Date: 2008-05-10 22:54 Subject: A Startling Encounter Security: Public Mood: amused Music: 'All The Lonely People' - The Beatles

It seems I am beating rohantm to the punch on this. He invited me up to L.A. this weekend and together we visited the Renaissance Pleasure Fair... it's not as dirty as it sounds. Our first goal was to see the Bold and Stupid Men, a comedy swordfighting team. We missed the first half of the show, so after witnessing a jousting contest, we returned for a later show. Halfway through that showing, a couple came and sat in front of me... and the man was Richard Hatch. No, not that Richard Hatch. A reality TV "star" would not warrant mention, but the only actor to be in both Battlestar Galactica shows is definitely a treat. He was cunningly disguised (wearing sunglasses) but it looked and sounded just like him. I did not say anything to him, because everyone is entitled to a weekend off and if he wanted to be bothered by fans, I'm sure he could have found a convention to attend.
Neat though the encounter was, it got even better when his companion ensured he was selected by the Bold and Stupid Men for their 'improvement seminar' where a bunch of guys got taken up onto stage and taught how to act like real Renaissance Men. While I would have thought he'd still try to keep a low profile, Hatch hammed it up gloriously, though as Rohan pointed out, he was really bad at taking direction. But the crowning moment was when the men were send back to give their ladies a kiss to show how much they'd learned, and wow... Richard Hatch sure can kiss. At least as far as I could judge, sitting right behind them, though one of the Men did host his own seminar on the subject.
It was a good day all told, even counting my disastrous Rock Band performance. It was fun to wander the Ren Faire (which was huge!) as I'd not done that for years, and I bought a fantastic hat for far too much money. The Faire was bookended by two good meals, breakfast at The Original Pancake House and dinner at The Yard House. And the night before, Rohan introduced me to the first beer I have EVER liked. Though since you need a corkscrew to get at it, I probably won't be drinking it much.