Highlights of my year:

January...

I officially rang in the new year while in a gay bar in the district...

Then I spent the next week horribly ill with the flu and a severe respiratory infection. Not exactly how I was hoping to start the year but what are you gonna do?

Rachel Brice workshop and show in Chicago. Learned a super fun choreography, which I've been performing all year. Rachel Brice is exactly how you would think she in person which was cool... she said she loved how squishy I was when she hugged me... is that weird when one of your favorite dancers says that about you? Somehow it seemed not so weird which is probably what I find most amusing about the entire thing.

Maidens. 3am sub deliveries. making up our own script to movies. lots of alcohol. Pajama time! lots of chatting and running about the old hotel. me almost getting in a fight with someone.

February...

The only thing I can remember is being super annoyed with Valentine's Day. I wrote a big long post that pissed a bunch of people off but I refused to apologize for it. I did, however, clarify a few things. I still stand by my opinion that if you love someone, tell them. Whether it is a lover, a friend, or a family member. We shouldn't need one day devoted to "love".

March...

Spending St. Patrick's day in the district with the group in matching "snake" shirts... somehow this brought me much amusement.

April...

Costume Con!!! Four days of costuming... talk about heaven. I came away so inspired and with so many ideas.

I saw Chicago at the Adler. This show has such a cool energy to it and really should be experienced in person! I'll never forget the way the show started and anything that starts like that, you know you're in for something :)

May Day party at Melanie's!

May...

DemiCon 18. Dancing, costuming, and geeks oh my! So much fun though :)

June...

Hafla!

I skipped Tribal Revolution this year (which really bummed me out :( ) because of money reasons. Mostly I couldn't see how I was going to swing it and going to Germany later... But instead of going to Tribal Revolution, I went to Border Skirmish. Had more fun then I can go into detail on and briefly met someone that would become important later.

Katta and Dimitri's wedding... So they had this amazing wedding... followed by a memorable reception... probably the most fun I've ever had at a wedding.

July...

Warriors and Warlords... WW... the event we all loved... that sadly this year disappointed us all. One thing sums it up: Sarenghetto... flail flail... twatwaffle... (Read more about it in the blog by same title if you missed it.) Unfortunately, I can't hate the event entirely. I went on watch for Shadewes Company. And I got to know someone who has since become an amazing friend.

Pennsic 36. Stayed awake for nearly 70 hours on three hours of sleep and drove to Pennslyvania... that's how my Pennsic started. It was hot, dirty, and wet, and somehow I managed to love it. I guess that's the magic of Pennsic. Made a lot of new friends, got to know a few acquaintances a lot better as well.

August...

Academy of Defense. Another SCA event. Had a great time at this one even though it had a different vibe about it.

September...

Tribal:Pura in Milwaukee. I wish I could have gone to the workshop but going up there for the show was totally worth it. Andrea and I had a blast and it was great to get outta town for a weekend and do pretty much nothing and see a fantastic show as well.


Four Kingdoms Renn Faire... worked this one. Small but good I guess. It was nice just to go camping again. Although my weekend was insane because I was camping at the faire, I worked at the faire, plus at the my parents shop before and after the faire, and I had a solo performance on Saturday night as well. I did a lot of running around but I loved it.

October...

Germany... my third trip there. I love seeing my family. I love being there, as backwards as things are from here. Being there reminded me just how much we run around here. We (American's) are constantly running around but we don't always get very far. It was nice to be in a place that took time to breathe. To just go for a walk or go down by the river. As much as I love being fast pace, it was really nice to slow down.

My b-day. My actual b-day was fairly quite which seemed suiting. Andrea and I stayed in a hotel, basically in the middle of no-where, and spent most of the day rehearsing and watching tv. We went out to eat... had a fantastic meal and drinks and when we came back to the hotel I had a visit from a friend that drove out to see me. The next day we drove to Chicago and performed in the cool bar. It had a really vibe to it and it was just the perfect way to end my b-day weekend.

November...

ICON. Can’t give too many details but it was loads of fun.

Taught a workshop for Melanie's students.

Crystal Ball... and all European dancing event... enough said?

Hafla in Wilton. We really need to have more haflas…

December…

RENT! I saw RENT, again. I’ve seen it a few times and it never gets old. I think I love it more every time that I see it

Boar’s Head. Drove to Wisconsin to go to this one. I almost didn’t go because everyone else decided last minute not to but I did anyway and I’m really glad that I did. There’s an actual blog about this so I won’t say too much but will say that I definitely was reminded of how great some aspects of the SCA are, particularly the concept of family.

Zoe Jakes workshop. So, as far as workshops go, I started the year with Rachel Brice and I’m ending it with Zoe Jakes… Does it get much better then that?! Zoe Jakes is another person that is exactly how you would think that she is. Really inspiring to watch and learn from her. I think I would have to describe her as “organized chaos”, but I totally mean that in a good way. And the workshop gave me a chance to see a few friends that I usually only get to catch at workshops.



So I guess that the year has been... eventful? I spent nearly every weekend in the summer camping, whether it was at an SCA event or just camping to camp. I realize now more then ever how much I love it and how much I miss it in the winter. Dance performances were everywhere. I didn’t even mention them on my run-down but there were lots of them. I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person and I’m really happy about that. It feels weird to sum that feeling up in the word ‘happy’ but it’s the only thing I can think of… I’ve definitely grown as a dancer and I am thrilled about that. I’m finally in the direction I want to be and I think people see that when I’m dancing. So probably the first thing that people will notice that’s missing from this review is a romantic interest… yea… that’s not a typo. And I only bring it up because I know a couple people that will say something about it. But the reality is I had my fun here and there and, for the most part, I’m content with that. I still don’t have faith in love; perhaps that’ll change next year... I dunno. I’d have to find someone interested in me first. I can say that I’m not looking. If it happens, that’s fine; but until then, I’m used to being single.

The year had it’s up’s and down’s but I think that over-all I’m happy with it. And I can’t wait to see what I can do with next year :)