Yesterday we got to practice with our fully-armored sempais. We tried hits such as kote (hand), men (head), and do (body) in alternating series. I was told I have a terrifying face and kiai shout (you shout out what you're hitting as you hit it, along with fumikomi, which is a audible "stomp" of the floor in front of you. You strike, fumikomi, and kiai all at once to really put power into it). I've also gotten some advice in finding a keikogi, the robeguy I get to wear which is a lot cooler in temperature than street clothes. I'm still a bit wobbly with my upper body because I'm so tall, but I think I was improving a bit towards the end!

School's been kinda boring so far. Most of our homework for the Business College is groupwork, so everyone only has to do bits and pieces to contribute to the whole.

Matt's been really getting on my nerves, because he and I share the same goal-oriented psychology. This really comes out when we're playing Civ 4, because I'm Japanese (Military and expansion oriented) and he's Chinese (Industrial and I think Financially oriented??). Every time I'm about to capture a city from whatever civilization we happen to be fighting, he'll try and sneak some riflemen in there to get it at the last second so he controls it. So whenever he does that, I whack him with one of my swords. He's gotten a lot better at holding off now

I haven't forgotten about the therapist! I'm just kinda busy because I'm also helping mom prepare for the move to Portland. She and Dad complete the move on the 31st, so after that I'll start going. I'll even tell you when I'm going and what all rolled on through

I miss talking to you guys. I know you're busy but could you at least comment on stuffs?

32 hours sans sleep cause of our new game last night. Today was so hard listening to teachers, and I think half the time they were dreamteachers. The leaves are rustling gently in the trees outside and I can hold it off no longer. Goodnight an sweet dreams!

Your world is going to be rocked by my submission.

Actually...you may have to not have my submission count towards the contest, as to look upon it is to gaze into the essence of insanity itself!

So I've joined Melly and Kane for Kendo on Saturdays. The group is truly amazing. It takes place off of Cedar Ave in an old bowling alley that's been redesigned for Fencing/Kendo. The wooden floors are very useful in learning our techniques, and the group is (at least for those who come to Sat classes) about 16 people, 8 of whom are graduated enough to be in bogu (the sparring armor), another 2 who are least in kendogi, and then 6 (of whom I am a part) in street exercise clothes. Our sensei is a gentleman who's been involved with Kendo as a sensei for 25 years. The group itself receives visits at least once a month from Kendo teachers from Japan, and we have two that live in Minnesota and are involved with us.

I'm going to ask sensei next Saturday about it, but the group also convenes on Wednesdays and Fridays (Though these are mostly our senpais, he did mention that we beginners could come and receive instruction (our senpais are usually the ones who teach us, with oversight by sensei))

Anyways, we're pretty excited by the idea because Melly (the only one of us in Kendogi status) is about to buy his bogu, and once we catch up to him, we can literally spar in any large-enough flat surface, indoors or out.

I'm impressed how well our group follows tradition, as well. Our sensei is very firm and he's the kind of man who'll poke fun at you if you're doing something wrong, but you know the way he's saying it he wants to see you improve. When the guy teaching our n00b group of 3 wasn't doing a very good job, sensei came over to us and pushed me back EASILY with one push of his arm on my collarbone. "Matt (not our Melly) do you think he'll be able to effectively defend with a stance like this? C'mon now, you know better than this. Let's teach them right the first time so they don't have to relearn it. Osu?" "Hai, sensei" (We learn to do what he's telling us in Japanese (He's not Japanese, but spent a great deal of time there, enough to be fluent in the language))

Later on we were taught by one of sensei's favorite students, a lady who was maybe 35-45 yo. She was in full-on bogu, however, including face mask. The sport of kendo is very interesting because you learn kiais and ways of order and discipline. With her face mask on (a metal-ribbed faceplate, google the bogu to see it) she could just as well be a man, and she knew how to give orders like any trained commander. Anyways, I liked her instruction because it felt like she really gave it her all, and wouldn't let up on us if we were doing it wrong (And believe me, doing the SAME slide right foot forward, bring left foot up as you chop and shout a hearty "MEN! (lolheadstrike)" for almost 3 hours, until you are sweating like crazy with blisters on your hands and feet leaves a lot of room for error)

I am absolutely staying with this sport. From the ritual bows at the end to our sensei, and then to the "dojo"'s head, to the staying in a traditional seated pose while he sums up how our practice went, as a shogun would have addressed his underlings. From literally working your ass off cleaning the floor tengu style (you get one tiny damp mop, as do your peers. You line up one after each other and eventually clean the entire floor by running from one side of the room to the other), to the dedicated practicing and bettering yourself. This is kendo, and I can do this.

I'm working with mom to find some places near where we're going to live that offer therapy sessions. In return, I'd ask that while I'm going we can hang out and do things like we used to (when you're feeling up to it, of course!). This has been killing me since late May, when I made those comments. You both mean enough to me to do this. Making you worry about my safety and well-being when you don't have to is profoundly stupid (And I know it's in your nature to do so anyways, especially since there are no better friends than us). Having you be afraid of me is something I really don't want. There are times when it's effective to be scary, particularly when someone that matters to you is being threatened. Being scary all the goddamn time is just weird. I would also ask that you believe me when I tell you that I don't actively know/realize it when I'm being "manipulative". Really, the first time I had even pondered that I was being manipulative was when Kitty mentioned it in the car. I mean, I can see it when I look back on it, but if you could just tell me to my face when it happens, I'm not going to explode. It'll help me learn when to hold off on the exaggerations.

In other news, when we're moving out mom and I are spending the 5-day interrim (between us moving out and me moving into the new place) at Mystic Lake. That'll be good, because I can earn some grocery dollars at poker.

And to further clarify things, I'm not gay. I would let you know if I was. Although the interaction between males does fascinate me at times...