Sparring last night

I went to sparring class for the first time in awhile, and I enjoyed myself, despite the fact that I got clobbered pretty good. This is actually a very hopeful sign, since I usually avoid sparring when I'm struggling with my mood. Even getting walloped pretty hard didn't faze me. We started out by drilling pop-up side kicks and then defensive side kicks (when your opponent runs in with a body shield). Then we did partner drills, again doing defensive side kicks, and that's when I got the bruises that I think will probably blossom spectacularly the next few days. I fought Fiona several times. Man, she really loves sparring, and she's really good at it, too. Sensei pointed her out as a good example to the class: when sparring, we bounce lightly on the balls of the feet, to stay loose. You have to be careful that you don't expend too much energy, but you must stay light on your feet so you can quickly get into the "red zone" to land your punch or kick and then get right out again. She has a knack for timing her bounces so she can respond quickly, making her move just as her opponent is pulling a punch or kick. She also knows how to drift just right in and then slightly over the edge of the opponent's red zone.

We finished up the class with squats, pushups and yoga stretches. I would have enjoyed the stretches, but I had to drop out at the end because I was suddenly being plagued by a foot cramp that stubbornly wouldn't go away. It continued plaguing me as I tried to drive home, making me yelp in pain. I actually had to stop the car partway home and get out and try to walk it off.

Stupid mistakes

As part of my ongoing campaign to claw my way back to relative mental health, I've been trying to go easy on myself. I was talking with someone this past weekend about how I can be so hard on myself, and it's true. When I make mistakes, it's so hard for me to let go of them.

I've made a number of *facepalm* mistakes this week. I completely forgot to pick up Delia and a friend after a movie a couple nights ago (this is a mistake I make very rarely, though. I can't remember the last time I failed to pick up my offspring). Luckily, the other child had a cell phone and called and--yeah. Oops.

I had fun on hpalternity today, but made no less than 3 Britpick mistakes, two of which it's too late to fix (in comments, to which another character already replied, so they can't be edited). Which makes me feel like an idiot.

Took Fiona to karate tonight. She had a fun class working on pad punches, then I had a great class afterwards (working on the brown belt bo form).

Then came home and realized: I was supposed to be at the church council meeting instead tonight. It was on the calendar (it comes around once a month and replaces my usual Tuesday night karate class) but it completely slipped my mind. The secretary hadn't sent around the agenda by email in advance, which is part of the reason it fell off my mental radar. Geez, an idiot all over again.

I was pretty cheerful for the most part today, until I came home and Delia reminded me about the council meeting (she'd noticed it on the calendar).

In other unpleasant news, my car is leaking radiator fluid like crazy. Gah. Can't afford a new radiator, and the car is so old it wouldn't be worth it. Can't afford another car. There's a bus route/lightrail route, but that would be pricey and take twice as long. The bike? It would have to be retrofitted for winter, and I'd have to buy winter biking gear. And--yeah. Winter in Minnesota. I do have a coworker who lives nearby, I think. I'm not sure of his hours, but perhaps he might like it if I paid half of his commuting expenses (gas and parking fees) and then we could carpool. I'll investigate that tomorrow.