The camp was finishing up Wednesday, and when I came in the kids were supposed to be task bouting, using line and actions off line.

Michelle didn't show and Donna came late, so I didn't have a drill partner; I just did two sets of strips of footwork, trying to make my form correct. My legs are still too weak. I did my yoga stretches in the corner near the mirror. It was cold in the club. I've been having some lower back pain and I think it's probably because of a particular exercise I was insisting on doing a particular way. I have adjusted--am doing cobra without the switch to and from child pose--and it seems to be working, as my back doesn't bother me as much.

I fenced Tim, Ella, Ben, Sam (home from McGill for break), Tony (twice), Jessi1, and Donna, doing actions with line. I was pretty successful with it, but less successful making actions against line. I think I've been insisting on cutting to head too much lately.

Kate was here for the holiday and going back, but she says she'll be in Philadelphia again starting this summer, so I'll have at least one training partner who will run me up and down the strip properly, even if Lara is still broke. The ladies with foil footwork really make me move.

The lesson with Ahren was built off Mark's Monday lesson. (Mark gave the lesson sitting down because he hurt his foot doing stuff outside with the campers, and was still limping last night.) Push-pull, advance-lunge, recover retreat, then push-pull, lunge, parry riposte.

All lessons I take seem to require an obligatory period of total brain death, usually in the middle, and this was no exception.

Tuesday and today I went to the health club and went through the entire routine of machines in my workout, which I have now transferred to my iPhone. I really need to build my strength back, and have to start now if I want it to pay off. I have my weights very low so that I can do at least one set of 15 before I move them up, because the other thing I need most is not to injure myself.

Tomorrow everything will be closed, and Saturday I'll work out again and fence at BCAF on Sunday, which will be an amiable workout and not too far to travel. Monday I'll be back at school.

It always takes me a good two-thirds of vacation to start to feel human again.