Pretty

Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers
Plucked in the garden, all the summer through
And winter, and it seemed as if they grew
In this close room, nor missed the sun and showers.
So, in the like name of that love of ours,
Take back these thoughts which here unfolded too,
And which on warm and cold days I withdrew
From my heart's ground. Indeed, those beds and
bowers
Be overgrown with bitter weeds and rue,
And wait thy weeding; yet here's eglantine,
Here's ivy!-take them, as I used to do
Thy flowers, and keep them where they shall not pine.
Instruct thine eyes to keep their colours true,
And tell thy soul their roots are left in mine.

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sweet November

Based off of trivia and quotes from the film Sweet November, it would appear that Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy, c'mon) appears as the cross-dressing, possibly gay best friend character. That might almost be worth watching. What is the world coming to?

Why fencing? (250 words or less)

My friends who run the Phoenix Center, where I now fence, have asked their fencers to write a short essay on why they enjoy fencing. I thought it was an interesting exercise ... mostly to break it down to the gist of the thing and to really look at my thoughts on the subject. I thought it might be worth sharing. Enjoy.

Why do I love to fence? I believe that fencing is a true metaphor for all other aspects of life; both in terms of social existence and internal growth. Involvement in the sport can aid and enhance personal development in a variety of ways.

My favorite aspect of fencing is the fact that anyone can do it. Fencers come in all sizes: short, tall, fat, thin; they come in all ages and colors and from walks of life. I’m not entirely sure there’s another sport that can boast of such diversity. I’ve made lifelong friends through fencing, and I’m always amazed by the range of people who choose to devote some part of themselves to the sport.

Fencing encompasses all of the positives of engaging in an athletic endeavor: fitness, discipline, a sense of pride in one’s performance. Before I took up fencing, I was not a particularly athletically gifted person; now I can move into just about any sport and perform as a reasonable level. It’s helped me stay in shape and been a motivating factor in maintaining exercise habits. It’s developed a healthy sense of competition.

Ultimately, fencing has made me who I am. After sixteen years, I truly believe that I have found all of the best and worst in myself through fencing. I understand my limitations and my strengths, both physically and mentally. Fencing means personal growth, social development, and application of oneself to something that can prove worthwhile for a lifetime.