No not that kind of white - a white belt. The white belt is the hardest belt to earn. In some academy's the white belt is given at sign up. But at KS Lees Tae Kwon Do Academy in Cary NC you must earn it.
It is award for completion of a white belt test. The White is the belt is the easiet belt to throw in the towel and give up on. It is where you can decide that Tae Kwon Do cost too much even though it is the same as a good gym membership. Tae Kwon Do is too time consuming. My muscles are too sore. Or you can say Tae kwon Do is too much memorization or I feel foolish trying to do new stuff. People feel this way at first at any age. It is all that excuse making and negative self talk that you over come when you test for your white belt.
Some people race through the tae Kwon Do belt colors as fast as they can to get to black. Its funny they are usually the young ones. They have a goal and it is good one - to be a black belt! Once you are 39 like me it isn't about getting the next color belt or getting to black. I have my whole life to be black. It nice to be new at something again. Not to know the cynical ins and outs of everything. Its nice to be a colored belt and be in the process of learning something new. Because in every other aspect of my life people want me to be the expert. In many ways learning Tae Kwon Do is like being a kid again. Take a look at these video of the kids having fun being new at something and tell me the truth don't you yearn for this too.
1. Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching the White Belts When was the last time you or your kid really listened like this? I will tell you it is not a bad skill in the workforce:
2. Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching the White Belts. When was the last time you had this much fun rolling around?
3. Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching the Master Alex Nay teaching the White Belts, trying to teach the kids to do a push up and a little stretching with lots of wiggles.
4. Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching the White Belts, the kids try to do the basic kicks but even the simplest things are hard at first. Even Grandmaster find themselves correcting their body mechanics after many years of practice. You are always learning :
5. Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching the White Belts, A little music and few punches and you can leave all the stress of the day behind you.
6. Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching the White Belts. All class favorite - Lightly step on the toes! Tap on the back! Tap on the hair.
7. Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching. When was the last time you ran with this much enthusiasum to your work out?
8.Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching. It's called Monkey Walking and Crab Walking it looks easy but try it. Its really good for "keyboard finger fatigue".
9.Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching. The No Belt Form
10.Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - KS Lees Academy - Master Alex Nay teaching. The White Belt Form.
11.Tae Kwon Do Cary NC - Even when you have no idea what you are doing it is nice to know that you have a master that is patient. Yellow Belt Form
Showing newest 31 of 35 posts from October 2008. Show older posts
Showing newest 31 of 35 posts from October 2008. Show older posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Master Lee is just taking your money.
Every now and then I run into some young 20 something 15th degree Hap ki do Judo black belt Yoga Masters out there who trained under Mr Miyagi and Yoda and dreams of doing cage matches. They cock back their head and declare like a rooster crowing “Master Lee is just taking your money.”
To which I always respond with great pride – “Yes he is.”
I want to give these kids a spanking. But I don't because we must set a good example for the children in our DoJang first and for most. Of course he is taking my money! –Are you such a poor businessman that you think he does this for free? My Master Lee is a former National Champion. He has been taking one round house to the whatever – one after another for the last 60 years and baby that don’t come cheap.
In my free time I work as an artist. As an artist I show my work and people who come to the auctions general understand the value of the work but there is always some moron who wants to give me 20 bucks for a piece of art that took months to make. They stand there and gawk and screw up their face at the 2000.00 price figure. Well if is so easy and cheap to make a painting like mine. Take your 20.00 and go buy some paint and brushes and give it a go. Go ahead; I will be the one sitting behind you laughing.
If Tae Kwon Do Training is so easy and cheap. Train yourself. Buy a punching bag and put it in your living room. Maybe purchase a book or video. Oh go ahead and purchase two – it’ll help you along the way. Go to it. Again I will be the one laughing at you in the emergency room.
Master Lee has 5 brothers who all own Tae Kwon Do studios up and down the East Cost. They are all aggressive business men. No pansy pants Wall Street execs here. They made their money training and caring for one student at a time. Good for them – Rake it in! The Lopez kids all trained with the Lee’s when they where little. Why shouldn’t they charge for what they do they are good at it. I owned my own business once.I know what it takes to keep the doors open. It takes a lot of savvy. Master Lee is a GrandMaster. A Grandmaster becomes a grandmaster because he has a certain number of 4th degree or more black belts under him. It takes about 7 years to get to a 4th degree if you really work at it. How many people can say they have the devotion of people who are willing to stand in their shadow and train for 7 years?
I started Tae Kwon Do when I was 38. I was so timid I couldn’t even yell. I would collapse when I got afraid. I was in poor health as an engineer I sat behind a computer all day. I had my first cardiac event at age 37. Not wanting to orphan my two children and widow my husband I started Tae kwon Do.
I can run a mile now. I can actually do more than just touch my toes I can do a back bend and a split. I have a terrifying Ki-hap and I can put a roundhouse to your head before you even know it. In board meetings when my ideas get challenged I don’t have to excuse myself to go take a few draws off my inhaler. I defend my position and I usually win. I’ve been promoted twice. I’d say that I am getting my moneys worth from Master Lee.
To all of you 20 something 15th degree Hap ki do Judo black belt Yoga Masters out there who trained under Mr Miyagi and Yoda - all I can say is hey – knock yourself out.
To which I always respond with great pride – “Yes he is.”
I want to give these kids a spanking. But I don't because we must set a good example for the children in our DoJang first and for most. Of course he is taking my money! –Are you such a poor businessman that you think he does this for free? My Master Lee is a former National Champion. He has been taking one round house to the whatever – one after another for the last 60 years and baby that don’t come cheap.
In my free time I work as an artist. As an artist I show my work and people who come to the auctions general understand the value of the work but there is always some moron who wants to give me 20 bucks for a piece of art that took months to make. They stand there and gawk and screw up their face at the 2000.00 price figure. Well if is so easy and cheap to make a painting like mine. Take your 20.00 and go buy some paint and brushes and give it a go. Go ahead; I will be the one sitting behind you laughing.
If Tae Kwon Do Training is so easy and cheap. Train yourself. Buy a punching bag and put it in your living room. Maybe purchase a book or video. Oh go ahead and purchase two – it’ll help you along the way. Go to it. Again I will be the one laughing at you in the emergency room.
Master Lee has 5 brothers who all own Tae Kwon Do studios up and down the East Cost. They are all aggressive business men. No pansy pants Wall Street execs here. They made their money training and caring for one student at a time. Good for them – Rake it in! The Lopez kids all trained with the Lee’s when they where little. Why shouldn’t they charge for what they do they are good at it. I owned my own business once.I know what it takes to keep the doors open. It takes a lot of savvy. Master Lee is a GrandMaster. A Grandmaster becomes a grandmaster because he has a certain number of 4th degree or more black belts under him. It takes about 7 years to get to a 4th degree if you really work at it. How many people can say they have the devotion of people who are willing to stand in their shadow and train for 7 years?
I started Tae Kwon Do when I was 38. I was so timid I couldn’t even yell. I would collapse when I got afraid. I was in poor health as an engineer I sat behind a computer all day. I had my first cardiac event at age 37. Not wanting to orphan my two children and widow my husband I started Tae kwon Do.
I can run a mile now. I can actually do more than just touch my toes I can do a back bend and a split. I have a terrifying Ki-hap and I can put a roundhouse to your head before you even know it. In board meetings when my ideas get challenged I don’t have to excuse myself to go take a few draws off my inhaler. I defend my position and I usually win. I’ve been promoted twice. I’d say that I am getting my moneys worth from Master Lee.
To all of you 20 something 15th degree Hap ki do Judo black belt Yoga Masters out there who trained under Mr Miyagi and Yoda - all I can say is hey – knock yourself out.
Back in the Game
Ok I am feeling less pouty today about the sparring and I have decided to really work on it. My husband is objecting to my black and blue appearance. But I am going to keep working on this even if it means kicking people in places that don’t have a red or blue dot on them. I am an art school graduate from ECU and I do Tae Kwon Do as an extension of my art work. I recall how difficult earning my degree was and I suppose this will be equally as tough. I do Tae Kwon Do for my health. So I need to set some limits on this so that I don’t end up injured. Right now my middle finger is so swollen from being jammed it is black and blue and can’t even open a bag of chips. The entire left side of my body looks like I am polka dotted with bruise. This is not fitness. There is another older Korean woman there who spars and she just stops when it gets out of hand and sits down. I think I will adopt her policy. I need to work on jumping out of the way and making V foot patterns instead of just standing there like a punching bag.
Personal Code: I will not spar offensively with children under 16. I will only teach them to attack. I don’t care how big a 15 year old boy is he is still a boy and his body and head have to still work when they send him off to college.
Personal Code: I will not spar offensively with children under 16. I will only teach them to attack. I don’t care how big a 15 year old boy is he is still a boy and his body and head have to still work when they send him off to college.
Monday, October 27, 2008
StumbleUpon Button - where the h*ll does my URL go
StumbleUpon Button - where the h*ll does my URL go???
here is an example.
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url=http://justme-to.blogspot.com"(carrot closed)
(carrot open)img border="0" alt="" src="/images/16x16_su_3d.gif"/(carrot closed)
Stumble It!(carrot open)/a(carrot closed)
(carrot open) is replaced with <
(carrot closed) is replaced with <
here is an example.
(carrot open)a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?
url=http://justme-to.blogspot.com"(carrot closed)
(carrot open)img border="0" alt="" src="/images/16x16_su_3d.gif"/(carrot closed)
Stumble It!(carrot open)/a(carrot closed)
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I saw a man on the side of the road
I write a lot about real choice in this blog and this is just one more entry about how we as Americans have been seduced into believing we have real choices.
I saw a man on the side of the road with an old rusty bike overloaded with trash bags filled with who knows what. Quickly I size him up into a profile in my head. Old, exhausted, a black man but slightly yellow, dark tint but thick glasses, unusually long finger nails and very very black finger tips.
I stopped. I loaded his bike and the bags of smelly, leaky dumpster dive treasures into my car. He was so tired he could hardly remember how to get to his house. I asked him if he had diabetes. It was the yellow skin and long finder nails and pitch black finger tips that made me wonder. "Yes he said and I am out of my medicine". "Thank you for picking me up I am was so tired I would have never made it home." He was right - I went down one gravel road that turned into another in a trailer park full of trailers that where sagging and sad. He was already 10 miles from the nearest dumpster when I picked him up and we must have drive another 20 minutes more.
But what choice did he have, he was hungry?
I saw a man on the side of the road with an old rusty bike overloaded with trash bags filled with who knows what. Quickly I size him up into a profile in my head. Old, exhausted, a black man but slightly yellow, dark tint but thick glasses, unusually long finger nails and very very black finger tips.
I stopped. I loaded his bike and the bags of smelly, leaky dumpster dive treasures into my car. He was so tired he could hardly remember how to get to his house. I asked him if he had diabetes. It was the yellow skin and long finder nails and pitch black finger tips that made me wonder. "Yes he said and I am out of my medicine". "Thank you for picking me up I am was so tired I would have never made it home." He was right - I went down one gravel road that turned into another in a trailer park full of trailers that where sagging and sad. He was already 10 miles from the nearest dumpster when I picked him up and we must have drive another 20 minutes more.
But what choice did he have, he was hungry?
Sparring Omar with health and wealth religion
I thought I was too smart for “health and wealth religion”. But I imagine that with the recent economic crisis in America we have all discovered we “played the fool”. We are all ripe for Bill Maher’s new movie Religious. Thank you God for him - For a man who was like your Son - willing to point out that we are merely religious and that we have embraced the laws and doctrine of the church but turned our eyes away from the truth of Jesus.
I have always wisely noted that Jesus’ life and the life of the Apostle’s was one of hardship and not health and wealth. A far cry from the health and wealth Christian paradigm that is being peddled these days. I closely study the bible’s promises. None of them include “get rich quick here”. When the Jews where awaiting the Messiah they where looking for someone to give them their power, money, land and liberty back. What they ended up with is a guy who was going to save them from their sins and that was the last thing on their agenda but the one thing that was most needed.
However - I was reading in Timothy last night and noted that I am not so unlike those Jews. The verse in Timothy goes on about how – I have been rich and I have been poor, I have been mighty and I have been brought low, I have been powerful and I have been a slave. Highs and lows of abundance to ration– goes the verse
What struck me was; what that verse would have read like if it had been me saying it.
I have been with out, I have never known riches or plenty. I have been hungry; I have struggled and stolen to feed my family. I have never known abundance. I have been powerless, and turned a blind eye to corruption just to keep what little I have. I have never known power. I have been poor and the closest I have ever come to rich is occasionally I am slightly a little more than one pay check ahead. I was once a gentle, kind, soft person. But now I am hardened and the tenderness the world so desperately needs is no longer in me not even for my own children.
And God did this to me.
God did this to me even though when I was 8 I heard the call to the ministry. I begged and cried to be delivered from my addictions night after night as a teenager and they where never taken from me until I was in my late 20s. At least 15 to 20 years of suffering. I raised my hands to God time and time again each day and volunteered to do his work and he has over looked me. I have praised his name and he has soaked it up and walked off. Occasionally God works a miracle in my life but it is always one that just keeps my head above water but never takes me to shore.
For whatever reason there are some who God pours his blessings out on. And there are those of us who beg for just a drink of water in the desert. How bitter I have found myself facing that I am the one in the desert. Those Gods blessings have never been lavished on me even though I have called on him and praised him in all things.
I fell for the health and wealth thing and I never knew it was happening.
I thought if I loved Jesus with my whole heart and I was a good person who worked hard that the bounty of the Gods creation would pour out over me.
I liken this to sparring against Omar in sparring class Friday night. He is the toughest guy in our Academy. Round house, after side kick he beat me down. I tried to follow the Olympic sparring rules and only strike at the target areas but he didn’t. I tried to respect the no head shot rules but he didn’t. I never got one good kick in. He hammered me over and over and I finished the match on the floor. His next opponent was a little girl who he punched so hard that he separated the tendons holding the clavicle to the shoulder. Why punch so hard there? You can’t score a point there? Well I will tell you a secret - if you hit/kick someone in the shoulder or hip you can ALWAYS knock them to the floor.
The truth is it may not be Gods will that I ever know “plenty”. I am stuck with a lot of resentment towards God. He seems a lot like Omar right now. He and I have many issues to work through. My words sound all crooked like; “Lord I gave you my whole life. And you ignored me. How could you break the heart of someone who loves you so much? Why did you give me ashes and sand when I cried out for your food. What kind of father are you? What kind of God would do this?”
I have always wisely noted that Jesus’ life and the life of the Apostle’s was one of hardship and not health and wealth. A far cry from the health and wealth Christian paradigm that is being peddled these days. I closely study the bible’s promises. None of them include “get rich quick here”. When the Jews where awaiting the Messiah they where looking for someone to give them their power, money, land and liberty back. What they ended up with is a guy who was going to save them from their sins and that was the last thing on their agenda but the one thing that was most needed.
However - I was reading in Timothy last night and noted that I am not so unlike those Jews. The verse in Timothy goes on about how – I have been rich and I have been poor, I have been mighty and I have been brought low, I have been powerful and I have been a slave. Highs and lows of abundance to ration– goes the verse
What struck me was; what that verse would have read like if it had been me saying it.
I have been with out, I have never known riches or plenty. I have been hungry; I have struggled and stolen to feed my family. I have never known abundance. I have been powerless, and turned a blind eye to corruption just to keep what little I have. I have never known power. I have been poor and the closest I have ever come to rich is occasionally I am slightly a little more than one pay check ahead. I was once a gentle, kind, soft person. But now I am hardened and the tenderness the world so desperately needs is no longer in me not even for my own children.
And God did this to me.
God did this to me even though when I was 8 I heard the call to the ministry. I begged and cried to be delivered from my addictions night after night as a teenager and they where never taken from me until I was in my late 20s. At least 15 to 20 years of suffering. I raised my hands to God time and time again each day and volunteered to do his work and he has over looked me. I have praised his name and he has soaked it up and walked off. Occasionally God works a miracle in my life but it is always one that just keeps my head above water but never takes me to shore.
For whatever reason there are some who God pours his blessings out on. And there are those of us who beg for just a drink of water in the desert. How bitter I have found myself facing that I am the one in the desert. Those Gods blessings have never been lavished on me even though I have called on him and praised him in all things.
I fell for the health and wealth thing and I never knew it was happening.
I thought if I loved Jesus with my whole heart and I was a good person who worked hard that the bounty of the Gods creation would pour out over me.
I liken this to sparring against Omar in sparring class Friday night. He is the toughest guy in our Academy. Round house, after side kick he beat me down. I tried to follow the Olympic sparring rules and only strike at the target areas but he didn’t. I tried to respect the no head shot rules but he didn’t. I never got one good kick in. He hammered me over and over and I finished the match on the floor. His next opponent was a little girl who he punched so hard that he separated the tendons holding the clavicle to the shoulder. Why punch so hard there? You can’t score a point there? Well I will tell you a secret - if you hit/kick someone in the shoulder or hip you can ALWAYS knock them to the floor.
The truth is it may not be Gods will that I ever know “plenty”. I am stuck with a lot of resentment towards God. He seems a lot like Omar right now. He and I have many issues to work through. My words sound all crooked like; “Lord I gave you my whole life. And you ignored me. How could you break the heart of someone who loves you so much? Why did you give me ashes and sand when I cried out for your food. What kind of father are you? What kind of God would do this?”
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Fight Club
I go to sparring club on Friday night at KS Lees Tae Kwon Do Academy in Cary. Thats my school. Sparring class is different because it is about sparring and not the form, hol sin sol or one steps. Next week I will bring you video. I am purple belt but frequently I am sparring against black belts. This is good you always want to learn from someone better than you. It also keeps you humble. It is called a sparring club but I am nick naming it a "fight club" for right now. See there is a difference between sparring and beating each other and right now our club is about beating each other. You can score in Tae Kwon Do by kicking a big red or blue target in the middle of the chest. There are two places on the sides of your rib cage that count as a score point area. Under special condition there is also the sides on the head. You may only kick to the side of the head never punching. You may never punch to the face period. You may never palm strike someone as you would in "breaking" cinder blocks or boards. Many moves like these are illegal. In a sparring club it is about hitting the scoring areas and in day to day sparring class the head is off limits. I consider that especially important when young people or college students are attending sparring class because repetitive blows to heads are bad for brain development. We must remember the unspoken credo of building a Tae Kwon Do Academy: "at all times care for the ones smaller than you".
So why am I black and blue all over in place where no points can be scored. Because my nice little Olympic style sparring club with artful kicks and blocks has turned into a bit of knock down drag out fight club. Not so sure I will be going every week anymore. I took blows to head and this was supposed to be a no head gear class. I don't care what they say next time I am wearing my head gear.
So why am I black and blue all over in place where no points can be scored. Because my nice little Olympic style sparring club with artful kicks and blocks has turned into a bit of knock down drag out fight club. Not so sure I will be going every week anymore. I took blows to head and this was supposed to be a no head gear class. I don't care what they say next time I am wearing my head gear.
Friday, October 24, 2008
So What does a Black Belt Test look like anyway
Well it will be almost the end of February before I can test for my red belt. The Red Belt symbolizes that the student is in direct preparation for black belt. In between the red belt and the black belt there is a stage called deputy black belt where leadership training is taught. There is an emphasis in community volunteerism a this time. So as a purple belt I've got a ways to go. I thought you might like to see what a black belt test looks like. This is just one set of tests and many times black students are tested more than once. So this test took place this last Saturday at KS Lee Tae Kwon Do and Martial Arts Academy in Cary.
Okay this is us just hanging around before the test. See the guy with the really nice camera walking around. That is Master Nay, I consider him my Master because most of the time I take his classes. I do take a sparring class and I take one class with Master Lee because well they don't call him a Grand Master for nothing. But the majority of my classes are with Master Nay.
This is the Purple Belt form this is the same form I am learning now.
Above are the purple belt one steps
Here is what no touch sparring looks like. It is just about control
This is the purple belt breaking - no bricks yet that is for red belt and then the cinder blocks are for the black belts.
Here are the red and deputy black belts doing their One Steps. See how they go pretty slow and dont really hurt each other. That is so that we learn the techinque but we are not so injured that we can't return to class the next day. Its about physical fitness not beating each other up. But it is kind of funny how it looks like a practice for a Kung Fu Movie.
That is GrandMaster Lee calling out the names of the kids. See how respectful and nice they are. Grnadmaster Lee jokes with them a bit while he takes them through the forms.
Above is the video of some of the black belts it is really beautiful to see how they do their form in unison. It looks like a fighting dance.
These are really nicely done Black Belt "One Steps"
The black belts do the Ho Sin Sol 1-60 non stop. You can see how these are more practical fighting moves but not ones you are allowed to use in tournaments
here you can see some practical applications for kids and old ladies like me.
It is important to learn that if someone where to attack you it would be unlikely that they would do it alone.
This women is so wonderful she is a Mom like me. But one of the hard lessons is sometimes the bricks just don't break no matter what you tell yourself. But she is good with the boards.
Check out the stack
Okay this is us just hanging around before the test. See the guy with the really nice camera walking around. That is Master Nay, I consider him my Master because most of the time I take his classes. I do take a sparring class and I take one class with Master Lee because well they don't call him a Grand Master for nothing. But the majority of my classes are with Master Nay.
This is the Purple Belt form this is the same form I am learning now.
Above are the purple belt one steps
Here is what no touch sparring looks like. It is just about control
This is the purple belt breaking - no bricks yet that is for red belt and then the cinder blocks are for the black belts.
Here are the red and deputy black belts doing their One Steps. See how they go pretty slow and dont really hurt each other. That is so that we learn the techinque but we are not so injured that we can't return to class the next day. Its about physical fitness not beating each other up. But it is kind of funny how it looks like a practice for a Kung Fu Movie.
That is GrandMaster Lee calling out the names of the kids. See how respectful and nice they are. Grnadmaster Lee jokes with them a bit while he takes them through the forms.
Above is the video of some of the black belts it is really beautiful to see how they do their form in unison. It looks like a fighting dance.
These are really nicely done Black Belt "One Steps"
The black belts do the Ho Sin Sol 1-60 non stop. You can see how these are more practical fighting moves but not ones you are allowed to use in tournaments
here you can see some practical applications for kids and old ladies like me.
It is important to learn that if someone where to attack you it would be unlikely that they would do it alone.
This women is so wonderful she is a Mom like me. But one of the hard lessons is sometimes the bricks just don't break no matter what you tell yourself. But she is good with the boards.
Check out the stack
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Overwhelmed
Overwhelmed
What do I say to myself to overwhelm myself. You know those words we all say when we are overwhelmed that seems like nothing but actually tells the whole story. I grab my hair and say, "I just can't fix all this crap today, I feel so overwhelmed". Then the good mother part of me says "why do you have to fix it all today"? "Why do you have to fix any of it are you sure it needs fixing?" "Are you sure it is something that can be fixed?" "Are you sure today is such a good time to pick for fixing you seem a bit off to me?" or maybe I say, "I am too sad I just can't do it today?" What is it? Why does it need doing today? What can I do today?
Of course
It is the part about loosing all our money feels like I have to find a way to get more money in our household now. It is desperation. But this is not really with in my control. My dollar is worth less everyday and there is little anyone can do about that.
There is my mother in law going back into the hospital. She was doing so well at the nursing home and rehab. They don't know why she is sick again but I looked into her eyes and saw it. She has given up. I have no control over this.
Then there is my company who wants me to step into a director role and I don't want to but I don't want to self sabotage either. I would prefer to make a choice. Its like setting your own car on fire for the insurance money. It never works.
What can I do today? I don't have to put my hands all over everything and "handle it" to have my life flow. What can I not touch and allow to grow unpicked or pruned?
What do I say to myself to overwhelm myself. You know those words we all say when we are overwhelmed that seems like nothing but actually tells the whole story. I grab my hair and say, "I just can't fix all this crap today, I feel so overwhelmed". Then the good mother part of me says "why do you have to fix it all today"? "Why do you have to fix any of it are you sure it needs fixing?" "Are you sure it is something that can be fixed?" "Are you sure today is such a good time to pick for fixing you seem a bit off to me?" or maybe I say, "I am too sad I just can't do it today?" What is it? Why does it need doing today? What can I do today?
Of course
It is the part about loosing all our money feels like I have to find a way to get more money in our household now. It is desperation. But this is not really with in my control. My dollar is worth less everyday and there is little anyone can do about that.
There is my mother in law going back into the hospital. She was doing so well at the nursing home and rehab. They don't know why she is sick again but I looked into her eyes and saw it. She has given up. I have no control over this.
Then there is my company who wants me to step into a director role and I don't want to but I don't want to self sabotage either. I would prefer to make a choice. Its like setting your own car on fire for the insurance money. It never works.
What can I do today? I don't have to put my hands all over everything and "handle it" to have my life flow. What can I not touch and allow to grow unpicked or pruned?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I cant move today
I almost did not go to the dojang yesterday. I was already really sore. My last two classes have not been with my regular instructor who is a 4th degree black belt, Master Alex Nay. I sort of consider myself his student because I prefer his classes. However the last 2 classes I have had have been with the Grand Master (8th degree and up). Master Lee. He is very attentive to mechanics especially in the form. So this is like yoga where you hold one position in the form until you get perfect alignment then you move on to the next step and so on. My muscle really ache from holding say a back stance for 10 minutes until my hips sholder and head are perfectly aligned to the stance. Even your thumb has to be exactly right. No I am not kidding. This is not easy at my age. The kids in my class think its fun to see who can take it the longest. To my Grandmasters credit my form is much much much improved.
It reminds me of when I was 8 my brother and I would run out in the snow in bare feet and see who could take the cold the longest. We ran back inside to warm our feet by the fire after only a minute or so. We where pretty whimpy.
Today it is the same the fight is not a spar against an opponent it is within yourself. Hardening.
It reminds me of when I was 8 my brother and I would run out in the snow in bare feet and see who could take the cold the longest. We ran back inside to warm our feet by the fire after only a minute or so. We where pretty whimpy.
Today it is the same the fight is not a spar against an opponent it is within yourself. Hardening.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Honestly I never thought I'd get a better shrimp burger
Now I went to college at ECU so I have eaten a Cubby's shrimp burger and I know the difference between a really good shrimp burger and a really bad one. Well I had a shrimp burger that would rival any shrimp burger on the east coast at the Beach Shop Bar and Grill Topsail Island NC. (910-328-6501)After fishing with shrimp all morning you would think that eating them for lunch might be unappealing but not so. They where lovely every last one. Now the thing that really makes shrimp burger for me is the cole slaw. That is where I part ways with the Crab Shack. I love their steamer buckets - best on Topsail Island but I just can't get with their cole slaw.
Now for the rest of the Beach Shop Lunch Menu
Fried Seafood
all fried sea food comes with french fries or an baked potato
Choose one of Shrimp or Flounder 15.95
Choose two of Shrimp of Flounder 17.95
Sandwich platters
all sandwiches come with french fries
Crab Cake Sandwich served with fresh lettuce tomato and Island Sauce (very good stuff) 11.95
Beach Shop Burger (their signature burger) 8.95
Bistro Burger topped with sauteed mushroom's, boursin cheese, sweet pickles and red onions and crisp bacon on Grilled Foccacia 11.95
Pannini du Jour 8.95
Kids Menu
12 and under only please all orders come with french fries
Grilled cheese 4.95
Fried Shrimp 6.95
Hot Dog 4.95
Chicken tenders 5.95
Beverages
Orangeade (Positively the best on the east coast or Topsail Island - 2.75 Worth every penny.
Milk Shakes, Chocolate or Vanilla 3.95
Soft Drinks 1.89 Bit pricey
Coke, Diet Coke, Sun Drop (a beach favorite), Mr Pibb, Sprite and Iced Tea - sweet or unsweet
Beer
Domestic 3.00
Import 4.00
We will save the rest of the Topsail Island Beach Shop Dinner Menu for tomorrows post.
Now for the rest of the Beach Shop Lunch Menu
Fried Seafood
all fried sea food comes with french fries or an baked potato
Choose one of Shrimp or Flounder 15.95
Choose two of Shrimp of Flounder 17.95
Sandwich platters
all sandwiches come with french fries
Crab Cake Sandwich served with fresh lettuce tomato and Island Sauce (very good stuff) 11.95
Beach Shop Burger (their signature burger) 8.95
Bistro Burger topped with sauteed mushroom's, boursin cheese, sweet pickles and red onions and crisp bacon on Grilled Foccacia 11.95
Pannini du Jour 8.95
Kids Menu
12 and under only please all orders come with french fries
Grilled cheese 4.95
Fried Shrimp 6.95
Hot Dog 4.95
Chicken tenders 5.95
Beverages
Orangeade (Positively the best on the east coast or Topsail Island - 2.75 Worth every penny.
Milk Shakes, Chocolate or Vanilla 3.95
Soft Drinks 1.89 Bit pricey
Coke, Diet Coke, Sun Drop (a beach favorite), Mr Pibb, Sprite and Iced Tea - sweet or unsweet
Beer
Domestic 3.00
Import 4.00
We will save the rest of the Topsail Island Beach Shop Dinner Menu for tomorrows post.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Jessie Justice - Surf Fisherman Topsail Island NC
I met a really nice guy who was surf fishing on Topsail Island named Jessie Justice. With a name like that he should have been a Texas Ranger. He was clearly a smart well educated guy. He brought up the tension between the environmentalists and the surf fishermen who drive on the beach. For many years environmental groups representing the Tern Nesting Area and the Sea Turtle Nesting Areas have been moving forward with legislation to prevent driving on the beach. “The whole reason I am out here is to be around nature. The hunters and fishers are the ones who take care of the wildlife because we are the ones who need it the most.” said Jessie Justice. Jessie was right. For the most part the 100s of vehicles that drive onto the beach stay on the beach strand and well away from the protect dune areas. I never saw one instance of ATV dune jumping. But there is always one person that ruins it for everyone. Just as I was filming a great shot of a huge Pompano a large red truck backed right up over the Sea Turtle strand and into the dunes and up to the Tern nesting area. The law took care of that problem. One surf fisherman complained to me saying “the law says we can’t be within 2200 feet of a sea bird, how do we do that they are all over the beach?”
Have you ever wondered what would happen to the NRA lobby if all the people who are for gun control joined the NRA? The focus of that lobby group would change over night. It is time to come clean with the surf fishers. No one has explained the law to them. It is not 2200 feet from a sea bird it is 2200 feet from a nest. There are no signs documenting where the Terns and the Turtle start and end. There is no shuttle service for surf fishers who don’t want to take their own vehicle on the beach. It is just plain confusing. The guy in Red truck just didn’t want to get his truck stuck in the surf.
Now lets get down to the truth…
The Point on Topsail Island was owned by the same family that owned the Sound Side Fishing Pier. Opraguard – not sure of the spelling. They wanted to develop it. Residents of The Point engaged the Audubon Society and other environmental groups to help them stop the development. Surf Fishers and driving on the beach got caught up in the brawl. It’s really not about surf fishing at all it’s about developers and money. Truthfully it’s just like surf fisherman Jessie Justice said, “We are all here for the wildlife”. My advice if you want to be able to drive on the beach – Join the Audubon Society and lobby for it.
Now the video below is just for nature lovers like Jessie.
Topsail Island 1
Topsail Island 2
Topsail Island 3
Topsail Island 4
Topsail Island 5
Have you ever wondered what would happen to the NRA lobby if all the people who are for gun control joined the NRA? The focus of that lobby group would change over night. It is time to come clean with the surf fishers. No one has explained the law to them. It is not 2200 feet from a sea bird it is 2200 feet from a nest. There are no signs documenting where the Terns and the Turtle start and end. There is no shuttle service for surf fishers who don’t want to take their own vehicle on the beach. It is just plain confusing. The guy in Red truck just didn’t want to get his truck stuck in the surf.
Now lets get down to the truth…
The Point on Topsail Island was owned by the same family that owned the Sound Side Fishing Pier. Opraguard – not sure of the spelling. They wanted to develop it. Residents of The Point engaged the Audubon Society and other environmental groups to help them stop the development. Surf Fishers and driving on the beach got caught up in the brawl. It’s really not about surf fishing at all it’s about developers and money. Truthfully it’s just like surf fisherman Jessie Justice said, “We are all here for the wildlife”. My advice if you want to be able to drive on the beach – Join the Audubon Society and lobby for it.
Now the video below is just for nature lovers like Jessie.
Topsail Island 1
Topsail Island 2
Topsail Island 3
Topsail Island 4
Topsail Island 5
Just to prove to you there are other people like me
Yes there are other people like me! I will get as much video as I can of other people over thrity at my dojang doing the same crazy thing I am doing.
This is one student doing the no-belt form. This is your introductory belt to show your desire to train under a master black belt.
This is one student doing the no-belt form. This is your introductory belt to show your desire to train under a master black belt.
Monday, October 6, 2008
TaeKwon Do at 38
What makes a woman at 38 years old decide to take Tae Kwon Do. Well I just turned 39 and signed up for another year of getting my butt kicked. I think at this point it deserves some reflection and well just plain old explanation. What the heck was I thinking? First thing you have to realize is nothing comes easy at this point. If you want easy go do spinning classes. No I don't mean the work out is easy what I mean is the mental part is a lot simpler.
Still not quite right
Nope thats not it either
Still not quite right
Nope thats not it either
To Rough It or Not -Surf Fishing on Topsail Island
When I was 20 I was camping on top of Black Mountain. Nice Hike 12 miles straight up. I was a minimalist hiker. I did the grand canyon with a blanket and water bottle. That is the kind of thing I did then. But at the top of Black mountain I had an epiphany. The local Sierra club chapter was at the top too and I dropped by their campsite for a howdy. The leader of the group was an elderly man. He was wearing special campsite slippers. He had packed in the extra few ounces of those slippers for the hours of comfort around the camp fire where they would eat grilled steak. I returned to my camp site which consisted of a few power bars, water and a sleeping bag for the night. I slept great and I felt full but that night my paradigm shifted. I had a new game now. Try to rough it without roughing it. Little unexpected luxuries that I bring into the wild with me. It reminds me of how the English used to go on Safari in Africa with a Tea set and phonograph.
So it is with surf fishing on Topsail Island. You know how it is when you get down to the point in salt, sand and heat. You are a good hike away from even a bathroom. But I like to have a latte in the morning when I am surf fishing. I am a woman I am allowed. This means finding a Java shop that serves lattes and cappuccinos before sunrise. So the quest began. There are three places on the island that serve a latte.
Quarter Moon Books (on the island)
708 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach, NC 28445
910.328.4969 | 800.697.9134
Bumblebee Market (on the island)
513 Roland Ave., Surf City, NC 28445
910.328.2105
Hunga Bunga Java (on the island)
614 G N. New River Dr., Surf City, NC 28445
910.328.5282
Quarter Moon Books and Bumblebee Market don't open until 9:00 and I would be a would be a wild animal if I didn't get my coffee or latte before 9:00. Note that the Just Baked Bakery only serves coffee. Light, Medium and Dark roast.
Hunga Bunga Java however is the clear WINNER serving and excellent latte with excellent service bright and early.
Outside
Inside
So it is with surf fishing on Topsail Island. You know how it is when you get down to the point in salt, sand and heat. You are a good hike away from even a bathroom. But I like to have a latte in the morning when I am surf fishing. I am a woman I am allowed. This means finding a Java shop that serves lattes and cappuccinos before sunrise. So the quest began. There are three places on the island that serve a latte.
Quarter Moon Books (on the island)
708 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach, NC 28445
910.328.4969 | 800.697.9134
Bumblebee Market (on the island)
513 Roland Ave., Surf City, NC 28445
910.328.2105
Hunga Bunga Java (on the island)
614 G N. New River Dr., Surf City, NC 28445
910.328.5282
Quarter Moon Books and Bumblebee Market don't open until 9:00 and I would be a would be a wild animal if I didn't get my coffee or latte before 9:00. Note that the Just Baked Bakery only serves coffee. Light, Medium and Dark roast.
Hunga Bunga Java however is the clear WINNER serving and excellent latte with excellent service bright and early.
Outside
Inside
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Black Drum where biting consistently
On South Topsail not quite at the point the black drum where biting consistently.
Natural Sandbars Trapped Minnows - Topsail Island
Natural Sandbars that Topsail Island is known for aren't just great for little kids to swim in they also trapped good sized bait minnows in between tides. Easy pickings with a casting net.
Social Networks aren't just for techies
You have "techies" and now you have "Fishies". This guy was connected to an entire group of fishermen spread all over the island telling each other where the fish are and what is bitting and what is working .
Blue Fishing Was Big on Saturday and Sunday - Topsail Island Surf Fishing
This fellow had a nice size blue and you can see right away what he is using for bait.
Having the Right Stuff - Topsail Island Surf Fishing
Most of fishing is having all the right stuff particularly is you are going to drive on the beach. Most of these guys are Topsail Island fishing veterans who understand what it means to have all the gear a girl could wish for.
Everybody wants a good casting net. Just be careful what you catch
This guy did not want to be filmed but what an awesome truck
This guy fishes Topsail Island regularly. He has the an old woody with an killer rack. I wanted to ask how much but I don't think he would part with it.
If you want to catch blues then you'll need sand fiddlers. This is the ultimate in sand fiddler scoopers. Tell me if you know where I can pick one up.
Everybody wants a good casting net. Just be careful what you catch
This guy did not want to be filmed but what an awesome truck
This guy fishes Topsail Island regularly. He has the an old woody with an killer rack. I wanted to ask how much but I don't think he would part with it.
If you want to catch blues then you'll need sand fiddlers. This is the ultimate in sand fiddler scoopers. Tell me if you know where I can pick one up.
Trawling off shore for bait - South Topsail Island
The water was so clear and flat on the beach side of South Topsail the boats where trawling for live minnows for bait right up next to the shore. There where no swells.
Big Flounder - Topsail Island Surf City Pier
This guy caught this flounder off the Surf City Pier. O should I say fishing under the pier. Flounder fishing and gigging is a happy past time on Topsail as the flounder here are particularly tasty.
Topsail Island NC- Surf City Fishing Pier
If you don't mind the breathing in other peoples cigarette smoke there is a tone of fun to be had on the Pier. Because of the smoking influence - maybe not the best place for kids but on the whole I love it. Much nicer than the old Jolly Roger or Scotch Bonnet.
These two guys had a full weekend of Topsail Island fishing both on the surf and the Surf City Pier.
These two guys had a full weekend of Topsail Island fishing both on the surf and the Surf City Pier.
Surf Fishing Topsail Island Pompano
This guy was popping the Pompano out of the water left and right. He was fishing on the
surf between the Sea Vista Motel and the Point. Just past the last public beach access.
See the fish: Heres a look in the bucket...
This guy fishes Topsail Island regularly. He was out only about an hour when he got the biggest Pompano he had ever caught.
surf between the Sea Vista Motel and the Point. Just past the last public beach access.
See the fish: Heres a look in the bucket...
This guy fishes Topsail Island regularly. He was out only about an hour when he got the biggest Pompano he had ever caught.
Fish Report -Topsail Island at the Point
Several people where surf fishing the point but not catching much. Most of the real fishing was going on sound side or on the South Topsail Island beach strip south of the Sea Vista Motel.
Low Tide was the time to fish - Topsail Island Surf Fishing
Everybody who was really picking them off was fishing at low tide or when the tide was changing. Fishing was best when the wind was coming from the mainland which is not typical. This fish was caught with live minnows.
Generally Fish like drum measured to size. Like the way I figure out if they are 18" or more. I wear a size 6 1/2 shoe.
Generally Fish like drum measured to size. Like the way I figure out if they are 18" or more. I wear a size 6 1/2 shoe.
Fishing Report From Topsail Island NC
I went swimming sunrise Oct4. I'm 5'8 and went out far enough so that I couldn't touch. This is the way I do visibility testing. There where no swells and it was like glass. Even though I couldn't touch I could still see the bottom. Only a small amount of sea weed and kelp. But I could see lots of minnows. Otherwise known as live bait and the occasional large drum. This was a good sign for a good day of fishing.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
When is the Vice Presidential Debate on TV
When is the Vice Presidential Debate on TV?
When is the Vice Presidential Debate on TV? You know Joe Biden and what's her face.
When is the Vice Presidential Debate on TV?
Well for those of you who have Googled this and other phrase like it to no avail well I can tell you. The Vice Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin -
is on TV at 8:00 est CBS.
For those of us who quit watching TV years ago and get our information soley from the web it is so frustrating how just the simplest thing escape CNN's front page.
Who is televising the debate and when? The question on everyones mind. I don't care about pictures of them getting out of their limo.
I went to my local TV stations schedule. Yes all of them and this is what I found on WRAL.
9:00 Vice Presidential Debate Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Moderator: Gwen Ifill - Now that is only mildly informative if you already know what you are looking for.
How about:
9:00 est - Vice Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin on CBS. Filmed live at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Moderator: Gwen Ifill
Better.
When is the Vice Presidential Debate on TV? You know Joe Biden and what's her face.
When is the Vice Presidential Debate on TV?
Well for those of you who have Googled this and other phrase like it to no avail well I can tell you. The Vice Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin -
is on TV at 8:00 est CBS.
For those of us who quit watching TV years ago and get our information soley from the web it is so frustrating how just the simplest thing escape CNN's front page.
Who is televising the debate and when? The question on everyones mind. I don't care about pictures of them getting out of their limo.
I went to my local TV stations schedule. Yes all of them and this is what I found on WRAL.
9:00 Vice Presidential Debate Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Moderator: Gwen Ifill - Now that is only mildly informative if you already know what you are looking for.
How about:
9:00 est - Vice Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin on CBS. Filmed live at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Moderator: Gwen Ifill
Better.
How I help marginalize the poor
So let me explain how I marginalize you:
In my work life; I am an engineer of web data. What the he** is that? Well it means that I take all the data trails you leave me when you visit our company website and other websites affiliated with us. I compare it to your purchase behaviors and use algorithms to determine what kind of person you are. One of the things I look for is people who are “cheap”. I don’t want to waste my time or marketing $ on people who are cheap so I develop ways to cut them out of my marketing list so that they don’t get promotions and coupons and what not. I am really looking for financially secure people with expendable income. These cheap people we call “barnacles” and we try to scrape them off the hull of our business by actually sending them coupons and discounts that we know they will never act on and by doing so - we fire them as a customer.
So what you say?
Well the poor who most need the coupons and the discounts are getting scraped and fired.
If you look like you are only using your credit card to buy the “basics” You get scraped. If your VIC card that you use at Harris Teeter shows you use WIC or food stamps. You get scraped.
And the well to do people get the buy one get one free on the Peter Pan Crunchy peanut butter.
This practice marginalizes the poor even more than they already are. In truth if the poor voted the same on a few core issues they would be the largest most powerful voting block in the US.
Yes we have that many poor people in America.
So how do we create a Union or Club for the poor? All though it would be great to register the poor to vote we don’t have to actually register them to vote all we need them to do is sway opinion poles prior to the elections and the candidates will fall in line.
A physical mailing address where the recipient was looking out for the Union or Clubs mailing would be great. But the poor go in and out of homelessness and move frequently. That’s why “do you rent or own” is on your credit apps as well as “how long have you lived at this residence”. But what we really need is a plan that does not require a physical mailing address. But does give them access to online opinion polls, forums and blogs on websites such as CNN.
Could we harness public libraries for this? Could we use city bill boards to communicate?
What do you think?
In my work life; I am an engineer of web data. What the he** is that? Well it means that I take all the data trails you leave me when you visit our company website and other websites affiliated with us. I compare it to your purchase behaviors and use algorithms to determine what kind of person you are. One of the things I look for is people who are “cheap”. I don’t want to waste my time or marketing $ on people who are cheap so I develop ways to cut them out of my marketing list so that they don’t get promotions and coupons and what not. I am really looking for financially secure people with expendable income. These cheap people we call “barnacles” and we try to scrape them off the hull of our business by actually sending them coupons and discounts that we know they will never act on and by doing so - we fire them as a customer.
So what you say?
Well the poor who most need the coupons and the discounts are getting scraped and fired.
If you look like you are only using your credit card to buy the “basics” You get scraped. If your VIC card that you use at Harris Teeter shows you use WIC or food stamps. You get scraped.
And the well to do people get the buy one get one free on the Peter Pan Crunchy peanut butter.
This practice marginalizes the poor even more than they already are. In truth if the poor voted the same on a few core issues they would be the largest most powerful voting block in the US.
Yes we have that many poor people in America.
So how do we create a Union or Club for the poor? All though it would be great to register the poor to vote we don’t have to actually register them to vote all we need them to do is sway opinion poles prior to the elections and the candidates will fall in line.
A physical mailing address where the recipient was looking out for the Union or Clubs mailing would be great. But the poor go in and out of homelessness and move frequently. That’s why “do you rent or own” is on your credit apps as well as “how long have you lived at this residence”. But what we really need is a plan that does not require a physical mailing address. But does give them access to online opinion polls, forums and blogs on websites such as CNN.
Could we harness public libraries for this? Could we use city bill boards to communicate?
What do you think?
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