Giant Icicles

I didn't really want to knock down the giant icicles. They were pretty. But our downstairs neighbor and Grace thought they may cause damage to the house. Okay I thought so too. In truth, we have a couple of leaks but they are not anywhere near where the icicles are.
Another part of me really did want to knock the icicles down, because I knew it would be fun, but I thought Noah might get angry.
"Why did you do that!" I imagined him saying.
"I want you to use that Samurai sword to cut them and I will video it." Grace said.
I thought that was unnecessary but if it was for entertainment purposes.... okay.
Some part of the icicle, like normal icicles, just felt after being touched. But some really did indeed require the sword. In fact, the cheap sword, a manufactured replica of Tom Cruises sword in The Last Samurai, sold at one of those mall antique shops I would go into except that Grace wanted to priced at either $15 or $25, (so how can I not buy it even though it is utterly useless to me) well, it bent. Not only did it bend the weak way where you would think cheap metal would bend, but it bent where it should have been strong too. And by the way I did not swing hard. Well I didn't want the sword to snap off and fall below or somehow cut me (I could care less that it is broken like I said it is of no use to me) so I got a stick. In retrospect I should have used the ice chipper. But I didn't realize this until I had knocked all the icicles down by spearing them with the stick (if they were thick) or touch or whacking them (if they were small or simply not at a good angle for me to spear.
Stick form techniques came in good use. In fact, a lot of those techniques were pretty useful for shoveling too.
Here's what I've learned.
For usefulness: tools like you get at home depot. Those are better for shoveling, hitting and even fighting if you ever had to.

For Look or decoration: Cardboard or paper mache on a stick. You can make any sort of fantastical weapon or even animal head on a stick and even perform Kung Fu with it as long as it doesn't have to hit another stick.

Anyway, Noah squealed in delight as I hacked at the icicles. We got a video. Grace's choice of background music accompanying me gingerly touching the icicles with a sword made us laugh pretty hard watching it.

An Imagination Problem

NPR did a story yesterday about Policing in America. I've written about this before so I'm just going to summarize my thoughts.

Is it a race problem? 

Of course it's a race problem but frankly that' not going away for a really long time. With all the protests and even other stuff, that's not going to help much sorry. The being organized part, that will help. Too bad Malcom X was killed. He could have actually solved this problem now. 

Is it a police problem? 

The thing is because there are a lot of "good" cops, even victims, even black victims of police brutality still want to say, (at least on the radio) that they trust police. Part of the reason is that if you take away police completely something will fill that power vacuum. It will be gangs who are even worse than police. It will be lynch mobs who are even worse than police.  So in that sense, no it is not a police problem it a police power problem. No matter how good of a person you are, power will corrupt you. 

The power problem. 

If you beat someone and people support you, you will continue to beat people. If you cavity search them and you believe you are helping them, you will continue to do this. If you kill and you get away with it and told you were right, you will continue to do it. You're very moral compass will be warped and tainted to the point where you can watch the same video everyone else watches and see something completely different.

The brainwash problem

There are plenty of white people who agree there is a problem. But why do so many people (probably there are some older black people too) who support the police whenever these things happen. Let's not talk about Eric Garner. Let's talk about Henry Louis Gates Jr. Why do so many black people, after hearing the whole story turn on the professor, saying he should have never acted in the way he did, even though he was in his own house and old and a professor with a cane? Why did they turn on him when any old man who is tired and feeble has the right by law to say whatever he wants on his own property?

The reason why there was protest over death but not over simply being arrested (especially arresting a professor) was because now everyone realizes they can die. 

But the reason why nobody rallied for Henry Louis Gates was this, to rally for Henry Louis Gates would mean everyone, even whites, would have to admit that they aren't free in America. Even people who haven't had any problem with police, haven't had a problem because they are lucky. It is completely within the power of the person pulling you over. If Master is a good master like Benedict Cumberbatch in 12 years a slave, then you are lucky. But we change the story in our mind to say, "If  you comply like a good citizen then the Master will be a good master like Cumberbatch. It is only people who are bad boys and girls who have these experiences with a bad master."

Or

It's not that I hate Masters, it's just some individual masters take it too far.

Even in the language of the good cops on NPR you can hear a problem. They ask members of the community if anything is going on and tell them to please call in so they can do something about stuff that happens in the Community, even if it's just drunks yelling. Having called the police many times for a many number of things as a teacher and someone who ran a martial arts school, what I learned was the best and most Moral Cop, Jesus in the form of a cop, cannot help the situation. The only thing he can do is catch a murderer after he murders. Catch a thief AFTER he steals. 

The problem is people don't realize that what police are actually for what they should be for, is to work for the community. Members of the community should be able to go up and question police and see if THEY are doing there job. If not, then we are all under occupation. But to accept that is difficult, especially for a white man who follows the rules. How can he accept, that he, who might have even memorized the declaration of Independence and believes in the meta-narrative of the history of the United States, that even HE, the older white man, is not really free.

And even more so, 

How can a GOOD cop, who also believes in this meta-narrative, who became a cop to end the tyranny of murderers and gangs accept that ultimately, his real job is actually to keep the people down. How can he accept that he doesn't really work for the people in his position, he works for the Law, which is not made by the people in reality, but by the highest lobby. The cop sees himself and herself as the Savior, the Hero. Con can he or she accept that it may be the system and the position that they hold, that feeds them that makes them defacto, a dog keeping sheep in line. Yes they protect from the wolves, but also they keep the sheep from going and becoming men. They makes sure the sheep are used (perhaps not always killed) but used. And Sheep that look rebellious or look like they are transforming are killed. 

A good cop can never accept this. So they change the story. They didn't kill a sheep, they killed a wolf in sheep's clothing. It isn't the other cops fault, there must have been some other factor. As long as everyone follows the rules, things are as they should be. This is better than actually looking at the reality that things are not as they should be, that even they, the good dog, is being lied to by Master. That they are not even really part of the family and one day, like Old Yeller, they can be taken out to the barn and shot.

The system itself is a problem. We always explain this away by pointing at a third word country run by gangsters. But as Americans, we were founded to do better. We were founded to change the system even when we ourselves are hypocrites. We are supposed to have ingenuity. We can figure something out. If not steal ideas from those other developed countries that are actually working.

We can have the imagination to create a better society than the one we live in instead of leaving it up to THEM. Because even if you don't vote, THEM is us.  

Why we match

Grace had wanted to watch Jupiter Rising for her combined birthday and valentines present. However this will not happen because we don't have a baby sitter. I was listening to review of this movie, which I only sort of wanted to see because Sean Bean is in it and basically it sounded like it would be much like the Matrix,lot of special effects but plot and dialogue that falls apart. I fell asleep watching the Matrix for a class in college and actually wrote a whole paper about why it was recycled and boring.
 "Who cares if it doesn't make sense it will have good special effects." Grace said. And I said, "Wow you really are the guy in this relationship." My point is, she works I stay at home. Okay. But also in terms of which things to watch, I like Downton Abbey, where as she wants to see the movie for the special effects.

I'm not saying she is a guy and I am a girl in all aspects. I'm really not very feminine at all in my appearance or demeanor. And of course I don't want to watch all these reality say yes to the dress stuff that she likes. But I just thought that in this instance, of what we are looking for in a movie, that it might be why we match. I mean if she was dating some other guy and they like the same movie just for the special effects, that could be cool at first and it would be cool as teenagers I guess. But after a while that would be weird. I mean how can you really be with someone that likes all the things that you like? That would be annoying. You would fight over stuff. You would be competitors instead of species that have a symbiotic relationship

To end,
Grace is the most beautiful woman most suited to be my partner and I am the luckiest man ever to walk the earth to have her as the mother of my children not just in the big things, but also in the little things.

To Grace.

Owning your rituals

I was recently commenting on a Lion Dance discussion panel on Facebook regarding the touching of the lion's horn. I threw in my two sense, that though impractical there wasn't anything against it. But then there were others of a tradition who were strongly against it. Though we never touch the horn, it was never seen as something as stepping over the tail. But the discussion made me go back into my mind to remember a story of the opening I shared.

My Si Hing was going over different ways you can open with the lion. One is to kick the head over yourself. and one was actually to grab the head by the horn and through it over yourself. My Si Hing had seen this done by old school people while still in China. And now I recall that my Sifu actually did mention not to touch the horn. The reason why I didn't first remember it was because he didn't make a big deal out of it. He didn't start yelling like, "Hey! don't touch the horn!"

It was more softly like, "When you perform don't touch the horn. Some people don't like it," Not we don't like it, "they say that the horn was put back on by Kuan Yin and they think that's what the ribbons signify." The red ribbons that are not only on the lion, but also on altars and the Tiger fork and are bought in the supermarket.

Now let me point something out. My Sifu does not speak English. and even in China he was considered the epitome of Traditionalism. A throw back, A counter revolutionary. In fact he had to pay for his traditionalist thinking.

That being said, at least part of him, when it came to lion dance, was somewhat open minded. For instance, his daughter was watching woman's team perform a dragon dance and saw them step over the dragon in their routine. Something which is now common in China.
"Who wants to see a woman straddle a dragon on New Year's" his daughter cried out.

But later, my Sifu mentioned that before in his village that was unheard of. But here in this environment and even in China, people's mentality are different and would not consider it a bad thing. And that the rules are dictated by the majority of people's beliefs. In fact many times, when we followed all these rules, he always said that we would just make sure we followed them, but not thrust them onto others.

In any case the story of Kuan Yin re-attaching the horn, is to be respected depending on your audience, and since it is an easy rule to follow (don't touch the horn) it might as well be followed. But not because you have to, more just to make people who you are performing for happy. But if it makes you unhappy to follow a rule, then of course you should just do what you want After all you are the one performing.

A Box of books

It was an amazing feeling to get the Books that I ordered. To see finally in my hands what had started as an idea. To write a book titled "Kung Fu and Love." In fact the idea was an off the cuff one. My friend said, "You're a Sifu. You know Kung Fu. But I don't care about Kung Fu so how is this going to relate to my life? You should write a book about Kung Fu and" he gestured to the stove, " and then gestured to the air, "Kung Fu and Love."

Needless to say I picked Kung Fu and Love first. But I do indeed plan on writing Kung Fu and Cooking as well. But I have some other projects I'm working on first. Now the only question is, How do I sell the books that I have? In my mind, these books were something that I could sell at the end of a lion dance presentation. Not like at a wedding or a store opening. But you know, the type of Lion Dance and King Fu demonstrations that are more workshops. The educational sort. The sort that is more talking and some drumming and Kung Fu and Lion Dance and teaching. But mostly talking.

My Si Hing would like it. I mean while the performers rest gasping for air preparing to do the Kung Fu aspect of the performance, what better time to do a reading from my book? I mean usually I tell the story of the Nian and the Lion and all that. But Now I could just read. It kind of gives you an extra scholarly feel to your Sifu-ness you know what I mean?

But now the more I think about it, the book I wrote, might not be a good match for that type of scene. I mean, my book is not a kids book, so I can't read it for elementary schools. Well I could read parts of it, but how could I sell it? So now I should probably contact Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (probably after the Chinese New Year scramble) and see if I can't set up some sort of book signing thing there and see where I can go from there. I heard mention of a book store "East Meets West" and I should probably check that out too. But honestly one of the most exciting things I plan to do, is sign one book and give it to my Si Hing, hopefully to put up by the schools sign. There are a couple of ancient looking texts up there right now, with titles in Chinese. One of them is the 9 yin manual and the other the flower manual. These are actually fictional titles from Kung Fu novels and whoever takes the bate and actually looks inside the book will find that they are blank. My Si Hing has a sense of humor. But it would be cool to have my book up there. Like a trophy you know? Anyway, visitors could actually have something to read.

Well Check out my book on Amazon. Kung Fu and Love. I'm trying to sell it on Kindle too but I guess they are reviewing it for that.

Also if you read my blog and have any ideas on how I should sell this please comment. And also, by my book! It will make a great Valentines gift! And if you read it and like it please tell people about it!

A Fool's Injury

One one of the Snow days I decided to try and get Noah to do a Kung Fu Class with me. Not the regular Yoga Fu we've been doing within the confines of a mat, but a performance style one. Noah was not interested at all. So as I began to try out fdiiferent moves and then do some of my old kicks that were jumpy and spinny and show boaty, I tried one i was not as familiar with as I felt my body warming up.
Bam!
My foot hit the corner of Noah's Thomas the Train play set, a table where you can lay down track and train that has been covered with other sorts of toyr for a while now. Well I didn't break my foot, but it was that sort of hit where your toe goes numb and you aren't sure. It was bad enough that my foot was bleeding slightly even though I didn't hit anything that was actually sharp.

The endorphins or stress hormones that went through my body while I wiggled my toes while Noah looked at what looked pretty gross to a kid pulsed in a way that made me feel... alive.

Well it still hurts but it wasn't broken. But it very easily could have been. And even If I had practiced outside in this way I could have pulled something. I think this is a sign that I should stick to my Yoga Fu when inside. I.e. stay within the confines of the small mat.

And then when I do begin to practice outside in warmed whether, still keep my movements within the familiar of what I have been doing recently, and not what I may have done years ago.

I'm not saying I should never to jump kicks or even learn new exciting athletic things. But just not now. Instead, anything I try to do that requires athleticism, stretching, jumping, spinning, should be done slowly first. And after all, the fact that I can still do the routine that is on the mat that I was doing before even with the hurt foot, shows that is really the direction I should take my training for now.

I realize I was thinking about performing, in a space in the future and was working towards that, experimenting. But really when I practice, I should just focus on here and now and what I can do here and now.

Marketing Kung Fu and Love

Well I guess writing my book was the easiest part. The hard part will be marketing it or selling it. I thought I put it on Kindle Direct Print, which markets the book by giving it away for free on Kindle for a certain amount of time. But I guess there is a reviewing process for all that.
I bought a few copies and will try to sell them myself, to neighbors relatives and friends. Actually some have already said they will by the book online. (Some have already bought it. )
But the exciting part about selling the book was always in some sort of Book tour. I figure I can do some sort of Lion Dance workshop of some sort and then sell my book afterward. But now that I have the book I am trying to think of an appropriate place to do this. My class in the park wouldn't really make sense. Neither would a Lion Dance class at Noah's after school. Even if the book were for children, it is the parents who must by the book. But also, the book isn't really for children.

I guess I really should do some sort of event specifically for the Book. Grace suggested going through the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and perhaps Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Association, as well as the Public Library. Once I get the book sin the mail I guess I will do that.

In my mind, I was thinking of Universities, and High schools. But then College kids don't really want to buy books for fun like that.  Maybe just like writing the book, if I get out there and start doing this, some ideas will come to me.

Actually if you are reading my blog and happen to have ideas and instructions on ways I can sell my book, I would be grateful for your advice.