Lotsa stuff...

I got a lotta catching up to do.

1) Thursday at jujistu, Rod was working with me and Wild West Alan (geez my friends need to stop having the same names as each other). Most of the time I was wondering about the time and wishing jujitsu would hurry up and end. Scott, who was in charge of us, noticed me I think. Somehow he knew I didn't want to do the techniques. So he pulled me aside to work with me separately. He showed me a handkercheif that he had folded up in his hand. My job was to get the handkercheif in any way possible. The only rule was no biting, kicking, striking, etc. So it basically turned into a grappling match. I got the handkercheif from him twice, and I knew what he was trying to do. It was an object lesson- in the same way I see the handkercheif as a goal and go for it, I also have to see every technique as a goal and go for it. That was what he said but there was more he left unspoken... which I think he was saying in his mind. In the same way I see the handkercheif as a goal and go for it, I also have to see my next belt level as a goal and go for it, because once I set my mind to do something, I'll be able to. I appreciated his efforts, but I secretly felt bad for making him take these lengths. I don't know if I'll ever test. While I believe my belt level is a goal, and I believe that if I exert myself, I can accomplish it, I don't believe I will, because I don't really have any reason to. I barely have any reason to stick with jujitsu, its just something I keep doing cause... I don't know maybe its habit or something. Its like I haven't really found a reason to quit yet.

2) On Friday, Cara, Steve, and I left for Virginia. We were parked (literally) on Rt. 78 in PA for 2 hours. Pennsylvania I think is where they put the Twilight Zone when they stopped filming it for TV. West Virginia and Maryland went by quickly, and then we were in VA. We were there to visit Gus and Hazel, a shichidan in judo and his wife. Upon arriving, we discovered he's way more than just a judoka. First of all their relationship is adorable. They have the love of teenagers floating between them, and yet they are well along in their years. Its so cute to see them acting silly... It makes me glad I never have to worry about growing out of it. Then, they kept telling all sorts of stories about each other- mostly Hazel telling us about the strippers dancing on his lap when he was in the Navy, and about his doing handstands on top of the Roanoke Star (the largest manmade star in the world), and showing us his rock collection, which included a geode made on the inside of a clam shell, weird iron-looking rock found only by him and part donated to the Smithsonian, and a piece of petrified snake poop. Well anyway, all these stories are interesting and everything, but we were down there to visit his dojo. It was a really good experience and we learned some cool stuff. Or, more variations on stuff we knew. I am glad we went down to visit, especially since the way back was actually in daylight and I had no idea Virginia was so beautiful.

3) Remember remember the fifth of November- gupowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

I've been thinking about this lately. Today is Guy Fawkes Day. V for Vendetta, a new movie (old book and comic book), has made the day more famous, but maybe for the wrong reasons. In the movie, the day was supposed to be used as a day when V (and his followers) could stand in opposition to the government control and censorship. While its a good movie, and valuable because I live in a country that doesn't censor that type of movie, I don't think its really accurate. Guy Fawkes (a catholic) tried to assassinate the king for religious reasons. Today, Guy Fawkes Day is remembered, not because of his actions, but because he was tried for treason. People burn(ed) effigies of him and the pope on this day. To me, that has nothing to do with the movie. So while I still like the movie, I've lost a little respect for it... because accuracy is important to me.

4) The male race is amazing to me. Sometimes baffling and mind-boggling, but tonight I'm thinking that men are stronger than I give them credit for. I realized that its easy for me to become vulnerable and cry in front of people, and I thought guys were silly for not being able to do that. But today I saw that it is much harder to want to both cry and be strong for the people you're with, and choose to hold the pain in until those people are gone, because you don't want to add to their pain by crying. Instead of choosing not to be vulnerable (weak), he chose when to be, and that I think, is a greater feat. Not necessarily something one should do but something that is very difficult to do, once chosen.

5) Condolences to Michigan Dan, who had to delete his blog. Merely a year old. We'll miss you little blog... *sniff*

6) From Cyrus' xanga. I think every woman should see this.