- Joined
- May 20, 2014
It's not quite LARPing, but this is the closest I could find to Jay interacting in a large-scale role-playing environment - a birthday trip to a medieval-themed restaurant.
Brief highlights:
Brief highlights:
- Jay was upset that the other guests wore t-shirts and flip-flops. Jay also wore 21st Century casualwear, but he is different because he totally would have worn armour if he could afford it, and other people are commoners.
- The servants distracted Jay from the majestic show.
- Jay got knighted and it was 'good for 1-1.5 hoots'.
- Jay accidentally ate some apple but was very brave about it.
- The medieval tourney was loud and lots of people were talking at once and Jay did not like it.
- Some people dared get short-tempered or annoyed on Jay's "sacred day"
- Jay's family tend not to pay much attention to him.
- Jay HATES being ignored because it's a waste of such a special person
- Jay should totally be allowed to walk around with a sword and behead people who think he shouldn't.
First off, I have a MONUMENTAL amount to report, so please bear with me. If you think, "Too Long Didn't Read" either you simply don't have the time (excusable, since I KNOW how busy common college-aged kids can get), or your interest isn't as dedicated as I'd like, or you're simply too shallow and/or vain to exercise your mental endurance.
Just to get the possible "bad stuff" and the "fine print" out of the way so we can dive straight into the goods and my unabridged report: For The Record, I do not intend to belittle anybody. I am not attempting to insult anyone mentioned here, but my "heightened" point of view does show through. I attempt to remain as objective and level-headed as possible throughout this journal. Sorry if I come off as irritable. It's simply hard for me to get some alone time, even when I'm online. All I want was some peace and quiet to get engrossed in the atmosphere or to reflect on all I've seen. I'll post that rant farther down in the journal. For now, let me tell you all about the experience I had. BUT on a different preface note; I heard many of you say "belated" birthday wishes, but none of you were belated, because the time stamp said like 8 hours ago as of when I checked at about 10:30 PM here, so it would've been reported still in June 9. June 9 IS my birthday, so just so you know, you were NOT belated!
First off, walking in is kind of like an amusement park. I mean there is this most epic greeting and we (meaning my family and I) had a picture taken with "The King and Princess" and with plenty of time to spare, I wandered around, exploring the sites from the suits of armor to the swords for sale. They were REAL swords; mind you, the kind that are illegal to carry around in public (and whoever said that law was a good idea, I hope he got hung!). The atmosphere was the best it possibly could've been (as was the overall experience), AND given this "modern" society, that says a LOT! I mean I KNOW how tough it is to deal with complications and problems and other people that are about as mentally laggy as the NPC. I mean sure the actors (that is, the awesome people with booming voices and appropriate attire) called us all "noble guests," they were referring to uscommoners dressed in t-shirts and flip-flops, where the women mostly had no bangs (even those working as "servants" didn't have bangs). That point of where all the other people (myself included) drew my attention away from the grandiose quality of the castle. Sure I was in similar light clothing, but ONLY for the reason being I do not have the thousands of gold coins to hire a blacksmith to hammer for me a fine suit of armor to cover me head-to-toe (Ala my "Avatar" picture; for further reference, See Hero 1 in Hero Team). Seriously, those things cost six THOUSAND American Dollars!
And to think all that heavy metal probably couldn't stop a bullet...
At least it looks super EPIC, AND could probably help mitigate a small knife's stab. What I'm trying to address is my spirit and my soul was at home here, grinning and marching all the way. The rest of the people on the other hand...They stuck out like tourists. I did too, but it was NOT my choice!
Anyway, I got "knighted" and as anticipated, it was overall good for one hoot (maybe one and a half, plus a picture of it). The food was grand but I didn't like that the "servants" also dressed appropriately came out DURING the performances. That, as I complained earlier, took my attention out of the majestic show. My family didn't help there, but knowing them, they did the best they could. When I go to things like this, I wish I could be alone so I can be fully engrossed in everything, as if I were a part of everything happening around me.
Ah yeah; the food: I was brave enough to try everything, from the appetizer of tomato sauce and the best bread I have ever had to the pastry at the end. The sauce was epic for dipping, but I wouldn't want to drink it. As a meatarian (that is, anti-vegetarian), the soup had tomato chunks in every sip (no exaggeration, every SIP), which doesn't sit right in my mind. The flavor was super, though. Then Alas, came the Meat! The meat was supreme; like a chicken or something of that nature (the people called it "dragon", and I would've taken that as far as I could've, which would've been ALL the way until I would've left, and that's how I wanted it, but that's not how it worked
), which was almost oozing with grease, so much that my napkin had no clean spots by the time the beast was half-eaten. There was a half a potato that came out later which I took a bite of. Finally, came the dessert. The first bite seemed like some sort of cream, but with the second big chomp, I realized it was apple, but using all the courage invested in me and support by my surroundings, I swallowed it. Like I predicted last journal, I will "eat until I feel sick." Truth be told, about that time was when I got a most gut-wrenching cramp. Mom thought I simply overate, but I swear on Blossom's majestic soul, it was more like an allergy! I didn't throw up even though I was tempted to in desperation to relieve myself of the most discomforting cramp. This cramp was amplified by the excitement of the climatic action and the battling between the knights competing with swordplay and all their other fancy medieval weapons and skills. (**LET ME WARN YOU: THIS MAY NOT BE FOR THE SQUEAMISH**) My prayer was answered when I had a burp that gave me the chance to spit out some of the dark brown apple I had swallowed not too long ago. From the grease of the meat, my napkin was already discarded, so since I brought some tissues with me, I put the blobs in the tissue and stuffed it in the empty drinking cup, ready to be discarded and cleansed. To further support my claims, only moments later did my cramp subside. I swear to you, whatever was in that dessert, it Did NOT sit right in my stomach! (**THE QUESTIONABLE CONTENT ENDS HERE.**) My brother joked a bit about it to me on the ride home, much to my annoyance. On a side-note, I almost forgot to mention the fountain Pepsi was out of this world!
I didn't like the ice in it, but there wasn't anything I could've done about that...or anyone else, for that matter.
Now let me tell you about the acting and the performance and all that good stuff! So long as I wouldn't look up and see the industrial bare ceiling or all the speakers and workings, the decor certainly felt like a REAL castle. All the characters did their roles well, but there was this HUGE echo coupled with what I call the "Cafeteria Effect" (named after my observation of a common "public" school cafeteria during lunch hour) of when lots of people talk in one room; basically literally EVERYTHING anyone would say was garbled; any of the actors talking with their colorfully European words, the zealous screaming of the crowds (THAT, I confess, would include me, only because I was as close to feeling at home as spiritually manageable), and the instructions from the servants. What I REALLY like about Medieval Times is that the men performing there (most of them) have cool-looking long hair. I cut my bangs extra-short lately (to counter the blistering heat of the approaching Summer Season) so I look like a REAL redneck
but I still think I would've fit RIGHT in with those knights and squires down in the middle of the arena. Some of the combat appeared certainly staged, but around the end with the heroic Black-and-White Knight in the final bout, the intensity and the pace of the swinging and rolling and the clanging on the shields made the fighting totally seamless! I swear, that was exactly like I had envisioned it, and there was nothing anyone could've done unintentionally to call attention away from it OR ruin those few minutes of distilled epic. However, save for the immediate beginning, there wasn't much combat until at the end with the jousting and the like. The rest was showing off some neat maneuvers, strutting the horses around (which DO look super neat), the falcon flying around, and other flashy acts that leave people in awe. I tell you that stuff is SWEET, but what my heart craved was the combat. I got that, only around the end. Oh yeah, and the story was OK; didn't feel like much except a vessel to drive the performances or give reason for the gatherings of people, but it worked.
As I've said in the beginning of this unabridged recollection, it was as super epic as it could've possibly been, and given "modern" society, that says a LOT!
I was truly pleased with the overall experience, and if I had the money, I wouldn't mind revisiting the place alone, especially if I was a high-roller who could buy a sword (AND if I could Personally behead those that think walking around with swords publicly should be barred). So that ends all about Medieval Times. Summed up in a word, it goes above an beyond even "Super Epic." It was ULTIMATE! :iconultimatewinplz: Someone seriously NEEDS to create something for that. But my use of that word is NOT to be trifled with OR taken lightly, much like the coveted Medal of Honor.
It is a word that holds absurd weight used to commemorate something of such saturated awesomeness as to by default be considered "realistically inconceivable," such as the legends of many a war hero who charged enemy machine gun lines out in the open, notably in times such as World War II as clarified here: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php…
Then comes the "Real Life" parts that threw me off. Even today, on my sacred day, people are hassling around and getting short-tempered, hawking about work and worries and problems and complaints about jean pockets (Which to be fair is a complaint that is truly valid), or people are talking about the show and this and that, when all I wanted to do was have some silence so I could reflect on not only what I have enjoyed, but the inspiration it has bestowed into me. Plus, whenever I say something, I usually make sure it's important and directly to the point, finishing my speech within five seconds in compensation for the "modern" attention span. Even with my blunt, minimalistic manner of communicating the utmost vitals, Mom and the rest still have trouble diverting their attention to me. Sure I understand people like them need their attentions in three directions at once, but I simply do NOT tolerate the feeling of being ignored. It makes me feel invisible, and with someone of my spiritual drive and passion, that invisibility makes a high-profile flyer like me feel wasted, expended. It's THE one thing I dislike more than obnoxious goofballs (note the word "obnoxious"). There's also irony in the fact that they scold me for not being observant when THEY are not observant of ME!
To double that order, You may think it's ironic that someone like me who has the voice of a thousand cannons would request silence, but there are times when I must hear myself think, if nothing else to savor the flavors and sensations of revelry. Not to mention I was hollering so much, I felt at times like I wanted to cough out my uvula and watch it zing out of my mouth to those physically beneath me.
One FINAL note: I lost count how many times I got good birthday wishes. I think the number rocketed past the dozen mark. Thank you ALL, for showing your care, your loyalty, AND your friendship, no matter how "inactive" some of you may seem in relationship to me.
Now that I have toasted Medieval Times, had my birthday cake, cast my birthday wish, AND counted my blessings as well as my curses, I now retire for the night to collaborate with you, my most loyal and gracious of subjects, especially those of you that have read this article in its entirety.
If you've simply skipped to the bottom, SHAME on you!
All I ask is for you to lend your voices for the safe and sane return of Your Noble Narrator...
Just to get the possible "bad stuff" and the "fine print" out of the way so we can dive straight into the goods and my unabridged report: For The Record, I do not intend to belittle anybody. I am not attempting to insult anyone mentioned here, but my "heightened" point of view does show through. I attempt to remain as objective and level-headed as possible throughout this journal. Sorry if I come off as irritable. It's simply hard for me to get some alone time, even when I'm online. All I want was some peace and quiet to get engrossed in the atmosphere or to reflect on all I've seen. I'll post that rant farther down in the journal. For now, let me tell you all about the experience I had. BUT on a different preface note; I heard many of you say "belated" birthday wishes, but none of you were belated, because the time stamp said like 8 hours ago as of when I checked at about 10:30 PM here, so it would've been reported still in June 9. June 9 IS my birthday, so just so you know, you were NOT belated!
First off, walking in is kind of like an amusement park. I mean there is this most epic greeting and we (meaning my family and I) had a picture taken with "The King and Princess" and with plenty of time to spare, I wandered around, exploring the sites from the suits of armor to the swords for sale. They were REAL swords; mind you, the kind that are illegal to carry around in public (and whoever said that law was a good idea, I hope he got hung!). The atmosphere was the best it possibly could've been (as was the overall experience), AND given this "modern" society, that says a LOT! I mean I KNOW how tough it is to deal with complications and problems and other people that are about as mentally laggy as the NPC. I mean sure the actors (that is, the awesome people with booming voices and appropriate attire) called us all "noble guests," they were referring to us
Anyway, I got "knighted" and as anticipated, it was overall good for one hoot (maybe one and a half, plus a picture of it). The food was grand but I didn't like that the "servants" also dressed appropriately came out DURING the performances. That, as I complained earlier, took my attention out of the majestic show. My family didn't help there, but knowing them, they did the best they could. When I go to things like this, I wish I could be alone so I can be fully engrossed in everything, as if I were a part of everything happening around me.
Ah yeah; the food: I was brave enough to try everything, from the appetizer of tomato sauce and the best bread I have ever had to the pastry at the end. The sauce was epic for dipping, but I wouldn't want to drink it. As a meatarian (that is, anti-vegetarian), the soup had tomato chunks in every sip (no exaggeration, every SIP), which doesn't sit right in my mind. The flavor was super, though. Then Alas, came the Meat! The meat was supreme; like a chicken or something of that nature (the people called it "dragon", and I would've taken that as far as I could've, which would've been ALL the way until I would've left, and that's how I wanted it, but that's not how it worked
Now let me tell you about the acting and the performance and all that good stuff! So long as I wouldn't look up and see the industrial bare ceiling or all the speakers and workings, the decor certainly felt like a REAL castle. All the characters did their roles well, but there was this HUGE echo coupled with what I call the "Cafeteria Effect" (named after my observation of a common "public" school cafeteria during lunch hour) of when lots of people talk in one room; basically literally EVERYTHING anyone would say was garbled; any of the actors talking with their colorfully European words, the zealous screaming of the crowds (THAT, I confess, would include me, only because I was as close to feeling at home as spiritually manageable), and the instructions from the servants. What I REALLY like about Medieval Times is that the men performing there (most of them) have cool-looking long hair. I cut my bangs extra-short lately (to counter the blistering heat of the approaching Summer Season) so I look like a REAL redneck
As I've said in the beginning of this unabridged recollection, it was as super epic as it could've possibly been, and given "modern" society, that says a LOT!
Then comes the "Real Life" parts that threw me off. Even today, on my sacred day, people are hassling around and getting short-tempered, hawking about work and worries and problems and complaints about jean pockets (Which to be fair is a complaint that is truly valid), or people are talking about the show and this and that, when all I wanted to do was have some silence so I could reflect on not only what I have enjoyed, but the inspiration it has bestowed into me. Plus, whenever I say something, I usually make sure it's important and directly to the point, finishing my speech within five seconds in compensation for the "modern" attention span. Even with my blunt, minimalistic manner of communicating the utmost vitals, Mom and the rest still have trouble diverting their attention to me. Sure I understand people like them need their attentions in three directions at once, but I simply do NOT tolerate the feeling of being ignored. It makes me feel invisible, and with someone of my spiritual drive and passion, that invisibility makes a high-profile flyer like me feel wasted, expended. It's THE one thing I dislike more than obnoxious goofballs (note the word "obnoxious"). There's also irony in the fact that they scold me for not being observant when THEY are not observant of ME!
One FINAL note: I lost count how many times I got good birthday wishes. I think the number rocketed past the dozen mark. Thank you ALL, for showing your care, your loyalty, AND your friendship, no matter how "inactive" some of you may seem in relationship to me.
