Today's wizard rock song

"Beans" by Riddle^TM at their supplemental page. A lively, amusing patter song about Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. Lyrics are here. Free for download.

I'm hoping Riddle^TM will have more songs available soon. (This is the pair of 17-year old identical twins from Oxfordshire who have quite a knack for songwriting.) I'll be keeping an eye on their main MySpace page.

(Leave a comment if you try the song and like it. I don't know whether I'm annoying people when I point out wrock songs, or whether people actually appreciate them.)

Career planning

It's everywhere on my friends list:

1. Go to http://www.careercruising.com/.
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
4. Post the top ____ results.

Here's my list (Writer is # 34??? And I've never even heard of the number 1 position):

1. Esthetician
2. Sport Psychology Consultant [hey--karate instructor???]
3. Lobbyist [I have actually been thinking about this]
4. Rehabilitation Counselor
5. Psychologist
6. Actor
7. Dental Assistant
8. Massage Therapist [Rob says I can practice this on him any time I want]
9. Mediator [Rob was actually in training for this today]
10. Tour Guide
11. Criminologist
12. Librarian
13. Pet Groomer [I'm allergic]
14. Social Worker
15. Anthropologist
16. Addictions Counselor
17. Professor
18. Director
19. Magician
20. Hairstylist
21. Foreign Service Officer
22. Makeup Artist
23. Comedian
24. Religious Worker
25. Activist
26. Print Journalist
27. Communications Specialist
28. Critic
29. Picture Framer
30. Furniture Finisher
31. Public Policy Analyst
32. Community Worker
33. Musician
34. Writer
35. Genetic Counselor
36. Special Effects Technician
37. Composer
38. Translator
39. Dispatcher
40. Humanitarian Aid Worker

( Then I did the more detailed questionnaire and came up with this list )

Bo

Tonight we worked on bo, or stick fighting. Mr. Sidner was teaching.

I have my form memorized, er, mostly. I sometimes hesitate with some of the transitions. But we were just working on basics tonight. We used the bo in karate marching basics, doing the following combination:

strike 45 (front stance)
front kick, thrust (front stance)
up-down-cross-cross-thrust (front stance)
hook (back stance)
(turn).

This was one of the lessons when I really didn't get very many comments. That generally means that I'm doing pretty well. I have mastered turning my palm in the direction of the strike, and I lock my arm out on each strike. I'm managing to keep the swirl of my helicopter parallel to the ground--most of the time. My stances must have been okay--sensei was very busy keeping after another student who couldn't seem to get them right to save his life. His foot was continually turned in the wrong position, or his knee wasn't bent enough or he was in the back stance instead of the front.

What I need to work on the most, I suppose, is speed. Just getting the bo moving, holding the stick loosely enough yet still maintaining control. The flashiest move, of course, is the up-down-cross-cross-thrust, and it's a lot of fun. It just takes practice.

We ended with some stamina drills, trying to build up arm strength. I haven't been doing enough push ups. My recovery from surgery is pretty much complete, so I don't have that excuse anymore. I've been holding the plank position (I'm up to two minutes on the feet and elbows) but I've been avoiding the pushups, I'll admit, because I hate 'em. Time to add them back into the rotation, Peg. No more excuses.

I was pretty sweaty when I left. It felt good.