On Kenpo - Part Deux

so, about a year has come and gone and i am still going to kenpo class. my son and wife drop a bomb on me about classes that i have not observed (after all, i am the master of the obvious). think it is time to change schools as:
1 - he is no longer motivated
2 - he is loosing his confidence
3 - he does not appear to be able to do anything properly
4 - he is complaining about going to class during the week

there are other schools that will take nik (and me) but it is back to white belt for both of us until we can test out.

on kenpo

so, i have been taking karate with my son since January/February of 2009. i have had loads of fun, spent hours in the studio with my son learning what he knows, and am able to share something with my son that i will have with me for the rest of my life.

what gets me frustrated is the lack of respect by other students in the class. granted i am a yellow belt, but my understanding of martial arts was there was mutual respect for your fellow student regardless of belt rank.

having had a hyper extended knee, a split lip, and a broken finger, i am no longer going to be the sparring dummy for upper belts. granted my butt can probably be kicked by the uppers but i am dog tired of kicks and punches not being pulled after i have scored a touch/hit on them during sticky hands/feet.

be warned, i have had enough.

oink, oink

some form of the flu has a firm grip upon me since our return back from Disney.

people need to be more conscious of their hygiene when in small, confined placed (a la a commuter plane).

a gentleman (who shall remain firmly entrenched in my memory as the cougher in 10c) was sneezing, coughing, and sniffling through the entire flight from Cincy to Philly. Covery your damn mouth and nose for the love of god!

i could see the woman in 10a (in her business attire) nervously looking over at 10c whenever he went into his germ laced cough or sneeze. i am sure i am not the only one that came down with his "flu surpirse".

on the other hand, i do enjoy the hallucinations that a high fever brings (102.9 left ear 103.2 in right ear). the little men at the foot of my bed were quite humorous in their philosophical debate over the socio-ecomonical factors that make Mickey Mouse a far superior leader of the free world than Dubya whilst the third one recanted my favorite Patton Oswalt riff about Sky Cake and Sky Cookies and Sky Pie.

First Breakfast

Sorry - no pics (did not want to look like too much of a tourist as I already stand out like a sore thumb).

Finally over jet lag and was up in time for breakfast at the hotel (was told not to venture far from the hotel without someone who can speak the language)

Fresh cut fruits (mango, kiwi, pineapple, tangerine, blood orange, etc.). At the very end of the fruit section, there was a small, white, non-descript fruit. Thanks to my fear of no food (except organs, blood, and raw squid), I grabbed two. Oh happy day, was as sweet as anything I have tasted. A great companion to the tangy and freshly made yogurt (somewhat thicker than Greek yogurt).

Eggs fried, scrambled, hard boiled, and soft boiled. Soft boiled was the winner, brought to me in an egg cup with an ice cream scoop of french butter on the side.

Meats consisted of blood sausage, serrano ham, sliced chorizo, bacon, and sausage. Sampled all but the blood sausage (per my previous fear).

Coffee is hands down better than anything we get in the States; nuff said.

Oh, did I forget to mention the cheese? Fresh and raw cheeses (sheep, cow, and goats). They go great with toasted bread rounds and roasted nuts.

I am starting to miss home (in addition to already missing Jenny and Nik). Realized this morning that I won't be going to church as it would be a long commute. I will have to double up next week ;-).

Eats in Barcelona

The food of Barcelona is great, tapas, tapas, tapas. Just a few of my favorite are below.

Roasted red peppers stuffed with tuna, topped with pesto, and skewered with a delicate baby shrimp (hey Chris, the ocean called and it said to stop killing the baby shrimp).

Goat cheese with fresh herbs topped with brava sauce (nom nom nom).

Tapas as far as the eye can see


Glass of red wine and a final tally of the skewers (6) came to 15 euro.

Pick pocketed last night in the Plaza di Pikpoketo ;-) they got my loaner Blackberry but I was able to keep my wallet and ID. It was a rather cool experience (had I been a few years younger, I would have given a better chase).

Work tonight in the hotel and tomorrow (after I head off to a local church).

Off to Denmark on Monday and back to Barcelona on Thursdsay night. Loving the travel but not the flying.