happiness is a new (for us) pavilion, stupidity is sunburn with blisters

So, marnen and I went to Southern Region War Camp for the first time. After some hassle with land (the map wasn't clearly marked where the larger pre-registered groups' areas were, causing confusion for where the random singled/couples could camp), we settled down for dinner. The next day I spent at the Athena's Thimble/ embroidery competition. I didn't win anything, but had a good time under a shade playing with string and talking to other people.

I took a break during the afternoon (after getting some food from the dayboard, more on that below), and passing by Thorny Rose in the merchant area, Rosamund told me that auntiero had just gone back to her camp with her dog Sam and had been looking for me all day. Rosamund told me where she was camped. I found Rowena and was promptly told to sit down and given a bottle of Gatorade because I was shaking. After a little bit Casey (her husband), SCA-known-as Sean, came off the fighting field and into camp. Now, the Athena's Thimble shade pavilion (aka, the "Bower") was right next to the heavy list field, two tents away from the Minister of Lists, and I didn't know that Casey was fighting so I'd look for him on the side of the field (considering that I still don't know what his armor really looks like). After a brief visit, I went back to finish the competition.

After the competition, and tagging Marnen, we went back and picked up Casey and the pavilion and brought both over to where we had our nylon set up. Then moved stuff, and the nylon, and put up the little pavilion. Hee hee... we have a pavilion now. Casey went back to his camp to get food, and Marnen and I then moved into the pavilion and struck the nylon tent. Then we went over to the main hall and got pirogies and stuffed cabbage for dinner (I had gotten some of the pirogies earlier in the day, and gods were they good). We then went back to visit Rowena and Casey and pay for our new home away from home. On the way there, we saw the last bit of Court (it had started hours earlier when we had started setting up the pavilion). After paying for the pavilion I threw myself into the pool to clean up and cool off, then got changed for the evening and put on my sari. Marnen and I then wandered around a little bit (making sure first to say good bye to Rowena, Casey, and the canine Sam who were only day tripping).

Unfortunately, that shade of the Thimble's Bower and my sunscreen didn't protect me while I was standing in line for dayboard, which was served on the side of the heavy list field. I stood in line for a good half hour I think. And I forgot my parasol. And now my the nape of my neck and the top part of my back are not only toasted to a nice red, but for the first time since I was twelve, those areas are blistered. (Not as badly as when I was 12, but Jesus, I know better than this...)

This morning I woke up earlier than Marnen (which isn't surprising), and helped out with breakfast in the kitchen for a while. I met some cool people, including Christopher, who's been challenged to cook in every group of the Kingdom (I think it's every group in the Kingdom, but Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will be interesting to see how he arranges to get there). I have his promise to come to Barleycorn in September, and he has my promise to teach him "Born on the Listfield." I then attended a little of the Athena's Thimble meeting, then we struck camp and started home, stopping several times on the way to look for cider vinegar (which has a cooling effect on sunburns).