anarchist_nomad: (Guess who?)
anarchist_nomad ([personal profile] anarchist_nomad) wrote2008-05-05 09:48 pm

How I Spent My Bank Holiday Weekend, By A. Nomad

You know what they say: If your weekend was so active it leaves you limping, then you know that it was a success!

Don't have time for details now, but here is the synopsis: On Saturday, I left Oxford and made my was to London for BiFest. Had an excellent time, meeting lovely new people and seeing some faces that are happily becoming familiar. Besides the people -- which was really the best part -- there were nifty workshops, yummy food, and a spiffy dance.

Sunday morning, [livejournal.com profile] ms_katonic and I lay in until after noon. This delayed the start of my London walk by a couple of hours. By one o'clock, I was on my way, however. The original plan for the route can be seen here, and is just over twenty miles. It begins in Lewisham, near Greenwich Park, and ends up in Regents Park. Now that I have done the walk, I need to map out the actual course that I took, which I estimate to be about twenty two miles. I added some extra detours when something interesting, like the Old Bailey, caught my eye. Indeed, I got quite a splendid tour of London from this walk. Yesterday turned out to have a musical theatre theme -- while walking, I listened to soundtracks from five of my favourite shows.

After the walk ended, around nine o'clock, I went to the Pembury tavern and met [livejournal.com profile] ms_katonic and others to unwind. [livejournal.com profile] ms_katonic gets thanks and public recognition for being remarkably sweet -- she saved food for me when the kitchen closed so that I would be able to eat!

Once we left the tavern and made our way back to her house, I took a nice hot bath to relax the sore muscles in my left leg. The right leg is perfectly fine and doesn't notice that it very nearly walked a marathon yesterday. However, I must have pulled something in the left leg, because it is noticeably stiff and I am limping.

This morning was very lazy, and I did not actually stand up until after three o'clock. Shortly after I did, it was time to make my way back to Oxford my my ice skating lesson. Although we are technically a level three class, we have now covered all of the level three and four skills -- and started in on level five this week! We are halfway through the term -- three lessons down, three to go -- and I am hoping to pass the tests for level three and four. While it might be nice to get an early start on level five, actually passing it can wait for the next term. I must confess that my performance in today's class was less than stellar -- having one wooden leg is not an advantage on the ice.

That brings us to the present. I am currently in the lab, getting the cryostat set up for tomorrow. Yes, I know that it is ten o'clock in the evening and a holiday. What is your point? I am a scientist, we know nothing of set working hours!

Actually, the work here should be done shortly, at which point I will head home to lavish attention on The Boy and to make phone calls to [livejournal.com profile] resourceress[*] -- to talk about Iron Man -- and [livejournal.com profile] gyades. Then it is off to sleep -- early, I hope -- as a busy week awaits.

[*] Resourceress being the only partner I have ever had who shares my love for the Armored Avenger.

[identity profile] stormdog.livejournal.com 2008-05-05 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
You know, I am continually amazed at how you manage to simultaneously find time for so multiple hobbies, multiple relationships, and lots of complex, though thoroughly fascinating, work. Just thought I'd say that.

[identity profile] anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com 2008-05-06 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. I try very hard to do as much as I can. Part of the inspiration comes from a poem that my mother cut out of the newspaper when I was very young; it resonated quite strongly with me and left a lasting impression. Here it the poem, author unknown, entitled "Today":

This is the beginning of a new day.
I can waste it, or use it for good.
But what I do today is important,
Because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,
Leaving in it's place something that I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain and not loss, good and not evil,
Success and not failure, in order that I not regret the price
I have paid for it.

[identity profile] sanjibabes.livejournal.com 2008-05-05 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I think you have a time turner don't you? Either that, or you are the Duracell bunny. :-)

Sorry couldn't join you on part of the walk. Maybe see you in June if you can make.

[identity profile] anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com 2008-05-06 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I think you have a time turner don't you? Either that, or you are the Duracell bunny.

*grin* I would dearly love a time turner! You know how much more I could do with one? ;-)

I'm afraid that all I have to run with is motivation. See my comment, above, to [livejournal.com profile] stormdog for where a lot of it comes from.

Sorry couldn't join you on part of the walk. Maybe see you in June if you can make.

I'm sorry you couldn't make it either -- to both the walk and BiFest -- but I completely understand. Hope to see you next month... and maybe we can take a stroll together at some other point.

[identity profile] sanjibabes.livejournal.com 2008-05-06 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
heh.

Sure will sort out walking out with you at some point. :-)

[identity profile] friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com 2008-05-05 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Was good to see you, glad it was mostly fun, sorry about leg.

[identity profile] anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com 2008-05-06 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Tis always good to see you -- and twice in one weekend is a bonus!

Don't worry about the leg; it is slowly coming back. Plus, bicycling doesn't bother it at all -- only walking (and ice skating).
ext_22136: Slytherin House badge with Prowling the Net as caption (Good idea at the time)

[identity profile] ms-katonic.livejournal.com 2008-05-05 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
*blushes* Aww. It was the least I could do, especially as I knew you'd need it and I also know what you're like about eating properly. ;)

Love you, sweetie.

[identity profile] anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com 2008-05-06 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I love you, too, sweetheart. *soft smile*