Probationary Black Belt Test - Jan 26th -- I PASSED!

Yesterday I tested for my probationary black belt in Hapkido. It lasted about 3 hours, and I've never been more tired/sore in my life! It was a good test, but of course, I felt sloppy and not in control. Sabumnim never tells us right away whether we pass or not, so I'm hoping to find out on Tuesday. We do film the tests, and I just finished watching parts of it. I'll even admit that I looked better than I felt. :) If i can make a couple of small mpegs out of the video, I'll post some here. I'll also update when I find out!

Update: I PASSED! We all passed our tests, and got our new ranks this evening! Six months (ish) until I test again, this time for full black! This is the second probationary rank that Sabumnim has given out. If I pass in July, I'll be his first full black belt! (no pressure, though) :)


Here is the video of my throws - goki. This means that the "opponent" is just standing there and I have to throw them. I'll note that this was about 2 hours or so into the test already.

(more video coming)

How things have changed...

I was notified by my computer calendar recently that my best friend from high school had celebrated her 35th birthday. (Happy B-Day Stac)! So I sent her an email to wish her well and see how life has been for her. (She's doing well, by the way. She has a beautiful family and teaches at our old school!) It made me think about times she and I had spent together in high school, what I had planned for in my life, and where I am today.

I can remember thinking that I would be a doctor of some kind, probably an optometrist or an ob/gyn. I wanted to help people and change the world! I can also remember that I thought that I would be married and have had all of my children by the time I turned 30....boy did 30 sound OLD back then! Oh, and my husband would NOT be a teacher - they do not make any money and work far too hard for what they do make! I liked reading, but spent way too many hours watching shows on television rather than reading. I was also not the best athlete, but enjoyed volleyball immensely. I can remember PE class and HATING having to do the Presidential Physical Fitness tests. Run a MILE!?!? You have GOT to be kidding me. Push-ups??? I don't think so, I'll pass, thank you. I remember distinctly that Staci & I asked our PE teacher (Hi, Mrs. Foster!) what time we had to be under to "pass" the mile. She said 12 minutes. We figured we could walk a mile in that time -- and we could! I was NOT a runner.

Fast forward to 2008. Things have changed some, but not all things have changed. I am happy to say that I am a doctor - chiropractic has given me the opportunity to practice my personal philosophy of helping people find the cause of their illnesses and then help to remove that cause. I truly enjoy being a doctor - and feel that much of my role to my patients is that of a teacher of health and wellness.

Well, married, yes -- kids, no.....not yet. ;) My fabulous husband, Thomas, and I are still in the "planning" stage. Oh, and just to prove that karma does exist in our universe, Thomas is a teacher! He is a fabulous teacher, works very, very hard and does not make nearly the amount of money he deserves!

I still enjoy reading--lots! However, now I spend many hours reading and practically none watching television. We don't even have cable, a satellite, or anything. We do have a powered antennae, but it is rarely turned on. I think we get 2-3 channels. Thomas and I both really like the quiet house, without a television being on.

As far as the running...well, I enjoy it now. Last year I ran in the Plattsmouth Mayor's Run - I ran the 2 mile run (see earlier post for that info). This year, however, I am planning to do and am training for a sprint triathlon! This sport is outstanding! The sprint tri is a 400-500 meter swim, a 10-13 mile bike ride and a 5k run. (The differences in the distances depends on who's sponsoring the race)! I am so looking forward to getting deeper in to the training for the tri and actually competing in and completing the race! My goal this year is to simply finish the race. Oh, and I'm planning to do the Mayor's Run again this year, too.

Another big event for me in 2008 will be achieving my black belt in Hapkido. I started studying Hapkido in 2000 and will be able to test for my black belt this summer (providing I pass my probationary test this Saturday). It has been a long and wonderful journey for me. I did have to take 3 years off to go to chiropractic school, but I'm glad that I returned to the do jang when I returned to Nebraska.

So, this year looks to be busy, and I'm focusing on being happy with who I am and where I am at in my life. I can't complain too much. I do have a terrific husband, a growing chiropractic practice, and I have a higher fitness level that ever!

Sometimes its fun to reflect upon the past. I miss some of the "old days" when there was less stress, or at least less responsibility, but I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything. And you couldn't PAY me enough to return to the life of high school and all that drama!

Ahh. the construction continues...

Things have slowed down some with the construction at the office. Time constraints with the crew is causing a few delays, but I'm confident that they will continue to work when they can. In the mean time, here is what's new. So, far, I'm still loving the new office, but still hating the mess. :) Oh, and since we found a great sale on much of the supplies that we would need, I now have drywall, insulation, doors, etc. in the hall. Good thing we're not using that hall for the public yet. ;)


Here is the back of the wall separating the reception area from the rest of the office. The side wall is the one leading to the hallway. You are looking out of my current office/treatment room and into the new treatment room.


This is a shot looking through the doorway from the reception room down the hall. The gap on the right is the eventual doorway leading to the new treatment room.



This is another shot of the hallway. See the supplies?!?! As a person who does not like clutter, this is trying my patience. I am loving the new construction, but am hating the clutter. :)

Steel Matches 2007

While Thomas shoots the USPSA competition matches, I tag along at times and film them. Well, here at the ENGC, the guys repeatedly asked "when are you going to shoot?" I kept telling them that I was not yet comfortable with the moving & shooting and that I shoot in the Rock your Glock matches in Lincoln over the summer. However, they were not satisfied with that answer. So, Thomas bought me all of the gear that I would need (holster, belt, magazines, etc.) and I joined them for the steel matches. After my second match of the summer, they tell me that if I shoot one more match, I'll win "High Lady's" for the year, since I'm the ONLY lady shooting. Thomas tells me that this wins me a plaque. So, I figure, sure, why not?? So, I shoot the third match late in the year. Now, I am having fun shooting, but the bigger joke is winning first place for the ladies (since I'm the ONLY lady).

Well, at the yearly banquet in January, they start presenting the awards. And what do I get???? 5th overall! I didn't get a plaque for high lady, I got a medal for 5th overall! Honestly, I was quite shocked that I got 5th - I shoot slow and move even slower!!! I did have to tease the guys about telling me I'd be getting high lady and then giving me 5th place! :)

So, here's me getting my medal! I plan to continue to shoot steel this year and perhaps expand more next year (if time allows).

The Work Continues at the Office...

I returned from the New Year's holiday to find another wall being framed in and the current wall looking much more wall-like. John & crew are working fast, and doing an outstanding job! I'm getting more and more excited with each new addition to the office.
This wall will complete the hallway that will lead to the back/public restroom...once it gets refinished.

This is the front wall (again) with more drywall mud and smoothing. (I'll admit that I am already sick of dusting and vacuuming drywall dust.)

This is the back of the main wall. The guys are putting some insulation it in for soundproofing (I think).

Big Ugly Bunny...

Okay, I found a website with the most ugly stuffed animals ever! I decided I wanted one. :) So, I posted the link for these things http://tinyurl.com/2cgr8k , and Thomas got me the Bunny for Christmas. It showed up January 03. :) See how the bunny looks almost tan in the picture on the website? It's not. Its bright yellow!

Dartos isn't sure he likes the bunny, and Bengal just wasn't going to be left out. I think everyone should have a big ugly stuffed animal. It is VERY soft!

New Year's Eve

I guess I could say we had 4 Christmas' this year, as our group of friends get together every New Year's Eve to celebrate the holiday and exchange gifts. This year was no exception. Our friends, Chris and Michelle hosted this year in Lincoln. There are many children in the group now, and they opened gifts earlier in the evening. After they were settled for the evening (many at various grandparents' houses), the adults got together to open gifts, laugh, and ring in the New Year. Many of us toasted to better things in 2008!

Here are some photos of the evening.


Sometimes you find something in the store that you MUST buy someone. These lounge pants are one of those items. :)

Ah...synchronized pondering.


Peer pressure? I'm still not sure why everyone was trying to touch the ceiling.


Typical of our get-togethers. Deep discussions around the food table. :)


Heidi wanted a Green Bay Packers scrub top. ;) Found one!



As always, Thomas and Emily "fighting" during the party!


One of the most popular gifts in our group -- books!


Sisters! :)



Yes, Megan, you ARE smiling for this picture.


Dennis & Kara

3 days of Christmas ...

Apparently, Christmas lasts longer the older I get. This year, Thomas & I had our own Christmas on the 24th. We exchanged gifts throughout the day, had a nice dinner, and spent some quiet time together. Our lives keep getting busier, so having some time to simply sit and relax is a gift to us. This year for Christmas, I bought Thomas a new computer for his do jang office. He needed one (and I wanted my laptop back) :) He was quite happy with that, but I did end up getting him some smaller things to open at home. He spoiled me (again) with some very wonderful gifts. I decided that warm was the theme this year. I got a foot warmer (looks like a really big slipper), some flannel lined jeans, and a fleece shawl with pockets. I also got some awesome triathlon training books & a DVD since one of my goals this year is to finish a sprint triathlon!

After our personal gift exchange, we went to Jim & Nancy's for Christmas day & the 26th. Thomas' sister and her family were here from NM, so we had a great time with them. On the 26th, Nancy's brother's family came over from Lawton, IA. Again, much fun was had by all.

We still have some gifts for my parents, so eventually we'll have another "Christmas" with them. We aren't sure when, but we'll get together with them soon, I hope.

Thomas received an oriental noodle bowl and "beginner chopsticks". We both can use chopsticks just fine, but have had company over who can't. So, Tammy & Milt got him a set of beginner chopsticks for company.


We got Bailee some princess sticker books. She was already working on some of them as the night went on.


Milt & Tammy each got work out shirts from us.




Jim was being silly with a gift that Thomas wrapped for him. Inside the long "antlers" were several gift cards to Menards!


"Its my dream!" Sometime during the evening, Bailee opened a gift and announced that "its my dream!" It quickly became the theme, with Jim capturing the emotion quite nicely!


Kaylee received some very helpful kitchen wear.


The last gift opened that evening was a digital photo frame that the four of us got for Nancy. Tammy, Milt, Thomas and I wanted to get her a very special gift this year. We found a great digital frame and spent a few weeks gathering pictures from family. Thomas put them on the frame. I think there were 178 pictures on the frame when we gave it to her, with much room for many more. There were pictures from her mom's youth to present day.


Here are Curt, Bonnie, Jess and Luke (with Bailee) checking out the frame on the 26th. They helped with sending some photos for the frame.

As I said, this was a great Christmas for all of us.