Seasons

Halloween is really a big deal around here. Maybe it's the mild weather or just an excuse to celebrate the fall. I had over 100 kids at the door. We finally had to shut our lights out after eight because we ran out of candy. There were lots of Ninja warriors. Enough to make me keep the guilt forefront in my mind. I seen by your posts that the snow has began to fall. It sounds like everything is well organized so the seniors will be happy with you all. I KNOW they appreciate the work it takes to keep their sidewalks clean. The Kulak family is not taking part this year, I wonder if all is well with them.Their health was not good last year,I hope nothing serious happened there. I was out in my garden planting vegetables this week and was inspired to do my tie Chi. I think it was the place I am in and the weather this time of year. It made me reflect on past years where I wasn't as blessed to be able to spend time outside where I truly love to be.The whole thing brought me inner peace.Anyway Randy will be home this week so I won't be on my own. He will be working one week home and two away. I will try to make the most of it instead of being angry about the whole situation, it doesn't change his job or his dedication to it. Oh well such is life, Keep warm and drive safe Sifu Shipalesky

No one said it would be easy

I don't know where to begin. I have left this blog linger far too long and it became an albatross around my neck. Kung Fu has been a big part of my life and who I am that leaving it behind had a huge impact on my view of who I am and what I have become, I read your chatter on the my emails and feel so detached from everything. I miss being a part of everything and everyone. Every day I ask myself "how can I reconnect with you all and how can I inspire myself to continue." Silent River is made up with great people. The building is just a reflection of how you all feel. Like a church is just a building without it's congregation, I think the same applies to Silent River. So my big question is "is any body listening and if you are throw me a life line please." I watch a lot of classes on the web cam but something is always missing. The interaction between us and the connection with each other.This is really hard. I have been trying to practice on my own and with no feedback or someone beside me, well it's hard. I was doing a lot of walking, but even that has become limited. Randy is back on the road again and I do not feel safe leaving Lacey in the house alone while I'm out. I am home schooling her this term so where I go she goes except she doesn't like walking. I know I have to get out and do something. We just moved into a golf course community. so I am going to gather my courage and see what they have to offer. Golf.... well I'll never know unless I try. I imagine they will have something to start with, something Lacey and I can do together. There is miles oops, kilometers of paved trails to bike ride on and I know my dog needs the exercise, not me of course, ha ha. or swimming although the water is a bit cool now, but once I get going it warms up. So I guess I do know where to start I just need to push myself once again out of my comfort zone. It will have to be next week though Lacey is down with the flu/cold this week and doesn't have the energy to leave the house. I know excuses excuses. I made a promise to myself as soon as she's well I will try something with the golf course. Wish me luck Sifu Linda Shipalesky P.S. I so do not miss the SNOW !!

The end is really a new adventure

Well I made it, I am in Florida. It has been a very frighting, exciting and an eye opening experience for me all jammed into a couple of months. Randy's job is in Orlando, land of Disney world. We are kind of flying by the seat of our pants, learning as we go. You have all given me the courage to face such a hugh change in my live.I have not been here a week yet but I relate everything back to my experiences with the school including crossing the boarder. Coming across under Randy's visa had its problems. He was questioned and then me about teaching Kung Fu. I had to promise not to teach for money as per my visa I am not allowed to work. It never dawned on me to emphasize that I had volunteered and doing it out of love for the art. It made me laugh to think of the picture I was left with, fifteen burly men, starring me down and waiting for me to admit to the crime of "teaching". But in the end my green eyed, blonde, happy daughter and my friendly black lab companion convinced them of the true nature of my spirit. Just a happy mom who also happens to love Kung Fu. until later Sifu Linda Shipalesky

finding inspiration

Things are starting to look up towards the end of the week. I was very inspired by watching the the other members of my team preform their weapons forms in class Friday night. Each person brought something of themselves to the form they choose to do so no two forms looked alike. Makes me want to work harder so I don't let them down. I am excited to be a part of this years pandamonium. I think we have hit on something special. We have something to show the community and I for one am proud to be a part of it.My numbers are picking up again, as I feel better, both physically and mentally. That could be because Randy is coming home for a week. God I must sound so sad, a grown woman who can't function without someone to support her. I'm working on it. "The secret of heath for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Sick and wanting to kick something

After avoiding the flu and colds everyone else had this winter it finally caught up with me this week. Along with a bad case of" feel sorry for Linda ". When you feel like that things just seem to snowball all around you. Randy was lucky he wasn't here or he would have got the brunt of it.To be honest I am not doing very well adjusting to the single parent life, and there is no one to feel sorry for me.... except of course me .... and I'm doing a bang up job of it. I'm hoping as I start to feel better physically my spirits will lift as well. What about my training you may ask.... Ba humbug. Well tomorrow is a new day... Linda

Last launch

Space shuttle Discovery had one last mission to complete. Randy (my husband) was there to witness it. At daybreak Tuesday April 17 ,the oldest of NASA's retired shuttle fleet left it's home at Kennedy Space Center for the final time, riding on top a modified jumbo jet. It's destination: the Smithsonian Institution's hangar outside of Washington , D.C. The plane and jet made a farewell flight over Cape Canaveral before heading north. Randy drove a hour before daybreak to Coco beach along with hundred's of other people to see it. He said it was one of those times that you definitely want to stay in the moment and try to remember for the rest of your life.

holidays

I have been away for the last few weeks visiting my husband in Florida, while I could read and receive emails I could not send them. I thought later or too late that I should have wrote my blog and posted it when I got home. Oh well you know what they say about twenty, twenty hind site. They have some restrictions on what you can carry into USA so I was not able to bring my sword with me, go figure. I moved through the form without it but somehow it wasn't the same. I was able to do lots of walking, mostly around theme parks so I was able to more than keep up with my milage. Unfortunately I don't care if I ever see another theme park (sorry Mickey)I also spent a lot of time in the pool and much to my daughters embarrassment If did my tai chi form in water, it was a different experience , I think I can see a positive change , but then again maybe I am making up excuses to do it some more, it felt great. Sun, water, and tranquility, not a bad combination. I found a bag with lots of great sayings on it and I thought I would share them over the next few weeks. "Nature wants us to be mediocre because we have a greater chance to survive and reproduce. Mediocrity is as close to the bottom as it is to the top , and will give us a lousy life. "