I am now a Yellow Belt in Tae Kwon Do.  The exam was not very difficult and was an enjoyable experience.  The next belt is Orange and I will probably be testing for it in three to four months.  I am still preparing for my Green belt in Jujutsu which I should test for sometime in the next couple of months.  I just haven’t had the time to get myself up to testing status.  The test will most likely be just me and last around an hour, and if I’m not ready I will probably get myself knocked out from a club swing to my head or something.

Also, now that I am a Yellow Belt in Tae Kwon Do, I get to participate in the sparring classes and hopefully enter into some tournaments soon

  I have been trying very hard to increase my flexibility just for my own benefit and also to increase the effectiveness and correct execution of techniques in tae kwon do and jujutsu.  When I was in middle school I had taken tae kwon do lessons and reached the point of being able to do both side and front splits and having wonderful form on my kicking techniques.  One way I aided myself in reaching that elusive “Split” was through a split machine called the “versa flex” so I purchased one awhile back and just recently brought from Staten Island to my apartment to begin using it.  Right now I am at 130 Degrees and Jessica is up to 160 Degrees.  The goal of course is 180.

Here is a picture of the Versa Flex below:

I personally do not agree with the dean of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs inviting Iranian “President” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak at his school.This is a man that wishes the destruction of not only Israel, but also of the United States.However, I hope every anti-America nitwit out there sees how great this country truly is in that we have such freedoms in this country for such a thing to even take place.Consider what would probably happen if a university in Iran invited President Bush to speak.Enough said.

Sources:

NY Times: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/iranian-leader-seeks-to-visit-ground-zero/?hp

Columbia Spectator: http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/26790

The Question is:  What is one quote that best describes your views on life?

I actually have seven quotes throughout my apartment that I value greatly and feel that they provide a guiding light in moments of doubt.  The one I choose to share today, as an answer to this question is:

“All men dream: but not equally.  Those who dream by night…wake in the day to find that it was vanity:  but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” – T.E. Lawrence

The Question is:  What do you spend most of your money on?

My short answer:  Experiences

My slightly more detailed answer broken down into a list: 

(1)    Tae Kwon Do

(2)    Jujutsu

(3)    Ballroom Dancing

(4)    Flying

(5) The Gym

(6) Acting and Improv Comedy

(7)    Books

(8)    Girlfriend

(9)  Miscellaneous Activities

(10)    Gas

(11)    Food (Cooking is fun )

I try not to buy “things” but rather experiences, skills, and necessities

I had an enjoyable conversation with my Tae Kwon Do Master that lasted maybe thirty minutes.  We discussed Martial Arts in general, Tae Kwon Do, Jujutsu, flexibility and my goals in Martial Arts, including my desire to eventually participate in Mixed Martial Arts competitions like the UFC.  My Yellow Belt Exam is on Thursday, I will provide another TKD update soon after

So I broke my one of my keys (thankfully not in the lock itself) and was locked out of my apartment for a little while.  Never a dull moment, lol.  And don’t ask how, lol, it was pure stupidity.  Someone asked if I could climb into my apartment through the window…nope, on the 3^rd floor so that wouldn’t work, but thank goodness it wouldn’t, I would be very concerned if I could just climb into my apartment through the window so easily.  As for leaving a key with my super…I’d rather not.  It takes trust to leave someone your keys and no one in the building has earned that level of trust yet :-/

The question is:  How do you define yourself?  How does your opinion compare to what others think of you?

I find this question is worded a bit oddly, but I will give it a whirl. 

I define myself through my actions. 

People in general say a lot of things, they try to define who they are verbally or in words in a way that may not be in tune with reality or rather in tune with their actions.  As the old saying goes “actions speak louder than words” and I am a firm believer in that.  My overarching goal in life is to better myself in as many ways as possible and to experience life in as many ways as possible and I think that these two goals are very congruent with my actions.  I can further define myself by philosophical beliefs, but it is much nicer to work with concrete examples, so we will just leave it as “I define myself through my actions.” 

As for how my opinion compares to what others think of me, I do not know.  If they wish to share that opinion here on this blog, they are more than welcome, or they can keep it to themselves, I am indifferent to it either way.

It is time for a rant…

I take issue with people that have a tendency to flake.  I find it disrespectful and in turn my respect for that person takes a nose dive.  It really irks me that if plans are made with a person, not hours in advance, not days in advance, but weeks in advance and there are numerous reminders of that date, they still flake.  I do not understand why they do it, but I just have resolved to no longer make plans with those kinds of people.  It is their personality flaw that they have to work out, and I choose not to deal with it.  Having that personality flaw says a lot about that person, such as they are most likely: Selfish (and not in a positive way), lacking in time management skills, self-centered, disrespectful and discourteous.  If you cannot keep plans, then I believe more than a few hours warning would be appropriate, unless there is a developing emergency (in this instance there was none).

We are judged by the company we keep as they are a reflection of ourselves.  If a person keeps company that embodies character traits that they strive for then that person will only better themselves by spending time with those people.  If a person however keeps company with people with negative traits, then that person is more likely to slowly adopt those negative traits.

I have been taking ballroom dance lessons for over 5 months now and the instructors at the dance studio I attend are encouraging me to enter into dance competitions, specifically an upcoming one in November.  I don’t really think I’m ready yet…

When embark on these journeys, (flying, acting, improv, martial arts, etc.) I always do so with the intent to excel in those undertakings.  In some of those pursuits, such as martial arts, and also dance, you not only excel by either moving up in level or rank or learning and perfecting new techniques, but you excel by challenging yourself through competition.  It is for that reason I told the school when I first began that I would like to compete.  However, I know I’m not ready yet, it is probably still several months away from that point in time, but November is still several weeks away, we will see what happens and I will keep everyone updated