Continuing Gumdo

I think I am going to continue doing Gumdo once the summer is over. They do more social things outside of class then taekwondo does. I'm still going to take taekwondo - am just going to do Gumdo additionally. With Gumdo we'll be going as a class to support people in tournaments and when we get promoted we go to a school in Long Island for testing. My teacher's instructor has to facilitate the promotion test and that's where his school is. And another big thing is we're going as a class to Korea in 2 years to compete. I would love to go to Korea and this would probably be the only way I'd be able to do it. It does cost $3,000 for airfare and hotel but I can save up my federal refund then borrow from my 401k if need be.

Another benefit to taking Gumdo is I'm more likely to not skip classes. The workouts aren't as intense, but I still get a workout. And the classes are at a later time in the evening on the weekdays so I don't have to bust my ass trying to get to the school on time. With this set up I can do gumdo on Mon. & Wed. and taekwondo on Fri. and Sat. I can do taekwondo during the week if I want to do 2 classes in a row - but I don't see that happening too often. Having to run around with during the school year with Jazzmin takes it out of me for some reason. And then there is the asthma issue - but I'm hoping it won't be an issue after October.

But the only thing that I hate is spending the money for gumdo - I hate spending money and having nothing tangible to show for it. But I am paying off some bills during the summer so the money that would normally go toward those bills will go toward gumdo instead. So it's not like gumdo is really going to be adding to what I pay out every paycheck.

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Korean R&B - Group: Big Bang

Here are some videos from the group "Big Bang" - I like them. The video at the bottom is one they did in ENGLISH if you don't like listening to something in a foreign language.



THIS SOUNDS LIKE A KOREAN "BONE THUGS AND HARMONY" STYLE SONG. LOL


THIS ONE IS IN ENGLISH

Jazzmin Back from the Pool

Here is my well documented daughter - what a pretty smile.

"The Argyle Sweater" Comic

Unfortunate Baby Names

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A family court judge in New Zealand has had enough with parents giving their children bizarre names here, and did something about it.

Just ask Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii. He had her renamed. Judge Rob Murfitt made the 9-year-old girl a ward of the court so that her name could be changed, he said in a ruling made public Thursday. The girl was involved in a custody battle, he said. The new name was not made public to protect the girl's privacy.

"The court is profoundly concerned about the very poor judgment which this child's parents have shown in choosing this name," he wrote. "It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap, unnecessarily."

The girl had been so embarrassed at the name that she had never told her closest friends what it was. She told people to call her "K" instead, the girl's lawyer, Colleen MacLeod, told the court.
In his ruling, Murfitt cited a list of the unfortunate names. Registration officials blocked some names, including Fish and Chips, Yeah Detroit, Keenan Got Lucy and Sex Fruit, he said. But others were allowed, including Number 16 Bus Shelter "and tragically, Violence," he said.

New Zealand law does not allow names that would cause offense to a reasonable person, among other conditions, said Brian Clarke, the registrar general of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Clarke said officials usually talked to parents who proposed unusual names to convince them about the potential for embarrassment.

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Promoted to Green Belt

I did my testing in tae kwon do last night and I am officially a green belt now! The testing was not easy - actually it was the warm ups that were not easy. I threw up twice during testing due to my asthma, thankfully I made it to the bathroom on time.

I made a mistake doing my form - I get easily confused when I am super tired. I added a yellow belt form step in the orange belt form that shouldn't be there. But he let me do it over again - so that was good. I broke a board with my elbow while it was held vertically on my left side. And I used the trusty ol'ax kick for the other board breaking. I was thinking of using a tougher kick but I was so tired, I opted for the easy way out.

Like the crazy person I am, I stayed for the Gumdo class even though I was super tired. But we primarily worked on forms so it wasn't so bad. I went to bed a little early last night and ended up waking up late as I didn't hear my alarm. I had plenty of time to get ready for work so it was OK. Tonight I have kick boxing - it's the early class (6:30pm) so I will be home early and can rest this evening.

Friday night the taekwondo teacher won't be teaching the class as he is helping to facilitate a seminar in Martha's Vineyard. One of his black belt students will be conducting the class. Hopefully this kid won't get over zealous with the warm ups.
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High Blood Pressure

The last time I went to my pulmonary doctor she said she thought my blood pressure was high enough to warrant medication. While my blood pressure is merely on the high side in the normal range - she still felt it was adviseable that I took medicine to lower it. But instead of prescribing the medication herself she referred me to a cardiologist. Apparently there are some high blood pressure meds that have adverse effects on patients with asthma. And she wanted to give the cardiologist an opportunity to do any other testing he felt relevant.

I initially had an appt. with the cardiologist on Tuesday but he ended up being a no show. I was advised, after they finally tried to contact him to see where he was, that he was called away to another hospital (as his office is located within NY Med. Ctr.). So I was rescheduled for yesterday. Thankfully he opted to grace me with his presence this time. He gave me an ekg and then prescribed a low dose of a blood pressure medication. In a month I have to go back to see if the low dose was enough to control my blood pressure.

The doctor explained to me that, while my blood pressure isn't alarming, if it's left uncontrolled it may lead to health issues down the road. I imagine having high blood pressure causes your organs to work harder and that ends up being the root of problems long term.

Heart issues can cause breathing problems - I am hoping this medication will aid in resolving my breathing issues. We shall see!

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2 Hour Workout

Well, I survived my 2 hour workout last night - 1 hour of Taekwondo and 1 hour of Gumdo. The taekwondo session was moderate - 25-50 of each warm up exercise (push-ups, jumping jacks, crunches, mountain climbers, squat touch, etc.). The rest of the class was spent going over curriculum because there were a few people (myself included) who had to prepare for our belt test this Wednesday. Doing curriculum isn't particularly taxing so the class was doable. Gumdo is never that bad - just get through the warm ups and then do the sword forms.

Unfortunately I have to take two classes on Wednesday too. First I have to take my belt test - which will be done during class. And then after I have to go to Gumdo because they're doing tip testing and I don't want to miss that. Next week, no doubling up on classes. Maybe I'll alternate weeks of doing extra classes, as it is - I already do 5 a week. Doing 6-7 classes in a 5 day period is a lot.

There was this little 8 year old girl in my Gumdo class last night - her brother was in the class and so she was allowed to take it instead of sitting around waiting for him. She takes Gumdo with her age group - so it's not like she doesn't know what she is doing. She is so tiny - she's the size Jazzmin was shen she was 4 years old. She is very cute - but the reason I love her is because she asked me, "Don't you have a little sister that goes here?" She was referring to Jazzmin. I told her no - that was my daughter. And she was like, "Oh!" She just assumed I was Jazzmin's sister - now if that isn't a compliment, I don't know what is!!
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Illinois Photos

Comic

"The Dark Knight"

I saw the Batman movie this weekend. After hearing so much praise for the movie I decided to see it for myself. Thankfully I got free movie passes from work. I went to the first showing on Sunday morning (10am) thinking that Friday and Saturday were really the 'high attendance' days. When I first went into the theater (approx 20 min. prior to start of movie) there were a couple dozen people there, but that's it. By the time the movie started - the entire theater was FULL.

The portrayal of The Joker is every bit award winning as you've likely heard/read in every review of the movie. Heath effectively portrays The Joker as psychotic instead of just a mad cartoon character. You can definitely imagine such a person existing. The Joker is a very engaging character in the movie. You know when he's on the screen that you're going to be fully entertained. Not to take away from the performances of the other actors/characters - but it makes me wish the Joker had even more face time in the movie. I thought it was interesting that they chose Chicago as the backdrop for this movie - I always pictured "Gotham" as being a fictional version of New York City.

If you've ever fancied yourself a fan of action movies (mild or extreme), then you will enjoy this movie. A friend of mine said it's one of his all time favorites - and coming from a movie buff, that says a lot.

The only thing I didn't like was people bringing their pre-school kids to this movie. I just don't think it's inappropriate to bring little kids to violent movies. If they need a booster seat to see the screen - they are too young to be watching this movie. Let little kids keep their innocence for as long as possible instead of encouraging them to be desensitized to violence.
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My Workout Schedule

I have been doing my '5 days a week' workout schedule for the past 2 weeks and it's working out. Though I'd like to just relax after work, this is only for the summer and I can stick it out until the end of August. Actually, I threw up in Monday's Gumdo class - we had to do 100 jumping jacks and my asthma was not having a good day that day. On humid days my asthma is much worse. So I got the dry throat and then the gagging - then it proceeded into throwing up. But I threw up and then went right back and continued with the class. I actually feel better once I throw up.

I was hoping to take 2 classes in a row, for at least a couple of the days, each week. But, unfortunately, my pulmonary doctor doesn't seem to have any immediate solution to my asthma - so I don't know if I could make it through 2 classes. On Tuesday I am getting promoted to green belt in Taekwondo - so I am going to take 2 classes in a row on Monday so I have extra time to practice. We'll see how that goes. If I survive - perhaps I will do it again the following week.

The kick boxing class is fun - I primarily like it because it's filled with middle aged women who aren't in shape. AH YES, MI GENTE!!! Which is not to say I think I am middle aged. lol The workout is hard but at least everybody is struggling just as much as I am and I'm not being picked on for being the worst.

Next month I am scheduled to get promoted to yellow belt in Gumdo. This has to be done by my instructor's instructor in Long Island. So my teacher is going to drive me and one other student to the school. Gumdo is a tight community - there are only about a dozen or so people in THE WORLD who are masters in the art and can instruct (my teacher being one of them). They don't even put the instruction, etc. in writing so it can't be taught by anybody who isn't part of the federation. I like Gumdo - am contemplating taking it after the summer is over - we shall see.
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My New Nephew

Atticus David Shimkin

BORN: July 18, 2008

TIME: 1:05 am

WEIGHT: 6 lbs 15 oz

LENGTH: 19 inches

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For those who want what they can't have...

There is 'Hatorade'....

Next Month's "The New Yorker" Cover

Went to Pulmonary Doctor Today

I went to the pulmonary doctor today and she said that it would take until about October before I feel significant difference re: my asthma due to the cats being gone. She said it takes a long time for the proteins, etc. from the cat to be gone - even with cleaning. So I still have to suffer with my symptoms at this point (still taking the same asthma meds).

She was concerned about my blood pressure - it's always been on the high side of the normal range. She said that shouldn't be the case, esp. since I exercise on a regular basis. She wants me to go see a cardiologist about it and eventually wants me to go on high blood pressure meds. But she wants me to see the cardiologist to get his analysis before doing anything. She said that problems with the heart can also cause shortness of breath and maybe the blood pressure thing is adding to my breathing issues.

So I am going to the cardiologist next week. Let's see what he says. I am not happy that I will have to wait until October to feel normal again. Hopefully I actually DO feel normal by then.

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Mascara 12 Step Program

Sephora is evil. It calls to me with the perfume wafting from the open doors as I exit the subway to go to work everyday. Merely a pleasant scent? Or is it a mind controlling substance devised to get me to spend my money there. I guess we'll never know for sure.

Lately my thing has been mascara. I've tried 5 different kinds in about the past 4 months - thankfully 2 of those were samples. So far Dior Show (waterproof) mascara is my favorite. And judging from the Lorac sales person's facial expression (as she rolled her eyes at the mere mention of Dior Show) - it's most other people's favorite too.

Today I went to buy yet another tube of mascara to try out. I like Dior Show but still wonder if there is something better out there. I use Lorac concealer and foundation so I went to their part of the store - which is where I found the Lorac sales rep. standing next to the Lorac display. I was originally set on buying the fiber mascara (actual fibers that cling to your lashes to make them longer) because I've always wanted to try that kind. But when the Lorac sales rep sought to help me I asked her which one would make my lashes the fullest - and she said their original formula. I was going to walk away with just the original one but I really wanted to try the fiber mascara too. So I went back and got that also.

It begs the question - why do I like 'playing with' mascara so much? Answer: I have no idea. It's not like anybody else notices when I'm wearing a different mascara brand. I just want to find the one I like best. Here is what I've tried:

• Smashbox - bionic (came off during the day)
• Dior Blackout Mascara (came off during the day and not waterproof)
• Blinc Kiss Me Mascara (small, thin brush - I can't use that kind, lashes come out stuck together or just looking bad)
• Sephora's Mascara - forgot which one (clumps when put on as if mascara were old and has thin brush)
• Diorshow Mascara (waterproof) (Like it - no issues)
  

Ohhh I'm such a girl - a post about make-up.
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"Strange Brew" Comic

That's right... they should pay US to listen to them!

"Strange Brew" Comic

This comic is probably funnier to those who travel a lot on business. I printed a copy of this for my boss because lately at least half of his flights have some kind of delay.
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Funny Photo

My sister, Hillary, posted this photo on her blog and I thought I'd put it on mine also. The picture amuses me - the contraption looks ridiculous. And can you imagine the women who keeps working from home (conducting business) while she's getting her breast milk pumped? And think of the model who got this job - what a great addition to her portfolio!

I showed this photo go a co-worker and she thought it was a joke photo at first. Mainly because it's so crazy to pump milk while trying to conduct business.


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Dilbert

Click on image to view larger version.

Astham Update

I don't think I'll be doing a double dose of classes at Tae Kwon Do tonight. I was going to try taking 7 classes in 5 days this week but my asthma has been feeling worse this past week. I just don't know if I could handle doing two classes in a row today. So I am only going to take Gumdo tonight. I have an appt. with my pulmonary doctor next week - hopefully she can do something to help me out.

How odd that now the cat is gone and I clean my apt. that my asthma gets worse?? I think this asthma problem corresponds with the higher dosage of daily inhaler medicine I started taking. Maybe that's why they're so cautious about upping the dosage of asthma meds - maybe too much can cause breathing issues too? I dunno - am grasping at straws.

Asthma = no fun.
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Photos of the Cousins

Ilsa & Jazzmin, no doubt,

'kicking Arnie's butt' in Chess.

En route to Illinois.

The Jazz-ster

Ilsa, Arnie, Jazzmin & Ellie at the car wash.

Jazzmin w/Ilsa's Gi-normous rubberband ball.

Photography by Vallerie
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Boston Bound

Here's a picture Val sent me a few minutes ago of Ilsa, Jazz and Ellie in the back seat of the car - on their way to Boston. Final destination - Western Springs, IL.

Notice the rabbit ears from Ilsa - Dad's influence lives on....



Picture IN Boston at a wading pool...

iTunes -- The Salsa Connection

I've had an iPod for a while but only really used it to upload my CDs onto it. Recently a co-worker of mine copied his whole library of songs onto my iPod and it inspired me to search iTunes for new songs. I actually found about a half dozen really good Salsa songs that I hadn't heard before. Primarily Salsa versions of #1 pop hits from artists famous in Puerto Rico. Salsa is probably my favorite genre of music right now - even though I don't understand too much spanish.

Unfortunately Salsa has gone out of favor with listeners and radio stations now that Reggaeton is on the scene (combination of rap and reggae in spanish). From what I gather, Salsa started to be viewed as old fashion. And my own take on it is Salsa singers rested on their laurels instead of seeking to be creative. So everybody got bored and turned to Reggaeton. So as a result there are less Salsa artists around and it's harder to find good Salsa music. It seems like a really hard task to find more new salsa songs but I am going to try my best.

I'm sure Salsa will make a come back sooner or later. Esp. with the way artists are trying to make the sound more current when creating a Salsa version of their songs. Michael Stuart has always been really good about trying to progress the sound of Salsa with each album he does (that's one of the reasons he's my fav.). Obie Bermudez did some really great Salsa covers - my favorite is his Salsa version fo "Celos". Here is the video of it from YouTube:



Anyway - I hope I am able to find a lot more great Salsa songs on iTunes. Wish me luck!
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