Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Sleeping Arrangements

We recently decided that, with Gulf Wars looming on the near horizon, we were tired of sleeping on uncomfortable (and seperate) cots while camping. So, we looked around for plans for a DIY camp bed. Having found a design that seemed simple enough for us to put together without a woodshop and major carpentry skills, we headed out to Home Depot to get the lumber. We fully expected to have to cut the boards to length ourselves with a hand saw, a process that I was not particularly looking forward to. Luckily, once we had picked out suitable pieces of former green growing things, we realized that the Home Depot people could cut them all for us in a matter of just a few minutes. I was overjoyed at the amount of strenuous labor that this saved us. We ordered the fastener hardware Monday and are hoping to have the whole thing sanded, varnished and ready to go on Saturday. It will be a huge improvement to our Gulf Wars experience. Who knows, maybe sleeping on a real bed will even keep me from feeling like I was beaten with a blunt object every morning when I wake up. Wouldn't that be something?

Friday, February 13, 2009

Feel the Hate

How is it that I can fight rapier Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday with no ill effects except some residual stiffness, but I bend down to get something out of my closet yesterday morning and end up with a massive knot in my back that is still causing me a fair amount of pain today? Don't know if it's a pinched nerve or what, but it's going to make fighting tomorrow a real problem if it doesn't unkink by then. I'm utterly convinced that my body hates me and does this kind of thing just out of spite.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Ups and Downs

Just when I think I'm getting pretty good at this rapier fighting thing, I have a practice that makes me question whether I should even bother. Consistancy seems to escape me, despite my continued dedication to improving my skills and physical condition. One day I'm unbeatable and the next I'm everyone's practice dummy. It's very frustrating, especially when people are counting on me to be at a certain level. Hopefully, now that things seem to be kicking into high gear with practices and events, the rollercoaster will stop and I won't have the peaks and valleys quite so much.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Midwinter A&S

Midwinter A&S was a lot of fun. We got there around 10am Saturday, helped Cillian and Serona with their Historical Combat A&S entry, grabbed some quick lunch, then fought through the afternoon. Later, Her Majesty graciously allowed Ysabel and I to be part of her entourage at Court, as her Rapier Champions. We skipped out after Court, even though we probably could have stayed for Feast. By then, we were tired and sore and just wanted to go back to Ysabel's parents' place and crash. It's nice to have family in the Atlanta area for when we have events down there. It gives us a place to stay that's reasonably comfortable and gives her parents a chance to hang out with their grandkids more than they would have otherwise.

It was nice to get to fight, but I haven't done that much combat in a few months and I'm feeling it this morning. I fought Jean-Michel for the Iron Ring of Meridies (ie. The Precious). He made the challenge and we agreed to fight Cut and Thrust, rather than standard rapier. Best two out of three bouts, out of which he won two. I think if I had not been borrowing armor that made moving a bit awkward, I would have done better. The rest of the fighting I did was mostly teaching newer fighters standard rapier. I wasn't going all out against them most of the time, but it was enough for me to feel the burn. We have some work to do if we want to be in shape for Gulf Wars.