The first screening, take two

It seemed easier this time. It only lasted an hour, and I wasn't as badly winded this time. I got only two comments that I remember: the first was that on the punches I should lead with the hand rather than starting movement from the shoulder. And during the self-defense section, I got a little carried away at one point and did five strikes instead of the three requested. "That's quite enough, Ms. Kerr," said Mr. Worley a little wryly.

My balance during slow kicks seemed adequate. Not perfect: I had some wobbles, and had to put my leg down once or twice. But adequate. I did not get the classic dreaded comment about not showing the proper knee motion (i.e., the knee must pass through the center line twice) during the round kicks. All those slow kicks are paying off. My thighs did really still hurt from the hard kicking workouts I did Tuesday and Wednesday, and that did hamper me a bit. I still sucked on the multiple round kicks to the X-ray paper, but at least my partner was just as bad as I was! I always feel pretty confident on karate marching basics and form.

My head instructor from our school was there, watching and taking notes, and he mouthed "Good job," at me when the screening was over. So I'm pleased. I'm pretty sure I passed, although, of course, I'll have to show improvement over the next month before I'll be allowed to attend the second screening.

In church today

We always sit in the front row, on the left side. Dunno why, but we always do. Pastor often pleads with the rest of the congregation: "Why don't some of you move forward; we have lots of empty seats up here." These pleas always fall on deaf ears (some of which are literally deaf; we have a large number of members in their eighties).

Today, in the middle of the first hymn, Fiona looked around us, leaned over to me and said, "We have a blast radius."

I stopped singing, somewhat stunned by her comment. "What?"

"Look." I turned around and saw what she meant: the church was rather empty (subzero weather today) and there wasn't anyone sitting anywhere within twenty feet of us. I looked back at her--and cracked up.

And I continued to giggle sporadically about it throughout the entire service.