3.31.2010

Artfire: Spotlight: Boutique Karma

A neat shop with items to ease your eyes, your kids scrapes amd to protect your hands from hot coffee:

Sandan techniques

I've got quite a while to handle these, but I might as well put them in here now.



Suwari Waza Kneeling Techniques (Koryu Dai San No Kata)
1) Oshi Taoshi Tore attempts shomen ate. When uke blocks, tore circles into oshi taoshi.
2) Gyakugamae Ate Uke strikes with right hand to tore's temple. Tore rises with shomen ate to uke's opposite eye.
3) Kote Gaeshi Uke punches at tore's abdomen. Tore evades, threatens eye, throws
kote gaeshi.
4) Ryote Mochi Sukui Nage Uke grabs both tore's wrists and stands. Tore lifts arms, off-balancing
uke, then turns uke into roll-out.
5) Tentai Kote Hineri Uke chokes from behind. Tore frees himself, takes uke downin tentai kote hineri.
6) Shiho Nage Uke approaches from tore's left, grabbing the wrist. Tore secures the
grip, performs shiho nage.
7) Gedan Ate Uke approaches from tore's right, grabbing the sleeve. Tore rises, placing hand on uke's shin.
8) Hiji Kime Uke approaches from the front, grabbing at tore's collar. Tore takes uke's hand, turning into mae otoshi.
Tachi Waza Standing Techniques (Koryu Dai San No Kata)
9) Kote Mawashi Uke grabs tore's left collar. Tore steps back, threatens eye, steps back
again collapsing uke's wrist. Steps forward knocking uke down.
10) Uchi Tenkai Nage Uke grabs tore's right hand. Tore does 4th release. Uke turns back, tore
does 5th release into arm bar, sending uke into roll-out.
11) Gyakugamae Ate Uke grabs tore's right sleeve. Tore steps back, collapsing uke's arm,
then steps forward knocking uke back.
12) Hiji Kime Uke grabs tore's left hand. Tore does 4th release, tore switches hands
into "thread the needle."
13) Mae Otoshi Uke grabs tore's right hand. Tore does 1st release, turns into mae otoshi.
14) Ushiro Waza Mae Otoshi Uke chokes tore with both hands. Tore secures grip, steps under uke's
arms, mae otoshi.
15) Ushiro Waza Tentai Kote Hineri Uke grabs tore from behind. Tore steps to right, straightening arms, breaking uke's grip. Tore grabs uke's wrist into tentai kote hineri.
16) Mune Tori Kata Gatame Uke attacks with shomen ate. Tore steps to right, drops uke's hand to
his foot, falling uke. Tore twists ankle to turn uke over, pins legs,
then takes uke's arm into arm-bar.
Tanto Dori Techniques Against a Knife
(Koryu Dai San No Kata)
17) Ushiro Ate Uke stabs downward (blade down). Tore steps to left, turning uke, pushing away.
18) Gyakugamae Ate Uke stabs (blade down) at tore's left temple. Tore steps forward into
shomen ate to opposite eye.
19) Tentai Oshi Taoshi Uke slices (blade down) at tore's gut, then stabs at tore's right side.
Tore steps forward, blocking swing, then step back and around and
to the ground into arm bar.
20) Ushiro Ate Uke stabs upward. Tore steps to left, turning uke, pushing away.
21) Ude Gatame Uke stabs at tore's left kidney. Tore enters with right arm above uke's,
left arm below, stepping around, collapsing uke's arm into arm-bar.
22) Kote Gaeshi Uke slices across tore's body, then stabs at tore's right side. Tore interupts
swing, steps around into kote gaeshi.
23) Tentai Kote Hineri Uke attempts to draw knife. Tore grabs uke's free hand, stepping under
the arm into tentai kote gaeshi.
24) Shomen Giri Gedan Ate Uke stabs downward (blade down). Tore steps to right, drops uke's hand
to his foot, falling uke. Tore twists ankle to turn uke over, pins
legs, then takes uke's arm into arm-bar.
Tachi Dori Techniques Against a Sword
(Koryu Dai San No Kata)
25) Mae Otoshi Uke cuts downward. Tore steps to left, hand sliding down uke's lead arm
to handle of sword, turning through, sending uke into roll-out.
26) Shiho Nage Uke cuts downward. Tore steps to right, placing both hands on uke's. Steps through, switches hips into shiho nage.
27) Ai Gamae Ate Uke thrusts toward tore's abdomen. Tore steps left, extending uke with
left hand. As uke recovers, tore steps in with ai gamae ate.
28) Oshi Taoshi Uke cuts diagonally at tore's right shoulder. Tore steps to left, hands
on uke's elbow and sword handle, stepping around into oshi taoshi.
29) Hiji Kujiki Uke cuts downward. Tore steps to left, placing both hands on uke's. Tore
switches hips securing uke's grips to tore's hip. Steps through, bringing
sword up uke's gut.
Jo no Bu Jo Dori Techniques Against a Jo
(Koryu Dai San No Kata)
30) Gyakugamae Ate Uke lunges with jo (left side leading). Tore steps to right, parries,
gyaku gamae ate.
31) Shomen Ate Uke lunges with jo (left side leading). Tore steps to left, parries, shomen
ate.
32) Hishigi Uke lunges with jo (left side leading). Tore steps to right, parries,
grabs jo under uke's arm, sends into roll-out.
33) Renraku Waza Hiji Hishigi Uke lunges with jo (left side leading). Tore steps back with right foot,
grabbing tip of jo with left hand. Tore steps back with left foot,
drawing uke forward, grabing jo with uke's arms crossed, sending uke
into backfall.
34) Irimi Mae Otoshi Uke lunges with jo overhead (left side leading). Tore steps to right,
parries, grabs jo under uke's arm, sends into roll-out.
Shichihon No Kuzushi Nage No Kata (Omote Waza) Balance Breaking
(Koryu Dai Yon No Kata)
1) Jodan aigamae Opposite hand release, inside the wrist. Extend uke into breakfall.
2) Jodan gyakugamae Mirror hand release, inside the wrist. Extend uke into breakfall.
3) Chudan aigamae Hon soto hanasu (#1) shortened, pushing towards uke's ear.
4) Chudan gyakugamae Gyaku soto hanasu (#3) shortened, pushing towards uke's ear.
5) Gedan aigamae Hon soto te osu (#2), extending uke into back breakfall.
6) Gedan gyakugamae Gyaku soto te osu (#4), extending uke into back breakfall.
7) Ushiro ryote mochi Uke grabs tore from behind with both hands, pinning tore's wrists. Tore
loads weight to left, then releases with Hon soto hanasu (#1) on the
right.
Shichihon No Kuzushi Nage No Kata (Ura Waza) Balance Breaking Counters
(Koryu Dai Yon No Kata)
8) Jodan aigamae Yon kata #1 fails, tore turns into mae otoshi.
9) Jodan gyakugamae Yon kata #2 fails, tore turns into mae otoshi (both hands on wrist).
10) Chudan aigamae Yon kata #3 fails, tore circles back extending uke, aiki nage.
11) Chudan gyakugamae Yon kata #4 fails, tore circles back extending uke, throws uke with arm
across their chest.
12) Gedan aigamae Yon kata #5 fails, uke turns, tore extends uke, aiki nage.
13) Gedan gyakugamae Yon kata #6 fails, uke turns, tore extends uke, throws uke with arm across their chest.
14) Ushiro ryote mochi Yon kata #7 fails, builds tensions, slips under uke's arm, mae otoshi.

Volleyball, 0-3

It's sad when I start typing the title for my volleyball posts and the only title that is suggested for auto-completion is the title for this post.

Anyway, another solid loss.  We played the other team that sat at the bottom of the rankings.  More close games, but there was never a time, late in the game, when we led.

I managed a couple of blocks, a spike or two.  My serves did not produce any outright winners.

On to next week's match!

From Twitter 03-30-2010



16:54:39: I like it when the check engine light, that came on for no reason, goes off for no reason.
18:21:31: Art show envelopes stuffed. Waiting on stamps and then into the mail. Armadillocon season about to start!
21:47:10: Got beat again in volleyball, 0-3, playing the other last place team in the league. Thank goodness I don't need to win to have fun.


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3.30.2010

Lunching out: Jimmy's Egg

A nearby location of an Oklahoma-based chain.  I had their western omelet with hash browns and cinnamon raisin toast.

The service was pretty good and the food was tasty.  The raisin bread was probably and inch to an inch and a half thick and pretty good.  The omelet was good, too.  The hash browns were crisp, but a little thin to be that crisp.  There were no non-crisp bits of potato.  I like the outside crispy, but I do want some tender bits on the inside.

This restaurant is on my list to return to when I'm looking for breakfast for lunch.

Weekend update

Friday:

Aikido seminar

Saturday:

Aikido seminar
Nidan demonstration
Dinner out with seminar friends

Sunday:

Recover from seminar
NCAA basketball
Dinner at Joe's barbecue
video editing

Spring ATAA Seminar

This past weekend was the Spring ATAA Seminar here in Houston.  The theme of the weekend was: "It's uke's show".

Friday evening we played with some of the releases from Koryu Dai Yon No Kata.  There are options and reactions in there that depend on what uke decides to do.

We also had a Nidan demonstration from one of the members who is shipping off to Afghanistan for the next twelve months and so will be away when his time in grade requirement is met.  He did a really nice demo.

We then went off to a local Chinese buffet place for dinner.

Saturday morning was an open mat opportunity for the first hour.  Trey and I worked with Brad on some of his techniques, trying to give him some suggestions.

The next hour was more demonstrations.  We normally do it in the order of increasing rank (e.g., sankyu, nikkyu, ikkyu, etc), but since I was going to be tori and uke for the demos, Tim Sensei wanted me to tori first for my Nidan demonstration.  I don't remember much of it.  There were parts I thought I left out but, apparently, I was in the zone.  There's one technique, shizumi otoshi, where uke goes flying over my back.  There was a discussion about this technique before the demonstration and bets were placed.  Trey, my uke, was offered $15 to slap my butt as he went over on that technique.  He managed to accomplish it, and we have video proof.  I'll be posting it soon, I hope.

Next was Trey's demonstration for Shodan.  I uke'd for him.  I made a mistake and gave him an out of place attack not to far into the demonstration.  He recovered extremely well.  I'm not sure it was noticed by many folks.  As payback, he gave me a little rougher throw a few seconds later, but I deserved it.  We made it through the rest of the demonstration without any trouble.

I was a little light headed after all of that for about an hour or so.  I'm not sure what was the cause.

We spent the afternoon working on chains of releases (aka Ki Harry, Ki Hara, and Name No Waza).  I got to work with a bunch of folks while exploring all of this.  My brain wasn't fully engaged in it, so I hope my body remembers at some point.  I've got a hand out for reference, and I shot some video, so maybe there is hope of retaining it.

It was a blast getting to work with everyone.

After the seminar, it was dinner time at a local restaurant.  I left after 2 1/2 hours as I had to get home and feed the dogs.  The drinking was still in full swing, so there's no telling how long the folks stayed at the restaurant.

I'm currently in the process of editing the video and hope to have some up shortly.

Now it's time to start learning for Sandan.  At least two years away.

From Twitter 03-29-2010



17:12:03: I'm the featured shop in the guild this week. Here's one of my favorites: http://bit.ly/9zoMYA My shop is here: http://bit.ly/9VpRmI


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3.29.2010

From Twitter 03-28-2010



08:36:14: Still recovering from aikido seminar. Demonstration as tori and demonstration as uke back-to-back wiped me out
08:37:30: Worked with several folks over the afternoon, including the amazing Nick Lowry. Now to take what I've seen and absorb it.
09:41:31: 20% off my items at artfire for the next 2 weeks. Use coupon: GUILDFEATURED. Visit: http://bit.ly/9VpRmI
10:09:37: @kaysea14 Peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, lettuce are all active in our garden. Have to see if anything produces.
11:02:57: A gorgeous silver cuff: AND HERE'S THE matching CUFF: http://bit.ly/aruInc for looking and PLEASE RT! Trying to grow! (via @bellalinda11)
20:53:22: @ConneryBeagle Way to go, ConneryBeagle!
20:54:18: Dinner at Joe's Barbecue. Stuffed baked potato = stuffed human. Blackberry cobbler soon in the oven.


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3.28.2010

From Twitter 03-27-2010



07:00:39: 1st seminar session was neat. Koryu Dai Yon releases and aikido groundwork. More today


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3.25.2010

From Twitter 03-24-2010



06:30:06: Artfire: Featured Shop: Dancing Wind Designs: another gorgeous necklace... http://ow.ly/1pCB5
17:48:57: Volleyball last night, 1-2. At least we were competitive. One of our players had a seizure in the second game. She's ok now.
20:15:31: First pass at mom's taxes done. Not sure I believe the numbers.
20:15:57: 72 hours. No Vlad.
20:56:06: Artfire: my newest piece: Rebel Alliance logo in stained glass. http://bit.ly/c5kdMa http://yfrog.com/j6238usj


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3.24.2010

Artfire: Spotlight Shop:: On Pens and Needles



A Classy Coupe: only $5.  On Pens and Needles

Vlad missing 72 hours

He went on his evening stroll Sunday night and has not been back since.  I hate letting him outside, but he is impossible to live with if we don't.

I hope he makes it back, but I don't expect he will.  I expect some wildlife got hold of him.  He's 16 lbs., but there are other things bigger.

Volleyball, 1-2

We played decently.  All 3 games were close, but we couldn't finish the deal.

One of our players had a siezure midway through the second game.  JSC EMT's were called and the Houston Fire Department EMS came out as well.  She managed to recover enough not to need transport to the hospital.

From Twitter 03-23-2010



16:50:04: Vlad still on walkabout: 48 hours. He may be gone for good....
20:17:41: 48 hours, Vlad's still not home. Odds are low he'll make it back.


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3.23.2010

From Twitter 03-22-2010



19:48:33: @renegade500 It's not that bad. Jack wants to give me a bath whenever I get back from volleyball or aikido. I do wash my face afterwards!
19:50:21: My taxes done and mailed. Now time to work on my mom's taxes.


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3.22.2010

Weekend update

Friday:

Picked up a load of dirt
Aikido

Saturday:

Mowed down some weeds before the rains came in
Read some more of "Oath of Fealty" by Elizabeth Moon
AikidoDinner at Durango's

Sunday:

Read some more of "Oath of Fealty" by Elizabeth Moon

Dinner of fried catfish and sauerkraut with my mom at our placeStarted assembling my Grizzly Tenoning Jig

Lunching out: Papa Fajita's

This could be a repeatable restaurant

I ordered something off of their lunch menu: 2 beef enchiladas, cheese enchilada, rice, beans. With tea, I got out for around $9. That's a pretty good deal.

Chips: Pretty good.
Green salsa:Pretty good.
Red salsa: Pretty good.
Beef enchilada:  Decently flavored beef, the sauce is nothing unusual.
Rice: nice texture and flavor
Beans: nice texture and flavor

From Twitter 03-21-2010



10:07:16: Wind gusts up to 32 mph overnight, 1.8 inches of rain, 38 degrees. The last gasp of winter.
12:32:34: Artfire: Featured shop: Dancing Wind Designs. Gorgeous small bead work. http://dancingwinddesigns.artfire.com
12:36:47: NCAA brackets: The team I had winning it all, Kansas, lost yesterday. My bracket is destroyed.
12:38:17: Aikido. Last training session before seminar and Nidan demonstration. Went okay. Sensei was pleased. I hope I do that well next weekend.


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3.21.2010

ArtFire: Featured Shop : Dancing Wind Designs

Dancing Wind Designs does a wide variety of small bead work.  Here's my favorite one of hers today....

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 03/20/10

Aikidokas: Tim, Trey, Sal, Troy, and Don.

Ukemi: Full warm-up, no big falls. Worked with Don some more on falling.

The Walk: Twice, as usual.

Releases: Worked with Sal on 1-4.

Techniques:

Trey and I ended the class with a complete run through of our demonstrations (minus the Walk and Releases).  I went through mine first.  Some tweaks along the way: kneeling Kote-gaeshi, standing cross-collar grab.

Trey's run through was nice.  Some minor tweaks from uke's point of view.  No real faults, just some improvements.


Aftermath: 7 days until demonstration.  We stayed a while after to clean the mats in preparation for the seminar next weekend.  The plan had been to do it on Sunday, so my schedule was not clear to stay until the task was done.

Quite sore this morning.

Aikido Friday Night - 03-19-10

Aikidokas: Tim, Trey, Troy, and Don (a new student).

Ukemi: Full warm-up, no big falls. Introduced Don to our way of falling.

The Walk: Twice, as usual.

Releases: Worked with Troy on 1-4.

Techniques:

Trey and I ended the class with a run through of the Owaza Ju Pon that we will be demonstrating next weekend.  It went better than last week

Aftermath: 8 days until demonstration.

From Twitter 03-20-2010



08:36:15: Awakened by a face bath from Jack. He’s too cute to kill.


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3.20.2010

From Twitter 03-19-2010



21:36:33: Back from aikido. One more practice session until my belt demonstration. *panics*
22:21:47: My Sweet 16 is going to be, at best, a Sweet 12. Ouch.


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3.19.2010

Top 100 SF movies: the ones I've seen.

found on lillian's blog:

http://totalscifionline.com/features/3809-the-100-greatest-sci-fi-movies

Bold the ones you have seen.

1) Blade Runner (1982)
2) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
3) Star Wars (1977)
4) Alien (1979)

5) Metropolis (1927)
6) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
7) The Terminator (1984)
8) Planet of the Apes (1968)
9) E.T. (1982)

10) Solaris (1972)
11) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
12) Forbidden Planet (1956)
13) The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

14) A Trip to the Moon (1902)
15) Aliens (1986)
16) Silent Running (1972)

17) Brazil (1985)

18) Akira (1988)
19) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
20) Total Recall (1990)
21) The Matrix (1999)
22) Tron (1982)

23) The Thing (1982)
24) RoboCop (1987)
25) Jurassic Park (1993)

26) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
27) A Clockwork Orange (1971)
28) The Fifth Element (1997)

29) La Jetée (1962)
30) Sleeper (1973) 
 31) The Fly (1986)
32) Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

33) Westworld (1973)
34) Mad Max 2 (aka The Road Warrior) (1981)
35) Return of the Jedi (1983)
36) Back to the Future (1985)

37) WALL-E (2008)
38) The Fantastic Planet (1973)
39) The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) 
 40) Things to Come (1936)
41) 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)
42) The Abyss (1989)

43) Quatermass 2 (1957) 
 44) This Island Earth (1955)
45) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
46) Delicatessen (1991)
47) Dark Star (1974)
48) The Andromeda Strain (1971)
49) The Omega Man (1971)
50) Stalker (1979)
51) Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
52) Escape from New York (1981)
53) The Invisible Man (1933)
54) It Came From Outer Space (1953)
55) Godzilla (1954)
56) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
57) Minority Report (2002)
58) Alphaville (1965)
59) Gattaca (1997)
60) The Fountain (2006)
61) Them! (1954)
62) Videodrome (1983)
63) Logan’s Run (1976)
64) Ghost in the Shell (1995)
65) Repo Man (1984)
66) Children of Men (2006)
67) Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
68) Outland (1981)

 69) A Boy and his Dog (1975)  
70) Mad Max (1979)
71) Donnie Darko (2001)
72) Soylent Green (1973)
73) Cube (1997)
74) Moon (2009)

75) Dark City (1998)
76) Starship Troopers (1997)
77) A Scanner Darkly (2006) 
 78) The Quiet Earth (1985)
79) Invaders From Mars (1953)
80) Fantastic Voyage (1966)
81) Barbarella (1968)
82) Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
83) Twelve Monkeys (1995)
 84) Event Horizon (1997)  
85) Independence Day (1996)  
86) Altered States (1980)
87) The Stepford Wives (1975)
88) Serenity (2005)
89) Dune (1984)

90) Primer (2004)
91) Explorers (1985)
92) THX 1138 (1971)  
93) Star Trek (2009)  
94) Flash Gordon (1980)
95) Galaxy Quest (1999)
96) Cocoon (1985)
97) Stargate (1994)
98) Predator (1987)

99) Trancers (1985)
100) Rollerball (1975) 


Only 52.  I need to remedy this situation.

Dining out: Ciudad del Taco

Ciudad del Taco is a taco truck that parks next to the aikido dojo.  I've considered stopping by to try it for quite a while, but my aikido schedule doesn't mesh well with an eating schedule.  Last night was a good opportunity as there was nothing pressing on my plate.  I drove up to the dojo and found the fuschia truck parked in it's proper spot.  Since I only go to the dojo on Fridays and Saturdays, I had no clue whether the truck would be there or not.

I wanted to get this sampled before next weekend when the dojo is having a seminar.  Saturday lunch plans are currently up in the air and my hope was that this truck would be a great possibility.

Here's what I ordered:

Chicken taco: corn tortilla, but not much flavor.  The cilantro and onions were fresh, but the chicken was flavorless and overcooked

Fajita taco:  Not the normal fajita beef seen at the local restaurants, but a shredded beef.  Not very flavorful

Pork (pastor) gordita: Once again, not much flavor.

They also supplied a green sauce and a halved lime.  The green sauce helped counteract the dryness of the meat, but that's about it.

Also, no major intestinal repercussions so far, so I thinks it's safe to eat.  Kind of bland, but safe.  I can now talk from knowledge about the truck when planning next Saturday's meal.

From Twitter 03-18-2010



Artfire: Spotlight shop is : http://onpensandneedles.artfire.com Needlework and woodworking
Artfire: Featured Shop: http://liquidambar.artfire.com Dichroic glass mixed with ceramics.
Ciudad del Taco, a taco truck near the dojo, is ok, but underwhelming. No flavor. And the food’s about the same.


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3.18.2010

Artfire: Spotlight: On Pens and Needles

This week's spotlight shop is On Pens and Needles.  They're a husband and wife team that do knitting and woodworking.  This is a neat clock they've done...

Volleyball, 0-3

Another winless night, this time against Fandango.  They had a subsitute on their team this week.  It turns out she was the daughter of a guy I played against, on a regular basis, years ago.

I think it's safe to say you're getting old when your opponents are the children of your former opponents.  I look forward to the day when I can say you're getting old when your opponents are the grandchildren of your former opponents.

3.16.2010

Assembling a Powermatic 719t

I purchased a new piece of machinery for the shop last week and managed to get some of the assembly done last night.  I actually started the assembly yesterday.  I started working on the base cabinet.  Actually, the mobile base for the entire thing.

The mobile base is a universal version.  (Powermatic has discontinued the mobile base designed for this mortiser.)  The mobile base was a little too big in its minimum configuration.  So, I modified the stretchers by reducing their length and by drilling new holes for the index pins.  That reduced the size by a couple of inches.  It's still not perfect, but it is better.


I'd been warned by the salesman who sold me the 719t that it was extremely top heavy.  He's right.  In order to offset that a little bit, I installed some 8x16x2 cinder blocks in the interior of the base cabinet.  It's probably about 35 lbs of weight in the base.  The main bulk of the machine is around 250lbs, so it doesn't help too much.

As stated, the main body of the machine weighs around 250lbs.  Somehow I had to get it from its packing crate up to the top of the base cabinet.  I might have been easier if I'd started with it higher than it needed to be and worked down to the correct height, but I worked from the ground up.

It would have been great if I'd been able to just lift the thing, but my wife and I were not able to do that.  So, we had to find some mechanical advantages to use.  After scouring the shop and various nearby spots, we found a supply of cinder blocks and 2"x6" and 2"x4" lumber.  So began the process of tilting the machine back and forth, sliding the lumber under one edge of the base and then the other.  When we got it to a sufficient height, we'd slide some cinder blocks under it, remove the lumber, readjust the machine so that it was supported by more cinder blocks and then repeat the process.

We got the machine up on two stacks of 3 cinder blocks each.  At that point, it was level with the top of the base cabinet.  We applied some wax to the top of the base cabinet and slid the machine from the cinder blocks to the base cabinet.

Then we secured the top to the base with the supplied bolts.  We had to put a flashlight inside the base cabinet so that we could tell when the holes in the base were lined up with the holes in the top.  A small sledge hammer was used to persuade the top to be in the correct spot.

After that we called it a day, closed up the shop, ordered pizza and chilled.  Final setup and adjustment will be done later this week probably Wednesday.

Total time setting up so far: about 4 hours

3.15.2010

Artfire: Featured shop: Liquidambar

This week's featured shop on artfire is Liquidambar.  They're a husband and wife team that work in clay and glass.  Here's one of my favorite pieces:

Weekend update

Friday:

Aikido

Saturday:

Changed the oil on the two lawn mowers
Helped K. replace a window at her house
Filled up evacuation gas container
Bought 4 bags of mulch
Aikido
Dinner at Durango's
D&D

Sunday:

Made a peach pieSpread the mulch
Moved load of dirt
Grilled out some burgers
Did Spring cleaning on the shop
Started assembling my Powermatic 719t
Dinner of peach pie and ice cream

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 03/13/10

Aikidokas: Tim, Trey, Brad, and Troy. 

Ukemi: No warm-up for me today. Watched over Troy and Brad.

The Walk: Twice, as usual.I then worked with Troy some more on the Walk.  We spent time on the last 5 moves.

Releases: Worked with Troy on 1-4.  I need to get him onto 5-8 next week..

Techniques:

Trey and I ran through more Owaza Ju Pon footwork.

Aftermath: None of note.  One more weekend of prep before our scheduled demonstration.  Will Tim Sensei give us the green light?

Aikido Friday Night - 03/12/10

Aikidokas: Tim, Trey, Sal, and Troy.

Ukemi: Full warm-up, no big falls. Watched over Sal and Troy.

The Walk: Twice, as usual.Then worked with Troy some more.

Releases: Worked with Troy on 1-4.

Techniques:

Trey and I ended the class with quite a bit of work on the footwork for the techniques of Owaza Ju Pon.  We were not doing well.
Aftermath: Two weeks until demonstration.  I hope things improve.

Lunching out: Don Julio's Mexican restaurant (Seabrook)

Not a bad restaurant.

I ordered something off of their lunch menu: taco, cheese enchilada, rice, beans. With tea, I got out for around $9. That's a pretty good deal.

Chips: Nothing remarkable.
Green salsa: None
Red salsa: ok.
Cheese enchilada:  Pretty good, the sauce is the standard.
Beef taco: ok, decently flavored beef.

Cheese enchilada:  There tend to be two varieties of these so far.  This one is the lesser of the two
Rice: nice texture and flavor
Beans: Not a great flavor

Looks like this restaurant is owned by the same folks who own El Dorado.  Not a big surprise.

3.12.2010

Volleyball, 0-3

Another futile night on the court.  We played "Passing Out", a perennial powerhouse in our league.

I managed to get a couple of blocks and a kill or two, but my serves did not get many aces.

3.10.2010

ArtFire: Spotlight Shop: Positively Charming Things

This week's spotlight shop in the guild on ArtFire is: Positively Charming Things.  Check out this gorgeous set:

3.08.2010

Artfire: Featured shop: vabeachquilter

vabeachquilter does some fabulous fabric work.  Take a look at this quilt:

Lunching out: El Dorado Mexican Restaurant

Not a bad restaurant.

I ordered something off of their lunch menu: taco, beef enchilada, cheese enchilada, rice, beans. With tea, I got out for around $9. That's a pretty good deal.

Chips: meh.  Weird aftertaste.
Green salsa: ok, with a little bit of spice
Red salsa: ok.
Beef enchilada:  Pretty good

Cheese enchilada:  There tend to be two varieties of these so far.  This one is the lesser of the two
Rice: nice texture and flavor
Beans: Not a great flavor

It seems a bit like I remember Monterey House.  Not really worthwhile.

Weekend update

Friday:

Aikido


Saturday:

Off to buy supplies for an addition to our existing deck and some mulch
Framed out the deck
Aikido
Dinner at Durango's with K. and K.

Sunday:

Spread out the mulch around the blueberry plants.  Need more mulch.
Build the deck.  5 hours.
Dinner (grilled out T-Bones) with the in-laws
Oscars

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 03/06/10

Aikidokas: Tim, Trey, Brad, and Michael. 

Ukemi: Full warm-up, no big falls. Watched over Michael and Brad.

The Walk: Twice, as usual.I then worked with Michael some more on the Walk.  We spent time on the last 5 moves and then ran through the entire thing a couple of times.

Releases: None today.

Techniques:

Trey and I ran through my Koryu Dai San techniques: kneeling and standing.  We did some major reconstruction on Kote-gaeshi.  I hope I've got it in my brain.  A minor tweak on Shihonage.  My knees were relatively raw by the end of the afternoon.

Aftermath: Abused skin on the knees.

Aikido Friday Night - 03/05/10

Aikidokas: Tim, Trey, Sal, Troy, Michael and Rebecca. 

Ukemi: Full warm-up, no big falls. Watched over Sal and Troy.

The Walk: Twice, as usual.

Releases: Worked with Troy on 1-4.

Techniques:

Did some work with Sal on Shomen-ate and Aigamae-ate. He made some great strides in the initial off-balance.  He's still got some work to do on fuinishing the technique.

Trey and I ended the class with an almost complete run through of his demonstration techniques and of my demonstration techniques.  We ran through 1-17 of Ju Nana Hon Kata on the right side and 1-10 of Owaza Ju Pon for me.

Aftermath: None of note.

3.04.2010

Some weeks....

you're a semi speeding down the highway.  Some weeks you're the armadillo in front of said semi.

Volleyball, 0-3

New season.  Thank goodness I enjoy *playing* the game and not just *winning* the game.  Admittedly, we've not played in 3 or 4 months, so we're rusty.  We played decently, but one of their servers ate us alive.

I hope we manage to win some games, but I'm glad to be out on the court again.

3.03.2010

Artfire: Spotlight shop: Tali's Creations

This week's spotlight shop is Tali's creations.  She's got a wide variety of beaded and semi-precious jewelry.  This is one of the many very nice and elegant pieces she's selling:

Tali's Creations on Art Fire

3.01.2010

Contest winners!

vabeachquilter won the random drawing for a gift certificate to my artfire shop.

One of my regulars, Christopher, won the 1000th post contest, but he already has a copy of the book.  If he doesn't want a second copy, I'll use it in another contest.

ArtFire: Featured Shop : Krystallized

Krystallized is a husband/wife combo that specialize in crystal creations.  Here is one of my favorites from their shop....


Weekend update

Friday:

Aikido
Olympics

Saturday:

Harris County Master Gardener's Plant Sale with K.  Picked up two allspice trees and some veggie plants.
Olympics
Aikido
Dinner at Durango's
D&D

Sunday:

Olympics
Sleep
More Olympics

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 02/27/10

Aikidokas: Tim, Trey, Troy, Mike and Rebecca (two new students from Friday night) 


Ukemi: Full warm-up, no big falls. Watched over Troy and Mike.

The Walk: Twice, as usual.

Releases: Worked with Troy on the first four releases.

Techniques:

Sal and Brad did some work on Shomen-ate and Aigamae-ate.  Off-balances, timing, etc.  We did a little more introductory work with Brad on Oshi taioshi.

Tim on showing the visitors what our style of aikido was all about.

Trey and I ended the class working on Waki gatame, Kote gaeshi and Hiki otoshi while Tim worked with T., M., and R. on the Walk.


Aftermath: None of note

Aikido Friday Night - 02/26/10

Aikidokas: Tim, Trey, Brad, and Sal. 
Ukemi: Full warm-up, no big falls. Watched over Sal.

The Walk: Twice, as usual.

Releases: Watched over Brad and Sal.

Techniques:

Sal and Brad did some work on Shomen-ate and Aigamae-ate.  Off-balances, timing, etc.  We some more introductory work with Brad on Oshi taioshi.

Trey was working with Tim on showing the visitors what our style of aikido was all about.

Trey and I ended the class with an almost complete run through of his demonstration techniques and of my demonstration techniques.  We did my 8 kneeling techniques, 8 standing and the 10 Owaza Ju Pon.  We then ran through 1-17 of Ju Nana Hon Kata on both sides and 1-5 of Owaza Ju Pon for Trey.  He and I were beat after that.

Aftermath: We also had 7(!!!!!) visitors to the dojo.  Potentially 7 new students.  3 couples and one solo guy.  where did they all come from?  How did they all arrive on one night?  The world is weird.