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Well #$@%. When it asked for "Blog Title," I assumed it was for a new entry, so I put "Fencing Woes" 'cause that's what I wanted the title of the entry to be. Nooooo, no, it's not that; it's the title to my consummate blog activity. And now I can't change it. So now my Blog Title shall forever be known as "Fencing Woes." Merely because I misunderstood "Blog Title" for "Blog Entry." Fantabu-frickin-licious. WHTF, TL? (-.-') [/endmockrage]
Random 2:
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Wanted to make my first blog a “personal profile” of myself of sorts, but thank goodness I read TDL's FAQ again and ctrl+f’ed to the portion on blogs. Blogs are “srs bizniss” apparently, don’t’cha know? 
This past weekend, I participated in the first collegiate fencing tournament for the year. Got the "pleasure" of driving ~5-1/2 hours across states to get to the college where the tourney was being held, which was an additional hour and a half away from the university, lol. I had been sick with a cough/cold for the past week and a half (which SHOULD have subsided at this point...), so I decided to stay at a Red Roof Inn for the two nights away from everyone else to prevent the other fencers from our school from catching what I had and to let them get a little sleep. Plus, I remember the last time I stayed at a fellow fencer's house with a dozen other college kids; it wasn't all that enjoyable....
We drive up there early Saturday morning. Sabre is first. Our fencing Pres. makes his way to the finals, along with our rival school's Pres. Somehow, our guy wins the gold, which is good. :-D
Foil was next. I only have ~1 year of experience with this weapon, but I felt somewhat confident as switching was a recommendation by the Pres. I did decent enough in pools, but barely won in my first direct elimination against a freshman newb, like 15-13. Something ridiculously high that should not have been that close. Then I was up against... our fencing Pres. Well, @$#%, lol. At least I took 12 points off him, but he was gonna win and I knew it. So I'm out, he makes it to the finals, so does his rival, but this time the rival comes out on top.
Epee was Sunday. About 20-ish fencers. I just wanted to get a medal, which means I had to hit the top 4. I earned one last year; had a lucky pool and several fortunate DE's. I wanted to repeat that at this tournament, to be able to wear it proudly and share my victories with my friends and classmates the next day at class.
For whatever reason, I went on a table-flippin', well-nigh-unstoppable rampage.
I took points off fencers that I really should NOT have, lolol. Ended up not doing too well overall in pools, but I had another freshman newb that I got to crush 15-2. Then I faced the guy that beat me at the last tournament; he's an agile and skilled fencer, and proved a tough opponent. To be honest, I didn't expect to win. But somehow, I beat him 15-12. Last guy I had to beat, in the Round of 8, was an experienced fencer from my own team. I knew he was beatable, but I didn't want to jinx myself by getting my hopes up too high. Still, I managed to topple him too. Last point, I parried upwards, riposted, and bent my blade over his helmet to tag him on the back. ...Epees aren't exactly supposed to bend that much. ;-P But it was awesome regardless. Got it on camera too; I'll see if I can't post links up eventually for reference.
I was happy, I was satisfied. I had made it to the semi-finals. I could rest easy.
Got placed against my Pres. again (figures, lol), so naturally I lost again. At the end of the day, when fencers were awarded their medals, I noticed something: there was only one 3rd place medal.... At every other tournament I've attended, they had two medals for the two who made it to the semi-finals but couldn't reach the finals, in place of a 3rd-4th place match. We still didn't have the match, but... they only had one medal anyways.
And of course, they gave it to the other guy 'cause he did better in his pool and seeded higher than me....Sooooo I got to drive for nearly six hours home. At night. With a cold. Without a voice. With three freshmen. Who constantly badgered me with questions about my personal life. On backroads. In utter, suppressed misery....
I know, I know, I should feel proud and glad that I achieved that high a placement at the tournament, and that the medal is simply a symbol, blah blah blah. And I really DO feel accomplished for making it as far as I did, there's no mistake about that. But... eh. I was just really looking forward to that medal....
