Sparring In TKD

I know as a green belt sparring is hard. I do not understand how to watch for the hits, punches, and kicks. I also don't know how to throw these things. Although, I know this logically, I want to be able to do this. It is driving me nuts. I want to be able to the crap out of people. I can throw the stupid kicks and get them near where the should be. It like I just don't want to hit anyone. So the result is my butt keeps getting kicked. ok really, every place but my butt. That is below the belt and off limits.
Testing is in a week. I feel I am not ready. It's going to hard and I am not sure I am going to pass. I think my form looks ok. I still want to work out one little part and make my punches stronger. But for the most part it looks good. I know it is good enough to move on to senor green. If I were a senor green I might be in trouble.
For the most part my kids are ready. Well, Ms. G is. Mr. A is working hard to be ready. I think he will make it. The nut is taking them to testing in NC. He will have them that weekend. He better take them or Mr. and Mrs. Scott might hurt him. Ms. G will be too bored to stay a green for another 4 months. It might so Mr. A some good but then again 4 more months knowing you could have moved on is a long time.
Sean is trying to get his classes in so he can test. I think he'll make it. If not he can become purple belt with me. It really is a win, win for him.
That is about all the everyday news at my house. The Nut is being an asshole as usual and there is nothing I can do about it right now. It is going to have to be taken to court at this rate. I just hope that will help.
Baby AL has become a toddler over night. Wow! He is amazing. I had forgotten how much fun this age can be. I think it is so nice I get to see this and stay home with him. I need to find him some play dates. He needs to play with some other kids. He really needs to be left with someone other than me or Sean.
~niffer

First Birthday!

Can you believe it?! Baby AL is one! I have some good pictures. We tried to get a family picture but it was more like a skit from a comedy show. I think we will have to get help with this feat. I have no real good stories from the night. We had every one here in my house. It was fun. I think the favorite gift was a steering wheel that says the cutest things. Including when you hit the button with the police car, it says "slow down little fella." When you hit the horn it says "out of the way!' in a kids voice.
I made some cupcakes that were wheat free, egg free, milk free, and nut free. They were not too bad. He loved them. That being said, he would not know what "real" cupcakes taste like. We also had a "real" cake for everyone else. Baby AL and I got the cupcakes all to ourselves. No one wanted to adventure out and try one.
All in all, a good time was had.
~ niffer

The Five Categories for People

So I have this theory on people you meet. They go into one of five categories. The first is friends. Most people go into this one. The second is the tricky one. If you are single it is the potential category. Potential boyfriend/girlfriend/ hubby/wife. If you have a significant other, it is the boy/girlfriend or hubby/wife category. There should only be one in this category if you have a significant other. The next Category is the fun one. It is the fling category. You know those people you put in there, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. When you are married, not many people get to this category. IF they do, trouble is coming and coming fast! Hell, I think that even when I was single I only had 2 people ever make it to this category. The Fourth is the exes. These are the exes you can not be friends with. You know the ones with the really bad break ups and the one that are just really not good for you. The last category is the "no way in hell" aka the ax murders category. You know those people who just give you the creeps and you don't know why. This is their place.
Now there are a few rules for these categories. Most people can move in and out of the first 3. Depending on life. BUT once a person is in the last 2, they stay there. There is not getting out of the last 2. The nest rule is people can be in more than one category. Again depending on life. For example. My hubby is in the first 3 categories. (we are still in that honeymoon stage) You can and should be friends with the ones in category 3.
So next time you meet someone think about which category they belong in. It makes life easier when you do this. I know I have gotten wise in my old age.
And that is the random thought for today.
~niffer

Measuring time

I was thinking as I was raking the yard yesterday. I measure time in nonstadard units. When I was a kid Summer was forever long. It felt like months almost a whole year. Then school started and I waited for Thanksgiving break. Then next block of time was always my birthday and then Christmas. After that it was Frank's b-day and as I got older Valentines day. The next big thing was Spring braek and it all came around to summer again. That is how I measured a year. With little things just happening inbetween the time markers.
As I got older and was working as a teacher my time makers changed a little bit. My year always started the begining of the school year. My makers where the 1st nine weeks and one feild trip always landed in there for Halloween. Then it was the birthday Seasons. November- Febuary. During this time, it was broken into 3 parts; Thanksgiving, Christmas and the longest blaa time winter. As Febuary came to a close I started to look forward to march and april. Have to have the lepercauns and spring break. Not to mention Ms. G's birthday. Then in no time it was crunch time for "the test" and then 2 weeks of fun teaching and summer was here. The year always ended with my son's birthday.
Now that I am not teaching anymore I am not marking time the same way. There seems to be a lot of just normal days nothing special. My makers are further apart and seem to be based on my family. My year does start with the school year or there abouts. A few weeks before we start to get ready for school and start getting into a routine. Then there is Halloween. The best week for cake is the week of baby AL's birthday because Kevin and Ashley have their birthday that week too. Thanksgiving starts the crazy time call Christmas. During this time, my Dad and I have our birthday. Mom and Dad have their anniversary. School gets out for 2 weeks and Christmas is thrown in the middle of all that. It ends on January 6, you have to have 12 days of Christmas. Then comes the long winter. January, February, March. These long mundane time has a few shinny moments, Mom's, Frank's, and Jill's b-day. Then there is Ms. G's birthday along with Spring Break. Summer is right around the corner with vacations to the beach, Sean's birthday, and of course Our Anniversary. Then my year ends at Mr. A's birthday.
It was jsut random thoughts I had while working my ass off. I thought I would share.
~ Niffer

Cold Beer, Warm Fire, Old Movies, Great Neighbors, Moon Bounce, And Trick-or-Treating

WOW! What a day. We got Ms. G's vest sewn. She did most of it. Although, I did get very pissed with my mom's sewing machine. It mostly did not work. I think It only worked going backward and doing a zig zag stitch. All said and done, she was Nancy Drew for Halloween and she made her own outfit. I am very proud of her.
Mr. A was a "rich millionaire." He was too cute. He had a homemade costume too. I came across a tux just his size for $12 at this used kid store. It was perfect. We added a little briefcase,fake money, and a plastic hat. He was dressed to the T's.
Baby AL wore the same outfit from trunk-or-treat. He was cute but did not like just walking door to door. He went to about 5 houses, got no candy, and then went to hang out with dad and the over achiever neighbors.
Oh yeah! I was the wicked witch of the west. I did not color my face green because I was afraid it would scare the littlest love bug.
I have to say, we have the coolest neighbors around. Our neighborhood is the place to be on Halloween night. We went to about 10 houses got so much candy about 1/3 of a pillowcase full. We have these neighbors that are on the other street that really do up the decorations. There yard is full of creepy stuff. Very neat.
Then you go down the street a few houses and they have a moon bounce and an inflatable maze for the kids. They do smores for everyone. The parents just hang out at the street for a bit.
Then we head back to our street and head over to a few houses to sit by the fire and enjoy some beer, all the while watching black and white silent movies on their gragage door. The kids LOVED it. They watched "Phantom of the Opera" until about 9:30. Then they joined the adults around the fire and just talked. Beleive me when I say, a good time was had by all.
This where Sean and Baby AL hung out all night. I got to take the kids around this year.
Overall, it was a great night. We will have to do it again next year.