Applephobia

Did this picture scare anybody else? As a child I was always worried about biting into a worm every time I ate an apple. To this day, I check my apples 3 times over for holes. If there is even the tiniest hole in an apple there is no way I am eating that apple!

Reverse Bucket List

Have you ever done a reverse bucket list? It is my birthday today and I started thinking of all the things that I've already done. I don't really have a bucket list, so I decided to d a reverse bucket list. After all, I am Dyslexic.

Things that should be on a Bucket List, but I already took care of that:

1. I've swam with Dolphins...kissed, hugged and danced with them. A magical experience

2. I got my black belt...4 of them

3. I've owned my own business...not fun

4. Been to Jamaica, and I will not go back ever again

5. I have a Master's Degree...and 3 credits plus a thesis short of a second one

6. I competed at the US Open Karate...3rd is sparing up 2 weight classes (those were some big girls!)

7. Lived in Florida (a dream from my childhood)

8. Went Paddle Boarding...no fun on the bad back

9. Went to a Miami Dolphin's Game in Miami (and they won)...another childhood dream

10.  Went to a Bon Jovi Concert...Best concert ever!

11. Went to an Aerosmith concert

12. Been to NYC

13. Been to Vegas

14. Been to the Bahamas...too many times

15. Been to Mexico

16. Was one of Murfreesboro's Most Beautiful People...that was fun

17. Been To Disney World and Disney Land

18. Been to Universal Orlando and Hollywood

19. I have kids...a lot of them. Okay, just 3, but that seems like a lot.

20. I wrote a play that was performed in front of an audience

21. I have 3 tattoos

22. Been to Busch Gardens Tampa

23. Been to Mammoth Cave, and I want to go back

24. I hold several state championships in several different states in a couple of different organizations for Taekwondo.

25. I hold several National Championships for Taekwondo

26. I've done Trapeze...that was scary!

27. I can't count the number of 5K races I have done, won, and beat PRs

28. I was a lifeguard

29. I've been snorkeling in the Caribbean

30. I've been to SeaWorld Orlando

31. Went to a Darius Rucker Concert...he was entertaining

32. Met Tom Arnold

33. Got married, have stayed that way for over 15 years

34. Been Baptized

35. I've been to numerous Pro-hockey games

36. I've been to Titan's games

37. I've been in a bar fight...with a certain pro-baseball player

38. Got Scuba certified...but then never went diving after certification

...this list could keep going.

I suggest doing a Reverse Bucket List. It is more fun than a Bucket List.

Reading

I should retitle this because I don't actually read books, I tend to devour them. It is an addicting habit for me. I love books.

 I will read just about any genre (not horror or anime) preferring anything with some humor. I enjoy stories. My favorite of all time is Memoirs of a Geisha. I don't know why I love it so much, but it has been my favorite since I was about 19. My favorite author, though, is Sophia Kinsella (think Confessions of a Shopaholic). She makes me laugh with her British humor.

I have over 200 books on my Nook account, but I prefer the real thing. I love the smell of books! I love the feel of turning a page and the ability to share real books with friends. The problem with real books is space. When we moved to Tempe this past summer I donated over half of my library. It was sad, but I intend to replace the books with new titles.

I just don't know what to read next, though. What are your favorite books?

Best Taekwondo Instructor

I've been pondering my martial-arts career lately (yeah, I'm missing it), and was just thinking back to all of the instructors I've had over the 21 years that I've trained.

I've had some pretty good ones, lots of them that I consider life long friends. Most of them were my heroes at some point, but only a few of them remained heroes. These men, and a few women, held a special place in my heart. They not only helped me to become a better martial-artist, but they made me feel like I was a better person.

But there is one instructor that stands out the most to me. I admire him so much in and out of the dojang. He has a heart of gold and he is such a good person. Master Scott Wisneski is probably one of the best people I know. Not only as a martial-artist, but as a person.

As a martial-artist he is pretty bad-ass. For a short white guy, he can do amazing jump kicks and he has no problem joining his students in class to show off. I've watched him do some amazing breaks, kicks, and poomse/forms. Most of all, he can kick my butt in a sparing match.

As an instructor, he is like a dad or big brother to all of his students. He makes each student feel important, even if they have zero talent in Taekwondo. Most of all, he knows his stuff. I've never seen an instructor that knows forms backwards and forwards like Master Scott does. For me, though, I appreciate that he is both fun and traditional. I never went to a class without both laughing and learning.
FMAC

As a person he is incredible. He is giving, open, and super nice. His marriage to Elizabeth Wisneski is inspirational. They are the best of friends and experience life together. He is so much fun to just hang out with. Even my kids adore him. Not to mention, he has the best dogs ever.

Silly, making fun of my car

With my daughter, Faith

Tempe and Tampa

After living in Tempe, Arizona for about a month I've found the differences between the two towns.

1. One has only E's as a vowel, the other has only A's as a vowel

                  DUH

A                                              E

2. One has lightening storms, the other has dust storms

3. One has beaches near by, the other has mountains nearby

4. One has not enough humidity, the other has too much humidity

5. One is surrounded by theme Parks, the other unfortunately has no theme parks

Otherwise, there isn't much difference