Well here we are approaching our last weekend at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival for the '08 season and we're having fun.

Last weekend - our first of two - was downright fun! The Globe Stage turned out to be excellent - the crowds were big (especially on Saturday) and the shows a "hoot". I enjoyed playing my Bladivarius at the opening with my musical friends at the Gazebo by the Front Gate and had a delightful time playing on the streets with all the patrons and denizens of Mt. Hope. I really enjoy the queen here, such a fun and caring person!

Thanks to everyone who came out to see our show, and thanks to all of you who got our "stuff" - it helps keep "Blind Dog" rolling! Thanks!

I believe our schedule is the same for this weekend. We'll be on the Globe at 12, 3, and 4:30 and at the Swashbuckler (up by the bar) for the Weird Show at 5:45 - The weather doesn't look nearly as bad as predicted so come on out and enjoy the Oktoberfest Weekend with us before we head for the Carolina Renaissance Festival beginning next weekend.

I am sticking around for a few days - there is a RESCU rally on Tuesday after the student day - Gary Mazzu, Jim Hancock and I will be MC-ing and performing some classic rock n roll tunes - plus I'm going to be playing "Wall" in a production of Pyramus and Thisbee from a Midsummer Night's Dream - should be a lot of fun. Here's hoping we raise a bunch of money for our favorite charity! If you'd like to help (in an easy way) please use Goodsearch for your internet searches. Money will be donated to RESCU if you use this service, www.goodsearch.com, and list RESCU as your charity of choice. Check out RESCU at www.rescufoundation.com

BLIND DOG NEWS

We've all been working hard on "Danger" - and it is becoming something wonderful - Jose and I did some "looping" this week, and we received the score for part 3 from Kelly Stallard - she is wonderful! Keep in touch and we'll keep you all up to date.

OTHER STUFF

I must get on a soap box here for a moment. Even though we exist in a world that portrays a Monarchy (the world of Renaissance Festivals) as a wonderful and enlightened form of government - we must remember that we actually live in a Democracy (ok, a Republic) which functions best if everyone participates. Many many people throughout time have struggled, suffered and even died achieving the "right to vote". Within my living memory people in this nation have struggled for this right.

Please vote. Don't think that your vote does not count - it does.

On the way to Scarborough Faire

Greetings faithful readers, fans and friends! Here's hoping that life is bringing you much joy!

Well, Arizona is at an end for 2008 and Scarborough opens in but a few days. The Arizona run was truly great this season. SO much fun! SO many folks came and laughed and chatted and laughed again. We had near perfect weather (some chilly and some gusty days) and near perfect attendance. I think we broke records, if not, we at least came close. We met some new people and made some new friends.

We got to know the new (young) whip-master Adam Crack (not his real name thank God!). We even got involved with him at the festival's in-house talent show. Don Juan, I, Adam and Ricki and Jef (Tortugas) performed a "whip ballet" on a Saturday night - complete with pinks Tu-tus and blond wigs while Frank (Cast in Bronze) performed a disturbing version of the Blue Danube Waltz on the carollon! It went over swimmingly and should be posted on You Tube sometime in the near future. I'll let you know the details when I find them out.

Yes, all-in-all Arizona was a lot of fun. I love being neighbors with Hey Nunnie Nunnie!, Fool Hearty, Clan Tinker, the jousters and more. I cherish our early morning coffee clutches - so much laughter, so many fine ideas shared. SO much love expressed - it's truly a gift.

And now I'm "on the road again". Travelling from my home near Kingman to Waxahachie. Alas alack my truck broke down in Tucumcari! (poop!). The dealership here says they will have it fixed today (Wednesday) and I should be on the road again later this afternoon. We'll see. At least I have time to work on the Blog! I had lunch at a terrific local place called "Dell's". If you drive through Tucumcari (off of US 40) - I'd recommend it. Good food, nice folks, lovely atmosphere! A few friends (Hey Nunnie Nunnie) are behind me and have offered their help. Hopefully I won't need it. If I'm not at Scarborough Saturday, you'll all know why. Actually - as my Mom used to say "Come Hell or high water I'll be there!"

An update on the Tucumcari stop-over. My truck was fixed. And is being fixed again. Luckily I was only ten miles out of town when the problem reared its head again. Seems like I need a fuel pump. Ah well. Tucumcari Tonight!

Oh, I do want to put in my two cents about the upcoming presidential elections. It's interesting to me that we at Renaissance Festivals represent a time of Monarchy. You know, Democracy is really a much better idea. So, this coming November, please exercise a "right" that millions of people on this planet wished they had, and that is the right to vote. Please VOTE!

Sterling's Season ends...Pennsylvania begins

Greetings good friends.

I am sitting in a lovely house in Mt. Gretna, PA getting ready for the big plunge into the world of "post" for "I Sense Danger" - our latest flick.

First of all I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you who came to visit The Sterling festival this year. It was, all-in-all, a lovely, if bittersweet season. As many of you know, the fate of the festival is still up in the air, so we know little, at this time, of the future. I do recall, though, this was a season of lovely weather and of a community pulling together. Christmas in July was a big hit this year, as was "Formal Bocci" - two lovely traditions that Sterling has managed to keep alive in these cynical times. I must give a big Kudo to Frank Cardillo who organized a lovely reading for the Christmas ceremony. And Kudos to Matthew Purcell for his fine service at "Formal Bocci".

The actual weekends of Sterling have already become a blur, which is the nature of the beast in this world....as we leave a place it is like leaving Lothlorien of The Lord of the Rings...a shadow falls and the colors change. I remember Gordy's (Scratch's) final "Auld Lang Syne" poem, and the final Saturday's speech by Michael Reilly (Cardinal Talini) and the last Sunday's speech by Gary Izzo himself, our "Steward of Warwick". Frankly I haven't been as moved by a final speech since Bodge! I hope someone got it on tape (audibly) and will share it on You Tube!

Our first weekend at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival in Mt. Hope started with a brutally hot and humid Saturday...the festival closed about a half-hour early due to encroaching and approaching lightning and thunderstorms. Sunday was a much nicer day, and this weekend protends to be a beauty. We'll be at the End Game Stage four times daily starting at noon - come see us!

R.E.S.C.U Rally! The Sterling community hosted its first RESCU rally at the Tea Emporium on east First in Oswego, NY this past Summer. A great success! And a charity we should all promote.

Blind Dog Stuff:

We finally have seen a near to perfect pic-loc of the new Don Juan and Miguel® Adventure: "I Sense Danger". It is lovely, humorous and fun! I can't wait to see the sound, fx, and score finished. We're looking at a January deadline.

Our new DVD "An Inside Look" should be out in the next couple of weeks - This is a really cool back stage look into the creation of The Don Juan and Miguel® Show. We are in the final stages of authoring the DVD and getting the artwork together. Keep your eyes peeled on our websites for further updates and ordering information.

Sarah Marie Mullen's new CD "Harper's Bizarre" will be available this coming weekend at the Bristol Renaissance Festival from Sarah herself! This is a great new CD - experimental and lovely with bunches of original tunes! I love it! It'll be available on our website in a week or so.

The new docu-comedy from Hey Nunnie Nunnie!: "Pull My Finger" is going gangbusters! We've had oodles of positive feedback. This is a great glimpse into the people that inhabit "Mother Redempta" and "Sister Philomena Claire". They will be at the Maryland festival for the next few weekends. If you're in the area, check 'em out.

Well, that's all for now. I, again, will try to update this more often - but I make no promises. It's so hard to write while life is happening!

Be well, my friends. Have days of Spirit and Laughter, Contemplation, Joy and good works.

Doug