And now from the wilds of.......Colorado (Greeley)

[TLH]

Greetings to All !! Another fairly newbie here. I started fencing about 2 years ago in a community recreation program when it became my job to take my 10 year old daughter to the fencing lessons that she'd been dying to take. After the first 20 minutes, I decided I might as well join in as well and it's been a gas. We're both still going to "class" sessions, and I've been adopted by the local college club (University of Northern Colorado)[They run and teach the community program.]

I'm fencing 2 nights a week when possible. I've been to 2 regional tournaments. I'm still unrated as of yet, but my first unranked only tournament is coming up in 2 weeks. I am the 2 time champion of the rec program fencers(out of 4 tourneys.)[Whoopeeeeeee!!!]

I really wish I'd found fencing before age "gasp" FORTY-NINE !!!!! I grew up at the University of Illinois which apparently at that time was winning NCAA championships in the sport - and I never heard or saw a whisper of it.

I'm an ER doc of twenty years stepped back to Urgent Care now and I would be willing to help with medical questions / opinions if anyone wants - open or private.

I've read about 6 different books and manuals (self-education) and have found these pages to be very valuable, and the best way to spend my time online. It's great to be able to connect with so much experience.

So all you young pups out there, watch out - Grampa' the fencing Doc is here.

Later - TLH

PS - I'm fencing Epee and Foil
I'm also new @ discussion boards - gotta learn how to do a "signature" - how's this for starters:

Oh, we got both kinds 'a music here - Country AND Western !!! (blues bros)

[daveappr]

WElcome to the board TLH, enjoy your stay. Good luck in your upcoming tourney; remember- it's not just a sport, it's an obsession.

[TLH]

Thanks - I'm not sure my wife has figured out the obsession part yet.........

[BrianH]

TLH,

Welcome to fencing and the forum. Don't let your wife talk to mine about the obsession part...over the years I've spent her birthdays and Mothers Days and anniversaries at competitions, and Christmas eves wiring blades. Fortunately she is very understanding.

You're not the oldest poster here by several years, so don't be pulling that 'gramps' stuff on me! But glad to have you here.

Good luck in your competition.

Brian

[ThatReallyHurt]

Hello there and welcome to the board! Good intro and nice sig - the Blues Brothers is one great movie!

[Zilverzmurfen]

Heya, welcome to the forum.

How I wish my dad would share this fantastic sport with me...your daughter must be very lucky!

[swordwench]

Welcome to the monkeyhouse! I'll second all the people above me on the obsession issue - but consider how many obsessions there are that are worse for your mental and physical health. Watch out - now that you're fessed up to being a doctor, the "I lost a toenail" guys are going to be beating a path to your door. Ewwwww.

Foil and epee. Good choices. Yeah!

BTW, to edit your sig, just go to User Tools>>Edit Signature. Then it automagically appears below the nifty line.

[TLH]

Heya, welcome to the forum.

How I wish my dad would share this fantastic sport with me...your daughter must be very lucky!

Thanks,Z_M_. That's been a really special part of this as well as the fencing. I'm anxiously waiting for my 8 1/2 yr old son to get started. I'm also in the process of putting together an electric strip in the basement at home so we can fence whenever we get the urge. My used reels are on the way,scoring machine being picked, and I'm browsing these pages on the way to the rest of the gear. So far, Sabrina (nicknamed Sabre looooong ago) and I just have our starter sets.

Z- Maybe its not too late to get your dad involved !@!????!! - TLH

[TLH]

Watch out - now that you're fessed up to being a doctor, the "I lost a toenail" guys are going to be beating a path to your door. Ewwwww.

Sword wench - I really like that name. Actually, I was impressed by the lack of malpractice among the combined wisdom of this group. For my friends with black toenails, I treat them on the back patio - I give them a marguerita and then I get out the pliers and YANK - saves a couple hundred dollars from an ER bill.

Later - TLH

[CheekyCanuck]

Sword wench - I really like that name. Actually, I was impressed by the lack of malpractice among the combined wisdom of this group. For my friends with black toenails, I treat them on the back patio - I give them a marguerita and then I get out the pliers and YANK - saves a couple hundred dollars from an ER bill.

Later - TLH

Ok. Did that make anyone else queasy?
Glad to have you here... despite my squeamishness.

[InweCiryatan]

From a young pup to the fencing Doc, welcome to the board.

[BrianH]

For my friends with black toenails, I treat them on the back patio - I give them a marguerita and then I get out the pliers and YANK - saves a couple hundred dollars from an ER bill.

Sounds like as much fun as the treatment for Gideon's Disease!

Brian

[TLH]

Well, Last Sunday I got my E rating in Epee - lost the semifinal to the eventual winner 15 - 12. (18 fencers,I think) Tried to double and do foil as well, and ran out of gas. I think Denver set a heat record that day with 95. I passed my self-imposed stress test. Was 3 and 2 in both of my pools, but couldn't adjust well enough to get by a kid that parried 60 % of my attacks in the 2nd brackett of DEs.
That's the end of scheduled tourneys for this year around here, but got my stuff from Triplette (the day after the tourney) and now have full electric gear and scoring capability at home. Fenced for 2 hrs Tuesday night outside.

Onto next season !!!!!!! - TLH

[Zilverzmurfen]

Congrats on your rating!

[TLH]

Thanks, ZM. It's really been fun to be in a new sport and to come up with an achievement. (I sure wasn't getting anywhere with golf.) I think fencing may have a similar untapped value for a lot of 'baby-boomers' like me out there, but it seems to me (IMHO) that it may take an off-the-beaten-path to get involved.