Whew!!! Wow, yesterday was SO FUN!!! But, MAN! I haven't walked that many miles in, like, forEVer!! As you can see, if you pop into my album, I've posted quite a number of new pictures from the Faire... and, yes, I had a ball! My friends and I ALL did. We're already talking about next year (hee).

There was jousting (we got to cheer our knight, Sir Joseph of Lincoln) and boo the others and cry "God Save The Queen!" when Queen Victoria appeared for the Joust. Twas jolly good fun!

I tell ya, tho', last year Mad Molly and I were pretty much ignored by Faire Goers and actors alike, but, then, we went toward the end of the Faire. This year, we went the 2nd weekend of the Faire and everyone's still enthralled by it all. I've never had so many CAMERAS pointed at me in my LIFE!!! It was quite amusing, actually! :)
The Ren-Faire actors are all quite good. You really enjoy your time and the remarks, while risque at times, can be taken in the spirit of pure fun when you realize no one is being purposely cruel or mean and everyone knows that, at the end of the day, it's the END of the day! The Gentlemen who were the knights are, I understand, historic reenactors for both the History Channel and movies that require knights or excellent horsemanship. They're quite good!! *I* would not want to fall off a horse for ANY reason!!!
Then, there are those who wander around the Faire, harrassing people: the fish mongers selling their (not so) fresh wares (ugh, they really *were* alive at one time! phew!), the "touched" folk who wander around, dragging things behind them, the court fools following their masters, the Queens' courtiers and servants... LOADS of fun!!! My favorite part (of course) was seeing the Mid-Eastern Dancers.

I wanted to see Marjhani's troop, Oojahm, dance and the program said 4:30pm... when we got there, the musicians named Baba Ku were actually playing, Oojahm had been moved to 5:15pm. I was a bit bummed, but by then, one of our group had a headache from the heat and walking, so we sat and watched Baba Ku. Now, last year, Baba Ku was just a group of musicians playing (very good) Mid-Eastern music. I really did enjoy it. This year ~ whether it was inspired by Oojahm, seeing Faire-goers dressed as Mid-Easterners dancing as they played or something else ~ Baba Ku had 3 ladies dancing to their music. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm NO pro when it comes to belly dancing in public. I'm STILL trying to get some of the basics down solid, but I can appreciate and (kindly) critique what I *do* know. Here's what I know about these ladies dancing for Baba Ku...
1) They appeared to be a last minute addition. They danced well enuff together, but it was mostly one at a time. One would do a short routine, then dance to the side of the stage where one of the others was standing and that one would do a short routine and so on... (which is why I say "appeared to be...last minute... there wasn't the practiced look you'd expect of people who'd worked to put together and practice a routine)
2) Out of the 3 of them, only one managed to look like she was enjoying herself. She actually smiled at the audience or kept a pleasant look on her face as she danced. Of the other 2, one NEVER smiled unless it was at one of the other girls, and then only briefly. Once she faced the audience again, she'd go stone-faced. The 3rd girl, bless her heart, tried to keep a smile on her face but seemed more concerned about her dancing so she looked either perplexed or worried throughout her dancing. All three were good, don't misunderstand, but one of my teachers told me you have to work on your expression as much as your dance moves or you won't appear to be enjoying what you're doing. And if YOU don't look like you enjoy it, why would the audience. Plus, I was busy trying to see *why* they looked like that and mostly missed their dancing moves... I'd guess that would happen for others, as well.
3) No one, from Baba Ku to the dancers, really interacted with the audience. I think I heard one of the musicians speaking once, but his voice was low and I heard the word "wedding" and that was it. I hope that Baba Ku learns from this season and, if they're invited back by the SoCal Ren-Faire, they work to broaden their act some more.
Quite honestly, I think it would do them well to speak with Marjhani's troupe and ask for some pointers. Marjhani and some of her people interacted directly with the audience, they told a story and they included us all. It was as if we'd been invited into their "tents" to sit around the campfire and listen as they recounted the story of their day with word and dance. I would not want to have to have performed either before OR after Oojahm. Not that Marjhani or her troupe would EVER disparage the abilities of another dancer or group, but the practice that went into Marjhani's group was obvious and her ladies ALL smiled as they danced. There was JOY! There was PRIDE! And they invited you to join in it all.

Yay!! It's time for the Southern California Renaissance Faire!! In case you can't tell, I am SO EXCITED!!!! 0..0 They've tried to tie me down with an anchor from an aircraft carrier, but it really hasn't helped a whole lot! (hahahahahaaaa!!) This year my pal and I are taking two young ladies from our church. 'Rie and Tanya will be going as Pirates (yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for... THEM!) Nic will be dressing as an upper middle-class/upper-merchant class lady and I, Zarqa Habibe, will once more be in my LOVELY Mid-East garb. I even made a panel skirt to go with my new vest (THANK YOU, TRIBAL BAZAAR!!!). 'Rie and I aren't sure which is more fun this year, going to the Faire again, or taking the newbies! :) We've had almost as much fun helping them find and accessorize costumes as we have getting ourselves ready. (maybe we should call ahead and warn the Faire we're coming.... ?? Eh? Eh??)

Wow! I think someone hid some sort of "Hyper-Drive-Adrenalin-After-Burn" in my dinner! I think I could probably run up and down the street several times without breaking a sweat!
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Okay... maybe not. (snort/snerk/hahahahaha!) Yeah, lumpy potatoes don't move THAT fast, and we only run when our lives are in danger * * * or the last piece of chocolate!!! (hahahahahahaha)

Okay, so anyhoo, we're going to make SURE and take LOTS of pics at this year's Faire (we took our cameras last year and FORGOT THEM until 1/2 way thru the day! Idiots!!) I'll make sure to post as many on here as I can. We even tried to enter several of them in the Faire's photo contest, but, alas, we didn't even rate a mention (honorable or otherwise). Oh, well. I can always add them to this site for your amusement. There were a couple of good ones, in SPITE of forgetting to take them out sooner!

So, anyway, if you're going to the Faire, have lots and lots of fun (and don't forget to go see Marjhani's troop ~ ~ ~ they look SO wonderful and I enjoyed getting to see them for the 1st time last year.... You ARE going to be there this year, too, M... right??)