$$

So I applied for a new job a few days ago. In radiation safety. We will see what comes of it...

But more interestingly I received and email from Youtube telling me that one of my motorcycle videos posted there receives enough traffic I qualify for "revenue sharing".

I am going to do it. I just wish this blog got enough hits during the day to make it a revenue stream as well!!

Amazingly, this is the video that could make me some extra $$. Who would have ever thought?? 26,000 views of the following 14 seconds

Delicious continued!

Lunch!

Shylock would be happy.

Portia: Tarry a little, there is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are "a pound of flesh."

In this case the "pound of flesh" happens to be the 3 pounds of beef jerky I started this morning.
The beginnings of a good brine.
My new electric knife. Precisely cut jerky made easy.

20 hours of soaking next.
The smoker. An Oregon classic!!

Can my family guess what they are getting for Christmas this year??

Mouth watering yet? Or do I have to show you pics of the smoked salmon I'm also making?

brazilian jiu jitsu

Last night was great at open mat. For the past few weeks I've felt like I was at a plateau and suddenly I seem to have busted through it. I was starting to work things more in combination, I was transitioning quicker between trying one thing and if it didn't work then trying something else. I also never felt tired even though I was there for the whole two hours and easily spent half of that rolling.

I was also 134.4 this morning when I weighed myself. My diet and exercise regimen is working just how I would like it to. (I need to weigh 134.0 or less on Friday for a tournament) I am missing almost half of my small intestine and a little bit of my large so I am always curious as to how my body will react to different levels of caloric intake. I did seem to have just the slightest symptoms of a cold but they in no way have hampered me. Heck, I haven't even taken any medicine for it, so you know it's not that bad. I have also started taking glucosamine again as well and it seems to be helping my elbows and knees.

I do not think I have an addictive personality. I like change far too much to really stick with anything for a great length of time. People, places, jobs, toys, haircuts or whatever. In yoga the other day they were talking about doing a 30 day challenge where you go for 30 days in a row. Evidently for Bikram yoga that takes some effort and dedication. So it got me thinking what in my adult life have I done EVERYday? Eat? Nope, gone without any food going into my mouth for 3 days on my own and for over a week while on TPN. Sleep? Nope, I can think of at least 3 instances where I was awake for at least 38 hours or more. Shower? Again, I've had to skip it. Be indoors? Far too many camping trips where I have slept under the stars. Pretty much the only thing I could think of other than involuntary muscle or biological processes is speaking. I don't think I have ever gone 24 hours without muttering a word. Odd? I don't know....

In that light then, why is brazilian jiu jitsu seemingly soo addicting to many people? (There is a poll question topic for you CQ!!)

And finally then, I am getting ready and training hard for the World Professional Jiu Jitsu Cup US qualifier in January. If I win my division then it is off to the United Arab Emirates!! With me not having to pay for it either!

My competition schedule is looking pretty good. Dec 5 is CA Grappling Championships here in San Diego. Dec 12th is a big Grapplers Quest in Las Vegas. Then January 2010 is WPJJC qualifier in Santa Cruz. Hopefully then the actual even in February!! The Pan Ams in Los Angeles April and International Masters & Seniors in Rio De Janeiro Brazil in July.

Me+free time+Google images+Paint=lolz!!

Me+free time+Google images+Paint=lolz

Accessories for a Rowdy life.

I like most things in my life to have a little "extra". Hot chocolate has to have whipped cream and vanilla. Motorcycles have to have sticky tires and an exhaust and be dyno tuned. I think you get the idea.

Putting my money where my mouth is and after all isn't the whole point of this to share my Rowdy ways with you, here are some recent rowdy accessories.
Off the rack Banana Republic suit, navy with pinstripes.
and sterling cuff links

Express men, Gap and Steve Madden.
and J Crew wool pea coat.

It really isn't a funky bracelet...
it keeps my pants clean at work...
where I use the cutest, tiniest wrench.

The Flu Shot Song

(Sung to the tune of "If You're Happy And You Know It")

Verse 1:If you got the flu shot and you know it,
numb your hands. (3 times)
[make action of shaking limp hands in front of you]

Chorus:If you got the flu shot and you know it,
then your face will surely show it.
If you got the flu shot and you know it Guillain-Barre!
[mime giving yourself a shot in the arm]

Verse 2: If you got the flu shot and you know it,
stop your feet. (3 times)
[stare downward at your paralyzed legs]

Chorus

Verse 3: If you got the flu shot at you know it,
shout "I'm not OK!" (3 times)
[make an exaggerated angry or confused facial expression]

Chorus

Verse 4: If you got the flu shot and you know it,
do all three. (3 times)
[shake your limp hands/wrists while looking down at your legs making an angry or confused face]

Chorus!

Ugh

It's time for my Remicade infusion again....

And now that my brother and his family left, it seems strangely quiet at my house. Odd. Though it will only last a day as K returns tomorrow.

I'm off to the hospital now. Fun. Not.

Thanksgiving

Family and friends were over, the weather was beautiful. The food was traditional but still every bit a feast. Fun, family, feasting. Fabulous.

While the meal was beginning we went around the table and each said at least three things we were thankful for in our lives.

Mine were one, being thankful that I am still alive. An intestinal disease that has given me much trouble through the years, working in a war zone and having more than a few potentially dangerous hobbies. If just a few things had changed here or there through life well, let's just say I really do have reason to be thankful to be alive at this time.

Secondly I am thankful for the times I have been able to use my talents to help others or myself. Whether it is giving the Heimlich maneuver to a choking child in a restaurant, speaking in a foreign language, providing good care to patients, teaching new skills to people or just listening and understanding. While not a comprehensive list, you get the idea. If you have a talent you've developed it really is satisfying to use, helping someone else.

Third I'm thankful for the time and place I live in. Living in a modern first world Western country allows me to have a college degree, choose my own religion and also practice it, receive medical care that keeps me alive, have an income that then allows me to live far above the subsistence level. All these things give me great enjoyment in life and just make it pleasant. I know what life is like for other, just simply in a change in geography.

What are you thankful for?

A new chapter in life, a good one.

smilez

genetics>mortons toe

As I have blogged before here I "suffer" from Morton's toe. This is where your second toe is considerably longer than your great (first or big) toe.

Thankfully I am not a girl who has to deal with open toe shoes, but I am a guy who has broken this toe multiple times on the mat. Once this caused me to miss a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon and Havasu Pi area. That I of course had non refundable tickets for.

Another area this has hampered me is in rock climbing. Wearing the correct size climbing shoe puts a serious hurt on that toe. And I can't even think about crack climbing unless I am in a shoe that basically is no good for face climbing. No good!

I rarely rock climb anymore and not at the level I used to so this isn't really an issue anymore. I also have broken toes in jiu jitsu in the past two years but it had nothing to do with it being too long and everything to do with bad technique. The only real reason now to get it cut off is for aesthetics and a sort of perverse enjoyment of only having 9 toe nails.

I can get the surgery done for free and the recovery would only be a month or two at the most. No big deal. But I have been reluctant to do so.....

Now I think I know a better, more interesting elective health care procedure to follow.

Genetic testing.

www.23andme.com seems to be the leader in this field. Just spit in a tube and wait a few weeks then BAM! You can find out everything you wanted to know about your 'genetic' self from ancestry to health issues. It is simply amazing and right now it totally fascinates me!!

Downside? It's $500................

Check it out here!!

1st timer no more but hardly a pro...

So I went to Disneyland for my first time today. I have lived in California since 2001 and have never been. Wow. Why did I carry a deprived childhood into a deprived adulthood? I guess I was just having too much fun doing other things. So really, you should have no pity for me. But I will understand your amazement at my late timing in making a first visit to "the happiest place on earth".

I had a great time overall. I was in the park exactly 2 hours after leaving my house. The lines at entry were no worse than Sea World. The $72 for a single day single park ticket took me aback though.

Let me back up. One, who carries any cash around with them anymore? Can't anything and everything be taken care of with plastic? I roll up to park and they want $14. I tell the lady "I only have plastic..." and she just smiles and says "ok, well here ya go, just go park anyways" and hands me a validated pass.

My next interaction is at the ticket booth. The girl looks at my drivers license and says, "wow, you are really smiling in your pic. were you happy then?"

To which my reply was, "I'm always happy when I am able to get my drivers license"

"Well, do you think you will be smiling like that now that you get to go to Disney Land?", she said.

"Uhhh, I guess so," and I took my ticket and went in the park.

So pretty much right after I walk in an older guy asks me where I am visiting from and I just rattle off my zip, 92120 and he gives a quick reply "Well then! We would love to have you work here then." Dude, it's a San Diego zipcode! It would take Walt Disney money to get me to drive that far to work. Either that or I better get to be in a cool costume and be a character right off the bat. (Donald Duck being my first choice)

So I got to park free, was questioned about my smiling ability and then quasi offered a job. Magical? I am not sure, mysterious yes.

I do have to say I was very impressed with just the overall vibe. I was smiling and happy. I really liked just 'being there'. Things were easy to find and the rides I went on were fun. I was with my hermano and his familia so it was cool to watch his little ninos having a great time. Their parents had been to DL before but it was all new to their kids. I am sure they had a great time, especially since they are taking two days to do the park.

Things I didn't like? Waiting in line for over a hour for a two minute ride. I am not sure that is entirely worth it at all. It was hard to find a place to sit and eat. Too permissive parents letting their grubby little ankle biters anywhere near me. And I got some odd looks the times I was just walking around by myself, like I had broken some rule but not being part of a 'couple' or whatever. No single men allowed in Disney Land!

So I got to be with kids during their first time. I got a pair of classic MM ears. I saw Donald Duck. (whom I am actually taller than. surprised me....) I rode Star Tours, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion (a let down). I saw the big Xmas parade through the park. Hmmm... I can't remember what else.

But it was a fine time!! I am soo glad I went. All of the memories I had of Disney stuff as a kid and all the time that went by without going to the park, well none of that detracted from it. Will I go again, sure. Is it something I like better than a Slurpee and a handful of licorice... tough call.

Now for some pics!

random pics of late

neice and nephew
nephew
what happens when you take a vietmanese cooking class. shrimp spring roll and banana flower salad
sinclair dino in st george on a sunday (alliterative?)

curses!

A friend of mine has a hook up to get me piranhas. Fun! Until I researched just how much money, time and effort goes into setting up and maintaining a tank. Ugh, no thanks.

I would love to have fish. I find fish sooo soothing to watch. Their behavior fascinates me. And piranha would be the epitome of a fun visual fish to keep. But I think it honestly is too much work for my level of knowledge about keeping fish, which is 100% novice.

So a little searching led me to Russian tortoises. They seem pretty easy to keep. And while not really a pet you can play with I think would provide me with some pet owning satisfaction.

What I really would like though is a German Shepard. Sadly, I would want it to live outside all the time and I have no yard at all.

Oh well...

movie premiere

This is the movie I was supposed to be in, but couldn't make it to filming as it was on Sunday for the segment I was invited to be in. (Thanks for the chance RH!!)

I will be attending the premiere in Poway on December 2nd at 830pm. And dressed sharp!!
Think Global, Race Local.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

As you have read I am dropping down to 134lbs for this next jiu jitsu tournament here in San Diego in two weeks. 140lbs is a pretty comfortable weight for me and I can hit 137 easily. But this time I have to go from 140 down to 134, at the most, 133 would be better so as to have a cushion if OTM's scale is off...

I am not really reckless in my diet normally, but to loose a legitimate 6 or 7 lbs, 5% of my body weight takes some work. A similar loss would be someone going from 185 down to 175. When you are already fit and thin, it is tough to do.

I am strictly counting my calories, I weigh myself twice daily, I have a chart tracking my progress on the wall near the scale and am making sure to exercise in one way or another 6 days a week.

So I end up having lunches like today's where I eat a handful of spinach leaves, one can of tuna, Dijon mustard, green onion all stirred together and then 8 low-fat Ritz crackers. Water to drink of course. A "snack" now is a mini whole wheat bagel. Or 5 raw almonds. Or a Fresca....

I have hunger pains. I want candy! I want a CA burrito. But......

I want to win. I spend about 15 minutes a day just picturing myself winning matches, standing on the podium. I look at past medals from other competitions. My wall paper is changed me on the Pan-Am podium.

Yes, on Thanksgiving I am going to eat whatever I want as much as I want. But that is it. The feeling of getting the gold will be better than the feeling of eating a PayDay candy bar or drinking soda right now.

Where there is will power, there is a way to accomplish your goal.

So interesting!

I am watching a Japanese documentary right now about the special effects artists who worked on all the Toho monster movies.

It is soooooo interesting! I love it. "Bringing Godzilla Down to Size"