just a blip today

I ran into a acquaintance the other day and my continued quest for employment came up. I told her it looked like I would probably be going into a whole other field of work. She could sense my lack of enthusiasm and asked in a very heartfelt way..."What do you want to do?"
I said, "I WANT TO BE A NINJA!"
No, I didn't say it but I thought it and smiled. I did say "I want to work. I want a job."
The quest continues but I know I will find something soon.

"Ninja" Illnesses

There are so many “Ninja” diseases out there. I called them “Ninja” diseases because they are in the shadows. You don't hear about them. Someone could have a disease and you could have no idea they are ill cause there is no visible signs. I am 45 years old and I am not aware of so many illness in the world.

Over a year ago someone told me they had scleroderma. My first thought was what heck is that? My second thought was how the heck do you spell it?

Have you heard of it?

If not, here is the definition I got it from the Mayo Clinic website.

(I copied and pasted it. I didn't want to get it wrong.)

Scleroderma (skleer-oh-DUR-muh) is a group of rare, progressive diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues — the fibers that provide the framework and support for your body.Localized scleroderma affects only the skin. Systemic scleroderma also harms internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and digestive tract. Scleroderma can happen to anyone at any time in any geographical area. However, the disease affects women more often than men and most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. Scleroderma can run in families, but in most cases it occurs without any known family tendency for the disease. Scleroderma isn't considered contagious, but it can greatly affect self-esteem and the ability to accomplish everyday tasks.

 So click below and become a little more aware today.

http://www.scleroderma.org/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/scleroderma/DS00362

Little Ninja's Thanksgiving

Made some new friends.

 This is Frank. His dad is a turkey and his mom is an ostrich. 

Some chat over a glass of wine, we sat on the wine as we chatted 

Had a cocktail

Ate some turkey

(hope it wasn't frank's dad)

Ate some ham 

Ate a little more turkey 

The jello mold was delicious 

CANNONBALL!!!!! 

Biscuits were perfect! 

(I made them) 

Homemade pumpkin pie and praline pumpkin pie

Need I say more? I thought not.

Leftovers were stacking up in the frig

Do you see me? 

Dishes, dishes, and more dishes

Do you see me?

Not likely, Ninjas know how and definitely when to make themselves disappear. 

Hope your Thanksgiving was as delightful as mine and you didn't get stuck doing the dishes.

Happy Thanksgiving Ninjas of the world

Website I found comic.... 

http://www.wrobbertcartoons.com/blog/2011/11/20/turkey-ninja/

Whatever happened to _______?

Browsing the blogs the other night via the next blog button I came upon many blogs that had not been updated for very long time. I am talking like a year or more. I wondered about the bloggers and why they discontinued. Did they have nothing else to share? Did they grow tired of blogging? Did they create a new blog and abandon this one? Of course my cryptic side wondered if they died.
There were three particular blogs that caught my attention that night. One was by a young woman whose post had an underline of despair in them. She was struggling finding the good side of life. Her vision was blurred by the negative in the world unable to see all the good. I hope someone she knew or knows cleaned the smudges of despair for her soul so she could see all the beauty in the world.
The next blog was actually by a minister. His last post was very sad. It was a good bye to the blogging world. Stating his home life and ministry were not doing well and he had to focus on fixing them. I was confused how his blog had a negative effect on his ministry and his family. It wasn't a stupid little blog like mine. It was more about spreading the word of God and helping people in need. I hope he chose the right path to find happiness
The last blog that caught my eye that had not been updated since 2009. The blogger was a middle aged, blue collar worker. I enjoyed his blog the most. I went back in his archives and read and read and read. I enjoyed his views on the world and his sense of humor. He blogged for years and then it just stopped. I wondered if he died.
It is an odd thing being sucked into others' lives and you don't even know them. Smiling at a strangers fun adventure they posted or sadden by their misfortune. Sometimes I feel like a stalker, especially when you run across a family blog and there daily lives but then again we put it out there for others to see. I hit the next blog button quickly on "Billy's"  first birthday or the "Smith's" family vacation. Feel too creeperish.
There are some great informative blogs out there probably for whatever interests you. I like the ones on writing. I enjoy the photography ones too. There is some real talent out there and some not so much. But who doesn't enjoy a pretty picture.

I blogged enough on blogging today.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I have been relatively good this year. 

Please, please, can I have pajamas shown below?

I will make an attempt to be better next year. 

Of course, there are never any guarantees on my behavior. Sometimes a Ninja gotta do what a Ninja gotta do. 

I would buy them myself but they are ridiculously over priced and morally I can not, with a good conscience, purchase them. I figure you may have connections, Santa.

Ninja Retail Therapy

I found this site this morning and thought I really need to get into the ninja retail business. It's really kicking right now. Click the link and check out some Bad Bad Ninja stuff. 

http://www.cafepress.com/badbadninja

WWND

Have you ever taken on a big project, fully knowing you were not quite qualified or lacked experienced. Be it at work or home. Create something, build something, fix something. It does not matter what it is but you decided in your head I can do this. I know it will be difficult but I can do this.
Well me too!
I am at the point in the project where you say what the (bleep) was I thinking!
Unfortunately or fortunately I am at the point of no turning back. I guess there is always a choice to give up even when a great amount of the project is completed.

My mind wanders to a ninja infiltrating a village of evil doers. When deep within the compound the ninja realizes there are a great more enemies in the encampment than he was informed. He surrounded by minions of evil. The battle already has been a struggle. Every time the ninja feels completion is at hand it is only an illusion. More  obstacles present themselves again and again. Mission still incomplete. I wonder if the ninja's thinking What the (bleep) was I thinking?

Nah. Ninja is thinking how to complete the mission still, even though the tough mission was a great deal more difficult than expected. Ninjas never quit.
As for me and my project, I haven't quit but I dare say it has crossed my mind. Sometimes in my head I am jumping up and down and pulling out my hair, screaming. (so not ninja ) But I keep going. I have a mission and it needs to be completed.
So when I get frustrated I think, What Would Ninja Do?
And from time to time I sing those famous words of Dory the fish in Finding Nemo.
Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming

Keep Swimming

Found my cape

BEFORE TRAINING TONIGHT

RIGHT AFTER TRAINING TONIGHT

HOME

Dreaming of the next Ninja Fun Friday

Cause for this Monday...

Toys for tots

Tis the season.

http://www.toysfortots.org/

I was wondering how many places across the U.S. there are to drop off a toy.
There has to be thousands of places. Thousand upon thousands.
So you can't use the excuse "I didn't know where to drop the toy off."

My own definition

Courage

The definition at dictionary.com states – a quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc.. without fear. Bravery.

I disagree. It's a little off.

It should read a quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc... in spite of fear. To push aside your fear, uncertainty, apprehension to accomplish a difficult challenge, despite the danger and regardless of the pain.

Think about it, if a action was not at least a little scary why would you need courage.

If something was difficult and you did it anyway you would be disciplined

If something was dangerous and you weren't a little scared or apprehensive you would be stupid.

If something was painful and you weren't a little apprehensive you would be a masochistic.

Just a thought that traveled through my mind. 

Release the Kraken

Feeling a bit crabby today.

...and a little hungry for seafood.

Go figure.

Be happy

Shadow Kick Boxing Anyone?

Shadow kick boxing is great for dissecting your technique. I know quite a few people who are not fans. I wonder if they know how incredibly important it is. You go slow and break down each movement making sure you are keeping your hands up. Extending fully. Hips are turning. Head is moving. Making sure your weight is where it is suppose to be. You lose your balance shadow kick boxing, guess what your weight is not in the right place or your stance is wrong or you are too tense. Throwing kicks slowly is a great way to improve your balance. Try throwing a front kick in four counts. 1. knee up. 2 extend kick. 3. retract kick back to knee up position. 4. put leg back down where it started. (remember all this is done with hands up.) It will also strengthen your muscles as well.
After awhile you gradually you add speed to your shadow kick boxing but be very conscious of your technique. Because in the end it is a simple equation. Technique + Speed = Power!
I know people who say hitting something is important. Sure it is. Hitting the heavy bag, the pads, and your sparring partner are very important for different reasons. But I find shadow kick boxing and sparring are the two places you will recognize your mistakes in your techniques quickly.

It just like anything else you need to practice, rehearse, prepare, drill, hone your skills. In business and you have a presentation to give. You would be prepared and knowledgeable. Same thing but more fun.

Be cool