End of the Year of the Horse

So I have been in the I Ho Chuan for a few years now and you would think that I would have a 100% success rate on all my goals.   Not the case, this last year was a downturn in some things and better in others.   Due to the month long vacation in Thailand, and the preparations for said vacation (when you have a business this can get complicated) there was a two month period of little kung fu.  This put me pretty far behind on alot of things except for situps I was way ahead on those.  It took me forever to get my escrima stick form up and running, really sometimes I am my own worst enemy with this stuff, changing my mind repeatedly, unable to settle on anything, it was painful.  I have enjoyed this year, despite the gapping hole from August to the end September.  I love preparing for the performances,  just not actually doing them.  The push for perfection, the practices, the playing around with music and arrangements, being part of the team is just awesome.  Unfortunately I have not completely overcome the nerves ... its better ... just not gone.  Lion Dancing has been alot of fun and I will be incorporating some exercises to strenghten my neck (a weak spot for me due to car accidents) so that I can learn the head of the lion part without hurting my neck and triggering migraines in the future.

Lion Dance Practice on Jan 17th

Its somewhat crazy having 5 lions with 10 dancers and senior blackbelts with multiple opinions and hordes of questions and everyone trying to fine tune the lion dance performance.  Despite the chaos I think the last practice put alot of really cool things in place.  It was noisy but productive.  Although my legs were pretty tired and it looked like everybody else was in the same boat, swimming in sweat and exhausted we ironed out a bunch of kinks in the performance.  The stack and roll happened successfully a number of times.  The wave has had a change in orientation I think it looks better.  The polka step feels ridiculous but looks neat, and with the tail action of the lions adds some serious cute factor to the performance.  We are so going to WOW everyone with this performance.

January 10th, 2015

Really excited about the lion dance performance coming up ... my fear of performing is much less with this one as I am not up there alone and I am somewhat hidden so I can actually enjoy myself.  I think its coming together well although at practice last night we all felt the lack of practice over the christmas break set us back a bit.  Still ran into another lion on the cross over part so our orientation is not perfect yet but now we can start working on the fine tuning of stepping and head movements and although its tough it sure makes a difference in the look of the performance.  As the backend of the lion I have less to worry about with the head movements, however trying to anticipate what your front end is going to do and moving along with that can be pretty challenging.  Listening to the drum can help with that but only if your partner is listening and following that as well.  I believe this is going to be an outstanding lion dance performance at the chinese new year celebration, looking forward to it.

Decision Time

I have been waffling back and forth about committing to the I Ho Chuan year of the sheep.  I don't achieve so many things that I set as goals for the year and yet I get way more done than I thought possible.  I put myself thru all kinds of anxiety and stress trying to achieve all those goals and failing.

But on the other hand I get to Lion Dance, I am encouraged and supported in my creation of forms,  I participate in so many events and activities that Silent River hosts and/or promotes, I hang out with awesome and motivating martial artists.

Its great being part of the team and its horrible when I fail in my commitment to the team.

I have rewritten my goals so many times this month ... trying to balance what I believe I can achieve, with what the point of the goal setting parameters are --- to make my self try harder and achieve more.  To push past my fears of performing,  of looking foolish,  of looking not worthy of the belt I wear.

I decided to submit my list of goals,  part of the motivation is the 2nd paragraph which is very positive, the other motivating factor is negative, it just ?????? me off that I am afraid.  And when I am afraid I get angry and stubborn, maybe not the most inspiring motivation for others but it pushes me to do more.

Back in the Saddle

Written Sept 23, 2014.    

Its great to be home, had a great vacation but I am tired and have missed the awesome country and culture that is Canada.  The girls came back to Canada with us and will be staying close to their mother where they belong!!!  Looking forward to living and training with my daughters they are after all the original reason I started to study Kung Fu and I missed training with them.

Written  Oct 6, 2014  Tommorrow

Enjoyed the I Ho Chuan meeting and it was really great to see and talk to my I Ho Chuan team mates, missed you guys and the training!  Sihing Tymchuk talked about the word tommorrow and I got right on that list of things to do and back into my training routine.  The shelving is installed and the rumpus room is cleared
pushups, situps and kicks are happening.   Did NOT get all my form reps in and my double stick form has a lame ending.

I also attempted to upload a picture of me (rather than a really cute panda) to my blog site as requested.  Failed ... not sure what went wrong.Will try again.  Terry post this with the new picture!!!

Written Oct 22, 2014  Lion Dancing

Hurt my neck pretty bad being the head of the lion,  agony for a week.!  I talked to Sifu Playter and he gave me some tips on how to do this without putting so much strain on my neck and using my arms more without setting the lion on the top of my head.  Very tired arms, still some discomfort in the neck but not agony thank god.   I am really enjoying the lion dancing and I am glad that I will be the tail for awhile it will give me some time to build up more strength in my arms and shoulders.  Missing the dragon dancing!

I think the picture worked.

Google Plus

So I did as requested and set up my google plus profile and started using the new system.  Seemed pretty straightforward and then I started getting invitations to add people to my circle.  Huh?  What circle? Where is it?  How do you get into this circle thing?  How do you add people?  Why do you need to add people? So finally I think I have it figured out.  Created a Kungfu circle, everyone who asked me to add them to my circle are now added.  Its all looking good from this end I am seeing posts and comments, not sure if its working from the other end. Hope so!  If I am incorrect in my belief that I have successfully added you to my circle please let me know.

Dean & I will be leaving for China on August 26th, going to visit my brother in Dalian for a few days and then meeting the girls in Bangkok on Sept 2nd, will be back in Edmonton on Sept 20th with my girls.  I am taking my Ipad and hope to keep in touch that way.   Going to the tiger temple, spending a day with the elephants, We will all be tanned and de-stressed when we get back.  Can hardly wait

Lost a great friend

Last Monday July 28th my friend Jackie passed away (Sifu Rybak not the Jackie that works for me)!   She was younger than me and has been battling cancer for the last few months.  I met her 6 years ago at the dance studio and her and I just clicked.   Like two puzzle pieces everything lined up.  I loved her totally wicked ability to see the ridiculous in human behaviour and still love us all and give to her family, friends and the community.   She was not judgemental yet would with deadly precision anihalate excuses making you aware of how stupid you just sounded and then laugh with you, not at you.  We always sat together at dance events, did barbeques on the weekends, ignored stupid rules, and talked, and talked.  I will miss her so much!  The memorial service was yesterday, I cried there and all the way home, broke my diet and ate an entire large bag of chips with dip but nothing is really making me feel better.  Gotta go, crying again