ALEP: More than just a long expected party

Holly and Kelly: I would also add sister bonding, music, weekend, unity and silly things to the labels part of this blog, but the label section cut me off after 200 characters. So much for that. Anyway, YES. This was the weekend of ALEP: A Long Expected Party. Now what was it? Fun, fellowship, geeking out, costumes, music, food, dancing, skits, workshops and PEOPLE. Lots of people! From all over the country and in some parts of the world...mostly Canada. It started this past Wednesday and concluded yesterday, and most people bought passes for the entire couple of days. As for the two of us, because we didn't know what we were going to be doing work wise and schedule wise, we opted for a Saturday day pass (bear in mind, we made these reservations 18 months ago. Not even joking. You wouldn't believe how fast spots filled up) And we're going to try and get some friends to come with us in 2017!!!!

We arrived Friday night around 7PM and checked into our room. Little did we know that's when the adventure would begin. We stayed in the West Lot Dwelling, which if you've ever been to Shaker Village, you know that....well, it's kind of out there. A mile and a half out there, away from the main part of the village. By the time we arrived it was starting to get dark. We got in the car and drove to the house, couldn't see the sign (which we figured out later that that was it) and then realized maybe we missed it and drove back to the main part of the village. We walked around for over an hour, going into the different houses where people stayed, desperately trying to find our room! Then, it dawned on me, maybe the building we saw the first time was it. So we drove allllllllllllll the way back out there (and it was dark by this point) and went to the first building we found, and sure enough, that was it. Holly's room key had two keys on it and mine only had one; the check in person at the desk said that she didn't need the second key but said to just keep it there so they wouldn't have to worry about it. We got to the West Lot house and the door was locked. I told her "try that other key the desk person said was useless" and sure enough, that spare key opened the side door. Thank GOODNESS we had it, otherwise we would have been stuck. So we moved all our stuff in, got settled and drove BACK to the main area, chilled out at the Dancing Pony, met a few people and that was the end of Friday. There were lots of catchy drinking songs; yes we have videos but they are too big and Blogger doesn't like that.

Saturday was a beautiful day! We got up early and I (Kelly) went downstairs to the kitchen and fumbled around trying to figure out how to use the complimentary coffee maker. It worked, after about 5 minutes of tinkering with it. Once we got to the main village, we just walked around, since nothing started till 10 in the morning and we got up there at like 9ish. It was nice to look around, explore and actually see all the sites in daylight! We ran into a few people we met the night before and bought some cool little trinkets (and I bought an Evenstar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Right before lunch time we went to a workshop by an artist who showcased various paintings and sketches of Middle Earth from the beginning of it until the fourth age (the end of Middle Earth). Oh. My Goodness. Beautiful and stunning artwork....kinda wish we would have snagged some pictures of them. After lunch was a bit of chill time before we decided to join the Hobbit choir. Our selections were May it Be and The Road Goes Ever On, which is from the musical. Yes, there is a LOTR musical and apparently will be world touring next year. Wee.

The big party was at the site where our house was we were staying at, so we took naps! The party site looked pretty much dead-on to Bilbo's birthday party in Fellowship. There was also a Bag End site that was built by two of the coordinators of ALEP. Let me tell you it is a SPOT ON replica (pictured below). Holly also did a Bag End painting about a year ago...it's in our den :)

So anyway, thus the party began. It was all outside and there were tables and chairs set up under lights and paper lanterns. Like I said, it looked exactly like Hobbiton. We were joined at a table with the only person we knew at the time and met lots of other awesome people! What was so interesting was that we were some of the youngest attendees, with the exception of a few families who brought their young children. At this party, there was AWESOME food, music (major kudos to the Great Hobbit Jam Band) and a HILARIOUS skit near the end. I would post my video, but Lord of the peepers took over and its sound quality is a bit rubbish, but I still have it for my enjoyment. Holly has a video as well, but its watchers may endure a grand mal seizure in an attempt to view it. Anyway, after the sun went down it got a bit chilly but there were gracious individuals who were warm hearted...and also had a few matches to spare for some lanterns that had tea lights in them. After a final parting song, we made our way back to the Dancing Pony again where we chatted, nibbled and had some lovely tea and used our new tea pots. Then it turned into a mini bar where a bit of drunken foolishness occurred and we left. This was at about 1AM and we got back to our room and craaaaaaaaashed. 

Sunday was very lovely. We arose a bit early, packed up our room and drove to the main village again. Debbie, who we knew and goes to our church and told us about this in the first place, led a mini church service so to speak. None of us were expecting a good turnout but actually about 20 people showed up! We sang, prayed and Debbie shared a devotional that she wrote, and it was lovely. After mini church, we stayed around for a bit and watched a fan made movie called The Hunt for Gollum. For being done by fans, it was really well done! The cinematography was stunning! Then we drove home, and on the way home my GPS got a bit wonky and we ended up driving through Danville. It was a nice detour to say the least. So there you have it. ALEP in a nut shell. Overall, the time was too short. It was too fast. We met a lot of awesome people, some only briefly, but there is no doubt we will meet again. It was more than just a bunch of costumes, dancing and food. It was a retreat, so to speak. A revamping of it all, not necessarily an escape, but a respite. It was different and special. And on that note, we will close with this: 

I (Holly) wrote this in my journal last night, and I think it captures the spirit and mentality of the weekend perfectly.  Until 2017...

I met so many wonderful people, all from such vast and different walks of life.  And yet, despite our differences, backgrounds, characters of choice, we were all bonded and united by this one love of this brilliant soul and his magical world that will forever captivate us...I pray for a continued, prolonged sense of wonder, that we will establish our own Shires, wherever we may be, and that we will never, ever lose sight of not only the time spent together this weekend, but of the One who made it all possible in the first place.

Something funny....or a few funny things.

Kelly: So today we thought it would be funny if we tickled our funny bones. Not that either of us have had a bad day/week, but still. Sometimes you just need to post some random funny things. Plus we just watched a pretty intense episode of Doctor Who...go figure. MOFFAT! The first funny bit is from a series 5 episode titled The Lodger. It was my favorite from the season, but overall I thought the season was just kind of meh. I thought this episode was witty, fun and cute. This bit made me laugh so much.

Have some rent

Then today, I re-watched the movie Holes, which is one I watched often growing up. I remember seeing it in theaters when it came out with Holly and our mom. GET ME A WRENCH, READ MY LIPS, GET ME A WRENCH! So many good one liners. Found myself quoting it often, but yes. An all around good movie. Ok so most of our funny stuff is pertaining to Doctor Who, but oh well. Enjoy it anyway. I also stumbled upon something on Facebook that was trending. Apparently Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen have been in New York for quite some time working on a play....sadly I can't remember which one. Anyway, they posted this ridiculous but hilarious compilation of pictures from their trip. I have posted the link below.

Patrick and Ian in New York


Holly: I like laughing.  It's one of my favorite things to do.  We hope you enjoy our funny things :)

Can you hold? I have to eat a biscuit.

And this (fun fact: the first season with the Eleventh Doctor, as I just learned, aired four years ago TODAY.  Wow, time flies.  We were still in school)

Fish fingers and custard

I haven't stopped laughing at this in about a week.

This last video was from a sermon a few Sundays ago.  But it's so relevant to life! 

Procrastination

The Band Years

Kelly: Maybe it's because it's Christmas. Or maybe it's the fact that I'm graduating college in almost four months. I'm not entirely sure why, but Holly and I have been thinking a lot about our marching band years. We strapped on ridiculously hideous and hot uniforms, piled onto a small school bus and traveled all across the state to football games and/or competitions. And we did this willingly. Every Friday and/or Saturday from the end of August until the beginning of November for 6 years. And we LOVED it.

I remember when I was a little girl, getting dragged to high school football games. I would only go to see the band play. "Mom, I want to be in the band!" I remember seeing the local college at their homecoming parade. "Mom, I want to be in the 110 someday." In 7th grade, Holly and I both had a choice to make. Prior to 7th grade, we had both done gymnastics for a few years. The choice was ours; either continue with gymnastics or quit and pursue marching band. When I look back on it now, I realize that the choice was obvious...since I didn't think I was that good at gymnastics. I was not meant to be a gymnast; I was meant to be a band geek! So many fond and wonderful memories of high school were usually associated with the time I did marching band. The places we traveled to, the conversations we had, the sometimes drama that occurred, the friends I made and the experiences I gathered. Nothing can even hold a candle to what I experienced for those number of years. It's sad to say though, now that I'm in college I don't think about band as often as I used to; I haven't picked up my clarinet in almost four years. I'm not even sure I'd remember how to play it. As I look it's still sitting in its case behind my bed. It's not that I've forgotten about band, but I'm sad to say that that part of my life is over and has been for quite some time now. But I have not nor will not forget all that I did and the wonderful fun times I had. When I graduate in May, I'm writing something very special on my hat that I have carried with me.

"DO IT!"

Holly: We managed to summarize six years of insanity into a navy blue three-inch binder, packed with programs from competitions, our show music, pictures, random fliers, etc.  We call it our band book.  It's in our pile of stuff that's going back with us to Berea.

We endured horrendously hot uniforms, unflattering polos that were at least two sizes too large, uncomfortable shoes that were at least a size too small; shoes that felt every crack, crevice, stone, and grass.  We waited on "the band guy" whenever there was a ding, scratch, or missing key in our instruments (I particularly relied on him after I literally fell on my flute.....THAT'S another story! lol).  We heard the Mountain Dew story about 15 times.  The crazy weeks at band camp, staying up way too late and doing stuff that need not leave the walls of the dorms.  Blistering sun, pouring rain, snow, hail, freezing cold...sometimes all in the same day (Riverview, anybody???).  A concession was deemed good if it had something other than hot dogs and burgers (Cowtails, large dill pickles, and Sour Skittles were our favorites).  If your throat wasn't sore and raw by the end of a competition night, be it from screaming or laughing, you weren't doing it right.  We bagged on Waterford all the time.  Our leadership meeting senior year wasn't much of a meeting...it was comprehending how in the world we were going to carry on our Fed Hock band legacy without our "Big Papa" and his tent.  It was at a football game in Belpre my junior year when I found out that one of my best guy friends liked me back.  We met our best friend through band; almost 10 years later, we're still friends.   The small door of the RCA Dome in Indianapolis opened for the first time as we stepped onto the field for our pre-show at Bands of America Grand Nationals, and all of us wondered how we ended up there.  That dang dog whistle will forever be the bane of my existence.

I don't really know how to close all of this, other than the fact that the stories we could tell would go on for years on end, and the memories will last even longer.

From the New Year...and the new internet!

Holly: This new fantastic post is brought to you by NEW WIRELESS INTERNET at our charming Ohio home!!! Yippee! :D  I hope that, so far, everyone is enjoying 2012...it has been mighty busy here for all of us.  The parentals have started back up at their teaching posts, I am seeing the world through a new pair of eyes (new glasses!), and there are two birthdays this week: Nala (the dog) tomorrow is turning 4 and our dad's birthday the day after...we won't disclose his age, but let's just say he doesn't look it, at all!

This year is promising to bring some exciting changes for many that I know.  For me, at least, this is my graduation year! I am so excited!!!! I can't wait to be finished with school and be on my own living with my sister while she finishes school! I keep having happy dreams about this glorious May day and, although I ended last semester on sort of a bad note grades wise, I am confident to kick my final fall semester in the !@#$%^&*.  :]

How did you all ring in 2012? We'd love to hear! 

For us, we spent the night/new year with our dear best friend (we've been friends for ages), drinking sparkling grape juice and ruining her house with homemade paper confetti.  We then dug up an old marching band DVD and laughed until it hurt, reminiscing and marveling at our 15-year-old selves all decked out in our less-than-attractive band garb! Now, for resolutions, I normally don't make them, but this year, since it is my graduation year, I decided to.  I have two...just two:

1. No C's on my transcript for my last semester at Berea!
2. When life gets stressful, break out into ridiculously bad dancing.  Obnoxious pop music optional.

Kelly: First off, I feel like it's Christmas all over again. I can now do homework at home when I am actually here, watch TV and movies and keep in touch with our family here when we are away! Brilliant, huh? Ah, the beauty of technology. I am going to keep my part very brief so I can enjoy this new internet and await the arrival of the parents from getting home. I also have two resolutions.

1. Not let myself get so overwhelmed. Last semester was INSANE, and this semester isn't looking any easier. But I overcame, so this time around I am just going to take things one at a time. That's all you can do sometimes.
2. Simple: be more aware of the choices I make. This includes what I eat, how I use my free time, how I use my internet free time, etc. Seems simple, but you would not believe how easy I just let time waste by just sitting and staring at my vacant computer screen. We'll see how this goes!!!!

Yay for the first 2012 post. Tomorrow we will post our bucket lists that we wrote before 2011 ended. 

We met Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood! :D What did YOU do today?

Holly: I'm still reeling from the last four hours of my life.  My head still hurts from laughing so hard!  Tonight was the night that Kelly and I have been eagerly waiting for.  Yes, tonight....WAS THE COLIN AND BRAD SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what I was expecting, but it was phenomenally better than I could have possibly imagined! I was literally laughing every five seconds, laughing so hard at some points that I thought I was either going to hyperventilate or my head was going to explode!  But shhhh, we managed to sneak in a couple of vids (which will be on tomorrow...maybe....Kelly??).

For me, though, the most memorable part of the event was that I was actually called up to go on stage and do a scene with them!!!! The audience may not have known it, but I was terrified!!  And trying not to panic, because I was looking straight at Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood!  And excited (because, hey, I was like 2 feet away from COLIN MOCHRIE AND BRAD FREAKING SHERWOOD!).  Like...they shook my hand! AAH! :D  But anyway, the game involved the audience members (me and three others) completing Colin and Brad's sentences whenever they signaled us.  According to my friends, I was the funniest one out of all of them, but, personally, I think I was horrible!  Being on stage for however long I was up there...it felt like forever...and being put on the spot was so difficult! Having said that, I applaud (and admire moreso) Colin and Brad for just being sheer comedic GENIUSES!  That's it. 
After the show Kelly and I waited in line to meet them/have them sign stuff/have our picture with them!  They are so nice!! And Colin is so adorably shy! :)  I told him that Kelly and I were twins, and he said, "Oh are you?"  AAH! :D

One of my favorite games they did was called "Crime" (I think?), and what happened is that Colin left the room and Brad had the audience shout out the randomest things in order to devise a "crime" for Colin to commit.  However, since Colin didn't know anything we were saying, Brad served as the interrogator and had Colin try to guess our sillyness, word for word.  And he did!  This is what we, the collective audience, came up with:

On November 18th, 2011, Colin Mochrie admitted to mailing a hamburger to India and peeing in the playground at nighttime, in Big Bone Lick, at Zeke's Otter Farm and Tattoo Shop, whilst leaving behind at the scene a "murse" (man purse) and Uncle Willy's Special Blend. 
No, I didn't just make that up. 

This night is going to be a hard one to top.   I'm just sayin'. 

Kelly: I still remember what I was doing when Holly told me she ordered the tickets; I was still 3,000 miles away gallivanting in beautiful Scotland. I still remember when Holly first called me and told me they were going to be in Richmond. "Kelly, are you sitting down?" "....yes, why, what's going on?" "Ok, just listen. I was looking at their website...and Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood are going to be in Richmond on November 18." *drops phone and screams*

It seemed so far away at the time when I received this call, which was in early July. And now, the fun-filled night is over. I'm so very sad that this night is indeed over, yet very glad it happened at the same time. I had....NO idea what to expect, but it was 10000000x better than what I expected. Seeing sis on stage too was definitely near the top of the list; she did so great!! I'm a proud sister! ^__^

Definitely the top part of the night came at then end when we got to meet them. Both were very friendly and were willing to put up with me trying to not act crazy. I think I scared Colin a little bit too; when I get really nervous, I just babble and talked about stupid stuff. I asked if they were both all right and were reeling from the dreaded mouse traps. I could barely watch; it made me cringe. Brad warmly told me it made them cringe too. WHY then, good sirs. WHY???? So we got our geeky fan pic, I shook their hands, put my coat on and that was it. Just like that; the night was over. This night was exactly what I needed. This night, whenever I am angry or sad or whatever, will be engrained in my mind to help me get through. This night will stick in my memory as I lay my head down momentarily to sleep. This night will stick with me throughout tomorrow as I have my...2nd MRI done and it will help me to remember the good times. Thank you, Colin and Brad, from the very bottom of my heart. Cheers!!

No picture will ever be this awesome

Holly, our friend Ray and me. Just arriving at the Center

The after show meet and greet. We were so nervous!!!

The moment you've all been waiting for!!!!!!!!

Love this.

Holly on stage with the guys!!!!!!!!