Student in the Middle

The instructor who taught most of my classes in tae kwon do and kum do quit last Tuesday. There is a lot to the story. One person gave one reason. Another person gave other reasons. I am sympathetic to both the employer and the instructor.

I feel as if I am expected to take sides. To join in with the irritation of the instructor who quit, and also leave the school, or to stay where I am. The decision is made, since I have two years left on my contract. The instruction is basically the same, also.

In truth, both sides made mistakes. Both sides need to forgive, if a friendship is to be salvaged. Unfortunately, I do not think this will happen. A new instructor is expected in the next couple weeks. The Grand Master really needs to do this, in order to ensure his business continues smoothly.


It's not what we, the students, necessarily want, but it is what must be. It sort of . . . stinks.




My little (dead) pet stink bug, Stinky . . .

Livejournal Challenge

As a fun challenge to myself, I found a livejournal, through a friend, wherein you write on a deadline, then the stories are voted and people are eliminated one round at a time. Like "musical chairs." Actually, I found 2--both for Stargate. The best description is "last fic writer standing." So far I've only had to do 1 story and in the warm up round, no one's eliminated.

I didn't win the warm up round, but I sure learned a lot in reading the other entries. The next challenge is over on March 8, so I have to get thinking, but I am excited, it's fun!

Not about the snow

This blog is about anything but snow--that can be tomorrow or something. That said, I am giving a shout out to my MOM AND DAD, BILL AND GERRY!! Happy 40th, you two. It is rare to see 2 people married for so long, anymore. Hit the Wayback Time Machine and harken back to Feb. 7, 1970. Dad in his tuxedo, Ma in her wedding gown, such the couple. Then it was off for honeymoon and BOOM Nov. 1970 you entered parenthood. Your daughter had a fine time being an only, until Feb. 1974. Then she was big sister to a little boy. Mom and Dad, you then took a Navy-assigned trip to Morocco where *I* was born. In 1978, you were home again in Virginia where you had another daughter. Some time passed. You lived life and made it through.

Spring of 1983, your lucky 2nd son was born in North Carolina - your second stop there. With family to the North, we all moved North, too, to Maryland, the state that is now my home. Dad retired and worked in the medical field until his true calling in computers caught up with him. Mom, you always worked hard, whether it was a part-time job or at home with us children.

Happy 40th, Mom and Dad, and here's to 40 more! wooo hoo!!

Love, me.

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 -

What 2009 taught

Half the world is in 2010, now. As 2009 wanes, I remembered I'd posted the following on Facebook:

"We are 14 days into 2009. A scant 2 weeks (and not a paycheck, yet!) and I have become educated.

#1 - NEVER wash your comforters at the laundromat during the coldest week of winter. They take 2 hours to dry each (even at home) so...thank goodness for backup blankies. Granted, I HAD to do it but maybe the weekend would've been a better idea.

#2 - McDonald's avoidance is a good thing, and really, not that hard to do. OK, I am NOT giving up Mac's forever! That's impossible, they're everywhere, same as Starbucks, only McD's started this in the 50's.

#3 - Tuna and baked beans should have pop tops. If the soup companies and Chef Boyardee can do it, so can Bush's and Bumblebee. C'mon, people! This way I won't have to drag my ONE canopener to work and back and then be upset at home when I realize I've left it at work over the weekend.

#4 - You know it when your cats feel better. They go back to their old routines, ALWAYS, and don't sleep so much. I know, cats are supposed to sleep, right? but I know they still have routines

#5 - A box of 10 oz. Wheat thins will stay fresh and crispy at least 2 weeks if you keep the inner bag folded down."

. . . and to add to the list . . .

#6 - I DO know what to do when I unexpectedly hit a patch of ice while driving. On December 24, 2009 I successfully did NOT stomp on the brakes, turned the wheel the direction of my spin and once on dry road hit the brakes, thus not crashing into the jersey wall. And I got the car started once I remembered to put it in park.

#7 - Three is more than enough cats. Between the litterpans and the puking, trust me.

#8 - I'm not too old for tae kwon do. Big misconception on my part, so glad I returned to it.

#9 - It's good to spend time with your family when you can. Life really isn't all that busy. You can get there and visit. Just do it.

#10 - A monopod is a good thing, really. I've been converted and intend to stay so. They're versatile, and, you never know till you try just HOW good a picture you will get. Thanks to Jim, my buddy.

In closing I must say, the 3 0z. Bumblebee brand tuna cans ARE pop tops and are great for lunch! Thank you, Bumblebee! Happy New Year, everyone. 2010 is here!

No Car Wash

Okay, I get it, I really do. I know machines don't care, and that they're just doing what they're told to do by humans. So, Monday it is, I am standing at the gas pump. Slide card. Tell pump to use credit.

"Do you want a car wash?"

REALLY? It's only 50 degrees below crazy-cold out. I'm SURE there are people either stupid enough or vain enough to NEED their car washed on a day like today, but I am not one of them.

"No."

Begin to pump fuel. I am sure at this point, if the pump had knees, it would've even tried to get down on them and plead with me. Thank goodness they don't. Really, fuel station owners, use your common sense. I know a gas station and car wash go hand in hand in warmer months but in winter, at least the official months of December through March, turn off that stupid message. I know you can! FTW, do it!

Christmas Fun

Merry Christmas! Happy new year!

The baby Jesus is here, and so, we celebrated on December 25. There were frothers and toe socks, M&Ms and videos given, as well as video games, card games, and one week long cruise. Lots of smiles went around the tree. I am specially fond of my Happy Birthday gift card to Target. Mom was quick to point out that it means Happy Birthday, Jesus. I accept that, as my birthday has past. Also to be enjoyed are those toe socks. These events being only from Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day there was TV, nephew time, good food and the white elephant exchange. I am going to enjoy my specialty popcorn with spray butter and seasonings. The hot cocoa package I brought went to my brother and his frother. Most excellent!

There is one thing only I do not look forward to...Un-Christmas-ing! I will put it off, as long as I can.

Gummy Taste

On a completely random note, I have a blog tonight about gummy bears. It sounds crazy, but there's a lot of candy around Christmas, so maybe not too crazy. All I can say is, they all taste the same. Yes, the bears are different colors...green, red, clear. They all have that sweet, yummy taste. What truly matters with the things is freshness. If they are too hard, they are intolerable for eating. Softer is better. Then you only have to chew a couple times and swallow that yummy sweetness. Still, they all taste the same. Why that is? I don't know. It doesn't affect me, as I still purchase the sweet treat. So.....

Here's wishing everyone g-bears in their stockings!

Christmas movies

It is that time of year when I fire up my DVD player and watch endless rounds of A Christmas Carol. Yesterday, for the first time, I watched Love Actually. It was pretty good. Better as a date movie than a watch-alone, though. Kinda depressing that way. It's meant to be funny. Some of it is and some of it is a let down. My least favorite was Bill the singer. It was a very entertaining way to see how the Christmas spirit can infect us all, no matter our occupations.

I was reflecting yesterday that I have not seen most Christmas movies all the way through. I did see Home Alone and A Christmas Story, Will Farrell in Elf, and some of the Bass/Rankin ones. Not Holiday Inn, Miracle on 42nd Street or It's a Wonderful Life, though. It's more specifically the classics. I will have to see if I can correct that this year. I mean, I am decorating for once, why not throw in some movies, too?

First Snow of December

I awoke to snow pelting down this morning. We had maybe an inch that stuck to the ground by the time all was said and done. It even started to melt. Many of my friends wanted more snow on the ground. People seemed to have a Christmas/Holiday mood. This happened for me, as well. I haven't pulled out my artifical 6 foot tree in so long, I thought it was only a 4 foot tree. It is out and up now, thanks to a little thing called snow.

Martial Arts Thing

In class, 1 practice drill was a double round kick. You kick once, don't put your foot down then kick again, higher. After that we donned sparring gear. Now, granted, the guy I sparred tonight is younger and smaller than me. We had 3 90 second rounds. Toward the last 10 sec. of the 2nd round, I decided to try the double round and it worked! I connected and was shocked.

Slowly, I make my way to full blue belt.

John

I was thinking today how more than a couple of my favorite sci-fi TV shows involve a character named John.

There is Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation (French for John-Luke of course)

John J. Sheridan, Babylon 5

John Druitt, Sanctuary

John Sheppard, Stargate: Atlantis

John, V the original 80s version (Visitor Supreme Commander)

and if it counts:

"Jon"athan Jack O'Neill, Stargate:SG-1

"Jon"athan Archer, Star Trek: Enterprise

I'm just sayin'. I like it. There's a pattern there. I guess I have good TV show judgment. LOL

Happy Tuesday to all!

A piccie from my ride home this eve...