Candidate Journals

Had a productive day and looking forward to the weekend.  Much accomplished at work, with a very early start due to plant meeting, but took a few minutes this afternoon to do posters for the Panda adventure.  Hope everyone has fun once they see them- - -remember it's for a great cause.  Worked hard on requirements, met with my mentor, Inst. Tucker, who is the best!!!!, helped in class then stayed for sparring class.  Let's just say that Inst. Hsin has decided to pursue a new career as a comedian.  His first topic is #101 way on how to kill the old lady in class!!!  All I am going to say if you have not attended one of his sparring classes you would not understand.  Great class and I am still alive- -so far!!!! Thank you to all the other students, they are a great for my mental health.  We had fun,...

Up early, as normal, and already have some requirements done before work.  I will say the one thing I do miss without the TV is day break news while on the treadmill.  OK I said yesterday no biggie without the TV but watching the morning news helps pass the time.  I am not the greatest runner and it serves as a distraction while catching up on the local events.  All is good though - - -.  Looking forward to a productive day.  Scheduled to meet with my mentee today, Luke he is the best, class in South Charlotte and hopefully can knock out some leadership credits.  If not just will stay focused on requirements.  Hope everyone has a great day!!!!

I am liking this no electronics thing now if I could just turn my computer off at work for a few days I may actually have a chance to get caught up at work.  It is what it is and very thankful I have a career that I enjoy even though it is non stop.  Helped in the 5:00 class today then stayed for the series of other classes.  Inst. Hsin had us put chest protectors on and had to keep those on for all of the classes.  Someone tell me the secret on how you do not overhead in those please?????  OK day for requirements - - could be better could be worse but still plugging along.  So dinner is done, no more requirements today, so off to the shower then going to curl up with a book for a bit before bed.  Perfect for me as I would much prefer...

Happy with my progress so far but still a lot of catching up to do on requirements.  So cycle "officially" started on August 10th and yes if we registered early we were permitted to start on August 1st.  August is still pretty much a blur to me but all is very good.  Domestics caught up & I worked on requirements today however spent several hours working on Kicks for Kids- - let's hope the time it took away from requirements makes a difference in the end.  If not at least I made the effort and that's what counts.  As for curriculum I am not like several of the younger students that are basically sponges when it comes to learning.   Show them once and they got it.  Show me 10 times, and oh please only two different things at once, then let me practice them till I am blue in the face, then and only...

Started off the morning with class in Mint Hill then to North Charlotte where I met with my mentor, Inst. Tucker, did black belt class then stayed for sparring class.  Rushed home to get my husband then go run errands, got back to the house to knock out a bunch of domestics and still working on the ribs for tailgate tomorrow.  Yes I am tired!!!  My biggest mistake today was not drinking enough water - -my bad.  Got dehydrated then a nice cramp in my hamstring which will not go away.  Ouch!!!  Master Burkart, Chelley & Kim your classes were great today and I really enjoyed them.  Not every student pick's up quick, nor learns in the same way, you all have that nack in being able to get thru to everyone in a fun energetic way.  Requirements were not where I wanted them to be today but all is good. ...

What a great day! Helped with the little tigers this afternoon then did black belt class in Mint Hill -----that rocked, awesome class.  Now if I can just remember everything.  Trying to hit requirements hard and would love to see all green on the tracking but being realistic.  I will get caught up!  Looking forward to the weekend and get the hims all set for tailgate and Panthers opener then I can stay home and focus on domestics and requirements.  The carport is my dojang and yes the neighbors know I am nuts.  People drive and walk by and wow do I get some strange looks.  All is good and just keep doing the best I can do.

It's green stripe week at S. Charlotte so kicking kicking and some more kicking.  Great class tonight and we took some time to do deep stretching.  Master Moon was my partner.  Oh boy gumby I am- - -ma'am I do not stretch that way - - -I may need to be put back together.  All is good and will be ready for a weekend of classes and requirements. Also doing my white belt this week so have the little kids convenienced I got demoted.  The look on their face was priceless but I was nice and then explained it was part of our training.  

Got to meet with my mentor today and yippie!!!! Always great and leave feeling positive with new knowledge.  Helped with the advanced tigers then took sparring class.  Even better Inst. Hsin did not kill the old lady.  It may not have have been pretty but I did everything the kids did and did not fall to far behind.  The kids were great and very patience with me.  Not only am I older than most of the parents but could be a grand parent to some of them.  Look forward to more classes with them.  Inst. Hsin has a way of teaching sparring that I can understand.  I am not quick and probably never will be but I can still learn skills that would be to my advantage.  Enough requirements for the day my body says no more till tomorrow.  

Kicking kicking and more kicking!!!  Great class with Inst. Hsin & Master Moon last night.  Also got to meet with my mentee Luke yesterday.  What an awesome kid, I am very lucky.  His smiles never end and it's such a pleasure to work with him, very special little boy.  Other than that finding the balance with time on playing catch up with requirements, happy with progress though.  Stuggling with the pull-ups and still need the bungie assistance- -oh well.    Doing the white belt challenge this week so that will be one more essay complete next week. Other than that all is good.

Wow did I need this extra day off- - -it's a labor intensive day of tae kwon do requirements and keeping the domestic stuff in check so all is organized for the rest of the week- - lunch & dinner almost set for the week.  Working like crazy on requirements however the carport is my spot because it has the only space I need for most of the requirements.  Downside it's HOT outside and I am soaked everytime I come inside, hense more laundry - - that is not a good thing.  So if any of the younger candidates on cycle would like a recommendation if you do not know how to do laundry that would be a great new skill to learn.  If you are going thru as many clothes as I am, I am sure your parents would greatly appreciate your new skill.  Went to see family last night for dinner and found that...

Great day!! Domestics under control and finally have groceries in the house.  Productive on the requirements but reality is I am not going to get caught up in one weekend, my body is saying what are you doing to me.  All is good and will keep at it tomorrow.  Yesterday was first time in black belt class in a while and it felt great.Was overheated before class even started so gotta figure that one out. Have aloa lot of catching up to do but up for the challenge.

Things do not always go as planned.  Fridays goal was to take day off work, get the domestics in order and focus on requirements.  Very little requirements, domestics under control - - still no groceries in house and ended up having to work a portion of the day.  At least I think I am wise enough to listen to my body/mind and I did do that yesterday.  Had two long naps and spent an unproductive few hours reading a mindless book.  Since July 26th I have been gone 28 days and it finally all caught up with me.  It's amazing what sleep can do- - -all refreshed and focused now.  Have got to take what is tossed at you and make the best of it.  It will be a challenge but I will get caught up- - - all is good.  Looking forward to being back in class and sometype of normal...

Finally back and got to go to Thursday night class at South Charlotte.  Thank you Master Moon & Inst. Hsin you were great!  Of course 1st class back and sparring- -my head was spinning by time I left but all was very good.  Was able to go direct from work and focus on requirements in the corner.  The goal is to get caught up this weekend - -let's see if I can make it happen.

Yeh- - - - home today last.  The past two days have kicked my but physically.  We finally finished up yesterday afternoon then got back to hotel and I crashed for two hours.  Got payroll and a bunch of work coorespondence done so it should set me up that I can take Friday off and enjoy the much needed long weekend.  Had a very nice dinner with our crew last night then off to bed.  I am very lucky- - -  best staff ever!  Travel day today and looking forward to home sweet home.  I will get caught up and all will work out in the end.  Sometimes other priorities prevail so again all is good.  

Well it's the last show day of the year which also mean last very long day of the year for work.  Unfortunately very little physical requirements will get accomplished today as the goal is to be out of hear at 10:00 tonight.  When I am done it will be time for bed because early start tomorrow loading trucks.  It's ok though- - all will work out in the end.  Yesterday was long - -show floor by 7:30am till 6:00pm then mad dash to hotel to change then show event last night.  Had a good time with friends, industry colleagues and clients - -even better potential new clients.  Back to hotel just before midnight so no requirements got in- - - it was straight to bed then back on the floor at 8:00 this morning.  I always love a good challenge whether physical or mental.  I am however looking forward to being home.  ...

Wow finally I was able to get away yesterday for some requirement time and oh am I a happy camper- - feel great.  Would like to have accomplished more but pleased with results.  Not as fluid as I would like to be and still have some brain freeze moments but end up figuring it out.  Better than before so in my little world any improvements are good.  Not sure what today will bring so just have to roll with it.  Sounds like everyone did great on the pre-test so big congrats to all!!!!!

So I have always been curious when I do these trade show just how much walking I do in a day.  Well I figured out the Smart Phone, yes it's still smarter than I, and downloaded a pedometer app.  All I am going to say, its not an excuse but there is a reason when I leave the show floor that my knee's and feet hurt.  If I counted my walking my running requirements would be complete + + + some.  I am determined and will run all of that requirement because my cardio needs improvement and it will not improve if I do not run.  I may be the last one on the cycle that finishes the requirements however I will finish.  I got it - -it's all good!!!!

Finally no bumps in the road and travel went smooth which left me with some time, finally, to work on requirements.  I have no idea what the next week will bring so I am trying to get in as many as I can.  The brain storm to write one of my essays on the plan was short lived as I fell asleep before we took off and woke up when we landed.  All is good but I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a very long hot day.   I just need to remember hydrate & stretch.

Well only one green number and that's a major bummer but I have got this.  Flight got in on time last night but somehow my bags got lost from the plane to the belt so needless to say did not get home till 11:30 and I was seeing double by that time.  Back out tomorrow morning for another eight nights and thankfully last show of the year.  On a positive note at least I am almost done wtih my book so I can get that essay knocked out of the way.   What was I thinking 388 page book - -not a wise decision with my time issues.  Oh well it's truly all good and sometimes situations happen that you have no controll over.  Just have to do the best with what is handed to you.

Great day yesterday!!   New city, fantastic hotel, awesome work out facility and even better I was able to get a way for a little bit and get some requirements in.  Not as much as I would have liked but some is better than none.  Hoping today a can get a way for a few to get in some more before obligations with clients tonight.  Even better I can see the NFL & MLB stadiums from my room - - pretty cool.

Sleep is an amazing thing- - -I think I almost feel h uman again.  Hit a wall big time yesterday and I have hardly any requirements done - - -not good.  If schedule goes as planned I can finally focus a few hours this weekend on tkd, yes finally.  I am being positive all will work out in the end!!  

Crazy rough start however all I need to do is get past tomorrow and then I can start a somewhat realistic schedule till the end of the month.  I may be last on the list for requirements but I will catch up.  Since running is always a struggle I have been trying to focus on that with the time I do have available. 

Well it's a different journey the next two days but it will all work out.  Book for essay purchased so hopefully can at least get that done.  I had purchases another but left on plane last trip so figured there was a reason and made another choice.  Class was great yesterday!!! Thank you Inst Randall for keeping me grounded.  Jack you were able to unblock my brain freeze with staff attack and defend- - thank you too.  Last but not least have been reading to journals and way to go moms!!! If you are running 3 miles with your kids that are on cycle kudos to you.  Maybe its time to try the mat???    

Looking forward to class today as two weeks away is way too long.  May not be able to keep up but will do my best.  All I can say is the laundry is done, I win!!!  Domestics almost done but body still sluggish.  No matter how healthy you try to eat when you are away it's still not the same as cooking in your own kitchen.  So tired of restaurant food but a few more weeks and all done, back home and regain focus.  I got it!!!

I am off to a very rough start.  Please do not laugh at my requirement accomplishments I will get on track.

Ready set go - -it's time.  I am ready for this journey and will complete it.  Confidence!!!  It's going to be a crazy hectic month but I have got this.  May not get all requirements in every day but the balance will be there when it is time to finish.  Needed to badly decompress after work yesterday and went to the park across from the hotel.  Found that doing intervals with running and jumping rope is going to be the ticket for me.  Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.