OK, so here it is......

So, I had no idea how many of you actually read this little blog of mine!! I have had so many people asking me about when I am putting up my post about the weekend! I am sorry it has taken so long, but not only was the weekend a rather difficult one for me, I came back to a shitstrom of work to do when I returned. I was exhausted emotionally and physically and couldn't bring myself to sit down and write this all down. So here goes......
....right from the beginning......
So, Thursday afternoon, Katy meets me at my school and we get the fuck outta dodge on our way to Quebec city. I have quite a lead foot, so we make REALLY good time and pull in around midnight, i wasn't expecting to make it until 2 am. Anyhow, while we were on our way, we spoke to one of our team managers who told us that there wasn't a room for us when we got there because they had us written down as goin gon the friday which i find strange because i spoke to her the day before and told her when we would be arriving.... so that was the first hurdle. Thank god that by the time we got there, they had found a room that we could stay in for that night. Well, our relief was rather short-lived. the room was TINY with these two little crappy army cots in there. One of them wasn't even long enough for Katy to fit on, but since I am a midget, I fit.
And so, the next day, we were rather slow to get up, but we did and we went shopping!!! I come all the way to Quebec city to fight in a judo tournament, THE judo tournament of the year and I end up shopping - pretty girly, but awesome! After shopping, we had a team practice at a dojo across town. The Beauport Dojo! Holy Crap! This was one nice dojo!! Beautiful sprung floor, two fighting areas! it was gorgeous! I had a really good practice too! Had a whole bunch of partners and I was throwing and attacking and gripping and doing everything right. Apparently that would be the last time I do everything right on that weekend!
Well, that night, two of fighters on our team who weren't fighting the next day decided to go out and get completely shitfaced and keep all of us awake until the wee hours of the morning. I felt so bad for the ones who were fighting the next day. I would have knocked their teeth out if it were me who was fighting! Needless to say, again, Katy and I were VERY slow to get up. We didn't show up at the Shiai-jo until about 1:00 because we were so tired. Team Ontario did pretty well. Had a whole bunch of fighters in the finals, we were very proud of them! And now, to get ready for my fight the next day.
So, for those of you who are not in judo, we fight according to weight categories. I am in the -78kg category, which means that my category spans from 70 - 77.9 kgs. When we first got to the university (where we were staying) I weighed myself. I was 75kgs. A bit light, but good, so I could eat and not have to cut weight, which totally sucks. So I started eating all the good healthy food you should eat before going to tournament. I weighed myself the next day, Friday, and I was 74 kgs. Strange that I would lose weight even though I wasn't working out and I was eating like a fiend. And then I checked myself on the Saturday and I was down to 73!!!! By the time I weighed in on the Sunday morning, with all of my clothes on, I was 72.5 kgs. It was so strange! I was so light! And so it goes, midget Tami weighs in and gives up 6 kgs to the other girls and goes about getting ready to fight.
Now, there were only 5 girls in my entire category which means that it was not double elimination, it would be a round robin, meaning that no matter what, I would have 4 fights. This si a good thing, as much experience as I get at this high level is very good for me. There were people who went all the way there, lost their first fight and were subsequently eliminated completely because the person who beat them lost their second fight.
So, I bow in for my first fight and I am terrified. I was beat before I ever even stepped on the mat. I felt like an orphan out there. I didn't have any of my senseis around, although they were all a phone call away, and boy did I use that phone! I asked an old friend of one of my senseis to sit in my chair and coach me. He is awesome. He doesn't know how I fight, but he did his best and is a great cheerleader!
Anyhow, I lose the first fight, and I say, ok, I lasted through my first ever national level fight, get ready for the next one..... I fight the next one, and lose..... so I get ready to fight Becky, a good friend of mine and a fierce competitor and I lose.... So, at this point, I was feeling like a yellow belt and I was hysterical. I did not want to get back on that mat!!! My next fight was against the girl going to the Olympics. The thought of losing yet another fight was just too much for me to bear. I made some calls to some really good supports and got my head back in the game and got myself back onto that mat and fought, and lost.
After all the fighting was over, the girls commented to me that I NEED to get out of that weight class because not only am I a midget, I am REALLY light! Really easy to pick up! And so the weight cutting starts, but I will get to that in a little bit.
Well, after the crying stopped (it didn't actually stop for about three days) but after it stopped for the time being, I went back to the dorms, showered before everyone else, and we went about getting our drunk on!

OK, so, Tami actually got drunk... so loaded that I actually told the head coach to go F&%k himself. Had a pretty good time at the party in the hallway before the banquet, being loaded at the banquet, going to the bar and then back in the hallway after the bar.
I will say this, that drive back from Quebec city hung over, was not a good time!!!!

I did not completely follow through on my eating plan for when I got back, but I did eat pizza and ice cream the night i got back and I actually ate a DONUT the next day.

So, the next day, since I got in so late and was so tired, I had also taken off of work. So, I went in to Sensei Dave's office for a meeting for about an hour and a half!! Much of that time I spent crying. Again, intellectually, I knew that I wouldn't win, but that doesn't make losing suck any less. As well, the humiliation of having to lose four when most others get to only lose one or two was pretty bad. We watched my fights and he analyzed them and we will work, but still..... doesn't feel good!

Anyhow, I must say this, I am very lucky to have a very wide and supportive network of people who have helped me in their own individual ways ranging from trainers, therapists, senseis, friends, training partners, people from out of town as far as Israel and Boston.... All of you, you know who you are, thank you, and I love you all very much!

And now, on to getting ready for next year! I need to do many things. The first of which is to cut about 20 pounds so that I can get into a category with people more my midget like size. I need to work out more effectively and more specifically. I need to train with left-handers such as myself who are better than me, I have one I will be using and am grateful....and I just need more mat time and experience. I will travel around looking for dojos with women and smaller men so tha tI am not trying to practice on 200 lb men!

I think I have said enough for today! Going to bed!

BTW, I have a million wicked stories from the weekend and will start posting them as they come to me!!!

SORRY!

I am so sorry that I haven't been posting!
It was an EXHAUSTING weekend and an EXHAUSTING week!! I have report cards due on Thursday, I have my NCCP level 2 stuff due soon, so I have kinda been drowning. On top of all of that, I am in transition phase of training, so my body won't let me do ANYTHING!!
For those of you taht are curious, I lost this weekend at the nationals. It was pretty bad! At one point, I was sitting int eh corner crying like a little girl not wanting to go back on the mat. I promise to write the whole story up here this weekend. This weekend took a lot of emotion outta me, so I found it hard to sit down and write something. But, I think it will be good for me to sit down and get it all out, so those ofyou who read this... watch out, there is going to be a long one on its way!!!
To all of those of you who love and support me along the way, know that Scarlet loves you too!

Too Tired!

Ok, I am home... I promise everyone, I WILL write tomorrow.... it was a VERY long drive home, especially since I was completely hung over!!!
All I have to say was that it was quite a weekend... very disappointing!
See y'all soon

Love,
Scarlet

Today is the day!

Sorry I haven't been writing... been hard to get on the internet... won't say much now either. Just getting ready to go fight. Weighed in EXTREMELY light, even though I have been eating like a fiend! I was 6 kilos under the limit, only two kilos into my weight class. Anyhow, panic! I will write later after I fight when I am three sheets to the wind!

Leaving tomorrow....

....no time to write tonight.... sawrry Baahstan....
Packing to get my ass to the nationals!
Doing well... nice and underweight so I get to eat!
Promise to write more tomorrow!

BTW,I have been wondering why noone is commenting... i know y'all are reading these!

Behind Every good superhero is....

...Really good support!
I have come to the conclusion that I am a really lucky girl!
I am surrounded by people who care and love me and want what is best for me at all times. Personal life aside, I have some wonderful people in my athletic life who are just stand-up people!
First and foremost, I am lucky enough to actually have two senseis. Of course, Elmer is my sensei always has been and always will be. Elmer loves me enough to send to people that he thinks can help me out. And one of these people is sensei Dave whose kindness is matched only by Elmer's. But today, I realized how good of a coach he actually is. It was always Elmer that I went to when I was nervous, tired, upset, any other emotion related to judo. BUT today, sensei Dave asked me to come and see him at his dojo after school, it is lucky because his dojo is around the corner from my house. So I went to see him and he gave me quite the pep talk. This all came about after a conversation I had with him on facebook last night. MY nervousness was really coming out. It seems that lots of people, completely out of love and support, have been saying things to me like they are counting on me and to not let them down; well, I am terrified of letting these people down.
So, Sensei Dave started off by tellingme that we both know that I am not going to win the nationals, but I can definitely set about ruining someone's day. He called me a real scrapper, which is high praise coming from him (he is a 6th dan). he said I should just go out there and fight my ass off and hopefully even win a fight. It seemed a strange way to put it at the beginning, but it is true... I have been in judo for less than three years and these people have been in it for 20 years and train professionally. I am a special education teacher, who trains in judo part time.... but I do plan on making judo into what I do... in a teaching and sharing capacity; hence the women's camp this summer. I do recognize that I did progress very fast and that I am pretty good, but pretty good does not match up with Olympic good!
All that being said, this all means that I am coming into this in a position of power... I have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain!
Besides the sensei's, I have everyone in the gym, number one being Jesus.... he ahs kicked my butt into gear and will be helping me with my cutting this summer, but he has also helped me through the rough times... especially when I tore up my foot. Also, he tells me when I have been overtraining and yells at me to go home... meaning he won't even get paid becuase he didn't train me... that shows true spirit of good character.
All of my judo friends that I have made along the way at my two dojos I belong to and through the tournament circuit. Everyone has had nothing but really nice and wonderful things to say to me about the fact that I got to nationals so quickly and they would like nothing more than to see me succeed!
As well, my girls that I teach; watching them experience the joy of learning a technique and how it works has really helped to motivate me and remind me why I am doing this!!
So, in all, I really am surrounded by wonderful supportive people... too all of you whom I have mentioned and to thos eI have not, I want to say, "I love you all, BUT please still love me back even if I bomb, ok???"

More Rehab - part two

Ok, I decided to take this time to finish off the How did I get here? episode.....
So, after that last qualifier, I took some serious time off of judo and continued my swimming. I was becoming a rather good swimmer, getting up to swimming a kilometre and finally swimming a whole mile before I finished my swimming rehab. I finally got into the sports medicine clinic at Mt. Sinai and they didn't do much for me, just gave me some ankle exercises and sent me on my merry way to go get an x-ray. The interesting part of the x-ray was that it turns out I had broken my ankle many years ago on the same foot, but on the other side of the foot and it had healed over. I just found that interesting. The x-ray showed nothing - DUH - my ankle isn't broken, I tor ligaments, so the doctor pretty much said, "congratulations, you have torn ligaments" six weeks after the fact, I already knew that. So, I went to see an athletic therapist. That is where MArcel enters my life. Marcel is the world's greatest athletic therapist, he really rocks the house. He has been the AT for many different world-class and Olympic teams, but I am his first judo fighter... he caught on real quick... don't bother telling me not train, he just fixes me when I show up.
Now, this whole tme, I am actually walking with a crazy limp, trying so hard not to... but the limp was rather pervasive, so it threw off that whole side of my body so I started having some pretty serious, back, hip flexor and knee problems, which Marcel still fixes every time I see him. I call him at 9:30 at night and he tells me to come on over!
Anyhow, this skinny marathon man brings me to tears every time I see him, but I know that it is helping so I just suck it up.
So, here I am, nice and qualified to go to the nationals, but have been told not to fight in any tournaments until then so that the ligaments can be as healed as possible before then. So, I rehab and rehab and get stronger and stronger, but have not had a practice tournament since March 2... I still fight at the dojo... but I hope that I will do ok.
Moreover, I have been doing my NCCP levels so that once I become a shodan, I can have my own club. I get told that there is going to be a level two technical course being held at the beginning of May and that I need to be a brown belt for it. this whole time, I was still a blue belt, hadn't bothered to do my brown belt test for Elmer, and I didn't really feel like doing it until the summer, but now, here Iw as with all of this pressure to test for him and then lose an entire weekend of training three weeks before the nationals... I did it... but it sucked! I passed the test, which was an hour and a half long and came straight from hell!
Now this whole time, I have been talking about things that have happened and what I had to do and I haven't been talking about how I feel... I think that is because I think noone will understand the emotions that go along with having an injury like this. Here I am, four months later and I am still not healed, my foot is still taped up every single time I step on a mat and it still randomly swells up a few times a week.
It isn't just the foot, it is the training almost full time hours while holding down an extremely stressful full time job. There are days that I just break down and cry for just a minute, and not very hard, just a little weepy while I am in my car driving from work to the gym. At first, I thought I was losing my mind, but then I realized that once I let it out, I feel better, so I have been embracing these moments. It is weird, sometimes I feel like I am gong to let people down if I don't win, but then the next moment I am just so proud as shit that I am even going.... I just hoe I don't make a fool out of myself. I don't want people to look at me fighting and be like, what the hell is that girl doing here......

Tired.

So, I was planning on posting the second part of my story from last night on here, but I am waaaayyyy to tired to do that! Today was aboriginal judo day at Sensei Dave's club. It was really cool. I made Sensei Elmer come and he had a fantastic time. There were like 50 people on the mat. We had tons of fun, but it was actually quite a workout. We did, no joke, 20 rounds of ne-waza, that was pretty exhausting. I had a great time though, hanging out with some people I knew and some that I only met today! There were people from clubs from all over the province and it went well. Sensei Dave was very happy and is definitely going to do it again next year. I had to leave halfway through the day to have my lsat training session with Jesus before I go to the nationals. He just blasted my upper body, tons of travelling push ups and stuff like that! ARG!
By the end, I was just done, but I still had to go back to the dojo to pick up my gi I had lent to one of the girls. I ended up chilling there for over an hour, mostly becuase I couldn't gather the energy to get home!!!!
I finally went home, stuffed my face, took a nap, ate some more, and watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition with Josh - It was a really good episode.
Then we went out to 7 West with that Aussie friend of ours, lets just call him "George", had a really nice time and now I am home, too tired to write anymore even thoguh I had tons I wanted to say. Y'all are gonna have to wait.....
good night

how did I get here??

Ok, I am going to take this opportunity to tell all of you a little bit about the journey I have taken this year. It has been a LONG and winding road that has led me to come to this point. Those of you who know me are definitely familiar with this road, but for those of you who don't, I will tell you.
January 23, 2008, it was a Wednesday and I had stayed home from work becuase I was not feeling so well. I decided to go to judo that night anyways because I was fighting in a qualifier that Sunday and I felt like I needed to move my body. I had a BUNCH of friends coming to class that night so I knew I would be working out, but not too much, so it would be perfect. Sensei decided to make us run some suicides during warm ups and that is where this extremely crazy, painful journey starts.
I will digress for a moment before I describe what happened during the running of the suicides. I have this degenerative arthiritic disorder in my right big toe. I had gone to a chripodist and he suggested these lift type things in my shoes. Made my feet feel weird but apparently that was my feet getting used to them. Anyhow, it was activating muscles and stuff inmy feet that had never been used before, but I was always wearing shoes. And then finally - BOOM- IT HAPPENED.
That night at judo the foot rolled and I popped three ligaments in my left foot. I have actually never felt anything like this in my life! I was kind of in shock so I didn't know what happened and didn't feel the pain right away. We had ice on it right away and then taped it up really tight after 20 minutes of ice. I thougth I was ok, so I even participated in a roundof sumo before hte class was over.
THEN, the adrenaline wore off....
...and the pain set in.....
I had to call in sick to work the next day and go to see some doctors. Both my gp and my chiropodist informed me that my competition season was over and to stay off of it for six weeks. Well, I am judoka and that makes me stupid. So, even though my foot was BLACK and swollen so big I couldn't wear regular shoes and I couldn't walk properly, I decided to fight in that qualifier - stupid - I know... BUT I had to do it.
So, I get the medic to tape up my black foot and she was horrified and I bow in. I actually fought a crazy fight. Kept dragging her down to get to the ground,because I couldn't do any stand up. I ended up losing in the end, but what an exciting fight!!
Now, here is where I show my stupid judoka side of me. Sensei Dave comes up to me, congratulates me on a great fight and then tells me that he is withdrawing me... you see, all I needed to do was to step on the mat and I would have enough points to go to nationals. But stupid me begged and pleaded with him to let me fight another, that I could beat her. He told me that I was an adult and could do what I wanted, but that he wouldn't sit in my corner... so I became all girly and started bawling.... so he actually had to go withdraw me... I couldn't handle the idea of actually pulling out of a tournament.
SO, Dave pulled me out and I was sad and pissed and depressed and everything that goes along with being in a combative sport.

And then the rehab had to start.....
The very next day I was at the gym, to go swimming since it was the ONLY exercise I could do.... I was able to ten lengths in the pool, very slowly before the pain overtook me and I crawled out the side of pool and lay on the deck crying my eyes out from the pain and crawled literally on my hands and knees to the change room. And so it went like this for the next few weeks. I was able to start swimming more and more, but the end result was always the same... me writhing in pain on the side of the pool and crawling or limping against the wall to the changeroom.
Then came the last qualifier.... I retore the foot... you hear me screaming during the fights, but I just keep going....
More rehab....................................................................................................................................................

I am going to sign off there for now....
I wish for everyone reading this to remember these important words:
ALWAYS WARM UP YOUR FEET AND ANKLES BEFORE STEPPING ON THE MAT

My Friday night

So, I spent my Friday night laying mats for a tourney instead of training, hanging out with my boyfriend, or going out with friends! But, I did it and it was a good thing to do for Sensei Dave after all of the good things he has done for me!
Then, after I got back, I went by Alaina's and chilled with the grrls for a while, it was nice to sit and chill out with a bunch of girls for a while, I don't really get to do that too often anymore....

forced rest

Today I was forced to take a rest day. I went to the gym, already tired and got on the treadmill and was all ready to go for a 30 minute run and then hop on the stair climber, but my knee ahd another idea. This close to nationals, I decided that maybe I should just go home and rest. So I did, and feasted for a little while knowing I would need energy for judo later. So, I went to judo and Sensei Dave forgot to call me to let me know that judo was cancelled and that he was playing ball hockey instead! So, I had no workout outlet and took a rest instead. So, I was forced to take a rest!!! But the problem is that I ate a ton! I need to run to work that off!!!
Well, I enjoyed my night lying on the couch... haven't done that in a long time!!
Bedtime!
good night!

I am short

So, tonight, Sensei Elmer had to leave and he left me in charge of the class. I showed them some of the stuff that I learned on the weekend from the Felicia Oh seminar... they really liked it and were pretty good at some of the moves. AFter we were on the ground, we moved to standing techniques and as I am standing there in front of this sea of like 13 men, I realized I am really really short. All of these men are like 200 lbs and like 5'10 at the shortest and there they are, listening and watching intently as this 5'2 woman was teaching them how to fight. It was realyl cool! I felt like I finally had the respect of the men. It took a long time, and it was very difficult, but I really enjoyed it. Iw as able to execute everything I was teaching on any of these guys except one of the ground fighting rollovers when Matt who is like 265 offered to have me show it on him... he jsut squashed me!! But it was fun!
It was a good night there!!!
I had a pretty good workout with Jesus today... he brought me to the stairs again... I hate stairs! As well, teh fact that I only slept like 5 hours last night didn't help!!! But I still did well... we are nearing the end here... getting excited!!! take a week off... start cutting for next season!

Super Tami - 12 DAYS!

OK... so here is my daily rant... this one will be short, as I am exhausted. All I have to say is field trip to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with the class today.... Exhausted!
BUT, after school, I went to the gym and I actually was able to do the following:
1. 30 min. jog at 6.0 mph
2. 30 min. on stair climber (I call it the torture machine)
3. 45 minute spin class

I think that might be excessive, but I like it!!! I will tell you this, at around minute 20 of the spin class, I was ready to leave, but my hardheadedness wouldn't let me leave. If I say to you that I blew my atp load big time, do you know what I mean??
I just hope I get it back in time for tomorrow's training session with my homeboy Jesus!
no judo today... it was kinda nice!
Time to watch the news and go to bed!

13 days......

OK....
starting to feel better!!!
Taught a great class tonight - we actually had 7 women on the mat including myself. It was awesome! I started to touch on the idea of Y-training with the grils and they really liked it. My favourite part was that Fabienne joined in. She just had a baby 7 weeks ago and this si a perfect way to get her back into shape. PLUS, I get to hang out with her which is damn awesome considering I never get to see her!
AFter the ladies left, I got a chance to play around with Tozer. I got to practice some ground and some standing, made me happy!
I just finished eating! I love eating! I want to eat! I look forward to after nats to eating my way through the city of Toronto. Here is my schedule of events for the Tuesday after I get back.
1. Wake up late
2. Walk to Vesta Lunch for breakfast and eat grilled cheese and French fries for breakfast
3. Walk home and sleep
4. Walk down to Bloor and get Jamocha Almond Fudge ice cream and eat it while walking to Papa Ceo's
5. Get the four cheese pizza from Papa Ceo's
6. Walk home and sleep
7. Wake up and walk to New Generation Sushi
8. Eat all the sushi I can until I throw up
9. Go to washroom to throw up
10. Walk home
11. go to bed

So excited for that day......

....14 days......

The countdown has officially begun! The Senior National Championships in judo for Canada are two weeks away! I fight on the Sunday. I happy with how my technique is coming along, but not so happy with my health and my training. I had a pretty good workout this morning at judo. Sensei Dave gave me another green belt to throw around for a while,w hich was good, did tons of situational training, but this kid doesn't react the way most fighters react... very stiff and awkward, but I still got in some good training. Sensei Dave was showing me some good stuff that I will not write here for fear that any of my opponents might read this. BUT, then I went to the gym to train with Jesus: he took one look at me and sent me home. Told me to eat and sleep. I insisted on going for a run so I did, but I only lasted 15 minutes and then got off the treadmill and walked home. I got home and ATE. To most people, it doesn't seem like a lot, but I ate a lot! and I even ate some carbs! But, instead of sleeping, I CLEANED! I hadn't cleaned my house in forever, it felt good! And then, I took a great nap in my nice clean sheets!
This weekend, was my first weekend that I promised myself that I wouldn't use my car. I walked everywhere, judo, gym, Alaina's house, out to Aroma to meet the Aussie. I even took the TTC yesterday home from the kimonogirls seminar. I like how it feels... walking is good and it saves me gas money! Man, am I going to try my hardest to land a job in the next round of postings so that I can get a job close to home and I can park my car somemwhere and never use it again!!
Anyhow, I am watching the season finale of Survivor now, yes I like Survivor and I am not embarrassed to say so!!! So, I am off!
And som I will leave everyone reading this with the motto of judo as many people don't know it:
Minimum Effort, Maximum Efficiency
In other words, kick ass without breaking a sweat!

more superheroiness!

Just a quick note to comment on how proud I am of one of my judo students, Alaina!
She is actually a student of BJJ but takes judo from me to supplement her training! Today she received her blue belt from Felicia Oh. that is a very impressive feat. And I wanted to make sure that I publicly congratulated Alaina on that! She so deserves it!
Now, I get to kick the crap outta you at judo tomorrow!

Superheroiness

What a day!
I started off the day at spin class. I only last about five minutes before a dizzy spell got me and I thought that I was going to fall off the bike, so I promptly got off and went home! I got right into bed and slept for an hour and a half. I then had the distinct opportunity to go to Kimonogirls Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and take seminar with Felicia Oh. She is fabulous! Check her out www.feliciaoh.com. I do not practice BJJ but it is very similar to judo in technique and I am friends with those girls, so I thought I would try it out! It was pretty cool. Lots of the stuff actually had a lot to dowith judo and some had nothing to do with judo.. either way, I had a really good time.
Bad news on the superhero front: I found out that Pat, the aforementioned 'nemesis' is probably going to drop out of the nationals as her knee has blown up to the size of a watermelon. However, this does not make her any less of a superhero.... my hat off to you!!!
Long training day tomorrow and I am hoping that the dizziness goes away soon.... Still sick.....

15 days left.....

...until nationals!
crazy stuff!!!
Getting nervous!
Might throw up!
well, off to the gym I go!

Sick???

Why is it that whenever things are going well, and training is rocking hard, you always have to go and get sick?? I don't htink I have ever had a tournament that I wasn't sick in the weeks leading up to it and it is looking like the nationals will be the same.
I took today off work and it is a good thing: instead of automatically waking up at 6:30 like I always do even on the weekend, I woke up at 11:45! That was over 12 hours of sleep. For an insomniac, that is incredible!
After laying around feeling rather wretched for a while, I decided I wasn't going to let this sickness get to me. So, I walked over to the gym and did a whole big bunch of cardio to try to sweat it out. I think it worked! But I still went home and passed out! Judo tonight was actually pretty good.. I was moving very well! I think I was moving so well because I was trying to conserve energy since I was feeling so sick!!
:)
Anyhow, I will sleep well tonight and am looking forward to the Felicia Oh seminar at Kimonogirls tomorrow!!
P.S. I am still rather sick... the cough is there and the ball of phlegm is still at the back of my throat!

There is another superhero in distress!

My biggest 'nemesis' Pat is hurt and I wish I could do something to help her! But knees are the kryptonite of judo players! Find me a judo player with good knees and I will show you a liar. She is supposed to withdraw from the nationals as am I, but neither of us would do anything of the sort! BUT, we are very excited for June when we can eat what we want and maybe actually rest for a day or two. That rest for me will only be a week long as I will start on my quest to cut 11 kgs before next tournament season. The people in my category are relatively large compared to my 5'2 frame, so I am going ot try my hand at being lighter. We shall see how that one goes!
So, today's training... not much, I feel like crap. I did get a chance to do some judo at my second club and Sensei gave me a green belt to throw around and practice whatever I wanted on him, and told him to do what I ask! I like when I get to do what I want. Figured out a pretty cool uchimata from my favourite left-handed grip.
As well, now that I am FINALLY a brown belt, this sensei asked me to lead part of the class, which is always fun, I love teaching the kiddies, they really are adorable!!
So, I am going to go watch Survivor now and get some rest as this superhero is still sick. I urge all other superheros out there to will Pat's knee better and for my cold that I get from children sneezing on my face and coughing into my mouth when I am talking to them to go away!!!
And on that note, I wish for all of you out there, ALL IPPONS!

Superhero - Day Two

So, I didn't feel very much like a superhero today! Let us look backwards from the end of the day! Right now, I am sitting watching Law and Order after having the crap kicked outta me by a skinny marathon man (my athletic therapist). I had to see him because I went to show the judo class tonight a wicked sweep from a failed tomoenage attempt and my hip just yelled at me!! so I left class immediately and went to see Marcel. The kids class had gone well, but my training session with Jesus did not go so well. It seemed be ok, I wasn't feeling wonderful to begin with, but I will touch on that in a moment. First Jesus made me do 100 squats with 100 pounds across my shoulders, I was allowed two thirty second breaks anywhere I chose in the middle of the 100, he then made me do the same with bench press, dead lifts and bent over rows. When it came time to do it with shoulder presses, I really couldnt do it, my back and hips were killing me!! I felt like such a wuss! So we just went and did some abs. I did inform Jesus that I want a serious butt kicking when I see him on the weekend to make up for today! I didn't feel welll to begin with though... took yesterday off of work and should have taken today, but I couldn't becuase we had a crazy field trip down to the exhibition grounds. It was freezing outside and none of were dressed for it as the weatherpeople told us it would get up to 21 degrees today, it didn't get up past 12!!!!
Anyhow, in all, my superpowers seem to be fading.... stay tuned and find out if Super Tami can get them back by tomorrow's workouts!

Robin Roach Rocks!

In my quest to become the best superhero I can be, a little Wonder Woman has come along and saved the day! My judo girl friend Robin came along and designed a neat little flyer for the Fight Like a Girl camp. Getting ready for work now, but wanted to make sure she got kudos!

My first day 'blogging'

So, today is my first day actually documenting my life as a superhero.... As far as superheroes go, today was a very quiet day. This wonder woman is under the weather so I didn't work today. But, I did further my plans for F.L.A.G. (fight like a girl) camp to go on this summer here. This will be the first women's only judo camp to go on here in recent memory. It is very exciting, I am really trying to push women's judo in this country as it is very quickly dying out, which does not need to happen.
As well, tonight was my last night of religious school for the year. I will miss those kids, but for now, I need to focus all of my energies towards the big day 19 days from now, which for those of you who don't yet know, is my first national championships in judo... very excited and extremely nervous.
I know that my first ever 'blog' entry was rather boring, but I am so exhausted, so it is time for this superhero to get her beauty sleep.