Tae Kwon Do @ MindSay

Well I FINALLY found my thumb drive.  I left the small movies I made of the tourny on my card and of course NOW I can't find my thumb card reader to up load those! 

Please don't mind my funky pictures.  I NEVER take decent pictures.  Even in highschool my senior pictures took the poor photographer who came out of retirement to do my pictures two days to get any decent ones and I was looking a lot better then than I do now!

I'll upload the movie clips of the tourny once I find my card reader!

I am a firm believer of chidlren getting plenty of sleep.  When my kids were babies, I would let them set their napping schedule and eating schedule through out the day.  But they always had a set routine from day one of coming home from the hospital about bedtime.  Since they were babies, bath time and bedtime were about 10 pm.  Killed me cause I also had two toddlers at home and a hubby that worked swing shift.  My evenings consistited of nothing but feeding, bathing, and preparing for various kid bedtimes.  We had to make sure Randy's two girls (the toddlers) had a set schedule in our house because their mother allowed and still does those girls to dictate when they would go to bed.  Starting at 4pm (when my kids where babies) I would start cooking for me and the girls.  At about 5 pm, I would get the girls eating at the table and set the babies up either in their highchairs or their inside car seats with a bottle or finger foods.  After the girl's dinner, it was their bath time so they could have at least an hour or two to wind down after bath time.  At 7:30pm, it was the toddler's bedtime.  I would then wait a hour to hour and half before I started getting my two kids going on their full blown dinner and baths.  They were put down no later then 10pm.

Now at that age my kids didn't sleep through the night till they were almost 1 years old.  Actually Coltin to this day still can't sleep all the way through the night.  He is up at times from going to bed at 8:30 (most nights depending on what we have going on in the evening) at about 1 am to 2 am.  Randy gets soooooo irriate because he is a light sleeper and works 10-15 hour days and hears Coltin.  I managed to negoiate with the males of my family.  I understand Coltin better then I do DeLaney who LOVES her sleep.  Coltin takes after myside of the family.  Early to bed, early to rise, stay up late, can still get up early, if he can't get to sleep he is going to toss and turn, and if he wakes up he has a hard time going back to bed.  His poor lil mind is constantly going and going and going.  The deal is, if Coltin wakes up at 1 or 2 am, he is NOT to come wake me up cause he might wake Daddy up.  He is to get up, go potty, and grab his pillow and blanke and go downstairs and flip the tv on.  If he feels hungry he can grab a snack but NOT eat us out of food.  He eventually goes back to sleep about 3 or 4 am on the couch and can wake up in a realtively good mood.  DeLaney can and will go to sleep with in minutes of hitting the pillow and LOVES to sleep in. 

My kids are now honing big time on tweenie years.  And I know a LOT of kids get up early for various sporting and school events between the ages of 7-19, but at the age my kids are, I don't push them unless they are really into something.  Tae Kwon Do case in point.  We took another long break and just started going back last night.  The kids picked up on everything with in the first evening that we missed the week after testing!  Saturday's class is at 9 am.  Usually not a problem but we drive a half hour to our academy.  I don't make the kids go to bed at 8:30 when they don't have school the next day.  Or if they have something going on and we are running all over hte place and dinner is late so therefore bedtime is late.  I was up at 6 am this morning, because I want to go to TKD but Randy is not into any type of sport really and was pushed hard growing up to do things and then his parents never supported him so he is really against making hte kids do anything sports related.  Randy left me a note asking me to hold off on morning TKD classes till after the kids' First Communion the first Sunday of April.  Saying it isn't really fair that they get no morning to sleep in at all if I wake them up at 7 am on Saturday to take them to TKD and also making them wake up on Sunday at 7 am to go to Mass with Mammo.

I debated and I realized that yes the kids really enjoy TKD and even though we missed out on Leadership this last go around because of the weather and then all of us getting sick and me developing pnemonia basically that Randy has a point.  I would go to this morning's class because I was raised in a household where we, the kids, decieded what we wanted to do out of choices and then our parents supported us.  But they put limits on what we did because of not only money but because we were KIDS!  This Sunday my moms and pops are on a small trip and Mammo can't take the kids to Mass.  It is Palm Sunday and it is the start of Holy Week.  The Priests and Nuns are really going to be watching which kids out of the First Communion and Confirmation classes are going to Masses this week.  Which means I have to suck it up, put a pair of big girl panties on and take the kids to Mass on Sunday and through out this week till my Moms gets home to do it for me.  I only tech have three more Sundays to get the kids up early on Sunday and have them go to Mass. 

They didn't choose to get First Communion.  I am making them.  They were baptised Catholic for a Death Bed Wish from my favorite Aunty.  And my Mom's pointed out that if they should deciede when they are older to switch to full blown Catholism instead of a chosen path of Paganism, or actually any Christian denomination, it would be easier for them if they at least had First Communion and it was an age passage rite in our family.  It means they are getting closer and closer to the out right war of puberty.  My moms doesn't ask much of any of her kids concerning their children so I made the kids do this for Mammo.  But they have made no bones after First Communion they will NOT go to many Masses with Granny nor will they do anything outside of Catholic School for the Church. 

I called Randy and told him I debated and I agree, until the time of First Communion is over with; I will NOT be making the kids give up their one and only day to sleep in.  It wasn't fair to them and they need their sleep.

We already get called over protective parents along with a couple of the kids' friends parents because we make the kids go to bed between 8 and 8:30.  DeLaney threw a HUGE fit that we weren't making Coltin go to bed at 8, until she found out that her friend in the 4th grade still has a 8:30 bedtime and she is 10!  Her mom and Choka (grandpa-lives with them) said this summer her bedtime will increase to 9 for the next school year.  So see folks, there are some of us parents out there that not only know but demand our kids get the proper amount of sleep and can take a step back and say:  "Hey, we are pushing the kids a bit to much, lets back off and make some cuts or negoiate on things!"

So...quick update.

A number of students from Lindon tested to their next rank today, including three of my students. Everybody passed, even though I did make them fix the suggestions on their papers before I gave them their belts. Brian and Gill did very well, which was a releif, because they only put forth good effort sometimes. I never doubt their ability of their skill, which is why I reccomended them, but they often don't try very hard. Hailey, on the other hand, I didn't worry about one bit. Her technique isn't perfect, for lack of power and deep stances, but she ALWAYS tries. She shows up for class every time and she's always excited to learn. Now if only her parents would feed her.

Aside from those three, I reccomended Rylee, who was probably best qualified for the promotion, but he wasn't able to make it for some reason. I'm going to ask Mrs. West if I can test him privately, because he deserves to be at the head of the class.

From the Adults class, Ryan tested. For some reason, her mother and Mrs. West have been cracking down on her rather harshly, whereas I think she's doing great, one of the best in the class, actually. The vests tested, which is good. Sydney pretested, but she's not even close yet. I need to work with her on her short-spears, and she needs to learn the names of her forms, and get more comfortable with them. It's too bad I'm not going to be able to stay for the Saturday class, not that I'd get a chance to work with the redbelts anyway.

So I filmed the AF game. It was an entertaining...well...not an entertaining game, exactly. The first and fourth quarters were fun to watch, but by the end of the third I was about ready to cry...not for the reason you think, but that's beside the point. By all rights, I think we should have one, or at least done A LOT better than we did. Our offense had it together probably as well or better than theirs, if for no other reason, because we can run more than one play. AF had zero passing game, but that was okay, because they could pull off that same damn run every time, up until the fourth quarter when our defense finnally got it together. I will concede that AF earned every touchdown they got in that quarter, but our defense handed them the rest of the game on a silver platter. That one running back is good...but not seven TD's in one game-good. That, and it's time for us to get a new kicker...and start Skatty. Stewart needs to play second string....or golf.

Even I've got the sense to get rid of the ball on time. Not that trying to pick up a few in a last desperate attempt is a bad idea; usually it's prefered, but not past a certain point of indecision. Christian sees that point a little too often.

AF's marching band kicks ass.

No, really. Better than BYU. It's friggin super bowl.

And their cheerleaders are hot.

Homecoming prep is going well. Things are coming together, and all things considdered, I'm getting off easy in the wallet. It's still a lot of money, but it's reasonable. I'm getting off easier than I did with prom anyway, but back then I could afford it.

The only thing that has yet to be determined still is how we're going to manage lunch if the wheather is too cold or nasty. I'm past the point of apprehension of not having anything planned, but I still don't know how this is going to come across. Jessica is really the only person I'm worried about impressing, and somehow I'm not too nurvous about that, but we'll see. It doesn't help that I don't know her incredibly well. But hey, we did this same activity for her seventh birthday, so at least I've got that on my side. I worry a little about Kim, but she's so happy-go-lucky anyway, I'm sure things will work out there too. Besides that, I don't answer to Kim, and much less do I answer to the other two. I'm not the female expert, but I think the measure of the success of a group date doesn't reflect on the dynamics of the group so much as it does the individual male escort.

And even if I'm wrong about any of that, it will come across as Taylor's fault -_-'

Now, if only they would pick some place ON THIS SIDE OF THE LAKE to host homecoming >_>

All work and no play, makes for a better inheritance. My oldest told me that. She wanted some attention, wanted me to take her somewhere, and, I was smart enough to drop what I was doing and go. I have been thinking that I wanted someone to take out to dinner, and then make breakfast for. A little lonely is accentuated by the fact that I'm a bit over confident, riding the wave of having made a damn lucky move, that I tell everyone was well planned and insightful .

According to my accountant, I don't have more spending money, but I'm better off in almost every category. I have not brought it to light that all these benefits were completely unseen by me. I made this move for other reasons, and I never ever even suspected, that there would be other benefits. And I will only admit it here where you cannot see me and point at me.

So I'm snug, I'm smug, and I got to thinking that I should have a few things. Like a date. Well, what is wrong with that?

I just getting to that when my girls seemed to need me. I try to not fret over them, be so protective, too protective and, I don't know, occupy every minute of their time and lives. I want them to be just independent enough to start to make decisions. We've got a lot of them coming up. Decisions on sex (there I said it!), drugs, how much influence their friends have, predators and still being sweet and trusting but not too. I have tried to be cognizant of not being so, what?, a daddy? a parent? I have enrolled them in interests where they can socialize and participate, and even Tae Kwon Do classes. They love it and we watch kung fu movies together. I tell them it's good fitness, but in my heart I want them to drop kick anyone who tries to put there hands on them. But it is good fitness. Am I wrong?

As a man, I am lonely and truly want a girlfriend? lover? But for every moment I think of love and loving, I think ten moments of being daddy and that I'm dragged away and needed to be with her and her. I'm needed for rides to events, to watch the events. I forgot to tell you about being a soccer dad. Now I'm having to learn the rules because I think the ref is full of shit.

All of a sudden, they talk to me about soccer, about politics and Elmo's, about food and fashion and still say "daddy" like they're just learning to speak the word as a babies. I'm overwhelmed with my love for them and my need for them. I try, I try to not get angry or say a single word. But their mother is unaffected. I should be grateful, I suppose, because I would be so jealous if I were not the one they speed dial or pressure for money and sweets and "come get me".

I have been working every day since I spoke to you here last. Trying to polish the bright decision I made to do all of this. I didn't have anything to say. I never know what to say. I'm still trying to understand this thing of blogging and I thought it would be different. I keep talking about my girls and even though I enjoy a good conversation. My oldest keeps me from straying and the little one is the co-conspirator. I'm having to deal with "being a woman" things now and I'm totally lost.

Have you had such a change in life? Can you turn and look back from the most desolate part of your life, where you had lost everything, and had only the good fortune to keep your hearts loves? Not long ago all I had was them and terrified that if I even lived in the same place, someone would come and take them from me. I was afraid to answer the phone and I had to in order to start a business. Now I pick up the phone and hear "come get me". No woman would want me would she?

Every once in a while, like a good spring cleaning, you have to go back and clear out the past and put things back together from the ground up.  I started this blog two years ago, and I didn't really keep up with it.  I had a few good posts but for the most, it was an aimless set of ramblings.  So, now I try to put that back together and rebuild it from scratch.

I also tried to put together a hand-written journal starting last year.  That was much more successful, but has also slid off over time to where I'm not keeping up with it like I feel I should.  I think the way to keep up with writing is to mostly just do it over and over until it becomes a habit.  I'm going to try to do that here.  Maybe that will inspire me to get back to my other journal more often as well.

Chances are you found this page because I directed you here.  But then again, there's a good chance you found this page because you were randomly searching.  If that's the case, then you don't know much about me.  That leads me to writing a short bio on myself, which brings up another set of challenges.

I've had to write bios for work before, a little of who I am and all that.  They are never easy, nor is it now.  How do you go about telling someone really who you are, what you are about, and why that matters to them?  I think the last question there may be the most important and also the most difficult.  Answering these questions is especially tough when there is no given context.  If you think about meeting someone at a party or some other gathering, there's already a given reason why you are there.  You have something de facto to talk about.

Okay, here goes:

...

But maybe not.  I started a decent paragraph there and then paused.  Security is a scary thing.  How much do I want someone to know about me?  If I give my name, age, marital status, wife's name, what does that really mean?  It means I am publishing information about myself which could help someone steal my identity or something else like that.

At the same time, I know I'll refer to information about my past as I get writing this blog in the future.  So it's a tricky balance.

The basics:

My name is Shannon and I'm a twenty-six year old male.  I have been married to my wife Jamie for four years at the end of this month.  We have no children.  I am an officer in the United States Air Force.  I went to the University of Minnesota where I earned a Bachelor's of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics.  I am working on a Master's of Joint Warfare at the moment, and have just finished my fifth of twelve courses for the degree.  I like to backpack, camp, run, bicycle, hike, snorkle, scuba dive, fish, and study martial arts.  I work a lot with the Boy Scouts.

So there's some basic information.  That ought to be enough to get a generic understanding of my background as I approach writing more in my blog.

I said I like to run.  I decided to train for my first half marathon.  I could have looked to go straight to a marathon, but I get shin splints pretty bad and I don't have a running group to work with yet.  My little sister is training for a marathon, and she kind of inspired me to look beyond the 5K races I've done thus far and press to bigger and better things.  I will probably blog on running from time to time.

I said I like to scuba dive.  I always wanted to learn to dive since I went to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia at the age of 12.  We snorkled in the area, which was awesome, but not quite the same.  My last semester at college I took a scuba course, and did my open water dive in Lake Superior in June.  It was 41° in the water, and all we had were 6mil wetsuits.  It was cold!  There's nothing quite like an air pocket to form along your spine, and then the cold lake water to find a way through the wetsuit and trickle down your spine.  You want to shout out at the shock, but then you realize you're underwater and shouting doesn't do much good.  Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity (or taken the opportunity I guess) to dive since my open water certification.  I miss it.  Jamie and I are going on a cruise to the Carribean this December, and I'm planning to dive again then.  I also will need to go on a dive or two before then to get refreshed.

I said I like martial arts.  I studied Tae Kwon Do on and off before and during college, eventually earning my black belt the summer after I graduated.  It was a busy summer.  I moved away from Minnesota and after a short while with one school in Florida, I haven't found another TKD school I really enjoy.  I stopped practicing it.  We got to Georgia and I joined a Kuk Sool Won course.  But then last summer I had to take some time off from injuries and business travel, and by the time I was ready to go back, the instructors had stopped to focus on other areas of their lives.  I haven't found another program to join since, although I keep trying to get to a Tai Chi course in town.  I also hope to just get back into studying Tae Kwon Do on my own, to keep up with it and help keep me in shape.

There's so much more, I'm certain, but I don't think for right now.  I got up and was going to go take a 30-minute bike ride to start the day.  I think that's still a good plan.  Is there more to know about me?  Sure.  But that will come out as I blog more and more.  If you like what I have to say, post a reply.  Interaction is probably one of the surest ways to keep me blogging.