YEAY! Blue Uniform!

My blue karate uniform finally came in this week. I am busily hemming up the legs as they are about two feet longer than I need! I am vertically challanged, I admit it.

Along with that, I got my foam "training" nun-chucks, my sparring boots I ordered, and a neat-o "Black Belt Team" t-shirt! Photos to come as I have promotion tonight!! I am going to purple belt!! I made my goal! The BF is taking me out for Sushi in celebration tonight (if he hasn't forgotten he agreed to do so!).

My MP soap supplies came today so I am busy playing with that as well. I am making soap for the spa "Pamper Yourself" kits for the holidays this year. One for mom, the BF's parents, my WTI Advisor, my co-worker, my boss at the yarnhouse...and possible some internet friends. :)

Well I gotta get crackin. I still need to sew the hems on those pants before tonight!

Until next time...

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Owe, owe, owe-owe-owe....

OH man...stick me with a fork already! Yesterday's basic karate class left me stiff and sore in my arms and upper back....owe...

How? Can you say "100 Push-ups"?? I did closer to 80 or so because I experienced muscle failure...where the muscle will not function anymore. Owe. So knitting is painful today...so is typing...owe. Basically everything I do I feel the soreness in my upper arms and shoulders...owe...

I am debating going to practice tonight. Tonight is the BBT class (black belt team) and I am sure they will work us harshly! We are supposed to learn some new thing called Journey that I wish we would get to learning it already. It's more than just a new move, it is a series of moves. So I guess I better go in case they teach it tonight...knowing my luck...HA!

I finished up a few dyeing tutorial videos and they should appear on here shortly. When I do more dyeings I will record them and will make a third video when I have enough.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

OMG! Award! I got a Karate Award!!!

OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs-OMGs!!!!!!

I got an award from my Karate instructor Mr. Shaub at promotion today!! WOOOOOOoooooooo!

It was this moduels "Focus Award". The reason he chose me, he said, was because I came in to learn karate in the adult program without being connected to anyone who was already there as most of the other students have been. Most of the adults there had thier kids come in first and then when the adult program started, the parents joined. I came in without knowing anyone and I have trained steadily and hard. It had to take bravery to come in the first couple of times and now I have made new friends along with learning a life-long skill.

I'm thinkin, boy howdy! I was so nervous that first class. I did not know what to expect and my stomach was in knots all the way through the first week. I have really enjoyed karate and I am very greatful for that an adult program was started.

Ms. Brown, the secretary and also a student asked me afterwards if I was surprised. You betcha I was! She said she was so excited for me to get it because she had known about it before hand and it was hard not to say anything. LOL I kept thinking, oh .... this is going to one of the younger students because we had from 5-45 (maybe older) on the floor promoting at the same time. He said my name and I did a double take! Say what?! Really?! Sweetness!!

I have really been down this week with this cold and such OMG what a motivator this is. My first of many awards to come! I am gonna be smiling for a long time. Oh my, something just occured to me...I need to get a thank you card. Yep. Definately a thank you card.

NOw I just need to get my ass in gear and practice more on the bag here at home! I have slacked, mainly because of this danged cold but also because I have so many projects going. Come on self-decipline! You can do it! :)

Until next time...






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Learning Escima sticks and more crazy freaks!

I learned nine moves with my escrima sticks Monday. Now to customize my sticks! I want to burn in some designs and symbols and possibly stain it in classic cherry. I dunno what but I love the classic cherry look.

All of the second batch of polyphemus eggs have hatched out and are now munching happily away.

Speaking of happy pets...

I had some freakazoid comment on one of my videos on youtube of my Betta, Skye. Well I said so too (in so many words) and lo-and-behold everyone has a comment to post now!! Boy howdy, stir that shit pot-STIR IT!!

Anyways, this Frakazoid went all preachy on me on how the container was too small this, and bubbles where bad this and that. Okay, Ms/Mr. Holier-than-thou-pet-advocate-extremist...who asked you? My goddess, I mean this person went on and on...for goddess sakes-these freaks must not have anything else better to do than to try to convience others that thier knowledge is far superior when the fact is it is completely opposite! Then this user went and messaged me through youtube mail and went on and on about how I should listen to them for the sake of the fish...(!!!!!). Again!! Who ask you?! I did not go seeking your advice nor a pet care sheet from you so why are being a knat? (buzz-buzz.....SPLAT!). Annoying knat! For Goddess sakes, get a life! I know how to take care of a dang fish! A FISH!!! All this random freakishness over a FISH!!! There are websites with far superior knowledge than yourself that I have taken advantage of looooooooooong ago! *face-palm* The video is like five months old for Goddess sake, what makes people think nothing has changed?! I even say he lives in a larger conatiner now in the video description (along with a few choice words about people who like to stick it where it's not wanted, needed, nor asked for)!

*faint*

Why are the freaks always attracted to me? Is it my loverly dorkiness? ;)

Not too much on the crafting front. I have spun a little, but I am much more active outside than in this time of year. I have a pound of white Merino roving coming my way that I cannot wait to start playing with in dyes. I biked to the Artist Supply shop on State Street (8 miles away using the bike trails) and bought some thickener, some burgandy dye, and some brushes for painting with.

Oh I do have another bitchin complaint. I called TDS sunday to put in an order to cancel our services and I was told they would put the cancelation order on the account. I called in again today because everything is still hooked up and wouldn't you know it, the damned beotch I spoke with didn't put the order in? Trying to rob me of more money they are but delaying the cancelation! Well that won't work with me! What a pain in the ass.

Until next time...






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Promotion Night Video

Proof that even the chubbiest among us CAN do what everyone else can. So there. Take that. I may be fat, but I am not gonna let the negative social view of fat persons keep me from doing what the hell I want!! I love karate! So if you don't like how I shake my stuff, move it along! Your herd of sheep awaits you...

Until next time...






***All content is Copyright year and date of posting to C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. Reproduction without permission in any form is strictly forbidden. Violators will be shut-down.***

Karate America Black Belt Promotions

(video)

Sweatness! Blogger has auto save now! Thank you Blogger peeps!

Until next time...

Belt Display 100% Finished and Hung

YAY! I got the headboard mounted and now the whole belt display hangs on a living room wall along side my certificates of Achievements. As always, my name is blocked out to protect myself. AHhhhh, one project down....many to go with many new ones birthing!

Until next time...

Belt display 90% finished!

Now all I need to make and design for it is a head board.

Boy that ladder looks ominous from this angle!!

Here it is sitting outside on this wonderfully mild day drying. For some odd reason the first four slats are lighter than the rest. It's odd because I could not get them any darker.

Until next time...

Karate Certificates!!

They finally gave me my certificates for my white and gold belt after I asked about them. I am one proud womyn! I blocked out all but my initials for my own protection.

Now I need to get MORE frames!! Time to hit Gordmans this weekend!!

Until next time...

Belt Display Rack-Easy...Patience? HARD!!!

I am so excited about this latest project, a display rack for my karate belts. Why buy one premade, when I can make one for half or less of the price? I see them being sold on Ebay for $20 plus $10 shipping...but for that much money, I can buy all the supplies I need and then some to make my own. Granted it LOOKS handmade, but that is a BONUS plus I can say "I made it" to those who inquire. Right now there are only slats for four belts, but come payday I will get enough oak boards to make a 10 level rack.

I used 1/4 wood pegs to stick the boards to the back dowels which are square hardwood dowels. I love Menards! I then drilled a 1/4 hole through all the slats at once so that they would all have the same off center holes. LOL Then I took each slat, number then and placed them on the dowels and marked where to drill the connecting 1/4 holes. A bunch of pounding later, they are attached without the use of unsightly screws and nails. I had to saw off the ends of the pegs and sand them flush to the boards before applying stain (classic cherry) and right now a layer of poly is drying on them. This is so simple to make!! All I will need to display the belts is some double sided velcroe strips (the kind they sell to keep cables organized).

It needs a headboard. I looked at one of the Goodwills to see if they had something about 2 feet long that I could paint over but they did not. I am not sure what kind of headboard I will add, but I will want to engrave it. I think I can do that with the router attachment for the dremal tool. I'd like to engrave my name in Chinese characters and then engrave my name in english below it. That sounds too fancy for my skill level though. Wood engraving would cost too much I think so maybe I will just get some asian rub-on accents if I can find any and then just add my name in wood letters so it pops out. Hummm...I still have some money left on my Bday Hobby Lobby gift card....time to hit the place again!! One of the wood hobby shops should have already shaped headboards with routed edges. I'll have to browse online first to see what is available.

Until next time...

Doctor's Visit: GOOD NEWS!!!-farm visit, karate, Goodwill finds

Good news! My high blood pressure is under control-and without the use of drugs! YIPPIE!! My highest they have recorded had been 150 over 190...really high. This time I was 138 (I think...can't remember exactly) over 150 and I lost 2 more pounds!! KICK ASS...literally! I had the IUD removed as well while I was there but I am still spotting...damned it. I hope that this acne I have developed on my back will go away now and so will the severe cramps and spotting I get after intercourse. Doesn't make it all that fun when you have pain after such a wonderful thing...Humph!

According to the doc...I am perfectly healthy! She was concerned about the joint pain I am experiencing and wants me to see a regular doc (this was a gynecologist visit) about it. I guess. It is something I can just deal with. What are they gonna tell me? Loose wieght. Then I say, I'm workin on it. All that for how much money??? *face-palm* I can get federal assistance for the gynecologist because the state is concerned about the health of woman in that area...but when it comes to getting help for regular health care...forget it! What a screwed up place we live in.

I visited Windridge farm yesterday to see Lotti, the sheep I adopted. Her fleece has a fine and tight crimp to it. I cannot wait till I get it! I didn't get any pictures of her because all the sheep were weary of me. Stranger! Stranger! They all baaaed. She had goats too that were super friendly and loved to be petted like they were dogs or something! CUTENESS! One had a kid that was so bouncy...and what was his name? Grasshopper. LMAO! Because he is always hopping about full of energy!! Momma was always calling him and he would never come or return the calls. Little brat! LOL The sheep loved us like we were best friends after the lady got a bucket of grain out. *face-palm* I got to get friendly with a week old lamb...HOW CUTE!

Since I had to pick the BF from work at 3 yesterday I got back into town around 1:30 so I went to Archivers on the far west side in Middleton. I found a bunch of nice papers and stickers on half off-backgrounds for future karate pages I told myself. Then I went for some lunch at Macaroni Grill and got some ooOOOooo so delicious Chicken Cesar Calazone made with pizza crust...MMMMm OMG!!! It was soooooooooooo good!! It was $7 but they gave me a frickin plate full of it so I had plenty to share with the BF and for dinner later on. After getting up at 4AM yesterday morning, when I finally got home, I crashed. I took a nap and I slept sooooooo hard! Then I had to get up to get to Karate class...oye...not fun. I did get there and I was full of energy after warmed up. We did some different things, and it was really fun! We also learned the front round kick of which I need to practice on today.

This morning I went to the Goodwill on the east side and found more goodies! I found what looked like to be a brand spankin new dehydrater by Magic Cheif for 5.99, and a small coffee press for 3.99, and a latex kinda thang to bake muffins in for 1.49. I gotta stop going there! I always spend money!!

I am testing the dehydrater out today by drying out some organic apples I bought over a week ago now. They are starting to get soft so I want to dry them before they spoil. I love apple chips! I really love the store bought apple chips but they are really fatty. I want some banana's next so I can made banana chips!!

Until next time...

Scrapbook Pictures-Promotion and Gold Belt

I had to add some pages to the small dollar store scrapbook so I have elastic holding it together, for now. I also added a band of elastic to help keep it closed as it is....ballooning. I like how the binding elastic looks like a white belt!! Eventually I think I will have to cut the binding apart completely and just have an open bound book. It was a buck...I can't complain. I've made journals in the past so that knowledge is coming in pretty darned handy right now.

Thankfully we all performed as a group which was a HUGE relief! The BF took the photos but claims to not have been able to get a view to take video...huh...alrighty then.

Until next time...

Gold Belt!!!

YEEEeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaa-hOooooooooooooooo!

I did it! I did it! I got me belt and it was quick and surprisingly painless! Can you find me? Hint: I am the shortest one of my class!!!

I got my gold belt!!
The BF actually came with me *SHOCKED* and took photos! Although he did not shoot any video which dissapointed me...at least I have the stills. There will be other promotions to video.

Until next time...

Exercise = No hunger....HUMmmmm...

It's an interesting notion. I exercised this morning (practicing my wheel kick and defensive front kicks) and when I was done...I was not hungry anymore. I remember reading somewhere that when you exercise you arn't hungry. By golly...it was right!
So when I feel like I am being a total chow hound...I should just exercise. What a way to get the mind off the food!!!

In other news...

I slept well last night. I think mostly because I was just totally exhausted from not sleeping well the past week. This is good because I am sooooooooo nervous about promotion night tonight. *chewing on finger nails* My instructor says we shouldn't worry about it because we've already taken the tests...and that was to come to class twice a week and work up a sweat. Oye...tell me about it. This is our chance to show off what we have learned and fly up a belt color. Excited and nevious...not a good combination (HUuuuuuuuuuuurl!!!)

I noticed that the BF bought 100% TP when he went grocery shoppin last night. Huh...coolness!!

I've got two more panels to do on that afgahn I am working on for Mum. I need a size N crochet hook to crochet the pieces together with. I though I might have it but when I looked....NOPE!

Until next time...

WOooooo second stripe on white belt!!

I got a second stripe on my white belt! WOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo! Plus on my "report card" there was a little note that said "You've got great energy and endurance, keep up the great work!" Sweetness!
At class today everything seemed to be getting better. I was actually able to do the knife hand block better than most of my fellow white belts because I have been practicing. *pats self on back* THAT felt GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

Today we learned the wheel kick. Kicking with the back leg up and around the front. I dropped off my check for the next month of classes. WHEW....sorry to see it go but happy to keep goin!

Until next time...

Gained 4 pounds?! WHAT?!

*sledge hammer to scales...wonderful smashing sounds ensue*

I got on the scales this morning and my nemesis says I gained four pounds OVERNIGHT!

ARRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

I did drink a lot of water yesterday to hydrate myself for karate class so now I am wondering how the hell do I gauge weight loss with water gain?! This shit is getting complicated! I tool in less than my "prescribed" amount of calories...a lot less than I had initially thought. There may be some muscle gain in there too as I do feel stronger and I am getting winded less and less easily.

Did I mention that we learned yesterday? I don't think I did. I was in too much pain. I still hurt, but now it is just simple stiffness. Would help if I could get some damned sleep! The BF comes to bed and just fidgets and fidgets and fidgets!!!! I think I am gonna have to start sleeping on the hide-away. I just cannot get enough rest with all the fidgeting that happens in the night!

Anyways...we learned Offensive front kick, and a....jump front kick?? I dunno remember what he called it but we pull the right leg up and chamber it (karate lingo), then jump and switch to the other leg to kick with. We were learning front downward kick when my leg failed me. Then we learned how we could improve our balance by bringing up one leg and....oh shit! De'ja'vu!! I had a dream about this some time ago!! I just remembered it! Holy smokes...anyhoo we balance with one leg up with our hands wrapped around our knee. Well...that is physically impossible for me to wrap my hand around my knee, so I just hold on to the best of my ability.

We got a black stripe on our white belts last night as well. He said they give them every other month for modivation. Sweatness!

Happy B-day to me!! I am now a whole 29 strong! Mom says she will really razz me next year because I will be over the hill. Over the hill?! I don't consider 30 over the hill at all...that's more like 50 isn't it because that is the half-way point? She's wierd like that.

Until next time...

My first karate related injury....

And a day before me b-day to boot? Oye.

Owe-owe-owe...sssssssssssssssss.....owe...

We were doing offensive front kicks and halfway down the line (trying it for the first time)...my right calf POPS. BOOP! Then...PAIN! OOOOh I am gonna hurt big time tommorrow...and it is my driving foot too!

Lesson learned for today: I will not practice at home the same day as class...as that is what I did today and I just didn't have the energy I needed or could have had...which may have prevented the POPPING of muscle tissue...owe.

Hot bath comin up!

Until next time...

How do I feel about the Bottle Swap Flop?

Well...I dunno what to think about this bottle swap from the whenever sock group. I've emailed the "bottle swap mom" twice, and I can only seem to get a response from the moderators when I email the groups owner addy. *very big sigh* I've asked if I should consider myself shit out of luck because the send out date was the 18th. I'm disappointed about not getting an answer...and not getting my fair share in the swap. I sent mine out with plenty of time to spare. Grrrr.

I won't be a member for much longer-if only because of the lack of communication. I keep seeing more and more people posting that they have received their swap. I suppose now that I have posted about it, it will come...isn't that it has worked in the past? Yep.

Well I did one hell of a workout this afternoon. Did the dishes, did some laundry, then practiced my karate with 3 LB wieghts in hand. I got to class tonight so to prepare for that...it's time for a nice hot shower to calm those aching back muscles...owe.

Then I need to make those stitch markers for that kind lady that sent me the inkle loom to send along with her finished object and I need to get that out ASAP!!

My B-DAY is TOMMORROW (3.22)!! I'll be 29 and I'll have my fill of free beer at the Nitty Gritty and work out even harder on Friday to take that off. *VBG*

Until next time...

More self-defense and Promotions...*WIMPER!!*

We learned a few more self defense moves today, although I have no idea how I am supposed to practice them when the BF *looks over and rolls eyes* is a whimp when it comes to helping me with this.

Next Friday is promotions and I will be getting my gold belt for an extra $30 bucks. Suppose I will pay that at the next class. I am very nervous about it because I am not sure if we are all showing what we know together as a class...or individually in front of the rest of the class. *whimper!!*

We learned a few more moves but I think we are having more emphasis on practicing what we know for the promotion day. *whimper*

I didn't work nearly as hard but DAMN! Am I still worn out!

Until next time...

Redo!

We went to the Scrapbook superstore this afternoon and I found the black mulberry paper I was looking for. It has gold inclusions but that is fine I guess. I found some more inspirational stickers and made an addition to page two. Then the BF spoted a Karate rub on!! So I removed the print out of the work karate and placed this one on the same kind of paper, then added pop-dots to the back. WOW! What a difference!

While we were there at the super store, the BF dragged me to the checkout because I was taking too long. The place is HUGE!!! The lady in front of us...before a 15% discount had wracked up $246 in scrapbooking supplies!! HOLY SHIT! The stuff they sell is no where near cheap and you pay premium prices for it all. I found a bunch of half off papers and do-dads so I only wracked up just over $10. Thier frequent shopper program has changed too. When we I was into scrapbooking many-many moons ago (like 5 or so years ago), the program was buy $250 in murchandise and get 15% off. NOW, however...it is $600 get 5% off, up to $2000 get 10% off, over $3000 get 15%. HOLY WTF! I would never spend that much on scrapbooking supplies IN A YEARS TIME!! They have a great selection and all...but that "rewards" program is a ripoff!! And that is my humble opinion on that! HUMPH!

Yesterday I was watching Chris Angels Mind Freak disc 2, and the on the last episode the man wants to know what it feels like to get struck by lightening (WHAT?!) and then he apparently came to Baraboo Wisconsin to the US's largest tesla coil which puts out a max of 3 million volts. When he got to the point where he asked them to turn it all the way up, the noise was so unnerving that I had a full blown panic attack! I have never experienced anything like it before. I was hyperventalating while my throat felt like it was closing up on me! I laughed at myself because it was just TV...but here I am having a panic attack like my own life was in danger! LMAO! I get tense when a storm approaches anymore sense being shocked by the bolt that hit our apartment building last summer during on of the freakiest lightening storms I had ever experienced. I used to be in awe of lightening and thought it beautiful, while I am scared shitless of it now...I still think it is beautiful.

Until next time...