My Santa Claus belief

Yesterday we watched Fred Claus. A movie about Santa Claus's older brother. I love the concept. It was hilarious. It also reminded me of my own belief in Santa Claus. When I was little my mother had already told me the whole story of how Santa Claus was already a story and didn't exist as a physical person but as a spirit. In a weird way I think this caused me to belief in Santa Claus more, later in life. Even though by second grade there were kids who raised their hands when asked by the teacher if they believed in Santa Claus, and I wasn't one of them, later in Middle school, I recall talking about Santa Claus with my aunt in Philly, after watching the Santa Claus. as if he were real. It was almost like Santa did not exist in Boston for me, but he did exist in Philadelphia.

Noah kept asking me questions about elves in a way that would make it seem that the whole notion of Santa Claus was completely foreign to him. How could this be? We used to watch the Polar Express every day. I asked him if he remembered last Christmas. He did not. That was weird to me too, but I guess he is still young.

Anyway, in "Fred Claus" there is a part where this inner city kid is Fred's buddy, and he gets taken by social services. Later he gets moved to the top of the naughty list for complaining about Santa's hypocrisy and then fighting a bunch of kids writing letters to Santa. The words he uses are straight out of one of Fred's rants against his older brother.

I thought about what I would say to some inner city kids who were debating the existence of Santa Claus, or what arguments I would use anyway.

#1 Belief in Santa Claus is the same as reasonable in as any other religious belief. In fact, t is much easier that one man deliver so many presents in a night, especially with technology like the internet and the ability of our own government to "print" money electronically, than it is to belief in an Abrahamic God that is master of not only the Universe, but the multi verse. So arguing that belief of Santa Claus is unreasonable, is argument against religion itself. Do you want to get into that fight?

#2 You guys have your gifts ideas all wrong. If Santa is based on Odin (he is) and Odin's gifts were poetry (the ability to write it) and sometimes he gave gold (which can be considered business ideas or your stocks going up) and also stories, this gifts are entirely possible.

Now let's just invite out Odin Santa to the debate shall we?


 Kids: How do you deliver all those gifts to everyone who asks for them in one night?

Odin: Who says I deliver any gifts whatsoever? I give out one or two when I feel like it. I take them when I feel like it too. After all these gold rings and the mead of poetry are stolen.

Kids: (nmore nervous now) Uhh okay, How do the elves make all those gifts?

Odin: How should I know? I stole this stuff from the Dark Elves in Alfheim. Or sometimes We call them Dwarves. I snuck in a hole by turning into a snake and then banged this girl to her pleasure and she just handed over the mead of poetry.

Okay Odin let's just stop right there cause your scaring the children. But you can see where Santa's routes are.

Now let's look at how kids are just asking for the wrong gifts and how Odin Santa can actually offer more hope then Commercial Santa (who Odin would still approve of as a good public front.)

Odin can give the gift of poetry, or spitting rhymes and dropping records. And there is no reason why it only has to be Christmas when he does this. So he can help poor kids either get monetarily wealthier, or at least be poetic about their circumstance and therefore be wealthier in a different way. But he doesn't give gifts to everyone. And as Jolly as he is, he has been known to slit throats for fun. But since he is just an idea anyway, let's keep him Jolly and friendly and mostly good, the way he has developed. But I'm just saying, do you really want to ask Santa for some cheap thing made in China that costs between $20 -$200? I mean let's say it is $1,000.00 Or let's say you ask Santa for a car or a house. Is that really more valuable than say, an idea like Facebook, or an idea to start FUBU, or the gift to write poetry and novels like Zora Neale Hurston? The latter died poor, but after death what is wealth? Her works are still important now?

Sometimes we criticize kids for asking Santa for too much. Maybe they are asking for such small tokens compared to what they really could have. And asking for gifts that are less tangible, are actually more possible to receive aren't they? Because they come from within you. Just a Christmas thought.

By the way I do prefer the Odin that has been converted to Christianity and stopped the throat slitting. I'm sure he likes it better too. He gets that much more in prayers and letters and offerings of cookies. Also he gets credit for physical deeds. How many Saints of gods can you say this about. Hundreds of millions ask for a specific thing and on Christmas morning, it is actually there. Who cares if the parents actually bought it? The point is there is a physical thing you can point to, every year.
That's pretty crazy.

But again, Kids should THINK BIGGER. Ask for the next Big IDEA.

Breaking the Fast for Thanksgiving.

Thursday morning I broke my fast with bits of apples and carrots that my children had discarded. I saved them for three days and then microwaved them. They reminded me of apple pie. Then I had the cereal that Jonah didn't eat, and realized I had to stop eating processed food.
I ate some more leftovers and that was breakfast. Lunch was the last of leftover rice and Chinese Stew that Gong Gong had brought, and then came Thanksgiving dinner.

The first meal, breakfast, really tired me out. I would imagine if I did a longer fast, it would require more preparation for breaking it. But for me, by dinner, I was pretty much back to normal. I ate seconds. But I tried to stay away from breads and things like that.

My dreams were really intense during the fast. I dreamed I was on a spaceship that was occasionally on the sea. The waves were heavy and I could actually feel intense rocking of the ship, like being on a roller coaster. I was actually afraid during the dream. Not for my safety, but just of that intense motion. Isn't that weird?

Last night, after eating, my dreams were still intense. They involved my son, relatives, a party, and zombies. Not exactly zombies, but crazy people that ate other people, and the idea was once you were exposed to that experience, you were more likely to eat people as well. So the zombies had a mental disease instead of a physical one, like they do in most modern zombie movies.

Third day fasting

Well it's my third and final day fasting today. All I have to do is go to sleep tonight and then when I wake up in the morning I can start eating again. The first day of this fast was much easier than previous first days. I also noticed when i sleep or nap, I am not hungry at all. In fact my body starts buzzing with chi flow, much the way I recall I started buzzing in high school when I first started practicing Tai Chi Like stuff. We called it Mein Lay jum.
I had continued to work out, but focused on internal. I don't think I really did the 45 minute thing, but it's probably more to do with Gong Gong visiting and the house being more festive and stuff.
I was going to fast next week but suddenly realized, after I stuffed myself with pie on Sunday night, that a) I needed to fast and b) it would be better to do so with more people around.

I did this ear irrigation thing with what I thought was clean water. I usually use these two big bucket/tuns to bathe the children. One bucket is the initial cold water and the other is the hot water. Then I adjust the temperature by mixing. I feel like it saves water. When I feel like it I use the left over water to wash myself, or at the very least, flush the toilet. Anyway I used the "clean" cold water. Maybe it wasn't clean, though, as I sort of have phlegm that I didn't have at the beginning of the fast. Or is that just from fasting? Not sure.

Well I won't do another fast until next month. Or should I keep doing the once a week thing too? Of I don't I have to watch what I eat. I have been noticing that at the end of each week, before the next fast, I have trouble keeping to the "diet" What I do is eat more rice and beans for protein and then a lot of vegetables. I eat everything else too, but just for taste instead of for calories.

But Like I said, on Sunday I had two slices of pie, when really I just should have had one. It wasn't until after I ate it that I could feel that I should really have stopped. I guess I used to feel bloated and full like that all the time, and even thought of it as a healthy thing, because I knew I would work off the calories anyway. But now I realize it was excess and holding my body and brain function back. But I was obsessed with eating a lot because I was working out so much.

How to avoid teens getting shot by police.

Was I surprised by that the police officer wasn't indicted? I wouldn't be surprised if he was acquitted or given a light sentence. But then on reflection, how many police officers are indicted for shooting someone? Probably not that many.
Are black teens more likely to be shot? Probably. Are you sage because you are white or not black? I wouldn't count on it. Are you safe because you are rich and white? In certain instances yes.

There is some talk that Michael Brown may have been charging at the police officer, and there is other talk that he was running away.

It might hurt people's feelings, but I'm going to assume (for the sake of a thought experiment) that the officer was actually shooting in self defense. (I'm not saying that's what happened. I don't know what happened. It's just what the Grand Jury seems to have said happened, for whatever reason. Corrupt or sound.)

Now I'm going to transpose a scenario I had with Campus police while in College. I was practicing Kung Fu n a parking lot where (unknown to me) there had been damaged cars by "kids."

Here are two ways I was approached on different occasions.
 One was by an old Campus Police officer. He approached slowly and stayed in his car. I thought while he was talking politely with me that perhaps he had already pulled his gun. I would never charge him because he seemed calm and unthreatening, while simultaneously being in a superior martial position. He asked me questions as a human being and we talked and then he left, assessing that I was in fact doing Kung Fu. In fact he never let it be known that he suspected me of anything. He talked to me as someone simply interested in Martial arts. I saw this technique by Boston Police when I was on Crime Watch, and they explained that although they suspected the person they were talking to, it was better to be friendly and to eventually catch them some other time.

The second time the two officers rushed in like they were playing grand theft auto, driving recklessly. They jumped out of the cars and then came so close to me on foot that they were within my striking distance if I simply stepped forward a few stances, which I am still very fast at. The short woman had her hand on a weapon. The taller man had his arms folded and was exposed. They commanded me to get my hands out of my pockets and proceeded to accuse me of destroying property and claimed to have video. I was nervous that the small woman would pull what I thought was a gun and shoot me by accident. They were obviously inexperienced and stupid, and I didn't want to die because some untrained rent a cop put her hand on the trigger instead of the "break."

But I was a criminal Justice Major planning to be a police officer so I knew how to get out of the situation. However, if she had drawn (in turns out all she probably had was pepper spray. I later applied for that same job and learned that Campus police officers were not supposed to carry weapons.) Anyway I would have charged.

My point is, even if Michael Brown was charging, he could have still been charging in self defense. It is possible that the police officer meant well, but was just over confident and stupid.


So how to avoid this situation?

One way is to send your kids to a boarding school where if they are put in a situation where if they are put in such an encounter, the night watchman, or whatever will not be armed, or less likely to care. Maybe that's why rich people do that. In retrospect, that's one of the reasons my mother wanted me to go to Boarding school, where I would be safe. Though she was probably more concerned with me being shot by a civilian than police.

Or they try to move into neighborhoods where the police department is small and they know them and can ingratiate them.

My point is rich whites have some protection from being rich and white, but they are not completely immune to this situation. So their parents use their money to take extra precautions.

This is of course a race problem. But what is there to be done about it?

Elections? Revolution?

Just because racism is part of the problem, doesn't mean it has to have anything to do with the solution. Parents of rich white kids would also feel safer if the police patrolling the streets were more like the night watchman at boarding school.

Instead of militarized police, what if we had community policing the way they do in Japan. Ever coupld of blocks they have a guy living in a little kiosk. He is unarmed and part of his job is to politely knock on everyone's door and ask them what they want him to do to make him a better police officer and to help the community. So he knows everyone by face and name. That's part of his job.
Because he knows them, they probably respect him more. At least they know what he's about. He's not a "fucking cop." He's whatever san, who they see everyday. If he comes up to you and takes cigarettes away from you and lectures you, you respect that, because he knows your parents and you also know him.

That society isn't particularly friendly toward non ethnic Japanese. You can't even become a citizen if you are a third generation Chinese person living in Japan. In other words, you would be virtually indistinguishable, and yet you are a different race and unable to be a citizen. Basically that society has huge race problems.
But I never heard of anyone being gunned down by police in Japan either. Not only that, but people generally respect the unarmed police there. Something to think about.

Showa Festival

Yesterday we brought the kids to the Showa festival. There was so much carnival atmosphere created out of cardboard and paper that I realized we could be having a lot more fun with these materials at home. Not only that, but a whole Chinese New Year festival could be done at Noah's School in such a way. Okay there was a lot of work involved, and when adults in graduate programs try to make something like an exhibit about Bento boxes, or ninjas, that is different than what kids would be able to do in the Boston Public Schools, but it opened my eyes to what is possible.
I mean, in many ways the Showa festival was better for Noah and Jonah, than the real festival why was it better for kids? Because everything was free and  everything was something they could do. Plus they won a prize every time, which was candy. You know what? The Showa festival was better than Halloween.

When you say "it's the thought that counts." Sometimes that's especially true for children. In a couple of hours they travelled to all these temples, met ninjas, made bento boxes and got their money or book stamped and then we went home. Going to those real places would simply be too intense at this age too much walking. Too much traffic. Hecl we'd have to get on a plane for a whole day.

Sometimes I wondered at Corporate events why they made a fake Chinatown, when we are in Boston and you can just go to it.

Maybe I should rethink my plan to bring Chinese New Year to JP in terms of what I learned at Showa yesterday.

T-t-t-t- Tigers

I realize now that Friday class had more good about it than bad. Like one of the girls groups came up wth this song. 

T-t-t-t- Tiger, tigers, tigers....T-t-t-t- tigers, tigers ROAR!

They danced all around with tiger claws and then jumped into a pose at the end. The finished product on stage after one day was nervous and not as strong as the rehearsal. But the thing is, I have it stuck in my head. 

I had been thinking of all the Kung Fu stuff we had to get through before we got to the "Fun" stuff. But instead I should just turn this class on it's head and focus on learning from the kids, instead of showing them Kung Fu. I mean we still did punches and forms right? And that took like 10 minutes. I forgot that doing 1000 punches once a week is useless anyway, that they will have to practice on their own to get better. 

I mean I did have all those girls punch the pad and do forms. Even the boys did the form. Then the groups made up their own forms. They can practice and perfect those and perform those at the end of the year. I mean that Tigers thing was already pretty cool, and simple, and I never would have come up with it myself. 

In fact, I may use it in my other classes. I've already started doing it around the house because like I said, it's stuck in my head.

Dim Lights

From what I remember in high school, dim lighting in a classroom can have a calming affect. It can also help put kids to sleep. Dim lighting in a restaurant can be romantic and encourage a couple to do things they wouldn't do in  harsher lighting. The same is true fro a night club. I recall once in middle school, that the lights went off and everyone started punching each other immediately. Our teacher was very upset by this and wanted us to explain our behavior. I can't remember whether or not I participated. I think I didn't. But in any case we couldn't explain it, it was just something we did.

These ideas flashed through my mind on Friday's class which was moved to the auditorium, where it was dim because we could not find the lights or only a custodian could turn them on. First when I was waiting for the class I was calmed. Then when the class came the children it was crazed. The only thing we got done with the full group was to go through Luk Lik, the basic form, on stage. This sounds good. Actually it was. But the thing his the kids were moving too close to the edge. Usually there are always a small number of kids that act out, and I can sot of turn a blind eye so that the class continues. But instead I had to focus all my attention on trying to get everyone to stop moving so that we could all do the same thing, because otherwise somebody might fall off the stage. It was ridiculous.

Another teacher took all the boys away and then with the girls I broke them into groups to create their own forms. That worked pretty well, but we ran out of time at the end because of the time lost on the beginning.

They got the lights on for K-1 and 2 were actually great classes.  That being said, I cant deal with the craziness of the dim lights and the added danger of the stage with the older kids. At Kwong Kow, there was a stage too, but the lighting was bright, and it was never really an issue for the older kids.

We are going to try the gym next time. That will be good for the kids that like to act out I think. He can bring in more sprinting Kung Fu drills like Jau gong. and games, like Fishy fishy cross my ocean. Plus they were excited about doing the form.

I am debating whether to do the story songs with them or the traditional basics. The girls like the songs. Some of the boys are too old for it. But they also are not really part of the class. After five minutes they always leave for soccer so they have never been socialized to what we do in my class. So we will try not to have them in my class at all during this time I guess. Or in the gym I guess they could get something out of just doing one form or one Kung Fu sprint if they accidentally get put there again.

I think the gym will work better traditional and creative activities.

Captain Underpants

I just read Jonah a Captain Underpants book including the background of the author.
Basically he was a class clown and the teacher told him he needed to shape up and couldn't make silly books for the rest of his life. Marc Brown, said something similar in his lecture that Noah and I went to, and Quentin Tarantino said pretty much the same thing.

At Jonah's playgroup the teacher mentioned some horrible experiences her daughter had at school because her daughter was so smart and I guess her teacher was threatened by that.

These stories are definitely an argument for unschooling.  But Noah loves school. And I think Jonah would love it too. Plus even if they were geniuses I would still send them to school to learn how to play with other kids. It's a good thing that Noah's teacher is so good. But what about when they get older?

Well it just has me thinking.

It also has me thinking about my own classes. As much fun as I put into them, they are still very "follow me." type classes, especially now that I don't incorporate a whole lot of coloring. The heads usually just don't make it to my class recently.

Something to think about.

Thanksgiving Excitement

"Baba! I want to sleep by myself on Thanksgiving!" proclaimed Noah.
"Why? because Gong Gong is coming?"
"Yeah."
That is the only difference between Thanksgiving and a regular day off. So it must be that Noah doesn't want Gong Gong to know that he still sleeps with Baba.

The kids are pretty excited that their grandfather will be visiting. It makes Thanksgiving feel like a real holiday.

I was never that into Thanksgiving. Which is why we aren't going to be cooking a Turkey. But Grace will probably be baking a Chicken. And whenever I smell baking in the house I am reminded of Christmases in Philadelphia.

"That's  how white people cook." Grace would say when I mention this. They say that smell is what triggers memory the most of all the senses. Thinking about it, I realized that even though my mother often cooked in Philadelphia, she didn't bake much at all when we were in Boston. In fact most of her dishes were Chinese ones. So to me baking = holiday. And not only that. Baking=childhood memories of real holidays surrounded by family. When family is usually just you and your mom, there is a sense of safety and power when you are with a large group of people tied together by blood or at least marriage.

I guess for Noah, there is the added stress of keeping a reputation of independence in front of his grandfather.

Fasting and Christianity

On Monday I fasted again. much like last time I was thinking, "Why the hell am I doing this?" for much of the time. I did more Kung Fu than usual, to distract myself. And then I started reading this book I borrowed from the library about fasting and Christianity. It wasn't as useful as I thought. I was expecting more academic research and , well, substance.
When I read the scientific book about fasting, I felt like most of it was studies trying to show the benefits. Which is great. But, I'm already on board, and I'm working without a doctor's supervision so I'm not doing anything over three days. In fact, yesterday I only fasted for 24 hours exactly, breaking my fast with macaroni and cheese, which I probably shouldn't have done. But I felt fine, because it was only one day.

Some things that were interesting about the book. Early Christians fasted twice a week, which the scientific book said can be damaging. They also did it more for faith than health. It sounds like they mixed it with prayer. A lot of the fasting sounds similar to vision quests in Native American  and other Shamanic cultures. Except there aren't any drums involved. But in general the book was a little too Christian Feely for me.

What's the word I'm looking for?

Basically I feel like there are two types of Christian language and conversation. There's academic stuff which I find fascinating and cool, which will break down where a myth came from and what it's purpose is, that sort of thing. And then there is stuff that feels like it is trying to sell me something, and get me to accept a fairy tale as is. It seems cheap and commercial. This book had moments of both I guess.

Commercial. Commercial Christianity. Now that I am sort of Christian I guess that's what I'll call the stuff that turns me off.


I'm realizing that the book that I am looking for, "fasting experiences for a "normal" guy who used to work out more than 6 hours a day and eat like every two hours." You know, fasting for someone, who used to consider it to be crazy. And maybe something like "Faith for a guy that like believing in everything but makes sure his decisions are made rationally and even atheistically.

I'll write that book after I'm done with the one I'm working on, and then the one that is still in outline form.

The book I'm working on now is no longer a self help book, but a book of fiction that reads like a self help book. I've decided to take an ax to much of the personal and beautiful parts that I have emotional ties too. But only by doing this can I create the book I want it to be. So, no mercy.

I will still attempt my three day fast next month. Should I still do the once  a week thing leading up to it? I might just try to keep a healthier diet. But then again, it is fasting that helps me do this in the first place.

Martial Artsy Saturday

Yesterday we had a huge turnout at the park for our class. Noah actually followed along for all of Sup Ji (the first Kung Fu form.) The other kids lost interest in that but the adults did it, and I figure the kids will just be socialized to it. After that we did itsy bitsy spider and going on a lion hunt and wheels on the bus. It was pretty fun. One of the father's had done Shaolin Kung Fu before. It sounded like the modern Northern Shaolin stuff.

In the afternoon, I traveled to Salem for a Lion dance at a Silat/Eskrima/Kung Fu school there. It was sort of a 10 year anniversary party.


At home Noah built a tent with Mommy. They had a lot of fun, but I think it became too much for Grace. I don't think I should go on any long trips like that again. Not until the children are old enough to come with me.  I.e. out of their car seats.

So I had a very martial artsy Saturday. Now for the rest of the weekend!

Noah's Dream

Noah has started to help me blog and write. Today he will share his dream.


Once upon a time, there was a shark planet. And there were alligators, and wah Moi's, and chocolate cakes, and  gingerbread. And then there were aliens attacking that planet. The good guys (I assume that's the gingerbread, Wah moi's and Chocolate cakes and crocodiles) had space ships.

Noah did you know that Alligator's and Crocodile's are two different animals?


Yes.


The Crocodile's just came.


And they all played violin but the crocodile's played drums.

Where are the Wah Moi's. Right here. Why is it spelled right? (i.e. not underlined as a grammatical error)
I don't know.

The end.

Now Baba's dream.

I was in Japan in this weird hospital hotel where robots replaced the hearts and eyes of three women. They then had a party next door with the Doctor. My roommate had left, and there was a parade of cosplay people who screamed "who wants to go to the dojo!" in English.  There was a giant arena in the harbor that moved around. Some sort of event. It began to snow as I looked out the window and I couldn't decide if I was in Kyoto or Tokyo. Actually I was in some sort of dreamlike place that doesn't really exist.

I started getting ready to do out because I realized it was Friday and that I could go out instead of just sleeping. Oh yeah there was some sort of strange video game that came to life in the lobby involving Ninja turtles and legos. That part of the dream was actually stressful.

Then I woke up.

Noah's Dance awards.

I picked up Nah today to find him with a light up paw around his neck. It looked exactly what childhood bling would look like. "Is this for you to keep?" I asked.
"I think so." said Noah.
"Yes." Confirmed Noah's friend. A boy.

"Sifu Adam?" said a girl across the table. "I'm not sure. I think Noah just took it."

I decided I would have to check with an adult. The Dance teacher who bestowed the award, was still teaching, so I had to ask someone else.

It turned out that yes indeed, this was a thing. What a great idea.

Now Noah can get his awards and trophies (which frankly are not as cool as the light up paw. The paw can be worn, and can help you see in the dark) outside of the martial arts. I'm not saying I will never be the kind of Sifu to give out medals. But I definitely like how the dance teacher is giving out awards that are more diverse.

In my mind, I had a few ideas instead of medals and belts. Sticks, or swords. But that can get complicated. Various toys are cool too. Plus I could just use stuff I wanted to throw out. Maybe I should do what the dance teacher does just to get rid of some toys. After all, toys that you don't play with are useless. Toys that are found are kind of cool. But toys that you WIN!

We might have to hang Noah's light up paw on the wall.

Veterans Day

No school today. The children stayed home. We played in the playground and enjoyed our free and stable country thanks to veterans. The only veteran like thing I did was listen to stories about veterans on the radio. Growing up, veterans were people like my Uncle. People older than me. It disturbs me that now veterans are often younger than me. The stories about parents of marines who died were particularly sad to me.

Not only have I never served, but I really wish that nobody had to serve, and whenever I hear someone  young telling me about how they love their country and have no problem dying for it, I almost kind of tear up and feel that it is somehow wrong that this person who is so full of goodness should have to consider such a thing when so many other people are so wicked and corrupt.

Hearing people who did serve, and how glad they were to serve so that others didn't have to, makes me realize that I'm really not that great a person. In fact, when I hear people talk like that I think they must be Saints of some sort. I don't feel guilty or bad about myself. I'm just saying I'm not that good. And I am surprised that others are.

The only reason why I would consider serving, would be to ensure that my children don't. Of course I would serve so that they won't have to. But that generosity just doesn't extend to strangers and their kids. (not yet anyway.) And for  many military people or people interested in signing up that's what it is about. Not to say everyone in the military is a Saint. I'm just amazed that some people could even think like that. When I was younger, I guess part of me felt that way, but a much bigger part of me did not.

I only ever considered ROTC or something like that in college.  It was not the idea of serving so someone else didn't have to. It was just some sort of vague post 9/11 patriotism, mixed with being alone in the world and so why not? I recall several people talking me out of it. But they were just voicing opinions that were already a part of me.

Now that I am older, and the people coming back from war are still younger than me and have childlike faces, I think it's pretty backward that the ones who go to protect the rest of us are so young.  I feel like we should be protecting our young. They are smarter, and quicker, and full of better ideas. Our young are our future, and yet we send them off into harms way. In this country they volunteer of course, but still.

I'm not saying I will be signing up to go when I am 50. Though it would seem more fair to our children wouldn't it?

Explaining Veterans day to my children was difficult. I just vaguely talked about honoring people who fought in wars for our country, and I found myself parroting what I hear on the news without thinking. Even though I  never served and I hope my children will also never serve, I feel like somehow we should do something more. Perhaps we should have sent some sort of cards like I saw some teachers do on Facebook.  Or for a long time I have been thinking that Mein Lay Jum could possibly help a lot of the symptoms of PTSD. Anyway, I have noticed ex-soldiers who seemed to have found comfort in Kung Fu over the years.

Well to all the Veterans and active members of the military,

 Thank you for you service.

Porch vs. Pond

This weekend we did not spend much time outside. I'm not sure if it is because Noah needs time in his house because of so much time spent at school now, or if it is because he spends most of his time indoors at school and has gotten use to staying indoors.  On Sunday they spent a lot of time on the porch taking in plants and helping Mommy re pot things. They seemed to have a lot of fun doing this. I guess what they prefer, over playing outside, is some sort of chores.

Jonah was always more of an indoor person. This morning he didn't want to go outside at all. But I know that later in the week it is going to be really cold and I will also want to stay indoors, so we better go out when it is sunny and relatively warm. We went down to the small pond to throw rocks where there were Brookline High students (I assume) collecting pond data. I noticed some of them wore what would have been the intention behind the dress code at the prep school I went to. I wondered about that. Even with the dress code I always ended up wearing some sort of Kung Fu pants, in fact I dress much the same way right now. I wonder what my kids will wear in high school.

Anyway Jonah did all of his stances on the rocks with the stream rushing (okay just bubbling lightly) past. 

"sei ping ma! dan been ma!" he called out and then switched into what looked more like a yoga pose than a stance, "Sei ying ma!" or snake image stance. I guess he has been paying attention during my classes, even though he often rebels during them. 

Thanks for the Birthday wishes!

You know I really like looking at all the Facebook happy birthdays. I also like wishing people happy birthday. Say what you will about it being virtual and not "real" but I liked how a Google program wished me happy birthday, and I like how Facebook now has a little cake with exploding fireworks. I mean it's the thought that counts. And even if a program doesn't have to think, it's actually my thought that counts. It makes me feel positive to receive and type in Happy Birthday. It's not a waste of time. It's like a little ritual. In fact it's practically the only thing I actually do on Facebook.

It was also Peg's mother's birthday on Peg + Cat. Actually her birthday is the 30th of some month, but that episode was on today. Peg's mom turns 30. That means I'm actually older than Peg's mom. How old is Peg? I always thought of her as definitely older than Noah. I mean her math skills are around the same, but she's out doing her own thing with her cat, she's at least in first grade right? So Peg's mom is actually pretty young compared to the mother's I usually see on the playground. Or maybe Peg's mom had to be a number divisible by ten. So it was 20 years old, which means she had Peg at 14, 30 years old, which means she had Peg at 24, or 40 years old, which means she had her at 34.  To have her at 44 would be dangerous I guess.

Jonah saw this episode and offered me a kite that Noah made 3 years ago or so for a birthday present. Actually I really enjoyed it! Peg got her mom rocks. 30 of them. I guess that would be cool but then what would I do with them?

I was going to do something with the boys, but it's actually one of their friends birthdays and there is a party on Sunday so I don't have to do anything. In fact I may even pretend they are singing happy birthday to me instead. It's okay, it was suggested by the friend's father.

People also suggested I should go out and go nuts tonight, as it is a Friday. Pretend I don't have kids. I think if I were to pretend I don't have kids, I might get in trouble. I am considering going to a free Ballet Class I have a coupon for and which expires next week. I mean that's not exactly clubbing, but I think it is a fair substitute. Plus it's free. Plus it would challenge my brain and body. I guess I'll do it, no reason not to.

Fasting

Last month I tried fasting when I got sick. I heard somewhere that there is a Harvard study that says if you fast every month for three days your immune system resets itself. Before I could do more research I had an intestinal thing so I figured I would try it. I planned to go for three days. But the Grace brought home Mayonaise shrimp and various other great Chinese food. But actually the fasting served its purpose of a warm up even though I didn't even last 24 hours. Or I guess I lasted almost exactly 24 hours.

I was able to do my after school classes and actually felt energized (but weak at the same time) and felt like I had a lot more time on my hands. I was also pretty cold.

Well this past Monday I tried again. This time just aiming for a day.

"MMM you're going to have trouble fasting through my dinner." said Grace. She made drunken chicken and all this other food with cleansing looking soups. It looked so healthy. Whatever. I ate. But again, the time I did fast served it's purpose.

All I did for working out was some light Mein Lay jum, and I think I needed a day off anyway, because I had started doing more calisthenics recently and gotten really sore. Plus I was eating a lot of candy and I noticed that after a day of fasting I was able to stop myself from eating something like that more easily for some reason

It was weird how when I was fasting I was burping a lot. And then when I started eating again, my stomach started making all these weird noises. It was so loud that Grace was like, "I can't take it I can't read like this."

I'm actually looking forward to my fast next Monday like it's some kind of holiday. Maybe I'll do a little Shamanic journey I always seem to fail at, because I haven't fasted before it in the past.

I was going to title this entry, "Fast Fail." but when I though about it, it wasn't a failure at all. It was a learning experience. And it's good that I didn't jump straight into extreme stuff. I'm going to get some books from the library about it too.

Voting

I voted with Jonah today and also contributed to the school's bake sale. Yes I get to vote at the school where my kid goes. Convenient eh?
They always tell you not to say who you voted for, or rather white people usually say that and get upset when you ask them even if they have obvious political indicators on their bumper stickers and stuff. Grace once asked her dad, (who seems to have converted from Taiwanese to Italian), who he voted for.
"I'm not telling You!" he said. And then he told her.

I happened to vote very interestingly today.

First off I voted for the people who I kind of know. As in I meet them all the time or used to work for them or whatever. Dan Conley, Sonia Chang Diaz, Felix Arroyo.

Then for Governor and Lt. Govenor I wrote in Leland Cheung, twice. That might not make sense, but he's not gonna win. Between Baker and Coakley, I'm not sure. I just don't like Coakley. Baker seems alright but still. I say I am independent but I can never bring myself to actually vote Republican. Leland Cheung is a Cheung man, plus he's mixed. Plus I met the guy. Those are not good reasons to choose a leader you say?

Whatever man.

Voting isn't about choosing a leader. In a way it often doesn't matter who you vote for. But it does matter that you vote.

Voting is a game we play instead of having a civil war. Instead of taking up arms we cast a vote. Would I really take up arms against my wife? Of course not. But say the story of Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold can show how a family of opposite political ideals can change your "vote."

Anyway, when people cheat at voting, like when they rig some machinery in Florida, that's dirty, and unfair and all that. But then again all is fair in war.

You vote to show that you would fight. (Of course maybe I actually wouldn't) Or to show who you would fight for, and then we get a winner, and they rule the city or state or whatever it is.

If you don't vote, and your group doesn't vote, nobody cares about you or will pay any attention to you. They will build a highway right through your neighborhood.

If you vote, even for the opponent, they have to try and get your vote.

For a bunch of categories where I didn't really know the candidates I voted for the Green/Rainbow party candidate. Because who the hell are the main guys there. What have they done for me? Why haven't they tried to get my attention. F them.  I'll vote for the guy who won't win to show that they could have had my vote if they tried harder. Slackers.

For categories without a random independent, I just put Cheung. Even though Leland didn't even want those positions. And for Sheriff, I actually put Adam Cheung. Cause who is Steve Tompkins other than a poster. I haven't seen him around. You put some effort and I'll vote for you. He'll probably win anyway, but I'm just saying.

For questions, I got all this mail saying to go No on question 2. But then I saw it was like Nestle and all these companies that wanted that. I read the question and you know what? F soda. I drink tap water boiled. Yeah Grace buys soda but she shouldn't. So not just recycling, but yeah F all soda and all bottled water.

F gambling to. They should pass a law to beat gamblers with sticks. Am I being insensitive? My dad was a gambler. Much respect to him. But F gambling.

What was the other one. I don't even remember.

I'm just saying, From now on I'm going to start a campaign not only for people to vote but to vote my way.
Like don't just vote the party line. Vote for some people you know and try to know the issues and all that. But then for parts you don't know, definitely don't leave it blank or don't just vote for the one candidate.



Yeah vote for me. Or whatever, let's all decide on someone to vote for who probably won't win, but will show up with some sort of statistic to make people scratch their heads and reevaluate themselves and their campaign. Vote to show that you matter (sort of). Or at least that you support someone who does, even if that person won't win.

It's not about making an informed decision. (well maybe the questions are) Imagine you are a Viking tearing up that place with a battle ax. Because that's what voting really represents.

And Jim Braude and Marjory Eagan talking about staying home if you aren't informed about the candidates or saying to leave those sections blank... BS.

Sorry Democracy does not work the way most people think it does. It matters a little who wins, but ultimately the big companies will have them in their pockets. But who they throw a bone to depends on who voted. If you always vote for the same party loyally then they will take you for granted, so don't do that either. This election or that election doesn't matter. What matters is patterns over time of election after election after election.

If your group or neighborhood is the swing vote, even better. Everyone will pay attention to you. So it's good to make your group or neighborhood somehow appear as politically diverse as possible so you aren't lumped into some category.

So go vote.

Cute Misunderstandings

We had a smaller class on Friday which meant that we moved through material much more quickly than usual, especially as the class shrunk more and more as children were picked up for trick or treating. We try to have a feedback section of the class every time but it's not always possible. It's also not always helpful because children find it difficult to come up with a new suggestion when put on the spot like that.
But some girls gave a suggestion simply by doing cartwheels. So we started doing those, and I had a little jumpy section at the end of the second class as well.

The younger kids couldn't do cartwheels so I tried to show them the beginnings of a jump and spin. I later showed how this motion could translate into a jump kick.

As I showed them I got down into a low horse stance and tapped my thigh to draw attention to my low stance, because getting down helps you jump higher and makes the move easier.

One boy got up to the front of the line, did not get down in a stance, but made a big show about tapping his thigh, as if that was a magical and important part of the motion that would enable him to do the move. This was so funny to me. I guess I should have corrected it but whatever he's like 4 years old and class is almost over.

But it's funny how things can develop like that. There are a lot of ritualized things in Kung Fu and Lion Dance, especially among beginner students and students of beginner students, motions that are considered necessary and holy, that may very well have their origins in things like this. The important part was the stance, not the tapping. Just like a Buddhist saying Bruce Lee quotes in Enter the Dragon, it is the moon that is important not the finger pointing to it.

I suppose that's why even in small things like that, getting the full understanding and picture from the Sifu is important, and takes time, even if the Sifu isn't holding anything back on purpose.

Candy Monster

Trick or treating was fun, but Jonah didn't want to work for his candy. In fact all he wanted to do was stuff his face. Popcorn, cotton candy, wrapped candy.. we made it up to Dunster road, which was cool, but by the time we got there it was time to return home. We tok the bus and Jonah screamed laughed and slurred his words excitedly like a drunk.

The kids didn't have any nightmares that I know of, though Jonah started wrecking the house. Who needs to be afraid of goblins. It's your own children that became that way after two or three candies  in a row.

This morning Noah wakes up and immediately demands Wah mois. A Chinese candy. I was happy to oblige because that kind of candy is made of plums and lemon and orange peels. So not that unhealthy. Well it's time to look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas now.

Happy All Saints Day.