Me

Growing old together

/ hsoi

Blogging’s been light the past couple days. My buddy W got married tonight. I was one of his groomsmen and was honored to be (thus my minimal blogging, as I’ve been off doing wedding stuff). He’s a great guy, someone I’m fortunate to be able to call a friend. He’s found himself a wonderful woman in A, and seeing the two of them together… they are great for each other. I know my word choice is pretty lame here, but the simple fact is I just can’t express it. Watching them exchanging their vows, heck, every time I’m just around them… you can feel something great between them.

I see how they treat each other. I see how they care for each other. The tenderness, the consideration, the way they light up. It’s not just little silly things either. It’s bigger things, things that matter more for a relationship to have long-term success. I do believe they’ve got “it”.  I’ve only been married 13 years (1st and only marriage), so I still don’t know a lot. But I know what I like about my marriage and what helps to make it last:

My wife is someone I want to grow old with, and I’m someone she wants to grow old with.

If you have that, in so many ways you have an important bit of what it takes to succeed. I shared this, my wish for you both, at the reception this evening. It comes from my heart. I look forward to watching you guys growing old together. 🙂

Slacking, sorta

/ hsoi

The past couple weeks have been… full? distracting? having other things taking priority? been what they’ve been is all I can say. Some of it documented here, some not. As a result tho, I haven’t been at the dojang as much as I’ve wanted to be. So to my Kuk Sool folk reading this, sorry I haven’t been there… but it’s not from lack of want. 🙂  I did sign up for seminar tho. Dan bong! Looking forward to it.

Thing is, a while ago I made a commitment to practice martial arts every day. Doesn’t matter what it is, just as long as it’s something and done every day. It could be going to the dojang. It could be going to the garage and working on the heavy bag. It could be going on the yard and doing forms. It could be dry fire. It could be just draw practice. It might just be working out some techniques in my head, thinking through self-defense scenarios. Mentally going through all my Kuk Sool curriculum. Freeform development of mixed concepts (e.g. empty hand transition to handguns). Whatever. Doesn’t always have to be intensely physical, could be mental, could be just meditating on some concepts. So long as every day I do something. Going to the dojang is actually a fair part of that, but not going is really bugging me…. such is just life right now. Ebb and flow.

Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.

/ hsoi / 5 Comments

I became an Eddie Eagle volunteer and gave my first presentation last night. Went over fairly well, for a first time. I think it’s a great program that strives to be fun but teach a serious message. Afterwards I heard from various parents that agreed: even if you are anti-gun, it makes sense to teach your children to “Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.” At the barest of minimums that helps you keep your child safe if they ever encounter a gun. We teach our children so many other things about being safe but this one tends to be avoided for whatever reason. With a program like Eddie Eagle, there’s no reason not to provide it and teach that simple mantra/message to your children:

As for the program itself, I used the “assembly format” which I think works fairly well. It aims to be fun, keeps the kids interested, but it doesn’t bog down with anything or even let the fun and silliness get in the way of the serious message of “Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.”  and additional messages of respect (for always following all safety rules) and responsibility (for yourself). It uses various things to help imprint the message: rhymes, repetition, some physical movements (watch the video, you’ll see the “Eddie Shuffle”), repetition, a few scenarios to play out, repeating the 4 steps numerous times, “Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.” You get the idea. 🙂  It’s very well developed, from an educator standpoint.

You can hate guns to your dying day. But if you love your children, be they your own kids or just kids in your care, please take the time to teach them about Eddie Eagle. Thirty minutes of discussion could save you from a life of heartache.

Nyko Perfect Shot for Wii

/ hsoi

My mother bought the kids a Wii for Christmas. I have to admit, it’s a lot of fun. Growing up as a child of the video game age, we’ve come a long way from the Atari console’s “stick and one button” interface. Sure some Wii games aren’t very inventive in taking advantage of the platform, but most are and it’s neat to interact with games in a way that isn’t just button mashing.

I hear the kids downstairs playing on it right now, so on a whim I started to Google around to see what’s hot in Wii games right now. After a few clicks, I stumbled upon the Nyko Perfect Shot.

Want. Here’s an IGN review.

Nintendo makes their official Wii Zapper, but it pales. I mean look at the Perfect Shot: 1911-like styling; certainly more realistic in styling and ergonomics to a real pistol; the review reads like the trigger is pretty good; and look! Sights! That rules!

Oo… massive amounts of want.

But then, what game to get to go with it? Ghost Squad? Call of Duty: World at War? Medal of Honor Heros 2? Hrm…. 🙂

Updated: I caved. Went to the local GameStop and they had one in stock. Also a copy of Ghost Squad, which the guy working there (who has worked there a long time, has a trustworthy opinion regarding game stuff) said was a lot of fun. The game was even on sale this weekend, so bonus there. Didn’t cost me much for the two things. I haven’t played with it yet (got other things to do first), but I did take it out of the package and fondle it. The grip is very thick, probably to accomodate/balance the Wiimote’s size. I do like how they did the “pass-through” for the nunchuck. The trigger feels as good as you can expect for a little plastic contraption like this, but what tickled me was while it looks like a little pivot trigger, it actually slides back and forth just like a 1911 trigger would. Nifty. As soon as I get a chance to try it out, I’ll report back.

Shooting, relaxing, and having no mind

/ hsoi / 6 Comments

I was scheduled to participate in a handgun class today, AT-4 Extreme Pistol. However due to the heavy rains and flooding issues the class has been postponed until tomorrow. Heavy rains, shooting on the move, paper targets… just doesn’t mix well for a safe and productive class. Tomorrow should be better.

Some weeks ago when I was assisting with a class I mentioned to one of the instructors that I was signed up to take AT-4 as a student. He gave me a puzzled look and wondered why I would take the class, saying something to the effect of I shoot better than that and don’t really need the class. While I appreciated the complement, I’m still taking the class. I signed up for it a long time ago, back when I was still unsure of my skills. While I apparently underestimated myself, I know I can still learn a lot by taking the class. Plus it’s good to just take it as a “résumé” builder — the more formal training the better.

I’ve been thinking about how to approach the class. What do I want to get out of it, what do I want to focus on for myself apart from the class curriculum. I think I’m coming back to something I’ve spent a long time trying to improve about myself:

Being relaxed.

Some years ago I injured myself in some way and so I wasn’t sure how I could keep up my empty-hand martial arts training while I healed from the injury. My teacher at the time suggested to me to work on forms and utter relaxation. To use only those muscles that had to be used and nothing more. For instance, if you’re in a horse stance, your leg muscles certainly need to be at work… but all of them? Your quadriceps sure, but your hamstrings not so much so ensure they’re not tight. Certainly in a horse stance your shoulders aren’t involved so why should there be any tension in them? You’d be surprised how much we involve muscles that have no true reason to be involved, and all that does is consume energy and tire us out quicker. The more I worked on being relaxed, while that in and of itself was difficult, the end result was making things a lot easier. Endurance went up merely because I wasn’t wasting energy.

I still have to work on the physical aspects of this. I guess it’s in my genes to be a tense “type A” person, so it’s an effort to relax (ironic eh?). It’s even in little things, like noticing during a workout or even just sitting here right now at the computer as I type this and I furrow my brow. There’s no need. If the brow is furrowed, I’m not relaxed. The more relaxed I am, the better I move, the better I work. Plus, it telegraphs. Can’t have a relaxed poker-face.

So back to the handgun class. I think the key thing I want to focus on is being relaxed. The class is about pushing your skills further, so if I really want to shoot well the more relaxed I am the better I will perform, the faster I can perform. But that’s just the physical side of it. I need to be mentally (and emotionally) relaxed as well.

No Mind. The Japanese would call it mushin. Chinese, wu-hsin. In Kuk Sool’s hyung bup, “mind clear”. I don’t want to have a gazillion things racing through my head. Maybe “front sight front sight front sight” but I don’t even want that. I want my mind to just be. Just let things flow. Be one with the gun, the target, myself, everything. Harmony.

This will be my personal goal for the class. We’ll see how I do. 🙂

Meme time

/ hsoi

At first I resisted memes, and I don’t do all that come around, but there’s merit in letting readers know about you… let’s them know where you’re coming from. So with that, two memes:

ABC’s of me

  • Age — in my 30’s
  • Bed Size — queen (want a king, want a master bedroom big enough to hold a king)
  • Chore you hate — yes
  • Dire phobia — not a fear of heights, but probably a fear of falling or more so, landing
  • Essential start your day item — hug and kiss from my wife
  • Favorite color — blue
  • Gold or silver — prefer gold, but silver apparently looks better on me
  • Height — 6’3″
  • Instruments you play(ed) — piano, violin, trumpet, french horn, guitar
  • Job title — Grand Pooh-Bah
  • Kids — yes, 3
  • Living arrangements — in my house with my wife and kids, and various animals
  • Mom’s name — yes she has one
  • Nicknames — Hsoi
  • Overnight hospital stay other than birth — none
  • Pet peeve — lack of consistency
  • Quote from a movie — If it’s a Monty Python movie, too many to list.
  • Siblings — yes
  • Time you wake up — 5:00 AM or so
  • Underwear — yup
  • Vegetable you dislike — bitter gourd
  • Ways you run late — OK, maybe running late is my pet peeve… I try to avoid it. If I’m running late, typically it’s induced by external factors (e.g. whomever is going with me, and they are the ones running late)
  • X-rays you’ve had — both feet/ankles, chest, hand/wrists, probably others that I can’t recall right now
  • Yummy food you make — all food I make is yummy
  • Zoo favorite — depends on the zoo. Austin Zoo? nothing. Henry Doorly Zoo? everything.

 

44 Odd Things

  1. Do you like blue cheese? – it’s OK now and again
  2. Have you ever smoked a cigar? — yes
  3. Do you own a gun? — yes
  4. What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite? — Obama’s media hype? 😉  But if we’re talking drink, haven’t had Kool-Aid in years. Probably a “berry” flavor. I always loved that artificial raspberry flavor is mandated to be blue in color. 
  5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? — generally no, but it might depend upon what I was seeing the doctor about.
  6. What do you think of hot dogs? — Evil wonderful food. Wrap it in bacon, even better!
  7. Favorite Christmas movie? — maybe Charlie Brown. Grinch. A Christmas Story is fun too (love the lamp)
  8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? — water
  9. Can you do push-ups? — yes
  10. What is your favorite piece of jewelry? — probably the only one that I wear, my wedding band
  11. Favorite hobby? — martial arts, motorcycle riding
  12. Do you have A.D.D.? — don’t think so
  13. What’s the one trait you hate about yourself? — often doing things to 90-95% completion then not finishing for whatever reason. Often due to loss of interest because my brain has conquered the thing and is ready to move onto the next thing. It’s one reason I was bent on getting my black belt.
  14. Middle name? — yes I have one
  15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? — why am I bouncing my leg? hope the hamster is OK. hope we get more rain today.
  16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. — water, milk, beer
  17. Current worry? — that Daughter’s hamster will be OK. Not so much for the hamster itself (he’s cute, but he’s a hamster), but more so for Daughter and her learning about life, caring for things, and all the wonderful ups and downs that mothers go through when their child is sick. 🙂
  18. Currently hate right now? — the direction my country seems to be headed in. But hate doesn’t do much good, so I just use it as motivation to do what I can to improve upon things.
  19. Favorite place to be? — home, with my family
  20. How did you bring in the New Year? — sleeping. It’s just another day.
  21. Where would you like to go? — for a motorcycle ride. Storms are too intense today so no go.
  22. Name 3 people who will complete this? — don’t know, don’t care
  23. Do you own slippers? — no
  24. What shirt are you wearing right now? — none
  25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? — not really. too slippery
  26. Can you whistle? — yes, tho my embouchure  isn’t what it used to be when I played brass instruments.
  27. Favorite color? — blue
  28. Red or white wine? — beer. But if I have to drink wine, bold reds (e.g. cab) tend to be a preference.
  29. What songs do you sing in the shower? — whatever is in my head
  30. Favorite girls name? — I guess my daughter’s
  31. Favorite boys name? — I guess my sons’
  32. What’s in your pocket right now? — stuff
  33. Last thing that made you laugh? — probably one of my children
  34. Worst injury you ever had? — I’ve been lucky and haven’t had any too major injuries, but I guess the constant destruction of the ligaments in my left ankle is probably one of the worst things I’ve done. MRI’s are fun….
  35. Do you love where you live? — yes
  36. How many TVs do you have in your house? — 2
  37. Who is your loudest friend? — I think I’m the loudest of all the people I know. One of those “lose your hearing, you speak louder” sorts of things. Plus I have a deep voice and know how to project it.
  38. Do you have any pets? — yes, cats, hamster, fish. Dog is coming once the elderly cats move on.
  39. Does someone have a crush on you? — Hopefully my wife.
  40. Your favorite book(s) — many
  41. Favorite sports team — Don’t really have one, tho I guess this household would root for Texas A&M. I tend to prefer individual sports, like MMA/UFC/WEC.
  42. Who is your least favorite sports team — see 41
  43. How many cell phones do you carry? — are there people that carry more than 1?
  44. What’s your favorite casual place to eat? — home, my wife’s an awesome cook. If we’re talking restaurant, Sonic is about as casual as you can get tho the food is evil. Wife likes Texican Cafe. I guess I tend to like Asian foods, like Thai, Vietnamese, Korean.

Firsts

/ hsoi

This seems a fun little meme.

  1. Who was your first prom date?
    1. Maggie O. It was her senior prom. I was a junior.
  2. Do you still talk to your first love?
    1. Nope. Probably was some crush when I was a little kid, so no I don’t. I do remember the first “true” love that I had, and I don’t know what ever happened to her. Try to look for her now and again because last we did talk she wasn’t on a good road in life… so yeah, always been concerned and curious, just hoping she’s OK.
  3. What was your first alcoholic drink?
    1. Probably a Budweiser, taking a sip of Dad’s and hating it.
  4. What was your first job?
    1. Either babysitting or lawn mowing. I did have a paper route too.
  5. What was your first car?
    1. Ford Escort 3-door hatchback.
  6. Who was the first person to text you today?
    1. No one.
  7. Who is the first person you thought of this morning
    1. Person? I guess my daughter, being concerned about her hamster.
  8. Who was your first grade teacher?
    1. Mrs. Schuman. She was so sweet. I recall accidentally calling her “Mom” a few times, which tells you what a caring and loving person she was, and how much fun class was. I actually have a lot of fond memories from 1st grade, but not many from other grades. For whatever that’s worth.
  9. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?
    1. I can’t recall for sure (maybe this was my first), but one of the earliest plane rides I can remember was flying to South Korea. I believe I received my first LEGO kit (just a box of bricks) to keep me amused on the plane. I also seem to recall “snapper turtle soup” being served and thinking it was the most disgusting thing.
  10. Who was your first best friend, and do you still talk to them?
    1. I really don’t remember, but it was probably someone from growing up back in Omaha and most of those folks I lost touch with many many years ago.
  11. Where was your first sleepover?
    1. Not sure, but one of the earliest ones I can remember was I think maybe in 4th grade? Some kid’s birthday party.
  12. Who was the first person you talked to today?
    1. My wife.
  13. Whose wedding were you in the first time?
    1. Maybe Bill’s, from college. Usher.
  14. What was the first thing you did this morning?
    1. Came upstairs and checked on the hamster.
  15. What was the first concert you ever went to?
    1. I don’t remember.
  16. First tattoo?
    1. Only tattoo. On my outer right calf.
  17. First piercing?
    1. Right ear lobe. Freshman year of undergrad. Have 3 in my right, 2 in my left, haven’t worn earrings since I started studying martial arts. Don’t care to, but I do it now and again to weird out my kids.
  18. First foreign country you’ve been to?
    1. South Korea
  19. First movie you remember seeing in the theater?
    1. My mom loves to tell the story of me yelling “RUN BENJI RUN!!” at the screen, but I don’t remember that so I must have been pretty young. While this wasn’t my first movie to see in the theater, I do remember going to see Ghandi in the theater, being totally lost, didn’t understand it, and groaned heavily when the words “intermission” came on the screen. I’m sure I could appreciate the movie now, but back then it was just looooooong.
  20. When was your first detention?
    1. Never.
  21. What was the first state you lived in?
    1. Nebraska
  22. Who was your first roommate?
    1. Brian… I forgot his last name (I think I remember it, but either way I’m not going to print it here), but I can recall his face. Freshman year, undergrad dorms. Good guy, tho we never got close.
  23. If you had one wish, what would it be?
    1. For more wishes. 😉
  24. What is something you would learn if you had the chance?
    1. Just one? There’s so many things….
  25. Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
    1. Don’t know. Don’t care.