Pennsic XVIII

Pennsic XVIII - The Year the Water Broke

In August 1999, I finally got my butt back to Pennsic, the annual SCA war. My last one had been four years earlier, so I was really itching to go! Even though we had broken up, John-Paul and I travelled together to Pennsylvania for this most awesome of events.

The BIG STORY of Pennsic XVIII was that on Saturday, there was no water and no electricity in the entire campsite. But the Big Story of my Pennsic was that of the Yurt. First, to the right, a picture of the completed yurt.

See, John-Paul had accompanied me to AEthelmearc War Practice, and he noticed that it gets really really cold in Western Pennsylvania. So to save my sensitive cold body from the elements, he decided to build me a yurt as a gift. After we broke up, he decided to give it to me anyway. I agreed to use it for the event but told him to keep it for himself for subsequent Pennsics.

Now this was no ordinary yurt. First, it was small - 10' diameter, but it had a raised floor which made it exceptionally warm and dry but generally hard to build. Below are pics of the construction.

It was quite an amazingly dry and warm Pennsic for me. I am spoiled now. For next year, I'll have to buy a pavillion. No more nylon tents for me!

Anyway, on to the people.

This is Mistress Roxane, a good friend of mine from the Debateable Lands (Pittsburgh). She became Mistress Roxane at AEthelmearc court, when she received her Pelican. We spent almost every lunch time together during Pennsic, and had a great time!

This is Lady Anna Malakina, who was my roommate for two years during college and for two years after college, too! Mundanely, Ann is also a brother of mine in Alpha Phi Omega. She introduced me to APhiO at the same time as I introduced her to the SCA, many many moons ago. Anna is really into Byzantine clothing, as you can probably tell from her absolutely amazing garb in this picture.

Oh so while we're on the subject of court, I just have to show off the clothes I made for myself. It's my first real Italian Renn, and it took forever because it was mostly done by hand! Below, a front and back view. It had a really really long hem, because there's a brocade underskirt that's attached to the velvet skirt. Too bad it didn't come out in the picture.

We spent a lot of time sewing in camp to get ready for court. Here, Cadell and Ailis sew trim onto their clothing while Thomas reads. (I spent most of the first few days sewing my garb for court. Thomas was most helpful in helping me turn up the hem from hell.)

Here we have Sara the Harpist, who keeps promising to get another name but hey, I like her name just fine the way it is, and it's descriptive, too! She's a really good harpist, and I hope she continues to play.

This is Edmundo, one of my favorite people in the SCA, possibly in the whole world. Edmund and I were also friends in college, and were involved with Tech House together. We both have a great love of dance.

Our camp had a camp dinner, planned and executed by Ethan. We had turkey, chicken, ribs, corn, pasta, salad, and oh I can't even remember what else now. Below, Ethan marinates chicken and Owen and Courteney shuck corn.

Well, that's about it for Pennsic XXVIII. I just can't wait for next year! I will never let it go so many years between Pennsics again.

This is Lady Anna Malakina, who was my roommate for two years during college and for two years after college, too! Mundanely, Ann is also a brother of mine in Alpha Phi Omega. She introduced me to APhiO at the same time as I introduced her to the SCA, many many moons ago. Anna is really into Byzantine clothing, as you can probably tell from her absolutely amazing garb in this picture.

Here we have Sara the Harpist, who keeps promising to get another name but hey, I like her name just fine the way it is, and it's descriptive, too! She's a really good harpist, and I hope she continues to play.


	This is Edmundo, one of my favorite people in the SCA, possibly in the whole world. Edmund and I were also friends in college, and were involved with Tech House together. We both have a great love of dance.