Atomic Bliss

A Day Boxing

I finished a quick week yesterday at the boxing gym.  My mind has been spinning circles and I was dying to get into the gym and work it out, so much so I considered buying a punching bag for the backyard.  I got there, warmed up, did my crunches, my heavy bag workout and then sang some samba as I tried to learn the 1-2-3 rhythm of the speedbag. When it was all done, I sat in a pile of my sweat and started to unwrap my hands.  The trainer asked what I was doing for Mother's Day.  Nothing, I said, withdrawn to the fact that it just doesn't exist for me.. and I'm old enough to just say, I'm sorry, I'm not that close to my mother.  I asked and you, throwing something on the pit this weekend?  He goes I'm throwing it on right now!! and points outside. 

The mother of our youngest gym member, a sweet 8 year old boy who grins thru his gloves as they punch him, brought a tray of guacamole and 2 bags of chips.  The trainer passed out some gatorade and told us all to help our selves.  There we sat, as others hit the bags and sparred, munching on a small tray and talking about various small topics.  The trainer escorted his mother in, sat her down at the table and we watched the gym bustle.  BeforeI left, he insisted I take a white rose with me.  But I'm not a mother! I protested, but all women get one today, he said.. and handed me a single white rose.

Versace Versense

I had this urge all week to just go girly.  I box, I play capoeira and I am continuously active, tomboyish and I spend alot of time stinking.  I've put alot of work into my body and finally, I just don't feel guilty spending alot on it.  I wanted perfume, makeup, lotions and soaps, hair conditioners, the works.  And I got it. 

I started off with a trim and then stopped by the mall for a new perfume: Versace Versense.  I got the whole gift set and it came with an extra gift travel set.  The perfume, lotion, body gel and 3 minitures to travel with.  I stopped by the beauty supply and said I want a dry hair treatment, daily conditioner and dry hair shampoo.  I got some amazing stuff and left.  I put in an order for some new makeup from my friend and bought new Dove body soap and deodorant at the grocery store.  I worked out.. built up a sweat doing elliptical then did a weight workout... and then.. I tediously spent the time using my products to get myself smelling so goooooood it should be ILLEGAL.

Coordinated Party Line Dancing

Video. Music. Videoke!?  Great to look up the old line dances to see who knows or wants to learn.  Weird ones:  The Electric Slide, The Thriller Dance, The Macarena.  The Kid 'n Play.  Brazilian ones?  Dança de Quadrado.  Danco do Prostitute, Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeu!

Lost track of Big Brother Brasil?  Can't live without the Italian version of Cheaters?  A few keywords, related videos, "video responses" o those videos and your in multi-lingual bliss.

Speaking of multi-lingual bliss... Learn a second language by looking up language lessons, free.  Practice it by looking up music videos "dubbed/dublado" or whatever the equivalent word in your language for "dubbed" is.  Try wordy artists for the best results, ie. Coldplay.

Look up various drink recipes, how-to suggestions and discover the Texan Margarita.... and other various mixes that are guaranteed to make you have a very special hate for the word "tomorrow."

It's National Stress Awareness Day. Show us something that calms you.

Bailey

The Blair Witch Project trailer (1999)

Have you ever walked out of a movie?
Submitted by Jack Yan.

The Blair Witch Project.  I had just gotten back from college, where there was concerted effort to shut you off from all media: radio, tv, newspapers and magazines.  For months, I had no idea what was going on in the outside world.  When I got back, I got invited to a movie my first night home.

I was pre-empted with, "it's supposed to be good, they're finally putting some documentaries in the theatre.." I never saw the movie poster, and figured the Witch part was just a play on words... witch trials.

About 1/2 way through the movie, I realized.. I don't really need this stress in my life.  I don't really care to see three people die... and I started to freak the hell out.  I looked around, put my popcorn down, sipped my soda... and looked for my ride.  She was sitting four seats away from me and enthralled in the film.  I peeked and grumbled my way through it, horrified that the world had come to putting death on screen.  I'm not sure I realized til close to the end that it was a movie, not an actual documentary gone awry.  Ack. 

I always have had an over-active imagination.

Defend.. then.. Kick to the Face!

I felt the week tumbling by and nothing I did could give me enough time to catch it.  We started up Capoeira classes at a local recreation center for some neighborhood kids in a disadvantaged area.  So far, the class starts full as we run through warm up and games, but as actual practice turns on, the crowd thins and we get a few quiet, but eager munchkins.  One, today, couldn't wait for the song to start so he could play, so he walked up and slapped Maluco's hands... a very obvious hint he was *ready* to go!

I continued boxing, the same punches and this time, working on movement and technique.  I moved and bounced alot more this week, leaving me winded and my ribs aching after each "round" of training.  I'm looking into getting better hand wraps or better gloves, as I still haven't perfected the right way to punch and ended up today with my first "boxer's" bruises across the right finger and pinky finger knuckles.

Hard to Duck

Since I've joined, I've seen another Boxing Club and though I respect their professionalism, I'm not sure I would have stuck with them had I gone there first.  Yes, the gym I go to lacks a bit of structure, no organized class, no exact routine... but .. then again.. the gym I go to lacks a bit of structure, no organized class, no exact routine.  You're shown some basics and you're showed the equipment and set loose.  As you train alone, you get tips here and there, motivational shouts here and there... but how much, what and how fast you learn is up to you.  The one thing we all share... we train in rounds.  Bell rings, you train whatever you're doing.  Bell rings again.. the entire gym stops and falls silent.

I went back to boxing today, excited and eager to practice what I'd learned.  I also realized, its way more of a workout than I bargained for.  Not that I was completely tired, but ... Capoeira works in bursts, this was more of a steady workout.  Today I started off with the stretching, then the simple 3 punches I learned, then the backward and forward walks... then.. bag work, in rotation around the heavy bag.. and finally, I met my new enemy.. the double end bag.

I went up to it and just thought.. "you are MOCKING me" aren't you!  I could swear that thing was laughing.  Finally, I decided form over speed.  So I resorted to the punches I knew, jabbed until I got a rhythm and once I caught on, threw the right cross.  I had some success, but felt I had no idea what was going on.  Luckily this 5min tutorial restored my self confidence that I'm not a total retard.  It lays out, basically, what I did (minus the cool ability to actually do it).    I finished off with some jump rope (another weak point of mine.. argh trying to make 2 rounds!) and then headed home.  Ah... simplicity.