RPFS 2003

WARNING: The pictures you are about to view are MINE ... or I have permission to use them and proper photography credit has been given. I ask the same courtesy. If you want to borrow some, ASK! I mean it!

A.F.R. Invasion started for me at around noon on Friday when my boss told me I could leave for the day. HUZZAH! That gave me enough time to swing back by my house to pick up my forgotten pillow and blanket. After a quick stop at the house, the bank, the gas station and Starbucks, I began my very slow trek up to Hotel Otter. I say "slow" because the hour and a half drive took double that. Somewhere around Temecula I started remembering how HOT it gets at Southern. I rolled up the windows and cranked the A.C.

When I got to the hotel Kate Montgomery was checking in. Seeing her beautiful smiling face is a very good way to start any weekend. Finding out that she had been smart enough to bring a cart with her to unload the car was a bonus. It only took two trips to unload both cars instead of 10. We still got our exercise since our rooms were at the end of a very long hallway.

After getting stuff to the designated rooms, Kate and I spent some time catching up. I miss that wonderful woman. She even brought prezzies. A keychain that says, “Sorry, I’m way out of your league”, a glittery purple PRINCESS candle and lots of chocolate. Not to mention the TONS of goodies she cooked up for all the otters to snack on at the Brass Booth. She has truly earned the title of “a.f.r. Goddess of Goodies”. I think I gained 10 pounds eating those amazing brownies she creates.

At around 5:00 we headed over to the Meet & Greet at Dave & Busters. When we arrived, Trong was the only one there. It wasn’t too long before John the Generous, Antonia, Theresa, Darian, Celtic Cowboy, James Sweetland, Bob Clevenger, Nocturna, RennFoole, Shel, Cyd, Joe and others started to arrive. Drinks were consumed, food was inhaled, games were played and even a little shopping was done. I got MORE prezzies from Cyd … a very cute candleholder and a beautiful amethyst necklace she made (have I mentioned that she scares me). I didn’t stay too late. As I was leaving BrassyLassy & BrassAngel were just getting there. I don’t know how late everyone stayed, but I was worn out.

Saturday morning I was up early and felt my way down the LONG hallway to the breakfast room for my coffee. When we got there I discovered LOTS of kids. I’m allergic to kids so I got my coffee and Shel and I sat in the lobby. Over the course of the weekend I learned there is a very good reason I don’t like children. The baseball teams that were staying at the Country Suites should be used for birth control ads. Obnoxious little monsters!

Kate, Shel & I rode together to faire. Knowing in advance that The Brooks & Dunn Neon Circus was sharing the parking lot with us we park on the outer edge of general parking and hiked in. The walk was well worth not being caught in parking lot HELL at the end of the day like last year. I tried to get my ticket but discovered that REC didn’t have their s#$t together (again) and was informed that you couldn’t buy FoF tickets at the gate (as you have been able to every previous year). A participate that was in line behind me was kind enough to buy me a participant pass and we headed in. We dropped off stuff at the Brass Booth and posted invasion information at Fellowship Foundry and then we were free to PLAY!

First stop – PENDRAGON!! Kate got a beautiful new bodice. She looked so pretty. She didn’t believe that I could get it closed … but I did :) Well, I could have, but the girl that actually works at Pendragon came over to finish the job. While she paid I went to visit with Commedia. Then to visit with MooNiE. Then to visit with The Troll. Basically I spent most of Saturday just visiting with people since this would be my only chance for a year. I got lots of hugs. I felt lots of love. I got LOTS of compliments on my PURPLE pirate coat.

Kate, Shel & I were able to easily slide out of the parking lot and get back to the hotel to change. We met up with several other otters in the lobby and decided that we would walk over to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. Ankhet, Nocturna, Peggy, Shel, Kate, Cyd, Joe, RennFoole, CyberKender, Trong and myself all enjoyed a wonderful dinner filled with lots of laughter. The restaurant even invited us back … that might be a first.

After dinner RennFoole, Nocturna and I met in the lobby. Someone made a promise to Capi to take me in the hot tub. The only problem was that the hot tub was filled with those miserable baseball monsters. It was actually almost an hour after they were supposed to be out of the pool area. The manager came and asked them to leave … then allowed us to go in as long as we were quiet. We were. Some of the kids that had been asked to leave the hot tub were in a room right by it and opened their window and had some colorful comments to make since we were in it. As I said, this group was an ad for birth control. We didn’t spend too long in the tub before heading back to our rooms for some much needed sleep.

Sunday began pretty much the same as Saturday. This time I actually made it into the breakfast room. I had plenty of otter back-up and the idiots running up and down the halls had pissed me off enough to give me that look that children fear. After several cups of coffee and discussion of plans for the day we headed for our room to get ready. I thought about wearing the belly dancing garb but as soon as I put the bodice on the “issues” from last year came flooding back and I opted for pirate again.

We were running a bit late this morning. I got to the site with enough time to drop off my basket at Brass and head to the Foundry for the Wench Walk. Theresa started off the meeting by giving me a rose tag of sorts. She had bought me a gift and I couldn’t have the box until I made a man in the area kiss me. Hehe. I looked around and spotted Tyma chatting with some friends. I walked towards him and called his name. He looked a bit unpleased to be interrupted, but I wanted my gift. He walked towards me asking, “WHAT?”. “Kiss me!” was my reply. Well, Tyma didn’t need to be told twice and I earned my prezzie : )

The walk was fun, but it is most likely my last. I don’t plan on attending any more REC faires and the small faires don’t gather enough interest to do a walk. Perhaps when Santa Barbara re-opens next year I’ll change my mind. The walk we did there two years ago was the best one I’ve participated in. Anyway, during this walk I managed to get Tyma wenched again (you would think he would have learned to steer clear of the walks). He really lived up to his Brass name. I also targeted the four pirates. There would have been five, but since I got one of them last year he was off limits. We all know that I have a weakness for pirates, right? The walk lasted about an hour. The wenches had just enough time to catch their breath before heading to Sound & Fury.

I sat out of the planned events for the rest of the day. My dear friend Rick drove up and had not been to the faire before. I wanted to show him around. We went to a MooNiE show. We watched The Troll & The Ent. We drank. We socialized. Shel took over as tour guide for a bit so that I could visit with some friends backstage. I remembered to hit the bath gig at Commedia to tickle Jonno's toes for Capi. The day went too fast. Before I knew it hugs were being exchanged and it was time to go. I had one more stop to make before heading out. I took the silk rose that had been presented to me by the pirates we wenched to Sophie’s memorial. I spent a couple of moments sitting by the lake with Shel and Rick until I got the tears under control and then we headed to the car.

Dinner on Sunday was a small group, just Shel, Rick, Kate, CK, Toots and myself. We went to Applebee’s. My sides HURT by the time we left. We laughed and laughed and laughed. It was wonderful. Capi is right. We need to put a stitch in CA and make it smaller. I miss my wonderful friends.

The rest of my night was spent listening to the snoring match between Shel & Rick, chasing the baseball hellions running up and down the halls knocking on doors, complaining at the front desk, calling security as the brats jumped the fence into the hot tub and bitching the stupid coaches out … who were sitting in the breakfast room drinking beer. Fun night. I ended up getting about 3 hours of sleep before it was time to head back down to breakfast.

I wasn’t going back to site, so I said my good-byes to everyone at breakfast. I went back to the room and took a little nap before heading up to Lake Arrowhead for the day.

Considering I was at an REC event, there is a part of me that just won’t allow me to say it was a "great weekend". I will say that I don't remember laughing so much in MONTHS. All the hugs were appreciated. All the support was wonderful. I want to thank those who made it worth being there ... you know who you are. SPECIAL thanks and HUGS to Kerry, Tom, Tim, Theresa, Cyd, Joe, Phil, Bevan, Jonno, Jason and Carol.

On Sunday I fear I pissed some people off. I had several people I had only met online identify me while on the wench walk and approach. I had to blow them off. This was pretty much my only official duty all day and I couldn't walk away. Sorry!

Also, I was asked by someone for my real name and address. WTF?? Does anyone actually give this information out anymore? I was caught off guard and was not very pleasant. Sorry if I offended, but some of my "real life" friends don't have my address. I'm not comfortable giving that information out. I don't think anyone should be.

Crystal! How could I forget the lovely Crystal ... who looked so pretty in purple & black. Thanks for brightening up the weekend with your lovely smile. I wish we could have spent some more time catching up. You know, we really should get together ... we do live in the same area : )

John the Generous ... I know how you got your name ; ) Thank you SO MUCH for taking pictures all weekend. You made my life much easier. I didn't have to flag down some drunk stranger to take the a.f.r. photos AND I could almost be in two places at once thanks to your camera. You ROCK! Thanks sweetie.

NOTE: If anyone else that stayed at Hotel Otter wants to inform the owners of the hotel about the baseball hellions, here is the contact information that was on the comment card:

Send mail to amethyst@amethystrose.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2004 Amethyst's World Last modified: April 26, 2005

Send mail to amethyst@amethystrose.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 Amethyst's World
Last modified: April 26, 2005