Good luck candidates!

I just wanted to say that I hope the black belt testing is going well for all the candidates.

I know it can be an incredibly grueling, exhausting and sometimes even disheartening process, but hang in there. I also found it to be one of the most worthwhile, rewarding things I've ever done and it was a priveledge to take part in.

Just remember, we're all behind you and if your ready, you'll make it.

For those of you who are not grading right now, but planning to in the future, it's important to realize that that day can come sooner than you think, so don't wait until your last year to up your training.

Once again, our thoughts are with you Sihings!

Sweet sweet coffee....

Listening to celtic music on AOL radio right now...pretty cool stuff.

And trying to work on my biology assignment. Emphasis on trying:) Tuesdays are now my least faverite days of the week. I only have two classes on Tuesdays, but one is at 12:30, and the other isn't until 6pm. The break I have from 2-6 is just long enough I want to go home, but short enough that I have a hard time justifying the gas....

And my 6pm class doesn't end until 9pm! I tell you, whoever thought up that genius scheme was not a friend of mine! I like to refer to it as my weekly death march, but that's probably being over dramatic.

So ya, I'm sitting here, listening to celtic music, staring at my bio article and drinking coffee, trying not to fall asleep before the death march begins....

I don't know if I'm gonna make it...*gasp*....but hey, at least I have coffee! Sweet, sweet coffee:)

Physics is what killed Einstein...I'm sure of it!

Totally not feeling the blogging vibe today. I just spent the last 4 hours or so doing physics and my brain feels like a pile of jello...

Mmmmmm.....jello.....

As I said, I'm not very focused right now:)

Stupid Physics eating away at my soul!

Oh well..maybe in the end I'll be better off for having done it. I better be:)

Happy Times

So I'm feeling pretty good about life right now.

I got officially accepted into the faculty of graduate studies yesterday...so I'm now officially starting my Masters in January (assuming I graduate:) I'm so excited! A big weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and now all those nights lying awake worrying about it don't seem to have mattered at all. I feel like I'm on the right path and I can't wait to get started. I consider this proof that prayer totally works! Thanks big guy!

My training is also coming along. I've started to devote more time and put in more effort and it feels great! I'm having such an awesome time helping out with the beginer class. Those guys are definatly a source of inspiration.

I'm still working part time scanning things on the micro-ct scanner for the fall and tomorrow I get to participate in a training seminar. I'll learn alot, I'm sure!

So ya...I'm pretty happy with my life right now. Everything seems to be falling into place after years of struggle and doubt. I hope it stays like this forever!

But if it doesn't that's ok, because I'm going to enjoy every minute of it and savour it. Then I'll have awesome memories for when I'm not feeling so motivated:)

Renos part 2

So I was a little dissapointed by the turnout for the renos this week.

At first I was optomistic...people were showing up and working hard, but by the end of the week, we were down to just a couple people a shift.

Sifu Freitag, Sifu M. Playter and myself were at the kwoon until 10/11 at night on Sunday finishing up. I'm not complaining, I'm simply trying to point out that this year, we could have used more help.

I'm so thankful to those who did show up this week, it was great to see you guys out.

This week bothered me a little, because we have over 250 people at this school and only a handful (under 20), came to help out.

What does this say about us as a school? What does this say about us as people?

I understand this was a horrible week to have renos...kids back to school, last long weekend, etc., but sometimes that's the way it goes.

I think what really bothered me was that I always see posts on kwoon talk about challenges and bettering yourselves and becoming better people, but when everyone is provided with an opportunity to actually DO something...no one shows up.

Bettering yourself isn't always accomplished by reading a book or adding something new to your routine. Sometimes you get the most out of giving something for nothing...by humbling yourself and getting down on your hands and knees and scrubbing for hours because you know it needs to be done. You become a better person when you recognize a need and try to fill the void. It takes a lot to give up your Friday night movie night, or to come after a long days work, but it does build on your character.

The majority of the school missed out on a big opportunity this year. You guys had the chance to change something, to build something, to be a part of something...and you missed it.

One of my favorite memories this year was of Sifu Masterson's little boy standing on a pile of mats exclaiming how tall he was to us all....he is such a funny little kid. I'll also cherish the memories of all of us scrubbing the floors together. Nothing brings people together like the mutual hatred of dirt:)

So I hope next year more people will come and we can all build our character and memories together.