The Party: I must admit that my 50th birthday was pretty awesome. On Friday the 20th, my daughters stole me away from work, Melanie covered the phones and Brandi drove me around, first for a hot stone massage (if you can I totally recommend it) then a manicure and pedicure, then a hair cut and style. So it was very much a pamper Terry day.
At about 4 o'clock we get home and alot of my family and friends were at the house to surprise me when I came in the door. The house was decorated ... they had a total ukranian dinner (perogies, cabbage rolls, borscht) it was delicious, and a dairy queen ice cream cake for desert. My sister-in-law Kim had everyone say something warm and fuzzy to me (very embarrassing, they tell me I can't take compliments very well) opened presents and cards. Then we all packed up and went to the legion in leduc where they had booked us a private room to party in with pool tables that were ours for the night. It is one of the best social venues, as you get a chance to play and talk with everyone at the party and I am not the sit and visit type, I need to be doing something. Everybody obviously put alot of thought into this as I know its kind of an odd line up but they are my favorite things. I must admit it was the BEST birthday party I have ever had. I floated and smiled for a solid week afterwards. Thanks to everyone who helped plan and organize the event.
The Poetry: There were a number of people that took up the challenge and submitted poems on kwoon talk and they are all very unique. It makes you realize that alot of people that you think you know, have hidden depths and quirky bits that you weren't really aware of before. It also made me realize that I am not the only one who loves the feeling of doing an form/technique well. I think for some of us the reward is the in the power, the technique, the challenge or a combination of the three. For me is the added bonus of how great it feels during and after doing kungfu, I truly hope that's true for everyone else as well.
Tiger Challenge: I have made some serious progress in the design of my form for the tiger challenge. It is a frustrating process as I keep changing my mind as to how it should flow ... there are so many options ... and for me it has to feel right. Each move has to flow from one move to the next ... then my analytcal side requires that logically is has to actually work and be effective. The attack has to make sense (how many attackers, where would they logically come from) ... the block and counter must respond sensibly and the positioning from one move to the next is critical, if the stepping is awkward it may not flow or be an effective response. Then there is the added factor of how much of the actual technique do I want to reveal in the form ... should it be straight forward and obvious (suits my personality) or should the technique be disguised allowing multiple interpretations of exactly what is happening. My daughters and husband tell me that I way overthink this type of stuff ... they may be right, but for me to be happy with it ... well it must meet all the criteria. So I will soldier on, eventually the left and right sides of my brain will be content that I have done the best that I can.
Priorities: I have listened to many of the UBBT members and Master Brinker talk about priorities and although logically it has entered the brain, the words went in, were processed etc. the reality is very little progress has been made in my behaviour. My current priorities are Dean, Brandi & Melanie, then work, home & life stuff that just needs to be taken care of, then comes the study and practice of Kung Fu and dancing.
Currently many of my family and work obligations are configured around the times that I have slotted for Kung Fu which is do able but does not appear to be sufficient to stay on top of all the committments that I have made as a black belt. When I do have spare time (which is rare) Kung Fu is not the first priority ... it is all the other committments that I have fallen behind on. I am constantly scrambling to meet all my obligations and the to do list just gets longer. Wa Wa
So what I have decided to do is for the next week I will be tracking in a note book exactly what I spend my time doing, so I can determine where I am going wrong and where I can eliminate or pare down or possibly hire or hand off to someone else some of these obligations and responsibilties. Wish me success.
I will keep you posted.
