Bad art, drawn badly

The fireman says: Sorry! Ladder's too short and in the wrong position! This artiste is awful!

It's bad art that I had the chance to do during work. I need lessons. Maybe I'll just stick to writing and photography.

Gimpy Knee Club

First, I have been doing a lot of martial arts and photography related things. Among them, I tested for blue belt in taekwondo and white with yellow stripe belt in kumdo. In the photography realm, I've just been working on challenges for my group and other random things.

To the business at hand, and true subject of tonight's column...people wonder how or why I can be a member of the Gimpy Knee Club. After all, I take 2 kinds of martial arts. Easy. It's a matter of genetics (bad knees in the family) and working ye olde part-time job. I am employed where I make books and do other paper-related things. You could call it a copy center if you like. The last 2 shifts (6 hours yesterday, 2.5 today) I have spent on the below items...books to be spiral bound x 1000 (500 yellow, 500 sky blue covers). . . this is the pre-punched or drilled work ...

This is the Rhin-o Tuff machine for spiral binding. You can fit maybe 25 sheets into the little gutter and these books are about 75-100 sheets each. So, 3-4 punches per book.

This is the pedal, which I use with my left foot, while I keep my right leg/knee straight for balance and support... see all the punched out holes?

The finished product below, well, some of it. . . .

After about 6-8 boxes of this, my knee needs resting...as do my feet! And that is how I became a member of the Gimpy Knee Club.

Just sayin . . . January

Wow, 11 days into Jan. and this is only my second blog. Ack. I must visit more! As a photographer, my photo of chocolate (see pic) was voted winner for our Green and Red challenge on Jan 2. Woo hooo! Bragging rights as group home page pic for 2 weeks!!

As a martial artist, I am becoming more adept at kum do. That is, I've pretty well learned the basic form, finally! I am also learning sparring techniques, language, and understanding what level of physical control I need. As tae kwon do goes along, I am gearing up to earn my blue belt. One goal I have is to increase my stamina. That is my weakness right now, but I will need to overcome so that I can spar longer before I am winded.

And now, a peeve. Kellie Pickler is NOT a singer. Country or otherwise. I don't care what TV/radio says. Her song, "Best Days..." is just awful. Like teeny bopper junk. She doesn't even sing it well, particularly at the end (ie: your li-i-i-i-ifeeeee). Can ya say 1980's hair band? Ugh, I can just hear my music teacher correcting the horrid sound. Instant changer of the radio station. End peeve.

2010

Jan 2, 2010, and it's a great year, so far. I stayed out at a friend's where we played Clever Endeavor, Huggermugger and my favorite game, Pictionary. A pleasant evening spent with good people.

For most of my family's gatherings, I drag people to the table and have them play Pictionary. It is not easy to find volunteers. Never is the game started early enough, but it's hard to play prior to a meal when some of the players are cooking. I've been fascinated with the game for 20 years or so, would play it every day, given the chance.

Clever Endeavor is a 'guess who/what I am' game. Huggermugger is a 'mystery word' guessing game. Both were new to me, but a ton of fun. I'd love a repeat in December!

Huggermugger -