Finally Sleepy

Gentle Readers,

For those of you who have been reading you'll know that I've been having an exhausting week. Thankfully today, I'm just sleepy. It's nice not to feel like I've been put through the wringer, just had a regular day.

Most of my weekend happened yesterday when I went with Shyska to East Kingdom Winter War. I fought in my first melee. It was not terribly fun, mostly because I didn't know what I should be doing or who I should be doing it with. Unfortunatly I had some mechanical failures with my chinstrap and so I didn't get to play in the bridge battle or the resurection battle. Instead, I wondered over to the rapier list where there were two hands full of people I've never fenced before. It was great.

I won my pool but lost in the second round of in the semi-finals. I didn't give myself enough mental prep work and let myself be killed by someone who wasn't preserving their own life. I should have been in a safer position but what can you do.

After we had dinner in the same place as last year, but as we didn't get the fajitias, the food was not as good as last year. We were joined by a half dozen fighters from down south. I begin to suspect that they no longer think of me as a fencer. Actually, I think that stopped when I became a baron.

We even got back to Ottawa in time to go to the beer tasting even if we didn't get quite enough time to sample much beer. It was a lovely ending to a fun day.

This morning, OCS had a little tournament to finish off the I.33 class. It was fun, but we should have run it at half speed so people had time to think about what they were doing with the system instead of throwning it out the window and trying to use instinct. The exciting news is that the sunday class will be switching back to the theatrical rapier style and we will be staring a new class thursday evenings from 7-9 to do I.33 (and probably other cutting play).

I think some negotiation will be needed if I'm going to manage to spend time with my family.

This afternoon Lydia and I had some special us time. We watched a movie (Quest for Camalot) and played Playmobile. It was nice to have that time for just the two of us. I used to get that when I picked her up from school but haven't for a while.

Now it's time to put that sleepiness to good use and head to bed.

New Classes

Gentle Readers,

As mentioned in the previous post, but repeated here for emphasis:

My Swordplay club: Ottawa Classical Swordplay is starting a new series of classes late March.

Sword and Shield (based on I.33) Thursday nights from 7-9.
Rapier: Sunday Morning 10-12.

Anyone interested?

Ode to Cortejo

The glorious Cortejo, Twenty-one years in my life.
For two thirds of them she has been my wife.

Her talents are many, her interests not few.
From the piercing of skin to beef marrow stew.

She can take you to the ground with a lumberjack sweep
or create a scroll you will cherish and keep.

She's made bread in an oven that she built herself,
She knows what to do to maintain your health.

She plans all our meals like a well seasoned pro,
and thanks to her efforts clean dishes we know.

Without her, we'd be lost in mountains of dirt
and she usually knows where to find that one shirt.

Her temper is patient, her driving is swift
Her looks are appealing if you catch my drift

Her humour oblique, but never obtuse.
though sometimes she might sing about moose.

Though disaster may strike and misfortune abound
If you find that you need her, she's quickly around.

As someone she cares for, I'm one lucky gent,
and those who dislike her can go and get bent.