L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 51
July 13, 2012
Randomosity
I have a little sister. She's five years old. And she has the perfect voice for inducing headaches. It's perfectly pitched, and at just the right volume to make your head hurt if you spend an hour in the same room. I know. She's less than five feet away from me right now.
The things that fascinate five-year-olds never fail to amaze me. She was, just a little bit ago, twisting different-colored pipecleaners into 'candycanes' that are currently sitting - where they don't belong - smack in the middle of the table. She's also scattered various pieces of plastic food across the floor, which she was, I'm guessing, using to feed her cabbage patch doll her breakfast. The cabbage patch doll is named Melody, which, coincidentally, is the name of the main character in her current favorite movie (The Little Mermaid II: Return To The Sea).
Know any cute stories about your favorite munchkins?
The things that fascinate five-year-olds never fail to amaze me. She was, just a little bit ago, twisting different-colored pipecleaners into 'candycanes' that are currently sitting - where they don't belong - smack in the middle of the table. She's also scattered various pieces of plastic food across the floor, which she was, I'm guessing, using to feed her cabbage patch doll her breakfast. The cabbage patch doll is named Melody, which, coincidentally, is the name of the main character in her current favorite movie (The Little Mermaid II: Return To The Sea).
Know any cute stories about your favorite munchkins?
July 12, 2012
Boot to the Head
Kym is really thrilled with herself today. I was just remembering one of the proudest moments I've had in recent history, and she was resisting the urge to dance around.
It happened in a sparring class, you see. There's this really tall guy named Dennis. Yes; Dennis. He's like a skyscraper. You feel like you're trying to tackle a professional basketball player when they put you in a ring with him. And he's not a skinny weakling, either! He could have helped build the pyramids. And his favorite technique seems to be putting his foot through your skull. As if it's not scary enough standing in the looong shadow of your sparring partner, you also get the fact that his legs are about as long as your body, and you've got to somehow survive dodging past them.
He's six-four. I'm five-six. His only weakness appears to be his inflexibility. And, honestly, what six foot four giant realistically has to kick higher than his chest? Anyway, that's a weakness because I can throw a kick and hit something that's six inches away from me.
So what happens when I spar Dennis is I get so close he can't kick up his heels properly, and pound away with my hands, while he's running for his life. But he's still so TALL that my feet are pretty useless anyway. Except for that one time. He spun in the wrong direction at the same time as my foot was swinging somewhere around the stratosphere, dodging a couple of clouds. The top of my foot connected with his jaw, and surprised me more than it surprised him. Hallelujah, it was like kicking the moon! Except the moon wouldn't reel backwards and almost lose its balance.
Kym is still really proud of that. How many people can claim kicking that high while keeping one foot on the ground? Kym is still doing her victory dance from that one.
It happened in a sparring class, you see. There's this really tall guy named Dennis. Yes; Dennis. He's like a skyscraper. You feel like you're trying to tackle a professional basketball player when they put you in a ring with him. And he's not a skinny weakling, either! He could have helped build the pyramids. And his favorite technique seems to be putting his foot through your skull. As if it's not scary enough standing in the looong shadow of your sparring partner, you also get the fact that his legs are about as long as your body, and you've got to somehow survive dodging past them.
He's six-four. I'm five-six. His only weakness appears to be his inflexibility. And, honestly, what six foot four giant realistically has to kick higher than his chest? Anyway, that's a weakness because I can throw a kick and hit something that's six inches away from me.
So what happens when I spar Dennis is I get so close he can't kick up his heels properly, and pound away with my hands, while he's running for his life. But he's still so TALL that my feet are pretty useless anyway. Except for that one time. He spun in the wrong direction at the same time as my foot was swinging somewhere around the stratosphere, dodging a couple of clouds. The top of my foot connected with his jaw, and surprised me more than it surprised him. Hallelujah, it was like kicking the moon! Except the moon wouldn't reel backwards and almost lose its balance.
Kym is still really proud of that. How many people can claim kicking that high while keeping one foot on the ground? Kym is still doing her victory dance from that one.
July 11, 2012
Nutritional Weakness?
I know of a person that loves to eat junk food. Or, to be more precise, gross amounts of iffy food, with an occasional (enormous) splurge on really bad-for-you stuff.
I have tried and tried to help this person, but they just don't want it.
But then, what teenage boy will listen to big sis?
Most people have some version of my brother's problem. One version being, they don't even see it as a problem. THAT one aggravates the snot out of me.
Anyway, I even have a version of this problem. Me, the health nut in the family. I have an absurd weakness for sweet pastries. Candy I can usually resist. Cake, cookies, or donuts? All bets are off. The only saving grace is I can usually limit myself to one smallish piece. But I'll eat that one smallish piece twice a day, every day, until it's all gone.
So what's your weakest link to weightloss? Maybe it's cheetos. Or potato chips. I happen to like those, too. You're not alone, never fear! Who actually sticks to serving sizes anyway? They're all too small.
I have tried and tried to help this person, but they just don't want it.
But then, what teenage boy will listen to big sis?
Most people have some version of my brother's problem. One version being, they don't even see it as a problem. THAT one aggravates the snot out of me.
Anyway, I even have a version of this problem. Me, the health nut in the family. I have an absurd weakness for sweet pastries. Candy I can usually resist. Cake, cookies, or donuts? All bets are off. The only saving grace is I can usually limit myself to one smallish piece. But I'll eat that one smallish piece twice a day, every day, until it's all gone.
So what's your weakest link to weightloss? Maybe it's cheetos. Or potato chips. I happen to like those, too. You're not alone, never fear! Who actually sticks to serving sizes anyway? They're all too small.
July 10, 2012
That Deer
So, I was in my room listening to music one evening, and I saw a deer.
It wouldn't have been particularly memorable, if it weren't for the fact that it was walking. In the direction of the garden.
I have wanted real fencing for a long time now, but my family can't afford to buy the stuff. So we have wire strung around the garden, with orange tape flapping madly in the wind, and empty pie-tins clanging. That, however,doesn't keep the deer out.
So I dash out of the house in my slippers, feeling every little pebble on the ground, and making as much noise as possible. I don't yell and scream, though. I look wild enough as it is, taking flying leaps through the air and landing with a grimace on that awful pointy rock. I do, however, have the satisfaction of hearing that doe crash through the underbrush, probably wondering what sort of weird thing that human family is keeping as a pet NOW.
What else could I do? They keep eating my carrots!
It wouldn't have been particularly memorable, if it weren't for the fact that it was walking. In the direction of the garden.
I have wanted real fencing for a long time now, but my family can't afford to buy the stuff. So we have wire strung around the garden, with orange tape flapping madly in the wind, and empty pie-tins clanging. That, however,doesn't keep the deer out.
So I dash out of the house in my slippers, feeling every little pebble on the ground, and making as much noise as possible. I don't yell and scream, though. I look wild enough as it is, taking flying leaps through the air and landing with a grimace on that awful pointy rock. I do, however, have the satisfaction of hearing that doe crash through the underbrush, probably wondering what sort of weird thing that human family is keeping as a pet NOW.
What else could I do? They keep eating my carrots!
July 9, 2012
Love of the (Martial) Art
I went to a martial arts class last week.
What does that have to do with health? Well, just plain weightlifting and running can be fun and worthwhile. But it's not really my thing. I have to be LEARNING. Choose a physical activity you enjoy, and then just have fun. I love martial arts. I'll never be a champion fighter, but you can't keep me away from those classes, either. I've grown to love the ever-so-slightly achey feeling the morning after a couple of classes. I have grown to enjoy pushing my body to its limits a few times a week. It's exhilarating to do something difficult, to feel your muscles straining, and yet be able to pull it off.
The love of the art keeps you going. The love of the art can tone and strengthen your body, if for no other reason than you want to be able to do it all without pain.
If you liked karate movies, or ninja movies, try martial arts. If you like dancing movies, take dance. If you find that neither is your thing, maybe you'd like swimming, or gymnastics. But pick something you'll love, and then just do it.
What does that have to do with health? Well, just plain weightlifting and running can be fun and worthwhile. But it's not really my thing. I have to be LEARNING. Choose a physical activity you enjoy, and then just have fun. I love martial arts. I'll never be a champion fighter, but you can't keep me away from those classes, either. I've grown to love the ever-so-slightly achey feeling the morning after a couple of classes. I have grown to enjoy pushing my body to its limits a few times a week. It's exhilarating to do something difficult, to feel your muscles straining, and yet be able to pull it off.
The love of the art keeps you going. The love of the art can tone and strengthen your body, if for no other reason than you want to be able to do it all without pain.
If you liked karate movies, or ninja movies, try martial arts. If you like dancing movies, take dance. If you find that neither is your thing, maybe you'd like swimming, or gymnastics. But pick something you'll love, and then just do it.
