You see it?

That was my expression yesterday in between doing a SnoopyDance as I realized I now have a small Bicep.
It's not a lot but its something and it took me about 21 months to get there.  Its also been 21 months since the big diet change.  How cool.

Been pretty good about getting up early to the gym. I get up at 530am go to the gym and in work by 730am. Typically I work 10-12 hours then I am pooped and go home. I've also been lucky to go to hit stuff the last couple Saturdays. Leaves me feeling good, de-stressed and sore.

While I don't mind working a lot and do because I am a work-a-holic, I really miss Karate and Muay Thai. I miss helping teach Karate.  Though there are a few bad apple parents that make me want to pull my hair out, I just really love helping them and watching them learn and grow. Every night I ask Jeff about the classes, and go through just about every student to see how they are doing. Apparently at Eliot they give him TWO high-fives because I'm not there.

Tomorrow is supposed to be Super Kids promotions and I plan on surprising them. I am also going to surprise our Student of the Month. Hoping all goes well at work tomorrow so I can leave.  Then Thursday is promotions at Everett. This will be the first time I am missing it/ineligible to be promoted. Breaks my heart in so many ways.

Weather here sucks with all the cold and the snow but my body and health is holding up really great.
Looking forward to warmth again and to vacation in July.

New Year

It has been awhile, and I keep meaning to write a little something, but get lazy.

Tomorrow I go back to work after a nice long week off. I really enjoyed my time and got stuff done.
So here are some updates...

Health
Doing great.  2010 was a good year for me as I was healthy all year long. Its great to start the New Year healthier, and with NO tingling. My weight is about where I want it, I just need muscle. To keep healthy I need to continue to get stronger, and balance life more.  I've signed up at a cheap gym nearby and I intend on lifting and running. I hope to stick to it.

Work
BUSY!  Though I was allowed the week off, I know I am coming back to chaos. Though I'll probably work a lot, I've tried to make a promise to at least work out.  I still love what I do, and glad that my salary is almost back to 100%.

Martial Arts
Though I am sad to not be able to help Jeff at the Eliot, what also hurts is that I probably won't be able to make it to Karate either. I'm bummed, but I'm hoping to fold it in as much as I can.  The KICK program ended strong and we reached all of our goals in 2010. I'm hoping to do some good things in this upcoming year. I will also try to continue to fold in Muay Thai. I've met an old student of Jeff's and she is willing to give me a ride on Saturdays so at least I will have that. I've also asked Jeff for us to do training every Sunday. Mostly for me to keep my Karate up to par, and just hitting stuff for Muay Thai.

I'd really like to get into the ring. I've been saying it for a long time, but I need to make it happen. This is been like a hobby that I've been in and out of. I'd like to do something with it.

2011 Stuff
I'm really excited that Jeff and I will be going to Michigan in July. The best part will be spending time with my niece. It will be so awesome. We will be spending time up at the Cabin, and maybe even spend a couple days in Grand Rapids with Krysta.  More and more Jeff and I are thinking about our future. Michigan is an option, so we'd like to see how our gut feels.  I heard this quote once "When you ask God a question you get an answer. Yes, No, and Wait."  I'm really thinking that this time next year we will know our answer. In some ways our future was so unknown during 2010, and it felt sometimes like purgatory. We want and we need to make stuff happen for us. I hope things become a little more clearer throughout this next year.

2012 seems a long way off but not so far.

My dad says 'seekers of the truth'.  I always trust my gut and my heart. I also know all things will work themselves out. Sometimes I just need patience. Sometimes I just need the confidence to make the tough decisions.

Here is to the New Year!

First Cold - Boo!

Recently recovering from my first cold of the season. Almost 100% again which is great. Every time I feel annoyed by it, I think back to when I was sick and realize a little cold really isn't that bad. Got a workout today and did Christmas shopping so all is good!

So a few updates and a few fun things.

Last week I celebrated 7 years. That's right S-E-V-E-N years. Holy Monkeys!  It really doesn't feel like it was so long ago that I said goodbye to everyone I knew and loved and moved away. There is a song called 'Boston' and the link is below. The video isn't the greatest thing in the world, but I like the song. Listen for these words "She said I think I'll go to Boston...I think I'll start a new life, I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name" and "I think I'll go to Boston,I think that I'm just tired I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind..."

BOSTON

Things have been busy around here, but good. My health is keeping up, and no tingles to report. I think slowly but surely I'm thinking about tingling less and less and its helping. Work is busier than a bandit, and Karate/Muay Thai have taken a back seat.  I'm looking forward to the week off between Christmas and New Year.

There was another song I've been wanting to share. As soon as I found out who sung it I felt kind of embarrassed. It's by Kris Allen, that is right winner of American Idol.  Its called 'Live Like We're Dyin' Again not the greatest of videos but great lyrics and a great message. Enjoy.

LIVE LIKE WE'RE DYIN'

Lastly, something a little on the 'funky' side. This song is a super catch tune, and the lyrics are pretty good. Kind of remind me of saying 'Hey put the past behind you and run to greater things'. The video itself is kinda weird, and I really don't know if I like it. They could have definitely done something way better. Enjoy

DOG DAYS ARE OVER

Bad Apples

"A couple of rotten apples doesn't mean that the bunch is spoiled...right?"  This is a quote I put on FB yesterday. My way of venting without getting too specific.  All in all things are good...except a couple of rotten apples. AKA. Parents. 

It completely has surprised me how vile, uncaring, and unwilling people have become. Back in the day everyone understood what COMMUNITY meant. I'm not so sure anymore, and a big part of me is just hoping it is just here in Boston.  

We have our non-profit program, which at this point one year ago was pronounced dead. We were re-thinking our programs and even wondering if we would be able to continue.  At the beginning of the year, it came back.  My hope was to get it running again so that we wouldn't have to worry so much about if we continue just how. 

There had been no/little participation and willingness to help out with fundraisers, and are now trying different ways to gain interest and donations to keep us afloat.  These ideas already seem to be failing us. Actually with the latest fundraiser it looks like more people will be donating that don't even have kids in our program. Though I am thankful for them immensely, it sickens me that people seem to want to do all the taking without giving back.

We have a few parents that get upset at what we charge, they also find that they don't need to donate. Well, look around and find another school that can do what we do at the same price.  You won't...or have a really hard time trying.  

Last night I spent most of my night, as per typical after helping with classes, upset that a few rotten apples have to complain, or not want to participate.  It seems that every time we try to make people happy - it gets worse and sometimes it seems that people complain because that is who they are.  They try to keep pushing for more for themselves. They don't realize that if this continues they won't have a program to complain about. 

How sad.

Close Call

In 10 days it will be two months. Two months since the last 'episode' when my elbow hurt and it cause some tingling.  Yesterday was a close call though. There is a moment I've been able to grasp just before I tingle. I guess its a pre-tingle. I take note, try to calm down and remember to breathe and so on.  I almost started to panic. Guess I was feeling anxious, maybe it was because I had some coffee for the first time in awhile. Luckily Jeff calmed me down and stretched my arm. Afterwards it felt better, and no tingling.

Horray!

A little Martial Arts ranting..

Sitting here in a little bit of a somber mood today.  Got to help out with Karate again, and it was by far the biggest test for me. Everyone seemed to be upset, kids were acting bad, and I just didn't know how to handle it.  Thank goodness Jeff is there, he had seen his fair share. Just trying to let it go before I head to bed.

There have been a lot of things bugging at me. In no particular order..just to vent.

I read other blog, posts, etc. I see a lot of people 'proclaiming' they are experts. They write in absolutes. It beyond just ignorance which is forgivable - its blindness. They just haven't been open to things.  I'm referring mostly to a Martial Arts.  I am not an expert, don't think I'll ever be. But I know enough to see when people just spread lies or even worse degrade things they don't understand because they think they are above it all.  I truly think the 'Soul' is gone from Martial Arts.

Yesterday I was getting made fun of while hitting. Now this happens from time to time, and I try to brush it off. Again, souless Martial Artists making fun of something they don't fully understand. I felt bad for my pad holder. He's willing to hold mitts for the only girl and he too got made fun of. I can't thank him enough for giving me some time and taking 'smack' from others and just brushing it off.

Martial Arts called - it wants it soul back.

18 months

So it has now been 18 months since my sinus surgery. After 8 long months of being sick and trying to figure out why. I used that surgery as a spring board to new health and better me. I changed my diet, committed myself back into Martial Arts, and overall tried to be thankful for all the little things.  Its been over a month now since I've had any symptoms at all. I'm feeling great and still slowly gaining muscle back.

Karate testing for was this past week.I earned my Green belt. Its a big jump, in a short amount of time. Over the past number of years I've trainied in Muay Thai, Tai Chi, Ju-Jistu and it was taken into account, along with competition and teaching kids was a big factor. So was 6-10 classes/week and practicing a lot at home.

Just to give you a comparison. Below is then (after surgery) and now (18 months later). 

Big difference!

During work this week, I received word that I'm officially on 40 hours a week. Which means back to 90% of the 2008 salary.  We are getting in new projects as a firm, and as for me I have a fast paced project.  I'm uncertain as to how this will affect my commitment to helping teach karate at the after-school program.  I want to help and do it all - but I made a promise to not over-do it. Jeff won't allow me to either, it was enough to see me so sick before, he doesn't want that to happen again.

Not really sure what my path is, and honestly have been uncertain for some time now. Not knowing about my job has been such a huger factor. Now it seems we are out of the woods and its made things a little more clear.  I know there is a plan and I am open to the possibilities of the future.