Guests

Today, my daughter who is visiting and I drove out to the stable to ride. She has not been astride a horse since she was a girl almost 20 years ago. I groomed and saddled Tamarra and then she rode, first along the rail and then performed some figure eights. I trotted at the end of the lunge rope trying to improve my posting and get my legs in the proper position. We spent a happy time visiting with my instructor's father and my instructor. Later in the evening, I made a Thanksgiving meal for my husband and me, my daughter and son. We had macaroni and white cheese, brussel sprouts with raisin and turkey bacon, lettuce salad with cheddar cheese, tomato and egg, clementines with green celery and delicious plain yogurt topped with raspberries and chocolate. For dessert, mini chocolate eclairs. Then my son headed home to rest and my daughter drove to a winter choral concert.

An Unbelievable Sweet Tooth

The last few weeks, I have been unable to resist eating sugary treats. I ate candy bars on Halloween, enjoyed cookies and candy at the store Holiday Open House, nibbled on chocolate chip cookies and lemon meringue pie. I have no discipline to resist mouth watering sweet desserts! However, much to my dismay, I find when I eat carbs and sugar that 1. My mood fluctuates and I get snippy, 2. My blood pressure goes up. 3. If I eat chocolate, I have heartburn, 4. I'm hungry because the highs and lows trigger hunger, and 5. My weight goes up. I watched my carbs today and I feel so much better.

Getting in the holiday spirit

I had planned to take a riding lesson yesterday and then since I was near my hair stylist's get my hair cut for the holidays. However, it was too cold to ride, so I canceled my lesson. I drove to my friend's house and she dyed and cut my hair. We ate lunch together and chatted. About this time, I should pencil in church services, work, hoi jeon moo sool and family events on my calender. Two of my daughters arrive home on Monday. Next week Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, I will be at my husband's family reunion at my nephew's house. About 25 of the relatives will be there. We drive about 40 miles to my nephew's large historic home. He has enough room to seat everyone and for us to spread out. Truthfully, after a couple hours, I am ready to leave and come home. Have had my fill of food, family and football. On Sunday, my side of the family is having a fall get together. It will be at my sister's bounce zone so that the children can play. It is a potluck with everyone bringing a dish to share and their own drinks. A chance to wish the family a happy holiday. I have gone to the store and looked at LED lights and Christmas trees that are pre lit and can be programmed with an I phone. A little too pricey, so we will probably make do with the old. Have to figure out where to place my winter village and Nativity set, out of harm's way. The young cat pulled down the tablecloth under the Nativity last year and Grandma's hand painted ceramic pieces crashed to the ground. Fortunately, her pieces were unbroken, but my pieces were damaged and had to be glued. So I need to figure out a safe place to put them. Just part of getting organized for the holidays.

"Uno!"

Last night, I was training in martial arts and the master asked us to count off! Now the language of choice is Korean and I was the first, so I should have said, "Hana." However, wouldn't you know, that neither "hana" nor "one" came out. No indeed I proudly said "Uno!" Now where that came from I have no idea. And of course, do you think I could come up with the Korean word for one? I drew a blank. Oh well... Finally, after 12 days, the electric range technician came out and let me know that the bottom coil was "blown." I could see that for myself. The bottom line is $69.95 for the diagnosis, between $50 and $80 for the part, and I believe he said "$44.95" for installation. He also noticed that the oven was beginning to rust allowing heat to escape into the range wall, and that it would have to be replaced in the next couple years. It made more sense to drive to the home improvement store and purchase a new range which will be delivered on Saturday. We are having a pre holiday sale this Saturday, so we are working like beavers to get the store ship-shape. It's a tad early to be thinking of Christmas, although I did enjoy browsing the LED lights, pre lit Christmas trees and Christmas villages at the store yesterday. Today, is my lit'l sis' 55th birthday! I gave her a fern and schefflera as a house warming gift for the new martial arts venue. Figure it will provide warmth and good luck!

Willie Nelson

Last week, I happened to read an article in AARP about country singer, Willie Nelson. I was amazed that at age 81, he just received his 5th dan in a form of martial arts. The news came at an opportune time because I had been seriously considering retiring from hoi jeon moo sool. Not because I'm frustrated, I am not, but because I feel I am frustrating my instructor. who is also my brother-in-law. I have difficulty with concepts and visualization and performing techniques. My brother-in-law has tried several different ways to help me improve. And as I told my dad, even as I struggle to improve, I am getting older and less able to jump and do other things. Struggling with the decision to retire, I had cut two identical pieces of paper, writing an "S" on one for stay, and a "Q" on the other for quit. Highly scientific, I know. However, I got the paper with the "S" and then read about Willie Nelson and getting his 5th dan. Now, maybe it will never happen that I am awarded my black belt. But I did achieve the two goals I had set for myself--compete in a tournament and win a medal during my training in hoi jeon moo sool. And most of the time, I enjoy class, except when my brother-in-law says "You always act like you don't know the techniques. Visualize the attack." It bothers me because each class is a new and different day, and perhaps this will be the day that I perform a technique five times correctly without erring, or a light bulb goes off in my head, and I actually do visualize a technique. It is much better to think, "This time I made a mistake," not "Every time I perform 16 low blocks, I err on block 5!" Those thoughts become self fulfilling. Ask any basketball player who misses each and every free throw.

"Thank you for singing so courageously!"

Early this morning, I awoke to the tune "Worn Out." I had set the alarm so that I could attend the 7am church service. There are not many people out and about in the darkness of the early morning. I can sit and ponder my own thoughts or sit in peace without any thoughts at all. The service is familiar and includes much singing. We began by singing, "All Creatures of our God and King!" I must say that so early in the morning my voice is raspy, probably too much sleeping. But about halfway through the service, my voice came into its own. I was gathering my things to leave when the woman behind me asked how my parents are doing. It seems that she used to sit behind them in church. Shortly after, the presider came and shook her hand and then shook my hand and said, "I just want to thank you for singing so courageously!" It warmed my heart. Perhaps the raspiness of my voice was offset by my enthusiasm and love of music!

An Emotional Disaster

Since Wednesday, I have been in turmoil, trying to decide if I want to continue training in hoi jeon moo sool and riding. I was very emotional after last Wednesday's class. My instructor has deferred to another instructor, and he is a tough taskmaster and hard to understand. We do kicking drills for one hour, and I do not do kicking techniques well. On that particular day, no one welcomed to the class, the majority of the students were male black belts and the techniques were difficult. By the time, we separated to practice hoi jeon moo sool, I was an emotional wreck which meant I could not perform the techniques. My instructor berated me. I left the floor after we bowed out, only to discover that the hoi jeon moo class had continued. The other master reprimanded me because not knowing the class had started, I got ready to go home. I stayed for the class, but mulled over the disaster of a class, trying to decide if I wanted to continue training. I thought it a good idea to talk to my instructor before making a decision. He encouraged me to give the kicking class more time and the other instructor said she would interpret for me. Overall the class went better, and I feel that I can train for a bit before making a decision. My instructor said I can always talk to them. To me that is a given--if I have an issue, I am going to make it known. The decision about hoi jeon moo sool spilled over into my riding class. I haven't been to the stable for a riding lesson in three weeks, and the unpredictability of my horse, Tamara, has amplified in my mind. So, I seriously considered canceling my riding lessons also, along with discontinuing the hoi jeon moo sool. However, after last evening, when the adrenaline level was lower, the techniques more understandable, and feeling connected, I came home in a more peaceful mood. I really do enjoy driving to the stable and spending time with my riding instructor and my horse. I continue to count calories and carbs, and so far I have lost 16 lbs. Basically eating vegetables and lean meat or fish, with some fruit and dairy. If I want a dessert, I have lemon tea and a cinnamon graham cracker. Yes, I slip up and eat tostitos or small candies, but generally, I adhere to the life style. I'm half-way to my goal. Another 13-17 lbs, and I will weigh between 124 and 128 which will put me at a normal BMI. My instructor says to increase the intensity of my exercise. I have never put much intensity into a workout.