Barbaric Nerdiness

Yesterday, some friends and I went to the Viking Festival. My neighbors (I may have mentioned them before) are beer brewing Vikings (yes, for real) and they invited us last year. It was so fun, we went again this year. I had even more fun this year, I even got to throw a flaming axe. Going to a Viking Festival is a bit like stepping back in time. Many people are in costume and carrying weapons. They have music and have competitions like fish flinging, log tossing, axe throwing, archery and combat. It is barbaric and feels very manly, but it is also super nerdy when you think about it. Will Wheaton's definition of a nerd totally applies to these people (and I LOVE it!)

So Vikings are big, manly, bearded nerds who, let's face it, are really the best kind! I am 99% sure that I will eventually end up with someone who gets obsessive and geeks out over things like I do. I could totally see myself getting wrapped up in the Viking culture. I love the idea of making costumes and dressing up. And (you never cease to learn something new about yourself) I found that I rather enjoy watching men being barbaric and throwing weapons and yelling war cries. What can I say, I guess I am a primitive woman at heart. Seriously though, check this out - best nerds ever, right?

I actually learned that this sub-culture runs deep. There is a pretty big group of people that get together annually for "wars" where they go camping for a week in primitive tents and every one has to be dressed up in traditional garb, by day the men get all dressed up in their chain mail and fight battles with one another and by night they have bonfires and drink mead and dance and basically just be medieval. Doesn't that sound SO FUN?!? I would so go to that. I really need to become closer friends with my neighbors. I bet they go to those events. One day, I will tag along. Things like this really nail home how much of a geek I really am. I am hearing it as I say it, but oh well. I embrace it! Here are some pics from yesterdays adventures: