Mike, Ethan and I headed up to Sturbridge, MA, Friday around 5:30. As always, we were running a little later than planned, but we arrived at 6:30 before the Clinic with Grand Master Villari started. I had a small travel anxiety attack on the way, but didn't want to take a xanax and possibly be fuzzy for the event. Just closed my eyes and worked on breathing and being calm. Checked into our room - which was as far away from the exhibition hall as was humanly possible - and hightailed it to the hall.

It was very cool seeing Villari in action. He is about 80, but looks like he's in his 60's. He was more soft-spoken than I expected, and I found myself wishing he would speak a little louder. For about 2 hours, he demonstrated techniques specifically addressed for dealing with assaults, and then we would periodically work on practicing them ourselves. It was definitely interesting.

I was feeling tired by then, so while I hated to misse the end, I went ahead and returned to the room. Thank heavens we brought a couple of beers, and I had a vodka nip too. So nice to change, relax on the nice bed and watch tv and have a drink. Then Mike and Ethan came back, and turns out I did not miss much - the clinic ended soon after I left. Ethan went right to sleep while Mike and I finished our drinks while watching tv on closed caption.

( Saturday, we had to get going early.Collapse )
More later, but this is the tournament recap!

Karate was challenging but good. There's a graduation next week, but since I already have all my ranks I don't have to go. Next one for me is May, when I go into the advanced class. That's kinda scary :-D

Coming home was kinda blah though. Everyone is too busy/doesn't know/doesn't care what I'm talking about. Whatever.

Lots of stuff to do - beta-ing, writing, reading the first story I have to record. Staff meeting tomorrow - they're every Tuesday now. Plus I volunteered to update the web page calendar, so Mr. S is going to show me that.

And now I need a snack.

I voted. Ethan voted in the youth vote as well. I was concerned at the line of cars entering the parking lot, but it wasn't bad. LOTS of people, but they were moving everyone along well and I hardly waited at all.

*whew*

Karate class at 12:30. Last night's class was a good one, plus I had my personal lesson after. The lesson was all tournament form and practicing our form for graduation Friday.

Just set Ethan to homework, so I'm going to try getting a little NaNo done. As of last night, I was at 6400, which is probably not great for the average, but it is what it is. We'll see what I get done today!

I have ordered a face cage for my sparring helmet and a pair of shin guards.

I booked a room at the Sturbridge hotel for next Friday night.

All this as now I am registered for the Sturbridge Tournament on Saturday, 11/17. I'll be competing in kata (forms) and sparring. I am really excited and nervous as hell :-)

We are not going to the clinic by Grand Master Villari, it's just too much money. We still got the hotel, though, because my events are at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. I don't want to get up at 6 so that we're there a good hour before my rounds. I'm going to need time to warm up and stretch out. So we'll go the night before and at least save ourselves the hour to get there in the morning. Plus we can be social that evening! :-)

In other karate news, this Friday is the adult beginning/intermediate graduations. Mike will advance to blue/green mid, which is the last intermediate rank, and I will go to blue/green, catching up a rank to him. (We started at the same time, but I missed two graduations so I was two ranks behind. He missed September's grad, so now we're only 1 apart.)

I'll still have one rank to go (the mid that Mike's getting now) but after this, Mike's next graduation will be in June when he moves into the advanced class.

For the next 2 hours (at least), I will be gluing black velvet ribbon onto the brown belts, for their stripes (1, 2, or 3 stripes - indicates rank of brown belt). This is in preparation for the advanced class, one of 6 classes in the kids' graduations tomorrow and Saturday.

Caught up reading here from the last two days *whew*

This week is all about the karate. Missed Monday's class, so I took Tuesday's 1:20 one. Tuesday night, demo team practice. Wednesday night, class. Today (Thursday)took the 1:30 class and tonight have demo team again. TOmorrow is my 2 hours of assisting. Saturday is sparring class. Sunday, I rest.

I'm feeling it pretty good, too. A little stiff and very aware of muscles. I'm feeling better about the tournament - I think at least I'll acquit myself with some dignity. Last night we sparred in class and I was Queen of the Ring (a point on 3 people consecutively). I sparred the King though, and I was out. :-)

Hour and a half at library this morning. Two more Thursdays there. I told her I'm happy to do it next fall.

Going to hit the showers.

From Friday night's master class & graduation. If you don't know what I look like, I am all the way on the left with dark hair and glasses. Mike is right behind me. Our sensei is on the right in the white jacket and black belt.