Fencing!

Yesterday I finally dragged out to the fencing club with druidevo. Even though I mostly stood around like a useless lump watching other people do things with pointy sticks, it was still assloads of fun, and I learned a number of interesting things, most of which had to do with grip and footwork, but one of the most important of which has to do with the state of my left knee, which I think can best be summarized as "ow."

The problem here is that in order to fence right-handed, it seems like you're putting more strain on your left knee, that being your back leg, than on your right knee, which is the leading leg. So I've thought about this, and have several solutions.

1. Work on the knee more and see if that helps.
2. Brace the knee and see if that helps.
3. Don't fence.
4. Learn to fence left-handed.

I think I'll work on 1,2, and 4, but 4 seems especially attractive. Why not? I mean, it's not like I know how to fence with the right side either -- I have to train in either direction, and I'm not that far from ambidextrous anyway. I'll let you know how it works out. For now, though, I'll be spending a fair part of my afternoons advancing and retreating down the upstairs hallway. At least until kittenpants starts throwing things at me.

Fencing!

Yesterday I finally dragged out to the fencing club with druidevo. Even though I mostly stood around like a useless lump watching other people do things with pointy sticks, it was still assloads of fun, and I learned a number of interesting things, most of which had to do with grip and footwork, but one of the most important of which has to do with the state of my left knee, which I think can best be summarized as "ow."

The problem here is that in order to fence right-handed, it seems like you're putting more strain on your left knee, that being your back leg, than on your right knee, which is the leading leg. So I've thought about this, and have several solutions.

1. Work on the knee more and see if that helps.
2. Brace the knee and see if that helps.
3. Don't fence.
4. Learn to fence left-handed.

I think I'll work on 1,2, and 4, but 4 seems especially attractive. Why not? I mean, it's not like I know how to fence with the right side either -- I have to train in either direction, and I'm not that far from ambidextrous anyway. I'll let you know how it works out. For now, though, I'll be spending a fair part of my afternoons advancing and retreating down the upstairs hallway. At least until kittenpants starts throwing things at me.

Consumerist withdrawal

I'm at an odd phase in the whole consumerist/anti-materialist tug-of-war.

I need a pair of tennis shoes. This is a legitimate need if I'm going to do this fencing thing, since my boots don't so much have traction on the bottom (which encourages me to slide rather than pick up my feet -- my first Bad Habit! -- and will no doubt one day trip me up, causing me to collapse in a heap with my foil up my nose). So I think I'll go pick some up today. No problem - legitimate need, legitimate purpose. The problem is that I think if I'm going shopping, I should hit a few more places. Now, I don't need anything else, and in all likelihood I won't buy anything else, but I can't resist the temptation of going to look, even though I know I'm not going to buy.

I guess this is a form of cheap entertainment, so on the scale of the world's evils, pretty minor, but still. What a waste of an afternoon.

Consumerist withdrawal

I'm at an odd phase in the whole consumerist/anti-materialist tug-of-war.

I need a pair of tennis shoes. This is a legitimate need if I'm going to do this fencing thing, since my boots don't so much have traction on the bottom (which encourages me to slide rather than pick up my feet -- my first Bad Habit! -- and will no doubt one day trip me up, causing me to collapse in a heap with my foil up my nose). So I think I'll go pick some up today. No problem - legitimate need, legitimate purpose. The problem is that I think if I'm going shopping, I should hit a few more places. Now, I don't need anything else, and in all likelihood I won't buy anything else, but I can't resist the temptation of going to look, even though I know I'm not going to buy.

I guess this is a form of cheap entertainment, so on the scale of the world's evils, pretty minor, but still. What a waste of an afternoon.

Checkity

New sneakers, one pair.

Good for bouncing.
Good for terrifying small calico cats.

Eeeeeexxxxcellent.

Checkity

New sneakers, one pair.

Good for bouncing.
Good for terrifying small calico cats.

Eeeeeexxxxcellent.