Lady Kateryn Draper
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Lady Kateryn Draper" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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10:34 pm
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Gwyntarian Winter Revel
( Read more... )
Current Music: Folk music
Tags: event, sca
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05:58 pm
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Bardic madness
Bardic madness was fun. I recited a poem, "The Story of Macha," for the period challenge; told a story, "Alvild and Alf," for the Warrior Women challenge; and sang a song, "Byrd one brere," for the love and madness challenge. There were patrons for each challenge, and one of them handed out these really cool home made pater nosters.
There are YouTube videos up of some of the performances, although none of me.
I have mixed feelings about "Alvild and Alf." On the one hand, it's a really cool period story about a female pirate. On the other hand, I hate the ending. Prince Alf goes to defeat the pirates only to discover that the pirate captain is his long-lost fiance. He offers her the choice between execution or marriage; she chooses marriage.
There were two other disquieting tales at Bardic madness. One was a traditional Norse tale about a smith who gets revenge by, among other things, raping the daughter of his enemy. The other was an Irish myth in which Cathbad holds Nessa at swordpoint and says, "Marry me or die." (Nessa and Cathbad are the parents of Conchobur, king of Ulster.)
I have never felt comfortable changing the ending of "Alvild and Alf," since ultimately it's not my story. But what do we do with period stories that have a misogynistic streak? Do we not tell them? Do we alter them? Do we tell them in a way that problematizes them? Or do we tell them as is?
Thoughts?
Current Music: Byrd one brere
Tags: sca, storytelling
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10:29 pm
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Heraldry
So I was explaining to the local herald on Thursday why I've never submitted the device I created way back when I was 23 or so.
Me: I can't draw.
Elizabeth: *tries to tell me I can*
Me: *Attempts to draw device on napkin. Draws rough outline of shield, chevron, annulets. Then draws three oil lamps.*
Elizabeth: *in reassuring voice* Those are nice ducks!
Me: *sigh*
Current Music: folk music
Tags: heraldry, sca
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09:43 pm
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Afternoon of Fun
Afternoon of Fun was, as usual, fun. An entirely outdoor event, I've never attended when it wasn't either raining or snowing (raining yesterday), but that's just part of its charm. I discovered my black hooded cloak works very well at holding off the rain, but stained the sleeves of my white chemise. Site tokens were monkey paws - I was very careful not to make a wish while wearing mine.
There is an annual ghost story competition, and this year I won. Most period ghost, vampire, and werewolf stories are actually quite boring for modern audiences. They go something like this: "Creepy thing appears. We all get scared. A priest prays. Creepy thing goes away." But the week before the event, I found "The shoemaker of Constantinople," a wonderfully complex twelfth century tale about obsession, necrophilia, disembodied heads, unstoppable villains, and courageous princesses. It's actually a cautionary tale about a type of shoes, but I left that part out.
I almost didn't go because of the rain, but it was worth getting wet. Hey, the weather was period.
Current Music: Folk music
Tags: event, sca, storytelling
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10:42 pm
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Proposal
As demo coordinator for my local chapter of the SCA, I receive a fair amount of private correspondence. The request I received the Friday before Art in the Park, however, was a bit unusual.
( Read more... )
Current Mood:  good
Current Music: "Crow on the cradle"
Tags: sca
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10:33 pm
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Melee at Roswell
At the bardic circle on Saturday, I nailed "Byrd one Brere" for the first time - not an easy song to sing for someone without any musical background.
Of course, I completely blanked on the last verse of "The Kelpie," a song I've been singing for years. So it all balances out.
Current Music: folk music
Tags: bardic, music, sca
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11:56 pm
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Return of the Dragon
The dragon was sighted in Kent on Thursday evening, the day after the mill caught fire. Could they be related? If so, what will it mean for the Middle Kingdom Dragon Protection Act?
Current Music: folk music
Tags: dragons, persona, sca
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10:50 pm
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persona question
For Scadians: what does having a persona mean to you? How important is your persona in your SCA life?
Current Mood:  curious
Current Music: Evanescense
Tags: persona, sca
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11:32 pm
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Emergency Bardic Alarm System
WARNING: A dragon has been sighted flying over Kent shortly past Vespers. This could well be the same dragon spotted in the Barony of the Cleftlands last month. All persons in eastern portion of the Northern Oaken Region are advised to keep livestock and small children indoors until the warning expires at Matins.
Any person sighting the dragon is enjoined neither to shoot nor to stab nor in any other way injure it, as dragons, being an endangered species, are protected in the Middle Kingdom. Instead, if you find yourself facing the dragon, try singing a lullaby to put it to sleep, and then quietly back away.
All persons who spot the dragon are encouraged to tell the nearest bard or herald, so the warning can be spread.
In service,
EBAS
Current Music: trumpets sounding warning
Tags: dragons, persona, sca
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11:17 pm
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Bardic event this weekend
There is a cool bardic event this weekend in Northeast Ohio:
http://www.eastwatch.org/bardicroundhouse/brh2home.htm
I'll be teaching on class on medieval performers.
Current Music: "Byrd one brere"
Tags: bardic, events, sca
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11:37 pm
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An amazing event
A goodly number of people from the Oaken Region had gathered in the Barony of Cleftlands for an annual celebration of summer. Little did we suspect what was in store.
For as evening approached, we saw in the sky what appeared to be a parti-colored cloud. As it came closer, we could hear and see flames from beneath it. Was it a dragon? I've told many tales of them, but never dreamed they could be real. The dragon, if that's what it was, appeared to be nothing more than a giant head. Attached to this head was a small wicker basket, large enough to hold a man.
( Read more... )
Current Mood: enthralled
Tags: dragons, event, persona, sca, writing
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02:48 pm
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Dance master/mistress for Masque
Help! Does anyone know of someone who can teach dance at Masque of Courtly Love on Feb. 21?
http://www.alderford.org/events/masque2009
The dance mistresses for Alderford and Gwyntarian are not available.
Thanks.
Current Music: Sound Healing, Steven Halpern
Tags: dancing, event, sca
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10:36 pm
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Red Dragon Bardic Competition
On October 11, Tirnewydd will be hosting Red Dragon: http://reddragon.ws/
This event will also feature the return of the Red Dragon Bardic Competition (run by yours truly.) The themes are "red" or "dragon" in any bardic medium.
Feel free to enter, or, if you are so inclined, to help me judge. :-)
Current Music: Fa una canzone
Tags: bardic, events, sca
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10:27 pm
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For future reference
Double, double, toil and trouble,
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
http://www.potw.org/archive/potw283.html
Current Location: Scotland
Current Mood: disturbed
Current Music: Eerie chanting
Tags: poetry, sca, shakespeare
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07:22 pm
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my ideal world MK A&S criteria
When I first joined the SCA, I always entered the Arts and Sciences competitions, seeing them as a good way to get feedback as well as a spur to build my repertoire. Back then, A&S seemed a safer venue than bardic circles for a beginning storyteller.
In recent years I've noticed the perception of A&S has changed. Many SCAdians won't enter because they're "not good enough," and others who do enter become offended or hurt when they they think they didn't do well and never enter again. In some cases, entrants are upset at getting feedback, and in others some judges see their task as simply pointing out what's wrong with a piece rather than provide a critique (a thorough description of strengths and weaknesses). I see this as a problem. The SCA at its best encourages people to learn skills of the Middle Ages and to improve over time. The original purpose of the regional A&S competitions was to provide an opportunity for all SCAdians to learn new skills and get feedback. I'd love to see more people, especially beginners, enter on a regular basis.
( Read more... )
Current Mood:  thoughtful
Tags: sca
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02:25 pm
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First Contact: Moors in Hispania
Yes, it's the same day as the OSU Renfaire, but to those of you who aren't attending, I highly recommend the following event on May 3rd in Gwyntarian (Akron, OH):
http://www.midrealm.org/gwyntarian/event.html
The theme, Moorish Spain, is fascinating, and Gwyntarian puts on fun events. I'll be teaching a class on the history of Al-Andalus (aka Moorish Spain.)
Tags: event, sca
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10:58 pm
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Gwyntarian event
If anyone has an opportunity to attend "Road to Frankfurt" I'd highly recommend it. Gwyntarian events are always fun, low key, highly entertaining and educational.
Unfortunately I won't be able to go (I also had to miss Red Dragon and Crown), but I really, really hope to attend Gwyntarian's First Contact: Moorish Spain event this summer.
http://www.midrealm.org/gwyntarian/New%20Folder/ger.html
Current Location: medieval Ireland
Current Mood:  disappointed
Current Music: Echoes
Tags: events, sca
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06:15 pm
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Request for topics
If only life hadn't been busy happening while I was making other plans, I'd be heading to Pennsic today. Instead, I must needs content myself with an on-line fascimile.
So are there any topics pertaining to the Middle Ages or the SCA that interest those reading my poor and oft-neglected journal?
Middle English word of the day: hak - sing "Will ye here how thay hak?"
Tags: middle ages, sca
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09:36 pm
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"Dread Pirate Prudence"
To the tune of "Greensleeves:"
( Read more... )
Current Location: at the bottom of the ocean
Current Music: Greensleeves
Tags: filk, sca, song, writing
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04:06 pm
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Northern Oaken War Manuvers
I need to stop dithering and decide whether or not to camp at NOWM. (That's this event for those of you non-Scadians reading this: http://cleftlands.cwru.edu/nowm11.html) It's only an hour away, so I don't need to camp. But I haven't camped since last Pennsic, and it would be nice to be in nature for a weekend. Since Brendoken camps on Banshee Ridge (aka the highway) Pennsic doesn't feel like real camping.
( Read more... )
I think it mostly comes down to the weather for me. I can't shake the suspicion that if I camp, it will storm on Friday and Sunday, but if I don't, the weather will be perfect. Maybe I should just choose not to camp for the greater good. ;-)
Tags: events, sca
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