Queen Rubella
First Person Survey for: Queen Rubella Ingrid Anastasia Svetlalana Boratina Mozzarella Rutabaga Arugula D’Vulgar, Light of the Vulgarian Realm, Dame in the order of the Silver Pollywog, Keeper of the Holy Flame, sister in the Vulgarian Unorthodox church.
Name Given at Birth: Svetlalana Bora, I was born a common peasant in Romania
Nicknames: My favorite nickname of all is Mammala, that is what my little Radishpoo calls me. Next is Ruby which is what my dear husband does call me.
Hometown or where you were born: Claj-napoca Romania.
Current Residence: Khaamskee, Vulgaria. Where else would I reside but in the finest city in all of Vulgaria.
Age: You would not believe me if I did tell you. As of the last day of February I have been on this earth for 43 years. Most people do tell me I do look as if I am only in my 30th year. I have a little secret. I have a VERY special artichoke, radish, and truffle poultice that I do put upon my face once every week. It does keep me looking quite young, and if you take a tuber, slice it thin and bake it in an oven until crisp and dip it into the poultice it makes a lovely snack.
Class: I was born a mere peasant, but by the grace of God I am now a Queen and therefor Royal.
What do you do, your main function in life/society: I do help my husband over see the welfare of our great country of Vulgaria. And I have produced a daughter who will marry (hopefully) and her husband rule over the future of Vulgaria once dear Sal and myself have met our holy maker.
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim: I did swim occasionally in my youth, but that was so long ago, how’er what is this skinny dipping you speak of. How dare you call me, The Queen of Vulgaria, Light of the Vulgarian Realm, Dame in the order of the Silver Pollywog, Keeper of the Holy Flame, sister in the Vulgarian Unorthodox church SKINNY. I take great pride in telling you there is nothing skinny on my person to dip in anything. What? Skinny dipping is getting in a body of water without any arraignment? Da, I have done that, but in Vulgaria we simply call it a bath. You silly English. You do come up with all these fancy names for things. You do make me giggle.
Do you make fun of people: As Queen I must set an example for my people. If there is a joke made at someone’s expense I merely laugh with them. It is not my fault that sometimes people have no sense of humor.
Favorite Color And why? Red, no.. blue....green... orange....puce....magenta... WAIT I am a Queen I do not have to chose one color.
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime. Queens do not commit crimes, they just revoke certain privileges from their husbands until rules are changed. So in the eyes of my king and country I have committed no crimes
Closest friends/How did you meet: My dearest friend would first and foremost be my dear husband Salmonella. About twenty and six years ago my dear father and myself came to Vulgaria after my father's blacksmith shop did catch fire and burn to the ground. Having nothing left we sought greener pastures in Vulgaria. After a long week of travel we made camp outside of Pawshlee. As my father made camp I went to look for firewood to start the cooking fire. Well I did wonder a bit farther than I should of, I was a very curious lass of six and ten , when I took a tumble down a very steep hill and got my skirts caught in a thorn bush. Try as I might I could not get my skirts free. It was growing dark and I was in an unfamiliar place. I was so frightened I started to cry. A handsome man who was working in the radish fields close to the hill herd my sobs and came to find out what was wrong. He was so handsome and so kind I immediately became smitten with him. We talked far into the night and by the time I made it back to my fathers camp it was deep into the dark of night. My father was not all impressed with the fact that I was in the dark with a man that I did not know. Oh I still remem the young lashing I did get for it. I am most sure that my eyes were still tear stained when we did meet with the King of Vulgaria to explaine our plight and for my father to ask to become the Royal Blacksmith. My father always did have lofty aspirations. Sorry I did get off subject. Well as I did arise from my reverence I saw a friendly smile from beside the thrown. It was my rescuer from the night before. How was I to know that the dashing lad that I had spent the evening hours with the night previous was none other than the Prince of Vulgaria. I did seem that he had already talked to his father and was granted permission to marry me. So right then and there dear Sal did ask my father for permission to court me. Not only did he save my honor, in my father’s eyes, he still does not believe me when I say that all we did was talk, but he made me the most happiest woman in all the world.
One Pillow or two - Three. I have two lovely kooreetsa (goose) down filled pillows, sprinkled with a hint of lavender to keep them smelling nice and to help me sleep. This of course is quite befitting my station in life, how’er my favorite pillow of all is one that is about the same height as me and wears a crown during the day.
Pets - Shhhhh I must admit that when I go down to the stables for a ride I do take a piece of meat or a cup of cream down with me. I have been feeding a little kitty there for several years now. He is a beautiful gray long haired kitty with magnificent green eyes. I have seen such a kitty when dear Sal and I did visit Russia, so I did decide to call it Czar.
Favorite Type of Music: I do quite enjoy all types of music but the English Celtic drums and the Scottish bag pipes do stir my feet to dance and the vibrant songs of the gypsy to lighten my heart but I must say that the native Vulgarian songs are truly my favorite.
Hobbies/Pastimes - I do enjoy my needle work and sewing. It is something that I have been fond of since a child, and even though I do pay a seamstress to make my outer arraignments I do insist on making my underpinnings myself.
Personal Hygiene - In Vulgaria we do like to keep ourselves clean. Cleanliness is next to Godliness
Favorite Food - Oh I do love a good roast boar in a lovely truffle sauce laid upon a bed of boiled radishes. Ahh the thought of it makes my mouth water. I am also very fond of oranges and strawberries and any little confection that may come my way as long as they do not have any nuts upon them. For you do see every time I do eat a nut a visit to the apothecary is in order.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: Sadly my mamma did pass on mere days after I did arrive upon this earth. Her passing did pain my father so much he never does wish to talk about her, how'er he does tell me that I am her spitting image. My father is how'er is alive and quite well.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: He is quite alive and healthy and is a wonderful advisor to my dear husband.
Favorite place to relax - On the edge of the castle grounds there is a pond where I go and listen to the frogs and the birds and clear my mind.
Favorite Holy Day / Why - Troitsa, for it is the most sacred of holy days, but does the day of my birth count??? No, then oh da Troitsa.
Favorite Drink - Well this is a very difficult question you see because I do love so many drinks. I do enjoy a good sweet wine and a mead. I do not think I could chose between the two.
What's your bedtime? Shortly after the last meal of the day. I see that Radishella is in bed and that everything that I do need to tend to is taken care of, but I do not like to stay up too dreadfully late, I think that is one of the times I do show my age. If I do not get enough sleep I am a VERY grumpy Queen.
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet? In the castle I have many lovely pairs of slippers that I do wear upon my feet. When we are traveling I do wear a leather boot that is quite suitable for walking. My favorite shoes though are none at all. When I am near the pond that I do like to relax at I love to take off my shoes and have my feet splash in the water or run though the soft grass. It does remind me of being a child and running in the meadow with my friends.
Are you married or single? I am very happily married to my most wonderful husband, King Salmonella.
Do you have a family / who are they?
- King Salmonella: The love of my life and the father of the best children in all of Vulgaria. Without him I would be nothing. It is true, I do snip and nag at him sometimes but contrary to popular belief Queens are not perfect. I do love him with all my heart and I am truly blessed to be his wife and the mother of his child.
- Princess Radishella: She is the light of my life. I do love her very much. I do worry about her though. She is almost 25 years of age and has yet to be wed. The good Lord knows that I and her papa have tried our best to make a match for her. She is just a bit over enthusiastic when she does meet a young man. It is hard to fall in love with someone when they have bruised you like an over ripe peach. She does not mean to hurt them, she is very strong like both of her parents and well... sometimes it does not end so well. I do want her to be happy, but I also want to have a grand babala soon. It would be such a joy to hear the pitter patter of little feet around the castle again, and not because Boris has put shoes on the puppalas again.
- Princess Tichinella: She is my dear sister-in-law, but we are close ourselves. She has always been kind to me and did help instruct me in the ways of a proper princess when I did first get married. She is a wonderful friend and a lovely woman. I do not understand why is not wed yet.
My father: He was both a mother and father to me since my dear mamma was taken from this earth shortly after I did arrive. He took care of me the best he could as a blacksmith in our former country and now that I am Queen I see to it that he does want for nothing.
Favorite Entertainment: The minstrels that come to court are quite entertaining, but I must say when we all sing as a family it is quite a sound to hear. I do enjoy it so.
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up? cooking, I make a delicious Cherry pie, sometimes I do think that is why Salmonella fell in love with me. But, alas my royal duties do keep me out of the kitchens almost all the time
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up?
Tending to the flocks of geese. THEY BITE!!!! And helping my Papa start the fire in the forge after a rain. The smell of the smoke is absolutely horrid. I very thought of the smell even now makes my stomach turn.
Favorite Sport (to do):I really do no sports but do try to teach my dear daughter the sport of man catching.
Most Humiliating Moment? .Sadly it was my wedding day. When woman in Vulgaria is married she must do the traditional vulgarian greeting upon her husband. The louder and longer it is signifies how long and prosperous the marriage is. I was so nervous when I walked down that aisles and so overcome by my handsome soon-to-be husband that when I did give him the greeting no sound came out. I tried again on his other cheek, and again no sound came out. I was almost in tears when he took it upon himself to do the greeting upon me. He was able to continue the greeting for almost an hour. Everyone was so surprised at this that everyone forgot my little incident. Ahhh this is why I so truly love my King
Proudest Moment? When my dear Radishella was born. She is the light of my life and is my dearest treasure.
Craziest Person or silliest you know: First and foremost our dear jester Boris is quite hilarious. We had to leave Boris back in Vulgaria. Boris does not take travel on the seas to well. Other than Boris the English court makes me laugh. They have so many colors to choose from and only pick one or two. They are so silly.
What do you look for in the opposite sex: I look no more for I have found everything that I could ever want in my dear husband. Loving, caring, funny, wonderful taste in colors. What more could a woman ask for.
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody over them. Who is your immediate overlord ? Well our lord God of course and my dear sweet husband
and How Do You Feel about that person: I am deeply and whole heartedly devoted to both.
Favorite Sport to watch: It is the one where they do take a bladder of a sveenya and dry it out and throw it back and forth and fight over it like children over the last piece of cake. Really it is not the sport I enjoy watching, it is my dear husband, his sister, his papa, and my papa watching from the side of the game. They get so worked up and yell and scream. It is funny. The most entertaining game I ever watched with them is one between a group of natives and a team that named themselves after horsey ponies. Oh dear heaven some of the language that was used... I had to send Radishella to bed early that night.
Do you remember your first kiss? *blushes* Oh Aye that I do. It was when I was young and before I did meet my good husband. He was a young man that did live near me and.... oh wait shall my husband read this??? It was when we first kissed in the in the radish patch. I mean who else would I kiss but my husband.
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends? Sadly, neigh. My duties as a mother and as a queen keep me far to busy.
Where is your favorite Vacation spot? I do believe that would have to be France. We go there on many occasions to trade with the king. He does love his truffles.
Have you ever been overseas: Aye many times, but as I do not have very good sea legs I fear that I spend most of my time below the deck in bed. That shade of green is not becoming even on me.
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: The castle has floors of stone
What is your bed made of:: It is made of very fine imported khlawpak and filled with the softest koreesa down that money can buy
How many people sleep in your bed: Just my husband and I. During storms Radishella tries to sneak in but she is getting far to old to be doing that.
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me
1. . I am not Vulgarian by birth. I was born the daughter of a Romanian blacksmith, but I feel that I am truly Vulgarian in my heart.
2. Even though I flirt and look at other men I do love my husband with all my heart.
3. My daughter is the light of my life and I would do anything for her.
4. I am friendly to everyone, it does not matter what your class is. I came from nothing and remember what a hard life it is like.
5. It is said that I do spoil my children. Mayhaps that is so but I just wish for a childhood less frock with difficulty than I had.
6. I do LOVE every color of the rainbow. And I also believe the more colors the better
7. The English peasantry are very lucky for more and more of them are leaning to read. In Romania that is not the case, for I did not learn to read until I was learning what was required of me as a queen. How’ere I can only read in Vulgarian and even then it is not very well, I was never the scholarly type. If something is in English or in large words that I do not understand I do ask for some one to read it for me saying that my eyes are far older than the rest of my body and the print is too small for me to read. My family is none the wiser. That is why I do insist that my daughter be able to read and write in several languages and In Vulgaria I am trying to institute a rule that everyone must learn how to read.
8. I am superstitions of one thing. I believe in the tradition from the orient that frogs bring good luck. That is why I will always have a frog some where on my person... even though you may not see it.
9. I am TERRIFIED of Pirates.
10.I do love radishes, but at the moment I can not have the. But do offer one to me in front of my husband and watch his reaction to my response.