The Dark Side of Positive Thinking.

Found via lihan161051

Quad War 2010 - Overall Impressions

I was very ambivalent about going to Quad this year. A bunch of people I like were not going, I was pretty exhausted after my trip to the east coast and I'm still feeling pretty burned-out SCA-wise. And there's always the specter of my demons visiting - camping events seem to attract them.

I went anyway and I'm glad I did - it was one of the best QW I've been too. Not perfect, but certainly worth my time and effort. The effort in this case being the mental effort to go at all and to put a positive spin on things. I figured, if I went in with the right attitude (go to relax; don't over extend yourself; acknowledge that you won't get laid; know that you can leave early if things take a turn for the worse). And it worked, thus proving the positive in two different ways - first, by practicing mental exercises that help to get past depression, and also by just having a good time!

What I liked:

• Prince Kirk and Princess Brynna (aka mommaquilter). I like the sound of that.
  
• My Soulpad survived the storm (not a great storm, but good enough for proof-of-concept).
  
• My bell-of-arms tent is not perfect, but perfection is within my reach.
  
• 600+ people this year, which is a new record. This I think is the first real indication that combining QW and August Investiture was a good idea.
  
• Ro-bear's honey mead actually tastes like honey!
  
• The archery was fun and challenging and there was lots of it. I pretty much shot everything that didn't required armour. And the stuff that did require armour makes me want to get off my ass and get my armour kit together, 'cause damn that looked like fun.
  
• The Grotto.
  
• Pirate Palooza.
  
• Enthusiastic noobs!
  
• Court shtick. There was actually two completely different, and entertaining pieces of court shtick: The whole back story of how Wernar and Helene had to step down for Kirk and Brynna. Also, the arrest of Robert of Clan Gunn (who was lead out in irons!)
  
• The subsequent pirate trial of Bobby Gunn.
  
• Seeing Quon Jien (that's the spelling according to the OP) level up. Seriously, he fought like a demon all event.
  
• Alakina claiming the Champion of Arrows. Well deserved.
  
• Friends.

What I didn't like:

• devoidofthought gimping her ankle and not being able to enjoy the event at all because of that. She left early and I don't blame her. There's always next year, Roo.
  
• It was too damn hot.
  
• Shooting with a hangover and four hours sleep. To be fair, it was my own damn fault. I hear-by decree that henceforth, Quad War will have 30-hour days, allowing maximum fun to be combined with a good night's sleep!
  
• An irritating 13-year old brat trying to instruct me in how to shoot a bow. Go away kid, you bother me.
  
• Scattered reports of crime.
  
• Absent friends.

I may expand on some of these points in subsequent posts. Stay tuned.