A Return...

Well, a lot has happened in my life and in the world since my last and only post.

In June of this year, I joined the Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy in Los Angeles and I've never looked back. It has been a great learning experience in more ways than one. I'm learning a lot about myself, what I can push myself to do, and about other people. It can be frustrating, but in such a way that when I fail, I can get up and try again. I have some great instructors who really know how to find a person's strength and nurture that strength to help the person on that path to self-mastery. During the time I've been attending the Academy, I've lost 20 lbs. I feel lighter, more agile and much, much happier. I can see Wing Chun as part of the rest of my life.

Seems like for years (not seems, really, years) we have been watching the Presidential campaign and patiently waiting for November 4 (which is now just 21 days away). As the candidates slowly, but surely got down to the final 2, McCain and Obama (Other parties? Cynthia McKinney for the Greens, Bob Barr for the Libertarians, Ralph Nader as an Independent), an ugly side of our long history started to reveal itself again. Barack Obama has been accused of everything, short of being the Anti-Christ (oh, wait, there was talk about THAT too). I actually had a long, civil conversation with a lovely Jewish lady who actually said that she was terrified of Obama because black people would then want to exact revenge for slavery. I actually thought that she was a bit of an outlier with her attitude, but I was wrong.

John McCain, the once revered war hero, had the pick of the litter when he had to choose his VP. Unfortunately for Republicans, Senator McCain went for the runt. In a desperate attempt to appeal to the loony Christian right, John McCain picked an neophyte politician with a corruption probe on her back, connections to a secessionist organization, and someone eager to reignite the culture war. So much for being the "Maverick."

Enough about Politics... How about Iron Maiden? When I last wrote, I mentioned that I had just attended my 9th Maiden show. Well, I attended 3 more this summer. My friend Maria and I went to Phoenix and watched Maiden from the mosh pit. I wish I'd been taking Wing Chun then, that was a violent experience. I had trouble breathing normally for weeks after that (and bruises... EVERYWHERE). Later that same week, my sister and friends attended 2 sold-out shows at Irvine Meadows (no, I will not call it by its corporate name and you can't make me). Brilliant, brilliant evenings. The boys were ON FIRE both nights, and the crowd repaid them in kind.

Thanks for listening. I'll try to keep this thing up.