August 2026 Grab Bag

 August, as it turned out, was a very busy month

My grandmaster (soke) was here for the end of July and most of August.  As a result, we got to spend two hours a week training with him for four weeks instead of our usual one hour a week of class.  It was great training, but I was reminded - yet again - of how far I have yet to go in correcting some very basic mistakes.

We are all, he reminded us, students on journey, even himself.

The New Home Seminar has been rescheduled for September, so I will see him and my sensei again in two weeks.

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Clearly August was dominated by the hike to Mt. Whitney.  What also happened during that time is the first session of my new school program started.  My professor was very kind in not making a big deal of me being out for this pre-planned trip.   That said, I missed the introductory session and hit the ground running by arriving home Sunday and plunging right in to the thick of it.  

Over the course of the semester we are required to make four 10 minute presentations, create a weekly blog "post" (like a short paper), and participate in online discussions.  

I managed to cobble together a post on Monday (thank goodness I blog for an unpaid job!).  Coming late, most of the slots for presentations were already filled in so I took what I could; my first presentation is next Tuesday.

Even one class in, I found myself really enjoying this and even starting to think a bit differently.  I think this will be good for me.

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Although technically falling into September, of note I (along with at least two of my coworkers) registered for a Fall Curling League.

It is a full team (4) and will cover 12 games.  I have to confess I never saw myself as an "after work" sports person, but I quite enjoy the sport. 

Looking forward to (maybe finally) being able to do some posts on it on future Fridays.

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Somehow in the course of everything, I realized that I now have to plan things on weekends at least a month out.

This seems remarkably ridiculous to me - yet, when I look at things, my calendar seems to have almost magically filled up through the end of the year.

I cannot consciously ever remember being in this place before.  It is the oddest feeling.

Rabbit's Revenge

(Editor's note: Apologies, friends.  The day - and frankly the week - is getting away from me between work, the shortened work, and getting ready for Operation Rabbit Return this weekend.  Accept this offering in the humorous spirit in which it is intended.

March 2022 Grab Bag Of Updates

 It occurs to me that sometimes I post issues or requests that I never really give a resolution to - that said, the purpose of this post is to remedy that gap.

The Ravishing Mrs. TB's Back:  Thanks for all of your prayer requests and good thoughts about The Ravishing Mrs. TB's back pain.  It got a bit better, and then went straight back down the tubes earlier this month.  She did have another cortisone shot administered but it was almost completely ineffective.  

She is back in physical therapy.  Moreover, as part of this she has decided to lose some weight in hopes that this will also contribute to the overall strain on the muscle.  We are one week into the program (she is performing a medically supervised weight loss) and has already dropped 10% of her goal (it gets slower from here).  It is essentially a keto based diet (good reminder for me as well) and we are eating lots of vegetables and protein (more protein for me than her of course; The Berserker wants me at 1 g/lbs).  If you could continue to keep her in your prayers - both for her back and for her program (she is doing great but there are lots of things that she had to give up; frankly probably things I should give up too).

Uisdean Ruadh  and A Mhathair na hUsidean Ruadh:  A second round of thanks for all that have prayed for Uisdean Rudah and his mother (A Mhathair na hUsidean Ruadh) after their both receiving 90 day eviction notices.  The search goes on - Old Home now has become shockingly unaffordable - but he is continuing on and there is at least one option if nothing else works out (e.g., they will not be completely homeless).  I will continue to update you as I have news.

A Backyard Slab And A Question:  Thanks to everyone who commented on my question about what to do about my backyard slab (one of the most highly commented on posts I have done recently).  After reading everyone's thoughts and suggestions, I think I am simply going to keep the slab for now and use it for a greenhouse in the Winter (we have enough of a Winter that I can derive benefit from it).  I am looking at options now; a "portable" greenhouse (stationed against wind) may make the most sense.  That said, I am also considering Julia's very find suggestion of taking where the rabbit material is now and just building that into another planting area.  I may also convert some of the concrete into a variety of a compost bin, although it will need to be thoroughly protected from varmints (of which we have many).

As always, thanks for your comments, your posts, your suggestions, and your prayers.  They are all deeply appreciated both by me and by those to whom they are directed.