How’d your trip go? Was it everything you expected?

I cannot count the number of times I’ve been asked these questions. After my first return to the aikiki after four long months my response to the common questions shifts, accommodating the changes I notice in my Aikido practice

I look nage and uke in the eye. I later recall that I breathe without need of reminding. My body wants practice and my mouth holds back on muttering, a sign that my mind has let go of “right” and “wrong” and all I understood is practice, play.

Today I go to Aikido for the second time since my return. I easily mute myself as I feel the words slipping from my tongue. Instead of verbal corrections, I select a piece of form or technique for my body and mind to focus on. As nage during the Jo practices, I search for grace and confidence in sidestepping, as the long stick thrusts towards my torso. (Any moment of hesitation and injury is certain.) As uke, I press for firm and maintained connection and awareness of my ma-ai. I surprise myself when I “see” both nage and a fellow student taking ukemi and am able to switch the direction of my roll to avoid collision.

So what does my more relaxed and confident poise and awareness in action say about my trip?

Another quick attempt to procrastinate on engaging entries, here’s another shot at the “picture a day” project. So check it out and come back in a year and see how mine develops.

I’ve tried the Porn Name game before and have always been disappointed about the results. Growing up on 5th street, you can imagine how bland the names would turn out even when trying different “first pet” names. “Molly Fifth”, “Zach Fifth”, “Peaches Fifth”, etc.

So today, when my friend sent me the Wrestling Name game, I clicked on the link with hesitant speculation and was pleasantly surprised to discover I am now “Ivory Woman”. What’s your wrestling name?

For the men:
http://www.wrestlingname.com

For the women:
http://www.wrestlingname.com/diva/

Miles: ~5,800
Place: New Orleans, French Quarter hotel
Note: Dutch boys, Maurice and Sander, love electronica, hence our late swing through gay dance club. Gorgeous man with diamonds sprinkling his skull, like Britney Spears in “Toxic,” loves my hair. Sparkleboy’s boyfriend hand crafted his own strikingly sexy white suit, expertly paired to the boyfriend’s own 70’s inspired ‘fro. 

Music:

• DJ Tiesto + Ferry Corsten
• Armin v Buuren
• Daft Punk

Movies:

• Oldboy
• Tale of two sisters (Janghwa, Hongryeon)
• House of flying daggers (Shi mian mai fu)
• Goodbye Lennin

Drunk recommendation:

• Kung Pao - can’t figure out what movie this would be after multiple searches on IMDB

That’s Milwaukie, Oregon. Tonight I caught a blip of an interesting news story, during commercials. Luckily, I don’t have to watch the news to Google it. Yes, I love instant gratification. According to Oregon Live, a teenager discovered what Wikipedia names a “Mara.” And I want one!

From the little research I’ve done, these Patagonian Cavys can be incredibly social with humans. They’d be perfect for those who always wanted a kangaroo and a donkey and I imagine they’d just love snuggling up with my kitties. So if you’ve been scratching your head, trying to plan the best birthday surprise, I’ll take a large rodent wrapped in a red bow.

In lieu of an update (though, as you can tell from my writing this, I am alive), I want to share a funny string of emails I’ve been getting. Apparently, another “Jewel M” doesn’t know her own gmail account, so she occassionally forwards her emails between herself and her ex-husband, Ron, and a potential/ex-boyfriend, Tom, to me. The first time this happened, I responded to let her know I was receiving her emails. So when she kept sending them, I assumed she wanted me to have them. Appropriately enough, this string is titled “Honesty.” My favorite lines are bold. Thanks Jewel M!

Being back in Portland has me cuddling my kitties more than usual, and laughing at funny little animations like this one. I’m glad I didn’t catch this while I was away, or I would have died just missing little Zelda’s face pawing.