15 July 2009
I took this photo immediately after the screwdriver was returned to me.

The tip.
I’ve been asked repeatedly why I don’t write as much as Marita Beth does. I’ve been asked why I stopped waxing thoughtful in my posts and am just posting dreary day-to-day stuff.
The tip.
Sometime back my wife posted a lovely review of a local restaurant – Mi Tierra – owned by a friend of ours – Damaris. That review was well-received, well-loved, but also very well visited. Do not misunderstand me, I love the traffic to the Daily KRuMB, it validates our reason for making it public. Anyone can keep a diary, but we keep one that is visible to the world. But, that was the tip. That review was circulated within my department and links to the Daily KRuMB were sent out through the entire division. Suddenly, I had a whole passel of co-workers reading my writing, looking at my photos and forming opinions about me – many of whom I have never met. The tip started to shear off exposing inner workings. Some of those people forming opinions are in an upper management capacity and I simply cannot afford to jeopardize my position or my career – make no mistake, this is my career – for the sake of philosophical rambling. I just can’t do it. So, although I cannot and will not return to edit or remove previous posts, I have to be politic in all my future writings so that I can preserve my livelihood. Because I know that some of my co-workers and much of my management will judge me by words here rather than my actions in the workplace, I choose discretion rather than individuality. One day, I hope, it won’t matter and I will be able to place my real thoughts in this space with relative impunity. But, until that day, I fear my writing shall be rather humdrum and all you shall see of me is the very tip.
Cheers

~KR (Written on 16 July 2009)

Listening to:
Black Illusion by Ozzy Osbourne
from Down to Earth

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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14 July 2009
In my fantastic Swiss Gear laptop backpack, there is a mesh pocket in the laptop compartment. It’s where I keep my USB Optic Mouse.
This is it.

Howzat for exciting? Woohoo!
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 15 July 2009)

Listening to:
Parachute Man by Millish
from Millish

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 1
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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13 July 2009
One of the things I miss the most when Marita Beth is gone is dinner with my wife. Whether we’re eating out at No Frills, Abuelo’s, Mi Tierra or a new place; or whether we’re eating at home with the dogs & watching some telly or just chatting it’s a little thing that I miss a lot. When she’s gone, I don’t eat over well, instead I find myself stopping at Jack in the Box to pick up a burger and fries – like this:
.
I just can’t be bothered to cook for one. I should fix this.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 15 July 2009)

Listening to:
Walkin’ in the Sunshine by Roger Miller
from All Time Greatest Hits

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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14 July 2009

Tuesday had to be more productive than Monday had been!  I started my day with breakfast with Kelly (of course!) and then a massage from Robert Ray. I did some computer work for a while, took a shower, visited with Kelly some more and finally could put off no longer, a trip to the bank.  I ran that errand and two others, (I took this photo while driving, of the mess that is the freeway in front of the faire site!)  and then headed to my ballet class. 

It’s been close to a year and a half now, I’m ashamed to admit, since I was an active part of my Dancing Minds and Bodies group.  I hope to remedy that in the fall. But, this class was long overdue for me.  I drove to the spot where I was meeting Carol, and she drove us the rest of the way to the facility she knew well, from years of being both a dancer there, and the mom of a dancer there.  Mount Prospect School of Classical Ballet—where a charming woman greeted me with a hug, just because I was with Carol, and introduced herself as Sue, the teacher!  We were almost late, but managed to squeak in just in time to grab spots at the barre.

I am not a good ballet dancer.  I’m not built for it!  But, I have a deep appreciation for the perfect foundation that ballet training is, for all other forms of dance.  And, as such, I love a good ballet barre class.  I worked my butt off—hopefully literally!  I know it will be sore, that’s for sure.  As we were working on the final combination at the barre, I realized my sore left foot thing, was going to prevent me from doing much of what was necessary in the rest of the class.  I have not the ability right now to releve  (pronounced: re*luh*vay—means “to rise.”) on my left foot.  I simply cannot hold my own body weight without severe pain.  I have no idea why—I only know it is intensely frustrating.  The class was great, though, and I am hopeful that I’ll be able to do more of it next week.  Heaven knows I need the workout.

After a brief Wal*mart stop on the way home, to pick up an ice pack for my foot, I got back to site around 10:30 p.m. where the beautiful trio of girls–Kelly, Delaenya and Ginger, were waiting for me to be the fourth for a few hands of mah jongg.  We enjoyed each other’s company until I simply couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.  It was a hard day for me, between the endorphines of the massage and the exercise and pain of the ballet class. 

~MB

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13 July 2009

High on the very long list of reasons why I love Wisconsin, is the always beautiful sky. It seems to me, that no matter what the weather, the sky here is always interesting and lovely.

On this first Monday of the show, there was little happening on site. Once the breakfast thing happened, and the crowd dispersed, the site was completely quiet. I completed my tallies and inventory for Pendragon and then enjoyed some private time in my little backyard area we call the MBistro, catching up on email a bit, and doing some research online. Gentle breezes, birdsong, and my friendly little neighbour chipmunk all made that afternoon time totally delightful.  When I got too chilly, I came indoors and did a bit of cleaning and further moving in. 

Kelly and I decided to treat ourselves to El Sarape for dinner.  This little Mexican restaurant in Kenosha is a surprising treat for us—excellent food in a mom and pop store atmosphere.  We love it, and this was our first trip of the season.  We were on our way home, when Kelly decided to pull her vehicle over so we could take photos of this gorgeous sunset!  After returning to site, after a trip to Target, we said goodnight and retired to our own little homes for wind-down time and what should be a good night’s sleep.  On with the blankets!

~MB

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12 July 2009

Bristol I Bloody Mary Sunday

First in a series, perhaps . . . this is my first bloody mary of the Bristol season. The new tradition begun at Scarborough, continues here at Bristol, just without the much-longed for company of my husband and our girlfriends Damaris and Roxy and Mandy. But, the up-side of that, is that Kyle had his bloody mary this morning in Arlington, Texas; Damaris and Roxy had theirs in Larkspur, Colorado; and hopefully, Mandy had hers in Austin, TX. I enjoyed mine, with Kelly, in Kenosha/Bristol, Wisconsin. Hmmm . . . mwah-hah-hah! Taking over the world, one bloody mary at a time!

Oh, and we used Girl Glass, so they tasted better, too! I think I’ll use a different Girl Glass goblet every week and take photos of each one! I hope I can remember to do that.

The faire day was again, in a word, gorgeous! The crowd was happy and energetic, and our business day was punctuated by a couple of wonderfully large sales. It was a good weekend, all in all. Not the giant pile of money-making we once knew from an opening weekend, but perhaps this is the new reality—a solid weekend of happy people—it could certainly be worse! I’m not complaining.

~MB

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11 July 2009

As one rennie friend put it, “we won the weather lottery!” It was a beautiful day, although a bit warmer than my personal preference. But, the people came, and the magic happened!

We had a respectable day of business at Pendragon Costumes, and we had a good, solid staff to handle it. Those beautiful people are the subject of my photo today. Kat, my long-time right hand here at this show, and Sean, in his third year here with us are my full timers (Kat is the taller girl, and Sean is the guy on the right) Maron is working Saturdays for me–he’s worked one day a weekend for me for years! (He’s the guy on the left.) Adrianne will be his counterpart on Sundays, and although she’s new, she makes up for that with her smile! And on this opening weekend, since historically it should be so much busier than a normal weekend, I have my dear friend Carol helping us, as well. She’s a long-time customer, and the one who has arranged for me to have a couple of ballet classes to attend this month. (She’s the one between Kat and Sean in the photo.)

We were completely ready for our day about half an hour before opening this morning! I was fully dressed. The mannequins were all done and placed. The booth looked great, and I had time to organize this photo! Woo hoo!

~MB

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10 July 2009

A shot from my catwalk looking down into my booth. And, a little bit of creative writing to kick off the show.

‘Twas the night before renfaire and all through the site,
Not a Rennie was stirring, it didn’t seem right.

The doublets were hung on the hangers with care,
In hopes that the patrons soon would be there.

The tents were all pitched, the cars were all parked,
“It just seems so quiet,” I calmly remarked.

Most years, the sounds of the night before faire,
are hammers and nail guns that used compressed air.

But once in while, the work all gets done
in time for the Rennies to feel that they’ve won.

The buildings are built, the flags are all hung,
the bards have all practiced the songs to be sung.

The gardens are gorgeous, the grass is so green,
the faire stands just waiting to be heard and seen.

The moon on the crest of the hill of the faire,
does much to inspire us, if only we’d dare.

We dare to imagine the full parking lot,
the traffic to get here, the weather not hot.

We picture the costumes, the weapons, the hats,
We can even imagine the spry acrobats.

The sights and the sounds, and the smells of the faire,
the taste of the foods, the spark in the air.

We can picture the people we only see here,
and can’t wait to find out what they’ve done all year.

Pet patrons and playtrons, and friends of the faire,
in outfits that prove that they really do care.

Then there are hundreds of folks that will come,
they’ve been here before, but once a year and they’re done.

And maybe the biggest excitement we share
is when somebody new falls in love with the faire.

Never been here before, never seen the faire’s shows,
Never tried on a bodice or watched how glass blows.

They come in wearing sundresses, t-shirts and shorts,
but they leave wearing colourful garb of all sorts.

What a pleasure it is, as the closing bells ring,
to see those new folks in new clothes with some bling.

The men in new doublets, their feet in new boots,
the ladies now bodiced, earning hollers and hoots.

And not only clothes will be bought at the faire,
There’s jewelry and mugs and braids for your hair.

There’s pottery, sculpture and original art,
there’s windchimes and flutes and that’s just the start.

Beautiful fairy-stuff, sweet-smelling sticks,
candles and soaps and magical tricks;

Dresses of velvet, hats cavalier,
We wrap them up here, they take them home, there.

There’s books and music and furniture pieces,
there’s weapons and armour, and gifts for your nieces.

The excitement is real and so many will find
faire’s their new favourite thing –a love one-of-a-kind.

The magic of opening day is a gift,
No other feeling provides such a lift.

We hope all we can and dream all we wish,
Perhaps this is the show where we’ll all become rich.

So, with hope in our hearts and sleep all too rare,
on this quiet night, we lay rest to our cares.

We know with the dawn, opening day will arrive–
The hustle and bustle of faire come alive!

So sleep one and all, and dream come what may,
of a Fabulous Renfaire and a Perfect First Day.  

~MB
with thanks and admiration for Clement C. Moore

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12 July 2009
Against my better judgment and my wife’s wishes, I went to play a footy game this evening. When I got to the pitch, my pocket thermometer registered 116°F. That’s bloody hot no matter where you are. And here I am a 40+, overweight middle-aged man going willingly into this frying pan to run around for 90 minutes. I’m getting too old for this.

This was an exceptionally difficult photo to take, surprisingly. I must have snapped 8 or 9 before I got the composition just so. Even still I had to run some levels on it in Photoshop for visibilities sake.
BTW, we won the game 3-nil.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 13 July 2009)

Listening to:
No Future Part I by Titus Andronicus
from The Airing of Grievances

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Auto, Did not fire

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11 July 2009
I left the house today for but one purpose – walk the outgoing mail to the mailbox. I took my camera with me and took a photo of this glass bauble hanging in the front garden.

As soon as I had the mail and the photo, I escaped back into the relative comfort of the house where it was nearly 30 degrees cooler than the outside.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 13 July 2009)

Listening to:
Te Dikalo by Richard Bona
from Putumayo Presents: Salsa Around the World

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 125
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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