Traveling....

[Mo]

Tomorrow is Turkey Day!!
That is, tomorrow we leave for Turkey. The trip will take about 22 hours. Wheeeee
I am at the point where I want to just wear what I have on, (Which is gardening yard work clothing covered with dirt, pond scum and other backyard delicacys after an entire day of working in the yard) throw some clean undies in a bag and get my passport.
Running around doing last minute jobs is always fun and exciting.
I got out my suit case and noticed that my dog, Mr. Strapchewer has taken most of the straps off my bag. I have to fix that before packing.
Everyone in the house is a bit nervous and kind of crabby.
Tell me again, why do we do this?
The Momster

[Coldfire]

Tell me again, why do we do this?

Well us fencers do it because we are willing to make long car and plane rides to do what we love.

As a parent you do it because you love your child and want to support what they love to do.

[journalmom]

Tell me again, why do we do this?
The Momster

Wow, at least your fencer is good enough to go to Turkey. I'd go to ends of the earth if my fencers were good enough to compete in a World Championship! Good Luck and enjoy your trip! Your dog and the family will still be here when you get back regardless of the outcome! Congratulations in making it this far....for you and your fencer.


With envy....

[Mo]

I'd go to ends of the earth if my fencers were good enough to compete in a World Championship! Good Luck and enjoy your trip! Your dog and the family will still be here when you get back regardless of the outcome! Congratulations in making it this far....for you and your fencer.


With envy....

Dear Jmom,
You literally would go to the ends of the earth. We have been there and back a couple times.
Even though it sounds wonderful it is exhausting. We have been doing this for almost four years now and the wear and tear on all of us is mind boggling.
The thing about fencing is that no body outside of fencers really give a darn about fencing. It is kind of hard to spend your life and the short childhood doing some thing where when you tell people, they ask what it is.
Don't be envious, be careful what you wish for and thanks for the congrats!
The Momster

[4qtrs]

Have a Great trip Momster! Update us on the goings on when you can!!

[oiuyt]

I am at the point where I want to just wear what I have on, (Which is gardening yard work clothing covered with dirt, pond scum and other backyard delicacys after an entire day of working in the yard)

Might encourage the other passengers to find alternative available (or even non-available!) seats to get away from you.

Aahhhhhhh! Extra legroom!

-B

[sleepyweasle]

Dear Jmom,
You literally would go to the ends of the earth. We have been there and back a couple times.
Even though it sounds wonderful it is exhausting. We have been doing this for almost four years now and the wear and tear on all of us is mind boggling.
The thing about fencing is that no body outside of fencers really give a darn about fencing. It is kind of hard to spend your life and the short childhood doing some thing where when you tell people, they ask what it is.
Don't be envious, be careful what you wish for and thanks for the congrats!
The Momster

Although I know my daughter would have given ANYTHING to be with her friends (and her ipod - long story, don't ask!) in Turkey, I was secretly thrilled we got to spend a quiet Passover and Easter with our families. Who knows how many more of these we will have left? Sometimes, I must confess, I am very happy we are not (yet) at the level where we have to make these choices...

[fencerbill]

Dear Jmom,
You literally would go to the ends of the earth. We have been there and back a couple times.
Even though it sounds wonderful it is exhausting. We have been doing this for almost four years now and the wear and tear on all of us is mind boggling.
The thing about fencing is that no body outside of fencers really give a darn about fencing. It is kind of hard to spend your life and the short childhood doing some thing where when you tell people, they ask what it is.
Don't be envious, be careful what you wish for and thanks for the congrats!
The Momster

I think there are a lot of life benefits for children from fencing.

Posture, for one. Look at a group of fencers, heads erect, shoulders balanced, not hunched over.

Learning to live with disappointment and that things are not always "fair".

Accomplishment as a result of hard work.

Accomplishment that is all theirs.

Yes they can get this from other sports also.

I have fond memories of one young woman Sabre fencer. I consoled her a couple of times when she had no victories in her pool. She was about 11 or 12. Now she is about 17 and has her A.

[Harrychoi]

My two fencer just came back from Turkey ( their first world competition), They did not win anything (they did not expect anything as they are the youngest in the cadet group), but Its a wonderful experience for them.

Its costed Financially speaking a lot to our family, we have to paid for the whole cost (over US$5,000.00 for they two), and yesterday I was told they are selected for the Asian Junion and cadet championship in July 2007, and again it going to cost more or less the same as WJCC, I just don't know where on earth I am going to find the money !!!!!!

I guess we have to forget our annual family vacation, mod of our kitchen, new HI-Fi system for me (WHAT HI-FI System !!!!!) cut budget for household and a long list of other things.

The two fencer offer to pay 1/3 of the cost out of thier own saving, which I am very mush appriciated but should I take It from them ?????

Fencing is what draw the two together like glue ( one boy foil and one girl Epee, they are Twins) before taking up fencing I can see they are going seperate ways as most boy and girl do, now I am so happy for them. After going into fencing, I can see the changes that go's into their life, they are now becoming more responsible for themselve and other. They learn how to have better time managment (six days training per week) and they school result are actually better, may be something to do with better focuc and concentration.

I guess it worth everything in this world to see their reaction, when I told them they can go !!!!! better than any new Hi-Fi/ flat LCD TV.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Harry: Once the international travel genie is out of the bottle, you can generally kiss your family vacations goodbye.

Couple of things to remember:

1. As they improve their international performances, some money begins to flow from the USFA (performance enhancement awards...see the tables in the athlete handbook). This applies to World Cup meets as well as world championships. Does it ever completely cover the cost of the trip? No. But it helps a little.

2. If you can, take a day or two after the competition, and see a few of the sights while you're over there. It's something the kids will remember long after the DEs are over. Hopefully your coach will be on board with this idea. Some are, some aren't.

I hear your pain on the flat screen, my friend. I work in the High Definition TV industry. What set do I have for primary viewing? A 12 year old GE 25-in TV.

Boy, once my fencer is off to college, though......

[oiuyt]

1. As they improve their international performances, some money begins to flow from the USFA

Somehow I doubt this will ever help Harry -- he (and more importantly, his children) aren't USFA members.

-B

[Mo]

Harry: Once the international travel genie is out of the bottle, you can generally kiss your family vacations goodbye.

I hear your pain on the flat screen, my friend. I work in the High Definition TV industry. What set do I have for primary viewing? A 12 year old GE 25-in TV.

Boy, once my fencer is off to college, though......

We are going to get a darned sailboat. Screw the tv.

The Momster

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Or a nice 52-inch Sony LCD HDTV with a satellite dish ON the boat!!!

[Phincer]

We are going to get a darned sailboat. Screw the tv.

The Momster

Boat drinks....boys in the band ordered boat drinks....

[Harrychoi]

We are going to get a darned sailboat. Screw the tv.

The Momster

Keep dreaming boys, I sold my 21' boston whaler after the first monkey, by order of the captain.