Well, I'm just dandy.

Apart from being sick, I mean.

I am now a proud owner of a rapier (boo-ya!) and am now displaying early signs of wicked bruises. Last night was my first night of the mastery class as a green cord. So on to why I'm actually updating. They suggest keeping track of any sword work done while trying to get your blue cord, any sparring/sparring partners and things done well and things that...need improvement. So, as I don't have my awesome notebook here (I'm at school waiting for class to start in half an hour) I'm going to record here. For your viewing displeasure as I'm sure no one actually cares to read this. XD

So, yesterday we started offhand work.
Basics are:
- take care of your opponents sword with your offhand and stab them with your sword.
- you need to keep the offhand in an open position when you get into guard (prima, seconda, terza, querta) and move to a closed position as you lunge, squaring your shoulders.
- each guard has a different open position;
- terza is up by your chest
- prima and seconda are by your stomach
- querta is by your chin
- closed positions vary as per high or low defense; wrists are kept close together;
- prima: ?
- seconda: offhand makes a "T" below the wrist
- terza: "defends high, attacks low", hand is above wrist facing quadrant opponent is attacking?
- quarta: hand crosses wrist and faces quadrant opponent is attacking
- offhand is kept cupped to reduce chance of injury, attempt to keep contact to flat edge of blade
- blade is parallel to opponents blade: attack is high, blade will be under; attack is low, blade will be above
- guard changes as per quadrant: hand moves blade farther to side that opponent is attacking: attack to high left, defend in quarta using offhand to move hand farther left.

I think that's it...

So., yesterday was another first: SPARRING!

Sally, whose first name he did not tell me, decided that as a newb, I should be inducted to sparring. I told him he was a crazy idiot. He agreed. Highlights, he stabbed me in the chest fairly hard once (I have a bruise) and managed to lock my hand somehow... Plus I've noted he fights dirty. He adds stuff that would be useful in any other situation, but he fails to tell me that he might do that. Here I am being destroyed. Plus side, I did a perfect quarta closed defense. My only hit of the night.

Class is starting soon. Sooooooo, I'm going to stop. For now.

Hi! *ducks random airborn objects*

I finished my nightgown... that no one knows about and I basically decided to make a couple days ago. Got the fabric yesterday and power-sewed for about 7 hours today... I now have a beautiful, steel blue, floor length nightgown, vaguely inspired by Elizabeth's one in PotC. It's about three patterns schmushed together XD. I also now have a nightcap-ish, pioneer hat. I had all of about two scraps left over from the dress (bought 3.5m of it, and now I have none TT____TT ) so I found it in a costume pattern envelope that is eons old... I need to get some big envelopes and a filing drawer. That way, you glue the pattern envelope to the new one, and put all of the pattern pieces inside! Voila, no more cramming impossible-to-put-back pieces into a little envelope! I feel so proud of myself.

Hmm... (put this as a note more to myself) I need to ask the person at Academie Duello if I can upgrade my class package. If I can, I can also get a rapier and leather sparring gloves in addition to the classes I have. They didn't have the deal fully explained on their website so now that it is, I'm a little upset. A rapier alone is about 275$. The class I'm doing is 100$... so you figure why not pay and extra 200 so you can get a bunch of awesome swag that you get to keep?! I mean, come on... its a rapier... *pout* they're pretty and fun to use. and if I disguise it in a yoga bag, or a poster container then I am legally (according to the police station) able to take it to and from class on the BUS!!!! XD. carrying a concealed weapon. mmm. lecker.

speaking of yummy, I haven't had dinner yet. Maybe I'll pop in the current object of my obsession: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. If you haven't seen it yet, it's on youtube and also on the project's website. Its made by the guy who did Firefly and serenity. the goal was to not make any money. As it's now on dvd because fan's complained, I'd say they epically won and failed at the same time.

Also a point of interest, Evil League of Evil Applications: DIE-ronic. [link] <------WIN

Also Also a point of interest, Lord Stabbington and Tur-Mohel.

*nods* Freeze Ray, tell your friends.

Namaste.



//UPDATE

What I've done since this journal:

1. haircut (pixie :3)
2. shopping...everywhere
3. academie duello; i've decided i might just do the package deal: warrior fundamentals (longsword and quarter staffs!) with all the goodies already described
4. found out i CAN take fun goodies (i.e. a rapier) on transit. i have been advised that if i do, i bring lots of flyers with me. XD
5. yoga
6. sewing; and now, a sewing list of projects currently under way or yet to do but i now have the fabric for:

digicamo sling bag - 80% done
costume corset - 20% done
jedi robe -40% done
jedi dickey - 5% done
jedi obi - 5% done
pirate pants - 20% done
elven boots - 80% done
pirate boots - 0% done





O___________O

school orientation tomorrow... >_<

it was awesome.
end of journal.






XDD not.
sooo what i did:
played the glomp me game.
bought 20+ buttons (me=button whore)
met peoples... only people i can remember their names are ian, prince of persia cosplayer, and kat who ran the academie duello booth in the dealer's room. i sadly cannot remember one of the other guys i met... but if he's reading this at any point: please leave a note!!! favourite vendors were the SCA peoples there. one guy, first thing he said was "go ahead, please fondle the merchandise, not the vendor" that made my day. and then the woman had on a loverly 18th century gown that was made from sari fabric. it was awesometastic.
i went to... "habits of sucessful ninja" which was a sad replacement for "how to be a cobra trooper: mach 2"
amv contest, my favourite was [link]
the dance. friday and saturday night
two 404s improv shows. they. are. awesome. half time is fun."welcome to the 404s sex ed!" nuf said.
aaaaand my favourite thing: the academie duello longsword workshop. = amazing. it was without a doubt the best thing ever. we learned basic step patterns, cuts, blocks, disarming and holds(haha "mercy/randsom/bargaining" hold. "anyone want a highly trained swords-girl?" "I GOT A PIZZA!" XD) i can't wait to do their intro class this summer... ^_____^ it will be a completely suitable replacement to dance. that with yoga and i'll be ecstatic. its all historical european swordplay and is just totally sweet. and i think i've ranted about this already to like... 5 people so i'm going to stop there

...i think i'm done.

maybe.

...I'll be at Kwantlen for IDDS!!!









EDIT//
this shall be my random notizen page
so...

Summer Projects! I have a lot of random sewing projects i (hopefully!) will make..:
yoga bag [link]
modern period-inspired dress (below knee) [link] [link]
robe a la francais [link] [link]
high-waisted belle skirt similar to [link]
unlined jacket (far right) [link]

or maybe just a good old plain tshirt

5,010 page views?
You're joking... Danke schon!



I just got back from my 11:15 bikram yoga class. Wow. It took me... 2hours to get home. That sucks. But if it feels that good, hell ya I'll trek it!

Note to self and anyone thinking of trying it: drink a lot of water before class. I didn't drink that much. Bad idea. As you quite literally have sweat pouring off of you *ew*, you really need to be drinking more to replace it. Or else, big surprise, you get light headed. The instructor likes my back bends She also said I did very well for a newb. Well, not that wording but you get the point.

It kinda creeped me out though, on the sign up sheet for the studio one of the fields is how did you hear of us/bikram yoga? I put down Katie Kitson, as she was a yoga teacher that came and taught our ballet class(instead of ballet we did yoga XDD it was great!). I had five of the staff and teachers ask me "so how do you know katie?" as they all knew her. It was odd. Sort of funny too though

I can't wait to go tomorrow. ^____^ I have a 2 weeks unlimited classes pass for the studio. And I intend to take full advantage of it! It's hard, it's hot, its humid, it's the longest hour and a half of anything, but it's worth it.



Namaste.
(The divine in me greets the divine in you.)