Yes, it's been quite a day

[sistermaynard]

The belt test itself was far and away less horrible than I remember my yellow belt test being. We did the usual opening with the written test, but Jason fiddled with the order to make forms and sparring happen earlier in the day than they usually do. That was helpful, but the unholy combination of normal martial arts Jeopardy with the traditional

Comments

[jeweledhibiscus]

Congrats on the belt test!

I went to see "Scott Pilgrim" Saturday night, and I agree, it was very cute and quite fun. Not quality cinema by any means, but definitely amusing.

Your thesis sounds really interesting; keep me updated. I'm always good to proofread or be a sounding board or anything.

[sistermaynard]

Thank you! Right afterwards I felt fine, but right I feel lucky to survive the soreness. :-P

Exactly! It's funny, occasionally a little too dumb, but mostly just good for nonstop giggling (especially for Wallace.) I'll probably see it again on DVD.

I'll definitely update you; the hope is that there's enough about warfare in Voltaire to make it work. I've already found a good bit in just the one non-war-focused Pratchett book I'm finishing. I could probably do it off of Jingo and Monstrous Regiment alone on his end. :-P

[jeweledhibiscus]

Especially Wallace, yes. "Wallace! Again?"

I haven't read all that much Voltaire, but I know there's some pointed stuff about war in Candide, for what that's worth (as if you didn't know, lol).

[sistermaynard]

Anna and I were cracking up so hard about that, and even more when -both- of Wallace's boyfriends sat up in bed with him. He's just so understated and snarky to be so popular with the gentlemen. :-P

Candide is the only recommendation I've gotten from...any of the eight or nine people I've interrogated. ^^ The plan is to improvise heavily and keep asking around; I'll start skimming his stuff soon. As long as I can find two to four other works with similar themes, I think I can make it work. Fingers crossed!

[ginni_tamez]

I love you, cousin, and I am in awe of your ninja skills. (Those are the same skills used by ninjas, right? Which means I'm basically related to a real-life ninja?)

[sistermaynard]

Love you too.

Well, some of the skills are the same, but ninjitsu is basically an art made up by silly ninja-wannabes. :-P Our instructor likes to make fun of it. Unofficially...some of our moves might be useful in ninja-like situations, so sort of?

How are you doing?

[ginni_tamez]

I'm ignorant enough of martial arts that you can pretty just say "yes, gin, I'm a ninja" and I'll believe you.

I'm doing well--sad today because we're having to have Trixie put down, but even that is about as ideal as it could get--she had a really long life and at least this way we have some warning. We should talk sometime and I'll catch you up on everything (ha! I say that as if my life is jam-packed with exciting updates). <3

[sistermaynard]

Well, I'm BETTER than a ninja. :-P They're just silly people in pajamas.

I'm so sorry about Trixie. :( Losing a pet is always hard. If you want to talk, just message me or something; I'm online a lot of nights, but others I'm not on until eleven or so because of martial arts. We can definitely plan something, though.

[sistermaynard]

Thanks for the congratulations! Believe me, I understand joint problems; knee, wrist, and spinal problems are the biggest reasons that people stop coming to class.

I'm glad you like the topic; I decided I wanted to do Pratchett and reached for the nearest satirist. :-P I just started Candide today and there are four other essays in the same volume, so I'm hopeful that they'll have material too. If you stumble across any interesting Voltaire bits then I'd love to have them, but don't go out of your way.

[sylvaxel]

I can't speak to Voltaire. But seriously, congratulations on the test! That thing was evil, especially when Misael took over for a while. I was very very glad to be on the Board at that point...

[sistermaynard]

Ugh, I know. I hate the kicks forever, and the constant pushups for not being military-shouting enough with the "sir"s were...obnoxious.

Voltaire: Candide is in the running for most messed-up thing I have ever read. No lie.

[sylvaxel]

Did you ever get through the Illuminatus trilogy?

[sistermaynard]

How did I know you were going to go there? :-P

No, you loaned it to me once in a bundle of other books and I never got to it before I gave it back. Remind me when I'm done with the Pratchett run and I'd be delighted to sample the crazy.