Disney World Trip recap

So since January of this year, Jennie and I had started talking about a trip to Disney World.  She had planned on going with her mom and brother and I was invited along.  In March, we started to plan things such as what restaurants we wanted to eat at, what parks we wanted to go to.  So it was almost 10 months by the time that we left on a plane heading for Orlando on a cool October Saturday morning.

One of the key items in planning the trip was we wanted to stay onsite.  We looked at our options and chose the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.  It is the smallest of Disney's Moderate Resorts.  I had stayed at the Riverside resort while I was in college and always wanted to stay at the French Quarter.  Our flight got in early and we hopped onto the Disney Magical Express to the resort.  We arrived at the hotel and checked in.  While its a small resort by Disney standards, they are still pretty large.  Most Disney resorts have a central building, housing the restaurants, bars, gift shop, and registration.  Our room was right on the corner of the closest building to the main building on the second floor.  After dropping the bags, we headed off to Animal Kingdom.

We had lunch scheduled for the Tusker House Restaurant in the park.  We got to the park early and rode the safari ride.  It was still early in the day and the animals were all out.  Then it was lunch time.  We got our picture taken with Donald in his safari gear during our wait.  The meal was a buffet and everything I had there was delicious.  Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, and Goofy were wandering around and we got pictures with each of them.  After the meal, we walked around the park.  We rode Expedition Everest.  My back and rib cage hurt after the rid as I was holding on for dear life.  I'm not a big roller coaster fan.  After riding Everest we headed back to the rooms and our luggage had arrived.  We unpacked, got a little rest, and then headed to EPCOT for dinner.  We had reservations at La Hacienda de San Angel.  Now that was a meal I won't forget.  The evening ended with the fireworks show after dinner and then back to the room to crash.

The following day we headed down the west coast of Florida to spend the day with Jennie's family.  We got back late and headed to Downtown Disney.  We didn't have a lot of time there before the last boat so we walked around for a bit before heading back to the room.

Monday was EPCOT.  We hit most of the rides in the park.  Lunch was great at Chefs de France.  Chef Remy came by to make sure our food was up to snuff.  Dinner was at the hibachi in the Japan exhibit.  Jennie has wanted to go there on her last trip and she was unable to eat there so that was a priority.  During the afternoon, I had a little stomach bug and had to do the search for some sort of medication.  While searching for Pepto, Jennie's mom and brother met up with some other members of her family.  We eventually caught up with them before dinner.

Tuesday, we went to Universal Studios to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  The ride in Hogwarts was... well, I rode it, but I was getting motion sick from the start, so I closed my eyes and hung on.  What parts I did open my eyes for was cool, but I to close my eyes again.  After that ride, we got some Butterbeer... YUM!  Jennie and Damien went to ride the Dueling Dragons Challenge.  They rode both coasters, and Damien was feeling like I did after the first ride.  We walked around Universal and hit the Dr. Seuss rides.  We didn't feel like doing other rides, but just wandered around for a bit.  We headed back in the afternoon and I think I took a well needed nap.  That evening was Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

For MNSSHP, which is a special admission ticket, Disney changes up the Magic Kingdom just a bit.  There is a special villains show and parade.  There is trick-or-treating around the park.   We took the opportunity to ride the rides during the first parade.  Rides that would normally have an hour plus wait we were on in a few minutes.  Then after getting a bite to eat we grabbed a spot in front of Cinderella's Castle to view the parade.  We were in perfect position to view the villains show while waiting.  The parade was cool and we got some treats that they were passing out.  I have video of almost the whole parade.

Wednesday was back to the Magic Kingdom, but first, we had breakfast at the Polynesian Resort, for the O'hana breakfast with Lilo and Stitch.  Just seeing Jennie's smile at seeing a life size Stitch was awesome.  I also made sure to ask Lilo if she had fed Pudge that morning, so we'd have good weather.  Lunch was at Tony's Town Tavern, an Italian Restaurant themed after the restaurant in the Lady and the Tramp.  Lunch was very good.  After touring the park all day, we went back to the room to get off our feet.  We got changed for dinner and then went back to the Magic Kingdom to have dinner in Cinderella's Castle.

Thursday saw us meet back up with Jennie's family at Hollywood Studios.  We rode Star Tours often.  Lunch was at the Sci Fi Dine In Theater.  This was my least favorite meal of the vacation.  The concept was great, the food good, but I just felt very rushed.  After lunch we met up with Jennie's family.  We rode Star Tours again, saw Muppetvision 3-D, and more.  Dinner was at the 50's Prime Time Cafe.  That was the most fun meal of the vacation.  Let me forewarn anyone, if you go there, finish your veggies, and don't put your elbows on the table.  We had a lot of good laughs during this meal.

For Friday, we were back at the Magic Kingdom.  Breakfast was at the Crystal Palace with Pooh and Friends.  Jennie and I share an affinity for Piglet and it was great to walk up Main Street USA with no one in site as we were in the park before opening.  After a long day, dinner was at Artist's Point in the Wilderness Lodge Resort, one of Walt Disney Worlds signature restaurants.  The food there was AMAZING.  After dinner we headed to Downtown Disney.  Traffic was getting backed up all over Walt Disney World, due to VP Biden's arrival.  Our bus driver got us around the jams and at one point we saw the VP's motorcade heading to the Grand Floridian.  If our bus driver had not taken a few detours, we would have been stuck sitting in traffic for a while.  When we got to our destination, everyone on the bus thanked the driver.  We took the ferry ride back to our resort.

Saturday, our last day at Disney World.  We hit 3 parks to catch those things we wanted to see but had missed.  We started at Animal Kingdom, and hit the Finding Nemo musical.  It was so worth going back there just to see that show.  Then it was off to EPCOT for lunch at the Rose and Crown in the UK exhibit.  Then it was a monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom for a last tour up and down Main Street USA.  Dinner was at the Polynesian Resorts, Luau dinner and show.  Let's just say, the show was good, the food.... eh.  But it was a good way to end the vacation.  We took a cab back to our hotel to retrieve the bags and then headed to the airport.  We had an early morning flight, so I booked rooms at the hotel that is right in the airport terminal.  Waking up, we just had to go downstairs and we were in the airport.  It sure beat waking up at 4:00 AM for our flight.

All in all, I had a great time and can't wait to go back again.  If you didn't realize this fact while reading my recap, we had planned our vacation around where we were going to eat.  I was very happy with the food at Disney World.  We had purchased the Deluxe Dining Package, which included three meals per day at almost any restaurant onsite.  While it was not a cheap option, we certainly got our value out of it.

Best Food:

1. La Hacienda de San Angel (EPCOT)
2. Artist's Point (Wilderness Lodge)
3. Chefs de France (EPCOT)
4. Tusker House (Animal Kingdom)
5. 50's Prime Time Cafe (Hollywood Studios) *
6. Teppan Edo (EPCOT)
7. Tony's Town Tavern (Magic Kingdom)
8. Cinderella's Royal Table (Magic Kingdom)
9. Crystal Palace Breakfast (Magic Kingdom)
10. O'hana Breakfast (Polynesian)
11. Sci Fi Dine In Theater (Hollywood Studios)
12. Spirit of Aloha Luau (Polynesian)

It's not fair to list the breakfasts at Crystal Plaza and O'hana and trying to compare then to the other meals since the menus are so different.  

Practice Report - 11/29/12

First practice since the surgery and it went ok; not great, not too terrible.There were only three other fencers there, Brendan Firebow, Gaspar Perrera, and Antonio Patrasso.    I switch back to using a blade length I was familiar with, and I found my sense of distance to be a whole lot better than it was at 100 Minutes War. I think the change in blade length back to something I've used for years is the right call.  Now I just need to work on my stamina.  My arm and body was getting fatigued quickly.  I think I was also over gripping my blade as my hand was hurting.  Some things to work on as always.

Turnout at practice has been getting lighter and lighter over the past few months.  I think a lot of that has to do with the space we are using as it has no heat.  It was cold out last night and inside the space we are fencing in, it was not much warmer.  They are framing out the walls to get insulation and heat in there, but I'm not sure how soon that will be completed.

100 Minutes War

So 100 Minutes War came and went.  The day was warm for this event, the last outdoor fencing I typically do for the year.  Honestly, I wasn't that excited for the event.  I had a miserable night of sleep and the day started with a comedy of errors, but I had packed my rapier gear.

This was my first time back fencing since prior to my surgery in September.  Not to take anything away from those I faced, but I felt rusty as hell.  My point was not going where I intended and my control over my own distance was lacking.  I was setting up way to close, as pointed out by Merryke.  Add to the mental/physical rust factor the very recent change in blade length and not only was I battling the rust but all the muscle memory built up by using a longer sword.  I think for the time being that I am going to switch back to the blade I am familiar with while I try to get back into form.  Once I feel I am closer to fencing near where I was at, I'll start to mix in the shorter blade.

So I geared up and sought out someone who would be a good measuring stick to see where I was at.  My first passes were with Remy.  I have not fought Remy much.  The last time was at the investiture in Carolingia.  It was a fun couple of passes, but it sucks when you see where your point is going, only to come up a few inches too short.  Good thing was remembering to use my dagger, as a few times, I was able to close and get my dagger in for the kill.  At least that was a plus.  After a break I sought out Merryke and I was setting up way too close against him.  I noticed this during a few passes and made a conscious effort to stay at proper distance, but it was not happening when we would engage.  So I have more than a few things to work on.

After getting some warm ups in, I had to go do some official stuff as a reporter from Maxim Magazine had showed up on site.  I met him and made sure to introduce him to the local seneschal, also inquiring about the focus of his piece which is to be on armored combat.  This should be in the March issue I believe.

Upon my return to the fencing field, they started selecting teams.  Alexander went for the shortest women he could when given a choice.  It was an interesting strategy.  I was selected to be on his team and named one of his sub commanders for the first battle.  It was a 50 minute game of capture the flag.  We lost the flag at the 25 minute mark and were down 0-1.  We switch sides and this time Caine and I were set out to freelance for a bit.  On the opening, we made our way down, engaged a few, and Caine was taken out.  I got all the way to the opponent's flag, but with no backup, all I could do was harass the opposition.  I took out Retep and then lo and behold, Alexander and Quinn showed up.  We were out numbered 4-3, but the flag was right there.  Alexander took one out and then casually grabbed the flag and sauntered off.  Quinn and I still commander the oppositions attention, so they never noticed the big man wearing periwinkle walking away with their flag.  So their flag was on its way back to even the score up, however, the opposition had gained our flag.  Fighting was fierce and I was able to get near our side's flag but not close enough to recover it.  The time ran out and the second battle was a stalemate.  So we lost 0-1 in points, but it was some fun melee.  Afterwards, during the debriefing, I needed some food and water, so I headed over to get some.  They were going to run more melees or something, but I was tired and hungry, so Jennie and I packed up our stuff and headed out.

Overall, I had fun.  It is going to be a struggle to knock the rust off.  I also need to drop some weight too...

River Wars

I had a blast at River Wars.  This was my first event post-surgery and I'm not yet cleared to fence.  I didn't even bother packing any of my fencing gear with me.  I packed garb and the glass bead making supplies Jennie bought for us.  Since we had no commitments at the event, we left at a reasonable time.  When Antonio and Elizabeth (Stacey) arrived on site, we had just left a bakery where we got breakfast.  We still had an almost 2 hour drive at that point.

Arriving onsite, we set up our glass working stuff under a covered pavilion where the fencers had dropped their stuff.  Elizabeth had also brought her stuff, so we had three stations set up on a picnic table.  It was a pleasant day, but a little breezy, so it made working very nice.  Sitting by a hot torch, I stayed warm.  Lissa saw us setting up and said it was always something she wanted to try, so after my first few beads, I let her jump in.  We gave her some instructions and off she went making beads.  I think she had fun as she has now ordered a starter kit for bead making.

Beads made by Molle and Owynn at River Wars

Adolphus had brought his friend Ben to River Wars, Ben's first ever SCA event.  I asked if he wanted to try it out.  I gave him the quick primer, and then Elizabeth supervised him.  He was having a blast as he made 5 beads while sitting with us.  His smile was infectious.  At the end of the day, he was able to take 4 beads home with him; we're not sure where the last one went to.  I think its pretty cool that someone brand new to our organization could walk away from the event with something made by their own hand.  At the end of the day, all three stations ran out of gas at about the same time.

It was somewhat odd not to be fencing or even marshaling at an event.  I was able to just sit back, relax, be artsy and creative.  I like the process of bead making as its mechanical, somewhat instant gratification, and there is almost no way to screw it up.  Glass is a forgiving medium at the level I am working at.  Unfortunately, two of Jennie's beads broke when taking them off the mandrels.

After the event, we went to dinner with Engracia and Tom.  I had a wonderful vanilla porter, which was on tap.  Jennie had a delicious apricot beer, while Engracia had a pumpkin ale.  The beer was better than the food, and the company was even better.  After the long drive home, we crashed hard.  It was a good day.

Recovery

So this may be a little graphic in terms of medical stuff for some.  If you get squeamish, then I suggest you stop reading and move on to something more enjoyable.

Now that you have been warned....

The week prior to Barony Wars I went to see a doctor about removing a sebaceous cyst I had on my back/left shoulder.  It had been there for about 18 years or so.  My doctor (who happens to be my dad) told me that if it didn't bother me, there is no reason to get it removed.  Well, it was not bothering me, but had grown and now I wanted it gone for aesthetic reasons.  So on Wednesday, I go see the surgeon to discuss options about removal.  He said the same, if its not bothering you, no real hurry or reason to remove it.  So leaving the office I scheduled an appointment for early November.  This would have allowed me to get through my Disney vacation and not miss a whole lot of fencing time.  And fencing has been one of the reasons I had been putting having the cyst removed.  I didn't want to do it in the winter, and then have it still healing during Mudthaw.  I didn't want to do it in the spring and not be fencing at events.  I didn't want to do it over the summer and be healing at Pennsic.  So on and so forth I justified my position to myself for a number of years.

Drive up to Barony Wars, I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable with the cyst aching.  Not a full out hurt, but it was sore.  By Sunday night, when I had gotten home, it was red and had grown larger.  I called to move my surgery up to the next week, September 18th.  The pain kept getting worse and worse.  The only way to describe the pain by Thursday and Friday of that week was, it felt like bones were being broken.  Yes, it hurt that much.  Friday night, my parents played night time golf at their club.  By the time they got home, Jennie was very concerned as I was now also feverish.  My dad took one look at it and called a friend from the golf course, another surgeon who had recommended the one I had visited the prior week.  He told my dad to bring me in Saturday morning.

So Saturday morning rolls around and my dad, my mom, Jennie, and I go to see the surgeon.  He looked at it and said it needed to be opened and drained to relieve the pressure before it bursts.  Now if there is one thing I am afraid of, its needles.  Terrified of them in fact.  They got me on the exam table, used a numbing spray and then used a local anesthetic to dull the pain.  He then proceeded to relieve the pressure and drained the cyst.   Let's just say it was not something I ever want to do again.  But I got through it.

He didn't clean it out fully as I'd be going in for surgery in a few days, so they could do it under general anesthesia in an operating room, not on an exam table.  So Tuesday rolls around and back to the doctor's office I go.  I had to get changed into one of those silly gowns.  And then they brought me to the chair.  You may know the chair if you've ever had an IV put in.  Big industrial looking thing.  So I explained to the nurse about my fear of needles.  I told her I go into fight or flight.  So she asked me if its ever gotten violent.  I said "No, and I'd really like to keep it that way" to which she agreed...

Of course there was one time I almost punched my dad when he was standing between me and a doorway when someone was trying to draw blood a few years ago... but I digress.

So it took three people to get the IV in me.  The nurse to start the IV, the anesthesiologist held my arm down (gently) so I would not move accidentally, and another nice doctor who talked to me, held my hand, and distracted me while it was done.  After that I was still shaking, so they gave me a sedative.  They had to wheel me into the OR, and then asked me to climb onto the operating table.  I remember trying to get on the table as the last thing before waking up in the recovery room.

So its now been a week and a half since the surgery.  Things are healing nicely.  My dressing needs to be changed daily, but thankfully, I live with a doctor.  Because they had to drain the infection, they were not able to stitch me up and close the incision, so its healing on its own.  Hopefully I'll be fencing in a few more weeks.  By my Disney trip, I hope not to have to have it packed any more.  It actually feels pretty good.  The only bad part is after the dressing is changed, I am sore for a while.

So that is the current state of me.

Barony Wars - Part 2

So part two of the epic journey into Aethelmearc.  I traveled to the event with Jennie, my girlfriend, and Ray (Sean MacPherson in the SCA).  We got on the road late on Friday and had a hotel room nearby.  So did a couple of other Scadians, William Deth and Rhiannon the Curious.  Ray saw them Friday night, and we ran into them again Saturday morning.  This will be referenced later.  The hotel was.... adequate.  It had two beds, a bathroom, and was clean enough.  The bed and pillows were hard as rocks.  I slept like the dead Friday night after the drive.

Saturday, we got onsite and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of fencers in attendance.  It was a great turn out.  The Tadcasters brought a large group up from the Philly area.  there were five from the Albany Area, a few other Eastern Fencers here and there.  There were a good number from Aethelmearc as well.  I'm not sure if that was because their crown was making a new white scarf, but there was a good number of fencers both those I know and those I am unfamiliar with.  This made for some great fencing both in the organized stuff and in pickups.  Every corner of the fencing field was being used for pickups after the tournaments and melees.  

At court, Po was admitted to the order of the white scarf.  I would not have missed that for the world.  It was filled with all the schtick one would expect from Po.  After court, discussions were had on dinner.  Will and Rhi had seen a place in the town we were staying at that was named "Angus and Ale".  Can you think of anything better after a good event?
https://www.facebook.com/AngusAndAle

So back to the hotel we went.  I got showered up and changed, and off to dinner in Sidney, NY.  I passed by the place following Will and didn't even see it.  We walked in and I was surprised.  The greeter/manager forgot to assign a waitress to our table so they pulled in someone who worked there, but was on her night off  and sitting at the attached pub having a few drinks to come wait on us.  She was a trip and while the food was excellent, incredible perhaps, the service was fun and friendly, and not stuffy, which looking at teh decor and place, would have been appropriate   After getting back to teh hotel I think I was out before I hit the sheets.

The drive back, I stuck to the interstates, and we were making such good time, we detoured to teh warren County 4-H Renn Faire that our local SCA group was doing a demo at.  I did a little fencing, before getting buckler punched by Sir Jan, in his first attempt at SCA Rapier.  I was not feeling great after that.  My chest and shoulder were hurting.  So I stopped fencing and we headed for home soon thereafter making fro one wonderful weekend.

Barony Wars - Part 1

Holy cow, what a great time...  I am so glad I went for many reasons.  First off, Baron Gunner of Endless Hill in Aethelmearc has been trying to get me to come to this event for a few years now.  At this Pennsic, I was told a good friend, a brother in arms and then some, was to be elevated to the Order of the White Scarf.  Po and I had a bet running for a few years now.  I bet him that he would receive a White Scarf before I would be elevated to the Order of the Golden Rapier.  He was sure I would elevated prior to him.  So we made a bet based on the above.  He who lost the bet would owe the other a bottle of rum.  I'm so very proud of my friend, and will be glad to get that bottle of rum.

So I made a deal with Baron Gunner.  To fight for Endless Hills, he was to pay Sean and I one bottle of Honey Jack.  So we get on site and ask Gunner if he has our payment.  He didn't, but we would have fought for him anyway.  But when I saw the sides line up, Concordia had five fencers.  So I switched over to fight for Baron Pierre.  Sean came over as well.  Since we had not been paid, we were not breaking our contract.  Now we were at seven for our side.  A target rich environment.

The first tourney was a baronial champions tourney, then followed by a tourney with some strange rules.  Basically you fought one or two bouts, losers were out of the tournament.   Winner was the side with he last people standing.  We were at a disadvantage due to numbers.  Pierre sent me out against Jinx for my first bout.  She had wanted to do some passes with me, but due to weather cutting things short, I at least got one bout in with her.  Then Deftwood threw Dorinda out against me.  During the fight, I thought, win or lose, this has been one of those epic fights.  There was a beautiful conversation of blades and bodies happening.  I was smiling inside.  We outlasted three other fights in the second list.  back and forth, each trying for a little advantage.  Eventually, I seized on an advantage and won the fight.  I was beaming when I left the list.  Not because I had won, well that too, but because it was one of those fights that are the reason you pick up a rapier in the first place.

I then went on to win a few more bouts.  I hit one opponent with a buckler pretty hard in the mask.  I was holding my blade low, blocked from his view by his buckler.  He leaned over while stepping in as I was throwing the rising shot.  Caught him square in the face.  I immediately apologized and offered to refight the bout which he took me up on.  This time I was able to land a nicely calibrated blow to his body.

Eventually, it was JP, Sean, and I left for our side while the other groups had some numbers remaining.  I was the first one to lose of the three of us.  JP and Sean eliminated the remaining Delftwood fencers, and many of the Endless Hills army.  Eventually, Ian took out JP, and Mark took out Sean.  But damn, what a showing for the smallest team.

Then onto melees, where we teamed up with Delftwood against Endless Hills.  If we won, we'd then face Delftwood in capture the flag for the point.  We won the first battle.  Concordia was the reserve unit, and after the initial engagement, we stormed the center.  We were able to overwhelm the enemy and turn their backs to get a lot of DFBs.  Against Delftoow, we were 6 on 12.  We almost had them.  It was closer than it should have been given the numbers.

After the organized stuff, I did some pickups with Christian, current Queen's champion of Aethelmearc and Dorinda.  Christian kicked my ass three ways from Sunday and gave me some ideas to think about. Dorinda was more of the same from our earlier passes.

Well, I'm getting tired.  I'll post Part 2 tomorrow....