Over this past weekend, Stacy and I went to the Renaissance Festival with Kinsey and Jasmine, and many of the events that happened there were definitely journal-worthy.

First of all, there was the pickle boy (a.k.a. one of the guys who sells huge pickles - my dad bought one). Kinsey took a picture of him (pickle boy, not my dad) posing scandalously with a giant plywood pickle.

Secondly, people kept commenting on my fedora, which I wore to the Festival and which was apparently noticeable in the medieval setting. Some shopkeeper threw me a free shotglass because of it ("Hey, you . . . the one with the hat!"). At least two other vendors praised my hat.

Speaking of hats, I finally purchased a top hat. It was pretty expensive, but it was cheaper than the toppers I could find elsewhere. I also bought some feathers for my fedora, and in my opinion, it looks schnazzy. To say I am thrilled would be an understatement.

Also, some guy was dressed as a Star Wars Storm Trooper. He must've telepathically hoiked Jasmine's idea of dressing up in a futuristic space-related outfit.

Oh, yes, and the jousting was entertaining as usual. We sat on the opposite side of the lists as we did last year, but we managed to end up rooting for the same guy (Sir William), who managed to win this time. Maybe Jasmine's sonic-boom screaming had something to do with that. And I was happy that Sir Victor didn't have the good horse this year.

After the jousting, Stacy, Jasmine, and I rode an elephant while Kinsey took our picture.

Later on, we sat around for a while watching some people play chess on the giant chess board. Jasmine and another person were very irritated when one of the players failed to see a move which would have put the other player in check-mate.

Kinsey, Stacy, and I forgot to show Jasmine the fencing rings. She says she hates us now, although I'm pretty sure she took her revenge out on me during the car ride by tickling me to near-death.

(By the way, Jasmine, I thought I had finished that Star Trek fanfic you recommended, but I just realized that it has 33 chapters. I have a lot of reading ahead of me. This had better be good.)

Live long and prosper, you filthy peasants.