First the weekend rundown: We had a great time. Didn't get out there till later than we'd hoped but the ride up was beautiful beyond words. The area is just, wow wow wow. I've always heard about Pennsylvania Dutch territory but they didn't do it justice. The barns are exceptional. I know, "barns? exceptional?" But they seriously are. There are these 200 year old barns all over and although they were a very austere, upright, religious group their folk artistic talents were so lovely and alot of the barns had all this crazy folk art-y brick work done on them. I'll upload pics to show.

The Inn we stayed at (the Brickhouse Inn, I reviewed it at trip advisor - we're the 'badger spoons') Quaint, cozy room, nice town with little shops everywhere. The Inn arranged our private tour guide too. They go with you in your car and basically lay out the entire 3 day battle and it's really fun. Our guide told it like a story, where everyone was and what happened leading up to it, first day of battle, second, third and how it ended. Then we ate dinner at a nice 300 year old restaurant. That night, our last night there, my husband got spooked..

I had trouble sleeping, took forevor to fall asleep then had terrible nightmares all night. At some point in the night, he reasons around 4 in the morning, he awoke because he felt the bed shaking. He looked over and I was lying on my side turned away from him and he says my whole body was being pushed into the mattress. Like someone was standing over me and pushing down onto my arm, compressing me into the mattress repeatedly to either wake me up or , I dunno, just annoy me. He said I was squeaking (which I often do when I'm having a nightmare) But he says I wasn't shaking myself, that he could literally see me drop down a foot each time into the mattress.

Meanwhile, I was having a nightmare of an old woman doing something to me but it was one of those that when I woke up I couldn't quite remember what the dream was exactly, just could picture the old woman clearly so I'm not sure.

When we went to leave, packed up and tommy picked up the in-room guest book. He flipped back several pages, reading out loud different entries ("Carol from Scotland- what a beautiful room!" etc) and reads:

"Lovely room, but this morning just before dawn my husband says an old woman in late victorian dress appeared at the foot of his bed and shook him awake. She had wild eyes and looked positively mad. We are leaving a day early and were quite upset at the encounter"

To say chills ran up our spine is the understatement of the week. I've had 2 strange, unexplainable encounters in our travels (not saying they WERE anything, just, well I don't know what it was) but this is Tommy's first.

Now wait, it gets weirder.

After 5 minutes of me staring at him confused as a deer in the headlights (I even stopped 'massing' the player to try to decipher husband's strange comment) The Cheese continues with this horrifying statement;

"It will be a Romantic Getaway. We will stay at 1 of those cozy B&B's or an historic Inn overlooking the battlefield."

Now, my husband loves me. He is kind, he cooks, he rarely screams at me when he's accidentally stepped on one of my earrings, he even occasionally gives me "guy" compliments such as "I really like those. um. Pants." The point is, he tries. But romantic getaways? NO. He is not a romantic getaway kind of man. I don't think I'm a romantic getaway kind of girl to be honest. Everyone has their standards.

And I mean, what the hell do you do on one of those things anyway? Soak in a hot tub together filled with rose petals while gazing into each other's eyes? Frankly I'd rather stuff my cat up my rear claws first. Entertainment value would be higher.

(now now animal lovers, dont get worked up! My cat is so obsessed with me he'd probably enjoy the trip. crazy little stalker.)

So he booked the weekend getaway. This whole thing is highly suspect. Either he needs to be medicated or has murderous plans to get rid of me in a freak battlefield "accident". If I don't report back to this journal next week, contact the authorities.

None of the above paragraph is particularly remarkable, it's the same sentiment I've seen one end to the other. Anyway! lol I really love festivals, have some distinct favorites and don't like the idea of preventing a world from creating a new favorite. I just want to have a good time with less stress to "fest" maybe. But, my point is, we, well.. I was concerned (sure Feiyan and Jia Li have similar concerns) that Lunars might not attract much attention as the site is partied out and also frustrated at the recent festival discussion. Nothing too flashy was planned for opening ceremony and for Vietnam's day. Some light enjoyable fare I hope. It looks to be successfull so far beyond what I'd hoped and I am really glad about it and thankful!

Jia Li mentioned to me that several Americas Long Walk attendees expressed concern that we would feel they were overshadowing Lunars and she assured them it was fine and I agree. (and think Feiyan would too, she's quite easy going!) There is room for all of us, as long as we are considerate of each other. I don't feel we need to hog every post in the daily index, and I personally wouldn't be at all offended if people enjoyed themselves elsewhere or in groups, and just stopped in Vietnam's Tet activities where they are interested to.

I hope everyone has a great time, I am so far. And I am just floored at the fabulous talented contributions. From Sank's rats (and music, and sudoku! and gameroom redesign, and did anyone notice the orient world page? how gorgeous! and the mastheads all over the orient and oh geez) and Jia's design-degree worthy quiz graphics to Vort's gift kiosks, and Xena's e-cards and plaques and the participants great posts. I'll probably cave and do a whole journal entry with gorgeous plaques and artwork by the time Lunars is done.

Oh, and Ng, weird name, hilarious writer. *bg*

This morning I wake up at 6am and feel I am in the throes of death.

I've tried every hangover cure I know, nothing is working. At around 1pm today I was practically crying "Crap on a cracker when will it end!" So I logged on to squeeze our varied nationalities here in ancientworlds for their local hangover cures.

Vortigern first said to drink a bloody mary. After my death threats, he changed his tune to "eat a big greasy cheeseburger then watch a movie". He says he always feeds his hangovers.

Topiltzin, expert on Finnish hangover cures, tells me on first request to "drink some vodka?" After more death threats and a few curses from me, he changes his tune to "Drink a gallon of warm buttermilk. Puke it up. Then eat blood sausage. " (i'm assuming he is implying: eat blood sausage and repeat vomiting process!) He later informs me after some brief research into Finnish drinking traditions that I am advised to also have sex. Then go back to drinking.

Another gram from Topi reminds me of Sementawy's hangover cure, which was to take artichoke supplements and b vitamins prior to drinking. Guaranteed to have no ill side effects the next morning. This sounds promising in theory, unfortunately I'm not a planner while heading for the bar!

I am hoping to devote efforts to wherever I am needed but also to Vietnam, one of the 3 countries we are spotlighting. Feiyan sent us a link with various games for the three regions, and there is one in Vietnam called O Quan which appears to be a form of Mankala, a game I'v always liked. I'm looking around now for an online version of Mankala, if I find one I will ask Sankira if I can put it in his Gameroom (that i love!).

traditional new years

More on O Quan

Inviting ancestors to worship tet

Firecracker festival

Sadly I don't think it will arrive in time but my sis never really cares about that and she would know, if ever she received a Christmas present from me on time, something was horribly horribly wrong.

Happy Holidays everyone! Here's hopes your family is as forgiving as mine.

Rainbow Flint Quarry

Aria's pavillion

the AW E-Card center

Saturnalia Gifts from Spurius Curius

Thats just things that made my jaw drop this week mind you. Maybe I'll make another one next week!

Also, note to self, King Tut thingy airs on Sun.

Most if not all the countries in our Orient did celebrate some sort of festival during this time frame so the options were wide open for us. I think it's a great idea and it keeps this year's festival from being tired. I mean really, it's rather hard to top last year's LunarFest every year especially when the bar gets SO high!

So, so far the three countries are Mongolia (chosen by general vote), Vietnam (we 3 scribes wanted very much to have something fun from the Red Phoenix district this year for a change) and although the third is up in the air, it looks to be Korea. Another choice for the third is Tibet, but Jia has been researching Lunar or New Years traditions there and what she's turned up hasn't been too promising.

Nothing against Tibet of course, Tibet has the craziest and most interesting traditions and culture usually! I guess just not this time of year. Ah well, maybe we can find a way to feature it at some other point? There's always Goldfest. Anyway. If you'd like to have your say or have some ideas for our upcoming festival, want to volunteer to help form some of the events or just offer your services, we could sure use your help and ideas. There's a thread for it in our entrance. You can't miss it. I'd link it but really, I'm that lazy this morning. We have lots of ideas among the three of us already, but we have talked it over and all the previous Lunar Fests have been flat out amazing but almost wholly scribe driven. We'd rather see a festival reflecting our citizens interests I think. You know? Celtia is sort of famous for that, and Rome often has a large portion of their festivals member driven too. We'll see I guess!

If the writer is reading this, I don't mean anything against you, I understand you probably just wanted to keep this in people's thoughts through the holiday season (reason for the season and all that) but as you well know, it's not the only religious holiday going on right now. And not the only personal thought that folks wish to write and post, it's unfair to push theirs out like that. Please change the date to today's. And Happy Holidays to you.

Today I'm getting a root canal. I'm so excited! and.. My dentist is a 26 year old girl. I might be her first patient! Weeeee!

on the good side, today I rediscovered Alerissa's AW E-Card Center which is almost fabulous enough to offset my tooth-related joy.