Faeriecon '09 & Gettysburg Ghost Walks
I do believe that I am going to try to do Saturday Nov. 7th-- both to see the exhibitors and to do the Bad Faeries Ball. I don't know if Jason is coming-- he has a competing event that day.
I am thinking costuming. The good thing about being a bellydancer is that a lot of the stuff I wear is super sparkly and works well for fantasy events. For the ball, I do need to dress it up a little bit... if this vest doesn't sell, and I can afford it before the event, it would look perfect with costuming I already have. I'm drooling over it a little. Plus that one is discounted and MY SIZE. I am being good. Wedding and bills must be paid first. Le sigh.
I can also wear the Big Ass Bindi that I originally purchased for the wedding, but proved too Big Ass for that event. It would be perfect for FC, though.
Last night's ghostly excursions in Gettysburg... had dinner at the Farnsworth Inn Tavern. I LOVE their food. We had salads, beef veggie soup, and I had the hot turkey, gravy, and mashed potato platter. Polished off with black walnut apple cake. SO DELICIOUS.
The first tour (the new College Tour) was disappointing, but not because of the guide, Gwen. She was obviously still getting her footing as a storyteller (she's 20), but the rest of our group was comprised of the poorest behaved family I have encountered in recent memory. The daughters were being whiny spoiled brats and complained constantly ("Motherrrrrr, it's raining," when there was a light sprinkle). The mother (I think? might have been an aunt) and the daughters followed at a glacial pace (several blocks behind) and when the guide asked them to please stay closer, the daughters got bitchy. They actually CALLED the guide a bitch several times behind her back. The father would wander off during stories to go look at other things, and one of the other men in the group made several obnoxious political comments that made no sense. (Example: guide telling story about preacher who fought for civil rights but murdered his black housekeeper-- she mentioned that he was a radical of the time who had a dark side. And the asshole then compared him to Obama. No, really. The then followed it up with "well, he must have been a Democrat," and she mentioned that at the time of the civil war, the Democrats were very close to modern day Republicans in political ideology-- that over the course of time, the parties have seemingly swapped ideology. Him: "Suuuuure. That's what the media told you, ain't it honey?" At which point I totally had to interject with "No, that's what cracking a goddamn history book told her.") But she was super nice and we tipped her to make up for the assholes she had to put up with.
The second walk was the 11pm 'Mature Tour' for those who wanted the more grisly tales. Our two guides were Cliff & Mike, and they were veteran storytellers. They took us out to the treeline and told us stories about ghost walks gone wrong. The hands-down freakiest tale was that of a 13 year old girl in the woods who viciously shrieks at people who see her, and is spotted by real tours about twice a year. She angrily stalks in the background when her story is being told.
So the guide is telling the story and reenacting one particularly chilling encounter, and people are steadily taking pictures of the woods. When we emerge from the woods, and older lady takes Cliff aside and they're huddled over her camera chatting for a few moments. "You guys really should see this," he says, and motions us over. In one shot, there is a tree, clear as day. Nothin' odd about it. In the very next, it is the same tree, same angle, nothing different. Except. You can clearly see legs and an arm next to it, as if the girl were standing there listening. DUDE, I GOT CHILLS. THANK GOD we didn't see her face, because she's apparently particularly terrifying to look at. And I did pick up a feral energy in the woods. It was hungry and angry. Jason wanted to go further in and I was absolutely not having it, no thanks. I don't consider myself a wuss when it comes to paranormal events, but I know when something is clearly saying "STAY THE FUCK AWAY," you know? Playing with friendly spooks is one thing, but infringing on the territory of a very pissed off spirit? Nope.
That tour was finished up by an additional hour of storytelling in the Farnsworth's basement by Mike. We didn't get out of Gettysburg until nearly 1am-- I definitely want to stay there overnight sometime. I had a blast.
I am thinking costuming. The good thing about being a bellydancer is that a lot of the stuff I wear is super sparkly and works well for fantasy events. For the ball, I do need to dress it up a little bit... if this vest doesn't sell, and I can afford it before the event, it would look perfect with costuming I already have. I'm drooling over it a little. Plus that one is discounted and MY SIZE. I am being good. Wedding and bills must be paid first. Le sigh.
I can also wear the Big Ass Bindi that I originally purchased for the wedding, but proved too Big Ass for that event. It would be perfect for FC, though.
Last night's ghostly excursions in Gettysburg... had dinner at the Farnsworth Inn Tavern. I LOVE their food. We had salads, beef veggie soup, and I had the hot turkey, gravy, and mashed potato platter. Polished off with black walnut apple cake. SO DELICIOUS.
The first tour (the new College Tour) was disappointing, but not because of the guide, Gwen. She was obviously still getting her footing as a storyteller (she's 20), but the rest of our group was comprised of the poorest behaved family I have encountered in recent memory. The daughters were being whiny spoiled brats and complained constantly ("Motherrrrrr, it's raining," when there was a light sprinkle). The mother (I think? might have been an aunt) and the daughters followed at a glacial pace (several blocks behind) and when the guide asked them to please stay closer, the daughters got bitchy. They actually CALLED the guide a bitch several times behind her back. The father would wander off during stories to go look at other things, and one of the other men in the group made several obnoxious political comments that made no sense. (Example: guide telling story about preacher who fought for civil rights but murdered his black housekeeper-- she mentioned that he was a radical of the time who had a dark side. And the asshole then compared him to Obama. No, really. The then followed it up with "well, he must have been a Democrat," and she mentioned that at the time of the civil war, the Democrats were very close to modern day Republicans in political ideology-- that over the course of time, the parties have seemingly swapped ideology. Him: "Suuuuure. That's what the media told you, ain't it honey?" At which point I totally had to interject with "No, that's what cracking a goddamn history book told her.") But she was super nice and we tipped her to make up for the assholes she had to put up with.
The second walk was the 11pm 'Mature Tour' for those who wanted the more grisly tales. Our two guides were Cliff & Mike, and they were veteran storytellers. They took us out to the treeline and told us stories about ghost walks gone wrong. The hands-down freakiest tale was that of a 13 year old girl in the woods who viciously shrieks at people who see her, and is spotted by real tours about twice a year. She angrily stalks in the background when her story is being told.
So the guide is telling the story and reenacting one particularly chilling encounter, and people are steadily taking pictures of the woods. When we emerge from the woods, and older lady takes Cliff aside and they're huddled over her camera chatting for a few moments. "You guys really should see this," he says, and motions us over. In one shot, there is a tree, clear as day. Nothin' odd about it. In the very next, it is the same tree, same angle, nothing different. Except. You can clearly see legs and an arm next to it, as if the girl were standing there listening. DUDE, I GOT CHILLS. THANK GOD we didn't see her face, because she's apparently particularly terrifying to look at. And I did pick up a feral energy in the woods. It was hungry and angry. Jason wanted to go further in and I was absolutely not having it, no thanks. I don't consider myself a wuss when it comes to paranormal events, but I know when something is clearly saying "STAY THE FUCK AWAY," you know? Playing with friendly spooks is one thing, but infringing on the territory of a very pissed off spirit? Nope.
That tour was finished up by an additional hour of storytelling in the Farnsworth's basement by Mike. We didn't get out of Gettysburg until nearly 1am-- I definitely want to stay there overnight sometime. I had a blast.