So, its been a rough week all around. I had a good first few days, but then all heck broke loose and I have to say I have some catch up to do.
The only words of wisdom I have right now is go hug your ma and pa, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.
Love you, mom and dad.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy 2011
This is my first post of the new year, and my first post with the UBBT 8 team. I want to list my goals, and maybe explain the logic behind them a bit.
1. 50,000 P-U's and S-U's
2. 150 reps of 12 different forms- I'm picking a different form every month, thereby hopefully keeping them all dust free.
3. 1000 reps of Mlong Kuen- part of advancing as my own martial artist it to strive for mastery. Picking a form from outside our original Kempo style is out of my comfort zone, therefore perfect for this challenge.
4. 80% attendance at Tai Chi, 80% at I Ho Chuan and 85% at blackbelt classes- something I should strive for anyways, now formalized
5. Grade for third degree- self explanatory
6. Body for Life- shudder
7. Learn a new language- something I always wanted to do, but never made time for
8. 99 laps of swimming in 40 min by years end- I am NOT a strong swimmer!
9. Walk the dogs 210 times- having a big yard, I tend to not walk them enough
10. Finish the living room- going on 5 years of renos is starting to get ridiculous
11. Compete with my spear form in May- I strongly dislike competing
12. Journal minimum of once a week
13. Contact a UBBT member minimum once a week- inspired by Sifu Regier :)
14. 250 reps of the full Tai Chi form- wish me luck
15. Read 20 books
Thats it. Cheers, and happy new years everyone!
1. 50,000 P-U's and S-U's
2. 150 reps of 12 different forms- I'm picking a different form every month, thereby hopefully keeping them all dust free.
3. 1000 reps of Mlong Kuen- part of advancing as my own martial artist it to strive for mastery. Picking a form from outside our original Kempo style is out of my comfort zone, therefore perfect for this challenge.
4. 80% attendance at Tai Chi, 80% at I Ho Chuan and 85% at blackbelt classes- something I should strive for anyways, now formalized
5. Grade for third degree- self explanatory
6. Body for Life- shudder
7. Learn a new language- something I always wanted to do, but never made time for
8. 99 laps of swimming in 40 min by years end- I am NOT a strong swimmer!
9. Walk the dogs 210 times- having a big yard, I tend to not walk them enough
10. Finish the living room- going on 5 years of renos is starting to get ridiculous
11. Compete with my spear form in May- I strongly dislike competing
12. Journal minimum of once a week
13. Contact a UBBT member minimum once a week- inspired by Sifu Regier :)
14. 250 reps of the full Tai Chi form- wish me luck
15. Read 20 books
Thats it. Cheers, and happy new years everyone!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Bye Todd, Hello Jimmy
I've lost a cat. My grey cat named Todd is MIA for the last 5 weeks, and I don't see him coming home. I'm hoping that a neighbor took him in, and he's lounging on a couch in front of a fire with some happy kid giving him pets. Chances of this being true are slim, but I"m praying for it none the less.
Thus, I was down one cat for a while, but not anymore. Now, I have a very rambunctious semi-kitten named Jimmy, who torments my plants, chases my dogs, yowels at my bedroom door & knocks everything from the tables & counters. But, he has the loudest purr, snuggles me when I'm reading, gets along with the dogs (my other cat Jack is getting better, she doesn't hiss any more), visits me when I'm brushing my teeth or showering (the strange guy likes water) and has an automatic 'empty food bowl' sensor built in.
I miss Todd, he was my boy, and he always knew when I needed some love. But, now Jimmy has a chance for a warm home and loving family. Its not like I needed to have two cats and three dogs, but I can afford it, I love them and it gives potentially homeless animals a home.
Thus, I was down one cat for a while, but not anymore. Now, I have a very rambunctious semi-kitten named Jimmy, who torments my plants, chases my dogs, yowels at my bedroom door & knocks everything from the tables & counters. But, he has the loudest purr, snuggles me when I'm reading, gets along with the dogs (my other cat Jack is getting better, she doesn't hiss any more), visits me when I'm brushing my teeth or showering (the strange guy likes water) and has an automatic 'empty food bowl' sensor built in.
I miss Todd, he was my boy, and he always knew when I needed some love. But, now Jimmy has a chance for a warm home and loving family. Its not like I needed to have two cats and three dogs, but I can afford it, I love them and it gives potentially homeless animals a home.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Insert Music Note)
So, its time for the annual Pandemonium/Sweatfest. I hope that everyone doesn't just think of this even as another annoying fundraiser or hoop to jump through. This event is one of the best things that anyone can get involved in, if they really put their heart into it.
There are so many wrongs in this world, and many believe that these things are not correctable. But they are, if only people could see how their actions can cause ripples, and how those ripples can produce waves.
Think of all the stories that have come out of Kwoon Talk and through these blogs. When the lady at the restaurant came to the conclusion that someone from SRKF had bought her meal, because thats what we do, there is a prime example. Sifu Brinker has put his soul into this school and into these ideals; of empathy, compassion, accountability, awareness, personal development and self defense in a broad sense. It shows. Its not that this school only attracts individuals who already have these qualities. This school creates these people, you people, and I'm unbelievably thankful and proud to be apart of it, to be one of you.
Please use this years Pandemonium as an opportunity to help others outside the school become aware of everything around them. We are not raising funds for ourselves, and even though the funds we do raise will go to great causes, its the awareness that we all pass on when we approach our comrades and family and explain to them what we are doing, for who and why, that will ultimately lead to the changes we all seek.
There are so many wrongs in this world, and many believe that these things are not correctable. But they are, if only people could see how their actions can cause ripples, and how those ripples can produce waves.
Think of all the stories that have come out of Kwoon Talk and through these blogs. When the lady at the restaurant came to the conclusion that someone from SRKF had bought her meal, because thats what we do, there is a prime example. Sifu Brinker has put his soul into this school and into these ideals; of empathy, compassion, accountability, awareness, personal development and self defense in a broad sense. It shows. Its not that this school only attracts individuals who already have these qualities. This school creates these people, you people, and I'm unbelievably thankful and proud to be apart of it, to be one of you.
Please use this years Pandemonium as an opportunity to help others outside the school become aware of everything around them. We are not raising funds for ourselves, and even though the funds we do raise will go to great causes, its the awareness that we all pass on when we approach our comrades and family and explain to them what we are doing, for who and why, that will ultimately lead to the changes we all seek.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Pickled Carrots
So we're back to reality now, the wedding is over, the honeymoon is over. The trip to Banff was great- we stayed at Castle Mountain Chalets, we rented a 2011 Mustang convertible for the trip, ate pickled carrots and drank coffee on the way down. The chalet was amazing. The first morning we were there, Nick woke up and headed straight for the jacuzzi. I was surprised, Nick normally avoids pools of water like the plague. Now he wants a jacuzzi tub, so maybe this is an opportunity to push him to fix the hot tub...
The wedding was good, the weather behaved, the food was great and the bugs were nonexistent. We have an amazing, absolutely amazing group of friends, and it showed before and during the wedding. For months we've had friends offer to help, come out and trim trees, pick up stuff and run errands. The week leading up to the wedding, my maid of honor Holly did nothing but run errands for us, or accompany me on errands, or both. My mom kept saying "you know you have an army working for you?". I'd say, I know mom. She'd say "no really, you know you have an army, an army, working for you?". I'd say, yes mom, I'm aware. I though I was pretty tough, but I was a blubbering baby when it came to speeches. Holly gave an awesome speech, first one, and I believe she was four words in when I started blubbering. Then Evan toasted Nick, mentioning Nick's deceased father, and I blubbered. Then my brother welcomed Nick with some extremely warm words, and I blubbered. Then Nicks mom warmly welcomed me, and I blubbered. Then Nick and I went to say our thanks, and I blubbered and sniffled and cried. When I was thanking one friend for all her help, support and her kicks-in-my-rear, I couldn't even talk, so she started crying and ran up and we hugged. I didn't even say anything.
Oh, the wine was great too. Towards the end there was only the "lake crew" left, so we all danced like idiots to the Safety Dance, and acted like buffoons all night. Only found out later that my mom had sat on the deck and watched the whole thing, so now we can't deny our dance skills...
The wedding was good, the weather behaved, the food was great and the bugs were nonexistent. We have an amazing, absolutely amazing group of friends, and it showed before and during the wedding. For months we've had friends offer to help, come out and trim trees, pick up stuff and run errands. The week leading up to the wedding, my maid of honor Holly did nothing but run errands for us, or accompany me on errands, or both. My mom kept saying "you know you have an army working for you?". I'd say, I know mom. She'd say "no really, you know you have an army, an army, working for you?". I'd say, yes mom, I'm aware. I though I was pretty tough, but I was a blubbering baby when it came to speeches. Holly gave an awesome speech, first one, and I believe she was four words in when I started blubbering. Then Evan toasted Nick, mentioning Nick's deceased father, and I blubbered. Then my brother welcomed Nick with some extremely warm words, and I blubbered. Then Nicks mom warmly welcomed me, and I blubbered. Then Nick and I went to say our thanks, and I blubbered and sniffled and cried. When I was thanking one friend for all her help, support and her kicks-in-my-rear, I couldn't even talk, so she started crying and ran up and we hugged. I didn't even say anything.
Oh, the wine was great too. Towards the end there was only the "lake crew" left, so we all danced like idiots to the Safety Dance, and acted like buffoons all night. Only found out later that my mom had sat on the deck and watched the whole thing, so now we can't deny our dance skills...
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Stay Tuned for More Tummy Rumbling Action!
Bah. This diet tracking challenge is scaring the buhgeezuz outta me. I am aware of when I am eating healthy and when I'm not. I like to think that I'm honest to myself about it. I thought that I wouldn't be the only one who slips up now and then, but after reading the first couple days worth of posts by others, it seems like I have a lot farther to go than most. I like my Ichiban, my red meat and my coffee. I don't want to confess how often I indulge in these!
The only good things I can say about it is that my coffee is fair trade and my red meat is from a local farmer... other than that...
Oh, and to Sifu Beckett- thank you. That was a well deserved kick-in-the-butt for everyone, including me!
The only good things I can say about it is that my coffee is fair trade and my red meat is from a local farmer... other than that...
Oh, and to Sifu Beckett- thank you. That was a well deserved kick-in-the-butt for everyone, including me!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
All that Jazz
Wow. I'll slap myself for you. How time flies.
I've been taking some time off from classes, as many of you have probably noticed. It was not a decision easily come by, but a decision I made none the less. I have three main 'topics' in my life right now- work, wedding and, until recently, kung fu. Lack of time was causing all areas to suffer- I was falling behind and getting buried under paper at work, I had not booked what needed to be booked and therefore running out of time to organize a wedding, and was failing to attend classes regularly. Mojo deprived. With three big priorities, each needing endless hours a day, I had to cut something. Considering I cannot, and will not, cancel my wedding (I mean really, how many times will I ever get married? I wanna do it right) and work is what pays for everything; food, car, place to sleep, bills, class tuition, I had to do something. I'm sorry, my dear kung fu, but you got put on the back burner for a while.
There is a light in the horizon though. After August, the wedding will be over with. I'm catching up at work, and my home no longer looks like dust bunny paradise. I will be back in action, so to speak, at the end of August. And believe me, I'm looking forward to it.
Don't worry, I'm still going over my forms and all that jazz. I always wanted to say that.
I've been taking some time off from classes, as many of you have probably noticed. It was not a decision easily come by, but a decision I made none the less. I have three main 'topics' in my life right now- work, wedding and, until recently, kung fu. Lack of time was causing all areas to suffer- I was falling behind and getting buried under paper at work, I had not booked what needed to be booked and therefore running out of time to organize a wedding, and was failing to attend classes regularly. Mojo deprived. With three big priorities, each needing endless hours a day, I had to cut something. Considering I cannot, and will not, cancel my wedding (I mean really, how many times will I ever get married? I wanna do it right) and work is what pays for everything; food, car, place to sleep, bills, class tuition, I had to do something. I'm sorry, my dear kung fu, but you got put on the back burner for a while.
There is a light in the horizon though. After August, the wedding will be over with. I'm catching up at work, and my home no longer looks like dust bunny paradise. I will be back in action, so to speak, at the end of August. And believe me, I'm looking forward to it.
Don't worry, I'm still going over my forms and all that jazz. I always wanted to say that.
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