Monday, February 27, 2012

Nine Years of the Renaissance Festival

Huzzah!

This year, I realized Scotty and I have been going to the Arizona Renaissance Festival for nine years straight. The Festival is in its 24th year now, and is held just outside Gold Canyon, Arizona. Our first year was in 2004, when I went with Scotty and his friend Dan. We have gone with various people over the years, and this year we went with my brother and his girlfriend Candice.

The Festival usually runs from February to early April. I think the very best time to go is in the rain. We always try to time it so we pick a rainy, drizzly, overcast day to go, but that hasn't worked out the past couple of years. Bright sunshine and no clouds make it warm and bring the crowds, but I think the Festival can be fun either way.

I thought I would share a few photos from previous Festivals.

2004 - Subway
2004 - the only photo I can find easily.
Scotty and I in Subway after the Festival.
2005 - Statue
2005
2006

2006
2006

2007

2007

2008 (with Tartanic)
2008

2008

2009
2009
2009

2009
2010
2010 (with Ded Bob)

Turkey Legs at the Renaissance Festival
2011 (Alicia and Chris)

Alicia & Chris with their Renaissance Portrait
2011
PJ and Candice
2012
Me and Scotty
2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Yesterday

Yesterday, we celebrated three things: Valentine's Day, Arizona's Centennial and my husband's 27th birthday.

It was a good day.

He got a pocket watch from me. (Plus a video game and chocolate.)

Pocketwatch

He got me a CD of Les Miserables, the 25th anniversary performance, live.

We listened to it while we drove to Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park and passed the Centennial highway signs on the way.

We said hello to all of the animals at the zoo. One parrot even said hello back. (But not this gecko, although he was very friendly too.)

Wildlife World Zoo - Gecko

We had lunch in Litchfield Park at a Mexican restaurant Yelp steered me to, and Yelp has never steered me wrong.

Then Scotty's mom visited and gave us more chocolate (score), and we had friends over. We beat each other up in Soul Calibur V.

And then sushi thanks to our wonderful friend Dan. And it was all delicious.

And then bed, because it was a long day.

But a great one.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Something to Remember


Every day, think as you wake up, 
today I am fortunate to be alive, 
I have a precious human life, 
I am not going to waste it. 
I am going to use all my energies to develop myself,
to expand my heart out to others,
to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. 
I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, 
I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. 
I am going to benefit others as much as I can.