This weekend we did our annual Memorial Day Weekend trek to The Virginia Renaissance Faire at Lake Anna, VA.   Sure from the Baltimore/DC/95 corridor, it's a bit of a trek but we've found it's worth it all told.

• It's in some lovely woods with bright clearings if you're a sun worshipper.
• The pub always has a good selection of libations whether you want cider, stout, light beer, or something else.
• It's never *too* crowded.
• Therefore the privvy's rarely get disgusting.
• The pub has acts going constantly for whatever your pleasure.
• Greyhounds and horses run for your viewing pleasure.
• Her Majesty's Hounds.  A group of rescued greyhounds that not only provide information but are there for your petting pleasure.
• Alpacas.  While not always easily petted, again information.
• Friendly vendors.  We have vendors that remember us from year to year.
• A nice selection of vendors, be it garb, shiney pretties, shoes, or other sundries.
• Fun stuff for the kiddies.
• Prices are very reasonable from the tickets to the food to the hard - and soft - drinks.
• GATORADE.  A MUST when it's hot and humid as it can get in May/June in Virginia.
• With it being still fairly small, if the kids get away from you, they're pretty easy to find.  It's reasonably safe to let the teens just roam - I mean where are they going to go? 

The lovely Meredith has done a wonderful job with this faire.  I remember when the staff outnumbered the guests on a 2:1 ratio.  Now?  Again it's not ever horribly crowded and there is still room to expand but it's obvious that other people have found this hidden treasure tucked into the woods down in Virginia.


All in all a wonderful time.  We would go more often if the drive wasn't so hard on Jon.  However even once a year it's definitely worth it.

Where do you get to the point where you will sacrifice your own personal opinions for the siren song of a fast buck?  Where saving money becomes more important than your personal viewpoints of the company?

Sadly I hit that this weekend.  I caved a shopped at Wal Mart.  OK it was Wal Mart dot Com but still ... it was WalMart.

I don't mind discount.  Nothing gives me the warm fuzzies faster than a good bargain.  However, WalMart's business practises have given me pause over recent years.  That coupled with the fact that our local store is an absolute dive (ok - I've seen dive bars cleaner - just sayin) and I quit shopping there.

Years passed.  My sports bras died.  My favorite Hanes capris (think yoga pants) died.

So I sucked it up and hit walmart dot com.  JUST for a couple of sets of capris and a couple of sports bras.

$50.00 later .............

I had 3 shelf-bra tanks, 3 sports bras and 3 pairs of capris.

I felt like I sold a piece of my soul for that mustard tank top though.  Did I need it?  not really.  Was it too cheap to pass up?

Apparently.

Lord help me when my favorite loafers die.  They were wal mart specials as well ..........

So the long awaited announcement was finally made: what price increases would we see at MDRF.

Per the MDRF Website:


Ticket Prices and Group Sales for 2011
At the Gate &

Also Available Online Beginning June 1

Groups (20-99) Groups (100+)
Adults (16-61) $19.00
2-Day Pass $28.00

Fairever Pass
$120.00

9 Day Subscription - $81.00
6 Day Subscription - $60.00

Wow - what a price jump. It actually works well for us doing the 6 day pass. I feel sorry for the people who were planning on going every day - I say planning because I know a few will look at the cost and think maybe not.

I wonder what the thought process is though. The economy is still not great, gas prices are really high, and to see a $40.00 jump in faireever passes is odd. Mayhaps Caroline is hoping to weed out the regulars and bring in fresh blood? Mayhaps it's a way to keep the attendance down? Or maybe prices have just went up that much.

I can't complain since we were planning on curtailing our faire attendance anyway. We're doing the 6 day. Without themed days, other than Labor Day weekend, it will probably be more to the end of faire. I am concerned about other prices jumping 50%. Then again, mayhaps they wish for more bang for their buck.

Still for us - from a purely cost/benefit analysis - I think faire is coming to a sad end. It's too hard to get around. Prices are becoming outside of our means. I'm not fond of the newer music (however, at least now I can hear Barleyjuice). And the main reason to go - to see friends - may be going by the same wayside. I've read more than a few that will now be cutting down to 6 days or 9 days - no not in protest of Hack and Slash or The Rogues but rather because they simply cannot afford it anymore.

Sad. But all things come to an end. All things change and evolve.

Then finding I cannot find it anymore.  I really should have learned my lesson back when I thought at home hair color was a good idea.  Clairol taught me fairly quickly that as soon as I found  something I liked, it would be gone.  Determined to cover the gray, I think I had a different hair color every six weeks because I would purchase a color and never find it again.

Having made peace with the gray strands out of sheer frustration, I found mother nature had more nifty tricks up her sleeve:  namely that those hairs are curly.

So much for straight hair.

I finally found something that worked, worked well, and didn't wreck my hair.  Herbal Essences.  Yes it's Clairol and you would think I would remember but again, if you don't write it down it didn't happen.

Tousle Me Softly.  Purchased twice and couldn't find again.
Totally Twisted.  Purchased once and poof - disappear.  It wasn't a big loss, I found it sticky.
Body Envy.  Sometimes it's around and sometimes it's not.  Works in a pinch but not really what I wanted.

However, I did discover that amazon has this and so far so good - it's even cheaper with shipping and handling.

So there Clairol - foiled again.  Or until they discontinue the line.

My preference for thinning but still moderately wavy hair with quite a bit of body is the Tousle Me Softly line.  It's not heavy so it doesn't weigh your hair down.  The mousse holds without being stiff.  I can blow dry or just let it drip dry with similar results.  Limited frizz factor, curl but not too much, and I've found it gives me the messy windblown look that some women pay hundreds of dollars to get.

All for about $5.00/bottle.  Availability really varies though.  Amazon has it -- for now.

Is anyone familiar with Certified Payroll programs other than Quantum project manager?  On Quantum there is only spaces for cash, union, and fringe paid to an approved plan.

My problem is we have 2 approved plans.

A call to Quantum (which uses an access version which is no longer even supported by microsoft) told me that the fields could not be changed.  I suspected as much.

On the lighter side of life, I now have another fringe benefit plan to manage.  wheeeeeeee  at least it will look good on a resume cuz I ain't get nuthin in return here for it but the headaches of setting up a new plan.

Thanks !

I know it will get easier.

I'm over the anger
I'm over the guilt (mostly)
I'm getting over the 'fragile' feeling
I'm slowly getting over the 'hollow' feeling.

Mostly now I'm just sad.

Such an underrated little word to explain such a profound feeling.

Sad.

I know it will get easier with time.

The Rules:
1. Pick 15 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. NO GOOGLING/using IMDb search functions.

1. Step on the same foot at the same time. My tits are falling off. History of the World Part I pyllgrum

2. When I drink whiskey, I drink whiskey; and when I drink water, I drink water. The Quiet Man mistressfetch

3. You can say what you want. It's always the guy in my job that ends up doing 18 months in Danbury minimum security prison. The American President (pyllgrum via phone)

4. Is that a ten-gallon hat, or are you just enjoying the show? Blazing Saddles pyratelady

5. Here, let me give you one of my cards. Now if you should want to call me, use this number. This other one is the old number.

6. If God had wanted us to fly he wouldn't have taken away our wings. Howard The Duck fireyirishangel

7. If you wanted to get me on my back, all you had to do was ask me.

8. I can arrange that. You could use a good kiss. The Empire Strikes Back crystalsage

9. Anyone who isn't dead or from another plane of existence would do well to cover their ears right about now. Dogma pyratelady

10. Five schillings for the possessed toy. Shrek mistressfetch

11. I can't imagine being older than 22. I've no experience at it. I know it's not 1926. I just need it to be. Awakenings pyratelady

12. I swore 37 times in the last month. I said the 'f-word' a couple of times, but it was mostly 'shit's and 'bastard's. Is 'douche bag' a curse? Signs crystalsage

13. It's as if Perry and I grew up in the same house. And one day he stood up and went out the back door, while I went out the front.

14. We're all very different people. We're not Watusi, we're not Spartans, we're Americans. With a capital "A", huh? And you know what that means? Do you? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We're the underdog. We're mutts. Stripes crystalsage

15. What are you gonna do? Dice me, slice me, or peel me? There are so many choices

or in this case just the highlights:

Went to the gym today.  

~~ My personal trainer  is very nice.
~~I am woefully out of shape
~~30 minutes on the eliptical and ouch OUCH
~~I have a tenative 6 day a week schedule -- weight+ cardio on odd days, cardio only on even days
~~this doesn't start until NEXT Wednesday as I caused a near panic attack when my heart rate hit 167 and kept climbing
~~for the rest of the week I just do the cardio machines so my heart rates doesn't do THAT again.
~~yes I said I was out of shape *sigh*

Long story short:  I used to be in shape prior to moving to MD, livin the good life, and stopping smoking.  Now?  wellllllll  it can be fixed and it will be fixed.
  
IMHO the  personal trainer is worth it.

Now for the disclaimer:  I will be placing these posts under a wls/fitness filter.  If you're interested -- and it will be boring as whaleshit I promise you -- let me know and I'll put you on the filter.  If you think watching paint dry could be more fun?  yeah I agree but I gotta track it somehow.  If you're already on the filter I'll just keep you on.

btw - I checked Curves first but their hours in Maryland City are wonky.  Thanks again to  

hthottie   for suggesting Golds. 

 

 

-or- if someone on her friends list wishes to ping her for me?



I didn't know if you have this one or not -- it's just toooo cute.

Yes I *am* avoiding work by cruising for avatars *snicker*