In the veteran combined WS, I warmed up and got April to stretch me before I started, and warmed up with Anne. I had three of the women from yesterday's pool in today's pool--Pestotnik, Slain, Stopak--plus Savino and Sachs. I lost two--who was it, Sachs and Pestotnik? and finished 3 and 2. My last bout was with Slain, and thouggh I beat her 5-0, I walked off the strip crying, my sciatica bothered me so much. I went back to April and got her to work on me, and she loosened me up pretty well.

i had a bye into the second round of DE's, fenced Mary Wilkerson, and she had a better bout than in Colorado Springs but I still won--she rushes a little bit and likes to go for a low attack, and a number of times though I took seconde I didn't make the riposte cleanly. After that I had Anne Olson, who I haven't fenced before--she had a nice long lunge and a good attack in preparation, so I just increased my distance and didn't rush. Jeannine Bender was after that, and she has smoothed out even more than she had the last time I fenced her. We went to 9-9 and I did the same thing I did to Jane in Limoges--she was leaning back, off balance, and I was leaning forward, off balance, so I just remised like crazy until the third one hit her one light.

That meant I was once again in the gold medal bout, once again with Jane Eyre, and the score was the same as it was yesterday. She shook my hand and said "Groundhog Day" and I didn't figure out what she was saying until later on. Another silver medal. I took April's advice and went back to the hotel and took a hot bath afterwards.

Rinaldo Campinha, the Veteran Committee Chair, told me that he has arranged a $50 rate at a good hotel in Moscow near the venue for Worlds, and frankly that changed my mind about going. Limoges, with the Discomfort Hotel, was a bit much to take, even though I spoke the language. I don't speak Russian, but if it's a nice hotel and it's nearby maybe I can hack it.

I called Mark and told him how I did, and he said he had some suggestions for things I can do for the pain. I'll start up lessons with him again now that I've finished coaching, and I have to sit down and draw up a diet and exercise plan now that work is a bit more doable.

Veterans Committee Meeting at 6:00