Well, perseverance pays off. I bombed the testing on March 28th. You get 3 chances to get through the form & get it right. I couldn't even manage to get through it once. I just couldn't seem to focus enough to get through it on any of the 3 tries.

I can make all sorts of excuses. Like, my house is under construction & I have to live in a little travel trailer & my job is driving me nuts & I'm not sleeping very well &, &, &.... But if I let that stop me from trying again, then it's only whining.

The truth is that all of that was going on. And I had also picked up a stomach bug that had me feeling "pukey". I tried anyway. I didn't get through my form on any of the 3 attempts we're allowed, plus I ended up "tossing my cookies". After that I could hardly even stand so I didn't even get to spar or try to break my boards. That meant a no change.

But there's a second chance at alternate testing the following weekend. So I picked myself up, got over my little stomach bug, and tried again. I'm so glad I didn't give up. At alternate testing, I only had to do my form once, sparring went pretty well, and I broke with my hand technique & my foot technique on the first attempt at each. And I was awarded my sr red belt in class tonight. That felt pretty good.

So now, I start preparing myself for the next belt testing...when I go for my 1st degree level 1 Black Belt. I have until May 30th to get ready.

And, oh yeah, in the meantime, I'm still dealing with a crazymaking job, a house that's being repaired/rebuilt from damage it sustained during Hurricane Rita, a grouchy husband, a son in the army,...in other words, life in general. Just like everybody else. So, I keep on keepin' on.