1.31.2014

Aikido Thursday Night - 1/30/14

Aikido players:  Troy, Dan, and Mario

Ukemi:

Nope, not tonight

The Walk:

Not on Thursdays

Releases:

Not on Thursdays

Techniques:

We did some work on 3-step distance judging and entry for techniques.

We then worked on Hiki-toashi.  We discovered that Mario's shoulders are very, very tight and he taps out very quickly.  Mario got a little work in as tori, still covering the basics.

I didn't get to anything for Troy.  Gonna be tough to do, unless we can get a fourth student in.

Aftermath:

None of note.

1.28.2014

Tweet summary on 01-28-2014 for the past 3 days


Sunday, January 26, 2014


Saturday, January 25, 2014

1.27.2014

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Which Wich
No aikido
Refresh sourdough starter
Gnome-mobile movie start

Saturday:

Blueberry muffins
Stamps at the Post Office
Aikido
Walk with the boys
Work on sourdough
Work on "sourdough" doughnuts
Dinner with K at El Centinela
Work on sourdough
Gnome-mobile movie finish

Sunday:

Reorganize bookshelves
Sourdough
"Sourdough" doughnuts failed to rise promptly
Walk with K. and the boys
Work on ArmadilloCon


1.26.2014

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 1/25/14

Aikido players:  Tim, Marvin, Gale, and Zachery

Ukemi:

None today

The Walk:

Twice

Releases:

I worked with Zachery on his.  Starting with 6-8 and finishing up with 1-4

Techniques:

Worked with Zachery on Gyaku Gamae-ate.

Started off with him getting 10 good off balances on the right side and then 10 on the left.  We moved on to him getting 10 good off-balances and eye-flashes on the right side and the 10 on the left.  Finally, we did 10 off-balances, eye-flashes and completions on the right side and then 10 on the left.

Did some work with Marvin and Gale on the arb-bars for Oshi Taoshi.

Aftermath:

None of note.

Aikido Friday Night - 1/24/14

No class due to inclement weather

Aikido Thursday Night - 1/23/14

No class due to inclement weather.

1.24.2014

Tweet summary on 01-24-2014 for the past 3 days


Wednesday, January 22, 2014


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

1.22.2014

Volleyball, 0-3

Last night we played "Way out", another long time resident of the competitive league.  We did horribly, as I expected.  7-21, 14-21, 4-15, or something along those lines.

They only had 4 players to our 6.

Well, it was a fun night, if not rewarding.

1.20.2014

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Cafe Sol Mejicano
Aikido
Refresh sourdough starter

Satuday:

Refresh sourdough starter

Blueberry muffins
Bank errands
Haircut
ArmadilloCon copies
Aikido
Dinner at Mom's with other family
Upgraded Carissa's laptop
Refresh sourdough starter

Sunday:

Refresh sourdough starter
Preliminary tax work
Dog walk
Football
Refresh sourdough starter

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 1/18/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Trey, Marvin, Gail, Mario, and Zachary

Ukemi:

None for me.

The Walk:

Three times.  One extra today.

Releases:

Watched Mario and Gail work together

Techniques:

Trey and I worked on the Tanto Dori from Koryu Dai San.

Ushiro Ate

Uke stabs downward (blade down). Tore steps to left, deflecting the incoming strike with the back of the right hand.  Tore then places his left hand on Uke's right shoulder and steps through
 turning uke, pushing away.

Gyakugamae  Ate

Uke stabs (blade down) at tore's left temple. Tore steps forward with palm facing Uke's eye's, while pivoting away from the attack

Tentai Oshi Taoshi

 Uke slices (blade down) at tore's gut, then stabs at tore's right side (This is a reverse attack.  Uke is attacking with the right hand, but has reached across to the left side of his body before starting the attack). Tore steps forward, blocking swing, then step back and around and to the ground into arm bar.

Ushiro Ate

Uke stabs upward. Tore steps to left, turning uke, pushing away.

Ude Gatame

Uke stabs at tore's left kidney. Tore enters with right arm above uke's, left arm below, stepping around, dropping uke to the mat, and then executing an arm-bar. (On the entry, Tore's right hand must be above Uke's elbow [closer to the wrist].  His left arm must be between the elbow and the shoulder to get a nice leverage point for the upcoming pivot)

Kote Gaeshi

Uke slices across tore's body, then stabs at tore's right side. Tore avoids the slash by stepping back with his right foot, interrupts the return swing, by stepping in with his right foot, steps around into kote gaeshi.

Tentai Kote Hineri

"Aggie Knife Attack"  Uke has the knife hidden in his gi.  Uke extends his left hand into Tore's face, creating space, while drawing the knife.  Tore' takes the extended had and goes into Tenkai Kote Hineri

Shomen Giri Gedan  Ate

This is a failed Shomen-ate.  Tore takes the attacking knife hand and drops it to Uke's thigh.  Tore then applies pressure to Uke's knee, causing a fall.  Tore then takes Uke's right foot and twists with his center to cause Uke to roll over.  Tore then pins Uke's legs together.  Uke then attempts to rise up with his right hand.  Tore reaches inside Uke's arm, extends it, and creates and arm-bar.

Aftermath:

None of note.

Tweet summary on 01-20-2014 for the past 3 days


Saturday, January 18, 2014


Friday, January 17, 2014

1.18.2014

Aikido Friday Night - 1/17/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Dan, Mario, and John

Ukemi:

Got in most of a full set.  Watched over John

The Walk:

Twice, per the usual routine

Releases:

Worked with John on his

Techniques:

Worked with John on Shomen-ate, Aigamae-ate and Gyakue Gamae-ate

Aftermath:

None of note.

1.17.2014

Aikido Thursday Night - 1/16/13

Aikido players:  Dan, and Mario

Ukemi:

Nope, not tonight

The Walk:

Not on Thursdays

Releases:

Not on Thursdays

Techniques:

Dan and Mario worked on Ude Gaeshi.  Split the time evening for both roles.  Had Dan tori for 2/3 of the class, Mario got the rest.

For Mario, we worked on the entry and the response.  Then I had him work on the final footwork without having Dan attached.  The footwork can be problematic and I did not want them in a tangle if Mario mucked things up too much for a safe result.

Aftermath:

None of note.

1.16.2014

Tweet summary on 01-16-2014 for the past 3 days


Tuesday, January 14, 2014


Monday, January 13, 2014

1.15.2014

Volleyball, 0-3

Second match of the season last night, against perennial powerhouse Fandango.  We lost, but did not get overwhelmed.  10-21, 12-21, 12-15.  We played well.  I don't think I had any spikes that went over the net.  And I know I did one back row attack and one fault on a first serve on a sideout.

Not bad, considering.  .500 for the season so far.

1.14.2014

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at CafeExpress
Aikido

Saturday:

Blueberry muffins
Banking
Flu shot
Post Office
Aikido
Toner cartridge
Football
Dinner at El Centinela with K.
Football

Sunday:

DVD work
Football

1.12.2014

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 1/11/14

Aikido players:  Tim, Trey, Dan, Marvin, Mario, John, and Zachary

Ukemi:

Got in a full set.

The Walk:

Twice, per the usual routine

Releases:

Watched Dan work with Zachary, Trey work with Mario and Marvin work with John on their sets

Techniques:

Watched Dan and Mario work their way down from Ushiro-ate to Shomen-ate.  Worked with Mario on Oshi-taoshi.

Trey and I worked on the standing Koryu Dai San : left collar grab, 7th release into rollout, right collar grab,  Kote Kajiki, cross-hand collar choke, 5th release into mae-otoshi, bear hug, failed shomen-ate.

Aftermath:

Beat like a drum.

Aikido Friday Night - 1/10/14

Aikido players:  Tim, Dan, Mario, John, and Joe

Ukemi:

Got in a full set.

The Walk:

Twice, per the usual routine

Releases:

Watched Dan work with Joe on their sets.

Techniques:

Watched Dan and Joe work on Shomen-ate.

Aftermath:

None of note.

Tweet summary on 01-12-2014 for the past 3 days


Friday, January 10, 2014


Thursday, January 09, 2014

1.10.2014

Tweet summary on 01-10-2014 for the past 3 days

1.08.2014

Volleyball, 3-0

We started in a new session last night.  The team decided to move up to the competitive league, so we're in a whole 'nother ballgame now.  However, one of the teams that was in the Rec league for a while is up there with us, and we played them last night.  "Recreational Buffet" was a team we'd had trouble with in the past.  I think we'd beaten them from time to time, but always closely contested.

Last night, we did fairly well.  The first two games we did fairly well and kept a lead for the most part.  The third game, we were down 1-8, and managed to come back to win 15-12.

1.06.2014

Weekend update

Friday:

Lunch at Treebeard's at the Cloisters
Aikido

Saturday:

Blueberry muffins
Bank errands
Aikido
Stopped by mom's to pick up some cables
Worked on family Christmas picture
Football
Cards with the in-laws

Sunday:

Failed attempt at Divinity
Worked on family Christmas picture
Worked on video of Mario and Julio's demonstration
Successful attempt at divinity
Football

Aikido Saturday Afternoon - 1/4/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Trey, Marvin, Gail, Mario, Julio, and Zach

Ukemi:

Did not get any warm-up falls in.  Watched over the others

The Walk:

Twice, per the usual routine

Releases:

Trey and I worked with Gail.  We made it through the fifth release.

Techniques:

Worked with Gail on Ushiro-ate

Trey and I worked on the standing portion of Koryu Dai San No Kata.  We worked on Kote Mawashi, Uchi Tenkai Nage, Gyakugamae Ate, skipped Kote Kajiki, skipped Mae Otoshi and worked on Ushiro Waza Mae Otoshi

Aftermath:

My back was lightly sore partway through the class.  I'm not certain of the cause.

Aikido Friday Night - 1/3/13

Aikido players:  Tim, Dan, Mario, Julio, and Joe

Ukemi:

Got in a full set.

The Walk:

Twice, per the usual routine

Releases:

Watched Dan work with Joe on their sets

Techniques:

Watched Dan and Joe work on Shomen-ate.

Aftermath:

None of note.

Tweet summary on 01-06-2014 for the past 3 days

1.03.2014

Aikido Thursday Night - 1/2/13

Aikido players:  Dan and the newest green belt Mario

Ukemi:

Nope, not tonight

The Walk:

Not on Thursdays

Releases:

Not on Thursdays

Techniques:

Dan and Mario worked on Oshi taoshi for the evening.  Dan getting most of the time as tori, but some as uke.

Aftermath:

None of note.

1.02.2014

2013 in Books

Assassin's Quest - Robin Hobb
Royal Assassin - Robin Hobb
Saltation - Miller & Lee
Dingo - Charles de Lint
All American Alien Boy - Allen Steele
The Star of Life - Edmond Hamilton
Idolon - Mark Brudz
The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity
Liquor - Poppy Z. Brite
Prime - Poppy Z. Brite
Soul Kitchen - Poppy Z. Brite
The Devil You Know - Poppy Z. Brite
Small Gods - Terry Pratchett
Medicine Road - Charles De Lint
Spiderman : Secret of the Sinister Six - Adam-Troy Castro
Scratch Monkey - Charles Stross
The Night Watch - Sean Stewart
Misspelled - Julie Czerneda
Mouse & Dragon - Miller & Lee
The Shattered Vine - Laura Anne Gilman
Ghost Ship - Miller & Lee
Fuzzy Nation - John Scalzi
Commedia Della Morte - Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Borne In Blood - Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Firebrand - Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Still - David Feintuch
Necessity's Child - Miller & Lee
The Lost Stars : Tarnished Knight - Jack Campbell
Limits of Power - Elizabeth Moon
The War God's Own - David Drake
Dragon Ship - Miller & Lee
The Trade of Queens - Charles Stross


Wow.  32 books.  That's the most I've read in a year in a while.  Lots of series (Brite, Miller & Lee, Hobb, Yarbro) and some one-offs.  A couple of anthologies, a couple of collections.

Of those above, the toughest one for me to get through was, I think, "Scratch Monkey".  It required the most concentration to stay on thread.

The most surprising were the Brite books.  But, as I'm on a cooking trend these days, they were a nice fit.

I was pleased with Scalzi's treatment of the Fuzzy universe.

The first book of 2014 will be a collection from the WorldCon in 1997:  "Entertainment" by Algis Budrys.

I'll have more time to read on my commute, but won't have as much reading time during vacation as in 2013.  About 7 of last year's books were read in one week of vacation.  We'll see what the total for 2014 brings and how close I get to clearing off my massive To Be Read pile.

2013 in movies

Wow.  Did I see only two movies in the theatre this year?  I think so, and both of them were "The Hobbit".

I guess that's what prepping for a major convention will do to you.

So, to summarize, I liked the first Hobbit just a bit better than the "Desolation of Smaug"

Maybe I'll get to more movies this year.  It'd take some work to go to fewer.

Aikido Wednesday Afternoon - 1/1/2014

Aikido players:  Tim, Trey, Dan, Marvin, Gail, Mario, and John (Devin showed up for the meal)

Ukemi:

Got in a full set.  Took some high falls from Tim.

The Walk:

Not today.

Releases:

Not today

Techniques:

Did some work on Shomen-ate, Gyaku-gamae-ate with John, Dan and Gail.

Did some reps of Hiki-otoshi with Dan and Trey.

Did some reps of Kube guruma with Trey.

Aftermath:

We had out traditional New Year's Day potluck after the light workout.

Tweet summary on 01-02-2014 for the past 3 days

1.01.2014

Tweet summary on 01-01-2014 for the past 3 days