Amanda Takes Off...

I got to the studio for demonstration practice. I changed and could not find my red belt (which is kept in my bag) anywhere. The boys hang their black belts on a nail in the closet. Often these belts end up in a mess on the floor. I looked through the mess of red and red/black belts. Nothing.

I came out, "Master, I can't find my belt."

"What?"

"I looked three times."

"[Blue], go look," he said.

Meanwhile, a bunch of kids who have never before seen me just stared at me. Who is she?

Nobody has any idea where my belt went, so I had to borrow one.

After class Master said he'd ask the kids if one of them took my belt by accident (the changing closet is a cramped mess of a space and often things fall out of my not-turned-over-by-me bag), but otherwise I'll borrow a red belt this week.

"Amanda, Friday, you get black belt, OK? You have black belt for demonstration."

I expected it, since I tested in February. But I want my red belt. I've had it since October. I have all of my belts. Oh well, it's just a belt.

At the end of class, Master told me to change. The new kids rushed over to the closet to introduce themselves and ask me who I was. I entertained them for a bit and finally said, "OK, I'm going to change now."

When I came back out, a few guys from my class were practicing, which was good, as I wanted to practice striking. (The practice today consisted mostly of lining up, sitting down, standing up, and finalizing the order of the demonstration.)

I broke three boards three times today. Then Master told me to stop. "I want to try four," I said.

"No, Monday. Three boards, three times, very good. Now rest."

My nails are getting a bit long and interestingly, they hurt rather than my fingers.

While the boys practiced and played soccer a bit, I took these photos.

Ghost

This photo is so bad (out of focus and head cut off to start) that it works. Look at the mirror.

Ghost Playing Soccer

I wish Coverboy weren't standing near the window. This would be a perfect picture without him. As it is, though, I like the flash reflecting off of his jacket. Ghost loved this photo.

Fleeting

The windows at the studio have metal coverings on the outside of them. This photo was actually taken by cramming the camera against the sill and shooting through the space below the metal grates. The railing you see is the railing to our stairs.

I took the photo for the lines, colors, and patterns. I happened to catch the woman walking by, a moment too late. Perhaps.

I took Cocky and Grin out to a late lunch/early dinner. We invited Master, who said he'd come but then had to clean house. Over dinner Grin told Cocky about Master not knowing we'd met, which Cocky found most amusing.

The boys asked if I ate pig and I said yes, but when the meal arrived, I was a bit curious. It was sesame leaves, cellophane noodles, and pork that we grilled at our tables. Mixed in was a sausage that looked like it was made out of cellophane noodles (in fact, it was filled with cellophane noodles) but tasted like something I couldn't place.

I decided not to ask questions.

I found out later it was blood sausage. Not sure if blood or brains are more disgusting.