& that's the way life goes

When I recapped my belt promotion pretest awhile ago I conveniently forgot to mention that I fell on my ass.  Even after watching it I’m not exactly sure what happened. My foot literally flew out from under me. I’m blaming the plague I had and all the cold medicine I was on. Yeah….

Because I love you and you could probably use a laugh I am sharing it with you.

oops – board breaking fail from rialeilani on Vimeo.

*if you can’t see the video pop out of your reader*

A year ago I survived my black belt testing for taekwondo.  In addition to 2 hours of class testing it also included:

• 150 pushups, 50 situps
• 50 roundhouse kicks (50 each side)
• 5 instances of self defense
• One-Step demonstration
• Poomsaes
• Questions
• Board Breaking
  

Saturday while nursing a pulled hamstring and fighting off a nasty cold I went to yoga hoping to ease the pressure in my chest, as well as the pain in my leg.  I came home and sat on the couch counting down the hours until my third pre-test, I have at most 6 pretests before I can test for my 2nd degree.  With no relief from the 500lbs of weight on my chest and insistent coughing, I called my dad and told him I didn’t think I was going to make it.  He sounded so disappointed I knew in my heart I couldn’t not go.  So I sucked it up, got up off my ass and went to testing.  My intention was to show support for the other students testing but I was talked into testing myself with the promise I could forgo the first half of class testing by helping out holding hand targets.

waiting for testing to start

When Grand Master came in I had to line up.  I still ended up exerting a lot of energy for someone coughing up a lung, including…

• 120 pushups
• 2 poomsaes
• Self Defense
• Board Breaking

I will say that before every testing I will be going to yoga, it helps immensely.  I felt limber and the push ups felt a lot easier to do after all those downward dogs.

It was good that I went, my dad had finally received my official paperwork from Korea and wanted to present it to me at the end of belt promotions in front of all the parents.  One mom told me afterward that he had gotten it the day before and was so excited to give it to me.

demonstration of how i pulled my hamstring in my right leg

elbow strike 2 1in boards

demonstration sidekick

tips from the Grand Master

*all photos courtesy of A.F.*

The past weekend was both long and short. It was one of those weekends that bends time. It was packed with events and errands that made me feel like I was constantly running around, yet I had time to park myself on the couch and mindlessly watch half of Gilmore Girls season 1.

After plans changed multiple times on Friday, Jenni and I went to yin yoga. The best idea ever because my legs and hips have been bothering me lately. Maybe I’m getting old. I didn’t want to overstretch anything because I had my first pretest for my 2nd degree blackbelt on Saturday. After laughing because one of the poses hurt so bad my hip was dying in agony, but I woke up Saturday feeling better than I had all week. YES!

Testing went pretty well. The kids were so cute and couldn’t wait to start. It’s amazing how much and fast they learn.

One of my oldest friends baby shower was on Sunday.  She is one of those friends that I do love because I’ve known her so long but we aren’t very close.  This is the type of event that makes me miss my mom immensely.  I must have done something right because karma was nice to me and I ended up sitting with a couple girls from her work that were easy to talk to.

When I got home C was back from up north and he made me dinner.  It was delicious and we finished off the weekend by watching Rescue Me.

Now I’m just counting days until Thursday, when my LONG weekend begins.  Starting off with Eminem and Jay-Z!

Last night at tkd my dad told me he was leaving and I needed to teach class.  When I asked why he said it was because he pulled an all nighter.  Yes people, my dad can hang better than me and pull all nighters.

When FPD asked why he was leaving he told him because he pulled an all nighter and FPD proceeded to ask if it was with his girlfriend.

Um hello…I’m sitting right there.  I DO NOT need to know this.

My dad laughs and says it’s because he was up all night finishing painting but wishes it would have been with his girlfriend.

Bleach. I need bleach for my ears, eyes and mind.  Seriously.

I have a lot of likes right now so here we go:

• † I like, love more accurately, spending time with some of my favorite bloggers friends: Sarah, Mandy, Jenni, Supergirl.  I like it even more that we shared pain relaxed at Yin Yoga and then chilled with wine on Sarah’s awesome deck with her homemade Pita bread and pasta salad.  ps – your house is so cute, I love the colors! And I also ♥ Slayer!
• † I like bike rides – especially when they involve touring Southwest Detroit with Jenni and Mallory.  I could have done without the helmets though.  Knock 3 times!
• † I like that I got my bracelet I bought from TheShagBag on Etsy
• † I like sparring and getting 2 headshots on my Dad last night. 4 points!  He was surprised the first time and stunned the next.  They were pretty shots too.  He gave me a hug afterward and told me, “It’s about time.”
• † I like that I get to hang out with The Watson.  She always makes me laugh so hard.  Whenever we hang out I always feel a billion times lighter.  I just hope I don’t forget my credit card at the restaurant again.
• † I like having friends that have turned into sisters because I don’t have worry about losing our friendship, I know she will be there no matter what.
• † I like that I’m designing my next tattoo!