Some long overdue Updates

First things first I suppose. Two weeks ago I tested for my new belt, which was a Full Green Belt. It was a lot of fun and what was so great, was that I was testing with a lot of friends from the Dojo. That is always a blast, as we all knew each other, and could just really enjoy the test. Even if it was one of the most exhausting tests ever, lasting 2 hours and 45 minutes of constant exercise and karate. By the end I was getting dizzy just standing there, from exhaustion and probably dehydration lol. But we all made it through it and it was a blast.

Then the next Tuesday at academy, the main instructor presented me with a test invitation for brown belt, in a week and a half. For brown belt there is a special advanced test, that takes place once every about three months. This particular one was scheduled for March 25th, or a in a week and a half from when I got the test invite. I was both surprised and absolutely honored to get a test invite for the next rank, literally a few days after I just tested for my previous rank lol. But at the same time, I was a little worried as I knew how exhausting tests were.

What made it worst last Saturday, the main instructor Sensei Santillo asked me "so, what are you doing cardio wise to train for the next next Friday?". Holy crap I had train physically for the test? And I only had a week? He kinda freaked me out to say the least lol. But in the end tonight's test wasn't so bad really. It turned out to be more technical than physically exhausting. Don't get me wrong, it was still physically exhausting, but it was more, getting tired from doing lots of karate, and less from doing tons of exercises, so it was more fun in my opinion.

Anyways, here is a picture I took of my most recent three belts, with their rank certificates.
As you can see, the Brown belt certificate is bigger, because it's better I guess.

In other news, as of Monday I will be promoted at work as well. This is a promotion to GS-13, and is a big promotion. It is a large increase in work, 15%, where all my previous promotions were a 10% increase. Also, at the end of 20 weeks, I start the partial signatory program, where I start being able to send out actions without them being reviewed by my boss first. At this point my production will increase by another 10%, so 25% more work than what I am doing right now. 20 weeks from now is Mid August, or about the time of our August vacation. But the good news is that it is also a significant jump in pay, and I get my own office.

As you can see, there are no windows whatsoever, making it feel like a large closet with a desk and a computer in it. Nevertheless, it is all mine, and I don't have to share it with anyone! Also as you can see, I found nice home for the painting that Caleb made for me. However, as you can also see, I still have plenty of wall space, in case Caleb ever wants to make some more paintings for me!

Also, as one more random aside, I got Rachel to get HBO on her cable so that I can watch A Game of Thrones on HBO next month!

Anyways, I know I have rambled on quite a bit so far. I know Stephen will complain. But then I think he is just jealous that I post more than just random youtube videos that I find online.

Red Belt - Sempai

Last weekend I tested for my Red Belt. The Red belt is a special belt and basicaly means I am now an official assistant instructor, or a Sempai. The Red Belt doesn't advance me in rank persay, but does indicate that they believe I am qualified to be an instructor. As a result, its a really cool thing.

Lake Tahoe

So last weekend Rachel and I along with a group of her friends from work went to Lake Tahoe to go skiing. I had a blast, and have some pictures to share.

We got a rental van that we filled to the brim with Rachel and I fitting in the back.

At lake Tahoe we rented a large house that was quite amazing. The house had had like 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.



Along with a pool table, which we only sadly used once. And a Hot tub on the back porch. Nothing like a hot tub to soothe away the long days of skiing.

The skiing itself was fun, and the view was quite amazing. The first day we went to Squaw Valley, then the next two days we skiid at Heavenly.





Some of my favorite runs were the ones where you were skiing down the mountain, and you look up and you see the snow peaked mountains all around the valley, with the beautiful Lake Tahoe in the middle. It was quite breath taking, and these pictures cannot do it justice.

As for myself skiing, I started off on the Greens, think beginner slopes. But by the second and third day I was doing well on the Blues, which are the intermediate slopes. Rachel however was doing the blacks and the double blacks the whole weekend and having a blast doing it lol. Basically our group had about every possible level of skiers from the pros, the really good skiers, okay skiers to beginners even worse than me lol. So most of those days we split up into groups of 2-4 and tackled the mountain that way.

Here then is a picture of the group of us. We mainly ate in at dinners and brought sandwitches onto the mountain for lunch. Overall it was a great trip, and I encourage anyone who hasn't tried skiing to hit up the slopes!

I'm on Youtube.

So yeah I was informed today that I am now on Youtube. Check it out below.



Anyways I'll try to put up a post on my trip to Lake Tahoe last weekend as soon as I get ahold of some pictures. It's enough that I might actually join facebook. Ah well.

Game of Thrones

I've been meaning to do a post on this for a while now. To be honest this is something that I'm very excited about. My favorite book series being made into a TV series by HBO, its a dream come true. And with the likes of Sean Bean playing the main Character Ned Stark, this will be epic. I'm so bad that I"m contemplating how I will get HBO just to watch this series.

Anyways below is a couple of clips from the show. Do get excited!

Here is a short trailer:


Here is a longer documentary style:

Patent Office in Detroit

Patent Office in Detroit?

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and PTO Director David Kappos will be holding
a press conference later today. I expect that they will announce plans to
open the first USPTO satellite office in Detroit, Michigan.

UPDATE:

It is confirmed here is the press release.

Karate Tournament

This past Sunday Nov. 21 I attended and worked the Karate Tournament. As can be seen below, at the end of the day I took home 4 first place trophies and two 4th place trophies.
While all those first looks suitably impressive... it is really easy to get "1st" in board breaking, as a whole group of us ended up tieing. For example breaking 4 boards on Standing and Stepping palm strike. I did though manage to break 6 boards with my side kick, and there was only one other person that I tied with there. So that one at least was pretty exciting! The 4th first place trophy I am quite proud of and was for my spear weapons form which I made sure to get a video of.


The fourth place trophies were for regular forms (which I really honestly felt I should have placed higher with.. but oh well) and sparring. Overall I was very happy with my performance and on the whole I was in a very competitive divisions and feel lucky I was able to place at all.

There was a professional photographer at the event Cascades Photography. They should be posting pictures pretty soon, so if anyone is interested you can look at all the photos for the day, and then you can order pictures as well if you so desire. Once they go live, I might add some of them to this blog if possible otherwise.

*UPDATE*

All the pictures of the tournament have now been posted. I hope you all enjoy them for those of you took the time to look through them.