ModernChivalry.org
Main => The Campaign => Topic started by: Sir Edward on 2008-02-13, 21:18:56
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I just saw this announcement on myArmoury:
http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=12364 (http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=12364)
June 14th and 15th, 2008
Sandy Creek, New York
Event website:
http://www.freewebs.com/chivalricweekend/index.htm (http://www.freewebs.com/chivalricweekend/index.htm)
Looks pretty cool!
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FYI, I might go to this. Haven't decided yet. I technically have gone to all of the classes before: I was Christian's demo partner at WMAW for all of the same classes he's doing, and I participated in Greg's classes as well. But hey, there's always something new to learn, and its always good to reunite with old friends. Plus last year they apparently had a ton of antiques to examine, which likely will happen again.
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It looks like a really good time. Looking at the website, it appears to be an open list to sign up, but I wasn't clear on that. Since it's a Selohaar Fechtschule event with most of the slots reserved, I wasn't sure if it was restricted to invitees only.
It looks almost like a mini-WMAW. Very cool.
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Nah, it's not for Selohaar members only, though a large portion of the people are part of the Selohaar family. While it certainly won't be anywhere near the size and scope of WMAW, it still sounds like a lot of fun. I think I'm going to talk to Christian about it more when he visits before making up my mind.
If you decide to go, let me know.
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OK cool. I'll probably want to talk to him about it that weekend as well. Maybe we can carpool or something if I can manage it (I still have to work around pager duty of course) and decide that I'd like to go.
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Blast, blast, blast and double drat. That's Father's Day weekend. I don't think, "Dear, may I go camping and sword playing with the guys?" would go over very well for that weekend. :'(
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Blast, blast, blast and double drat. That's Father's Day weekend. I don't think, "Dear, may I go camping and sword playing with the guys?" would go over very well for that weekend. :'(
tell him he can rent the porn channel for the weekend and all should be forgiven. ;) jk, ehhehehehe
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Nah, the 18 year old and the 12 year old would enjoy that solution a little too much. :o
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:o :o :o :o :o hahahah my mistake ;)
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Blast, blast, blast and double drat. That's Father's Day weekend. I don't think, "Dear, may I go camping and sword playing with the guys?" would go over very well for that weekend. :'(
Yeah, I guess that wouldn't work. Man, poor timing I guess. It almost makes me wonder if it was planned that way intentionally so that all the guys can go without their wives giving them much of a hard time about it. :)
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So it looks like I'm going to this event!
Triple, nay, QUADRUPLE thanks go to Pamela for filling in and teaching my classes for that weekend!
I'll have to leave the event in the middle of Sunday, so I'll miss out on some things, but it should still be an excellent time.
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Triple, nay, QUADRUPLE thanks go to Pamela for filling in and teaching my classes for that weekend!
I think you'll owe me a beer and a full report for this one.
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Awesome! You'll have to let us all know how it turns out. Looks like a great time, but I don't think I'll be able to pull it together and go.
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I think you'll owe me a beer and a full report for this one.
You can just claim the drink from David. He seems to be gathering up quite a tab of beers that he owes me by this point!
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You can just claim the drink from David. He seems to be gathering up quite a tab of beers that he owes me by this point!
No way are you getting off that easy! I'd never get my beer. And I need a report too. :P
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So, any news? How was the event? Have any interesting stories to tell?
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ya bill whats the news! :)
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The news is that I'm exhausted. :) Got back really late last night (7.5 hour drive) and went straight to bed.
Had a great time. Lots of training, comraderie, and fun. Todd Sullivan, who hosted the event, was an amazing host. As Christian put it, Todd is a force of nature: He was *constantly* on the go in order to make the event run smoothly and keep everyone as happy as possible. The man's a true gentleman.
The classes were top notch. I technically have either taken them before at WMAW, or in Christian's case, I was the demo partner for them, but they were absolutely still worth going through again. Greg's Italian material was especially great for me, as I really enjoy learning more and more about the parallel tradition. His class on Fiore's Iron Gate guard was awesome, even to someone who's already done it.
Got to do a lot of "note trading" with other serious practioners. I also got to meet many more of Christian's students, which was a pleasure. And the round table discussion on Saturday night, situated around the large bonfire, was excellent.
Most importantly, of course, was the comraderie between classes: The discussions, the interpretations, and even the goofing around. Plus, Christian had a new toy, a prototype of a new A&A poleax. It's essentially their current warhammer, only with a long shaft and langets, and it was really awesome. I'm going to contact Craig about converting the one that I own.
I'm still recovering from the lack of sleep, and I've got to go teach in just a short while (today's the first day of summer camps), but I'll have pictures later.
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It sounds like you had a great time. Maybe I'll be able to aim towards attending in the future. I look forward to seeing the pictures!
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I've been looking over some of the 2008 gallery: http://www.freewebs.com/chivalricweekend/2008gallery.htm (http://www.freewebs.com/chivalricweekend/2008gallery.htm)
It looks like it was a blast! I'd have loved to see some of the period originals that were there. Not to mention all of the camaraderie and so forth, as I imagine it was much like WMAW, just smaller. It's a shame I didn't get to go.
Hah, there's a picture of Pete Kautz without his sunglasses. I'm amazed. :)
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Yeah, here's the link to the photos that Todd Sullivan took:
http://www.freewebs.com/chivalricweekend/2008gallery.htm
There are far more than what I have, and they generally are much better than what I took as well. That was a really good event.
Hah, there's a picture of Pete Kautz without his sunglasses. I'm amazed. :)
You know why he always wears the sunglasses? They're eye protection for when he's teaching. I always thought that was a smart idea.
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Definitely a good idea. And much more stylish than safety goggles! :) Not like I'd ever actually pick on someone for wearing sunglasses a lot. :)
Oops, I posted that same photo link in my previous message, but used the "image" button instead of the "hyperlink" button. Fixed.
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The more I think back on this event, the more I'm starting to miss it. :)
It certainly isn't the same scale as WMAW, but it had the same spirit. There was a round table discussion on Saturday night around the bonfire, lead by Christian and Greg, which began with the question of why it is we do what we do. This was guided into the discussion of morality, ethical behaviour, and what Chivalric Arts mean in the modern world. This is a topic that can sometimes come across as a little hokey and cheesey, but it was treated with a gravity and respect that it deserves, and there were a number of very heartfelt commentaries throughout the discussion. The one thing that really hit home for me was just how strong our ties are in this community, and so much of this common bond is how these Chivalric arts tend to draw out some of the best in people.
I came to WMA because I like swords. But I stay because of the people I've met through it.
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I think you summed up my feelings quite nicely. I'm really sorry that I missed the round table. That is a discussion I would truly like to have listened in on. (I would have been too shy to say anything, but I would have been all ears.)
And, as far as the people I've met, well, I won't get too mushy here, but <punch on the shoulder for all of you>, I think y'all know how important you've become to me.
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Absolutely, I agree. I've been extremely impressed with the whole community. I've been a part of many different online communities before, but this community transcends the online aspects and tends to build some very real face to face friendships.
I know what you mean about how some of the discussion could, on the surface, sound hokey to those outside of it. But I know what you mean, and I really regret having missed the Round Table. Chivalric ideals and arts definitely have a place in the modern world, even if for most people the context and details are different than they were in period.
I'd probably have mostly listened, like Pamela, with perhaps one or two comments added in here and there. I have a tendency to be much more eloquent in writing than in person, and even then not usually on short notice. I can't think fast enough during a live discussion, so my shy side takes over. :) (but then, I have this odd fascination with "kicking the bee hive", so to speak)
I'd have loved to take part in that.
We need to have some relatively local round tables or something. :)
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We need to have some relatively local round tables or something. :)
That's a really really good idea. 8) I have so many thoughts on this subject that bounce in and out of my head like a pinball table on tilt. I would enjoy hearing others with similar ideals put them into words. I haven't been able to find a way to phrase my thoughts in order to accurately convey them to others.
Warning Labyrinth reference ahead...I'm sure I'm making it far too complicated in my head. After all "Say the right words," turned out to be remarkably simple.
Das Bill started a thread on this topic quite some time ago: http://modernchivalry.org/forum/index.php/topic,87.0.html
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Hello folks,
Thanks, Bill, for the kind words on the event. And thanks again for coming - your presence added much to the enterprise and on many levels.
Indeed, a round table discussion of this sort could come off as hokum, if not done carefully. But, ironically, when we do such things at Selohaar gathers at home, where everyone's in garb, they're run much the same way as this past weekend's discourse was.
I think this has much to do with the "backward looking" nature of chivalry in all its incarnations. Knights and writers expounding on the chivalric ideal, in the 14th century, harkened back to the mythical days of Arthur, or the earlier historic days of the crusader Godfroi de Bouillon, for exemplars of what it meant to be a noble man of arms. Undoubtedly, they did this in the language of their day, rather than trying to 'act' as if they were those characters. So there's always been a combination of drawing from the past while finding a voice for the present, whether one was sitting in discourse at the court of Edward III or sitting around a fire in 21st upstate New York.
All the best,
Christian
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I think this has much to do with the "backward looking" nature of chivalry in all its incarnations. Knights and writers expounding on the chivalric ideal, in the 14th century, harkened back to the mythical days of Arthur, or the earlier historic days of the crusader Godfroi de Bouillon, for exemplars of what it meant to be a noble man of arms. Undoubtedly, they did this in the language of their day, rather than trying to 'act' as if they were those characters. So there's always been a combination of drawing from the past while finding a voice for the present, whether one was sitting in discourse at the court of Edward III or sitting around a fire in 21st upstate New York.
Very much agreed.
It is unfortunately very "trendy" these days to look at something which is idealistic and to tear it down into something base. This is true of many historians, many college professors, many elements of pop culture, and even many Joe Schmoes who think tearing such things down make them "counter-culture" and therefore smarter than everyone else. :) At one point in my life, I used to buy into it, even if deep down inside I was more idealistic than what I paid lip service to.
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Looks like it was a grand time indeed.
Really enjoyed the photos from the event.
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We need to have some relatively local round tables or something. :)
That's a really really good idea. 8) I have so many thoughts on this subject that bounce in and out of my head like a pinball table on tilt. I would enjoy hearing others with similar ideals put them into words. I haven't been able to find a way to phrase my thoughts in order to accurately convey them to others.
Well, I think Bill needs to buy a house with a grand hall, and a large circular table in the middle.
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Well, I think Bill needs to buy a house with a grand hall, and a large circular table in the middle.
Heh, I wish. :) Its looking like I'm going with a townhouse at this point: All the houses that end up in my price range either get scooped up in seconds, or there's a bidding war and the price goes way above what I can afford.
But townhouse or detached, you can bet I'm going to be hosting some small events with certain select people invited. Certainly not Pamela, though. *ANYONE* but Pamela. ;)
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But townhouse or detached, you can bet I'm going to be hosting some small events with certain select people invited. Certainly not Pamela, though. *ANYONE* but Pamela. ;)
Good thing, too. If I was invited, I wouldn't come. :P
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And, I won't bring food either. :P
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Bill...I found you...harharhar
I know this is a late post and I know I'm new to this forum but I wanted to thank Bill, belated, for attending Chivalric Weekend. I hope I made you as comfortable as possible? Bill shared a large tent with Christian Darce of Purpleheart armouries...military cot and sleeping bag. Thank you for making the drive...except that he missed my driveway and I had to run out into the county road and jump up and down.
Chivalric Weekend 2009, or "CW09" as many are calling it, is in the works and I bet you'll never guess who is going to be an intructor? pssst Bill pssst
Bill...(William Shatner overtone) I...HAVE...A...PLAN. My 20 year old son will be a disignated driver for CW09. I am hiring him to stay in one location at the house and be available to drive. I'm thinking of having all the instructors stay a close hotel. Whenever the instructor or intructors are ready, my son Jon, will take them to the hotel as well as pick you and others up. Back and forth, as much as they need. A good nights rest is important. Greg has allergies and the first night my cat slept on his head, he awoke with watery, swollen eyes, I felt horrible.
A first in any WMA event will happen at CW09...Pete Kautz (who lives an hour from me) has agreed to (after having a dream) to wear historical clothing as an instructor at CW09! He is teaching German Dagger and wrestling. Hmmm what for him to wear? I was thinking cottons and codepiece.
Yes the round table was very nice and it was over too soon, I was just starting to settle in, enjoying the fire and conversation. I did get a little over emotional but I think it was from stress and the mead didn't help any. Honestly, simply wonderful people that attended, over 60. Bill is very graceful and Bill, Greg and Christian are the type of gentlemen a man/women of chivalric values wants to surround themselves with.
I am always available to anwser question about the event, just give me a jingle.
Yes there will be antiques again.
Yours and Cheers,
Todd Sullivan
Lake Ontario Fechtschule
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Pete Kautz? In a codpiece? :o I am so there!
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It's good to see you here, Todd! :) I'm sorry I wasn't able to attend this year. I keep hearing about how wonderful the event was. Next year might be a bit tight since I think I'm looking at at least two other vacations already. But I'd love to make it out there and have a great weekend with all of the folks.