Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tai Chi, WTF?

Ok, ok...yes Tai Chi darlings. That Chinese exercise-looking slow movement thingie. Always a mystery to me, I liked how it looked without the slightest idea of what the hell was going on. Why so slow? How can you stand on one foot that long? How much exercise can it be? Marsha ran into us one day last week and was all a-flutter about the wonders of Tai Chi. She had taken A class the day before and was excited as all get out about it. She then invited us to join in, at only 6 bux it was cheap and would improve everything in out miserable lives. Ah well, what's to lose except your sanity. So last night was THE night. We went early, went thru the signup routine at the kiosk near the Joe Nelson Community Center door, paid the fee and sat outside Room B awaiting the arrival of our friends, the instructor and whomever else found this interesting enough to slog through. Soon the instructor came, changed into his Tai Chi costume and was followed by several others who did likewise. We, dressed in our sloppy but suitably loose fitting sweatpants and shirts as instructed by Marsha, our connection to this new world. Soon it was 6 pm, we went inside and lined up as it seemed we were supposed to and the action began without a single word being said...as though we KNEW what we were doing. I just tried to keep an eye on someone who looked competent and follow along as best I could which was...er ah... not very well. An Incompetent Waltz resulted with several episodes of falling against the adjacent wall or stumbling over my own two feet. Kelly had wisely positioned herself at the other end of our row so she wouldn't laugh at me. Soon the instructor, who has remained un-named to this point in the program, was at my side pointing out the (many) error of my ways. Leg straight, arm loose, no toe pointing...on and on. While quite kind in his criticisms I definitely did NOT fit the description of a competent trainee. The class was scheduled to be 1.5 hours long, we repeated the basic moves over and over again, very stiffly at first but soon less stiff and more sweatily (new word). I struggled through until an hour into the program I received a cramp in my right side and soon retired across the room into a chair to watch the torture of the rest. Over at 7:30 I thanked our Master for his kind instruction and waddled out the door in near agony, sweat pouring off my face. Home to cook dinner, watch some tube and climb into bed to read for a while before dropping off into the infinity of sleep.

Here's an example of the Torture of Tai Chi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBvF6r6DOvc

This morning I awoke to a plethora of pains, my knees cracked as I walked, my shoulders hurt, my back was stiff as a board and even my arms ached. Oh boy, when do we suffer the pangs of hell again? Next Tuesday. Shit!

On another distant but sensitive subject...They Want To What?! You've GOT to be kidding! But I fear they are not...a read for you. Remember we are IN Earthquake Country and have damned little water as it is and the last time I checked you need LOTS of water to cool these reactors. LOTS! Here's the latest:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/30/BU071BB587.DTL

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Is There Any Wonder?

Herein lies the rub, as long as this kind of "information" is found as easily as I found it on the Web we will find a few ...a very few, who will use the knowledge gained to create mayhem and violence to society. The lack of morals in the perpetrators of the crimes themselves as well as that of the "instructor" is simply unforgiveable in today's hate-filled political climate. I rest my case.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=644_1259162918