on the upswing

Umm…hi!

Been a while, hasn’t it? First off, thank you for all your well wishes. The pneumonia, stubborn little thing, has been banished. Unfortunately, allergy season is in full swing. Blech. Better sneezing and sniffling than wheezing and gasping for air though.

Things are generally on the upswing. To fill you in quickly - The Bodies exhibit was just in Pittsburgh, and my co-worker D and I drove down to see it. We’d been meaning to see this for a while, but waited until the day before it ended to actually go. Apparently, lots of other people were slacking too. Witness the line to get in -

Since I teach a gross anatomy class, I was pretty interested in their preservation techniques and how they staged the exhibits. The Bodies exhibit is very similar to the Body Worlds exhibit I saw in Houston, but this one is put on by a different group, and I guess there was some controversy associated with it coming to Pittsburgh.

Then off to the Bay Area for work-related stuff. Busy and slightly brain cell killing, but I love the Bay Area! I got in some great aikido training (the bruises were totally worth it!). And you see signs like this on the BART -

Finally once I got home, look at what was waiting for me!

Mmmm…yarn! My beloved Houston SnB’ers recently had a yarn swap. I was telling Amy that I was just a teensy bit jealous that I wasn’t there to join the fun, and lo and behold, Kelly and the girls sent me a box of bright yarn goodness. Thanks, guys! Y’all know just how to make a girl feel loved

 

business as usual

Back from a quick trip to San Francisco for more aikido goodness. I had a great time; it’s always a treat to train with Kato Sensei and other high level aikidoka. All that hitting and rolling and pounding is plenty exhilarating (and cathartic) even though I always come back from these trips with a bunch of bruises.

Apart from the aikido, there are some things that always seem to be constants when I make my way to the Bay Area -

A protest. I would expect no less as this was in front of an armed forces recruiting office. I sort of dig the orange jumpsuits.

street art in downtown Berkeley

having a good time with the Okester

the ugliest and cutest dog in the world

Something that’s out of the ordinary -

I started my first lace project! Hanami, out of some Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud that I had languishing in the stash. I’m only on the basketweave portion, but I’ve already figured out that I can’t do more than a few rows each time. All those yarnovers and ssk’s take a fair amount of concentration on my part, plus I’m not so used to reading knitting charts yet, so it’s a little slow going. Someone please tell me it’ll get easier

 

battle scars

Hi!  Still here.

Just got back from San Francisco, partly for work and partly for Kato Sensei’s aikido seminar at Suginami SF.  The man continues to astound - he seems ageless and always moves with such efficiency. No wasted movement.   Training was at a pretty high level because there were lots of high-level aikidoka at the seminar.  I had so much fun!  I ended up with several nasty bruises and a nicely swollen knee, but hey, no worries! 

 

happy respite

In an effort to outrun the cold, gloomy weather in these parts, I spent last week in San Francisco.   Turned out to be a pretty awesome trip. 

Thumbs up!

almost daily aikido classes - oh, aikido, how I’ve missed thee!  The Bay Area has one of the most, if not the most, active aikido communities, so it was really great to be able to take some classes with masterful senseis and practice with generous, kick-ass aikidoka.  Hopefully, I can make it out there again soon because Kato Sensei will be coming back to give some classes in a few months.

yummy, yummy food - I think I ate in Chinatown almost every opprtunity I had, much to my cousin’s chagrin.   I also toted a large boxful of Chinese groceries home :)   Don’t laugh.  I did it for my sanity.   Mmmmm…I still think of those noodles and egg tarts.   

family gossip and amusement - I stayed with my cousin.  We weren’t really that close growing up, so it was nice to discover how much we had in common and how much we could talk about now that we’re older.  He has also, I discovered, proudly carried on the family packrat tendencies.  Observe his bathroom cabinets -

Enough toiletries, samples and freebies to give away to a small army.  A lifetime supply of those little little bottles of smelly stuff that you get in hotels.  Disposable shower caps, eye masks, toothbrushes everywhere.  My cousin’s very well-traveled, but he admits he can’t resist the siren song of those little bottles.  My grandmother, who owned an entire dinner service for 8 courtesy of Japan Airlines (when the airlines still used real silverware), would be proud. 

cutest dog ever - Beanie is as lazy as Jean Paul Sartre’s eye, but so cute! 

hanging out with Okee - who always makes me laugh, but who can’t stop being a backseat driver long enough for me to drive his nice, shiny Prius :)   

There was knitting!  And yarn-y purchases!  Stay tuned.

 

now you try

I went to aikido camp last week! Kato Sensei was in town, holding his annual aikido seminar. It was a great experience, as usual. I’ve been to a number of seminars by Kato Sensei now, and I’m always amazed by how economical and fluid his movements are.

Not showy at all, but extremely effective. During the seminar, we did a variety of techniques. There was an emphasis on kokyu, because “much of aikido is based on it.” Described thusly, ” move your arms up in a circular motion, like bringing a glass of beer to your lips.” What’s not to like about a teacher who uses analogies like that?

Each time he would demonstrate a technique, or correct someone’s technique, everyone would halt their training to watch him. Sometimes, he would show off a bit and unleash some powerful throw or pin and then nonchantly look at us and say, “Now you try!” Sure, piece of cake!

There was a pretty good turnout, and there were people who drove in from Louisiana, and even Mexico. One of the more interesting observations I had about this year’s seminar was the dearth of female aikidoka. Apart from me, I think there were maybe three other women there. One aikido instructor from East Texas was so excited to find a female yudansha that he hustled his female student over to meet me. Heh. I don’t think I’m role model material.

So yeah, at the end of the seminar I was sore (as I am sure many others were), tired and my knees hurt from sitting in seiza.  All very much worth it.

 

it’s a lot like dancing

That pretty much sums up aikido for me. Except that I find that I often have two left feet. Today was one of those days. I just wasn’t totally comfortable out on the mats. Sometimes I just need to relax and not think too much. Still, I learn something new each time, and my fellow aikidoists help keep my technique honest.

Today’s class was pretty rough and tumble for some reason. Here’s a standout from today’s lovely collection of bruises.