Well boys and girls I would like to introduce you to the number one source of all chaos in my life. Her name is Boudin and she is half manx, a breed of cat that was once endemic to the British isles. They are born with varying degrees of taillessness and have shorter front legs and longer back ones.
So yes, essentially I own an evil baby cabbit.
list of non-cat-food items so far consumed by Boudin:
1 flip-flop
10 toy mice
3 receipts
1 omamouri
1/8 a breast of raw chicken
1 bowl of salad
1 computer power source =_=
1 guitar cord
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As many of you know, in addition to spending my non-work/non-schooling time making web comics, I am also a karate-ka myself. In general, karate is probably the best possible means of self maintenance I can think of. I mean, it keeps me fit, gives me a source of self discipline (which almost makes me laugh as I type it), and also lets me dispose of the pent up energy I constantly have which usually manifests itself via a constant bouncing leg or drumming fingers.
I'm not going to lie though. In most of the dojo where I have trained, I am usually the least experienced person there. I generally sit to the lowest ranked end of my own belt color and get beaten by almost everyone I compete against (with a few rare exceptions). Still, I believe that tournaments are an integral part of training, especially when I do not win. It's important to me to walk away with something more than a trophy or a medal at the end of the day. That is my objective. I'm not certain, but perhaps this is what Funakoshi sensei meant by "Do not think that you must win, but rather that you don't have to lose."
...or perhaps this is simply the stiff-upper-lip philosophy of someone who has never won in her life. >_< You make the call.
Either way, for the next two months I'll have to put aside my own self oriented mindset. In some odd turn of events, I and one other person in my entire university are the only two that qualify to compete in the collegiate division of the last national tournament that my college dojo may ever compete in. This troubles me quite a bit as my university's reputation is quite high, and suddenly I am about to represent all of the strong and skilled women that came before me. Still, if I do not go, no one else will.
Although I am not the sort to compete at this level, nor to risk the reputation of my teachers on my hap-hazard technique, I am proud to have the opportunity to show the world what my sensei have given to me. This martial art has taken me around the world and introduced me to new people and cultures. Even when I was broke, homeless, and had nothing but a book-sac to my name, I had the karate they taught me. It is something bigger than just me, so I prepare to fight with all that I am. If for nothing else, then to say "thank you."
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