Fencing + Fingerprints = Me

I'm really bad at this whole blogging thing...

2011-09-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... in spite of my best efforts, I'm just terrible at this whole blogging thing. And I'm writing this presuming someone is actually going to read it, even though I'm pretty sure anyone who has previous read this has given up on me long ago. I know I certainly did. But just in case, here's an update:

After taking three months off due to my back injury, I'm back to training for this new season. Absolutely nothing happened for me last season as far as competitions go. I was in so much pain with my back, that towards the end of the season it was decided that an injection was the next step. While I hope I NEVER have to do that again, it worked wonders. After the injection, I decided to take the rest of the season off to let my back heal as much as possible. This was very difficult because it meant not going to Nationals this summer. I rested, finished up physical therapy, and am now easing back into training. So far, no pain...and I've been able to sleep on my back for the first time since I was a child!

While my competitive results were lacking from this last season, that didn't keep me from growing in this sport. I increased my referee rating to a six, became a level three certified armorer, and was voted to a vice-chair position on the division board. This was all in addition to the classes I was teaching in Monroe and working with students to prepare them for the Blade tests.

This new season has some new challenges. I'm already overwhelmed in preparation for the Bladefest tournament. The tournament organizers applied for ROC status for this tournament and it was granted. This means it is now part of the qualifying path to Nationals and much more "official." I agreed to be the head armorer for the event and I'm also going to be competing. I'm also supposed to be developing the homeschooler fencing/PE program at the academy. With my ties to the homeschooling community and occasionally flexible schedule, I was asked to take on this project. With my usual competitive goals for this season, I'm also hoping to complete one more Blade test. I'm just two away from being finished with all ten...!

In addition to my fencing life, my "day" job has had its challenges as well. I finally was called to court to testify as an expert; it's good to have that first time experience out of the way! We've also transitioned to a completely new computer system for our database. This has been quite the challenge.

My car also died. So very, very sad...

Anyone want to place a wager on when my next post will be...?

Okay...this time...really...I promise...!

2010-07-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for the update of all updates on my past year. It will include exciting stories about teaching, private lessons, blades tests, more teaching, competing, my first gold medal (actually, first medal period), new rating, injuries (as always), and Summer Nationals. And maybe some stuff about work. And life. And if you're really lucky, I'll try and make it coherent and cohesive. But no promises...after all, I've got A LOT of ground to cover...

2010-05-05T02:32:00.001-07:00

Testing...testing...mobile blog posts...

Okay, I knew I had let my posting lapse, but this is rediculous!

2010-03-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

Alright...really...honest...I'm going to write more often. Quite a bit has happened to me fencing wise and it really should be chronicled. And I could even write about work stuff. So, really. More posting to be had. Soon. But not now.

Sheesh, and one month later...

2009-06-01T23:29:00.000-07:00

Busy, yes. But I'm finding I have plenty of time right now, because I'm laid up with a sprained ankle. Yeah. This last weekend was divisional championships and the three weapon tournament. First day, epee. I finished seventh and earned my E! Finally! So did my teammate ("The Wall") Jordan. It was a pretty exciting bout, especially since I had to beat my nemesis in order to letter. Second day, sabre and foil. Granted, I haven't done any sabre since January and I've never really done foil...so it was all just for fun. Sabre went okay. Had I been practicing more, I think I could have done better, but finishing seventh wasn't too shabby. They actually told me I had earned my E in sabre, but upon further research, they recanted. The event was missing another E rated fencer to make it a C1. So it was only a D1. *sigh* Oh well, I wasn't really trying to letter in sabre, but they did get my hopes up...a little... So sabre ended and foil was the last event of the day. It was interesting...I was really bad, but that's okay. However, during my last pool bout, I was retreating and my back ankle (left) rolled. I fell completely back and now have a very sprained ankle. I had to withdraw from the event (since it was foil I didn't really care, had it been epee, I would have fought tooth and nail to stay in) and got taped up and started icing. So my training will be slight modified for the next couple of weeks, but I should be fine for Nationals.

Speaking of Nationals, I'm also going to be doing the women's epee team event. Jo, Jordan, and I were all going to be there the day of the event, so we thought we might as well do it for the experience. Jo's going to be the captain since she has the most experience at national tournaments, and I think they want me to be the anchor. I'm not sure what I think about it, but I guess I'm up to the challenge. The anchor is responsible for being able to defend if we're in the lead and to create touches if we're behind. Basically, they go last in the rotation to ensure success. No pressure or anything...

Alright, I've got to go ice and elevate my ankle. Will try and write more before another month goes by...!

Pardon my negligence...

2009-05-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

Life's been crazy. Hence the lack of posting.

Where shall I start? I just finished week three of my class and I think they're doing great! Last week I wasn't able to be there because of work, but they seem to be progressing quite well. I think this next week I'll start them on the parries.

The next test...Spirit...it's going to be a doozy. Balestra, duck, bouncing, inquartata...*sigh* not unattainable, but it's going to be tough to have it all down by the end of the month. Oh yeah, and I have to write a paper (alright, here, for the first time, I will say it: Kevin's mean.) The footwork, the blade work, all doable. But a paper?! Blegh...

Let's see, tournaments... Had the unrated tournament last weekend...yeah, didn't do so well myself, but I'm very proud of all my teammates! Everyone won at least one bout and two of our new fencers medaled! Next tournament is the Rain City Open in two weeks.

Have to get going to open fencing, will write more later...

Busy busy...

2009-04-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

I have much to write, but not enough time right now. Actually, right now I should be sleeping since I am to be at work tonight. I'll nap in a little bit...

Two weekends ago was the divisional qualifiers for Summer Nationals. I wasn't expecting much, just another tournament, really. But I placed third and qualified for div. 2 and div. 3 events. And I can't very well not go since I qualified and all that...so it looks like I'll be making a trek to Dallas in July (I'm sweating just thinking about it...). I'll post more information concerning the qualifier later...

Testing. Passed the second "level" (Mind) and should be working towards the third. Only...I don't know what's on the third, yet... Got some good feedback from the coaches after testing, but nothing I didn't know or hadn't already been working on (I guess I come across stern and bossy while leading footwork drills...who, me? Noooo....).

The 1-2 and double (pronounced doo-blay). My current bane of existence. Well, that and parries. But I'll get to parries later... My fingers don't move fast enough. Two actions with the hand/fingers while executing one action with the feet. Seems simple enough; extend, lunge, two disengages, hit. Just basically avoiding my opponents blade. I've drilled it over and over with my coach, lesson after lesson. I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. It helps if I do a hang lunge instead of a regular lunge, but my hang lunges need work too. Fingers only, small movement, up down, up down, hit. *sigh*

Alright, I've got to nap...post more later...

Mediocre...

2009-03-24T01:19:00.000-07:00

...is defined as " of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance."

So perhaps my feeling mediocre is inaccurate based off that definition. What I most likely am is inconsistent. I have ups and downs without having any answer as to what causes the "up" or what causes the "down." Which, of course, is somewhat normal in the beginning...but I feel that I should be seeing some progress in that area.

I feel a constant frustration towards my performance, whether it's just during a lesson or during a tournament. Fencing doesn't come easy for me. I'm not athletic, strong, or even remotely "in shape." There are moments when I wonder if I have reached the highest level I ever will. I know certain people wonder why I spend so much time and money on this when it's not something at which I'm very good. My past M.O. has been to cut and run whenever I fail to succeed at something right away, to move on and find something "easy." What may appear to be success to some people, is usually me just getting by. Because of that, I have created this persona of someone who has it all together, who accepts nothing but perfection from herself and therefore projects her unreasonably high standard for herself onto others. Fencing is more than a hobby, sport, or workout for me. It's my way of changing who I've been; it's a challenge to myself. I'm not going to walk away from this because I'm not perfect the first, second, or even third time around. This isn't just about fighting to become a good fencer, it's a fight to change my perceptions about what defines the kind of person I am.

Must Remember...

2009-03-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

...when lunging, ARM FIRST! Gah! Of course I know this...but do I do it? Sporadically. A very subtle change in movement, but makes a big difference. So to myself I say, "Arm first, just let the disengage happen."

It's Official...

2009-03-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

...I guess I'm teaching the adult beginner class starting next session...! Maybe I'm ready, maybe I'm not... The powers that be seem to think I can handle it, so I guess I'll defer to them. Should be interesting. I have a month to prepare, so I'm going into an organizing frenzy; lesson plans, outlines, diagrams, etc. How does one teach the en garde position? I just...do it... This is going to take a lot of thought. I pity this first class. But at least I don't start teaching until next month, when my furlough days change. I will be teaching Thursdays and my weekend starts Thursday, so I won't have to worry about dashing off to work after class!

So simple...and yet so miserably difficult!!

2009-03-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

Last nights lesson consisted of lunges...a lot of them. Easy enough, right? A very simple action: Lunge and if parried, disengage around it. GAHHH! I think I did it right...maybe...twice...and I think I'm being pretty generous with that. Argh. And this action should be second nature to me. *sigh*

Upcoming Tournaments

2009-03-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some upcoming tournaments. Of course, my participation is subject to change... For more information, click on the tournament name.

March 21st

FDL St. Paddy's Day Tournament
Mixed Epee
1pm

March 22nd

SAS Women's Open Epee
Women's Epee
2pm

April 4th

WWD Divisional Qualifier - Div II/III Events
Division II/III Women's Epee
10am

Stats for the year...to be expanded upon later...

2009-03-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

October: SAS Women's D & Under Epee (D1) - 11/15

November: FDL Turkey Tourney (C1) - 15/15

November: SAS Women's Epee (B1) - 10/17

January: Battle in Seattle (A1) - 11/21

January: SFU January Joust (E1) - 6/9 (Sabre), 10/11 (Epee)

February: MTFC Day-After-Valentine's Day Tourney (D1) - 8/19

I have two tournaments coming up at the end of this month. One on the 21st and one on the 22nd (of course they have to be on the same weekend...) both in Seattle. I hope to post my pool and DE results from each of my tournaments and hash out what went wrong (or right).

Is she ever going to post?!

2009-03-09T03:06:00.000-07:00

Yes...my apologies...

I'm working graveyard and will be until October. Sound terrible? Meh, I get used to it. Hence why I am writing this at three in the morning.

Since starting this blog months ago and not posting, I have had three tournaments. The Battle in Seattle, SFU January Joust, and the MTFC Day-After-Valentine's Day tournament. All provided good learning experiences. At SFU, I fenced in a sabre event for the first time. It was very fun, but exhausting. I also did epee right after sabre and...well...did miserably. My timing and distance were completely off not to mention I was worn out from all the running sabre requires. At MTFC, I won my first DE. That was a huge step for me, since I typically loose my DE's (by a lot). I placed the highest I ever have (8th out of 19) but that rating is as elusive as ever...

One big change was my decision to put sabre on the back burner for a while. Yeah, after competing with it once, I realized I couldn't put the time into two weapons that I wanted. I spend approximately ten hours a week with epee. I was spending one hour with sabre. Not wanting to continue in mediocrity, I'm going to wait and just focus on epee for now. Eventually, I will pick sabre up again, but not right now.

Fingerprints

2008-12-15T22:37:00.000-08:00

I am a tenprint examiner for the King County Sheriff's Office. Almost. Technically, I am still on probation since I just started six months ago. I'll be a genuine tenprint examiner after my one year probation period. Tenprint refers to the fingerprint card (ten fingers, ten prints...) with which I work and verify. The prints I work with are complete rolled prints (usually) from a card. I'm typically verifying the identity of an individual who is being booked into the jail.

Fingerprint identification has developed over hundreds of years and is still the easiest and most reliable way to identify an individual. Names, dates of birth, social security numbers, etc. mean nothing to us. We only ID someone through fingerprints.

The Scoop

2008-12-15T22:29:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to understand what exactly I do day in and day out, I decided to start this blog. Here, I make no excuse for my rambling, fragmented, and yet occasionally rational posts. I will be writing about my work as a tenprint examiner and my effort to become a competent fencer. Also to be mentioned, my cat, Gabrielle. And what ever else strikes my fancy.

Stay Tuned...

2008-12-15T01:14:00.000-08:00

Work in Progress...