Chug-a-chug-a-chug

Currently in Earphones: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Soundtrack by John Williams.

Whoof! Blazin' right along!

Need only 200 words more for my Ling. Paper. I'll finish it tomorrow and not have to worry about it for the next few days. Now all I need to do is continue with Latin, catch up with some Comp. Lit. busywork and start THAT essay, etc. etc. Manageable stuff.

Had a very heartening day at fencing. Earlier on I was seriously doubting that I'd do well at all at the upcoming Santa Cruz Tourney (Yes, Mom and Dad, you're welcome to come if you'd like to haul yourselves down to Santa Cruz. I'll send you more info when I get it). I had missed the last two practices to work and Baroque Ensemble, and previously had been beaten into the ground by Matt Rock. Now, I learned two things this practice: 1. I am a fair hand with an Epee (once I get some tactics in) and 2. I need some foundation before any of Rock's tactics settle in.

Cathy, Matt's girlfriend, explained it very well to me: He's not a very good teacher in that he instructs you as if you were about to go fence somewhere his level. Now, that's all well and good, to be learning some advanced stuff, but if you're fresh into Epee (or not wanting to be really, really good this instant) it's not so cool. However, as Thoreau once said (and I paraphrase), "If you build your castles in the air, worry not. That is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."

The foundation came from TC, who graciously allowed me some private time to polish the hunk of raw ore that is my Epee skill with him. I was greatly relieved to hear that I could ask him for some time for private tutelage and that he would grant it, should he have the time. I also was able to fence Seymon and score a good amount of hits against him. Matt should be happy to know that I feinted distance against him, intentionally falling short to lull him closer, then going in for the kill. BOO-YAH!

Incidentally, there's a new fencer named James (now I REALLY need a nickname!) who's fenced Epee for 4 years in High School. The only thing is that he now has to get a foil base from TC before he's allowed to fence Epee again. Seems like a nice guy.

My poor, dear Anja. She has been wrestling with a twingy migraine for a week or so now and it had her against the ropes, but now it managed to throw her out of the ring. She skipped school today because of that and her jaw kept locking up. My mom has kindly pointed out some articles on the subject which I've dutifully forwarded to Anja. I hope she finds something to help her get better, but it's difficult with her difficulty swallowing pills. She's been telling me that she's really up for a change of scene, and I offered her a visit/stay for a bit in the Bay when Thanksgiving come around. Mom, Dad, I hope you don't mind if she does like to take up the offer, though it's probably not going to be so. She has the usual Family Gathering to go to, but she'll make an attempt to shrug it off, though I'm not sure how successful it will be. I care for her very much.

But soft, I have homework to finish!

Enough. More Later.
- James