Tina Beychok is a medical editor by trade.   In her spare time, she does both modern fencing and period rapier.   She also plays pyrate at Rennaissance Faires and lets small children hit her with swords, much to their delight and the delight of their parents.   She is learning to knit and to bellydance.   One day, perhaps, she will be able to bellydance with a sword balanced on her head, while knitting.   Today is not that day.   She is only half as scary as legend makes her out to be, except before her morning coffee, in which case she is twice as scary.