Thursday, April 13, 2006

hmmm...


So - i feel like i should start posting more. I just tend not to write my thoughts out as much ya know? :) so hmm lets see..

Well I recently started taking martial arts. My husband has his 2nd degree black. The nice school let me come in as a yellow since i'd done this before about 10 years ago. I basically kept my "rank" when i entered the school. This is neat because then I dont' have to take the basic classes and I can jump right into taking the style for the quarter. This quarter they are teaching Ba Gua. If you've ever seen the Jet Li movie "the One" they show this style in there. The BAD Jet Li does Shing Ye (sp?) and the good Jet Li does Ba Gua. It's considered an "internal" style the way Tai Chi is. So we are also learning to use "deer horn daggers." Sometimes they are called crescent moon daggers. (see picture )

So I REALLY enjoy learning this, but it's frustrating too. Trying to get your body to move in ways it's not used to. But also, it's tricky because there are multiple teachers. Teacher A owns the school and is the most knowledgeable. Teacher B is kind f like his second in command in a lot of ways, and does things the same way. Teacher C does things a little differently. So on Monday night I learn from A and B in classroom setting. Tuesday I took a private lesson with B because I was having a lot of trouble learning a particular portion of the form. And we got very specific and detailed with the hand motions and positions. Yesterday I went to a lunch time class because the school is closed this weekend. Well at lunchtime, I was the only one there. And it was teacher C. So while he was really cool about working on some parts of the form, very creative in ways to help me feel "right" in the motions, he was changing some of those small details I'd confirmed with B the previous evening. So now i'm confused. I tell him that I remember it being different from class, but he correct me and I start doing it that way. But the new way doesn't feel right and I keep messing it up. SO tonight hubby will be in class and I asked him to check with A and/or B to find out which is right. If I don't find out tonight then I'll have to ask A on monday night. Very confusing. {sigh}

So this weekend we are having out "anti-seder" for passover. Second one! :) Last year my hubby made the mistake of suggesting it as a complete joke, and my mom and I took it and ran with it. So we are having passover, with some minor and major changes, celebrating it in our own non traditional way. First item of non tradition is probably the Honey Glazed Spiral cut ham that we're having for the main course. That's the obvious non-kosher item. After that it's all more subtle things. Things that for some jews are NOT kosher for passover but for other jews ARE kosher for passover, all depending on regions and traditions. We're starting our own. :)

Wish me luck... I still have to find enough chairs and table space for my guests and hope the doggies are tired enough to not harass everyone. (pictures of the puppies can generally be found at http://moblog.co.uk/blog/ilanna )

have a great holiday weekend everyone!

Thursday, April 06, 2006

quizzes and things..

So i haven't posted in a loooong time. I usually tend not to write things out most of the time.

Today I had to take Miss Zoe to the vet... (you can see doggie pictures at http://moblog.co.uk/blog/ilanna ) her eye was glued shut with gunk. Turns out she probably was playing too hard with her brother and may have nicked her cornea. So now I have the dubious pleasure of trying to put antibiotic oinment IN her eye 3 times a day. WHEEEEEE.

Not too much else going on. There's all KINDS of garbage going on with my grandmother's estate and family emotions are running high. Wish I could post it but it's too easily found by people I don't want to find it. If you are curious feel free to ask and I will give you a WHOOOOLE diatribe. :)

and now for the tests. :)
Your Birthdate: January 27

You are a spiritual soul - a person who tries to find meaning in everything.
You spend a good amount of time meditating, trying to figure out life.
Helping others is also important to you. You enjoy social activities with that goal.
You are very generous and giving. Yet you expect very little in return.

Your strength: Getting along with anyone and everyone

Your weakness: Needing a good amount of downtime to recharge

Your power color: Cobalt blue

Your power symbol: Dove

Your power month: September


I agree with everything - except the spiritual and meditative thing - I HATE meditating - waaaay too practical. :)

and....

You Are a Hunter Soul

You are driven and ambitious - totally self motiviated to succeed
Actively working to acheive what you want, you are skillful in many areas.
You are a natural predator with strong instincts ... and more than a little demanding.
You are creative, energetic, and an extremely powerful force.

An outdoors person, you like animals and relate to them better than people.
You tend to have an explosive personality, but also a good sense of humor.
People sometimes see you as arrogant or a know it all.
You tend to be a bit of a loner, though you hate to be alone.

Souls you are most compatible with: Seeker Soul and Peacemaker Soul