Sparring, Kung Fu, and some garden pics
Apr. 22nd, 2006 03:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
la_belle_laideOkay, so sparring last night. After a superfly long day at work, I got changed, had dinner, then ran off to Kung Fu. We did loads of kicking drills which I absolutely love, and then it was time for sparring. I figured I'd be sparring Lee (I guess we usually match up by belt level and size, and Lee and I are pretty similar in both except for me being taller,) and we were all prepared for that. Then it ended up that Tristan was sparring all of us one at a time. I actually had a lot of fun this time, more fun even than I did last time. Once in a while during class with Tristan--mostly in forms--I find he's either demonstrating something a bit too quickly, or breaking it down too slowly while I look for a happy medium, but when it comes to sparring, Tristan is a tremendous teacher. He seems to be able to intuitively feel exactly where your experience level is, and he adjusts to it for each student beautifully. That's not to say he's going easy on you necessarily. For instance, if he was sparring with Chris the way he sparred with me, he would be going easy on Chris, but when he sparred with me, I felt challenged but not afraid. And then he takes some time to correct your technique or show you something new. He certainly does hit and kick, and I've covered in bruises, but I'm not, you know, injured. If you drop your hands, he'll hit you in the face. And then the next time you won't drop your hands. If you do something right, he tells you. That, to me, is a good teacher.
I wish I'd gotten the chance, too, to spar under Lao Shir's teaching. Maybe someday I will again. I hope she'll go back to teaching.
Today, before Tristan got there, Erica let us break some boards. That stuff is easy; boards break like butter. But I do like breaking stuff and it makes a cool sound when it snaps. Then we did some cardio and checked our heartrates to see how fit we were. Props to me, it takes a lot to get me even just a little winded these days. I don't have a lot of strength--my muscles burn and get shakey like nobody's business--but I can cardio all night, gladly and with a smile. Once Tristan got there, we drilled all kinds of cool moves for the rest of the time. Fabulous! So relaxing.
I'm so mad at my dogs right now. Well, Sano and Haku anyway, since Trisky didn't seem to be involved (this time.) Between them, they tormented a bumble bee. I saw them both acting the fool in the kitchen, looking all excited and consipratorial over something on the floor, and there was this poor bumble bee trying to get away from them. He was missing a wing and a leg. I guess the right hting to do would have been to kill him, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I put him under the outside stairs so that maybe he could die peacefully. I just love bumble bees. If it had been a wasp or a yellow jacket I'd've said, "go on, ya's!" But no, an innocent bumble bee! Then I tok all three dogs outside and Haku is so muddy he looks like a tri-color. >_>
While outside, I took a bunch of pictures for my annual "Obssessed With My Garden" extravaganza! Anyone who likes flowers, uhh... obssess with me?
The yard in general:
That basically shows most of my section of the yard there. You can barely see the wee little pond in the back, but it's there. On the other side of the right side of the fence as you're looking at it is the Japanese red lace maple, and a bare spot with awesome soil. I have plans for that area, you bet I do.
The first iris of the season:
Right outside the aviary, too! And it's fuzzy!
Some orange flower that I have no idea what it is:
Runackulus? Ranunculus? Some other thing that sounds like a Harry Potter spell? I forgot what the lady at the nursery said it was. It's so pretty though; I hope it's perennial. That section there, right under the golden curly willow, has a kind of English gardeny feel that I don't usually go for--I like the tropical look best--but it still appeals to me, especially on a rainy day like today.
Pink tulips:
I know what you're saying: "Tulips? And pink?!" Yes, I know, not my style. But they looked so rich and pretty, I just had to have them.
Buddha guards the gates:
Sending luck to my little garden paradise. Isn't he cute?
Haku under the tree:
I can't stay mad at the handsome boy. Look at how sweet he looks! Even though his paws are all muddy.
Looks like more rain is on the way, too. That's good. Better gardens, right? And I just saw two of last year's starlings outside of my door, poking around in the grass. It's so nice when they come back. That's what a wildlife rehabber really looks for in terms of success: the next generation. Not only did they survive to release, but they survived the winter, sometimes stayed with each other, and maybe have babies of their own. Most people would disagree that starlings should be having babies, but what can I say, I love the underdog. :)
Oh, there's more in a locked post. ^_^ Intrigue! Romance! (Except without the romance part.)
I wish I'd gotten the chance, too, to spar under Lao Shir's teaching. Maybe someday I will again. I hope she'll go back to teaching.
Today, before Tristan got there, Erica let us break some boards. That stuff is easy; boards break like butter. But I do like breaking stuff and it makes a cool sound when it snaps. Then we did some cardio and checked our heartrates to see how fit we were. Props to me, it takes a lot to get me even just a little winded these days. I don't have a lot of strength--my muscles burn and get shakey like nobody's business--but I can cardio all night, gladly and with a smile. Once Tristan got there, we drilled all kinds of cool moves for the rest of the time. Fabulous! So relaxing.
I'm so mad at my dogs right now. Well, Sano and Haku anyway, since Trisky didn't seem to be involved (this time.) Between them, they tormented a bumble bee. I saw them both acting the fool in the kitchen, looking all excited and consipratorial over something on the floor, and there was this poor bumble bee trying to get away from them. He was missing a wing and a leg. I guess the right hting to do would have been to kill him, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I put him under the outside stairs so that maybe he could die peacefully. I just love bumble bees. If it had been a wasp or a yellow jacket I'd've said, "go on, ya's!" But no, an innocent bumble bee! Then I tok all three dogs outside and Haku is so muddy he looks like a tri-color. >_>
While outside, I took a bunch of pictures for my annual "Obssessed With My Garden" extravaganza! Anyone who likes flowers, uhh... obssess with me?
The yard in general:
That basically shows most of my section of the yard there. You can barely see the wee little pond in the back, but it's there. On the other side of the right side of the fence as you're looking at it is the Japanese red lace maple, and a bare spot with awesome soil. I have plans for that area, you bet I do.
The first iris of the season:
Right outside the aviary, too! And it's fuzzy!
Some orange flower that I have no idea what it is:
Runackulus? Ranunculus? Some other thing that sounds like a Harry Potter spell? I forgot what the lady at the nursery said it was. It's so pretty though; I hope it's perennial. That section there, right under the golden curly willow, has a kind of English gardeny feel that I don't usually go for--I like the tropical look best--but it still appeals to me, especially on a rainy day like today.
Pink tulips:
I know what you're saying: "Tulips? And pink?!" Yes, I know, not my style. But they looked so rich and pretty, I just had to have them.
Buddha guards the gates:
Sending luck to my little garden paradise. Isn't he cute?
Haku under the tree:
I can't stay mad at the handsome boy. Look at how sweet he looks! Even though his paws are all muddy.
Looks like more rain is on the way, too. That's good. Better gardens, right? And I just saw two of last year's starlings outside of my door, poking around in the grass. It's so nice when they come back. That's what a wildlife rehabber really looks for in terms of success: the next generation. Not only did they survive to release, but they survived the winter, sometimes stayed with each other, and maybe have babies of their own. Most people would disagree that starlings should be having babies, but what can I say, I love the underdog. :)
Oh, there's more in a locked post. ^_^ Intrigue! Romance! (Except without the romance part.)
