Alabama Medieval and Fantasy Festival

I recently had the opportunity to travel to my first Renaissance faire.
It was SO MUCH FUN!!! I spent a week making costumes for myself, my oldest daughter, and a friend of hers.

click here for a video clip of my costume!

When the day finally came, we drove two hours to get there. We were not disappointed.
Instantly upon arrival we were transported to Dragon Croft, a medieval town that had magically appeared in the middle of rural Alabama.

There were merchants, magicians, pirates, elves, fairies, minstrels, knights, a unicorn, and a royal court. (The queen actually stopped me during her processional to the joust and complimented my dress and wings! We are best friends now, no big deal.)

I snagged the best looking satyr at the faire!

We cheered as our knight, Sir Christopher, jousted valiantly but lost. No worries though, because he promptly stood up and proceeded to beat his competitor over the head with his shield.   :)

Here I am with Sir Christopher!

It wasn't part of my 40 Before 40 goals, but it was still a blast and I'm so glad I went.
I can't wait until next year!

The Vagina Monologues - Reclaiming Cunt

I did it! I stood up in front of hundreds of people and I performed.

I arrived early and watched as my costars rehearsed. They were on.

I, on the other hand, was terrified. What if I froze? Stuttered, or passed out?

I sat in the front row of the 300 person theater and listened to the chatter of the crowd. I saw other people look back at the crowd and react nervously but I never looked. I figured if the lights were on the stage and not the crowd, I would not know for sure how many people I was performing for until it was over and would therefore not be as frightened.
(This actually sort of worked.)

I watched in awe as each monologue was performed. These women were so talented and beautiful and I was honored to be among them.

Then, it was my turn.

I stood up and looked out at the crowd. Fortunately, I could only really see the first two rows. The butterflies in my stomach went mad and flew out of my mouth, but they did so in loud, strong projections. I said every line I could remember, and tried not to visibly cringe when I realized I had missed a few. Before I knew it, the audience was screaming with me.

"Cunt! Cunt! Cunt!"

And just like that, it was over. I had done it.
Item number 1 on my "40 Before 40" list was complete!

I am not allowed to post a video of my performance, as it is a living script.
In its place, I will leave you with a script of my piece.

We’ve created a map of Vagina Friendly Cities!!  Welcome, Birmingham, to UAB's production of The Vagina Monologues. You know, they are wild for vaginas in Pittsburgh. In fact, a woman from Pittsburgh was obsessed with a particular word, a pejorative word used to describe the vagina.  Her mission was to reconceive the word.

...

I call it...cunt.

I’ve reclaimed it.

Cunt

I really like it.  

Cunt.

Listen to it.  

Cunt.

C-C.  Ca Ca.  

Cavern.

Cackle.

Clit. 

Cute, come-closed c

Closed inside, inside ca-

then u

then c-u

then curvy, inviting sharkskin u

uniform, under, up, urge, (moaning) ugh, ugh, 

U

then n 

then c-u-n

snug letters fitting perfectly together

nest, now, nexus, nice, nice, 

always depth, always round in upper case, 

cun, cun

-n 

a jagged wicked electrical pulse-n (high pitched noise) 

then soft n-warm n

cun, cun,

then t 

— then sharp certain tangy t — 

texture, 

take, 

tent, 

tight, 

tantalizing, 

tensing, 

taste, 

tendrils, 

time, 

tactile, 

TELL ME!

tell me “Cunt"

say it!

"Cunt! Cunt! Cunt!"

The Vagina Monologues - Rehearsals

First Rehearsal

Tonight, I went to my first of four rehearsals. It was very laid back, and the director went out of her way to make sure everyone felt comfortable. (donuts - yum!)

Introductions were made, and then we read through our parts.

I was surprised and excited to discover that each person really embodied the monologue they were chosen for. I watched them as they read, and it was as though these stories belonged to them.
I wondered what that said about me, and if other people felt the same.

I wasn't really nervous this go-round, to my delight, which gave me a chance to try some new things when reading the part. It was a really supportive group, and everyone clapped and cheered whenever a monologue was finished.

I was to choose a person in real life and practice as though I am speaking to that person. When I did that however, I was unable to get my mother out of my mind.
She hates the word cunt. Suddenly I felt defensive and small.

This was not the way to go.

In the end, I decided to perform the monologue as though taking the word back was empowering and sexy. It felt a LOT better. :)