Hey Dan

1. Some things that I think are impossible are challenging and fun for others, while things I think are fun are impossible for others.

2. I prepare for rain, I prepare for heat, I prepare for cold, now I have to prepare for sandstorms too.

3. Change is good, if you are willing to put your heart into it.

4. Teaching a whole class on my own is hard. Teaching it 3 or 4 times a day is like climbing a mountain.

4a. I gain an amazing amount of strength from not wanting to let students down. Some days it is all that keeps me going.

5. MP3 after classes, labs and fight practice is a great way to cut loose, however it reinforces dangerous habits.

6. Bill still floors me with his talent as an instructor. He is still much better then I am at this.

7. Making fun of Z is fun. Other people joining in too make fun of Z is like warm cups of joy and happiness.

8. Novie makes me (everyone) look like a great fighter.

8a. I want to be that good someday.

9. I am at my best when I though myself at a scene with no idea of what I am going to do. I am at my worst when I try to backseat drive.

Posted by Dan at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It is St. Valentine’s Day, the day when we celebrate Love. I have always thought of this day as a kind of a no win situation. On the one hand in years when I was single around the ides of February the day served as an all too harsh reminder that I suck at romance. On the other hand in years where I was fortunate to be dating the expectations of a whole day dedicated to Love crushed my spirit under stacks of heart shaped expectations.

Being married you would think changed this. Well, no. Last year was there was the stress of being newlyweds. For those of you who have never been newlyweds it is kind of like being a teenager. Everyone expects you to be blissfully happy while every atom in your world is thrown in seemingly random directions. Therefore, last year was lots of stress and more of those expectations.

This year I have to say is different. Not to say romance is gone, on the contrary, for the first time I am comfortable with being both a valentine and a husband. I assure you this has nothing to do with me being a more evolved person then in previous years. It has to do with my wife. She has a way of putting me at easy with myself that melts away years of self doubt. In a word she is my soul mate. I still want to build castles for her, but I know she will love me even if the castle doesn’t fit into the car.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day to my wife.

Posted by Dan at 02:28 PM | Permalink

Sammy passed away last night after a long battle with his health. For all those who knew him, we grieve together.

Post your memories here.

Posted by Dan at 10:57 AM | Permalink

This explains so much about me.... I think I have a new web comic. xkcd.

Posted by Dan at 11:10 AM | Permalink

Traveling through the airport last night I wondered what ever happened to the jet set? I may be showing my age here. A long time ago there people who hoped a plane to far off cities could call themselves jetsetters. It’s an exciting sounding name that evokes mystery, romance and importance. Today, we call our selves business travelers. The term evokes ant like motion of identical suits being shuffled into and out of airports. Yes, I am saying traveling has lost its romance. I guess I had in mind more of 007 martini and fast cars sort of thing and it is never really that way. I am lucky when the cab is clean. The painful world of reality smashes head long into movie script fantasy once again.

I am in Raleigh Durham, NC for a meeting with the team I work with. Normally we are spread out all over. This is our one time a year to see each other face to face. Other then the one other person in Dallas on my team, all of them are new faces for me. It will be nice to match faces to voices from the telephone.

Posted by Dan at 08:00 AM | Permalink

In case you missed it, Boston went into a panic when LED signs of cartooned robot/aliens were found. Yes, the Boston police thought they were bombs. It amazes me Osama is still out there! For real, there has got to be more to a disaster plan then step one, freak out.

Posted by Dan at 05:15 PM | Permalink