Lesson for this evening:
CARDIO
CARDIO
CARDIO
HANDS UP!!!
HANDS UP!!
CARDIO
CARDIO
MORE CARDIO!!!
MUST KEEP HANDS UP TO PROTECT FACE!!!!
Otherwise bad things happen to one's face...
Oh man, what a class!! Only 4 of us for this evening's class so we spent 3/4 of the time sparring. Wow. Aside from sporting a few new bruises, I'm going to sleep well tonight!! I was trashed by the end of the class! Completely exhausted. Lots of fun, a great learning experience, but holy shit. I have to learn to punch straight down the pipe more, and not throw loose hooks. I can't seem to judge the time to break into someone's guard.
I will survive. I will persevere and learn how to spar and ultimately fight. I need to relax, not be so tense, not rush.
Maybe that's good advice for life outside of the ring as well? Hedgehog food for thought...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
fuck it.
Whew. What a day. Started off with science fair related problems and a prime sponsor who was a bit confused and pissed off. I hate to bring attention to errors by friends, but when it impacts heavily on a partnership, I have to. CWSF 2008 relies on our partners first and foremost. Sorry man, didn't mean to call you out, but I can't let careless mistakes go through without some sort of comment.
The afternoon was spent being thrown into a snake pit, presenting a project proposal. I'm shocked. I think that's about as much as I can say. Not because I am holding my tongue (did enough of that in the meeting!), but simply because I don't know how to react. Honestly, I begin to wonder how long I'm going to last in this position before I completely lose my brain. Well, minimum of 2 years since I now have a letter of reprimand in my file that sits there for 2 years!! But seriously, I don't know. Everything moves so slowly. Not that I don't like the job, not that I don't think what I'm doing is important, but more and more my belief and optimism in the system is beaten down. Fuck it. I sat at the table at this meeting this afternoon and had to both bite my tongue and hold myself back from saying what I really thought. Heaven forbid I'm learning to be diplomatic!! But fuck man, some of the shit I had to listen to from my arch enemy. Man oh man. The bullshit flew!
I feel a bit lost today. Unsure. Unhappy also. I feel like I'm closing up again, which is a very, very bad thing. Becoming increasingly distrusting. Staff and management. Us and them. More and more I'm beginning to believe that this is how the world runs all over and nothing will ever change. I've found myself at the point in the last couple of weeks that coming home after the day, I totally put the day behind me. I don't want to think about it, don't want to talk about it. I want to go to the gym, relax, take the dog for a walk. Tonight, I'm relaxing and taking the dog for a walk and having a beer.
Dunno. Maybe that's just the tiredness talking. Or the feeling of defeat from the day.
FUCK. FUCK. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK.
Yup.
Dog is gnawing away on a marrow bone. Hip joint actually! I just made supper for the next week. Maybe I should have gone to the gym. No. I probably would have hurt myself. I've got a few bruises from Kali last night too. Sticks and knives flying all over the place.
See, being called out on my blog by the powers that be has stifled my writing. However, with a changed address, maybe I should just let loose again. At least it will get my frustrations out. Better than bringing Bob's beautiful Filipino sword to work and going postal... Be a shame to get blood on that cool steel... :) Kidding.
The afternoon was spent being thrown into a snake pit, presenting a project proposal. I'm shocked. I think that's about as much as I can say. Not because I am holding my tongue (did enough of that in the meeting!), but simply because I don't know how to react. Honestly, I begin to wonder how long I'm going to last in this position before I completely lose my brain. Well, minimum of 2 years since I now have a letter of reprimand in my file that sits there for 2 years!! But seriously, I don't know. Everything moves so slowly. Not that I don't like the job, not that I don't think what I'm doing is important, but more and more my belief and optimism in the system is beaten down. Fuck it. I sat at the table at this meeting this afternoon and had to both bite my tongue and hold myself back from saying what I really thought. Heaven forbid I'm learning to be diplomatic!! But fuck man, some of the shit I had to listen to from my arch enemy. Man oh man. The bullshit flew!
I feel a bit lost today. Unsure. Unhappy also. I feel like I'm closing up again, which is a very, very bad thing. Becoming increasingly distrusting. Staff and management. Us and them. More and more I'm beginning to believe that this is how the world runs all over and nothing will ever change. I've found myself at the point in the last couple of weeks that coming home after the day, I totally put the day behind me. I don't want to think about it, don't want to talk about it. I want to go to the gym, relax, take the dog for a walk. Tonight, I'm relaxing and taking the dog for a walk and having a beer.
Dunno. Maybe that's just the tiredness talking. Or the feeling of defeat from the day.
FUCK. FUCK. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK.
Yup.
Dog is gnawing away on a marrow bone. Hip joint actually! I just made supper for the next week. Maybe I should have gone to the gym. No. I probably would have hurt myself. I've got a few bruises from Kali last night too. Sticks and knives flying all over the place.
See, being called out on my blog by the powers that be has stifled my writing. However, with a changed address, maybe I should just let loose again. At least it will get my frustrations out. Better than bringing Bob's beautiful Filipino sword to work and going postal... Be a shame to get blood on that cool steel... :) Kidding.
Monday, March 12, 2007
catching up
Lack of judgement.
Sucking up.
Gone over the dark side.
Stating untruths about coworkers (ha!! not 'untruths' - more like silent truths!)
All phrases I have heard in the last 2 weeks from members of my working environment. Along with general comments, incidents and reactions in the last month or so, I'm truly beginning to question my work environment. I feel like I have to be looking over my shoulder at all corners, having to be very aware of what comes out of my mouth and apparently even who I talk or laugh with. I've decided that any friendly working relationship has to be turned back into a professional one and not a cross-breed. I have an inner sanctum of safety amongst like-minded individuals, and I believe that this group is the only one with which I can be myself and talk freely. Becoming a science communicator takes you out of your own little publishing-based bubble and throws you into the gladiator arena where politics and hierarchy rules. It's a bit strange. I'm very aware of how isolated scientists and researchers are in their normal day-to-day lives.
Anyway... calm, calm, calm.
I've also become very, VERY possessive of my time away from the arena. In the evenings, I head to my own sanctum - the academy, and beat the crap out of heavy bags and pads. It's definitely worthwhile, takes out all extra energy and frustration. But even that has been invaded to a point, but I think I can deal with that.
I bought the Lonely Planet Guide to Cambodia over the weekend. I figure I'll leave Ottawa just before Christmas and go to Thailand for 2 weeks, then head to Vietnam, and finish in Cambodia, house building for the Tabitha Foundation and then spending a few days touring around the country.
2 hours of Muay Thai tonight, and then an hour of Kali. Can't wait. I've signed up for a 2 day workshop on Jeet Kune Do and Kali in a few weeks. It's going to be great!!
continued later...
Wow, a triple-header tonight at the academy. Woo hoo!! I'm exhausted though. Need sleep.
I got offered a Filipino sword to buy, one of Bob's Damascus swords, REALLY cool! We need to haggle out a price, but I'm seriously considering it. Beautiful sword. We'll see. :) I'm thinking of asking him to make me a really good butcher knife as well.
Sore. Tired. But it felt good to get the day's tension out of my body. I have a big bruise on the top of my right foot, but I'm not entirely sure where it came from . Sparring on Friday night? Dunno.
I think I need food. Although I don't think I'll do that as my weight hasn't been dropping all that fast lately. Down to 167 lbs which is great, but still a long ways to go. Need to start doing a bit more cardio, but getting up early in the morning to hop on the bike trainer? Nope. Can't wait for the weather to warm up a bit more.
Sucking up.
Gone over the dark side.
Stating untruths about coworkers (ha!! not 'untruths' - more like silent truths!)
All phrases I have heard in the last 2 weeks from members of my working environment. Along with general comments, incidents and reactions in the last month or so, I'm truly beginning to question my work environment. I feel like I have to be looking over my shoulder at all corners, having to be very aware of what comes out of my mouth and apparently even who I talk or laugh with. I've decided that any friendly working relationship has to be turned back into a professional one and not a cross-breed. I have an inner sanctum of safety amongst like-minded individuals, and I believe that this group is the only one with which I can be myself and talk freely. Becoming a science communicator takes you out of your own little publishing-based bubble and throws you into the gladiator arena where politics and hierarchy rules. It's a bit strange. I'm very aware of how isolated scientists and researchers are in their normal day-to-day lives.
Anyway... calm, calm, calm.
I've also become very, VERY possessive of my time away from the arena. In the evenings, I head to my own sanctum - the academy, and beat the crap out of heavy bags and pads. It's definitely worthwhile, takes out all extra energy and frustration. But even that has been invaded to a point, but I think I can deal with that.
I bought the Lonely Planet Guide to Cambodia over the weekend. I figure I'll leave Ottawa just before Christmas and go to Thailand for 2 weeks, then head to Vietnam, and finish in Cambodia, house building for the Tabitha Foundation and then spending a few days touring around the country.
2 hours of Muay Thai tonight, and then an hour of Kali. Can't wait. I've signed up for a 2 day workshop on Jeet Kune Do and Kali in a few weeks. It's going to be great!!
continued later...
Wow, a triple-header tonight at the academy. Woo hoo!! I'm exhausted though. Need sleep.
I got offered a Filipino sword to buy, one of Bob's Damascus swords, REALLY cool! We need to haggle out a price, but I'm seriously considering it. Beautiful sword. We'll see. :) I'm thinking of asking him to make me a really good butcher knife as well.
Sore. Tired. But it felt good to get the day's tension out of my body. I have a big bruise on the top of my right foot, but I'm not entirely sure where it came from . Sparring on Friday night? Dunno.
I think I need food. Although I don't think I'll do that as my weight hasn't been dropping all that fast lately. Down to 167 lbs which is great, but still a long ways to go. Need to start doing a bit more cardio, but getting up early in the morning to hop on the bike trainer? Nope. Can't wait for the weather to warm up a bit more.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
UFC 68 and hoplology
What a messed up day. I got home late last night (this morning?) after watching UFC 68 at TJ Pagoda's (Randy Couture regains his belt - woo hoo!, Matt Hughes wins over Lytle, and Rich Franklin's back on the score board with a win over Canadian Jason MacDonald). Finally got to sleep around 2am and was woken up at 3am by the dog whining. Stupidly didn't take him out, and was woken up about 2 hours later with him whining again, and also with a distinct smell in the air. Argh. Apparently the combination of a new (huge) marrow bone and a raw egg at dinner did not sit well with the puppy and, well, there was a big mess in the living room. An hour later, I managed to get back to bed after cleaning up the mess and taking him out. My mistake, poor guy.
I was chatting with some of our MT gang last night and had a relevation after chatting about sparring: guys don't like sparring with girls who can actually fight back! One of the guys I partnered with on Friday evening was really nervous, anxious, and our round got a bit rough with him doing some damage in the clinch. Talking with Michael, he made me realize that guys, generally, are fine sparring with a girl until they become dominant at all, then they get all testosterone-ridden and need to prove their manliness. I guess as a female fighter, I don't really have any issues fighting anyone - girl, guy, doesn't matter as long as they'll fight fairly.
I learned a new word on Friday: Hoplology
Hoplology: the study of the evolution and development of human combative behavior. This study encompasses the segment of human culture concerned with weapons, armor, combative accouterments and fighting systems, in regard to their technical characteristics and the ways in which they interact with the economic, political, social and religious institutions of human societies.
"The history of arms and armour, their connection and their transitions, plays the most important part in the annals of the world." Burton, Sir Richard F. 1884 The Book of the Sword.London: Chatto and Windus, p. 1
There's even an International Hoplology Society. Why was I looking at this site, you may ask? Simply because I got into a discuss with Bob on Friday about Asian martial arts in general, their evolution, and how hard it is to track down some of the history of these arts as there has been nothing written down (all the techniques have been handed down through generations).
Weird day here anyway, with being woken up throughout the night to pick up dog mess that is. Spent most of it relaxing, watching a few movies, taking the dog for a long walk, 30 min on the bike. Back to the grind tomorrow with a meeting at 10am. Jay's in town this week and giving a lecture at Carleton. Yeah!! Banff reunion!!
I was chatting with some of our MT gang last night and had a relevation after chatting about sparring: guys don't like sparring with girls who can actually fight back! One of the guys I partnered with on Friday evening was really nervous, anxious, and our round got a bit rough with him doing some damage in the clinch. Talking with Michael, he made me realize that guys, generally, are fine sparring with a girl until they become dominant at all, then they get all testosterone-ridden and need to prove their manliness. I guess as a female fighter, I don't really have any issues fighting anyone - girl, guy, doesn't matter as long as they'll fight fairly.
I learned a new word on Friday: Hoplology
Hoplology: the study of the evolution and development of human combative behavior. This study encompasses the segment of human culture concerned with weapons, armor, combative accouterments and fighting systems, in regard to their technical characteristics and the ways in which they interact with the economic, political, social and religious institutions of human societies.
"The history of arms and armour, their connection and their transitions, plays the most important part in the annals of the world." Burton, Sir Richard F. 1884 The Book of the Sword.London: Chatto and Windus, p. 1
There's even an International Hoplology Society. Why was I looking at this site, you may ask? Simply because I got into a discuss with Bob on Friday about Asian martial arts in general, their evolution, and how hard it is to track down some of the history of these arts as there has been nothing written down (all the techniques have been handed down through generations).
Weird day here anyway, with being woken up throughout the night to pick up dog mess that is. Spent most of it relaxing, watching a few movies, taking the dog for a long walk, 30 min on the bike. Back to the grind tomorrow with a meeting at 10am. Jay's in town this week and giving a lecture at Carleton. Yeah!! Banff reunion!!
Friday, March 02, 2007
3.5 hrs at the academy
Today was one of those days where nothing I had planned came through. The weather blasted us with a nasty storm, ice pellets and such, so I had to cancel on a tour I was supposed to give, as well as the screening of "Flock of Dodos" in the afternoon. I rescheduled the screening for next Friday, same time. I wound up spending the day at home, sorting things out, working, etc. Late in the afternoon, I headed to the academy for Kali. Turns out no one else was there, so Bob gave me a private lesson: went through all 36 steps of the numbering system and then a number of knife techniques. Sometimes it's really frustrating. He makes it look so bloody easy!! Years and years of practice. I stayed after that class and did almost 2 hours of Muay Thai practice! Lots of shadow boxing, bag work, footwork, and then actually went 4 rounds in the ring, sparring with various people. Yeah!!! Got whacked good in the knee so am now using a frozen bag of edamme on and off for 10 min to get the swelling down. Man, I need to get my cardio up further. It's pretty good, but I just die in the ring (as I think most people do!). More biking, more biking, more biking. In total, I spent about 3.5 hours at the academy tonight!! Feels great to be back after 2 weeks off. Also great to have Bob back. Not that the young guys aren't good, but Bob keeps things a bit more on the level.
Came home and wolfed down some supper, now am icing my knee and enjoying the NamNam smell! I'm going to go down to China Town tomorrow and get some Chinese linament that is apparently good for bone injuries. Hey, if it helps, great! Then tomorrow night is UFC 68. Gonna be an awesome bunch of fights!! UFC and a couple of beers and all is well in the world. Really, it doesn't take much to make me happy. Pretty simple!
Came home and wolfed down some supper, now am icing my knee and enjoying the NamNam smell! I'm going to go down to China Town tomorrow and get some Chinese linament that is apparently good for bone injuries. Hey, if it helps, great! Then tomorrow night is UFC 68. Gonna be an awesome bunch of fights!! UFC and a couple of beers and all is well in the world. Really, it doesn't take much to make me happy. Pretty simple!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Technetium-99
Bone scan done - check!
Results from bone scan - in progress
Technetium-99 has a half-life of 6 hours, and is produced by beta-decay from Mo-99, or as a by-product of nuclear energy production. It's one of the most common tracers used in nuclear medicine, including the bone scan I had yesterday.
It was definitely an interesting experience. The technician took scans of my leg to check bloodflow before injecting the tracer, gave me the injection (oh, did I mention I HATE needles?!!) and then sent me on my way for 2 hours. I came back later and she did scans of my legs on various angles. I managed to get a bit of information out of her, but she's not the one who interprets the scans nor writes the report for my doctor. I did get a chance to watch the images forming and note that there is a definite 'bright spot' (ie. high concentrations of technetium) exactly where the pain in my left leg is localized. However, the bright spot could be anything - healing bone, bone disease, cancer, shin splint, stress fracture. So, I have to wait a week for the results and talk to my doctor. Very frustrating, but at least we're closer to solving the problem. I'm pretty convinced it's a stress fracture. At least it's not aggrevated by Muay Thai.
I went to CycleLogik and got fit for my new Cervelo today. Yeah!! I fit perfectly onto a 51 cm frame. Ian is going to set me up with a 2nd seat and headpiece for the seat stem so that I can easily switch to a tri position for TT's. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my finances!) the bike won't be in until April. The tubes are made in California, shipped to Taiwan for welding, and then back to Toronto to be built. Strange trip this bike makes!
I am giving a trombone lesson tonight... in French. This is Claudia's 2nd lesson (she's 11) and it's always an interesting time as she doesn't speak much English and my French vocabulary does not include musical terms! Her father generally acts as a translator. I have to find something for the dog to do - the last time she was here, he was acutely interested in what was happening, and would start howling along with her playing! Especially in the upper range.
Results from bone scan - in progress
Technetium-99 has a half-life of 6 hours, and is produced by beta-decay from Mo-99, or as a by-product of nuclear energy production. It's one of the most common tracers used in nuclear medicine, including the bone scan I had yesterday.
It was definitely an interesting experience. The technician took scans of my leg to check bloodflow before injecting the tracer, gave me the injection (oh, did I mention I HATE needles?!!) and then sent me on my way for 2 hours. I came back later and she did scans of my legs on various angles. I managed to get a bit of information out of her, but she's not the one who interprets the scans nor writes the report for my doctor. I did get a chance to watch the images forming and note that there is a definite 'bright spot' (ie. high concentrations of technetium) exactly where the pain in my left leg is localized. However, the bright spot could be anything - healing bone, bone disease, cancer, shin splint, stress fracture. So, I have to wait a week for the results and talk to my doctor. Very frustrating, but at least we're closer to solving the problem. I'm pretty convinced it's a stress fracture. At least it's not aggrevated by Muay Thai.
I went to CycleLogik and got fit for my new Cervelo today. Yeah!! I fit perfectly onto a 51 cm frame. Ian is going to set me up with a 2nd seat and headpiece for the seat stem so that I can easily switch to a tri position for TT's. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my finances!) the bike won't be in until April. The tubes are made in California, shipped to Taiwan for welding, and then back to Toronto to be built. Strange trip this bike makes!
I am giving a trombone lesson tonight... in French. This is Claudia's 2nd lesson (she's 11) and it's always an interesting time as she doesn't speak much English and my French vocabulary does not include musical terms! Her father generally acts as a translator. I have to find something for the dog to do - the last time she was here, he was acutely interested in what was happening, and would start howling along with her playing! Especially in the upper range.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
biked to work today!
Long time no write, but I've been really busy here. This weekend was fantastic - I finally got a chance to relax, do my own thing, CLEAN, and just chill out. I spent Saturday night playing dominoes and drinking wine at S&J's place, and then the next morning out for breakfast with them as well. The dog was happy - got to visit his friend Tweek and then go for a walk in the Bruce Pit the next morning. I spent most of Saturday afternoon cleaning my mess of an apartment: dusting, cleaning the floors, etc. Finally clean!! Most of Sunday afternoon was spent working on a lab for the GEO 2164 mineralogy class for Monday. Took a long time to organize the powerpoint presentation and the lab hand out.
Last night I went to Muay Thai and we had a Kali class. Bob's back from Cambodia/Thailand, which is great. I kinda missed having him instructing our classes in the last month! Our Kali class was great as well - we took the numbering system up to 24, which is very confusing and I think I need to practice alot! Then we did a variety of close-range techniques with the sticks, and a few hand-to-hand combat techniques. It was great!! Arm-bars, moves where you press on the collar bone, stick to the throat in various ways, etc. Alot of moves which put your elbow into really BAD positions! I discovered that joints don't have a wide range of motion! Bob used me as a demonstration model quite a few times and I must say it's amazing how quickly he can bring people to their knees! He makes it look so easy, so smooth... so deadly! I think I need to go practice...
Today was a pretty good day. I had quite a few meetings but all were productive and positive. I think the last three weeks have gone well, I've made alot of strides forward with the projects I've proposed and I think all are happy about it. That's good to know. But for me, I've moved past the shit from 3 weeks ago and just gotten on with my job. Shit happens. There's no point in dwelling on past mistakes, right? However, if I ever discover who the snitch was... :)
Tomorrow is bone scan day. Yeah!! And optometrist day as well. Medical day all around. My leg has felt really good today actually, which is surprising since I went to Muay Thai last night and biked today! I biked to work today. It was -10 C when I got up, but I bought wind-stopper booties and gloves, so the cold didn't bother me. Not too bad for the first time biking all the way to work! The ride back home after work was great - +2 C and the wind at my back. I'm going to try and bike in as long as the weather is nice and the roads remain clean. Looks like we're getting a storm on Friday so biking that day is out (and I have to be at Kali for 4pm anyway).
I got an invitation from FF to return to Paris for 1-3 months as a visiting researcher (paid!) at the Natural History Museum where he is now. Talk about mixed emotions!! Yes, going back to Paris sounds AWESOME!! I do love the city, I do miss it and would like to go back. It's been 2 years since I've returned to my French home. On the other hand, can he and I work together? Can we move past some of the SHIT that we've gone thru in the past? I don't know if I can. I think he's very bad for me in many ways. Maybe he's changed now that he's in a museum and maybe not under as much stress as he was when I was doing my PDF. I don't know. It brings back alot of bad emotions, a period which required many therapy sessions to get over!! On the other hand, going back to Paris, definitely a plus. I miss the city. I miss the food, the European atmosphere, the wine, walking all over town and exploring on the subway. Shit, I miss the subway!! :) I did email him back and said I could do 1 month at a time. More than that, it becomes a problem with the dog. But going after May 2008 would be great - bit of a paid break away from here after the science fair. This year might not be the best time. We'll see. I'd like to take holidays at some point! I told Bob that I would be interested in going to Cambodia with him next year (then going to Thailand) to help build houses for the Tabitha Foundation.
Last night I went to Muay Thai and we had a Kali class. Bob's back from Cambodia/Thailand, which is great. I kinda missed having him instructing our classes in the last month! Our Kali class was great as well - we took the numbering system up to 24, which is very confusing and I think I need to practice alot! Then we did a variety of close-range techniques with the sticks, and a few hand-to-hand combat techniques. It was great!! Arm-bars, moves where you press on the collar bone, stick to the throat in various ways, etc. Alot of moves which put your elbow into really BAD positions! I discovered that joints don't have a wide range of motion! Bob used me as a demonstration model quite a few times and I must say it's amazing how quickly he can bring people to their knees! He makes it look so easy, so smooth... so deadly! I think I need to go practice...
Today was a pretty good day. I had quite a few meetings but all were productive and positive. I think the last three weeks have gone well, I've made alot of strides forward with the projects I've proposed and I think all are happy about it. That's good to know. But for me, I've moved past the shit from 3 weeks ago and just gotten on with my job. Shit happens. There's no point in dwelling on past mistakes, right? However, if I ever discover who the snitch was... :)
Tomorrow is bone scan day. Yeah!! And optometrist day as well. Medical day all around. My leg has felt really good today actually, which is surprising since I went to Muay Thai last night and biked today! I biked to work today. It was -10 C when I got up, but I bought wind-stopper booties and gloves, so the cold didn't bother me. Not too bad for the first time biking all the way to work! The ride back home after work was great - +2 C and the wind at my back. I'm going to try and bike in as long as the weather is nice and the roads remain clean. Looks like we're getting a storm on Friday so biking that day is out (and I have to be at Kali for 4pm anyway).
I got an invitation from FF to return to Paris for 1-3 months as a visiting researcher (paid!) at the Natural History Museum where he is now. Talk about mixed emotions!! Yes, going back to Paris sounds AWESOME!! I do love the city, I do miss it and would like to go back. It's been 2 years since I've returned to my French home. On the other hand, can he and I work together? Can we move past some of the SHIT that we've gone thru in the past? I don't know if I can. I think he's very bad for me in many ways. Maybe he's changed now that he's in a museum and maybe not under as much stress as he was when I was doing my PDF. I don't know. It brings back alot of bad emotions, a period which required many therapy sessions to get over!! On the other hand, going back to Paris, definitely a plus. I miss the city. I miss the food, the European atmosphere, the wine, walking all over town and exploring on the subway. Shit, I miss the subway!! :) I did email him back and said I could do 1 month at a time. More than that, it becomes a problem with the dog. But going after May 2008 would be great - bit of a paid break away from here after the science fair. This year might not be the best time. We'll see. I'd like to take holidays at some point! I told Bob that I would be interested in going to Cambodia with him next year (then going to Thailand) to help build houses for the Tabitha Foundation.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Diversity Training
I spent the entire day in a 'diversity in the workplace' training session. Although the initial reaction is ugh, I have better things to do, it turned out to be a good session. Our instructor had a good sense of humour, made the situations relevant and interesting, and managed to hold our gnat-brain attention spans for the entire time. Personally, I think I am a very culturally-aware person. It comes from traveling all over the world, being open to new cultures and new experiences in a non-tourist fashion. Alot of the information wasn't new, but some points he raised were surprising. One of the most interesting points raised was the fact that only 7% of communication is verbal - 52% is body language (goes to show how email can be a real problem!!).
The other interesting exercise was to look at the differences in values, work ethics and experiences of the four different generational groups:
Traditionalists (born between 1920 and 1940)
Baby Boomers (born between 1940 and 1960)
Generation X (born between 1960 and 1980)
Generation Y (born between 1980 and 2000)
It's amazing that ANY effective communication happens between these four groups!! It's no wonder why a work place tends to have a certain degree (alot?) of conflict given the inherent value systems that each generation has grown up with. It explains when change is often difficult to implement in a workplace when the upper hierarchy is of the Traditionalist or Baby Boomer generation. Us in the GenX and GenY categories are much more willing to step outside the box, are open to change (and less patient!).
The instructor we had also does conflict resolution training. I'm beginning to think that this course might be an excellent training opportunity as well, made mandatory for everyone...
Otherwise, I'm so happy it's the weekend. I'm looking forward to having the weekend to myself, doing some errands, just going down to the Market and doing some shopping, having coffee. The dog is roaching on the couch beside me, enjoying a friday evening as well.
I need to go and buy some winter cycling gloves. This week looks to be somewhat warm, so I'm thinking of biking to work. With my mountain bike of course - I don't want to subject my road bike to the salt and sand on the roads right now. The OBC has Santini winter gloves for sale. But the office is only open in the morning.
Going to find Doritos...
The other interesting exercise was to look at the differences in values, work ethics and experiences of the four different generational groups:
Traditionalists (born between 1920 and 1940)
Baby Boomers (born between 1940 and 1960)
Generation X (born between 1960 and 1980)
Generation Y (born between 1980 and 2000)
It's amazing that ANY effective communication happens between these four groups!! It's no wonder why a work place tends to have a certain degree (alot?) of conflict given the inherent value systems that each generation has grown up with. It explains when change is often difficult to implement in a workplace when the upper hierarchy is of the Traditionalist or Baby Boomer generation. Us in the GenX and GenY categories are much more willing to step outside the box, are open to change (and less patient!).
The instructor we had also does conflict resolution training. I'm beginning to think that this course might be an excellent training opportunity as well, made mandatory for everyone...
Otherwise, I'm so happy it's the weekend. I'm looking forward to having the weekend to myself, doing some errands, just going down to the Market and doing some shopping, having coffee. The dog is roaching on the couch beside me, enjoying a friday evening as well.
I need to go and buy some winter cycling gloves. This week looks to be somewhat warm, so I'm thinking of biking to work. With my mountain bike of course - I don't want to subject my road bike to the salt and sand on the roads right now. The OBC has Santini winter gloves for sale. But the office is only open in the morning.
Going to find Doritos...
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Bone scan next week
Went and saw my doctor this morning to discuss my left leg x-ray results (finally!). If nothing was wrong, the report would have come back "tibia and fibia normal". Mine didn't. It came back with a long paragraph of very scary medical lingo that basically equates to "your tibia and fibia are FUCKED UP"!! Seems that there is extensive hardening (scary "sclerosis" word in there somewhere), evidence of extensive stress, hardening, lateral thickening, etc, etc. And fracture. Somewhere in there, something has fractured and healed badly, possibly more than once. Thus the pain.
My doctor has ordered me to have a bone scan on that leg, which actually sounds like a neat procedure. It's a nuclear scanning technique rather than X-ray-based. They inject a radionucleide into your body and it permeates into the bone, acting as a tracer for areas of bone which are healing or broken down. A gamma-ray detector picks up the nucleide and creates an image. Cool!!! The whole thing takes 3 hours - injection then wait 2 hours until the nucleide goes through your body, and then 45 min for the scan itself.
The problem with this is that I now know that it's not a soft-tissue area and that anything high-impact is just making the problem worse. Which means Muay Thai is out for a while. I figure I can still do boxing training, as long as I don't kick or pivot on the left leg. Boxing should be fine. I'll talk to Kru Bob on Saturday - he's back from Cambodia/Thailand today. Biking should be ok though - it's not load-bearing. Squash is out. Ball hockey is out.
But really, what can be done for a fracture? Other than staying off it?
The afternoon was quite an experience. I learned something today: all people are not equal. Certainly not in the eyes of the overlords who have control over the purse strings. If an overlord can get away with keeping the purse strings tightly knotted, they will, even if it means perpetuating an inequality. If that overlord is asked to put their underlings on an even playing field with the rest of the nation, they get very defensive and angry. It's amazing actually. As an underling, I tend to feel very angry when a known inequality is being ignored, no effort made to make it right. Right now, I'm mad. Incredibly pissed off that bullshit is being ignored. But we will make it right. There's strength in numbers.
My doctor has ordered me to have a bone scan on that leg, which actually sounds like a neat procedure. It's a nuclear scanning technique rather than X-ray-based. They inject a radionucleide into your body and it permeates into the bone, acting as a tracer for areas of bone which are healing or broken down. A gamma-ray detector picks up the nucleide and creates an image. Cool!!! The whole thing takes 3 hours - injection then wait 2 hours until the nucleide goes through your body, and then 45 min for the scan itself.
The problem with this is that I now know that it's not a soft-tissue area and that anything high-impact is just making the problem worse. Which means Muay Thai is out for a while. I figure I can still do boxing training, as long as I don't kick or pivot on the left leg. Boxing should be fine. I'll talk to Kru Bob on Saturday - he's back from Cambodia/Thailand today. Biking should be ok though - it's not load-bearing. Squash is out. Ball hockey is out.
But really, what can be done for a fracture? Other than staying off it?
The afternoon was quite an experience. I learned something today: all people are not equal. Certainly not in the eyes of the overlords who have control over the purse strings. If an overlord can get away with keeping the purse strings tightly knotted, they will, even if it means perpetuating an inequality. If that overlord is asked to put their underlings on an even playing field with the rest of the nation, they get very defensive and angry. It's amazing actually. As an underling, I tend to feel very angry when a known inequality is being ignored, no effort made to make it right. Right now, I'm mad. Incredibly pissed off that bullshit is being ignored. But we will make it right. There's strength in numbers.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
soloist it is
Okay, a decision has been made. I'm getting the Cervelo Team Soloist road bike!! I talked further to Ian, and got the ok from Chad, and made up my mind! Chad has an Orbea Orca and wants the Ordu, but I can't climb into that price range quite yet. Soloist it is. Awesome bike. Full Ultegra components, aluminum frame but carbon fork, carbon seatpost, aero everything! Cool anodized finish as well. I'm headed to CycleLogik next week to get fit. I'm not entirely sure which size frame I need. I know my Eclipse is too big for me, part of the comfort issue.
Nothing like spending a weekend with small children to put one off having children in the first place! I think I'll stick with the dog. Not that I don't love my nephew and all, but wow, does that ever require ALOT of time, money and increase stress levels by huge amounts. Love the kid, but don't think I want my own! Hell, a new road bike wouldn't be happening with a little one running around! Not that I'm completely selfish or anything, but at present, I can't imagine changing my lifestyle to suit kids.
Back to the grind today after driving back from TO yesterday. I think I found someone at work who shares a similar mind-set about protocols! Kinda neat actually. But it was a good day - got alot done and moved a few projects forward. Friday, a bunch of us have to sit through diversity training. Ugh. Apparently it's not so bad, but it's going to be a full 8 hours worth of role-playing and discussion. I can think of better ways to spend a friday. Like dreaming about my new Cervelo!! I can't wait for the snow to melt now.
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