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.
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