speaking the truth

If I were to do a single week at Pennsic I'd likely agree with you on those dates -- but it would necessitate taking more than a week off from work since I don't live close by. If I'm transporting myself -- which is a distinct possibility for next year, if I go at all -- I'm more likely to go up early Tuesday, and perhaps stay until the very end. That way I can pack on Saturday, do a post-revel dinner with friends Saturday evening, and find crash space either in someone's tent or with someone in Pittsburgh on Saturday night.

Sunday through Tuesday of the first week were actually relaxing for me this year -- much better than last year for whatever reason. But that was really the end of relaxation for me this year -- Middle Saturday had too much drama even though I stayed far away from Troll in the afternoon, and I never really got the chance to take even a half-day off early in Week Two. (Which would have helped some. Not all, but some.) So overall I'm just as happy with having been there early in the first week; it had really no effect on the last few days of the war, which were when things really went south for me; without those first few days I'd have classed this Pennsic as a truly *bad* one for me.