Things of recency

I realise I haven't written much.  I'm busy with school, GSOC, jodo/iaido, and trying to escape my computer.  So, here is a bunch of points if you're curious about where I've been, complemented by pretty photos.  If you like, you can just look at the photos. :)

• The other weekend was the iaido/jodo seminar in Guelph.  It was amazing.  I volunteered with it since it's hosted by my dojo.  The crisp, decisive movement of 70-year olds is amazing.  We had 5 sensei come over from Japan to teach us. 
  
• I had my iaido and jodo gradings on the Monday.  I woke up early, got ready, and casually went to the bus stop.  20 minutes later I realised that it was Victoria day and buses had a Sunday schedule and wouldn't start for another 2 hours.  I quickly made a mad dash to my friend K's and commandeered her bike (she willing) and cycled like mad.  The adrenaline had not quite passed by the time I went in for grading.
• I managed raffle sales.  It was wonderful fun obnoxiously harassing people to purchase raffle tickets.  After raffling the main prize, I started raffling off all the things at random: boxes of butter tarts, people, etc.
• At the end of the Monday, I joined up with some friends for fireworks by the Speed River.  I arrived a little late and felt a little asocial so I just sat in the shadows until they were done and surprised them.  There had been some vagrants camping in the park that weekend, but I failed to talk to them. They seemed classy.
  
• I bought a lamp and painted it pretty colours.
  
• This has acquired a new line of art supply to replace my lost one
  
• I've watched a lot of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic with my friend K in the past month.  
• We've watched a couple episodes every other night for a few weeks.  She'd sprained her ankle so it was an easy way to keep her company. :)
• I quite enjoy a lot of anime, and I enjoy clever cartoons still.  MLP borders on clever the same way Genndy Tartakovsky's works (Dexter's Laboratory, Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack) do.  I don't think I'd invest the time in MLP if it wasn't for watching it with my friend.  This became relevant at Anime North.
• Samurai Champloo: I've not managed to watch much in weeks.  Mostly I'm too busy with school + GSOC + iaido/jodo stuff. 
• School: I'm taking my final course for my Masters this summer to try and wrap everything up.  I fear I may be making myself too busy. 
• I love the course.  It's about knowledge acquisition and knowledge discovery and does a better job of covering AI in breadth and detail than the actual graduate AI course did.  Wow!
• I haven't written about them much but I'm having some serious challenges remaining interested in my Masters.  This course helps.
• Google Summer of Code: GXml, redux!
• Last year I felt much more comfortable with the work I was doing: it was within the realm of stuff I was familiar.  This year, I'm branching out a bit conceptually and technically, and I'm having a slightly harder time figuring out what to do.  I need to remember to be willing to request help. :) 
• Silly funs
• I've been accumulating more people who like playing on jungle gyms and climbing trees.  And, perhaps more importantly, people who CAN climb jungle trees. :D
• I've gone on a couple picnics with a friend, such that I've now got two thrift-store picnic blankets.  (One has my primary motif of stars.)
• I've recently been in the business of making huge bubbles
• Food and colourful things
• I've baked a lot of cookies recently, but upon improving my acquaintance with a gluten-free friend, I feel obliged to make more gluten-free vegan cookies.  Or perhaps I will replicate this cupcake:
• The more I sit before my computer, the more I want to integrate nature into my world.  I have added a fallen feather to my plant collection; I wonder whether it will grow into a duck.
  
• That reminds me that my apartment's duck was sadly struck by a truck.  In other avian news, this nostalgic nest appeared at my father's.  I think it was abandoned.  I didn't need a mirror pole to check it, though.
  
• This past weekend I went to Anime North, Canada's largest anime convention.  It's important for me because I have a few friends who I rarely get to see, so meeting up with them at least once a year here helps.  This year, I didn't particularly do anything anime-y, though for a variety of reasons.  :) 
• I attempted a few costumes, but some I gave up on due to connotations and others because some ponies bailed. :)  Also, I've been busy the past two weeks and didn't have much time in-week to spend on it, so I went as Jin from Samurai Champloo (I have almost all the parts already) and as ... Pikachu!
   
• I think it was honestly my favourite and least stressful Anime North yet, despite spending half the time hiding in the hotel.  :)
• I also got to go for a swim when I returned to 32°C weather + humidity in Guelph with friends.  They're crazy ones, I assure you.
  

Thank you.  Back to work now, so good night!