Monday, October 31, 2011

Ninjas love Fresh Squeeze Hope

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is a wonderful non profit organization to raise awareness and money to fund research into new treatments and cures childhood cancer.
Goodjoe.com ran a tee shirt contest to design a shirt for the cause. 
This is the winner.!


Go to the site and order yours today.
50% of the proceeds go to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.


Friday, October 28, 2011

Scary movie Ninja


"Psst...think we should see if they are okay in there?"

Ever see the movie 1408?
I enjoyed it.

Other scary movies I enjoyed. 
The Changeling
Fright Night
The Gate
Vampires
Insidious
The House on Haunted Hill
Poltergeist
Nightmare on Elm Street
Candyman
The Shining
The Frighteners
Evil Dead 2
Dead Zone
and so much more and more and more.

Those are just the ones that popped in my head not in order of favorites or anything. 
Guess what I am going to do this weekend?
Netflix here I come.  

Happy Halloween!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Me worry? Ninja please!

While driving north on Rt.309 on Sunday I noticed Borders was closed. Petco was closed. Furniture store closed. The little dress shop on the corner is closing soon. Small strip mall completely empty now. As I drive further north heading home another strip mall deserted. Not for the day, closed for good. For lease signs in the windows. For sale signs scattered up the road side. I do not have a feeling of hope. I did get a feeling of dread. When is the economy going to turn around? Is it going too? When I hear of a company laying off more people or closing completely my first thought is more people I am competing with for limited positions.
I have been looking for a job for awhile now. I apply for jobs I am over qualified for, under qualified for, and jobs that would be perfect for someone with my qualifications. I call it the Goldie Locks Approach. I may just get lucky one of these days. And hopefully not mauled by bears.
I will be completely honest, I am not the leader. I am the worker. I like knowing my job, doing my job and doing my job well. I will give suggestions to my employer if I feel a procedure could be done more efficiently or more cost effectively but I am not the decision maker and I am okay with it. We were not all born to be leaders. Can I take charge when I need to? Yes I can and I can do it well. But I prefer to be the worker dude.
I do not need to be rich. I do not require much. I need to be able to pay the mortgage, the utilities, car payments and maintenance, and food. Put a little money away in savings for the unexpected expense and retirement. I live a modest life. Small house, average cars, clip coupons, only buy clothes if absolutely needed and they are on sale, etc...I am quite happy with my modest life.
Am I jealous of the rich and successful? No. I admire their drive and ambition. If you work hard you should reap your rewards. If you work even harder you should get even more. What I have a problem with is it is apparent to me the cost of living has risen substantially. The rate of paid for the average worker has drastically declined and I am competing for limited jobs against many many others. Do I have a solution to the economic crisis? No. I voted for elected officials because I felt they were capable of the task. I trusted in their ability to get things done. I feel as if I have made a mistake.
Do not fret my friends because I do know I will eventually find employment even if I have to start at the bottom again. I will always find a way to make it through the day, the week, the month, the year. Giving up is never an option.

But tonight I will not lie in bed and try and figure out which bill to pay first. Who I am going to make wait for their money? Where am I going to find the money to fix the truck and hope it does not require too much to pass inspection. Or how am I going to feed the family with the little money we have after I pay a few bills. Tonight I will imagine a world where a ninja and two vampires fight together against an army of demons. Mages cast deceptive spells and werewolves howl in the night. Friendships are tested and promises broken.

What? I can't worry all the time. And besides I can't afford a vacation so I will just visit one of the worlds residing in my head.

Be strong 
Stay strong
Smile as if you haven't a care in the world.

Combination for today.

Jab, cross, power round 2 kick, hook, uppercut, hook, cross, round one kick, round two kick, front one kick.

yeah, that will work.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Thursday's combination

Chemo and Radiation is the combination.


My mother had breast cancer as did my aunt (her sister) and my grandmother. My sister has breast cancer and my other sister had lung cancer. 
(there are others with breast cancer but not as closely related and really not relevant to my thought)
My mother's and aunt's treatment was chemo and radiation. My sister with breast cancer presently is being treated by chemo and radiation. My other sister who had lung cancer had chemo and radiation treatment too. 
No idea what my grandmother's treatment was.
My mother died of breast cancer 27 years ago. My sister died of lung cancer 15 years ago. My other sister is battling breast cancer now.

Now here's my thought. After all these years and all the money donated to breast cancer and lung cancer.There has been a lot. The causes are highly publicized and in turn must receive a good amount of money for research. You would think maybe the treatment would have changed. I do realize that survival is much higher these days but I believe that is due early detection more so in the changes in treatment because the treatment seems to be the same.
Chemo and radiation.
This is the combination floating in my brain these days. 


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Baked Ninjas

Ninja Cookie Cutters
I actually have these. 
The link below was where I got them and they seem to be the best price out there. 



I baked these!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Ninja with a cause Monday part two

Please vote!
My friend deigned a shirt for a Goodjoe.com contest to raise money for Alex's Lemonaide Stand Foundation. It is a finalist. Please click the link below and vote please. If you want more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation the link is below as well.
VOTE


Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

At least I have my Ninja health

When things just don't go as planned. It can be sooooo annoying. You plan, you plot, you prepare.
Then the unexpected happens. Flat tire. Battery dies. That state inspection bill is massive. Car accident.
You lock yourself out of the house. Storm knocks down a tree on your property. The water heater dies. The basement gets flooded. Unexpected household annoyances are endless.
A negative co worker. Business slows. Lay offs. Unemployment. Endless job search.
Bills, bills, bills.

I am sure a Ninja has days and periods of time like this as well. Your plan does not go according to plan and you need adjust on the fly. Never giving up but at these times you may say, ”well at least I still have my health.” And you hope to God it's true. For there are many who, when life's unexpected glitches happen can't even say “At least I have my health.”
Life can be difficult at times throw in an illness, (I am not talking a cold) and life's struggle gets even more challenging. Especially if there is no cure as of yet. Or the cure is long, painful and draining. Giving up is not an option and they must forge on.

Since you do have your health take a moment and do a little something for someone who doesn't .
Donate, volunteer, spread the word in hopes a cure will be found. The cure will be less devastating on one's body. And better yet the illness came prevented all together.

Be strong

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Friday, October 14, 2011

sweet ninja fun

So if you break down the picture it is not very well done. 
It isn't centered. There is clutter in the background.
But it still is a sweet picture in my opinion.
Have a sweet Ninja Fun Friday.

Be sweet

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

All I need is three minutes

In my kickboxing class free sparring rounds are 3 minutes. This is where I find peace.
You may think it's doesn't make any sense. 
As I free spar, I find peace?
 As I block, slip, duck. Peace. As I punch, kick, move. Peace. As I get punched, get kicked, Peace.
But it does make sense. No other thought to crowd my brain. No thoughts of doubt or uncertainty.
Nothing else creeps into my thoughts. I do not think of the ongoing job search, how am I going to pay the bills. No thought of the fuel pump which needs to be replace. I do not think of the mistakes I have made or decision I have put off. Wonder if I am a good mom, friend, sister, wife.
The only focus is the fight. No room for anything else. All is well. Peace.

Some who know me also know submission grappling is my favorite class. They may ask, you do not find peace there? No. I do not. I find enjoyment but not peace. Too many thoughts run around inside my head when I grapple. And to be honest sometimes, lately, grappling makes me sad. My favorite grappling partner can not roll with me right now. Can not run drills with me. Can not giggle with me in our little corner of the mat. Enjoying each others passion for the martial arts. But I am patient and will wait to roll with her again.

No worries,
I still have my three minutes.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Ninja with a cause wants you to imagine

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU HIT THE NEXT BLOG BUTTON

Imagine you are nausea, vomiting, and have stomach cramping. No you don't a stomach bug, this is your daily life causing malnutrition, dehydration and weight loss. You can not take a bite of food or a sip of liquid without getting horribly sick. You have to get your nutrition from artificial means like a PICC line to receive TPN nutrition. PICC line – Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter. TPN – Total Parenteral Nutrition. So imagine again you feel like crap and now you need to be hooked up to and carry around a sort of IV for ten hours a day. I say sort of because it is actually a catheter, a long slender tube inserted in your arm, usually, and runs up into a large vein in your chest near you heart. We won't go into the anxiety over the risk of infection associated with PICC lines.

You are one of the estimated 5 million people in the U.S. with Gastroparesis and Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obtruction. And to your dismay these conditions are not understood and not recognize to many doctors. Causing misdiagnosis and drastic deterioration of many patients. Then you come to find out the FDA has greatly ignore these conditions. There are limited medications and what works for one does not work for all. The medications that are available are more so for symptom control then the underlying condition and making the stomach digest food again. Frustrating, isn't it? I am not one of these estimates 5 million but I know one who is and want to raise awareness because as I said before this condition does not get a lot of press. Have you heard of it? You have now.


Thank you for imagining

Be aware

Saturday, October 8, 2011

My New Ninja Minions

NINJA DUCKS! 

A gift from a friend

 Guarding Muttonhead the cat

 Muttonhead tolerates me

Friday, October 7, 2011

When Ninjas Get Married

Always have time for ninja fun.
Especially when it's a ninja getting married.


Thursday, October 6, 2011

Combination Thursday

Note -Low round one - this is a round kick with your front leg. I like them because you can you stay in your stance and don't open your body up like with a low round two - this is with your back leg.

Combination - Low round one, low round one, low round one, Cross, hook, cross, power front one kick.

This combination actually I am trying to direct all their attention low to my front leg trying to tag them. Sometimes I throw more, it depends on my opponent. Once I see they are lowering their hands slightly and anticipating my low kick I actually start to lift my front leg as if I am going to throw my low round one but I actually step in and throw the cross, hook, cross. It works pretty good. Super Joshu taught me that little trick. I finish with the Power Front one because I almost always do because I like them. Everyone who spars me on a regular basis knows this. I am a bit predictable.

So that's the combination of the day. Do I do it perfectly? No. Do I keep trying? Yes. Would a Ninja do it perfectly? I am sure they would. One of the reasons I would rather be a Ninja.

Be happy

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Ninja, it's cold outside.

It is getting chilly out. I need a blankie! 
Not any blanket, my friends. 
I need a ninja blanket.


You just got to love cafepress!

Unfortunately they are $60. and they only come in white. 
But a ninja can dream of snugglely ninjas blankies. 

Ninjas don't put off till next week

I missed a whole week of blogging. Not cool. Not that it is essential to living but it is important. I blog to practice writing. To share a cause, a thought, a view, a fun purchase, a combination , a smile. How many times do we put things off we well should not? I am not talking just laundry. A call to an old friend. A call to an relative you have been meaning to contact. Visit family you have not seen in a long time. A physical. Exercise. Heck, checking our credit scores. Change the oil, rotate the tires. (apparently it is important). Is it because we don't have the time or don't bother making the time. Putting off til next week then the next then the next. Some procrastinate at home but not at work and some the other way around. Some it is a way of life. I have met a few who do not have this problem at all. I aspire to be like them.
So I was wondering if a ninja ever had the problem of procrastination.
Doubtful. Ninjas are the poster child for self discipline.

I'd rather be a Ninja.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Ninja with a cause had a thought

While my husband was watching football, I noticed some players wearing pink gloves, shoes, equipment and other apparel. The cause they were supporting was Breast cancer awareness, of course. The campaign "A Crucial Catch" to promote annual screenings. Extremely important!!!!!!!!!!!!
Through the month of October you will see various players and coach wearing the stuff and it will be auctioned off. Proceeds to go to the American Cancer Society and team charities.
Their website http://www.nfl.com/pink 
This is an awesome idea.
I think they should do that for many other illnesses and diseases. I want to see them wearing lime green for Gastroparesis. Their website http://g-pact.org/
I want them to wear the autism puzzle pattern. http://www.autismspeaks.org/
I think they should do a different cause every month. Only seems fair.
There are so many to choose from unfortunately.