9.28.2013

Tweet summary on 09-28-2013 for the past day

9.25.2013

Tweet summary back in action

I finally got some time to update my daily tweet summary tool to work with twitter's v1.1 api.  My tool was out of commission for a couple of months after they updated their API and while I was dealing with the LoneStarCon3 Art Show stuff.

The Art Show is in a waiting mode, so I spent some time finding the problems.  Now I need to do some work on making it more robust.  I'll be alternating between that and working on my Art Show Helper, adding features and fixing issues that came up at WorldCon.

Now I just need to do some more tweeting.  I'll be prepping some tweets this weekend.  And I need to start boosting my ArtFire store some more.

Volleyball, 2-0

We played the first round of playoffs versus "Way Out" last night.  We played pretty well.  The first game, we led, then trailed, then led again.  It wasn't a neck-and-neck game, but not a blowout, either.  The second game, I think we led from the beginning, or close to it.  We had a fairly comfortable margin.

My serve was not spectacular, but it was okay.  I felt my play was pretty good last night.

Next week: the rest of the playoffs

Tweet summary on 09-25-2013 for the past day

9.23.2013

Lunching Out: Main Street Bistro

Tried a place in old League City on Friday: Main Street Bistro.  Pretty decent place.  It felt almost like a tea room, probably because of the numerous all-female tables.  But, the decor was far more masculine than I would expect from a tea room.  There was also a table of male League City cops on their lunch break.

They've apparently (according to a blurb on the chalkboard for specials) been in business for about a year.  They do seem to be doing a good business.

My choice for the day was fish tacos, with a side order of their green beans.  I was hoping they had not run out of tortillas.

The food came out quickly and was quite good.  The green beans were perfectly cooked, and were more than just green beans.  It had a variety of beans, with some onions and mushrooms.  The fish tacos were good, and I got both of them.



I had enough room for dessert, so I ordered the pecan tart.  It comes with a cinnamon sweet potato whipped cream, and I did not think it worked very well with the tart.  The pecans appear to be native pecans, based on their size, but that could change from time to time, I'd guess.  The pastry for the tar was too brittle for something of that size.  I think a cream cheese crust would work better.


The total bill ran around $20 for the food, plus an iced tea.

I'd go back there.  I'd try the Lemon Panacotta for dessert next time.

Main St Bistro on Urbanspoon

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Main Street Bistro
Aikido
Worked on Banana Bread
Worked on Sourdough

Saturday:

Work on LSC3 Art Show stuff
Worked on Sourdough
Aikido
Stopped by mom's
Work on LSC3 Art Show stuff
Aggie football

Sunday:

Work on LSC3 Art Show stuff
Worked on Sourdough
Did a little yardwork
Football
Work on LSC3 Art Show stuff




Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 9/21/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Trey, Dan, Mario, Julio, and Zach

Ukemi:

Full set

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.

Releases:

Did some work with Zach, we got into the first release before the class went into discussion mode.

Techniques:

Not today

Aftermath:

None of note

Aikido Friday Night - 9/20/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Dan, Marvin, Mario, and Julio

Ukemi:

Light set

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.

Releases:

Worked with Mario on the releases all evening.  He was having real issues learning, and I was having issues teaching.  We did make it through all 8, finally.

Techniques:

Not tonight.

Aftermath:

None of note

9.20.2013

Aikido Thursday Night - 9/19/13

Aikido players:  Troy

Ukemi:

None tonight

The Walk:

Not on Thursdays, normally.

Releases:

Not on Thursdays, normally.

Techniques:

We spent the evening on the first 4 of the kneeling portion of Koryu Dai San.  It went really well.

Worked on the "footwork" for Oshi Taoshi, relaxing and extending uke on the takedown, and not applying the armbar until the arm is on the ground.

Gyakugamae Ate:  We played with this how it's supposed to be done, and the Gedan-ate variant.  The Gedan-ate variant is a lot more fun, but Gyaku can be a way to show uke you don't consider him worth your time.

Kote gaeshi: we did not do a complete technique tonight.  I just wasn't interested in taking that fall at the end of a workday.  As uke, I was having issues.  I wanted to raise my right knee off of the mat as I was making my attack.  That changes the response from a kote to a takedown.

After resolving that issue, things went well.

Ryote Mochi Sukui Nage: The issue on this is that tori needs to let uke have control of tori's arms until they reach tori's shoulder level.  Until that point, tori should just be trying to keep his arms pushing out, but without an "active" push.

Troy got to experience the fall when tori ends up with his hands close together.  It's a big fall, not unpleasant, but a bit unnerving.

Aftermath:

None of note. 

9.16.2013

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Pelican Grill
AikidoStarted refreshing my sourdough starter

Saturday:

Blueberry muffins
Run by Home Depot and Frys on the way to my mom's
Aikido
Football
Dropped by my mom's to spend the night

Sunday:

LoneStarCon3 stuff
Football
Grilled out salmon

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 9/14/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Troy, Dan, Mario, Julio, and Zach

Ukemi:

Full set

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.  Then went through some more reps with Dan and Zach

Releases:

Watched over Troy and Julio

Techniques:

Worked with Troy and Julio on shomen-ate

At the end of class.  Troy and I got some work in.  We worked on 1, 2, and 4 of the kneeling Koryu Dai San.  I was not up for Kote Gaeshi, kneeling.  We tried the variants of #2: Gedan-ate and Gyauk gamae -ate.  Tim's now liking the Gyaku variant. 

I then ran through the first 14 of Koryu Dai Yon.

Aftermath:

Felt much better after the session than I did last week.

Aikido Friday Night - 9/13/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Troy, Dan, Marvin, Mario, and Julio

Ukemi:

Light set

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.

Releases:

Did some work with Julio.  We got up through the 4th release.

Techniques:

Did some "punch the dummy" work with Julio.  Then did some intro work on Shomen-ate.

Aftermath:

None of note

Lunching Out: Pelican Grill

A friend who runs my favorite pizza joint mentioned that he was taking over the Pelican Grill several weeks ago.  I figured the deal was done by now, so trotted over to see how things had improved.

Unfortunately, the change in ownership has not taken place.  I don't know if the deal fell through, or it's still to come.  I need to check with the party involved to see what's going on.

This visit did not impress me.  The waiter lack a full knowledge of the menu.  He got confused when I said I wanted the fish in my fish taco grilled.  He though I wanted the taco grilled, not realizing that there are three choices of preparation for the fish in the fish taco.

When my tacos appeared, they'd run out of tortillas?!?  So, I only got one taco.  I managed to time it so they had one tortilla, but not two.  Amazing!  The taco I had was good, and the fries were decent.

The waiter brought out a free bread pudding, completely unprompted.  Luckily, I like bread pudding, so I consider it a fair exchange.  And it was decent, if not memorable.

Off to the side, I heard the owner talking to one of his staff about inventory.  I don't think the owner knows enough to be giving lessons.

I won't be back until a change in ownership occurs.


Pelican Grill on Urbanspoon

9.13.2013

Aikido Thursday Night - 9/12/13

No students, so no class.

9.12.2013

Volleyball, 3-0

Finally, an opponent we could handle.  A relatively new team, and we did pretty well.

If they take 6 teams to playoffs, we're in.  Otherwise, we sit at home.

Weekend update

Friday:

Still off from work
Working on LoneStarCon3 Art Show stuff, shipping packages out
Checking on mom, recovering from broken hip
Aikido

Saturday:

Aikido
Football
LoneStarCon3 stuff

Sunday:

LoneStarCon3 stuff
Football

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 9/7/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Troy, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Zach, and Julio

Ukemi:

Light set.

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.  The worked with Zach some one-on-one

Releases:

Worked with Marvin on his set.

Techniques:

Worked with Marvin on 1-3 of Ju Nana Hon Kata

Aftermath:

Was light-headed at the end of normal class.  Light concussion at some point?  Not drinking enough water?  Too long off the mat?

Aikido Friday Night - 9/6/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Trey, Troy, Marvin, Gail, Mario, and Julio

Ukemi:

Light set

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.

Releases:

Worked with Marvin on his set.

Techniques:

Oversaw Marvin and Mario work on 1-3 of Ju Nana Hon Kata

Aftermath:

None of note

Aikido Thursday Night - 9/5/13

No students, so no class.