Crocus

The crocus popping out in the spring is definitely one of my favorite parts of a cold Michigan winter ending.
That and being warm with out 3 layers finally and being able to train outside longer than an hour, which Chris and I did last night.

But, if we didn't have that winter, we wouldnt have all the glorious rebirth and renewal in the spring either.

Salute update

Received the following comment from Randy to the post below.

Way to go guys!!!!

"We are having a great time here in CA.As always got to see alot great people and meet some new ones too.
WEKAFUSA is still strong!!
Mariah took 1st with the team in forms, 1st in double trad forms,1st in double stick and 2nd in single stick.
I got 1st in trad double forms, 2nd in single stick and 3rd in double stick fighting(not to bad for the 1st time).Thank you for all of your support and coaching."

Not too bad for an experience fighter RANDY!

We salute you

WEKAF Nationals are going on this weekend in California. This will be the first one I haven't attended since my first in SF back in 2000. And wouldn't you know it, this one is back in SF for the first time since. Can't complain though, I was just there in Oct.

But the Moore's are going.

So, GOOD LUCK MARIAH!

But even more exciting is that Mariah's dad (that's often how people know him "Mariahs' dad") RANDY MOORE is competing. In forms and in fighting. Randy was asked to fill an open spot in double stick and told me "hey, it can't hurt". Well Randy, yes it can hurt. Believe me. I'm still finding some spots in physical therapy.

This is one of the few photos I have of Randy because he's usually the one behind the camera.

So Randy, you have my utmost respect for stepping up.

We Salute you!!!!!!

The backstory of this photo is in the above photos at the last Nationals we were pretty sure Mariah broke her ring finger and had a splint on it. She was constantly giving us a finger.

Big Bang

If your watch Big Bang Theory, something I didn't do until recently, you might catch the vanity cards from Chuck Lorre productions that flash up for about 1second at the end.

Too much about this one is sadly true. Not most but enough.

http://www.chucklorre.com/index-bbt.php?p=280


And this from # 184 is spot on:
"Don't hug men while shaking their hand. Enough already with that. The shake/hug (shug?) is probably something Roman guys did when their empire was in decline."

Snows they are a melting

Up to 45 degrees on Saturday. The snows are definitely disappearing. In town most of it's gone but by us is tends to linger.

Internet time can be good for some things. I'm not much of a fan of myspace (only useful after the guy shoots up a college campus and journalists can then look up their photos) or facebook, the biggest waster of human productivity in oh, forever.

But there are some things that before, you just had no way to procure.

The closest Asian grocer that carried PI products closed down last year but I've managed to find PhilAm foods and would highly recommmend perusing their selections. they even shipped out free Kalamansi Jelly last month.

http://www.philamfood.com/home.php

The selection is amazing.

Hamilton Wrestling District Champs

On to Regionals! Exilarating and exhausting.

The team won Districts last night in incredibly exciting fashion.

The final round against a very tough team they had only faced once before and lost by several points due to some guys being out and shifted to different weight classes. So they thought they could beat them.

The other team put out some different guys this time as well though so it was a very tough time. Cole beat his guy in the final 10 seconds to get the points for his team even breaking his face mask in the process and finishing without it (he started wearing it due to the broken nose issues).

As you'll see by the final score, it was down to a matter of 2 points. Some key guys did not win as expected, yet some other guys really stepped up in return. The final match had everyone on their feet cheering on the final wrestler. To win the match he needed to either get a Technical win (spread of 15pts) or a Pin. Not an easy task. Yet he rose to the challenge with a pin in the 2nd round. Quite amazing.

Here's some of the local paper play by plays which tell it better.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-4120126585001745334/hamilton-wrestlers-get-pin-in-final-match-to-nip-otsego-for-district-championship/

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1025057327/9-and-counting-Hamilton-wins-ninth-straight-team-district-wrestling-title

Final round

Wrestling conference finals

Cole and Joey
Go Hawkeyes

Conference finals today for bragging rights.

Whole team did fantastic. There's 14 weight classes and they had 13 guys in the finals(1st-4th), 10 guys going for championships.

4 earned championships.

Hamilton had the Top overall team score winning conference. They wrestle as individuals but earn points toward the team score.

Cole took 2nd place to a very tough but nice opponent, his pal Joey earned 3rd. The whole team really wrestled fantastic. Now on to team and individual districts.

What I truly enjoy seeing is Cole's display of sportsman ship. If a guy wrestles fair and beats you simply because he is a better wrestler than you, no reason you can be friends and aquaintances and nothing to feel bad about. Something I taught him through stickfighing tournaments. Always try to leave a tournament with at least one new friend. You've tested each other through combat and have learned something together about yourselves. No need to still be enemies.

3rd place guy? Not so happy having gone 0-3 against Cole this season. I suppose I can understand his disappointment. Cole said he had really improved from the last time they met so he wanted it bad too. Of course, Cole improved not just a bit too.