Happy New Year!! 2014 is here!!!

A new year has dawned!  It's always a great time to reevaluate, to plan, to think about the past year and also think about all of the amazing possibilities that await in the year ahead.  It was a pretty good year!  Lots of challenges, new experiences, and some achievements of which I'm quite proud!

Most folks tend to make grand, sweeping Resolutions...they work really hard at them for a couple of weeks, and then get tired and let them drift away.  My group of friends and colleagues have a different approach.  We make two lists each year, one for Goals for the new year, things that are meaningful and worth pursuing, and another list of Accomplishments from the previous year.  This list is important because it gives us a much-needed pat on the back for the hard work that we did, and that helps give us confidence that we'll be able to reach our new goals.

Here are a few accomplishments from 2013...yes, I'm tooting my own horn a bit. 

1. Tough Mudder:  we took another team to the Tough Mudder in Dripping Springs, Tx.  It was a blast!!!  I love taking first-timers through, helping them through the various challenges, seeing our veterans helping others along as well and having fun.  The course was gorgeous, and it was an absolutely wonderful weekend.

2. Blue belt in BJJ:  I was allowed to participate in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament under my instructor Paul Thomas.  The top two finishers in both gi and no-gi events received their blue belts, and I did well in the no-gi!  There were a lot of matches to get through, and it was big fun!!  I've been very lax in my training in that art since then, but I'm looking forward to picking it up again this year.

3. Scored in majority of lacrosse games played:  I had a blast on the field this year, but then I usually do.  I LOVE playing lacrosse, and I am fortunate to play on a team that has a lot of fun out there, win or lose.

4. CrossFit Games, 2344th in world in my division.  Admittedly, I'm thrilled to finally be in my own age group!!  I did far better in 2013 than 2012, even managing to add 10 reps to one workout that was a repeat from last year.  Progress!!

5. Coached medalists in Kung fu tournaments.  It wasn't just me, I have a fabulous team of assistant instructors that help coach the tournament folks, but I'm still pretty proud of this.  We're starting to gain a bit of a reputation for showing well in the local tournaments...woo hooooo!

6. Completed pt 1 and 2 of KMG training.  This was really fun!!!  Part 1 was 5 days of immersive training, and Part 2 was 9 full days, culminating in a 7 hour comprehensive test.  I got some extremely encouraging feedback after the test...I was very pleased at the comments I received.

7.  10 Year Anniversary at Jade Mountain.  We signed our lease and opened our doors for business on December 1, 2003.  We certainly haven't been the biggest or most successful school out there, but I'm very, very proud of it, and many schools don't last half this long.

Ok, so now we can move on to 2014's Goals.  These are things that mean something to me, and I'll be making step-by-step plans to reach each of them.  Without a plan, the goal never has a chance of being reached.  It's not enough to just 'resolve' to do something, you must go further than that.  So here we go...

1. Relocate JMMA.  Jade Mountain Martial Arts has been in the same location for 10 years now, and our lease is up in November.  We really NEED to move in order to run things the way they should really be run.  We need more floor space, higher ceilings, and a better location.  This goal REALLY excites me!!

2. Promote another Black Sash.  I have only promoted two black sashes in 10 years.  Kung Fu takes awhile, and we're NOT one of those schools that gives you a black belt in a year and a half just because you show up twice a week.  My assistant, Ms. Kathryn, is next in line after years of training, and it won't be long before she's ready to test.

3. Qualify for regionals in CrossFit Games.  I'm stronger and more experienced than last year, so I'm gonna give it my all and see what happens!

4. Complete pt 3, G1 in Krav Maga.  In order to become a full Krav Maga instructor, I need to pass Part 3 of the KMG (Krav Maga Global) General Instructor Course.  I enjoy learning new skills, and this particular art is both effective and exciting.  Integrating those skills into my repertoire has been really fun and I feel better prepared in general, so I look forward to learning even more stuff!

5. Tough Mudder.  We're scheduled to hit another TM in Central Texas in May...I want to take a BUNCH of people this time...just sharing the love of mud!

6. Pay off one of my cars.  I only owe around $3k on one of our cars, and if I make an aggressive plan, I can get that handled sooner, rather than later...then I can get started on the other car!

7. Score in ALL lacrosse games this season.  I have fun no matter what the score might be in our games, but I'd feel better about my contribution to the team if I could put a few more into the goal this season. 

8.  And finally, I'd really like to finish my book.  New electronic publishing options are out there, and if I can just get the story to completion, you might see it available on Amazon.com!  I've been working on this story for around 20 years (not touching it for months, even years at a time), and I think it's time I devoted a bit of effort to it to see where it goes.  

So there you have it.  I don't know if my own goals and accomplishments are of any interest to you, but if seeing mine inspires you to think about your own, then that's great!  I think that 2014 is going to be an amazing year, and I'm going to bust my butt to make it so.  What's your 2014 going to look like?

Saturday night thoughts.

I did a lot of resting today. Classes at Jade Mountain went well, I picked up a few things at HEB, aired up a tire, and since then I've been pretty sedentary. We watched some movies as a family, I did some reading, lots of internet surfing, and even managed some dozing. Oh, and I threw one load of laundry around.

That's about it. Not the most productive day ever.

I don't feel guilty about it at all, though. I need an occasional day like that...even the most beautiful music has rests, and I need lazy days once in a while. Tomorrow will be a bit busier, there's always a giant To Do list nipping at my heels. Maybe we'll hit the Renaissance Festival, though...I'm sure there are a few chores that can wait a day or so.

Not really a lot to say tonight, maybe because it's bedtime. I'm enjoying reading the Pendergast novels by Preston and Child, I'm looking forward to structuring some good workouts this week, blah, blah, blah...nothing major, really. An actor died in a car cash today. I didn't follow him at all, but recognized his face from his movies. Car crash at age 40. Sad. One would think that something like that would make me want to really use my time better, not 'waste' it by having such a lazy day as I have today. However, even though my day was 'lazy', I was very present in it. I chose my actions today, as I always do, and I did exactly what was wanted and needed. I rested and spent time with my family. And it was good.

Tomorrow, might be a super-busy day, or there might be some more 'laziness'. Or maybe even a combination of the two. In any event, I'm thankful for every moment.

Thinking Out Loud and Catching Up A Little

It's already November...wow, the time just flies by these days. When I wrote my last entry, I remember thinking that I was going to start writing more often, but then I went to sleep that night and by the time I awoke, I'd forgotten that plan. I'm writing now because I stumbled across my old buddy Brian's blogs from years ago. With the popularity of Facebook, and our ability to use it to chronicle and share our everyday lives, I haven't found much use for blogs lately, but reading Brian's words made me think. Reading all of Brian's recollections of our visits and adventures pulled up so many memories so clearly, so vividly, that I felt pained by all the fun stuff that I've experienced but never WRITTEN about. Little status updates are fine, and pics are always worth a thousand words...but I LIKE words. They work for me. And blogging like this makes me feel a lot less constrained than that little Status box on Facebook. So maybe I'll find motivation to put more of my life's events on here, as well as on Facebook. You know...for posterity.

Thanksgiving is almost here, and I have lots for which I'm thankful. I'll go into all that at some point. Wow, now that I'm thinking of writing, there's just SO much I want to write about, and it's getting late enough that I can't even really start on anything and complete satisfactorily. Sigh. I'll just have to start checking in here more often.

I lost a dear friend recently. It shocked and saddened me deeply. Like down in my bones deep. I'm still not sure if it has truly sunk in, and truth be told, I don't know that it ever will. Jason Blankenship was more like a brother to me than a friend. I've known Jason since 6th grade, and even if weeks or months went by between conversations, when we talked, it was as though no time had passed at all. He was a unique and amazing guy, truly gifted as both an artist and a scientist. He deserves way more than just a quick paragraph here, so I'll write more on him later. For now, suffice to say that every time I hear Billy Idol, I both smile and feel sad. Miss you, Jason.

Other things on my mind these days...we've got one year left on our lease at Jade Mountain. I want to move us to a better place near the mall. That will require big improvements in several areas, so already working on them. Lacrosse season is two-ish months away, and I've got to get going on my training for all that running. Another Tough Mudder is on the schedule for May 2014, and I'm looking forward to that quite a bit. I managed to get my blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu this past year...that was fun! I've also completed two parts out of three of the General Instructor Course in Krav Mag. That's been even more fun because of the immersive nature of the training.

Lots of things swirling around in my head. I'll see if I can cover a few of them here.

Thanksgiving and mermaids.

Well, today is Thanksgiving, and I have some rare alone time in which I can sit and think. Of course, I've spent much of today thinking about all the things that I'm fortunate to have, including all of the intangibles that one might expect when discussing such things. There was lots of talk on that topic earlier when I was visiting with my wife's family, so of course, many things come to mind. I'm healthy, run my own business (that I love), and have a house and two cars. Oh, and a scooter that I could drive if I needed to. I have a pretty cool wife who is finding herself and has yet to kill me in my sleep, and a son who brings such joy to my heart...most of the time. I have just enough money to get noodles now and then. And two absolutely ridiculous pugs. (Boba loves everyone, BeBe seems to just love me.) I have friends for whom I would lay down my life, as they've been there for me every single time I've needed them. You know who you are. And I'm thankful for the last few years that have ranged from wonderful to extremely challenging. Every step of the way has been a learning opportunity, whether the day was fabulous or just a big kick in the nuts...either way I'm grateful for it all.

That being said, I watched a mock-umentary on mermaids today. It was obviously fiction, but it tweaked my imagination and sent me Googling. The show was on Animal Planet and apparently got enough buzz when it came out that the NOAA actually issued a statement regarding the non-existence of mermaids, saying that there is no definitive evidence of their existence. Just centuries of stories.

Do I think they exist? I don't know. I'm not an oceanographer, nor a historian. But my belief (and since this is my blog, I can write about those anytime I want) is that we haven't discovered EVERYTHING about this world of ours. New scientific discoveries are coming to light every day. Things we once thought completely and utterly impossible are commonplace now, and we are constantly learning more and more about our planet.

The ocean is vast. VAST. We can't even begin to search its deepest reaches, all of its darkened places. Considering that we only just discovered two new species of whales in the last decade (yes, whales...giant marine creatures), could it be possible that a race of mermaids might be out there somewhere, intelligent enough or possessed of peculiar abilities that allow them to evade discovery for so long? Hmmmmm. Even a slim chance is still a chance.

I've always believed in possibilities. I like to think that magic is out there...life is far too amazing, too astonishing at times, to be completely mundane. I wonder if the day will come when suddenly some scientist says, 'Holy crap, the Faerie really do exist!' I'd like to see that day, I really would. And if I should ever stumble across a mermaid, faerie, or elf, I'll count myself extremely, crazily fortunate.

By the way, I saw that I had 3 page views yesterday. Who reads my nonsense?? I'm quite curious, so if you're reading my blog, drop me a line or a comment or something. I mean...you don't HAVE to...but I'd like to say thanks for reading my rantings. I kind of appreciate it.

Just musing.

It's rare that I post here anymore. I generally post things as they happen on my facebook page, pics and comments, the usual, and so I've let this blog sit, unused, for months at a time. I do miss writing, though. It's fun, and helps me impose order on the whirlwind of thoughts that's whooshing through my head at any given time.

I'm 43 now. Wow. When I say that, my thoughts automatically turn towards my physical capabilities and how they compare to what I was what I might have been 20 years ago. I'm fairly pleased, but certainly not satisfied. Aside from that, I think about the fact that I'm inching up on a time when I'll have fewer days ahead of me than behind me. I have no idea when that might be, honestly. My dad lived to be 81 before he finally found a cancer that he couldn't manhandle, so if I were going to only live that long, I'm already on the downhill side. That's a sobering thought, even if I consider that because my lifestyle and habits differ from his, I'll probably hang on a bit longer. I always say that I'm on the 120 year plan because I've just got that much stuff to do.

I think back on the steps I've taken in my life up to this point, the people I've known, things I've done, the places I've been (though I don't travel much), and I think about having an empty slate ahead of me that might be at least as big as the one that holds all of my previous experience. That's one big-ass slate. I've got tons of chalk here, lots of different colors. I've got a stool so that I can reach the highest, far corners of it, and fill that slate with, well, whatever I want. To be honest, the thought of such a vast, pristine board can be a little bit intimidating. But in my finer moments, OH! how wonderful that can be, too!

What do I want that board to look like when I expire? When I look back at the things I've put on that board, what do I want to see? I just had my birthday, and thoughts like this usually come around this time, and I've had many folks ask me if somethings wrong, or am I ok...yes, I am ok. I'm just thinking, and that frown is my thinking face.

Life goes on whether I figure it out or not...it's just up to me to either reach out and make something happen or just drift along, doing the same old-same old.

I must say that I feel something coming. I'm no Sage, or wizard, and I don't pretend to see any future ahead except for goals that I set and pursue, but like the pressure in the air before a storm, I feel a change on the wind. That pressure isn't a bad thing, as storms aren't necessarily bad things at all...a wise teacher once told me that a thing is neither bad nor good, it simply IS. We attach meaning to such things based on our own experience. Well, whatever may be ahead, I think it'll end up a good thing. I plan to make it so, whatever it is. There are a million ways to live a life, and I can only live mine as best I can. So that's what I'll do. And in the end, I'm pretty sure I'll have a pretty interesting slate to look at.

It's been awhile...but I'm back!

Wow...I haven’t blogged since 2009! I’ve been feeling the urge to write again, though, so here I am. Don’t expect just a whole lot...I’m not planning to be terribly profound or insightful. I just like uploading all the junk that rolls around in my head all day. It makes me feel better, and my head rattles less.

It’s lacrosse season again, and I’m beside myself with glee. I love playing the game. The combination of rough stuff and skill is just fantastic to me, and I can’t get enough of it. And this year, my fabulous son Connor is playing as well! It’s been suggested many times that playing a team sport would be great for him in terms of improving his fitness and his interactions with other kids. He’s been on the swim team, but even though swimming is a team event, it still boils down to individual performance. Lacrosse is definitely more of a team effort, and to Connor, it’s much more like video game combat!

Although I’ve played for over 20 years, it’s Connor’s first year to play. When he first walked on the field in Pearland for lacrosse camp, he knew about as much about lacrosse as I know about nuclear physics. Thanks to Steve Mathiason for holding that camp, and getting him started! He now knows which end of the stick to use and how to catch and throw. Kind of. But he’s excited!!! And as long as he’s out there having fun and doing his best, I’m thrilled beyond words.

Connor now plays on the 4U (4th grade and under) Squad of the Katy Cavaliers. Although he missed his first game because we were at the Tough Mudder, he’s been hustling out there to play his guts out each weekend. He’s learning as he goes, and the coaches have been very patient with him (Connor picks up some things instinctively, but lacrosse is not one of those things) and have helped point him in the right direction as necessary. Often repeatedly. During his second game on Sunday, he scooped up the ball and raced down the field to the whoops and hollers of the fans...in the wrong direction. Thank goodness he tripped! However, he later picked up another loose ball and proceeded to dodge his way up the field (in the right direction this time) by using a couple of spin moves that looked an awful lot like my own. He gets better each game, and he’s always smiling and talking a mile a minute about the game on the way home. Makes my heart stretch seeing him like that.

My own team, Bayou City Lacrosse Club, finally won a game on Saturday night. We played a new team, the Pearland Panthers. We are used to playing with only 10 players (which means no substitutes). This team was in a similar position, plus some of their players were new to the sport. They were pretty wrung out by the third quarter, while we were still cruising along at our usual speed. Gotta hand it to ‘em, they played with everything they had, and I look forward to seeing them improve in the future. I had a pretty good game, three goals, two pinwheels (knocking an opponent’s stick from his hands, making it spin like a pinwheel) and a whole bunch of shots that missed because the goalie was apparently using the Force to deflect the ball. I even won a handful of faceoffs, not so much due to my amazing faceoff technique but because I was just sneaky enough to know when to kick the ball out to where I could scoop it.

I’m 42 now...happily, I’m still able to play and have fun out there. Last year, I became certified as a CrossFit Level 1 coach, and training that way has made a major difference in my fitness level in every area. It has made my lacrosse playing a lot more effective, and I’m having an absolute blast out on the field.

Currently, I’m competing (ok, I’m using that term loosely) in the CrossFit Games Open competition. For 5 weeks, a new workout will be posted online, and competitors do the workout as best they can and post the results. We’re two weeks in, and I’m in 1844th in our region, and 23,472nd place in the world. I have no illusions in regards to my chances of being in the top 60 in my region...there are too many younger, stronger guys out there. Even so, I look forward to the posting my results to the leaderboard every week, finding what exercises work best for me and which ones I need to improve, and giving my all during each and every workout. I have my reasons for persisting in the face of rather unlikely odds.

It’s been said that it’s not what you get when you reach your goal that’s important, it’s what you become. I know that I’m making physical progress, but more importantly, by working through this competition, I’m gaining experience and knowledge that I can pass on to my students. Being a good teacher and setting a good example are important to me, and I feel that this is helpful in that regard. Plus...it’s really big fun!!! I plan to keep at it until the end, and see in what place I end up on the leaderboard. Then I can start getting ready for next year!

There’s a lot going on...we just finished competing in a tournament where all of our students medaled and I performed (with Mark’s help) in the Master’s Demo. We took a big team to the Tough Mudder and had a blast...wow, that was fun. There’s a kettlebell certification coming up at the end of the month for Kathryn and Richard, and I’m going along as a refresher. I’m slowly outfitting my school to resemble a CrossFit gym...in general, I’m staying busy and trying to move forward.

I’ve rambled a bit here...forgive me for that, I’m a bit rusty. Hopefully, I’ll be more amusing, more inspiring, or more informative, as I get used to writing again.
Have a great day...and find a way to challenge yourself today.

...and another lacrosse season comes to an end.

I've been looking forward to this particular Saturday for quite some time...it's Gulf Coast Lacrosse Association's playoff weekend. My team, Bayou City, was scheduled to play at 11am against Beaumont, and again at 3pm against one team or other depending on the results of their first games. I've been working out, running, and woke up this morning with the intention of doing everything in my power to help us win our games.

I actually showed up a half-hour early for the first game, and found our field immediately. Several of my teammates were already there, and were patiently waiting for things to get going. I joined them, and we started throwing around and chatting like we always do. We were waiting for the team from Beaumont to arrive.

We waited...and waited...and...waited. They never showed. Steve (referee and head of the league) called several times, to no avail. They had left on time, but it was surmised that they had probably gotten lost during the trip. They were a no show.

We won that game.

Upon discussing the situation, we found that if we beat our arch-rivals(Northwest) in the afternoon, then on Sunday, we would be playing for the championship against one of two teams that we already KNEW we could beat! Not only that, but we were fresh and ready for the afternoon game!!! So we went to Hooters to have some lunch and further discuss the situation. I didn't know that there's a channel called ESPNU which is devoted to college sports, but apparently there is...and Hooters has it. So we talked about playing lacrosse while we watched the Loyola vs Johns Hopkins lacrosse game, and prepared to play a lacrosse game in a couple of hours...we were in lacrosse heaven.

We came back to the fields after lunch and watched the end of the Space City/Southside game. The thought of beating Northwest and moving on to the finals excited all of us, and I know that I was amped up and ready to rock and roll. I couldn't sit still, so I ended up hanging around the endline and retrieving errant shots and out of bounds passes for the game in progress.

Finally, it was time for our game, and we were ready for action. The game started with a bang...NW won the faceoff, sprinted downfield and promptly scored the first goal.

Fine.

On the next play, our faceoff man, Peter K., flipped the ball to me, I hauled my big butt upfield and...I scored!! I was so excited that I did a tornado kick afterwards. Sorry. Couldn't be helped.

After that, it kind of went downhill. All of us did the best we could, but there were lots of little things that did us in. A missed scoop here, a dropped pass there, that sort of thing. The score slowly started to slide in the wrong direction, and we just couldn't...get it...back.

There were a couple of notable moments...one of our guys (who shall remain nameless) ended up with a totally split pair of shorts. He managed to get the ball after scuffling with one of their guys, and as he looked upfield to pass it, his shorts dropped around his ankles. Apparently, one of the opposing players had hooked his fingers in there somehow and ripped them quite effectively down the back. Fortunately for us all, he had athletic tights on underneath, and we let him borrow another pair of shorts.

Tom, the fantastic Green Goalie, stopped an awful lot of shots today...my hat's off to him, as always. And Peter K was a faceoff machine!! I swear, I don't know how he doesn't break his darned stick every time. All the guys busted their butts out there, though...everyone gave it everything they had.

I had a couple of...well, interesting moments. Once, I managed to get the ball, under pressure, and sprinted towards the offensive side of the field while the opposing team decided to use me as a pinata. For a nearly-40-year-old guy, I can actually run pretty fast. Especially when guys are trying to beat the crap out of me with sticks. I managed to evade most of them, but finally had one spin move too many, and my pass to a teammate went awry. Fortunately, one of the guys had apparently slashed (used an illegal check) on me during my run, so we got the ball back anyway.

No one that I hit today actually fell down. That was truly disappointing and a bit unusual. Wait, one guy stumbled and went to a knee, so maybe that counts. I did do some good here and there on defense...I'm usually fast enough to get into position to play solid defense, and sometimes just being in the way of the guy with the ball is enough. Other times, I just beat on the guy until he drops the ball. I really love doing that.

By the time the game ended, we were down 17-7. I hated hearing that last whistle blow. It meant that we won't take the field again for about 9 months. 9 looooong months. I am far from the best player on the team...oh, waaaaay far from it. But the fact is that I love to play. I just really love to be a part of my team, to get out there and play a rough, fast-paced game, to feel like I've given everything my body has in it so that I don't let my teammates down.

Guys, next year's coming...and we're going to kick some major butt. Go Green!

Bunch of Survey Stuff

TEN HOW'S:

How did you get one of your scars?
I set myself on fire as a toddler. What a happy way to start today's survey!

How did you celebrate your last birthday?
Relaxing at home and handing out candy to Trick-or-Treaters.

How are you feeling at this moment?
Happy, relaxed, and full of pasta.

How did your night go last night?
Class was fantastic, and I got a bit more sleep than usual.

How did you do in high school?
Pretty well, in fact. I think I was 23rd in my class.

How did you get the shirt you're wearing?
It's one of my official Jade Mountain t-shirts.

How often do you see ur best friend?
I see one every day, and the other only a handful of times a year.

How much money did you spend last month?
Enough to keep my business and home afloat for another month.

How old do you want to be when you get married?
Married more than 10 years.

How old will you be at your next birthday?
I'm proud to say that I'll be 40 years old. I'm predicting that I'll be in the best shape of my life.


NINE WHAT'S:

Your mothers name?
Mary Lou

What did you do last weekend?
Saturday: I taught Tai Chi and Kung Fu in the morning and watched the UFC with friends and family that night.
Sunday: Slept late, ate doughnuts, watched all three Matrix movies, and washed laundry.

What is the most important part of your life?
My actual family and then my Jade Mountain family.

What would you rather be doing?
Heck, I'm pretty happy. Family, job, all that's fine. Right now, I'm chilling at home and watching Deadliest Warriors. Life is good, and getting better all the time.

What did you last cry over?
Ah heck, I probably cried at some movie.

What always makes you feel better when you’re upset?
I have a Happy Songs playlist that never fails.

What’s the most important thing you look for in a significant other?
There's a rather massive list of requirements, but it helps that she adores me.

What are you worried about?
Generally, just keeping my business rolling along.

What did you have for breakfast?
A fantastic omelette and a NOS energy drink. I think that NOS is actually friggin' rocket fuel.

EIGHT HAVE YOU’S:

Have you ever liked someone who had a girlfriend/boyfriend?
Sure.

Have you ever had your heartbroken?
Not for a long time, but I remember the pain like it was yesterday.

Have you ever been out of the country?
Waddled across the Rio Grande to Reynosa, Mexico a few times.

Have you ever done something outrageously dumb?
um, have you ever actually met me?

Have you ever been back stabbed by a friend?
Hmmmm....not exactly.

Have you ever had sex on the beach?
Yes.

Have you ever dated someone younger than you?
Yes.

Have you ever read an entire book in one day?
Oh, certainly. I'm a very fast reader.

SEVEN WHO’S:

Who was the last person you saw?
The last person I saw who's not currently in view was Larry.

Who was the last person you texted?
That would be the texting machine, BB.

Who was the last person you hung out with?
Outside of my family, we had a UFC party, and hung out with Mark, Kathryn, and Tom.

Who was the last person to call you?
My Mom.

Who did you last hug?
My son.

Who is the last person who texted you?
BB.

Who was the last person you said "i love you" to?
My son.


SIX WHERE’S:

Where does your best friend live?
Katy, and Ft. Worth

Where did you last go?
Jade Mountain Martial Arts

Where did you last hang out?
Here at home.

Where do you go to school?
I've long since graduated.

Where is your favorite place to be?
with my family & friends.

Where did you sleep last night?
In my bed.

FIVE DO’S/DOES:

Do you like someone right now?
Oh, yes.

Do you think anyone likes you?
I'm certain of it.

Do you ever wish you were someone else?
And leave this body to someone else? No way. I'm finally used to it!

Do you know the muffin man?
OK, this is a useless question. I don't even like muffins.

Does the future scare you?
Nope..the future's so bright, I've gotta wear shades.

FOUR WHY’S:

Why are you best friends with your best friend(s)?
Because I trust and love them.

Why did you get a Myspace/Facebook?
Because I really enjoy catching up with old friends and staying in touch with current ones.

Why did your parents give you the name you have?
It's a family name.

Why are you doing this survey?
I’m just relaxin, so i thought I would do something relatively mindless, haha


THREE IF’S:

If you could have one super power what would it be??
Telekinesis. Used properly, I bet I could use it to fly! Or at least hover.

If you could go back in time and change one thing, would you?
Tough question...there are things I'd like to change, yes, but NO WAY would I want to bring about a change in the present.

If u were stranded on a deserted island & could bring 1 thing what would you bring?
A friggin' satellite phone.

TWO WOULD-YOU-EVER’S:

Would you ever get back together with any of your ex’s if they asked you?
Sorry ladies...not that I have just a whole lot of ex's, but no.

Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love?
Are you kidding? Wouldn't even bat an eye. Hand me the clippers.

ONE LAST QUESTION

Are you happy with your life right now?
Hard to believe, but even happier than usual lately.

Another Little Survey

If you were in the hospital on life support, would the last person you kissed come to see you?
Wow, what a first question for a silly survey! Yes, he would…he’s my son.

Have you ever tried to break someone up?
Only if one of the folks involved was in physical danger.

Have you ever been called a prince/princess?
Hmmm…no…but a very kind person once told me that I was a ‘mensch’, or ‘a king among men’. It meant so much to me at that time that I’ve spent years trying to be worthy of such a title.

When was the last time you slept at someone else's house?
I’m sure someone will correct me on this one, but it’s probably BB’s place when I came up to visit for a tournament.

Are you a bad influence?
I’m a martial arts teacher…I try to be a good influence.

When was the last time you went shopping?
Um….I bought groceries last night…does that count?

What do you normally do when you've had a really bad day?
I have a Happy Songs playlist that almost never fails. If that doesn’t work, then it’s time for the big guns…it’s chocolate cake with chocolate syrup and whipped cream, baby.

Is your cell phone fully charged?
I keep it fully charged. Hate when it dies on me.

Would you ever get a tattoo?
Still trying to figure out what I’d want on my body permanently.

Will your next kiss be a mistake?
Nope.

Do you think making out is slutty?
It depends…if you know each others full legal names, then that’s a good start.

Are you currently wearing any perfume or cologne?
Yup. Avatar. It’s inexpensive, but I like it.

Have you ever seen the last person you texted naked?
Nope.

Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
Oh, yes….no matter whether they last forever, or for a short while, there’s always an opportunity to learn something, and have wonderful experiences.

What's something you say when you are shocked?
“What the monkey?!”

When was the last time you laughed?
About 3 minutes ago…a Jack in the Box commercial struck me as funny.

Are you afraid of the dark?
Nope. I’ve already kicked the crap out of the Boogeyman, so I’m good.

Ever turned anyone down you shouldn't have?
Oh, there were missed opportunities of all types back in the day, sure.

What is something you disliked about your day?
Nothing, really…it was a pretty kickin’ day!

Did you wake up in the middle of the night last night?
No, that’s when I generally go to sleep.

What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Watching the finale of BSG.

How do you feel about the person who texted you last?
Absolutely fantastic.

Last thing you purchased?
A Subway sandwich.

Where did your last hug take place?
…at the Houston Swim Club when my son came out of his lesson.

Do you have curly hair?
Nope. It’s pretty straight.

Have you ever told someone you were in love with them?
Oh, certainly.

What's a difference between you and the last person you kissed?
My son is shorter than I am, and he’s only 7.

Do you think there's always room in your heart for your first love?
Sure. We haven’t spoken in many years, and by now, our lives have taken us in different directions, but she was a sweetheart when I knew her. Not that we’d ever date again, mind you.

Is there something you are waiting on?
The last home game of lacrosse season is this Saturday. I’m quite thrilled about it, but I’ll be sad when it’s over.

Do you want to get married & have children one day?
Already there.

Do you wish on 11:11?
My son was born on 11/11/01 at exactly 11:01pm. I already got my wish.

Are you in a good mood right now?
Oh, yes...it’s my one weeknight off, I had a great day, and we’re going to watch a hopefully cool movie later. And there might be cake.

Who was the last person who left your life and hurt you?
…I kind of kicked someone out of mine…does that count?

You walk in on your boyfriend/girlfriend kissing your very best friend, what do you say to them?
I’d probably warn BB or LDE that my wife is too much for them to handle.

Did you make anything to eat today?
Wow….I just realized that I didn’t make anything for myself. Usually, I at least make myself an omelette every morning.

Do you do chores around your house?
Oh, sure. Got pics to prove it. Laundry, dishes, you name it.

How are you at work/school?
I’m just friggin’ a-may-zing.

What do you hear right now?
The TV, and my family discussing the show.

What do you watch at night before you go to sleep?
Pretty much whatever the DVR caught for us that night.

What do you drink the most of?
Water. And yes, I do love orange Monster. Currently trying out Blue and Purple as well.

Do you have any pets?
1 absolutely ridiculous pug, Boba. Or ‘Dummy’, as I call him.

Where are your parents?
Mom’s probably at her house in Indiana, and Dad’s wherever good people go when they pass on. And he’s probably bowling.

Who last called you?
My son’s Elementary School’s automated announcement service.

Are you easily angered?
Not really, but my few remaining buttons, if pushed, can yield rather intense results.

Are you sarcastic?
Me? Noooooo.

Do you miss anyone?
Oh, yes I do.

If you had to get with a famous person, who would it be?
Look, I’ve already told Kelly Clarkson that I’m not available…can I help it if she’s obsessed with me?

Last time you laughed really hard?
There was a Weight Watcher’s commercial last night that had me rolling on the floor laughing.

Are you wearing socks?
Lemme check….yep.

What is on your wrists right now?
Nothing…no watch or anything.

Where did you get the shirt/sweatshirt youre wearing?
It’s one of my official Jade Mountain t-shirts.

Do you wear eyeliner?
Only when I’m performing in a hair band.

What are you doing after this?
Probably go out to dinner.

How tall are you?
5'-8 ¼”
197lbs
Dk Brown hair
Hazel eyes
And that’s all the info you get without buying me dinner.

Are you a loud person?
Um…yes, I can be. Drum Major in high school, and all that.

Does it matter to you if your bf/gf smokes?
Yes, very much. I am a non-smoker who has suffered from asthma my whole life, so smoking makes no sense to me at all.

Who was that last person you had a phone call longer than 7 minutes?
Almost ALL of my phone calls are longer than 7 minutes…have you ever talked to me on the phone?

Would you ever dye your hair blonde?
Come on, I’d look friggin’ ridiculous with blonde hair.

At the moment are you more warm or cold?
I am perfectly comfortable…maybe on the cool side.

Where were you last night?
At home, on the couch, with my feet on my favorite ottoman.

Last non-alcoholic beverage consumed?
I had me a Monster!!

Do you currently have a hickey?
Nope.

Does the last person who put their arm around you mean anything to you?
Of course, my son is everything to me.

Are you high?
Didn’t I address the height issue earlier on here?

Who did you last say I love you to?
Wife and son.

Change of State

Funny how things work sometimes. Today has been gorgeous...beautiful weather. Blue skies, gentle breezes, very nice. I got an early start this morning (after an admittedly short night's sleep, though) and headed up to my school to take care of administrative stuff. In other words, taxes. I spent a few hours building a spreadsheet of income and expenses and the like. When I tired of that, I took a stroll down memory lane by scanning tons of old pics and putting them up on Facebook. Afternoon rolled around and I enjoyed a Subway sandwich, and a nice drive back to the house, listening to some of my new favorite music.

And things went downhill rapidly from there. Today was apparently Connor's day to give me attitude. Not a good idea. He also had a clothing issue that made it impossible to go to his swimming lesson. Also not good. By the time I had him wrangled and sorted out, and dropped him off at his Grandmother's house so that I could go to my school for the evening's classes, I was dragging, big-time. The lack of sleep, combined with the stress of the afternoon, was quickly doing me in.

I made it to Jade Mountain, where Sifu Larry had already begun his Krav Maga class. the music is always fun in there, but did little to perk me up. I dropped my canvas bag behind the display case, and shuffled doggedly around as I figured out how I was going to get through the night's classes. I had picked up the Monster I had bought (number 2 for the day), and turned to walk into the back office again when my foot got caught in the strap of my canvas bag, and I pitched headfirst towards the wall.

The resultant gymnastics would make the ninjas envious.

I ended up flat on my back, half in and half out of the office, staring at the ceiling. It must be noted that I did NOT spill my Monster. I'd score the routine at a 9.875 at least.

That's when the laughing started...and I thanked the universe for helping me to change my sorry state this evening. That stumble was a gift, a very timely gift that reminded me of the fact that sometimes, you just need to laugh it off, get up off the floor, and have a good time. My evening's going to go just fine.

Substitutes? Who Needs Substitutes? We are IRON MEN!!

Lacrosse season's almost over. We had a fun game against Metro last weekend, even though we played Iron Man again. Thanks to Metro for letting us borrow one of their guys later in the game, who scored his first goal that day. Our guys did a much better job of moving the ball around, playing smart, and not getting completely exhausted in the first half, so we were generally pleased, in spite of the loss.

You know, I love this game. It's not as popular a game around here as football, or baseball, yes, I know that. But I love it. It requires skill, teamwork, and athleticism, and it's a rough sport. Can't get enough of it.

I'll be 40 this year. I'm not quite as fast as I was when I was 20, this is true. Stuff hurts for a bit longer after each game. But that doesn't matter...I'm planning to play this game until they won't let me on the field anymore.

Although our small turnout has been a bit disappointing, we'll play any team they put in front of us. We are Bayou City, the Big Green, and we're not backing down from anyone. And I don't care how many players show up...I'll play shorthanded if necessary...just so I can play.

Our fabulous Green Goalie sent out an email this morning, trying to get more of our players to carve out a bit of time next Saturday and come out to play. It unexpectedly moved me, and he said I could reprint it here:

Just wanted to say I had a ton of fun against Metro.
I think I got hit in the head 3 times but I can only remember two.
I got hit a bunch which at least means I was not ducking.
I missed the game before so I was psyched to be playing.
I really love playing.
Think about it. One day we ain't gonna play no more and that's gonna suck.
One day our bodies will forsake us.
Our sticks will hang dusty in some attic corner.
We will tell our stories to people that weren't there and don't care.
And we will never know the joy of the fight on a clear spring day in the cherished company of our teammates ever again.
And we will wish we could play just one more time.



Thanks for sending this one out, Tom. Now, I'm even going to show up early for that game.

Fred Sanford walkin', A Party, and Dance

Saturday started as it usually does...with a Tai Chi class and a Kung Fu class. Afterwards, I hustled home to change, and was then off to Bush Park for another lacrosse game. We had previously beaten our opponents of the day, the Southside Predators, and were hoping for a repeat of that performance.

It became apparent early on that it was going to be a looooong game. We only had 10 people. A good team needs at least a handful of substitutes on the sidelines to give the players an occasional rest...but there just weren't any. We had to play Iron Man, as we call it, where everyone plays on field for the entire game. If you've never seen a lacrosse game, you should know that there's a lot of running involved. And fighting with sticks. And more running. So playing Iron Man is a challenge, to say the least.

Tom, otherwise known as Green Goalie, had managed to injure himself at another sporting endeavor, leaving us without a trained goalie for the day. Our valiant team captain, Lee Shelton, donned the pads, grabbed the giant fishnet that we call a goalie stick, and headed resolutely towards the goal to take his place.

"Guys, I'm telling you right now that I'm going to be cheating quite a bit during the game today...but none of it is intentional," Lee told the refs before the game. He was totally serious, too. Hey, when you have to play a position you don't usually play...stuff happens. The refs laughed and promised to keep an eye on him.

Here's the short report of my own, personal performance. As if you've been waiting for it with baited breath, of course. Hey, it's my blog, and I'll write what I want...so there. Anyway, here we go:

I got nailed once and hit the ground flat on my back. I'm not sure when or why, exactly.

I tried to hit one guy, but got the angle wrong, and ended up doing a diving roll to get back to my feet. When I stood up, I promptly turned and swatted the guy I'd bumped, only to hear him say, 'Uh...the ball is over there now. Sorry.' Crap.

I took several shots at the goal that had absolutely no chance of scoring whatsoever. My 'Bugs Bunny Slowball' approach only works once in a while, it seems.

And I got completely burned by a guy who was racing towards our goal. I should have just plowed into him, but foolishly tried to knock the ball out of his stick instead. He dodged, shot, and scored. Double-crap.

On the good side, I knocked two of the opposing players completely off their feet. One of those was floored by a two-fisted punch to the shoulder. I felt like a Spartan there for a second.

Our faceoff man for the day, the fabulous Todd, just wasn't having any luck at all that day. His opponents were just too quick, or had an awesome technique, or some such. During the beginning of the 3rd quarter, I asked for a chance, and he gladly let me take the face. Would you believe that I started winning all the faceoffs? That was fun!! I'm not quite 5'-9" and a solid 195 lbs, so if I suddenly decide to bowl you over when the whistle blows, it can come as an unpleasant surprise...which it did for #5. Once they got used to that, I tried something else, and it worked too. It was a great feeling to contribute, let me tell you.

Checking an opposing players stick in such a way that it spins out of his hand, thus effectively dislodging the ball, is called 'pinwheeling'. Got me one of those, too.

In the end, they just plain outmanned us. We played our guts out, but couldn't catch them once they pulled ahead. Even so, we had a ton of fun, and are already looking forward to next Sunday's game against Metro.

Now if you're thinking that I'm bragging about my amazing athletic prowess, let me tell you about the rest of the afternoon. Ever watch Sanford and Son? Red Foxx's character, Fred Sanford, had a kind of wobbling walk that was quite distinctive. Once I had cooled off from the game, driven home, and then managed to extract myself from the car, I spent the rest of the day wobbling just...like...that. Nothing worked quite right until Sunday morning. And it was quite a silly sight to see. Yeah...some tough guy.

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Today's Sunday, and I've recovered. We managed some serious house cleaning because we had a little surprise brewing...my dear friend Larry's birthday is Monday, and we were planning a party for him. We all thought that I'd give it away, but it went off without a hitch, and the gang showed up at 5, ready to have some fun. He seemed pleased with the party, and with the sword we gave him, and we all had a blast laughing at a couple of our favorite movies. Sometimes, the movie is funny by itself, and other times, our commentary was far funnier than anything on screen. So Happy Birthday, Larry!

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I was reminded today of how much I love...well...dance. Ever since I started watching 'So You Think You Can Dance', I gained a new appreciation for the deep and powerful emotional beauty of certain styles of dance. I've mentioned this before in a previous note, so I won't really get into it again, but my feelings are the same...I'm moved quite deeply by certain combinations of dance and music. Some things really seem to get inside me, dig deep into my heart, and I just love that. I often can't explain what emotions swell within me when I watch this stuff, but it feels absolutely wonderful.

Here are a couple for your viewing pleasure:





And my All-Time Favorite, the top 10 from season 3 dancing a contemporary piece choreographed by Mia Michaels. I've posted this before, but it was removed. I'm hoping that this clip doesn't get yanked, because I. LOVE. IT.

The Moment I Said It


Have a fabulous week, everyone. And take a moment here and there to let some beauty into your life. It'll be good for you.

Aftermath of the Wreck

It was quite sudden. The weather had been really, really bad when we went to pick up Connor from school...raining hard, a bit windy. It slackened a bit as we escorted him (under our umbrellas) across the street to our Honda. As we headed towards Connor's swim lesson, we debated about whether we should even go. I had been feeling broody and melancholy for most of the day, and really thought that maybe we should just stay home for once. As we rolled past the Junior High, a white SUV pulled out of that school and over into our lane, almost hitting us.

We honked, they swerved, and everyone was fine. I thought "See...maybe we really should stay home today." But the weather was still clearing up, still raining but not nearly as badly as before, so we decided to continue onward.

As it turns out, this was a colossal mistake.

We turned down a busy road, between the local Sam's Club and Best Buy, and were only a couple of blocks away from our destination...when a young fellow and his girlfriend made a left turn directly into our path. No time to dodge, no time to swerve, only time to stomp on the brakes as hard as humanly possible and hope for the best for about 1/4th of second.

You know, I can't even recall exactly what the impact sounded like. I search my memory, and there's just a blank where that sound should be. Hm. I remember that I had actually pushed up out of the seat with both hands (I wasn't driving) and was somehow holding my legs up towards the dashboard in some kind of crazy attempt to brace myself. Yes, I realize the foolishness of such acrobatics, but I didn't have time for a more well-thought out plan of action.

We hit them directly in the side of their vehicle. The jeep rode higher than our Honda, so we hit them in the lower part of the car, which probably saved the passenger's life. We slammed to a stop, and they swerved out and away from us from the force of the impact.

I looked around and checked on everyone...I was ok so far, Connor was already squawking in the back seat "We had a wreck...and we SURVIVED!!" so I knew that he was probably OK, and Christina was shocked and wide-eyed but otherwise seemed fine as well. It took a few seconds to regain my bearings, and then I figured I needed to check on the other guys. I could see that the girl in the passenger seat was crying, and the driver, a young guy in his late teens or early 20's, had come out to check on us as well. So far, so good...no major injuries. Connor somehow slammed his face into the padded back of Christina's seat, but didn't even get a bloody nose for his trouble, and we had nothing to speak of.

So then began the process of calling the police, exchanging insurance information in the rain, watching all the tow-truck drivers flooding the area (really, it was like we were bleeding in the water during shark season) and then finally realizing that we needed to get out of the car and find a safer place to wait.

Connor had somehow changed into his swimsuit in the backseat after the wreck. Whether this was his way of dealing with the sudden shock, or he just thought that we'd still be getting him to swim class on time, I'll never know. But we walked over to sit in one of the tow trucks until everything was sorted out. When he finally saw how badly the Honda had been damaged (honestly, the pics don't do it justice...the front end looks about a foot shorter than I remember), he broke down and cried. Hard. 10 minutes later he was tugging my sleeve. 'Dad...I have to pee!' Pretty resilient, that one. He's playing video games with his mother now. All good.

The young driver was very apologetic and quickly asserted that the wreck was his fault. 'I wasn't paying attention...I didn't even see you guys, I'm sorry.' He cooperated fully with us and with the police, and I don't harbor any ill will towards the guy. I've been on that end of an accident, and if he's anything that resembles a decent human being inside, he's thinking that life absolutely sucks right now. He could have killed us. And he knows it. Some of the tow truck drivers loudly voiced their opinions that he should be clapped in irons and hauled away by the police, but hey, stuff happens. Looks like it was just our turn today.

Officer Terry Thurman, future Harris County Constable and a member of our fabulous Jade Mountain team, was kind enough to come right out and make sure that everyone handled everything properly, and then he drove us home. The other drivers insurance will be taking care of everything.

The fact that we're all OK (and so are the other guys) has made this a lot easier to handle. I'm disappointed, sure, but so very glad that everyone's alive and well. No one's in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, and no one's dead. In light of that fact, I just don't care about the car. A car is just a thing. It has no soul, no life, no spirit. Heck, I can RUN to work if need be...my school's only 5 miles from home, and I could use that as additional conditioning. Or I could ride Dad's scooter. Not in the rain, though, not in the rain.

But the lives of my family are worth a million cars. A billion. I'd walk my feet bloody before I'd spare any emotions for a car over them. So tonight, we we're going to sit at home and be grateful for the days we have together. And we're going to bed early...I think we all could use some rest after such an eventful day.

Here are the pics we've got so far...this is the side of the Jeep.



Not a whole lot of damage there. Oh, the rear window of the Jeep was shattered as well, but that was it. Sorry for the blur, but there was a drop of water on my phone's camera lens, and I didn't know it.

Here's a few shots of the Honda.



Again with the blur...these are NOT action shots. Here's a closer shot of the front end of the car. I'm upgrading my phone tomorrow, by the way. Maybe then I can take decent pics for a change.



And here it is, loaded onto the tow-truck, headed to wherever totaled cars go to die.

Modern Art.

One of the exhibits that we viewed while we visited the museum in Dallas had several rather...interesting...pieces. For instance, there was a long cable hanging from the ceiling, and at its end was a black electric fan. It was set on 'High', and it blew merrily around in lazy circles. Nothing more. Just a fan, blowing around over our heads.

One room could only be accessed through a long, prismatic tunnel, made of triangular panels of reflective plexiglas. I enjoyed the play of lights and colors in the tunnel...everything was quite pretty. A bright yellow glow seeped into the end of the tunnel, and as we stepped into the room, it was like stepping onto another planet. The room was empty, save for the yellow incandescent lights in the ceiling.

It was the oddest thing...in that bright yellow illumination, all other colors were rendered in black and white. Wow. After getting accustomed to the room, the yellow tint seemed to disappear, and we all looked like players in a silent movie. Very interesting.

The next room was a circular, translucent plexiglas enclosure. I figured that it was another play on light, and I was correct. When we walked in, everything looked normal. The enclosure was white. Slowly, it shifted to pink...and then red. Just as I got accustomed to the red, it shifted into green. Everyone was The Hulk! It continued to shift to other colors. That was just a bit too much for me...it made me quite queasy, so I had to make a break for it. The museum security guard smiled and chuckled at me as I wobbled by. Apparently, she had seen this reaction before.

There were other pieces, including a series of identical squares that were different colors. Ever see something and think, 'Heck, I could do that!'? I had one of those moments looking at those different colored squares. I know that many of the pieces were supposed to evoke emotions in the viewers, and that different viewers are affected differently. Where some would be inspired, or joyful, others might be repulsed, fearful, or even completely unaffected. I like that about art. Not only is every piece of art an individual expression of emotion, intent, and magic from within an artist, but it can bring out emotions that the viewer did not know were there, an infinite number of different responses, thoughts, and feelings.

Once, in my distant past, I thought I would take up oil painting. I'd been watching Bob Ross on his show 'Joy of Painting', and he made it look sooooooooo EASY!!! I taped one of his shows that showed a painting that I thought I could manage, and made a list of supplies. The Hobby House, unfortunately, did not have the first necessity, "Liquid White". You're supposed to cover the canvas with it before you start. Apparently, this makes all the other paints act the way that they're supposed to...the way that they do on Bob's show. More or less, anyway. I bought what I thought was a decent substitute, but it did not work. At all. I thought I could hear Bob Ross laughing at me the whole time. I did the best I could, but wow, what an absolute failure that was! Even so, the process was a lot of fun.

I'm thinking that I'd like to try it again. I don't have any ambitions about being in a museum someday...that would be ridiculous. I don't know that I would be attempting to express some inner emotion, either. At the very least, though, I would like to produce a pretty scene on canvas. I'll keep you posted.

Uh oh...he's learned to use the camera-phone.

My wife has been ill for the last few days with a nasty case of chest congestion and coughing. This had led to some sleepless nights for both of us, but more so for her. Today, she slept in while I went to teach classes at my school. After I had finished, I called to check in and was surprised when my son answered the phone.

We talked for a few minutes, and he let me know that she was still sleeping peacefully in the bedroom. I told him where I was, and that I'd be back soon.

Later on, my phone rang, and I saw that it was my wife. She must have awakened..or so I thought. The little crank had figured out how to call me back on her phone. This involves a rather involved 'unlocking' process to get the virtual buttons to work on the phone, but he figured it out. Smart little fellow, that one.

When I arrived at home, he came out to meet me. He proudly informed me that he had just sent me some pictures.

"No, I didn't see that you sent anything..." and at that moment, my phone buzzed. Here are the results.



And my personal favorite...



Have a great Saturday!

Old stuff and old paintings

It was a short trip, barely 30 hours total, but it was a good one. It was actually made a bit shorter by my tendency to doze off in mid-sentence whenever I'm a passenger on a long car ride, but I tried to stay awake.

We left Katy on Wednesday afternoon, piled into Mom-in-law's Prius, and headed off to Dallas to visit the King Tut exhibit at the museum and to visit Ann Margaret, a long-time family friend of Christina's family. The weather was beautiful, the ride was nice and smooth, and it was quite enjoyable.

However, we discovered upon arrival that it's important to have the correct address when searching for directions on Google Maps. If you don't have the right address, then you'll end up in the wrong place. Imagine that! However, we weren't terribly far off, so the delay was minimal. Ann's house was in a stately and elegant part of Dallas, and it was just gorgeous. It was great to hang out with her, even during the short time we were there, and then we all went straight to bed.

The next morning dawned bright and clear. We loaded up the car again and made our way towards the museum. The directions were correct this time, and we found the place with little fuss. Parking was a breeze, and we got in line as instructed. We opted to watch the movie about the exhibit first, rather than afterwards. It was the first time I've seen a 3D movie that really worked! It was pretty cool.

There were well over a hundred pieces in the exhibit, many of which had never been seen in the exhibit before. The artistry was amazing...some of the items were so incredibly intricate in their design, I couldn't imagine how long it had taken their craftsmen to create. One piece that stood out was the yellow glass scarab. The carved scarab was the centerpiece on one of King Tut's ornate chest-pieces. Apparently, the glass had not been created by human hands, but by an ancient meteorite strike in the Sahara desert instead, and it seems to glow with a faint inner light. The glass itself was many thousands of years older than the Egyptian culture. Coooooool.



One thing I never knew was the fact that Tut's actual mummy was protected by series of nesting boxes and sarcophagi. I can only imagine what it must have been like to stumble upon that magnificent tomb, filled with all of its treasures and links to the distant past. Wow.

Here we are in front of the exhibit banner:



And here's Connor being...well...Connor.



As much as I might enjoy seeing antiquities and great art, I'm not one who enjoys walking around aimlessly, hoping to see something cool. This is probably a character flaw of mine, but I usually end up feeling like I'm missing something, or that I'd rather be elsewhere.

That being said, I'm so very glad that we went on this trip. As we walked around the area of more modern art (last 200 years or so), I rounded a corner and saw a painting that I recognized...at least, I knew that I had seen it before. Checking the info plaque, I saw that it was a Mary Cassat, 'The Reading Lesson'. I recognized it because our 7-year-old had done a presentation on the artist.

Here's Connor and Grandma Julie in front of the painting.



Somehow, it all came alive for me then. I got a close up look at the painting, and saw the thousands of tiny brushstrokes that, together, created the image. I moved to the next painting, and stood looking at it for a moment.



'Children in the Woods', by Frank W. Benson in 1898, slowly moved me to tears. How someone could take a blank canvas, and, using nothing more than pigments on a palette and a handful of brushes, create such a beautiful scene from nothing more than a mental image...astonishing.

After that, I enjoyed everything much more than before. I saw Van Gogh's, Monet's, Picasso's, and even some Jackson Pollack's. Very, very cool.

There was a wonderful Maya exhibit as well, but that area smelled like dog poo and dirty feet. Weird. The pieces were fantastic, though, especially after Christina and Connor's trip to Mexico.

The ride home was uneventful, and the weather was great. We made great time, and Christina was astonished to find that I have some of 'her' music on my mp3 player. Hey, it's not ALL Kelly Clarkson!

Spring Break draws to a close, and it's been fun. Take care, folks!

A Kid's Questionaire about Dad

Kid Questionnaire
Ask your child(ren) to answer the questions and type their answers in.
Connor – age 7 Sunday March 15, 2009 at 12:10pm
(I've tried to write these answers exactly as he gave them to me.)

1. What is something dad always says to you?
I love you!

2. What makes dad happy?
Being with me.

3. What makes dad sad?
Not being with me.

4. How does your dad make you laugh?
You tickle me!

5. What was your dad like as a child?
You loved kung fu.

6. How old is your dad?
28 (Thanks, Connor!)

7. How tall is your dad?
20 or 30 inches.

8. What is his favorite thing to watch on TV?
Chinese Kung Fu

9. What does your dad do when you're not around?
Usually go to your school.

10. If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for?
Because you teach so much kung fu!

11. What is your dad really good at?
Kung Fu.

12. What is your dad not very good at?
Not loving me!

13. What does your dad do for his job?
Do Kung Fu!

14. What is your dad's favorite food
Noodles!

15. What makes you proud of your dad?
Beating Halo 3 on XBOX.

16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?
Tom from Tom and Jerry.

17. What do you and your dad do together?
Make my breakfast, take me to school, put me to bed, read stories.

18. How are you and your dad the same?
We’re both boys…I think I know that.

19. How are you and your dad different?
We don’t have the same colored eyes.

20. How do you know your dad loves you?
You do things for me, you care for me, and you tickle me.

21. What does your dad like most about your mom?
Her eyes…they’re the same color as mine.

22. Where is your dad's favorite place to go?
Lemme guess…The Noodle House! Geez….

A Rainy Saturday Survey

What is on your bed right now?
Comforters, sheets, and pillows

When was the last time you threw up?
Oh...um...I was sick several weeks ago, but can't remember exactly when.

What's your favorite word or phrase?
I have to pick just ONE? Geez, I'm such a verbal guy, and there are tons of silly comments, quotes, and one-liners to pick from...

Name 3 people who made you smile today?
Christina, Connor, and Kelly

What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Fixing an omelette and watching a video on proper application of tai chi techniques.

What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween!

What is the last thing you said aloud?
"Hey, Dummy..." I was talking sweetly to our pug puppy.

What is the best ice cream flavor?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water

What are you wearing right now?
I'm fully dressed for a change. Jeans, underarmor long-sleeve shirt, Katy Krav Maga t-shirt, sock, shoes, underwear. Wait, lemme check...yes, underwear.

What was the last thing you ate?
I hate to admit it, but I was in a rush, and got a cheeseburger.

Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
I bought some new wrestling shoes.

When was the last time you ran?
I did some interval sprints on Monday.

What's the last sporting event you watched?
UFC 96

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Scotland, or Australia

Who is the last person you sent a comment/​message on myspace?
My brother.

Ever go camping?
Yup...love it!!

Do you have a tan?
Nope.

Have you ever lost anything down a toilet?
Only stuff that really, really belonged down there in the first place.

Do you use smiley faces on the computer alot?
Fairly often.

Do you drink your soda from a straw?
Hmmm....I guess I do! Had to stop and think about that.

What did your last text message say?
OK, be 15 mins

Are you someone's best friend?
I believe I do hold that honor.

What are you doing tomorrow?
A whole bunch of nothin'!!!!

Where is your mom right now?
I would guess that she's at her house in Indiana.

Look to your left, what do you see?
Our pug puppy, Boba. Or "Dummy", if you prefer.

Ever ridden on a roller coaster?
Oh, yes...many times.

What is your birthstone?
Opal

Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Usually the drive through.

Do you have any friends on myspace that you actually hate?
Nope.

Do you have a dog?
Yes, the aforementioned Boba.

Last person you talked to on the phone?
Brian

Any plans today?
Yep...going to a birthday party.

Are you happy?
Yup. I tend to be quite happy, but not quite satisfied. That attitude keeps me training and working towards better things.

Where are you right now?
I'm in our guestroom...it's where we keep the 'big' computer.

Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
Taxes and homeowner's associations.

Last songs listened to?
Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You". She's in love with me, I tell you!

Last movie you saw?
Watchmen. I just loved the Rorschach character, if not the rest of the movie. Upon being placed in prison, along with many hardened criminals that he sent there, Rorschach was told, "Hey, there's about 50 guys gunnin' for you, and you're locked in here with us." His response was simple, "You're wrong...you're locked in here with me." The little guy was such a bad-ass!!

Are you allergic to anything?
I occasionally have to work around my asthma, which is aggravated by dust, ragweed, cats, and a few other things here and there. I'm sure that was more than you needed to know about my inner workings.

Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Whatever pair of wrestling shoes I'm currently using for my training.

Is anyone jealous of you?
Uh...I have no idea.

Do any of your friends have children?
Most of them do.

Do you eat healthy?
Most of the time, absolutely. However, my students all know that I'm also partial to chocolate cake and orange Monsters.

What do you usually do during the day?
I enjoy working out (I know those abs are around here somewhere...), training to improve my martial arts skills, and I teach at my school 6 days a week.

Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Yup.

How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
40. I'm strongly considering the idea of running a full marathon to celebrate my birthday. I might actually have to train for this one, though...I can survive a 13.1 mile Half-Marathon with nothing more than my usual martial arts conditioning and training, but the full 26.2 miles? I'll actually have to work up to that.

How did u get one of your scars?
I have a handful of burn scars on my lower legs. They're barely visible now, but I managed to set myself on fire as a toddler...not a happy time for my folks, but I came out of it perfectly OK.

Success! Lacrosse hits and decent knees.

Many of you know that my knee has been a bit gimpy this past month or so. There was no single injury to which I could point and say, 'Oh, yeah, THAT's what hurt my knee!' Most likely, it was simply a cumulative thing that finally showed up. Squats have been out of the question for weeks, and I haven't been able to do nearly as much running and conditioning as I'd like...frustrating, to say the least. However, I decided to play it smart for once, and let the knee rest so that it would have a chance to heal.

This past week, I've noticed big improvements every day, and I decided to try the knee out at todays lacrosse game. I had already planned to pay very close attention to it during the game, and if it felt wonky at all at any time, I'd just step off the field and call it a day.

I'm thrilled to say that, not only did the knee function perfectly well, but I actually played a decent game this time around! I didn't score at all, but I won a couple of faceoffs, blocked one shot with my thigh (OK, that really hurt), and managed to put two of the opposing players out of the game with perfectly legal hits. They both came back to play later, and I was pretty concerned about them, but they were both fine...just had the wind knocked out of them by yours truly.

Now for the other side of that coin, I'd like to mention that my first hit of the game was actually done to me, rather than by me. Didn't even see the guy. I caught a pass, dodged the guy playing defense on me and shot at the goal...and BAM!!! Friends, that guy hit me so hard that I rolled backwards and ended up standing on my feet again. No kidding. After a quick systems check, I was thrilled to find that nothing was injured, so I just went back to playing. Yay for me! Of course, my shot had gone nowhere near the goal. Such is life.

So we're all home now, resting. My wife is snoring quietly on the couch, Connor is playing computer games in his room, and I'm thinking that the idea of dinner is getting more and more interesting by the minute...guess I'd better get up and find something to eat.

ABC's

1. A is for age: 39...honestly, still feel like I'm in my late 20's, but slightly more round.

2. B is for beer of choice: I don't drink...you never know when the ninjas will attack.

3. C is for career right now: Owner and Head Instructor of Jade Mountain Martial Arts

4. D is for your dog's name: Boba. As in Boba Fett. As in "You wanna little piece of Boba?"

5. E is for essential item you use everyday: Food. Must...have...food.

6. F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Several...Eleventh Hour, CSI:NY and Vegas, Legend of the Seeker.

7. G is for favorite game: Lacrosse

8. H is for Home town: Angleton, TX

9. I is for instruments you play: voice (in the shower only), clarinet

10. J is for favorite juice: orange

11. K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: My wife's former boss...he lives only because I decided not to kill him.

12. L is for last place you ate: Home.

13. M is for marriage: 5 years to first wife, then 10 years to Christina

14. N is for your full name: William Whitsitt McClendon III

15. O is for overnight hospital stays: None for me. A few with my wife and son.

16. P is for people you were with today: Mostly, my students (Kung Fu Family) and son.

17. Q is for quote: "Sometimes...that happens."

18. R is for Biggest Regret: I've learned many lessons during my life, and some of those were painful. I do try to live without regrets as much as possible.

19. S is for status: Feeling pretty darned groovy today!

20. T is for time you woke up today: 7:00am

21. U is for underwear you have on now: Lemme check...gray. I left my leopard print undies at home.

22. V is for vegetable you love: lots...broccoli, green beans, peas

23. W is for worst habit: Daily Monsters.

24. X is for x-rays you've had: right wrist, groin (kidney stone back in HS)

25. Y is for yummy food you ate today: I had a fabulous omelet for breakfast!

26. Z is for zodiac sign: Scorpio and Rooster. Some folks say that this explains a lot.