A Day in the Life
Oct. 20th, 2001 12:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rinueI meant to build shelves today, but instead I bought a guitar. This is a fairly decent summary of the way my life works -- I do get the happy ending; it's just never what I intend it to be.
It was so innocently done. I decided to check the downtown area for a hardware store in lieu of going straight to Home Despot, and I stumbled across the historical district. Mostly, this involves thirty antique/architectural salvage stores in a four-block radius.
In case you're curious, this approximates my idea of heaven.
Imagine someone tapdancing down the street singing Cole Porter songs, and then remember that this is the sort of thing I actually do. Or did, in this case. Oh yes, there was kissing of the hands of shop owners.
So after about four hours of looking at depression glass, edison records, primitive furniture, and pillbox hats, I decided it was about time to head home.
Oh no. First there was a parade. It was the local high school's homecoming.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, I purchased a very nice guitar for an incredibly low price, befriended several area musicians and the ballroom dance teacher, and bought an Indian footstool.
Later on, I and many of my friends went to the old county prison (since converted) for dinner, and were carded (apparently, I look 17). I got drunk on one glass of wine, which is quite an accomplishment, but of course I'd barely eaten all day. I wound up falling down in the middle of the street, but was saved by my Judo instincts and got up with narry a bruise.
Then of course we went to the grosto and bought an eyelash curler and a shabbat candle, and oggled pictures of attractive women (or in my case, the latest issue of Scientific American).
Good times; good times.
It was so innocently done. I decided to check the downtown area for a hardware store in lieu of going straight to Home Despot, and I stumbled across the historical district. Mostly, this involves thirty antique/architectural salvage stores in a four-block radius.
In case you're curious, this approximates my idea of heaven.
Imagine someone tapdancing down the street singing Cole Porter songs, and then remember that this is the sort of thing I actually do. Or did, in this case. Oh yes, there was kissing of the hands of shop owners.
So after about four hours of looking at depression glass, edison records, primitive furniture, and pillbox hats, I decided it was about time to head home.
Oh no. First there was a parade. It was the local high school's homecoming.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, I purchased a very nice guitar for an incredibly low price, befriended several area musicians and the ballroom dance teacher, and bought an Indian footstool.
Later on, I and many of my friends went to the old county prison (since converted) for dinner, and were carded (apparently, I look 17). I got drunk on one glass of wine, which is quite an accomplishment, but of course I'd barely eaten all day. I wound up falling down in the middle of the street, but was saved by my Judo instincts and got up with narry a bruise.
Then of course we went to the grosto and bought an eyelash curler and a shabbat candle, and oggled pictures of attractive women (or in my case, the latest issue of Scientific American).
Good times; good times.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-20 05:06 am (UTC)I read them when I find the time to.
But all that aside, thanks again for your kung-fu expository. I was aware of much of the history of it, and really I was more asking in the lines of how your personal experiences with it are shaping out. I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't clear.
But still, informative.
If you've got the time, post a reply-comment or even send me an e-mail if you please.
I am idle.
(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-20 10:27 am (UTC)My experience with Kung Fu has been a very good one, but I am not sure whether this is attributable to my dojo or the art itself. I do think that Kung Fu lends itself to a more formal, more spiritual style than many of the other martial arts (although aikido has it), and that is something which I value highly.
One of the biggest differences I find between it and Judo is the kata. (Judo doesn't have them, because it's all about using your opponent's force against them, etc, and so it's not really something one can practice alone.) When done properly, the kata feel like moving meditations, and you are aware of the internal mechanisms as much as the external. Obviously, it's a fighting art, but I appreiciate the grace involved, the strength, the control.
I also have a strong affection for the animal forms, because they help me to think about problems in different ways -- a crane would fight very differently than a tiger, and there are times when both are appropriate.
I like the age behind it, the history, the mythology. I feel like I'm in a secret society, and since I can't join the Masons. . . ::laughs::
Most of all, I like that it has never felt brutal to me. Yes, it hurts or kills people if done properly, but there is an immense respect for life encoded into it simply by the presence of the animal forms and the trust you have to feel to spar with someone (there is no padding or armor, and no "trick" like falling properly if someone chooses to try to hurt you).
Once again, I will reiterate that the dojo, and the sensai, are more important than the art itself. Find wisdom where you can.
-Romie
ps out of the blue: have you taken that animal personality test that circulating around the web? http://www.animalinyou.com/survey.asp For some reason, I thought you'd be interested. I'm a fox. :)
Re:
Date: 2001-10-20 04:11 pm (UTC)Just took it actually.
It can't seem to decide if I am an Otter or a Bat.
I wonder if the Penguin is in there, because I am sure I would have gotten that.