- Anxiety SucksMy face was pressed against the window in the back seat of the family’s green station wagon. I sat quietly waiting for my dad to finish work. I watched as he walked out the door and locked it. Then the ritual began but I did not k...
- Sadness
on Nov 22, 2016
Haven't been this sad in a long time. - The Letter Cycle
on Dec 30, 2014
Last Christmas was difficult. Actually, it was awful. The events of Christmas 2013 have invaded my feelings towards Christmas in general. I believe it was the last time Erin saw her dad before he went to prison in March 2013. ... - A PFA Is A Piece of PaperDisclaimer: This is a personal web log. The opinions expressed are my own. Please note that I am not dispensing advice. These are my personal experiences and reflections. I cannot tell you how often I was told to “Get a PFA”. I...
- “The Talk” No One Prepares You ForAs a parent, you look forward to certain milestones in your child’s life. There is joy in watching the first step or hearing the first word. On the flip side, a parent has the responsibility of having “The Talks”. &...
- How Did I Get Here?“I am telling you this as a friend, as your sister, take care of yourself.”The very sad truth is that I don’t remember how. But here is where I begin.I guess I should start by explaining where I am. It is difficult to talk about bec...
- I Have A Blog?
on Nov 17, 2013
Yes...yes I do. Sometimes I forget. Just a quick note to say "Hello!" to all the readers who still stumble upon this blog from time to time. There is not much...ok I mean nothing...to report on karate. This is my first prolonged absence f... - Teaching Your Own Child KarateMy daughter turns 14 years old next week. In a few weeks, she will graduate 8th grade. In a few months, she will start high school. In a few short years, she will head off to college. Time flies like an arrow… A...
- Listen....
on Jan 22, 2013 in
injury Blood Clot - White Envelope
on Jan 14, 2013 in
Photos - Might As Well JumpAn article from Science Daily: Go Ahead and Jump: Learning How to Properly Jump and Land Can Help Female Athletes Avoid Serious Knee Injuries Female athletes tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) six to eight times more than male athle...
- Reader Question: What if the fear of injury...isn't your own?
on Nov 8, 2012
Hello blog readers! I received a kind email from Carolyn and she asked the following question: "What if the fear of injury...isn't your own?" I ask because... I've seen students leave martial arts because their parents don't want them to start... - Quiet
on Nov 6, 2012
This blog is too quiet. I miss writing. I miss my blog friends. I miss the exchange of ideas. I miss reading and learning. I will be in touch soon. Michele... - Out of Balance
on Aug 29, 2012
It has been about 8 weeks since I was in the dojo. This was the first time I decided to take a break. In the past, my breaks from training were due to my work schedule or an injury (ACL). Since the dojo is attached to my house, taking a break is sign... - Question - Total Knee Replacement / Karate
on Aug 8, 2012 in
knee injury - Catching Up
on Jul 11, 2012
I am trying to catch up on everything from paperwork to my Google Reader. A blog "To Do" list: Update the recommended links column. If you have a martial arts, karate or ACL blog and would like to be included as a rec... - Thank You
on Jul 2, 2012
It has been a busy few months. In March, I was notified by my instructor that I would be testing on June 29, 2012 at the IKKF Annual Training in Reading, Pennsylvania. I spent a lot of time training over the last few months. There has been little... - More and Less
on Jun 4, 2012
Over the last few months, I have been training more and writing less. A few thoughts... 1. Pay close attention. Some of the best tips / connections are the brief comments made by instructors. You need to be ready to listen a... - ACL Reconstruction - Five Years
on May 20, 2012
May 15, 2012 was the 5 year anniversary of my ACL surgery. Five years! The initial purpose of this blog was to interact and document my recovery from surgery and my return path to karate. The anniversary posts are important to me.&n... - Spreadsheet Karate
on May 10, 2012
In my work life, everything has a spreadsheet: sale forecasts, production plans, customer master lists, inventory, purchase orders, bookings and invoices. At home, I use spreadsheets to track my monthly expenses and balance my check...
