Time to update the description. WSV50 fencer since 2005. Mostly recovered from two meniscus tears in 2006 (not fencing related) and other minor injuries. Focused on improving fencing skills and avoiding injuries. Goal is to qualify for the WSV60 team in 2012.
I could probably have dramatically increased my hit counter by giving this a more provocative title and esp. in light of the fact that I'm asleep in two of these pictures. [And no, the pictures are not flattering.]
Two of the cats like to sleep on me while the third has fallen in love with a shopping bag and thus I often have a cats-in-the-bag in my home office.
Due to holiday closures and road conditions, most of us had our lessons Sat, rather than our regular days.
The highlight in attitude change for me is that I'm learning to focus more upon what I'm doing right and what I need to do to learn the next piece right versus wasting time bemoaning all my faults.
My parries - except for 5 - are faster because lessons and practice have led to tighter -- and thus faster -- actions. Sometimes my ripostes are still too slow to compete with teenagers
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Today was lower body workout at the gym and I did the usual 30 minutes on the ET without feeling fatigued followed by the leg extension, the seated leg press, the reclying leg press at 90 lbs., and the seated calf at 70 lbs.
I stopped at WalMart on the way home to pick up a tuna sandwich at the Subway inside the store and the place was packed with after-Christmas shoppers. Obviously, these shoppers are not as worried as I am about the economy and the job market. That, or they think that
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I woke up feeling achy Monday, which I take as a sign that the added exercise Sunday was successful. After work, I put in another 1.5 hour at the gym doing stretches, 35 minutes on the ET (didn't really feel tired, but it was a long day and I had other things to do) and then the usual hot tub arm and shoulder exercises followed by more stretching in the locker room before going home.
The SU is on vacation until the end of the year so going home means walking into the house and wanting to ta
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I haven't had much chance to spend time in the gym since returning from Colorado Springs. Yesterday was the yearly Christmas Party after fencing so today was my first real day back to normal.
I decided to experiment with wearing an elbow brace and doing some simply upper body exercises for 15 minutes. Biceps curls. Triceps exercises. I kept it 5-8 pounds and found that when I went to 10 lbs., it just didn't feel right.
Since I have time before the NAC-E to decrease any knee swelling,
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Something has clicked into place within the last week. I had been complaining that I was getting the individual bits and pieces of some fencing actions I'd learned but felt like I was working with a jigsaw puzzle that was blank on both sides and I couldn't figure out how to fit things together.
After the NAC-C, I have found actions --both bladwork and footwork -- feeling different. If I don't think about it and just concentrate on what I'm going to do, it's working better.
I am looking for a roommate for Atlanta and would like to find someone with whom I could form a cost-saving relationship for future fencing competitions.
I don't drink or stay out late or smoke and while I tend to be noisy, wake up early, and hog the shower, I'm otherwise not an unpleasant person to be around. I keep to myself. I don't insist upon being great buddies and going everywhere my roommate goes.
I just want to reduce the cost of traveling to fencing competitions by finding a
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I could have sworn I made an entry last night but it's not there. Maybe my memory is even worse than I remembered.
To assist myself in dealing with my inability to remember what it was that Coach showed me in the last lesson, I've started carrying a cheap journal, purchased from the local WalMart and Wednesday was the first time I tried recording what I needed to remember.
Findings:
1. I cannot draw any better than I could in grade school and stick figures don't work well when I am loo
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I knew my coach was a good fencer, but this NAC-C was my first chance to see him compete against his peers and I thought it was awesome. His only defeat in his pool was to Inquartata and he finished tied for third place.
The day began with me finding a quiet place to practice and then, once I realized the place was truly vacant, I just sat down in a chair and cried until I got all the grief for yesterday out of my system.
I'd been stupid. There is no rewind and play button on reality. Time to move on.
I went for a brief walked and admired the beauty around me, took a deep breath, and went back to practicing footwork on vacant strips before directors showed up and I had to move elsewhere.
12-29-2008 05:48 AM 