Mar3

The universe can suck it!

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Monday was a great day. For starters, guess who joined me for class?

Neighbor and me on our way to Jiu-Jitsu.

Here’s how this went down. As you can see, I really had to twist her arm. (Kimura arm lock or Americana–still not a kind of coffee)

She responded before I could even hit the home button on my phone. It’s like she was staring at her phone, waiting for me to text.

I don’t know if you love it, per se, but hopefully you’re getting a minor kick out of it. (front, side, or round kick, appropriate for the Taekwondo gi)

When we rolled into Jiu-Jitsu class (that was also a pun), Instructor started to pull out a gi, but stopped.

“I see you have a gi. Do you do martial–Oh, is it Betsy’s?”

Heehee. Déjà vu.

Instructor had me sit nearby while he onboarded Neighbor. Thus, her first class experience was not nearly as creepy as mine. She took to it well and had fun but can’t sign up for anything until her home remodel is done in a couple of months. At least she got a taste. Maybe when her house is finished, I’ll invite her again and she’ll respond with an affirmative just as quickly. Here’s hoping!

But! Are you ready for this? Another guy poked his head in ten minutes late, explaining that he had arrived too early for his trial class so he got a haircut while he waited. I chuckled inwardly remembering what I’d written in my second JJ post: “Each time movement outside caught my eye, it was an old woman passing. I haven’t checked out the other businesses in the strip, but I’m guessing a hair salon is one of them.” It is. With a barbershop. Right next door.

Here’s the part I wanted you to ready yourselves for:

Instructor told the guy it was too late for him to start right then, but he could come to the evening class, the 6 a.m. class, or the 11 a.m. class.

Neighbor and I looked at each other, wide-eyed. The 11 is still on? Not canceled after all? Neighbor whispered, “It’s a good thing that guy came in.” I dared not ask Instructor what the deal was. Had I misunderstood him that he was canceling the daytime classes? Did he change his mind because he knew it would affect his bestest, brightest, favoritest, most promising student? And also me?

I still don’t know, but I’m just going to keep my head down and keep coming. [BTW, I did yesterday. I was the only student there. It was actually pretty awesome.]

The students who were with Neighbor and me Monday were the boisterous, jovial just-turned twenty-eight-year-old from my second class, and an unfamiliar guy who was nice.

He was also newer than me. How do I know? Because he didn’t have a stripe on his belt. Unlike…

Fa-bam! Instructor was kind enough to let me be a goof while Neighbor took a picture. When I asked if he was okay with me putting his face on my blog, he said, “Please do.” Now you get to see the man behind the gi.

While he was putting the stripe on, I couldn’t help but “sing” the opening chords of “Seven Nation Army.” My fellow students were smiling, Jovial Man especially, with a nod of recognition. Later I had to text Instructor something, so I took the opportunity to ask if he got that I was singing a White Stripes song while he was putting the white stripe on. He responded: “Now that makes more sense” and the laughing crying face. I shall make that song my anthem. If Jovial Man is there when I hit my next 20 classes and a second stripe, I’ll ask him to join in with me.

One last cool thing. Remember Saturday’s cruddy class and me killing time looking at student cards and whatnot? Here’s my card.

If you count the X’s on the right, there are 19. But he only has 18 X’s in the Stripe 1 column. So, technically, Saturday was my 20th class.

I’m so grateful for that mistake. I did NOT want to earn my stripe with those punks in attendance. Getting the stripe instead on Monday with my darling neighbor, the nice man, and Jovial Man who cheered me on enthusiastically, was way better.

And, Instructor asked Neighbor to take a pic with his phone too. He put it on Facebook. I made the cut. 🙂

What’s something that’s made you happy this week? I’d love to hear it.

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87 responses »

  1. Personally, I’d probably sing “My Doorbell.” Love that thumping beat. It’s my favorite White Stripes song. But I can get behind “Seven Nation Army” too, Satan!

    Something that made me happy? Finding out I won an Addy award for a magazine ad. It’s a silver, but hey…I’ll take it.

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  8. Just love your enthusiasm! Good that you had nice people around when you got your stripe. Wish I could borrow your neighbour!
    A few nice things happened this week but the best is that my mother is mobile again, though with a walker. She was in bed for two months with a hipjoint fracture.

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  10. That first photo of you and neighbor made me smile. I adore your enthusiasm! Lol at your singing. That song was ruined for me years ago while attending a recital where every young guitarist tortured us with their rendition!

    My shower tile is up and I’m happy about that.

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  15. hehe I love how enthusiastic you are about Jiu-Jitsu… and the White Stripes singing part had me giggling lol… Hmmm something that made me happy… although I am quite a positive person lol the last two weeks have been a bit of a sh*t show in my house with me being sick for two weeks and staying home with the little one because neither of us could go to work/school… and then after I got better, my kid got sick and now we’re home for another 5 days of isolation lol… anyway, here’s to a better weeek! 😀

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    • Ugh! Yes, I get that BB. Hubby was sick in October, so we dealt with that. Friends had to grocery shop for us. Then I was sick in January… You’ll get through it, though! The world outside will seem so much sunnier and brighter when you get to re-enter the world! This will make you appreciate your freedom more, once you have it again. 🙂

      And, glad you enjoyed my little song routine. 🙂

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  18. Betsy, your neighbour is terrific with her intrepid nature and immediate response to your text! I’m sure she’ll be happy to attend again once her life is less busy! I’m enjoying listening to The White Stripes, new to me! Your instructor looks great and such a friendly positive guy!

    Yeah … it’s been a good week, editing going well, and booked my first trip abroad for three years – sooo excited!

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  19. Love your stories – although I confess I don’t understand half of what you are doing. Your pics indicate you are having a good time. My daughter had 28 years of teaching this week. She has been such an excellent teacher but the past two years have been so rough she is ready to quit. She lost a beloved pet last year and I had an artist friend play a portrait of the dog and sent to her. It brighten her day – and therefore mine.

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  21. Very cool! I love a good “Seven Nation Army” reference! To answer your question: Dance class made me happy this week–with hubby. Also, we got me some dance shoes, which might be comfortable? We’ll see. Cheers!

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  24. How awesome to have your neighbor join you – and the pics say so much!! Nice of you to make the invite (and you now have me wanting to go back and see if I still qualify for a yellow belt – lol)

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