- Round one: as soon as the lay-on was called, I charged Rod and was laughing out loud at myself, because honestly, I wasn't taking it seriously (defensive mechanism: if I'm laughing then everything is alright). Olin even called me on it. My fighting-style sucked too. I was over-reaching and not breathing. Rod of course won.
- Round two: started the fight winded and even more out of whack mentally. I was throwing shots using only arm and not very well organized. I was holding my breath a lot. I'm not even sure what I was thinking anymore, but I do know that I was starting to understand that this wasn't a joke, that these guys were really working with me & not trying to make me look bad on purpose. In other words, I was starting to trust them. I've been on my own so long (including SCA fighting-wise) that I tend to not trust those around me 100% for fear of being let down and disappointed again. The past's ugly head comes rearing again. Sigh. At least I am recognizing that issue and am facing it. I am now surrounded by genuine people that really do want to teach me. I've known it for awhile, it's just accepting that fact is not my norm. Another defensive mechanism. Gee, I got's lots of 'em. Rod won, again.
- Round three: was so tired and winded that I wasn't even thinking anymore. When the lay-on was called, it seemed that Rod and I faced each other without engaging for what seemed like an eternity. My mind was completely blank. I don't even recall who started the first engagement but I fought much better. I was centered, I only threw shots that I truly intended and with much better body mechanics (instead of wildly throwing & hoping something would land). I almost got Rod twice: once with an offside body slot and a flat snap to the head. He did take the win for all three bouts, but in each one I progressed in some sense. Some of the progression is coming now as I right this down.
Next was Slade. I was getting cold and felt pretty spent. I really did not have much left in me and don't remember much about the fights I had with him. Finally, matched up against Olin. He is rather intimidating to stand across from. And even though I was cold, tired and at the end of my game I still fought. We worked on me stepping and shielding towards his armpit to deliver the wrap. He said I gave him a bruise. That made me smile. I even asked for one more last fight out of him before I completely collapsed from exhaustion. All in all I was in armor for 70-80 minutes, of which I spent fighting all but maybe 10 minutes. My muscles today are sore and do have a couple of bruised spots to rub arnica into. There's no other practices this week until next Monday. So if you are reading this and will be in the Portland area next Monday, come on out and take a whack at me. I can always use a good whacking!
- Mood:
contemplative
- Mood:
pissed off
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
drgntrainer and I decided to start our 12th night garb several weeks ago. I'm still not done (hemming, sleeves and tweaking) but it is at least past the point of failure. If you're curious see here: www.flickr.com/photos/35548659@N02/41658
www.flickr.com/photos/35548659@N02/41658
It's been a lot of work, but I'm pretty happy with the results. My sewing skills have improved vastly, thanks to the pointers by all my friends! Thanks!
I've also got a couple of other projects to work on in the next few weeks: a pewter casting project, and hopefully a weaving project for the 12th Knight Auction. My plan is to weave the material to make a haversack. Actually, I started that weaving project today. It's purple and blue warp with a white weft. I'm liking it so far. See here:
So I'm wondering where everyone is staying. I've got 2 different options right now and I'd like to choose the option that best facilitates, um, the parties and social aspect. Right now I could either be staying at the main hotel or at the Holiday Inn Express.
What say you?
- Mood:
optimistic
drgntrainer 's house for the Thanksgiving festivities. This year they fixed a ham instead of a turkey as the protein dish for the celebratory meal. So I made cheese podadoes (cheese mashed potatoes from my youth) as a side dish and a pumpkin pie for dessert. We also had steamed asparagus, acorn squash, olives and crescent rolls. Yum to the deliciousness of all the food! Since I was not able to go to my mom's for the holiday (she lives in NC), I moved into
drgntrainer 's house for the weekend. Brought with me my 12th Night garb sewing project to work on. It's a 16th century French gown. I've used a golden velvet, a green/gold brocade and an eggshell satin (all materials that have been in my stash for quite sometime). It's coming along pretty well; damn it is heavy! :-) I've completed a lot of the work on it but there is still so much to do still (mostly hand work). Thankfully we decided to start these dresses weeks ago. I've not attempted an outfit of this caliber before, so I'm learning so many things and am gaining a lot of confidence in my ability to sew (which I have felt has never been my strong suit). Hopefully the finished product will be pretty and not fall apart! :-)My dog Homer got
drgntrainer 's family a free Christmas tree yesterday! The local radio station 105.1 hosted their annual Tree-Pee event at Sleigh Bells of Sherwood tree farm. The event goes like this: the first 105 families/dogs get a chance to pee on or near a set of trees; if they pee within 105 seconds, the family gets a free tree! When it was our turn, Homer went to the first tree and watered it within seconds, winning us a free tree! My other dog, Tyge, succumbed to peer pressure and was a little overwhelmed to perform. That was okay; we only needed one tree because I don't have room for a live tree. The tree that was selected (not one of the pee'd on trees of course!) is a 7 foot Douglas fir. It's very pretty and for some reason drgntrainer 's cats love it! All in all it was a very good weekend. But it hasn't ended yet: I'm going over to
khalja 's house today for some weaving time! Yay!!- Mood: chipper
Because I know there are others out there that need a silly smile too! (gakked from tudorlady ; Thank you!)
- Mood: chipper
- Music:nfl today
I'm using a golden colored heavy-velvet and a green & golden brocade. The eggshell satin sleeves will be made from material that my mom used to make a Christmas formal 40-50 some-odd years ago. I haven't decided yet on headdress; I want to get the dress done first (including new corset, farthingale, shift and bum-roll). I will be using the Simplicity pattern #3782 as a base to start with, but will be making changes/additions as I see fit. Once I get some basics sewn together I'll start posting pictures.
I haven't done late-period clothing in a long time; I again realize why I both love and hate late-period.
The reasons why I love it:
- It fits so nice (since it is made to fit my body)
- The overall affect is beautiful
- I get to employ a lot of my creative juices
- Yay, I'll be warm at at winter event!
- So much tedious work
- a lot of material
- Damn, I'll be hot at an indoor winter event!
- Mood:
creative
After arriving late and throwing on my armor quick, I had some really good bouts with Joseph (a new-ish fighter), Duke Davin and Sir Olin. I did a warm-up session with Joseph which was really good for both of us, I think. I used to shy away from fighting newer fighters for many reasons, but the 2 main ones were: 1. I didn't want to "influence" their fighting negatively (see, I had a problem with having confidence about my ability to fight one-on-one well); and 2. I didn't want to get beat by a newer fighter than me. I know, it's all about my confidence level. I feel much better now, especially because I'm getting direct training and guidance from some of the best fighters, and that training is STICKING. If a newer fighter beats me, then good on them; just means that they got some shots in and I have more stuff to work on for me. NO Big Deal anymore.
My next 2 sessions were with Duke Davin, followed by Sir Olin. Both were awesome teachers. I feel good about my overall performances and both gave me some really good comments to think about and try to incorporate in my training/fighting. However, one of the areas I'm still having a big issue with is shot commitment. I'm not following through with the shot before resetting. For the most part I'm throwing some clean shots that if I had just completed would have been either killing or maiming blows. I'm short-changing myself and I haven't figured out why yet. I don't know if it is a mental thing or if it is all mechanics. I think its a bit of both. Part of me thinks its because I don't want to hit somebody too hard, and that if I commit too much I won't be able to return to a defensive position fast enough. I don't really know how to "fix" the mental problems; I think the best way (right now, at least) is to practice the physical mechanics of following through with my shots and try not to think about the mental aspect. My ideology is that if I can just physically do it, my mind will wrap itself around the idea of committing to shots is good thing.
Another area I need to work on is "whiffing" my shots into a second shot. Sir Olin was giving me guidance on that last night but the way I was doing it strained my shoulder. I need to figure out what is the best way to swing my sword over my head without injuring my shoulder. I think it may be to not bring my hand all the way over my head but rotate the balance point of the sword just in front of my forehead. I can lead better with my elbow that way. My arm is pretty sore and tired today; I think I will give the left arm rest today and reattempt the whiffing exercises tomorrow.
I really need to get my pell built. I've got the stem already, I just need to get the carpet from
drgntrainer and start taping away! I'm going to need some help getting it from my garage to my second story apartment balcony, too. A 5 gallon bucket of cement is heavy! :-) - Mood: contemplative
Mary Pickford
If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.- Mood: contemplative
the Courage to change the things that we can,
and the Wisdom to Know the difference.
There are times in my life when this prayer is so poignant, and I think now it is applicable to a kingdom suffering turmoil.
I am saddened by all the recent events plaguing the West kingdom, the kingdom of my SCA birth per se; from the banishment (IMO unjust) of a person whom I respect and care for deeply, the savage and hurtful rumor spreading, all the way to the apparent loss of respect for the monarchy, two people that I've known for years and have called "friend". Even though as an outsider it seems that their decision-making is playing a significant role for many of the problems, I don't believe that they alone are the only guilty parties to all the wrong-doings taking place. Wrongful counsel can lead to wrongful decision making. Rumor spreading is due to a lack of respect of self and of others. How can you respect yourself if you don't respect others?
I am also gladdened to see that there are people of the West who have the Wisdom to want to see change and have the Courage to make a difference. I was impressed by the caring words (on LJ posts) of both Her Royal Highness Kara and Her Excellency, Mistress Etaine. There are many others who have shared the same sentiments as these women, but their words stand out to me because I think they closely express what I've been thinking for days. It IS time for forgiveness and improved communication; but above all, it is time for respect.
Of all the people that have been writing sentiments about these recent nasty doings, the person that stands out the most of all is the banished beauty herself, Her Excellency Ysabella. Her LJ posts are filled with hope, strength, love, humor and encouragement. To me Viscountess Ysabella is graceful. Viscountess Ysabella is poised. Viscountess Ysabella is an inspiration and I hope that if someday I find myself facing a similar turmoil that I would be able to comport myself in the same demeanor that I am observing in her. Thank you, Ysabella, for being more than just my friend, thank you for providing me an awesome, valuable life lesson.
- Mood: contemplative
Sorry, I digress.... I called my mom this morning to discuss my flying out there this week and to check in on the status of Memere. My mom answered the phone sounding giddy and said "I think I'm a miracle worker!" Then she explained that Memere, while holding my mother's hand, had woken up and was now talking and laughing with the family! I even got to hear her say "Hi Sweetie!" to me on the phone. That was pure music to my ears. I never thought I'd hear her call me her Sweetie ever again. It's beautiful!
My Memere is not going to recover though. Her body is riddled with infection and too weak to fight it. But I think she came back one last time to help her children find the loving bond they once shared. Maybe or maybe not, but for whatever the reason it is a miracle and I think having my mother there helped her fight through the fog to have a peaceful, loving moment with her children before she passes on.
- Mood:
peaceful
Life update:
THIS IS MY LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!!! YIPPEE YAHOOEY!! I am 2 assignments away from graduating Magna Cum Laude for my double major Bachelor's of Business Administration degree (barring any stupidity on my part and just plain meanness on the professor's part). I am so looking forward to not having to do homework for awhile. I am mentally exhaused and so needing a break! I am really proud, though, of my accomplishments. I never gave up and I committed myself to doing very well; not always my best work, but I worked hard. I think I deserve the break. Wheeeeeee!!!
- Mood:
accomplished
A friend sent this to me today and I had to share: For all those that have served and continue to serve, thank you!
http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmov
- Location:home
- Mood:
thankful - Music:Star Wars
Alrighty, all my fiber-loving friends, who wants to go to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival (OFFF) next weekend? Christal and I will definitely be going; I have room for 2 -3 more plus space for "stuff". If yous interested, let me know!
The website 'splainin' OFFF: http://www.flockandfiberfestival.com/
- Mood:
indescribable
Epicness
So this Crown weekend will live on in my memories as another Epic event for me. I willingly fought in a tournament while being sponsored by Ataias, solidified a lot of friendships while making new ones and opened doors that I have been wanting to open for sometime. Wow.
- Mood: content
My intentions are to split the batch into 2 batches at first racking: one will continue on its dry path while the other will have more honey added to increase the Specific Gravity (SG), therefore making it a slightly stronger and sweeter mead/melomel. The one gallon batch I did last year yielded a beautiful semi-sweet melomel, that has a dessert-red wine finish. I will probably only make 2 gallons of the dry because I really like the dessert-red finish of the semi-sweet. We shall have to wait and see how the dry turns out.
Yummy!
- Mood: optimistic
this was great two-fold: I got in some really great arm workouts (I never stopped moving the sword and I exercised both arms) and I am getting my dogs used to me swinging a stick without them freaking out and hiding. Plus+plus=win!
When I got home I did some kneeling hip thrusts (yowzers!) and some body planking. I believe every muscle of my body was put to work today. Including the ole noggin (I know it's not a muscle, but it still got exercised today)!
- Mood: productive
Exercises:
kneeling hip thrusts
body planks
seated body rotations
shield movement
cardio with my dogs (walk/run)
Pell work:
onside combination with footwork
slow work snap x1200
Thursday Fighter Practice:
offense from the defense movement
Last night had Olin & others watch & critique my form for slow work on the pell. They gave me adjustments to work on for my feet & hip movement. That's my concentration this week.
Need to see if
drgntrainerbrother will let me borrow one of his video recorders so I can record practice. Would also like to invest in getting a powerball www.powerballs.com/ to help build up my wrist and forearms.
- Mood:
determined
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