We went to the Renaissance Fair up in Tuxedo, New York this weekend. We always make it up there, and this one was naturally Caroline’s first Renfair experience ex utero.
The day started off on a shaky note. Ariel had brought her friend Alyssa along (both in costume) and when we got there the human chess game was in progress. So was some suffocating heat, and we all promptly began to wilt. We trekked over from there to the first joust of the day, trying to stay hydrated. The major concern was Caroline; shielded as she was from the sun (carried in a backpack with a sun guard and also wearing sunblock), she was still starting to look a little glassy eyed. The real killer was the humidity which you could have sliced with a broadsword. So we stake out some ground watching the joust. In the shade, we hoped things would be more bearable. I was holding Caroline, and she had just polished off a bottle of formula…and then bam. Caroline’s first experience with vomiting. We’d brought a change of outfit for her. Unfortuately we hadn’t brought one for me: She got my shirt, my pants, and some on the cloak I’d been wearing. In my 22 years of child rearing, I’ve been hit with pretty much everything the human body can excrete or secrete, so there’s more of a “*Sigh* Not again,” reaction rather than an “Eccchhh! Look what she did to me!” Still, I wasn’t thrilled.
But then cloud cover came rolling in, cooling the day. Caroline, having heaved, promptly fell asleep in my arms and I just stayed there with her for 45 minutes or so. When she woke up she was in a much better mood, a light rain had erased the humidity and brought the temperature down by about ten degrees, and the cloud cover kept the day much more temperate and even enjoyable. Much fun was had at the Renfair, as it usually is when kids aren’t upchucking. And if I were to be philosophical about it, I should be glad that she didn’t puke while she was riding behind me in the backpack.
PAD
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Peter, I always find September to be a much better time to head up to Tuxedo. Less heat, less humidity, but I guess infants are prone to those Regan McNeil moments regardless of climate.
Oy. I don’t think I can beat upchuck, but we went up last Saturday. The wife thought it would be a good idea to bring up her young niece and nephew (13 and 10)for their first time. Everything went along pretty well, chuckled at the lame chess game jokes, saw the cheesey torture chamber… Then it began to drizzle. Not much, we toughed it out.
Then it became a constant Irish misting…
Then a continuous soft rain…
Still, we stayed until the final joust because my wife was quite adamant that the kids not miss anything.
And that’s when the heavens opened up. As we sat there getting drenched, I was treated to the sight of the Faire actors running through a greatly-accelerated joust performance. I was half expecting to hear the Benny Hill theme as they ran through it so everyone could go home.
Upshot was, as we sat in the wife’s outback making wet, squelchy noises on the leather seats, we had little to no traffic getting home, as most people left at the first sign of precipitation.
The punch-line? My wife packed 2 large umbrellas, “Just in case”, but left them in the car because the day started out sunny.
At least we were mostly dry by the time we hit the LIE. Wait until I tell the wife we missed the weekend you went up. She was already kicking herself for choosing a weekend not covered by the “Kids get in free with an adult” coupons. This will be the icing on the cake.
P.S. As we passed the dragon puppet stall, I made a point of telling the “Harry Potter” soaked kids that one of those little suckers featured in a book I recently read… Now, to corrupt another generation once they’re old enough to read and appreciate “Sir Apropos”.
Our Jennifer must be about Caroline`s age but she is not only our first child but even the first grandchild in our families. She was a surprise to everybody, being born when I was 40 years old and my husband and me had pretty much given up hope ever to become parents.
Seeing Jennifer growing up is a learning experience for all of us and, yes, especially when she was younger she threw up sometimes – usually on my husband. Well, he learned. After coming back from work he changes into old trousers and T-Shirt before playing with her, just in case.
We also have our experiences with things suddenly coming out the other end. I thought only boys can do that, but when Jennifer was four months old she showed that baby girls can do it as well: I was with her at the doctor. In spite he kept his distance and was careful when he removed the nappy, she got him all over his trousers. “Thank you”, he said and I was caught between laughing and being embarrassed.
Jennifer also didn`t feel well at all when we had the heat wave in Britain. I am also glad that the big heat is over for now. It is still very warm but much more pleasant than the record of 100 F.
I’ve got a section of my closet devoted to old shirts with light formula stains on the left shoulder. The badge of fatherhood.
I like Renfests except when you run into the guys who just can’t step out of character even for a minute. “Hey pal,” you’ll innocently ask, “Where’s the restroom? My daughter has to go.”
“prithy m’lord,” he answers, I know not of such thing. Here in the middle ages we didst relieve ourselves in but a chamberpot.”
“Uh, yeah, seriously though, she really has to go.”
“Mayhap a wizard couldst cast a spell of dryness upon her…”
At this point one should just retire from the field, lest one end up smiting yon halfwit upsidest the head. Jesus! You know you’re dealing with a mental case when the guys who dress up like Klingons are pointing at him and smirking.
But the kids love it.
Glad to hear that the RenFair in Tuxedo is still alive and kicking… when I lived in Connecticut ten years ago, we would always look forward to it. And since moving away, I’ve made it a point to find other RenFairs in whatever part of the country I’m living in. It’s a shame that some of them have been closing down lately… there was a terrific one just outside of Fredericksburg, VA, that got shut down a couple of years ago because the company that ran it went bankrupt, even though the Fair itself was making money. I now look forward to the RenFair outside of Charlotte, NC, which runs later in the fall (even in late October it can get oppressively hot down there.) If anyone knows of any other fairs within a reasonable drive of Blacksburg, VA, please let me know.
That reminds me, I need to call Leah to find out if she wants us to make another trip up with her before the Faire closes. The trick is, of course, picking a day when it’s neither hot nor rainy. Last year we got deluged, and it was not terribly comfortable.
At this point one should just retire from the field, lest one end up smiting yon halfwit upsidest the head. Jesus! You know you’re dealing with a mental case when the guys who dress up like Klingons are pointing at him and smirking.
Am I the only one getting images of the RenFaire issue of “Dork Tower” in my head at this point?
Tim “here are some songs by Morrissey” Lynch
In response to Bill Mulligan’s comment, and as an actor-combattant “renny” for the Italian Renaissance Festival in MIami, Florida, I’d like to clarify that all ren performers MUST remain in character when they’re “on,” unless faced with a situation where their own, or a patron’s, well-being is being threatened (i.e. an obnoxious drunk groping a performing “wench,” and the like). It may be a renfair, but we’re all still paid (or in my case, volunteer), street-theatre professionals, and we’re being paid/compensated to play a role. Therefore, we cannot break character unless its a situation as previously referenced. Sorry if it bugs you, dude, but that’s the way it is.
Kudos to Tim Lynch (no relation) for the Dork Tower reference. A truly great comic, and also dead-on about the Renaissance Faires.
Sorry about the vomit, Peter, but it sounds like you & yours recovered enough to enjoy the fair. I went to this fair last year, with my then-girlfriend and two friends — and it POURED!!! We saw no jousting or swordplay, we were thoroughly drenched — and it was still a lot of fun! Muddy, but fun.
I must depart anon.
Hee hee. That was a great little anecdote. There’s something really nice about hearing a good parent talk about some of his experiences with child-rearing in a witty and entertaining way. A nice sense of “Good, there are intelligent and creative people out there who are raising children, and doing it well.”
Of course, it just reinforces for me that I, personally, should never ever have kids.
regarding Paul Llossas regarding my comments:
Well, that puts a whole new perspective on it. Hey, if it’s a job then God bless ya. I thought it was someone being psychotic.
I’m still gonna laugh at the Klingon guys though.
You mean there are people who don’t laugh at the Klingons? There’s a big difference between staying in character because it’s a paying job, and because (anyone who’s ever been to a con with Klingons walking around in character, please fill in your own reason here).
As a longtime Rennie for the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, I found quite a bit, both on PADGUY’s post and the responses, that warrented comment.
Personally, I can relate to the heat problem. I play Malvito the Malevolent, the shire of Canterbury’s Local Force of … Eee-ville (you have to be there); my costume is all black material, using as many breathable materials as possible, though it still doesn’t help when one is absorbing that much light and heat. The fact that my current hooded cloak is black wool doesn’t help (until October when the temps start to drop). We had our Site Day (our dress’n’tech, if you will) this past weekend and it was all I and a good portion of the Royal Court could do to stay on our feet. Not a job for the faint of breath.
Paul LLossas is correct that your Faire performers are not supposed to drop character, just as an actor on a proscenium stage should not drop character during the show. Bil Mulligan’s complaint, however, was not entirely unfounded. The character with whom he inquired should have been able to find a way to point him in the direction of the privies in character. Suppose it was an emergency? If the young’un in question was vomiting? Or had to go really badly? Hardly the time to be making silly jokes. As antisocial as my character is even I can find a way to get a person to the privies or lost and found or wherever while staying in character.
Of course, it could have been worse. At least he and his youngster were not subjected to being followed about by costumed persons yelling, “Privy Ruuuun!!!” Our Faire abolished that one a long time ago, good riddance.
For some reason, I’m reminded of an air show I took my (then) infant son to. There was an F-15 on the tarmac that we could climb up some steps and peek into (the cockpit was open.)
I asked the person in charge if I could take a picture of my boy sitting in the seat. He let me know they couldn’t do that with this plane–they hadn’t disabled the ejector seat!
Good enough for me.
I asked the person in charge if I could take a picture of my boy sitting in the seat. He let me know they couldn’t do that with this plane–they hadn’t disabled the ejector seat!
Suddenly I have an image of the next Bush photo op going horribly, horribly wrong…
TWL
But you passed up a great chance to buy new garb 🙂 I had a sortof same situation at the GA Ren Fest when I was holding a young puppy and “squeezed” it.
What a great reason to get a Ren shirt.
I thought that was you- sitting on the Robin Hood side…
and the heat’s no treat when you’re wearing heavy fabrics and black…
usually by the time Chess game happens the sky likes to open up and bake us.
Did you get to see the 4:15 insult match? The rogue show? Trial and punishment?
-John Magin
alias Don Juan de Marco Polo Rafael Lornezo Llamas Concha yToro Santiagodecampostelladoro.
( never mind they spelled it wrong in the program, and I wrote it out for them, grrr…..)
and one time Marvel thrall/whipping boy/piss boy/slave/intern …..
I like Fallen Angel btw. Interesting first issue.
There were a few of us betting on rain to begin around 3:30…
I’m so very sorry I didn’t know you were there. I’d have enjoyed the chance to say hello/generally gush. As it is, I have an absurdly packed performance schedule, so it is unlikely I would have had more than a moment anyway.
and to Will McCaffrey: heh! now I’ll think of the Benny Hill theme music every time we are forced to do a truncated joust! If I fall off early due to giggles, I blame you!
~kel, aka Maid Marian (jouster, fighter, singing wench, etcc)
\\and to Will McCaffrey: heh! now I’ll think of the Benny Hill theme music every time we are forced to do a truncated joust! If I fall off early due to giggles, I blame you!
~kel, aka Maid Marian (jouster, fighter, singing wench, etcc)\\
I’ll do you one better, kel. Next time I go, possibly next weekend, I’ll sit behind you during the chess game and start humming it until you leap the hay bales and beat the pudding out of me. 🙂
The real question burning in my mind, Mr. Peter David, is did you get a chance to see the best show in the shire? Or even “Ask the Village Idiot”?
I only ask because I’m in it. And I’m an EEEDIOT! And I start sentances with “and”. And… if you didn’t see it then SHAME! SHAME on you, I say! You’ll just have to come and see it next time. Volenteer for “You Bet Your Wet” and we’ll help wash off the vomit FREE OF CHARGE, or your money back.
Furlop Twiddle
Sanctuary!
ring any bells?
Don’t listen to those fools….
and Furlop, isn’t your friend working on a funny book btw( Seamus O’Plugh says so!)
Come up this w/e, it’s going to be cooler and drier( so the people who get paid to be wrong half the time say)
Furlop’s pal, Bobby Timony is indeed lending his artistic talents to an indy funnybook called “Kanaga”. Thou mayest checketh it out at http://www.gurfrip.com
A quick query: are there any RenFairs to be had/coming up in the near future (this being 4-18-04) in Connecticut? It seems my son has found a “wench” that LOVES Both HIM & partaking in these Madcap Adventures at such AlT’ings! Best of Blessings Tu both of ’em says I as I, too would like to engage in such frivolities, n’est-Ce pas?!
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