Braindead

Today has taken a toll on me. I played a few hours of Ingress, putting me at a recorded 100km this year. I am far behind.

My two hours of class tonight put me through a lot of physical stress. Bruised shins and forearms from combinations followed by many repetitions of lion dancing. I'm feeling more comfortable under the lion skin but still view myself as a sub-par head. That only means I'll have to practice on it more.

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How I Logged 23km Today

Today I spent three hours playing a video game, and I had a great time during those hours. I walked between landmarks and art pieces, and even stepped into a shop to pick up my favourite incense. All of this took place not in some cyber world of online gaming, but in the world we all live in.

The game I was playing is called Ingress, a location based alternative reality game (ARG). Created by a Google startup lab of Google called Niantic Laboratories this project led by John Hanke is the start of a new type of gaming. The objective of the game is to control portals in the "real" world for one of two factions, the Resistance and the Enlightened. Typical portal candidates are public works of art and places of commune, but there is a wide range of accepted portals.

After three hours of walking up and down King St, I was able to capture most of the portals in Spruce Grove for the Enlightened. I plan to take over a few remaining portals tomorrow and reinforce the links I created between them.

this morning

this afternoon

Today I found the clay in my forge still a bit to wet to fire yet, but I did take the pictures that Mr. Smid asked me to take.

http://flavors.me/lairdchris

Building the Firepot

Today was a large step towards my personal requirement of building and working my own forge. One of the last materials I needed was clay and was told to try the Parkland Pottery Guild. After inquiring with the members I was given a large bag of recycled clay. The only charge was to tell a friend about the guild,  but informed them that I would be telling my crafty mother. They were thrilled.

I've made two forges before but over the winter my air supply, a cheap hair dryer, shorted out.I tried to salvage it but I think I'll need to invest in something a bit better suited. I used the clay to create a better shape to the firepot, the place where the smith creates a fireball. I'll be firing it tomorrow providing the clay has dried properly.

http://lairdchris.flavors.me/

What Am I Doing?

In my blog I have never explained what it is I'm doing. I know many of my readers are apart or know what the I Ho Chuan program is, but I also know that some readers don't know what it is exactly. I think the person to describe it the best is our head coach, Master Instructor Jeff Brinker. I have put all of my requirements and totals on my personal website, which can be found here.

Today I have been improving on the framework I started with, fleshing out the designs I implemented at the start of my first year in the I Ho Chuan. I'm hoping to also expand into YouTube in the next few months, making a vlog as well as videos about jianfa and kung fu as well as my personal thoughts on current events.

One YouTuber that has inspired me to try out the medium is Skallagrim. 

Tomorrow I will be sharing my progress on my personal requirements as well as how I plan to incorporate them into the I Ho Chuan as well as the kwoon.

No Excuse for Inactivity (A Late Canada Day Entry)

During the meeting on Saturday one of the topics that bothered me the most was blogging. Not because of the topic itself, but how I have not been engaged with my journalling. To try and rectify this I will be posting a blog each weekday this week, then return to blogging each Sunday.

Canada Day was a major highlight for this year, performing in a lion dance for 77 new Canadians, the challenge of modifying my jian form and the hard work that everyone put into the day have given me a boost that should carry me until bootcamp. Although I had accepted the challenge to log 1000 pushups and situps, I only achieved 100 of each. After the demo I went to the Spruce Grove celebrations and caught up with some old friends. Later in the evening I was tasked with calming Hawksley, my border collie, during the fireworks.

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http://tinyurl.com/my-totals

It's All in the Numbers

Today I realized I need a new way of logging my numbers. Currently I write them on my chalkboard during they day then input them into a .txt file. Because of human error I have missed days of logs but accept the consequences. Later this evening I will be looking through various apps for my Android tomorrow will be transferring all my numbers.

Today I was also curious at my progress of my pushups and situps. After doing the math I find myself much further than I thought I was. However my other numbers are pitiful. This next week looks promising for my health, I have an appointment with my GP on Tuesday and I think some questions will finally be answered.

I know my blogs have been lacking, and that I have to change my attitude about them. I have many ideas that I will hopefully be implementing in a few months if not earlier.

Totals:

Pushups: 13350
Situps: 13230
KM: 45
Kempo: 76
Jian Form: 177
Acts of Kindness: 160
Rounds of Sparring: 13

Am I on the Path?

I will admit I knew about my problem with blogging. It's something that I find reluctant in thought but once it's actually done I feel better. My life was in a very low spot, and I felt the only thing that could help me was to focus on what I was doing or what I wasn't doing, not what I could do. At the same time how ever I find myself thinking about the plan of action I will need to take to have a successful year.

I believe I have already failed one of my personal requirements. I had planned to have Scott Rodell teach a swordsmanship seminar for the kwoon, but I find myself in a place where I can not make it a reality this year. However at the Horse Team meeting on Saturday I will present my plan to try and not fail it in it's entirety.

Another problem that I have been encountering are the dated requirements. I know I did not learn Mastery by Stewart Emery with in the time I was supposed to but I have only a few sentences left. I will have it memorized by the meeting on Saturday.