I started studying Taekwon-Do in 1990, T’ai-Chi in 1996, Aikido in 2000. I took Judo for about two years, from ages 8 to 10. I got started in Taekwon-Do partly because I had a friend who was getting his blackbelt, and I thought that seemed like a neat idea - that, and my older brother was doing it. (more…)
Lost: the initial version of this post, which was much more narrative in style.
Retained: most of the ideas.
Discarded: hyperlinks.
Lost: $360 worth of electronics, including iJuice power supply, iSight digital camera, iRock FM transmitter, and numerous cables.
Retained: cell phone, computer, clothes, and basically all the other *stuff* I brought with me.
Discarded: grrr.
Lost: girlfriend.
Retained: friendship, dignity, sanity. One of my best friends in the world, and likely to remain so for the forseeable future.
Discarded: Distance and tension.
Regained: strangely, the ability to have a conversation about politics with my father.
Gained: ideas for pursuing my application to the Kennedy School of Governement.
Planned: finish Blackbelt in Taekwon-Do (promotion date: December 19), continue documenting best practices in the Dean campaign, take the GRE, write application essays, grieve, and get my needs met as a single man. Not necessarily in that order.