The musings of a weary mind. Conversations on aikido, gardening, cooking, travel and, maybe, woodworking.
Friday:
Aikido
Saturday:
Up and driving to Austin for a family Christmas
Family Christmas
Drove back from Austin
Sunday:
Did some work on the Christmas letter
Did some work on the video for Friday night's aikido demonstration
Football
Aikido players: Tim, Trey(!), Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Julio, and Joe
Ukemi:
Did not get any warm-up falls in. Watched over Gail, Dan, and Mario
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Did a little work with Joe
Techniques:
Watched over Mario and Julio as they worked on their demonstration stuff.
Then Tim had me run Mario and Julio's demonstrations. We did the usual stuff for Yonkyu and they did well. Both earned their promotions.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Posted by Scott Zrubek at 7:50 AM 0 comments
Labels: aikido, clear creek aikido, demonstration, tomiki
Aikido players: Dan
Ukemi:
Nope, not tonight
The Walk:
Not on Thursdays
Releases:
Not on Thursdays
Techniques:
Worked
with Dan on the entry for Waki-gatame, right and left side.
Noted a few things while working with him:
If tori drops the arm he intercepts to armbar height too soon, uke can get out of it.
If tori does not keep the arm he intercepts parallel (roughly) to the ground, the armbar will be tougher to achieve, as tori will have to match the angle of his shoulder to the angle of the arm.
If tori finds he has not ended up perpendicular to uke, he needs to relax any armbar placed on uke before moving to be perpendicular. This is mainly for dojo use in order to save uke's arm. On the street it might work out ok.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Friday:
Lunch at MR Grill in the tunnels
Aikido - awarded Yondan
Saturday
Blueberry muffins
Aikido
Went and made a donation at Bay Area Pet Adoptions (did not bring home another pet)
Lunch at Tookies
Mixed up a number of cookie recipes (Russian Teacakes, Sugar Cookies, Gingerbread Men, Shortbread)
Football
Went Xmas shopping at Home Depot, Academy
Saw The Hobbit at the theatre
Sunday:
Baked cookies
Baked pumpkin and pecan pies
Football
Aikido players: Tim, Trey(!), Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Julio, John, and Devin
Ukemi:
Watched over Gail, Dan, and Mario
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Not .tonight
Techniques:
Watched over Mario and Julio as they worked on their demonstration stuff for this upcoming Friday.
Aftermath:
Trey was awarded his Nidan tonight.
I was awarded my Yondan. Holy crap. I have mixed emotions. I would really like to have done the demonstration for it (that will come in the future), but I understand that the lack of qualified ukes (Trey and Troy have all sorts of issues keeping them from attending regularly recently) has put a crimp in my demonstration schedule.
I do feel kind of undeserving without doing the demonstration, but I will soldier on.
I was stunned when Sensei altered our usual evening schedule and my wife (!) showed up to see me get the promotion. There was lots of subterfuge going on to make the evening what it was.
My student, according to a phone call this morning, got caught up in events at home. So, no class.
So, playoffs were this week. As the first place team, we were matched up against the fourth place team. We won the first game about 25-19. We then lost the second game 24-26. The third game was another close one, 13-15.
Oh well, we should have won. Maybe next season. If we stay in the rec. league that's a possibility. Up in the comp. league? No way. We may move up if there's an opening.
Friday:
Dumplings in the tunnels
Aikido
Saturday:
Blueberry muffins
Aikido
Cleared out some of the back hedge
Sunday:
Worked on Cinnamon/Raisin bread
Was pretty much worthless the rest of the day
Football
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Julio, and Devin
Ukemi:
Got in a few falls before watching over the less experienced
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Worked with Devin on all of the releases.
Techniques:
Worked with Devin on Shomen-ate and Aigama-ate. He picked up on the new stuff fairly quickly.
I then watched over Julio and Mario as they worked on their techniques for their upcoming demonstration. I then worked Devin into the mix as well.
Marvin, Gail, and Dan worked together on their collection of techniques.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Mario, Julio, John, and Devin
Ukemi:
Not tonight, for me. Watched over the other folks
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Worked with Devin on all of the releases.
Techniques:
Worked some with John on Shomen-ate.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Dan
Ukemi:
Nope, not tonight
The Walk:
Not on Thursdays
Releases:
Not on Thursdays
Techniques:
Worked
with Dan on the entries of techniques 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of Ju Nana Hon Kata.
We worked on
Ushiro-ate until my wrists were likely to be bruised. The others went fairly well.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Close-ish games, but we won all three. Combined with results from other matches, this put us in first place for the regular season. Now, time for the playoffs, with us as #1 seed.
Friday:
Aikido
Saturday:
Truck in for an oil change and inspection
Aikido
Did some work on getting the ASH website to have the latest and greatest code
Sunday:
Worked on: cinnamon rolls, and cardamom cinnamon rolls
Football
Aikido players: Tim, Troy, Marvin, Mario, and Joe
Ukemi:
Got in most of a set while watching over Joe and other folks
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
None today for me
Techniques:
Tim had Troy and I work on Koryu Dai San, the kneeling portion thereof. We got through: 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Julio, Roderick, John, and Devin
Ukemi:
Got in full set before watching over the less experienced
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Worked with Devin on all of the releases
Techniques:
We did some work with all folks on the entry to Shomen-ate
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Dan
Ukemi:
Nope, not tonight
The Walk:
Not on Thursdays
Releases:
Not on Thursdays
Techniques:
Worked with Dan on the entries of the first 5 techniques of Ju Nana Hon Kata. We did them until he got 5 good ones for each side. We were working on Ushiro-ate when time ran out.
Aftermath:
None of note.
We played "Shankenstein" this week. The first game had a wide margin, the second was 23-12, or so. The third game we lost 17-15. The games should not have been that close. I know my game was off, but I did get us off to a 7-0 lead in the third game.
We play them next week, for the last non-playoff match of the season. I hope we do better.
Wednesday:
Made 4 pies
Thursday:
Worked on rolls
Went over to V's for Turkey day
Football
Friday:
Leftovers
Went geocaching in Challenger Park with K and the dogs. Saw a small herd of deer on the way to one cache.
Saturday:
Aikido
Football
Sunday:
Slept in
Football
Went shopping for a light fixture for the kitchen
Tried to mow a bit of the yard, ran out of gas, got a small burn while pushing the mower back in
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Julio, and Roderick
Ukemi:
Got in one or two falls demonstrating for various folks.
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Worked with Gail on the releases
Techniques:
Worked with Mario, Gail, and Julio on Ushiro-ate, and Gyaku-gamae-ate.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Julio, and Devin
Ukemi:
Got in one or two falls demonstrating for various folks.
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Oversaw Mario and Gail working together
Techniques:
Worked with Mario, Gail, and Julio on Shomen-ate nd Aigamae-ate.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Friday:
Aikido
Saturday:
Aikido
Aggie Football
Sunday:
Work on the two interior doors that needed painting
Football
Sleep
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Marvin, Mario, Roderick, Julio, Devin, John, and Joe (the potential new student from Friday night)
Ukemi:
Got half of my warm-up set in. Oversaw John, Mario and Joe
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Oversaw Julio and John working together
Techniques:
Dan and Marvin did a run through of the first 5 techniques. A disappointment, not nearly as polished as it should be.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Mario, Devin, and John (had a potential new student watching)
Ukemi:
Got half of my warm-up set in. Oversaw John
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Oversaw Mario and John working together
Techniques:
Worked with John and Devin on punch the dummy and some work on Shomen-ate.
Aftermath:
We had an issue with Mario working with John on the 6th release. Strained John's shoulder a bit.
Dan and I both agreed to cancel class due to our sinus conditions. We figured rest was the better choice for the night.
We played "Volleyball for Dummies" this week. We won the first two games fairly easily, even though we were undermanned. The thirds game was 14-16, I believe.
We had only 4 players for a bit of the first game, and finished the evening with 5.
Friday:
Lunch at Barnaby's
Aikido
Caught a cold/allergy on the way home
Saturday:
Banking
Aikido
Football
Dinner at El Centinela
Slept for 33 of the next 36 hour
Sunday:
Sleeping
A brief appearance for soup and a bit of football
Aikido players: Tim, Trey, Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Damon, and John (Roderick was there but had to go to work before he could get on the mat)
Ukemi:
Got half of my warm-up set in. Worked with Gail as she tried to move from the thick mat to the thinner one. A number of mental stumbling blocks in the process.
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Worked with Gail.
Techniques:
Trey and I spent "Black Belt Hour" working on the first 14 of Yon Kata. Trey has had some more insights into these techniques as he's been uke-ing them for long enough now. The most important thing of all of these is the first off-balance.
Worked with Gail on Aigamae-ate
Aftermath:
Felt horrible. Caught an allergy or something Friday night. Went home and slept for 33 of the next 36 hours.
Aikido players: Tim, Trey, Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Damon, and John
Ukemi:
Got half of my warm-up set in. Watched John and Gail.
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Oversaw Mavin and Dan working together. Made a substantial correction to Marvin's 4th release, changing the footwork.
Techniques:
Oversaw Mavin and Dan working on Waki gatame
Oversaw Gail and John working on Shomen-ate
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Dan
Well, we would have had class, but the guy who owns the building went out for his birthday celebration. He locked the door, and I don't have a key.
We played one of the newer teams this week, and one all three games. The third game was 15-11 or something like that.
Friday:
Lunch at Hubcap Grill
Aikido
Work on sourdough
Saturday:
Sourdough pancakes - I prefer buttermilk, I think
Work on sourdough loaves
Aikido
Sourdough
Football
Sunday:
Work on one of the hallway doors
Football
Sourdough loaves
Peach cobbler
Aikido players: Tim, Troy, Dan, Marvin, Mario, Julio, and John
Ukemi:
Got a couple of full set in and worked with John
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Worked with Mario on the last four
Techniques:
Troy and I both worked through all 8 of the kneeling Koryu Dai San in the "Black Belt Hour"
Worked with John on "punching the dummy" and the beginnings of Shomen-ate. Did some general work on Gedan-ate for a number of folks.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, and Julio
Ukemi:
Got a couple of rolls in
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Oversaw Mario and Julio working together
Techniques:
Oversaw Mario and Julio work on Shomen-ater
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Dan
Ukemi:
Got a couple of rolls in
The Walk:
Not on Thursdays
Releases:
Not on Thursdays
Techniques:
Worked with Dan on the first 3 of Ju Nana Hon Kata
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Tim, Dan, Marvin, Mario, Gail, and Julio
Ukemi:
Got a couple of rolls in
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Worked with Gail
Techniques:
Worked with Gail on Shomen-ate
Aftermath:
None of note.
We played Frank's team last night, and it was as close at it usually was. We won the first game fairly easily. The second game we lost 21-23. The third we won 17-16.
I did not back my volleyball properly and ended up with only one shoe in it. So, I had to play in my hiking boots.
Friday:
Aikido
Saturday:
Up early to drive to Austin, picking up some passengers along the way, for the annual board meeting of ALAMO
Had the meeting
Ate some barbecue
Drove back, stopping at the Omni Hotel in south Austin
Also stopped at Berdoll's pecan store - created a few new customers I think
Football
Sunday:
Football
Did some work on one of the doors in the house
ArmadilloCon this year was a Relaxacon. Just a gathering of friends at a laid back location to talk, play games, eat, and SMOF.
I managed to rule the world in croquet.
K. and I took the boys (Jack and Tank, our dogs) with us for our first trip with them in a long time. The trip to the Hill Country was about 4 or 5 hours, with the various stops we made. The boys travelled very well. They also enjoyed the weekend. We took them on walks, they got to smell different wildlife and plants.
We drove up on Friday, and drove back on Monday. A nice long weekend.
Took a weekend and flew to Alabama for an ATAA seminar.
K. dropped me off at the airport. I had some issues with the metal detectors, but the TSA foud a knife I thought I'd lost. I had enough time to go back and check a ppiece of luggage so I did not end up losing the knife I thought I'd lost.
Got to Birmingham with no real issues, picked up a rental, and drove to Bessemer and to the hotel. When I pulled into the parking lot, my first reaction was "What a dump". My second reaction was "What a dump". My third was "They've got no power". I ended up staying there, but wrote a lengthy note to the national office to let them know how horrible it was.
We had aikido sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I got to work with J. W. Bode and Mike Whitlock. These two have promotion certificates signed by Tomiki. I don't know if they got to lay hands on the man himself, but it's still cool. We worked on hand randori and they showed me issues I had and made suggestions.
I got to work with a couple of folks on O Waza Ju Pon, before they included those techniques in their demonstration for Shodan. I also got to help Kegan work on Koryu Dai San for a bit. Cool stuff.
The flight back was unnoticeable.
We played "Way Out" last night and lost all three. The first game was 21-23, so, very close. The other two were not as close, but not blowouts.
None of us were doing well playing at 9 pm. I hate 9 o'clock games. We play another one next week.
Maybe we'll do better.
Friday:
Started work on some breads
Aikido
Saturday:
Work on coding sample for possible job, had to upgrade my machine's Perl environment
More work on Sourdough and Pumpkin Sourdough
Stop at Home Depot
Aikido
Football
Sunday:
More work on coding sample
Clean up house for an ApolloCon meeting
Football
ApolloCon meeting
Football
Posted by Scott Zrubek at 10:52 AM 0 comments
Labels: aikido, bread, conventions, job, programming, weekend
Aikido players: Tim, Trey, Marvin, Mario, Julio, Zach, and John
Ukemi:
Got a couple of rolls in
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routing
Releases:
Worked with Zach on the first four releases.
Techniques:
I did some punch the dummy work with Zach, and then an intro to Shomen-ate. He did pretty well.
Trey and I worked on some Koryu Dai San techniques: Oshi Taoshi, Kote Mawashi, and Uchi Tenkai Nage.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Tim, Mario, Julio, John ( a new student )
Ukemi:
A couple of warm-up rolls in, helped John with his rolling
The Walk:
Twice, per the usual routine
Releases:
Worked with.......
Techniques:
I can't remember, dangit. I think I worked with Julio on Gyaku gama ate.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Aikido players: Dan
Ukemi:
None tonight
The Walk:
Not on Thursdays, normally.
Releases:
Not on Thursdays, normally.
Techniques:
Dan and I worked on Oshi Taoshi and Hiki Taoshi. Once again, working with me after working with folks of normal height caused issues for Dan. We're working in the section of techniques that's nice to have an outside set of eyes to help correct armbars. I think we got through Oshi Taoshi fine. Working on Hiki, I was feeling something in the armbar that I could not place. He got the armbar, but there was something extra that I've not felt before. I need to try to figure out what it is.
Aftermath:
None of note.
Friday:
Up at 5:15 a.m. to finish packing and get on the road
On the road by 6:30
Stop at Buc-ee's in Madisonville
Stop at Sam's in Fairfield for breakfast
Stop at Russell Stover's in Corsicana for chocolate for the in-laws
Arrive in Addison for FenCon around noon
Check-in and head over to the Art Show, K heads off to Con Suite
Dinner in hotel restaurant with Renee, Kimm, Sara, and K.
Panel on making leather masks
Saturday:
K up early to go to Con Suite
Breakfast at hotel restaurant - going somewhere else for Sunday
Back to Art Show for the day
Make various purchase: con memberships, art, books
Changing our convention plans for next year
Pizza brought in for Art Auction prep
Art Auction - served as a runner, bought a Tuckerization and my first Whelan
Hit a couple of the parties, very, very briefly
Sunday:
K tried to go to Con Suite, but it wasn't open
We went down the road for breakfast instead.
Back to Art Show to help teardown
Got caught in a weak moment by Jeff Orth, agreed to worked KC, should they win. Did not commit to exactly what I'd work. Right now, I should probably not work it. I've got PTSD from San Antonio.
Left the con at 3:30 p.m.
Headed to Athens to visit Kat
Left Athens at 6:30
Stop at Buc-ee's in Madisonville for a bite to eat
Road down to one lane southbound in Huntsville
Arrive home at 11:30, dead tired, greet animals.
Aikido players: Troy and Dan
Ukemi:
None tonight
The Walk:
Not on Thursdays, normally.
Releases:
Not on Thursdays, normally.
Techniques:
We spent the evening on the first 6 of Ju Nana Hon Kata for Dan, since we're still not letting him take falls. He looked pretty good. He was having footwork issues throughout most of the evening.
Troy and I did a couple of reps on the 4th kneeling technique from Koryu Dai San. I wanted to make sure it was fresh in his mind.
Aftermath:
Troy's schedule has just been changed for the drastically worse. He probably won't be able to make any classes for the next 6 months. We need to see if we can get some classroom rime on Mondays or Tuesday.
Check out directly from here. Fast. Secure. Simple.
