I'm BORED!!

It's awful to be at work and BORED! It isn't that I don't have a lot of stuff to do, I just don't find any of it fun, fascinating, or even the slightest bit challenging right now.

I need Prince Charming to come RESCUE ME!!!!

YES!!!

Yes, It happened. I am now officially a "sifu". It was 3 long, grueling hours of what seemed on one hand, never ending, and on the other it felt as though it was one dance step leading into another. It was AWESOME! If asked to describe this particular test... my first response would be: Gnarly! At times, it felt like I was dropped off in Hell and told to fight my way back out, but for the most part it was so Awesome, Fun, and Exhausting!

More explanation and pictures to follow....

It's HERE!....Almost.

In less than 24 hours, I will be standing in front of a panel of Sifu's, feeling just about ready to crawl out of my own skin. The realization that it is pretty much here, has hit. I am a little emotional, Nervous doesn't even describe it, but also I am Excited! Do I think I am ready? In all honesty, it doesn't matter if I think I am ready, my Sifu thinks I am ready. I have practiced, hopefully enough, I have studied, and now I am PRAYING!

24 Days...

24 Days….

Yes, that’s right, 24 days until I test for 1st degree black belt! It’s been almost 5 years since I started this journey, and at the beginning, I never thought in my wildest dreams I would reach this level. To me, I look at this test as my graduation from grade school. Finally I am too old for recess, but too young for a driver’s license and the keys to the coolest, and fastest car in the world, and as glad as I am to be “growing up” that first day of Junior High is always the scariest! It’s a whole new world, with a lot more training, studying and adventures. All this of course, once the test is passed. So what’s on the test?
Hmmm…

-Black Belt Work Out….(that was a whole lot of stuff, plus praying to die while going through it)

-15 Punch Counters
-10 Grab Counters
-10 Kick Combinations
-15 Chin Na Techniques
-10 Heavy Bag Techniques
-10 Weapon Counters
-10 Mass Attack Techniques
-10 Sparring Techniques
-Creation of Bo, Escrima, Nunchuku, and Empty Hand Kata By Me….
-Free From Technique Line
-2500 Word Essay (at least) on topic of my choice related to martial arts
-Teaching Chi Kung Breathing Exercises to a class

Yes, All of those techniques are performed on someone (besides the heavy bag) and yes, I pray I am fast enough to pull the blocks off.

With all that in mind, there are a few questions that race through my head…

How long is this test going to take? Hmmm…I’m betting on a while.
Am I scared? That word doesn’t even cut it. I am TERRIFIED
Am I prepared? I am as prepared as the amount of time I have put forth practicing
Will I pass? That is up to me
Am I ready? Sifu says so
Am I excited? Yes, that would be the emotion after terrified
Is it worth it?

YES!!!!!!!

Cleo, growing up!

Look how BIG she's getting! Yes, this is my little baby Cleo. She's almost the same size as Kokoro now, and has more energy than 5 two year olds put together! She is definitely a sweetheart!

Changes....

This world is ever changing! Yes, we all know this, but sometimes those changes can take you back and make you go, WOW!

A lot of things have happened since I blogged last. I haven't been diligent in my efforts to keep an "online diary" but who's to say that is neccessarily a bad thing? Maybe some things are just better left unsaid.

To elaborate on what I mean...My boss calls me in two weeks ago, to let me know that she and the rest of the management staff had a meeting ( I wasn't invited to this meeting, infact they LIED about where they were all going) about my role as the Instrument Coordinator, Shift Coordinator, Ent/Neuro Specialist, and Educator. In this meeting they decided to have me only focus on the Instrument Coordinator portion of my job, and they would divide the rest of my former jobs amongst themselves. In translation: 2 of the people there have always wanted my job(s) and have been looking for ways to get me out of my job(s) since I started doing them. They raked me through the coals and brought up certain "issues" that when I discussed those "issues" with my boss several weeks prior and told her what the plan of action was, I was told "that's fine baby" "don't worry about it, I know you can handle it" Well, I guess she lied to me then, just as she lied to me about where they all were going, because since one of the ladies that wants my job (and no one gets along with) brought it up, it now is a bigger issue that really couldn't be tolerated in the beginning and she's "tried several times to talk to me about it" Really? that's news to me. I'm a very open person. I would rather people confront me in the beginning if there is a problem so I can fix it, instead of wait until the damage is done, and I'm being thrown under a bus for things I didn't even know were a problem!

Uhg. I'm truly not angry, but extremely hurt by the whole ordeal...You are told to trust certain people, even when your instinct is to not trust them, and no matter what everyone else says, you should've listened to your gut...

Fat Farm Here I come!

I've been going to the gym and martial arts for the past, oh I don't know Month. I work really, REALLY hard while I"m at the gym...or atleast I thought I did...but when I stepped on the scale, and had my buddy take my measurements...there was absolutely NO FREAKING CHANGE!!! He says: "So what are we missing here?" I say : "You tell me?!?!?!?!!!" He says: "Ok, you'll have to do cardio more" I say : "when????" He says: "It's your responsibility to make the time" Hmmm. My responsibility. Ok, I give. I understand that it is my responsibility, and really he has nothing to do with the whole thing, besides the fact that he was willing to give me a few pointers here and there, but COME ON! Maybe when I am finished throwing this lovely pity party that I have put myself in, I'll be able to sit down and work this out more clearly. All I know right now, is I feel like I'm headed to the fat farm!

Isn't she so sweet?!?!?!?

She still needs a name :(

Names....

After much deliberation on my mothers part...not only has she allowed me to bring Kokoro (kakooroo) home, but she is allowing me to bring Kokoro's baby home too! She's a little spotted female, that has the sweetest disposition, and will hopefully have some really awesome kittens some day too! The problem is...I don't know what to name her! She's exotic, and deserves a fitting name. My sister thinks "Sasha" is the perfect name for her. I think Sasha is a "normal" name, and who wants a normal name next to mamma cat Kokoro (by the way it means Heart or Indomitable Spirit) "little one deserves a name like that!

Kokoro

Yay! I'm so excited! Only a few more weeks and I should be able to bring kokoro home!!! Kokoro is a Bengal, about four years old, who whether she understands it or not, is coming home to live with me! I know the transition will probably not be easy, as it is hard to place adult cats, especially bengals, in a new environment. I think the both of us are up for the challenge...I just hope the rest of the family is!!!

She sure could use a bath, and a brushing in these photos...but you get the idea! She's georgous!

Not Just Some Other Blog!!

So, after looking at lots of really cool blogs, I've decided to try it myself! I have to be honest, I am not all that computer savvy, and definitely not internet savvy. (Just ask my sister, the QUEEN of all things internet!) So hopefully this turns out to be one of those really cool blogs, instead of just "some other blog".