> Maryam was fully decked out in a ruling outfit.

My costume paled in comparison to many of the *elaborate* costumes there, but I'm proud of my little chemise-skirt-bodice ensemble. I wouldn't have wanted to wear anything more, anyway. I was dying in the heat as it was.

> Maryam played a game where you had to fling very sharp axes at a target. She was armed and extremely dangerous, and slayed many a net. The target escaped with its life, however.
>

Sharp, my foot. Those "axes" weren't very sharp at all. They were just pieces of iron in the vague shape of an axe, and I don't think the "blade" was any sharper than the rest of it. The targets were made out of hay or something similar, so the "axes" would stick in easily. I think there were one or two out of wood for stronger people. I wasn't even strong enough to get the axe higher than the ground underneath the target most of the times. Or perhaps I was releasing too late. I'm not sure.

> Several people had faerie wings, and we saw about three people with HUGE black feathered wings. (I got jealous of the wings. I want some.)
>

This is one of my pet peeves, actually. "Fantasy" outfits as opposed to period garb. I tried not to let it get to me, though. The important thing is that people have a good time.

> Some of the food had REALLY weird names, like 'Sin on a Stick' (frozen cheesecake on a stick) and 'Monkey Tails' (frozen bananas on a stick). For some reason, the Monkey Tails vendor REALLY wanted to sell one to me, which made Maryam and Elly quite amused. (Hush, you two. :p)
>

All I'm gonna say here is that you DID mention Monkeyman a lot during the day. ;-)

> That's all the random anecdotes I can remember - Elly and Maryam had better add more when they get online! :)

I'm trying, but you summed up the exciting bits pretty well. Also, I was half-asleep from the heat for much of the time.

I had to drive to the place where we met Ellmyruh, since I just got my permit and I need driving practice. Scary, but I think I'm finally beginning to get comfortable behind the wheel (I had a permit a while ago, but it expired). I imagine it was an odd picture, me driving a car in my bodice and skirt and a baseball cap to keep my hair from blowing everywhere (didn't work very well, though).

For dinner afterwards, we went to the same Chili's that Sosiqui and Elly and flyingcats and I went to before. While our food was a long time coming, since it was very busy, we had a great waitress who managed our four separate checks without a hitch. We talked a lot about anime. We didn't get any Huge Knives this time around either. I wonder if they suspect us of something.

Mary "Not the first time I've worn layers of clothing including upholstery fabric in over-90-degree heat, and I suspect not the last time either" am