8.07.2015

Tweet summary on 08-07-2015 for the past 3 days


Wednesday, August 05, 2015


Tuesday, August 04, 2015

8.06.2015

Aikido Wednesday Night - 8/5/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Trey, Mario, Marvin, and Dan

Ukemi:

Got in my now regular set

The Walk:

Twice

Releases:

I worked with Mario.  Dan and Marvin worked together

Techniques:

Mario, Marvin and Dan worked on 1-5, I think.

Trey and I worked some more on Ushiro Kubi Shimi.  (This is a counter, or interception, of a rear naked choke)  I nailed it once, but generally had the tendency to drop my hands at the end.  If the hands stay in my center and my waist bends, that's ok.  If my hands drop out of my center, not as good.

We need to work with Trey as tori and see if there is something causing me to take back falls instead of front falls.

Keys:

Do the 5th release properly
Stretch but shrink
Arm nearest uke - curved shoulder
Maintain connection as you drop your center a long distance along the leading edge of uke's leading foot.


Commentary:

We've made a schedule switch.  We were Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Since the judo folks did not pay their bill, we have access to more nights.  We did not take more nights, just different ones.  We are now Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  We dropped Friday and picked up Wednesday.

I'll have my first Friday with no class on the schedule in about 7 years this week.

8.03.2015

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Flying Saucer
Aikido
Started refreshing sourdough starter

Saturday:

Blueberry muffins
Refresh sourdough starter
Aikido
Work on ASH
Dinner at El Centinela with K.
Refresh sourdough starter

Sunday:

Refresh sourdough starter
Replace faulty board on the deck
Nap
Baseball
Work on ASH
Refresh sourdough starter

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 8/1/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Trey, Mario, and Marvin

Ukemi:

Got in just a portion of my set

The Walk:

Twice

Releases:

Mario and Marvin worked on them for about 45 minutes

Techniques:

Mario and Marvin worked on Ushiro-ate

Trey and I worked on Ushiro Kubi Shimi from Koryu Dai San.

Aftermath:

None of note.

Aikido Friday Night - 7/31/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Trey, Mario, Marvin, and Dan

Ukemi:

Got in my now regular set

The Walk:

Twice

Releases:

Circular between the 3 folks

Techniques:

Mario, Marvin and Dan worked on Gedanate


Aftermath:

None of note.

Tweet summary on 08-03-2015 for the past 3 days


Saturday, August 01, 2015


Friday, July 31, 2015

7.31.2015

Aikido Thursday Night - 7/30/15

Aikido players:

Mario, Mavin, Gale, and Kim

Techniques:

Ushiro-ate.  Marvin/Gale, Kim/Mario.  Switched off to Mario/Marvin, Gale/Kim towards the end.

Aftermath:

None of note

Weekend update - ArmadilloCon

Thursday:

Up at 4:30 a.m.
On the road at 5:30 a.m.
Stop at Buc ee's in Giddings
In Taylor to pick up Kolaches around 8:30
In Austin around 9:45
Check in to hotel
Off to Central Market for root beer
Aikido of Austin's noon class
Chilling by the pool
Miss the pre-con dinner, dinner with Kimm instead
Set up the Art show, in bed around midnight

Friday:

Breakfast at Kerbey Lane, mildly disappointing
In the art show setting up, hanging art
Discover a bug in ASH selling prints
Dinner ?????
Back at the Art Show during meet the pros, disappointing traffic

Saturday:

Breakfast in hotel
Up early to solve s/w problem, solved in about 30 minutes
Back in Art Show
Noon interview with Rocky and John
Art Auction
Visit Montreal Bid party

Sunday:

Breakfast in hotel
In Art Show
Teardown
Dinner at County Line
Brief appearance at Dead Dog

Monday:

No breakfast
Stop at FedEx, Office Depot and Post Office to mail packages on the way out of town
Fill up gas and grab a snack
On the road home by 9
Home around noon
Paperwork

7.30.2015

Tweet summary on 07-30-2015 for the past 3 days


Tuesday, July 28, 2015


Monday, July 27, 2015

7.26.2015

Tweet summary on 07-26-2015 for the past 3 days


Friday, July 24, 2015


Thursday, July 23, 2015

7.22.2015

Volleyball, 1-2

Opponent : Practice Safe Sets

First game was close, we lost 22-23.

Second game was a disaster, we were down 1-15 at one point.

Third game was 15-11, I think.

That's the season for us.  The next season starts the second week of August.

Tweet summary on 07-22-2015 for the past 3 days


Monday, July 20, 2015


Sunday, July 19, 2015

7.20.2015

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Bovine and Barley
Aikido

Saturday:

Blueberry muffins
Flex inspection
Banking
Car wash
Aikido
Drove to La Porte to look at possible dojo property
Dinner with K at El Centinela
Texas Hold 'em with Dylan, K and C.

Sunday:

Tour de France
British Open
Nap
Ceiling fan at rental

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 7/18/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Trey, and Marvin

Ukemi:

Got in my now regular set

The Walk:

Not tonight

Releases:

Not tonight

Techniques:

Worked with Marvin on Gedanate

Trey and I worked  on standing Koryu Dai San.  1, 2, 3, and 5

Aftermath:

None of note.

Aikido Friday Night - 7/17/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Trey, Mario, Kim, and Dan

Ukemi:

Got in my now regular set

The Walk:

Not tonight

Releases:

Not tonight

Techniques:

I worked with Dan on Gedanate


Aftermath:

None of note.

7.18.2015

Tweet summary on 07-18-2015 for the past 3 days


Thursday, July 16, 2015


Wednesday, July 15, 2015

7.17.2015

Aikido Thursday Night - 7/16/15

Aikido players:

Mario, Mavin, Dan, Gale, and Kim

Techniques:

Back to Gedanate.  Worked with Dan and then Mario, providing a bit of a seminar on the technique.

Aftermath:

None of note

7.16.2015

Volleyball, 0-3

Opponent: Passing Out

5-21, 15-21, 11-15

We were a disaster in the first game, and played better the last two.  I think they also eased up on us.

I did manage to get at least 2 blocks on their big hitter, so there were a couple of bright spots on the night.

7.14.2015

Tweet summary on 07-14-2015 for the past 3 days


Sunday, July 12, 2015


Saturday, July 11, 2015

7.13.2015

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Batanga
Aikido

Saturday:

Aikido
Drove by a possible dojo property in Pasadena
Dinner with K. at El Centinela

Sunday:

Blueberry muffins
Wimbledon
Tour de France
Nap
Installed ceiling fan at rental

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 7/11/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Trey, Mario, and Marvin

Ukemi:

Got in about a third of my set, watched over others

The Walk:

Not today

Releases:

Not today

Techniques:

Mario and Marvin worked on 3 and 4

Trey and I worked on 1 and 2 of the kneeling portion of Koryu Dai San.

Aftermath:

Knees and ankles were quite sore after all of the kneeling work.

Aikido Friday Night - 7/10/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Mario, Marvin, Gale, and Kim

Ukemi:

Got in my now regular set

The Walk:

Not tonight

Releases:

Not tonight

Techniques:

Kim and Mario worked on 13, 14 and others.

Marvin and Gale worked on 11 and 1

Aftermath:

None of note.

7.10.2015

Aikido Thursday Night - 7/9/15

Aikido players:

Mario, Mavin, Dan, and Kim

Techniques:

Took a break from remedial work on the earlier techniques and moved on to 15, 16, and 17.

Issues with footwork on 17 and the spot to throw to on 16.  Also, use of the hip for 15.


Aftermath:

None of note

Tweet summary on 07-10-2015 for the past 3 days


Wednesday, July 08, 2015


Tuesday, July 07, 2015

7.06.2015

Weekend update

Thursday:

Lunch at Bombay Indian Grill with Upstream
Started work on Blackberry/Peach Trifle
Aikido

Friday:

Grocery shopping
More work on the trifle
Work on ArmadilloCon Art Show
Homemade teriyaki sauce as marinade for T-Bones
Aikido
Dinner at King's Bier Garten with K.

Saturday:

Tour de France
Work on Cafeteria Lady Rolls
Work on King's Hawaiian Rolls
More work on the trifle
Wimbledon
Grilled out steaks
Read newest Liad novel

Sunday:

Tour de France
Nap
Burned some DVDs
Worked on ASH
Shark Week


Aikido Friday Night - 7/3/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Russell, Trey, Mario, Marvin, Kim, Dan, and Diego

Ukemi:

None for me, watched over others

The Walk:

Twice, as usual.

Releases:

Worked with Marvin on his

Techniques:

Worked with Marvin on 2, 3, and 4

Aftermath:

Sensei Russell gave me one of his clay aikido sculptures.

Tweet summary on 07-06-2015 for the past 3 days


Saturday, July 04, 2015


Friday, July 03, 2015

7.03.2015

Books read 1/1/2015 - 6/30/2015

31 books read in the past 6 months.  I've finally finished off all of the books I've received by attending World Fantasy Conventions in the past.  I now have to purchase books.  My next set of books are going to be Nebula award winning novels.  Darwin's Radio is the first of those.

As you can tell from the list below, I'm catching up on some series: Campbell and McCaffrey

Asimov, Isaac - Adventures of Science Fiction
Asimov, Isaac - New World Science Fiction
Bear, Greg - Darwin's Radio
Brust, Steven - Hawk
Burroughs, Edgar Rice - The Cave Girl
Campbell, Jack - The Lost Stars: Imperfect Sword
Campbell, Jack - The Lost Stars: Perilous Shield
Campbell, Jack - The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight
Campbell, Jack - The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier: Steadfast
Campbell, Jack - The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier:Guardian
Campbell, Jack - The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier:Dreadnaught
Campbell, Jack - The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier:Invincible
Campbell, Jack - The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier:Leviathan
de Lint, Charles - The Dungeon : Volume 3

Dowling, Terry - Antique Futures
Durant, Alan - Vampire and Werewolf Stories
Gould, Steven - Exo
McCaffrey, Todd - Dragon Harper
McCaffrey, Todd - The Skies of Pern
McCaffrey, Todd - Dragon Girl
McCaffrey, Todd - Dragon's Time

Portis, Charles - True Grit
Roberson, Jennifer - The Lion Throne
Scalzi, John - Redshirts
Stross, Charles - Equoid
Turtledove, Harry - Upsetting the Balance
Turtledove, Harry - Tilting the Balance
Willis, Connie - Blackout/All Clear
Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - Sustenance
Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro -Night Pilgrims



Aikido Thursday Night - 7/2/15

Aikido players:

Mario, Mavin, and Kim

Techniques:


Shomenate was the technique for the evening.  I spent 20 minutes with each person, correcting minor details.


Aftermath:

None of note

Volleyball, 0-3

Played Recreational Buffet in a close match, but lost all 3 games.  19-21, 18-21, and 13-15.  The last two games we had a lead, but blew the last 3 or 4 points in a row.

7.02.2015

Tweet summary on 07-02-2015 for the past 3 days


Tuesday, June 30, 2015


Monday, June 29, 2015

6.29.2015

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Table 7 Bistro
Aikido
Made Chicken and Sausage gumbo for the reunion
Made cheesecake for the reunion
Made rolls for the reunion
To bed around 1 a.m.

Saturday:

Up around 5:45 a.m.
On the road for New Corn Hill at 7:10
Arrive at New Corn Hill at 11 a.m.
Left reunion at 3:30
Arrive home at 7 p.m.
Sleep

Sunday:

Awake at 8 a.m.
Back to sleep at 11
Up at 4

Aikido Friday Night - 6/26/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Trey, Mario, Marvin, and Dan

Ukemi:

Got in my full set

The Walk:

Three times. 

Releases:

Worked on releases 5 and 6, as based on the Walk, all evening.

Techniques:

None tonight

Aftermath:

None of note.

Aikido Thursday Night - 6/25/15

Aikido players:

Mario, Mavin, Gail, and Dan

Techniques:

1 - 4 were the techniques for the evening.


Aftermath:

None of note

6.28.2015

Tweet summary on 06-28-2015 for the past 3 days


Friday, June 26, 2015


Thursday, June 25, 2015

6.24.2015

Volleyball, 1-2

Played last night at 7:00 p.m. (finally a non 9:00 p.m. game)against "Fun Size".  We lost the first game, probably 13-21 or something similar.  We won the second game 22-20 and lost the third 14-16, I think.  We played pretty well, overall. 

I managed to get my first decent spike in a couple of seasons.  No issues jumping, or raising my right arm.  It's nice to be fully functional again.

Tweet summary on 06-24-2015 for the past 3 days


Monday, June 22, 2015


Sunday, June 21, 2015

6.22.2015

Weekend update

Thursday:

Lunch at Hubcap Grill
Travel to Memorial City Westin for ApolloCon
Help set up Con Suite

Friday:

Set up Art Show
Convention

Saturday:

Art Show

Sunday:

Tear down Art Show, Con Suite and the rest of the convention
Pack up vehicles

Monday:

Up early, to hed home.  K. stayed behind to do some final cleaning and move stuff to storage

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Andiamo's
Aikido

Saturday:

Blueberry pancakes
Banking
Aikido


Sunday:

Blueberry muffins
Mowing the rental

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 6/13/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Mario, Marvin, John, and Dan

Ukemi:

Just warm-up slaps today

The Walk:

Not today

Releases:

Not today

Techniques:

Today was John's Nikkyu demonstration.  He and Mario warmed up a bit and then went on to the full demonstration.  Nicely done!

After that, open mat for questions comments, etc.

Aftermath:

None of note.

6.20.2015

Tweet summary on 06-20-2015 for the past 3 days


Thursday, June 18, 2015


Wednesday, June 17, 2015

6.16.2015

Tweet summary on 06-16-2015 for the past 3 days


Sunday, June 14, 2015


Saturday, June 13, 2015

6.13.2015

Aikido Friday Night - 6/12/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Mario, Marvin, John, and Dan

Ukemi:

Watched over everyone else.  Too bloody tired from work to do much else

The Walk:

Twice. 

Releases:

Marvin worked with Dan.  Mario worked with John.

Techniques:

Marvin and Dan worked on 1-8.

Mario and John worked on 1-14.

Aftermath:

None of note.

Aikido Thursday Night - 6/11/15 - skipped

Had an emergency at work, so I had to call off class.

Weekend update

Friday:

Jury Duty - judge ordered pizza from Mario's for us
Aikido

Saturday:

Banking
Haircut
Aikido
Lunch at Habanero's with the aikido crew
Belmont Stakes
Dinner at El Centinela with K

Sunday:

Blueberry picking, just K and I - 33 lbs
Breakfast at Cracker Barrel
Naps
NBA Finals

6.12.2015

Tweet summary on 06-12-2015 for the past 3 days


Wednesday, June 10, 2015


Tuesday, June 09, 2015

6.08.2015

Tweet summary on 06-08-2015 for the past 3 days


Saturday, June 06, 2015


Friday, June 05, 2015

6.07.2015

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 6/6/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Russell, Mario, John, and Dan

Ukemi:

None today

The Walk:

Not today

Releases:

Not today

Techniques:

Russell worked with us on his side-to-side balance drills and his front-to-back balance drills.

Aftermath:

None of note.

Aikido Friday Night - 6/5/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Trey, Mario, Kim, John, and Dan

Ukemi:

Watched over everyone else

The Walk:

Twice. 

Releases:

Kim worked with Dan.  Mario worked with John.

Techniques:

Kim and Dan worked on 1-10.


John worked on 11-14.

Aftermath:

None of note.

Aikido Thursday Night - 6/4/15

Aikido players:

Mario, Kim, Dan, and John

Techniques:

3 and 4 were the techniques for the evening.


Aftermath:

None of note

Volleyball, 0-3

Another sweep by the opposition

Weekend update - Sasquan All Hands meeting

Thursday:

Lunch at Perbacco's
Hobby airport for flight to Spokane
Weather coming into Denver delayed us about 45 minutes
Arrived in Spokane about midnight 30, caught a cab to Montvale Hotel

Friday:

Breakfast at Frank's Diner
Lunch at ?????.  Maybe I just grabbed a nap instead.
Tour of Davenport Grand
Dinner at Post St. Ale House

Saturday:

Breakfast at Jenny's Diner
Tour of Convention Center
Lunch at The Onion
Tour of Doubletree and Historic Devenport
Dinner at Steelhead Bar and Grill

Sunday:

Breakfast at Molly's Family Restaurant
Meeting
Caught cab from Montvale to airport
Arrived at Hobby

Volleyball, 0-3

Started a new season with a loss.  Third game was 16-17

6.04.2015

Tweet summary on 06-04-2015 for the past 3 days


Tuesday, June 02, 2015


Monday, June 01, 2015

5.31.2015

Tweet summary on 05-31-2015 for the past 3 days


Friday, May 29, 2015


Thursday, May 28, 2015

5.27.2015

Tweet summary on 05-27-2015 for the past 3 days


Monday, May 25, 2015


Sunday, May 24, 2015

5.26.2015

Weekend update

Friday:

Ate in the office
Aikido

Saturday:

Blueberry pancakes
Stayed home from aikido - allergies
Slept a good portion of the afternoon
Dinner at El Centinela with K
Rockets on TV

Sunday:

Lazed about due to allergies/cold?
Baked sourdough sandwich bread
Baked peach and blueberry cobblers for neighbors
Made peach ice cream

Monday:

Lazed about due to allergies/cold?
Rockets on TV
Massive storm came through Monday night - lost power 3 times (1 a.m., 4:30 a.m., 5:30 a.m.) 5 inches of rain

Aikido Friday Night - 5/22/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Mario, Kim, John, and Dan

Ukemi:

Watched over everyone else

The Walk:

Twice. 

Releases:

Kim worked with Mario.  Dan worked with John.

Techniques:

They worked on 1-10.


Aftermath:

Was not feeling 100%.  Allergies, I think.

5.23.2015

Tweet summary on 05-23-2015 for the past 3 days


Thursday, May 21, 2015


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

5.22.2015

Aikido Thursday Night - 5/21/15

Aikido players:

Mario, Marvin, Kim, Dan, John, and Gail

Techniques:

Dan and Marvin worked on Hiki Otoshi

Marvin and John worked on Waki Gatamae

Kim and Gail worked on Shihonage

Marvin and Gail worked on Shihonage

Kim and John worked on Shihonage

Aftermath:

None of note

5.21.2015

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at ?????
Aikido

Saturday:

Graduation at Rice for Carissa
Lunch at Val's

Sunday:

Packed for trip to Philly
Drove to IAH for flight
Dropped Carissa off at her house

Monday:

Up early to make it to LeHigh for graduation
Red Robin for lunch
Jules' house - got to meet the dogs and cats
Nectar for dinner

Tuesday:

Drove Val to train station for trip to Temple
Movie with Carissa, Kim, and Mom - Pitch Perfect 2
Back into Philly for flight home
Left 50 minutes late from Philly, arrived at IAH on time

Aikido Friday Night - 5/15/15

Aikido players:

Tim, Mario, Marvin, Gail, Kim, and Dan

Ukemi:

Watched over everyone else

The Walk:

Twice. 

Releases:

I worked with Mario.  Kim worked with Marvin.  Dan worked with Gail.

Techniques:

Monkey in the middle with Aigamae-ate as the goal.  Initial off-balance for a number of reps and then we moved on to actually attempting the technique


Aftermath:

None of note.

5.19.2015

Tweet summary on 05-19-2015 for the past 3 days


Sunday, May 17, 2015


Saturday, May 16, 2015

5.15.2015

Aikido Thursday Night - 5/14/15

Aikido players:

Mario, Marvin, Kim, Dan, and Gail

Techniques:

13 and 11 were the techniques for the evening.

I had folks rotate through as Gail's uke for the evening.  The remaining folks rotated through each other as uke/tori.

Aftermath:

None of note