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I remember when I would make it a point to type up a blog entry everyday as a training diary.  I'd type, in detail, every exercise that I used and/or every thig that I did for my own training.  I've gotten lazy.  Now I rarely blog and it's only when something big happens.  Usually it's something that pissed me off or something so big that it's keeping me awake at night and the only thing to do is blog. 

For tonight I wanted this to be an update. 

I made a heartfelt decision to stop my studies in psychology and transfer over to Coleman College to learn computer networking.  A huge leap huh?  I'm turning 27 this Thursday and it has come to light that in order to have a successful career in psychology I'd have to go for my Master's and PhD.  I don't have that kind of time.  I'll be 32 by the time I get that far.  So even as much as I've come to love psychology, there's no money in it.  I know that I love to work with my hands.  Me working a desk job, pushing papers, is like getting a football player to do a Human Resourses job.  I've always enjoyed be a technician... whether working on my own airsoft guns along with James's and Peter's (bastards), taking apart and re-assembling my radio controlled cars, working on my Toyota Tacoma, and tinkering with computers.  If it's not hands on, I'm not interested.  Except for psychology.

I need to up and about so that I don't get bored and Coleman College is extremely hands on.  After talking to Frank (who really reminds me of a filipino Mr. Castillo) and giving me a tour and even letting me sit in on the classes.  It impressed me enough to make the switch.  I'll be done with that in as little as 7 months and they'll halp me find a job.  Mr. Lemelle from Mid-City heard about my career change and already is hooking me up with more job info with the place that he works at.  I finally feel that I'm going to go somewhere and be somebody other than the World's Finest TKD Instructor SBN Mario.

Damn... I'll be 27 years old.  I admit that I should've been done with school like 4 year ago or I should be almost done with my Master's and PhD.  Nobody told me that it's okay to switch majors in the middle of school.  My dad was adamant about me making up my mind right away.  So I'd blurt out a major and I'd just go for it.  In the end I really wanted psychology but at my age... I need a job now.  The computer field is as hot as the nursing field but not as demanding.  My parents wanted me to be a nurse.  Nurses are on call.  Ever watch the TV show Scrubs?  My social life will be in the hospital because I'd be in there so much.  No way.

For my TKD training.  After I start Coleman nothing will get in my way anymore.  I'll make an extreme effort to study whenever I can.  I'll need to learn and reveiw all 8 Taegeuks and Palgwes, the history of TKD, and all of the Korean terminology.  Then I need to do as much exercise that I can fit in.  I might even consider joining 24 hour fitness.  I know that I'm just being vain but I want to finally lose my gut.  I want to look sexy in my TKD uniform.  Hehehe...  I eat nothing but Subway and salads but I need to start jogging more.  My cardio really really stinks and it shows in the ring.  After about 3-5 exchanges I'm already out of breath and can do nothing but defend.

The Comic-Con... I'm getting bored with it.  Even though I'm starting to go to panels and compete in the contests and raffles I still have one main interest... anime.  The anime scene there has gone way down and it disappoints me.  So I have a gaol that for 2010 I'll try the Anime Expo!!!  I'll want to reserve a hotel room close to the convention center to cut down on gas and spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there.  I just like watching anime and ever since my interest has been re-sparked by Ah! My Goddess I want to go to a convention that has lots and lots of anime.  Anime Expo will sometimes have the japanese anime voice actors as guests there.  Kikuko Inoue was there a handful of times.  Who is she?  She's the japanese voice actress for Belldandy!!!  Also many of the english anime voice actors are at Anime Expo.  I need to go there.  My goal is to that before I turn 29 or earlier. 

I've been doing the whole old man talk everywhere I go.  I'd say, "I wish I was in high school again."  Or I'd be talking to some of my younger friends like that.  Of course I get the usual, "Mario you're still young."  I really wish I felt that way. 

Time for this old man to get some sleep.

Good night.

So far since September stared I've been getting on my boss's "smile" about getting the belts I need for my TKD class, getting information from Coleman College on their Computer Networks degree, helping my dad take our 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport to and from the mechanic, fixing a leak in my truck's tire, and picking up my mom because the Caravan won't start.  It's been a busy month and I'm only 9 months into it.

What else?  My birthday is coming up on the 18th and I'm trying to plan an airsoft skirmish on the 20th but I don't know about what else my dad has planned for me and whether or not the Caravan will be fixed. 

I average about 5-6 hours of sleep every night but during the summer I was getting 9-10 hours of sleep.  I miss those extra hours.

On the 28th we have a major mob or people going with us to an airsoft skirmish at Mr. Paintball.  It's going to be a big game.  I'm excited.

Oh well I'm getting pretty sleepy now.  Maybe I'll blog again later.

Good night.

Before I get to the Comic-Con I'd like to talk about my anime mania. I'm addicted to romance anime, more specifically the harem and magical girlfriend anime. My top 3 are Ah! My Goddess, Ai Yori Aoshi, and Chobits. It's not me wanting to a special someone of my own. I'm past that and all of the grief and sadness that I've felt because of that feeling. It's the story telling that's really got me hooked. So much that I'm starting to enjoy reading the manga and comparing the differences between the manga, the anime, and especially the music from the soundtrack.

It's too bad that the internet is hurting or put out of business companies like Pioneer/Geneon, ADV Films, etc. I like the ability to have my own personal copy of an anime title... only because I wouldn't but it unless it really had a good story. Of course I'm guilty of watching anime off the internet but once I find out that it got licenced for America and is available in a special art box that can contain the entire series or whatever... I can't help but buy the entire series along with the special art box. Pioneer/Geneon produced some really artboxes for Ai Yori Aoshi and Chobits but they are no longer distributing.

I read in some forums that it was because on the rising use of the internet and file sharing websites that brought sales down. Oh well. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing because I'm a collector at heart and would hate if I couldn't get the special box DVD set that was made for my favorite anime.

My feet are still recovering from all of the walking I did at the Comic-Con this past week. It was crowded that I literally had to force my way through all of the madness. Usually I put away between $400-$500 to buy lots of stuff, but this year I planned to focus on all of the freebies, raffles, and contests that were going on. I got free t-shirts, little trinkets, pins, card decks, and my crowning achievement was winning a contest at the Star Trek booth. You had to scratch off these cards that had the job title of someone in a 8 person construction crew. To make this short the rare card/job title was a "Welder" and I got it. Then you had to assemble a group of 8 people each with one job title and then claim your prize at the booth. Peter was in the crew and we all got one really nice shoulder/messenger bag with the Starfleet and Intel logos on it.

James had his fun with the Metal Gear Solid 4 photo gathering in front of Ballroom 20 and there was a very pretty and sexy Zero Suit Samus there also posing in the photos. I got my yearly 8x10 photos and picture taking with Flo Jalin, Candi Kita, and Linda Tran. It's funny, Flo Jalin some how has remembered my name. Not because I have the obvious Comic-Con name tag. I know this because my tag was flipped around covering my name. God... Flo Jalin and Candi Kita are nice to sit and talk with and wouldn't you know it... they are good friends. But they don't seem to ever meet each other at the Comic-Con. I end up relaying greetings between the two of them. I don't mind. Hehehe...

I also attended and got a free t-shirt from the panel for the new Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime that will be coming out in September and the panel for ABC Family's new mini-series Samurai Girl starring Jamie Chung and Stacy Keibler. I found out that Jamie Chung was in the Real World San Diego show. Oh well... they're both so pretty. I was pissed that I missed my chance to meet them for an autograph.

I used to never want to waste my time with contests or raffles, but after doing them this year I felt really satisfied after the convention ended. I got so much free stuff and I didn't spend more than $150, including expenses for food and parking.

That's my blog for now. Time to recover some more and prepare for the surprise that I have for Mid-City. Hehehe... want to know? Go to Mid-City for the last class and find out.

Good night.

I finally started watching the Human Weapon special that showed on the History Channel and by watching I've been inspired to incorporate more self-defense tactics into Mid-City.  Anyone can argue all they want that TKD isn't a good form of self-defense but I intend to teach my knowledge of self-defense tactics to my class.  It's the mind set that I'm talking about.  I don't have the full lesson planned out but here's a sample.  The kicks and punches of TKD work best when both are standing up and keeping distance from each other.  But c'mon... how many fights and self-defense situations end up on the ground?  About 85% I'd say.  So I want to start conditioning their minds for basic self-defense tactics using TKD as a way to apply them.  For example: Avoid using high kicks, kick low and fast, strike at pressure points (ie: temples, solar plexus, groin, eyes, etc.), and use anything and everything to fend off your attacker and the RUN!!!  Grab a nearby pipe and smack them across the face with it and then RUN!!!  You have your keys in your hand?  Use them and whip them across their opponents eyes and then RUN!!!  Get the picture?

I have to really give it some thought on how I can put those ideas to work with a group of students that I see only one a week.  I'm determined to do it.  TKD (WTF, ITF, ATA, etc.) can be used for self-defense if one knows how to apply it.

Hehehe... Bill Duff got knocked out in the TKD episode. 

Good night.

I didn't realize the true impact of yesterday until I tried to wake up this morning.  I slept at 11:00 pm last night only to wake up at 11:00 am this morning.  I slept for 12 freaking hours.  Along with that I vaguely remember waking up a various times in between to use the bathroom and then jump back in bed.  So naturally I felt refreshed but it appears that my neck was in a bad position when I was sleeping so when I got up to stretch and turned my head... wow... such terrible pain. 

As the day went on I noticed myself yawning only 2 hours after I woke up.  My body felt rested but yet it felt like I was wearing a suit of armor.  My body felt so heavy and I was developing a headache as well.  My yawning became more frequent and I started to feel really sleepy around 2:30 pm.  I still had to go to Southcrest tonight so I took a power nap and set my alarm for 4:00.  I wake and I see that it's 6:45.  HOLY SHIT!!!  I had set my alarm for 4 am instead of 4 pm.  I rushed to Southcrest in order to get the roster from Mr. Castillo but I found out that he's not going to take off tomorrow and I'm not going to be subbing.  Geez... 

I visited Matt at Spring Valley chewed the rag with him for a bit and then went home. 

I'm still sleepy and my neck still hurts.  Hopefully I'll be fully recuperate after tonight. 

Good night.

Today I spent most of my morning and afternoon in Riverside at the J&T Military Surplus Airsoft arena.  Four straight hours of airsoft in a very hot CQB (close quarters battle) arena.  I was with James, Peter, and Nick with some other players that were already there.  I have 6 red welts from the BB's that hit me.  Each and everyone of them hurt like hell.  My weapon of choice was my MP7.  I bought it because the G36C that I usually use has no battery at the moment and even with the stock folded was bulky weapon.  Not really exceptional for CQB.  So I did lots of research on the MP7 and the MP5K.  I ended up with the MP7 because of the longer innerbarrel which increases accuracy compared to the shorter innerbarrel of the MP5K. 

So with the 4 hours that we played... the MP7 just felt weird.  My bulkier G36C feels better than the smaller MP7.  It's supposed to be the other way around.  Maybe it could just be the fact that I've used the G36C plenty of times and I'm more familar with that gun.  I'll say this though, the arena at J&T has tight corners and narrow corridors.  Maybe even too tight and narrow for the MP7.  Should I try an MP5K?  Nick was using a Scorpion and was running and gunning kicking all kinds of ass.  Peter was very content with just using a USP because of the tight and narrow arena.  Using just a gas pistol gave Peter mobility and quick target acquisition capability.  Nick with the Scorpion had the same capability followed later by James with his M9 Tactical Master.  Damn... the one time I left my Glock 18C at home was when I needed to use it most. 

I need to use the MP7 two more times before I make a final conclusion of keeping it or selling it.  Jeez...

After we got back into San Diego we all ate a late lunch and called it a day.  For me I had the whole day cleared so I went to Plaza Bonita and watched Get Smart.  The movie was good... not great but good.  It was entertaining but I expected more and more references to the original TV show and even some cameos but... there were next to none. 

I'm so tired now that I can't think of anything else to say.  So I'll just end it.

Good night.

Today was the AYOP tournament.  First up was 13 white belts.  You read that right... only 13 white belts.  So business picked up only after 1:00 pm when the colored belts showed up.  I ran the colored belt group warm-up and for the first time I got 2 rounds of applause for a foot work exercise that I stole from SBN Matt.  Don;t worry he knows that I've been using that exercise and I felt that I should've gave him credit for it.  The forms rings that I had went off without a hitch and for the sparring rings I had there were some of the usual wind knocking kicks and some accidental face shots. 

In between the rings I judged I watched some of the other rings and there were some calls that I didn't agree with and some of the rings were run in an unprofessional way.  I can't get really descriptive but it just felt unprofessional.  I pride myself in running my rings in the most unbiased and professional way. 

I was so happy for the Mid-City students that showed and competed.  Diane was in my ring and she used the roundhouse then back kick combo that I taught in class and scored a point!!!  She got 2nd place, but she fought in a ring of 8 students.  A first for her I think.  Her younger brother Michael won 1st place with the double front kick (chicken kick) that I taught in class. 

Now the main thing I was able to do was take a huge load of mental notes today.  I watched the other students and I took note of many mannerisms and things that they do that I could teach my students to counter or just blantaly take advantage of.  Then my goal of making Mid-City a force to be reckoned with will come true.  Mid-City has been just a force in the forms competition with the 2 previous instructors... but now I'm going to make tham a force in the forms AND sparring rings.  Hehehe... I can't wait.

It was a good night for me.  I hope the other students that competed and won a trophy brings it to class so that I can brag about them.

That's it.

Good night.

... from personal experience and from others... that if you have feelings for someone and never tell them, you'll stay stuck in the same place. 

Now if you confess... regardless of the outcome either positive or negative... you'll be able to move on past that point.

It's better to be able to move on than to forever stay in one place. 

Life is full of uncertainties.

IF YOU DON'T CONFESS... THEN YOU'LL NEVER KNOW!!!

It's better to know how the other person feels... than to remain in the shadows and always wonder. 

Better than feeling regret in the future.

98 Degrees
"If She Only Knew"

If she only knew
What I knew but couldn't say
If she could just see
The part of me that I hid away(oh yeah)
If I could just hold her in my arms again
And just say, "I love you"
But she's gone away, maybe she'd stay
If she only knew

If she could just feel
What I feel here in my heart
She'd know it was real
Pure and true right from the start(oh yeah)
But I'm just a man who didn't understand
What she was going through
She's gone away, maybe she'd stay
If she only knew

And how, how did I let her get away
'Cause love, love is so easy to feel
But the hardest thing to say(say say say)

If she could just see
What I see when I close my eyes(close my eyes)
All that I dream(dream)
Surely she would realize(ohh)
But like a fool I waited much too long
To let her know the truth
She's gone away, maybe she'd stay
If she only knew

Tell me, tell me how
How did I let her get away (tell me)
'Cause I guess that love, love is so easy to feel
But the hardest thing to say(say say say say)

If she only knew
What I knew but could not say(say it baby)
If she could just see
The part of me that I hid away
If I could just hold her in my arms again
And just say, "I love you" (I love you)
She's gone away, maybe she'd stay
If she only knew
la la la la la la la
If she only knew
la la la la la la la

maybe she stayed but she ran away
why she had to go away cause of what I didnt say
dont know what to do oh god i wish that she knew
la la la la la la la

It's past 2 in the morning and it doesn't seem that I'll get any sleep.  It's not because I'm worried, or I have a big paper to write, or etc.  I've now discovered the great joy of... reading.  Ever since I watched the TV series of Ah! My Goddess I've plunged head first into that world.  I've been watching and reading anything that I can get my hands on related to Ah! My Goddess... except the disgusting and cheesy Doujinshi comics that destroy the image of Ah! My Goddess... in my opinion.  I've read all of the unflipped manga that Dark Horse comics has released, even though they relases them with huge gaps in the order of the volumes.  I've watched the first OVA's along with the recently made TV series... both seasons 1 and 2 along with the TV special called "Fighting Wings".  

The latest is the 1st Ah! My Goddess novel "First End".  This is the 1st novel I've read that didn't relate to school in anyway.  I read this because I have a deep desire to know everything there is to know about the Ah! My Goddess universe.  It's hard to blog about this without typing any spoilers, but I'll try my best.  Bottom line... I never enjoyed reading novels.  I always thought of novels as boring.  My imagination could never manifest itself so that I can "see" what I'm reading.  For this book, since I've watched the anime and read the manga, the images and sounds were in my head already... helping me to enjoy this novel to the max. 

The novel was excellent!  It started well, ended well, and had me crying at the end.  I can admit to it.  I'm old enough to admit that the story was written well enough to get me to cry.  Heh... remembering that story now is getting me all teary eyed again.  

I've never plunged into something so deeply before in my life.   

It makes me feel good that I'm making an effort to push past my usual routines and comfort zones.  I'm discovering the joys in these different things that I can't wait for the next.

Anyway the summer is coming up and if you've got a lot of extra time on your hands I suggest watching the Ah! My Goddess TV series on either youtube.com or on myspace.  I can vouch that you won't be disappointed.

I'll try to get some get some sleep now.

Good night.

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