the problem with rapier

It seems I am developing the strength, but not the endurance, for this weapon. After 2 hours of drills my arm is just too tired to hold my guard position during actual bouting. This results in the weight of the weapon getting the upper hand and destroys my point control completely! Of course that means I'm not hitting anyone and not even defending myself well :(

This is not helped by the fact that the "balance" on most of the rapiers I borrow resides a few inches up the blade, rather than right next to the guard. I suspect this works really well for a taller person :/ One day I'll have something created to my specs, but until that day, I need to focus less on strength and more on just being able to hold the damn thing for longer than 5 minutes at a stretch!

Surprisingly my saber game is still decent - I won a single bout 10 to 9, but it was only one bout and I think I'm getting a bit sloppy through lack of practice.

I'm on track with my studies; indeed, I've gone through most of the final study guide so I have plenty of time to cover the first half of the course (final is cumulative).

Found neat links over the weekend: How to choose a well made suit, by englishcut, a London bespoke tailor who recognizes not everyone is wealthy enough to afford his wares :P I've already asked him what a woman should look for in a good suit.

Recently rediscovered 1969 interview with Frank and Beverly Herbert re: what inspired him to write "Dune". Thought it might be of interest to sci-fi/literary types (Paging Doc semmie!)

I'm on a mailing list which provides interesting media gossip; the best I've heard so far is that Johnny Depp will be playing Gypsy Rose Lee in a Tim Burton film and that this guy is set to play James Bond in a remake of Casino Royale. I'm glad they're choosing an unknown - fewer expectations - but I think he's a bit young for the role.

And if you need Jedi robes, Padawan's Guide looks an like what you get when you look up "comprehensive" in the dictionary...

Coffee almost finished, time to hit the road! Happy Monday, y'all...