Looking back re: karate

I was browsing through some of my old LJ entries and ran across this one. In it, I was mulling over the decision about whether I should go for black belt (this was before I got the scholarship), and I decided to address the question by considering how I would feel ten days, ten months and ten years from that point if I went ahead. I was extremely interested to read what I had predicted for myself at the ten month point:

Ten months from now: I would be in better shape, physically. I would be in the upper belt classes, which would mean (I hope) that my balance would be much better, and I would have more power in my kicks. Hopefully, I would be used to the time schedule by then. I would have a better-shaped butt (let us not scorn life's little rewards). I would like the feeling that I had when I was taking karate last year, the feeling of being a woman who is willing to push herself a bit beyond the usual. I liked being the sort of woman who didn't just hop on the elliptical to keep in shape. No, I would be in that class above and beyond, a woman who dares to put on pads and helmet and get in the ring and kick butt. Several times a week. On the other hand, my house might be somewhat messier, for lack of time. I think it would be even less likely that I would get back to writing, although who knows? Perhaps physical exertion might blow the cobwebs out of my mind?

I really had this nailed. My balance is much much better, and I am much stronger. Slow kicks are becoming easier--which is why I am starting to do the raise-lower and pyramid variations. After a rocky start, I am actually enjoying sparring, not simply dreading it. And, as may be seen from the entry I made just yesterday, my increasing involvement in karate probably has something to do with the fact that writing (fiction) is becoming even more a thing of the past.

The only thing that isn't true about this prediction is that actually my house is cleaner these days. (Delia has been helping out a lot.)

I will leave it up to Rob to determine whether or not I have a better-shaped butt. I hope so.

I still need a karate icon.

Edited to add: Well, here's a good one of Delia. I still need one of me.

I like this song: Storyhill playing "Paradise Lost"

I heard this song this morning on the radio and it brought tears to my eyes. Bought it on iTunes and went looking and found this performance of it on YouTube. I haven't heard of this group before; has anyone else? What else have they done that you'd recommend?