Kungfukitten :: This Kitten Has Claws

More Friday Five.

2003-04-11 3:12 p.m.

1. What was the first band you saw in concert? I think is was Lief Garrett at the Puyallup fair. My best friend Suzie's dad worked for a bank and scored some free tickets. It was the first time I saw a boy in leather pants. I think I was in fifth grade.

2. Who is your favorite artist/band now? Ack, too many. I'd have to say I own more CDs by Everything But the Girl than any other band.

3. What's your favorite song? Again, ack. I've been listening to "Cuts you up" by Peter Murphy lately.

4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be? I can sing but otherwise I am horribly unmusical. My mother forced me to take piano lessions by an angry old woman who would whack my fingers with a ruler and threaten to cut off my long fingernails. I think I'd go for something I could carry around for spontaeous jam sessions like a tin whistle, mandolin or possibly some bongos.

5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why? I always hate these questions. If I choose a classical composer I look like a snob. If I choose a punk rock singer I look demented. Let's just say I wouldn't mind getting drunk one evening with David Bowie.

0 People have tried to sell me Viagra

Oh. My. Goddess.

2003-04-10 3:08 p.m.

I think this is the first time since puberty that my complexion is perfect. No blemishes! No zits forming! Quick, enjoy my beauty now for it won't last!

1 People have tried to sell me Viagra

A bitter taste. Sunlight.

2003-04-09 1:26 p.m.

I would write something about the war but frankly I don't know what to say. I'm a little freaked out to lean that children were imprisoned for not joining a youth branch of the Baath party. Some had been in jail for five years. Five years. Children.

I hope we build Iraq back up. I hope the Iraqi people get to elect someone they like and trust. I wish the rest of the world would quit hating us. I'm tired of being confused and embarassed about being American. I want to believe that we're the good guys. That we fight for freedom and liberate those who are opressed. However, this whole thing still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Check out my weather pixie. It's pretty and sunny in Portland. I spent my lunch break walking the waterfront with two friends. I think I finally got my daily intake of Vitamin D. Memo to self: purchase some really cool sunglasses.

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My purple sash test.

2003-04-07 10:36 a.m.

Saturday morning I woke up 5:30am and trudged blearily to the kitchen. I brewed some coffee, drank some water and popped a low fat eggo into the toaster and poured a hot bath. At 6:45 I arrived at my kung fu school. At 7:00am we saluted in and watched with wary eyes as the panel of black belts and sifus walked into the room with their clipboards. We were dismissed to sit on the mats and wait. While you are on the mats you can't lean against anything or lie down, you have to be somewhat at attention, getting ready for when they call your name. We sat and watched�for five hours. At about noon they called my name along with the three others that were testing for their purple sash. They drilled us on our punches, kicks and blocks. We had to punch and kick into an airshield as we ki-aied. Then we worked on some street fighting exercises to show how creative we could be with our kicks and punches. At one point while I was fighting off a monkey line of eight people, I made a wrong turn and got bogged down by three big guys "attacking" me. I yelled something like "bring it on!" and took them out in order, pushing one to the ground to block their path.

Then it was time for sparring. First off, sparring is the weakest part of my kung fu but I felt that I did all right. I didn't win any matches but I scored enough points to keep my opponant on their toes. My first match I was up against a guy who was also going for his purple sash. We had a lot of simultaneous scoring and clashes where no one scored. The next match I was up against someone who was two ranks above me. It is my understanding that tournament sparring is suppose to be light contact to the body and no contact to the face. I'm all right with light contact to the face, it's something I need to get used to. However, I got hit HARD in the eye right away. She was warned about her contact level. I blinked to make sure my contact lens was still in and went back in. BAM right across the bridge of my nose, I heard something crackle between my eyes and everything went black. I bet there were even cartoon birds and bells circling around my head. The black belt who was playing referee looked a little horrified. After a quick check I was back into the game. My main thoughts were "protectthefaceprotecttheface" and subtle thoughts of revenge. I think I was able to clip her across the chin but it was a light touch. We shook hands at the end of the match. I think she was just hyped up. However, I can honestly say that's the hardest I've ever been hit.

By 4:00pm the black belts and sifus ordered pizza and went into the back room to "deliberate" our fates. The sash ceremony started at 6:15pm. I was in my car with my swanky new purple sash at the drive through at McDonald's by 7:00pm.

Here are a few pictures from Saturday: