My brain is fried, today. I have three different stories chasing each other in my head. What this means is I sit here watching them romp instead of actually writing anything constructive. I’m sure it will all work out in the end. I’m sure I’ll end up with a great story, and awesome characters, eventually. Today, though, it’s frustrating me to watch them circle. I imagine they might be preparing an assault.

What this means is I’m not prepared for today’s blog. Not in the slightest. Hopefully, you won’t notice because you’ll be distracted by the awesome photo above. I have no idea what this statue is called, but I do know that it resides at Fair Park, in Dallas. I know this because I stumbled upon it while walking around the Irish Festival last week. I nearly got shot trying to get the photo so I thought the least I could do was share my efforts.

By shot, I mean an arrow narrowly missed my head. Yes, an arrow. As in, bow and arrow. Why? Because the festival had set up a “practice your archery here” booth for kids and apparently one of them was really, really good. It’s not that they didn’t try to maintain safety. They had targets, and nets set up to catch the arrows. Behind the nets they had more nets. Bright orange fencing surrounded most of the area. People wore padding of all sorts so they could practice in complete safety.

I don’t think they counted on someone drifting their way past the archery, along the walk beside the grass in the center of which rose this magnificent water fountain statue. I don’t think they counted on that same someone being completely oblivious to everything except the enchanting sound of water and the lovely way the sun sparkled off the stone. And I don’t think they realized that same person would simply walk to the end of the grass, around the bright orange fencing, and back up to the statue so she could get a good shot of the fountain without all those padded people, nets, and fencing in the way.

They also didn’t count on how loud running water can be.

When the arrow whizzed by, I didn’t even hear it. I had the camera up and focused on the shot at hand. Therefore, I also didn’t see the arrow whiz by my head.

When I finished snapping my shots, I turned to find a red-faced man in medievel dress yelling at me. He was 10 feet away—I couldn’t hear him.

“What?” I sauntered closer to him, wearing my best “I’m innocent” smile.

“My lady, it is probably my fault, but please do observe the orange fencing and the sign which requests that you remain safely on the sidewalk. There are arrows flying about, and we do not wish to see one land in your head.”

Now, isn’t THAT the nicest way of telling me “Look, ditz, get out of the firing zone before you get yourself killed!”

Kudos to the unnamed man for staying completely in character, despite his frustration and my complete lack of awareness of my surroundings.

But look at the statue! It was totally worth it.