Summer Solstice 2015

Sadly I spent most of last week home sick, thanks to that large bug bite, which just got worse. And my body really hates it when I take antihistamines. When awake, which wasn't often, I couldn't even walk in a straight line while holding onto the wall. Thankfully by Friday I was feeling better and could stop the drugs. And I now do not leave the apartment with being covered in bug repellant! I haven't put pictures of the bite up because frankly it was gross! (And never google pictures of bug bites especially when you have one - it will freak you out.)

Saturday was another of Blacksburgs Summer festival. Last weekend was the Summer Solstice Festival. After checking the weather forecast, I went early, as it opened. It seems everyone else had the same idea. We are having a lot of thunderstorms at the moment, thanks to the high temperatures. I don't mind the storms. Some are very dramatic and they usually come and go quickly, refreshing things. Not so keen when caught out in one though, which has happened a few times. Soaked in seconds.

Anyway, the weather was good for the first part. The festival is great if you have kids; if not, it's nice to be outside. They have a lot of different stalls and displays.

Karate demo. 

I want to play 

Elsa.

I caught the part of flea circus again.

Starting soon

Showing me Paddy, the flea.

I didn't stay for the whole thing as I couldn't see much. Anyway I have seen it before.
They also had a petting zoo, which was free last time. This time you had to pay. So no thanks.

Llama

 They even had a Blacksburg Hackers group

Hackers 

Tech

 Like I said there are tones of things for kids.

arts and crafts art.

Water balloon fighting 

Marshmallow launchers

 The area for adults was near the stage and you could get drinks. But I decided at $5 a glass of mediocre wine to go for the cheaper lemonade instead.

Steel drum band

 I took a closer look at Black House as well. They have been renovating for a while and I haven't had a chance to check it out. It looks great.

Black House and Cultural Centre

 I only stuck around for an hour before checking out the Saturday market (and getting a great deal on fresh greens) and heading home. It was perfect timing as I was just getting home when the rain started. Later I saw Jurassic World and had dinner with a friend. If you haven't seen the movie, the dinosaurs are great. But be prepared for some of the more stupid scenes. And the characters in the original are 100 times better.

Today was my last time at RAD class. :-(

last RAD class

In the photo, I am hiding to the right of the Hokie bird, thankfully a little blurry - it was a tough work out and I look like it! I am already aching. Tomorrow... ouch!

 I think RAD may be the thing I miss most about leaving Blacksburg. I have loved taking the classes and helping out where I can. And the instructors are just simply awesome!!!!!! I wish I could stay in the States and take the course to become an instructor myself. Maybe sometime. 

Take Back the Night rally

Thursday night was the Take Back the Night rally in Blacksburg. This is a world wide organization which fights for the end to gender-based violence.
It started with music and speeches. I got up and spoke about RAD and my experiences. There were a lot more people there than I thought there would be so it was a little nerve wracking. The theatre filled and it contains 510 seats. All seats filled and people were standing around the edge. And the stairs getting to the stage were lethal!

Stage

Only some of the crowd - the hall completely filled and people were standing

VT President Sands

 There was music and speeches by VT groups.

Acapulco. 

The plan, after all the speeches, was to march around campus. However this is Blacksburg after all and the weather had other ideas. Most of us were ok with a little rain but it was pouring down. And then the lightning started. (Some of the banners had metal poles.) So they marched through Squires (the student centre) instead.

On the move

Take back the night

Ending the march

My Radio Debut!

On Sunday, I went to a RAD (self defense) class and after made my radio debut on the RLRONation radio show. I would like to think they asked me for my dazzling wit and genius. But honestly their original guest cancelled as she was sick and I happened to be at the RAD class and have been a lot so they know me. :-) And I figured I have a face for radio so why not?

With John, Nicole and Kenny.

It was interesting to see the studio etc. And the whole thing was a lot of laughs! The officers (John, Nicole and Kenny) are a great group and have awesome senses of humor. So it was spent laughing. They were doing a Meatloaf special so I got to sing along to the songs. (Once I was sure the mic wasn't on. No one needs to hear that!) It was part of the radiothon to raise money for the station and we raised at least $650. Again, I would love to think it was my startling wit but no! :-) Nicole has like a thousand relatives in the area who all called in.

After the show I got driven around in a police car (thankfully a first, and hopefully only, for me) and slightly kidnapped. But then they took me to Taco Bell for dinner so all good. :-) Not how I had planned to spend my afternoon/evening but it sure beats working!

RAD class

The past few weeks I have been taking a self defense class through the uni, called Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) and I convinced Cissi and Cait from work to come with me. It is for women only though there are some places which do a men's only class as well. It is a 3 part course. The first class is a classroom style class, where they take you through the basics of safety. What to and not to do. Most of it is just common sense but there were some useful tips like how best to hold your keys to use them as a weapon.
And we got little police badges. Which sounds silly but they are cool! :-)





The second week and third weeks are more practical. On the second week, we attack bags. They showed us the moves and we then practiced with the instructors holding punch bags. Me and Cisssi got the big male police officer. He was about twice Cissi's size but the look on his face when she hit the bag was priceless! He started bracing himself really well after that! I don't think I need to worry about her getting beaten up. Her beating other people up, now that is a different matter ... :-)

In the final week, we get to attack cops! Well, they attack us and we defend ourselves. They talked smack talk and got in our way, and then they attack, grabbing us, picking us up, throwing us onto the floor. We all wear pads, especially the police as we beat the hell out of them. It was pretty emotional and scary to be honest at the start. The head pads restrict your view and there were 2 of them against one of you. We each did 2 different scenarios and a couple of people went for a third.

Our police attackers

Cair getting ready

Cissi rearing to go!

Our police attackers looked exhausted and a little banged up at the end, bless them. They also recorded our "attacks" and we got to watch ourselves kicking butt at the end, which was a strange experience.
Once you have done the course once, you can go to any of the classes again. Whenever you want. For free. So Cissi and I are going back again next week to practice the moves again. And we meet some other very nice people there. The atmosphere was great with everyone supporting each other. (Though I don't think any guys would have liked being there - they would probably wince! A lot! We got vicious.) There are RAD courses for men only as well though.
If your uni or police department offers a RAD course, take it! It is really useful, and whether you need it or not (and hopefully not!), it worth it and fun. And a good work-out.