Dakao v. 2.0 - The Crooked Cut

Good work and a square meal

Ξ July 3rd, 2003 | → Comments Off | ∇ General, Work |

Well, no meal for me. I usually don’t eat lunch. Got into the habit up in DC, and now it makes me all sleepy and stuff. Can’t afford a midday nap.

But you know how some days are just better than others?

You can show up on two different days, and they’ll just be at odds. One day, you have a lot of work, it’s stressful, and it sucks. Or even worse, you don’t get squat done, and the day’s wasted.

But another day, you come in, and you might do a lot more work, but it’s done well, and you’re riding this mile-high adrenaline rush. You’re inspired to achieve ever-greater results, until the end of the day comes, and you plow headlong over the precipice, into the dark crevasse of happy hour.

Then all is muted reds and blacks, and flickering yellow candles, as you sit in the corner at the local pub, listening to the local talent crooning tunes half-recognized (or half-recognizable).

You trace a finger in the puddle on your table, and sip your drink in contemplation.

…And the radio man says

Ξ July 3rd, 2003 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |

…Women were a curse.

What’s it mean when a girl you just met pointedly doesn’t look at you?

..But you wish you weren’t looking at her? (though she’s small, slim, and has this devastating smile — for other people)

..And the girl who thought you two would be perfect and introduced you five minutes ago, is hitting on you and is someone else’s GF? (and is also slim and cute)

So men built Paramount… Studios.

Or maybe the girl you really like really doesn’t like you? (No news there, Captain Obvious)

Or perhaps you don’t realize the girl likes you, and then you realize she does — the day she introduces you to her new BF. (10 points and a spare tire for Captain Oblivious)

And men built Columbia… Studios.

And one of the few times you meet a girl, like her, and she reciprocates, you find she lives 6000 miles away. (LDRs? No thanks.)

Well, we know my response, anyway.

Do thee draw thine tuck, sirrah! For your countenance offends my appetite, wherewith I cannot peaceably break my fast. ‘An whosoever shall taste of the dust this day, may the dogs at least find solace in his demise!

Ach, fershlugginer!@#$

Ξ July 1st, 2003 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Fitness / HEMA, General |

So on Friday, I met a friend, Willy Le, at Tropioca. We cooked up a simplified dragon dance for little kids, and then I stuck around to hear Willy perform for the open mic night.

I also got to hear Francine and Christine perform together. That was nice.

Ended up sticking around for 7 hours — until 2 a.m.

I felt kind of weird there. Around 1 a.m., the reason occurred to me. As far as I could remember, this was the first time I’d ever hung out in a young Asian-American crowd that was not:

A) there for extracurricular involvement (CSA, VSA, etc.)

B) attending some sort of community function (HVHKHVN, temple, etc.)

C) prodded by their parents into socializing with other Asians, in the hopes that they’d marry the “right” person.

It was novel and liberating, but I’m not sure if I like it. I might go again sometime. (Man, I feel like Jane Goodall amongst the apes — gorillas in the mist)

Speaking of C), on Saturday Linh Thi and I got to play assistant hosts at a dinner our parents threw for 15-someodd young VN doctors. I had to spend 3 hours being polite and engaging. Urk. I can enjoy it, but it drains me flat, like a vibrator set to max.

On Sunday, helped my father move some office stuff and furniture. 5 years gone. I had some mildly mixed feelings looking at the vacant space. I wonder how my father feels.

I also worked on my meia lua de compasso kick. I don’t fall over anymore! W00t.

On Monday, I went to fencing. In one epeé bout, the other guy and I lunged at each other, full speed, simultaneously.

I missed.

He pegged me…

…in my left nipple.

At least it’s still there, is all I’ve got to say. Ow.

To top it off, I’m glad he hit my high line target — I was feeling lazy, and hadn’t put on my cup.

There’s a reason why I’m taking so long to build all my protective gear for rapier, sidesword, and longsword. :P

Speaking of… I made a leather belt and hanger for my rapier and sidesword. Pics sometime.