awesome.

As you can tell, I had a character. I spoke in an accent, had a character name, warmed up my voice in the mornings (if only by following the Big Kid actors and mimicing them). I was Irisa (eye-ree-sah), a Romanian Gypsy child. (roll the r's, it's better that way.)

Although I have made myself many, many, many swords, I have always wanted to do archery. It's so freakin' cool! And less dangerous. Less physical fighting.

I learned how to curtsy properly, what to say when someone says "Long live the King!" (God save the King!), how to faint (as told by a mud begger), how to harass people into doing the Maypole, every word of "the Itchy Britches song", the difference between an Irish, Welsh and English accent, that one NEEDS to watch out for the knight's swords, and that having a person explain what exactly a cell phone is is highly entertaining.

So, if you have gone to a Faire, go again, if you haven't...GO. You will not regret it!

Huzzah,

~Whimsy


*Rennie = cute version of renissance. Also can refer to a person who loves/acts in the faires.

P.S. With that as a part of my childhood, is it any wonder I'm on the Pirate side of things?

Question:
What side are YOU on, pirates or ninjas?