State of the Zed

[przed]

I keep thinking I should post an update (I've seen Spectre! And Take That have put out a ridiculous disco video!) but I've hardly had time to turn on my computer of late.

I've mentioned that I'm in the process of training for my black belt in Taekwando. I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but it's more than I imagined, and I'm still not quite hitting all my weekly training goals.

Here's what I'm doing (or in some cases, supposed to be doing) every week:

Three regular, one hour classes (Tuesday Thursday at 6 a.m.; one evening that floats around)

One 90 minute black belt training class every Saturday at 6:45 a.m.

One two hour forms practice session every Sunday morning at 8

Running 10K (this is the thing I'm really having a challenge fitting in between work, Ros' activities, classes, and all the other TKD training I'm doing)

Practicing all forms as often as possible (I've got 7 regular forms and 2 weapons forms I'm supposed to know cold; I've got 6 of the 7, and have got a good start on the bo staff form, but nunchuks are never going to be my favourite thing)

Doing my thousand form (I've been assigned one form, Yul-Gok, which I have to do 1,000 times before my final grading in May

100 sit ups, 20 min. of skipping, 50 knees up reps (I'm way over the sit ups and knees up, but need to up the skipping)

Volunteering at one kids class a week, and at the occasional event at the school

I have, fortunately, been given a pass on the requirements for push ups and burpees. I irritated the osteoarthritis in my back this summer and all the instructors suggested I bail from the things that irritates it. I'm replacing them with wall pushups, tricep dips, side planks, and a very ugly, modified one-armed burpee. As a bonus for the training, my core strength is now awesome and the back pain I struggled with most of the summer and fall is now a thing of the past.

What all this has meant is that I haven't been online, or even on my computer, much at all. By the time I've finished work, got Ros to and from her activities, made dinner, got Ros to bed, done laundry, and all the other stuff that needs doing, I'm pretty much baked. (And this even with the Sweetie earning his nickname by trading off on the Ros activities and dinner thing, picking up a huge amount of the stuff I don't have time for, and accommodating my training schedule.)

I'm reading LJ on my phone, but haven't had the time to get on my computer to comment or post. (LJ's mobile app has eaten more than one post and comment on my, so I don't do much beside read on it.)

I have grabbed 15 minute chunks of time for writing, but that's meant any writing is excruciatingly slow. Especially since the thing I'm working on in a heavily plotted and researched TT secret agent AU that just crossed 31K words and is heading in the direction of 40K. I am hoping, however, to write a treat or two for Yuletide, and maybe a Pros Christmas story. (I've got an idea for a manageably-sized Christmas story, so it's possible!)

Which is all a very long-winded way of saying, if you don't see me around much, know that I'm still out here. And after next June, when I participate in our school's Black Belt Spectacular, I should be back more properly.

Comments

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you figured out how to clone yourself. . . .wow. . . busy much?

remember to stop and smell the roses. . .or at least occasionally between taking a shower and sleeping :)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Otherwise, you'll be basking on a beach somewhere with your toes in warm hand and a drink in your hand. *beg*

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

That is a seriously impressive training schedule!

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Yikes! And to think I've been moaning about starting to go to the gym twice a week... ;)

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Lovely to see you anyway! LJ has been iffy even without the added complications of mobile apps. Wishing you all the best with your training and goals, and just keep us updated occasionally like this!!

[dawnebeth.livejournal.com]

I am exhausted reading your activities and exercise. You're amazing.

[halotolerant.livejournal.com]

I think many of us would have run screaming for the hills even at ONE of the entries on that list of skills *grins in sheer awe* Well done you! It must be quite a rush, all that exercise (so glad it's helped your back) but I'm glad it's not a permanent life schedule! *g* That said, I can appreciate exercise - I'm walking more and more and it's awfully pleasant (even in November!)

The Take That Hey Boy video is awesome. Have you seen the footage of them on Strictly Come Dancing? In some ways even more camp and amazing, not least for being (sort-of) live and the way they just owned the tower ballroom in Blackpool (the usual Strictly situation is: musical act performs stiffly behind microphone, pro dancers do distracting and vaguely inappropriate dance in front of them - Take That blew that out of the water!)

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Wow. Out of all that list...well, I can handle the running! *g* I wish I could do sit ups, and you can do 100 of them?? But I desperately need to improve my core strength. Hmm. Maybe I could start actually trying regularly. But, man, reading of all you do...it's amazing. Go you! I love it that you are required to volunteer for a children's class, too--that's very cool.

Good luck with everything! I hope you do manage to fit the writing in as well. (You need to nourish that part of you as well!) But don't stress too much if you don't. You've got so much going on!

[norfolkdumpling.livejournal.com]

Goodness me! That is a LOT of work. I'm in awe over here - go you!

[soundofthesurf.livejournal.com]

If only I had worked harder on that time machine - you really really really need it, don't you? I stand in awe, as per usual - you're just the greatest, most sparkly star of all!

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Go you! \o/

My younger brother is a black belt (upper dans? I'm not sure what exactly) and so this training schedule looks rather familiar.

[freetraveller15.livejournal.com]

Oh my!... this training schedule is just... OMG I'm in such awe that you can manage to fit this demanding programme with all your other activities and having a daughter! You must be so disciplined and focused. I'm very glad your pains are a thing of the past thanks to this ... But starting classes at 6am?!! I knew lots of north Americans are very early starters... (or maybe over there the days are just longer than 24 hours! *g*) I hope you get enough quality sleep! I'm the total opposite, very late sleeper (on average I never go to sleep before 1 am any day of the week) and of course struggle to get up before 7.30/8am on a weekday... *sigh*...
Hugs
P x