A new day

A new look.. a new name.. hmm..
go tessa

Father's day

My father is one of the people who have influenced me the most. Maybe it is rather conceited of me to say this, but I am truly grateful for having such a great father (for lack of better words). I have a much better father than too many other people do, and that of course is a sad thing too (for the other people anyway). Had it not been for my father's influence, who knows what hell-hole I would be in today.

He and my mom of course- were my first teachers. He was my first and only sifu for the first 17 years of my life (minus my uncle - his brother, who is equally a father to me). It was he who instilled in me the love for martial arts and other sports like tennis, swimming, triathlons, and what not. And it's also always been him to be there to give me that kick in the butt when I needed it.

When I was 14 or 15 he got gravely ill and for about a period of 6 months after that I would wake up every morning wondering if he was still around. For four years after that his health was still quite bad and he just wasn't quite the same in a sense that he wasn't all over the place- running, teaching martial arts, managing our business, doing all these community projects, etc. But despite his not being able to reach the same physical capacity, he was and still is as sharp and witty as he ever was. Even in those times when we were all feeling in the lowest of low, he would crack jokes in the oddest times to bring a little ray of sunshine into our house.

Today he still isn't quite as physically active as he was, but being the warrior and commander that he is, he has mobilized armies of people- his old students, to help him continue teaching many people. There is so much more to say about him. His patience, perseverance, determination, wisdom, and kindness are constant inspirations for me. I can only hope to one day somehow become what he has wanted me to be all these years as a way of ever-thanks to him.

Left behind.. again

This dog of mine, Dama, just died this afternoon. He was not feeling well yesterday, he was restless and his back was very painful and was rather shaky suddenly so I brought him to the vet. The vets said that it was probably canine distemper. I never really saw a dog with it before or what- all I know is that my dog's vaccines were updated.. but I guess vaccines just don't work sometimes. So anyway they gave me all these medicines and told me to come back in a week's time. I brought him home and gave him some dog food and his favorite- fresh milk. He lapped the milk up but didn't touch the dog food, then slept. At around 10 pm I heard him crying so I came out and checked on him and gave him more blankets and the like, he wasn't looking too good. I talked to him for a while and told him it was ok to go if he needed to. He couldn't get up anymore this morning, so I kept coming out and seeing if he was still around and talking to him a bit and telling him not to worry so much. Then this afternoon around 4 pm I was studying in my room and wondering how he was and just kinda thinking about him in this way. I went to see him and he was gone. I had his body buried in our property already and have disinfected the whole place. Another friend, come and gone. He never was much of a dog in a sense that he was so gentle all the time, and even if he was a german shepherd, he was the calmest guy you'd ever meet. He hardly ever barked and welcomed everyone in. The only thing scary about him (to our neighbors/strangers) were his looks and size. Otherwise, this guy was a big puppy who loved milk and papayas- no joke.

You'll be missed Dama, but I know you're better off where you are now, and am happy you did not have to go through so much pain.

Karma Kula Chapter 4: Bogi Yogi

Karma Kula Mystic Warrior: Chapter 4: Bogi yogi
Hilarious chapter. I've got an inkling the next chapter will be great action. I just wish it weren't a month away!!

I've been good, busy, happy.

David Carradine

Rest in peace man.. I'm sorry you had to go this way.

Up!

I think the whole concept of this UP movie is pretty good. At least well.. the "hero" is not one of those half naked macho young guys or ..something else somehow. Hopefully this will remind some people that old people are just like any of us in bodies that just don't work the same way anymore.

Here's a funny little article on it.

5 more days to Karma Kula's 3rd chapter! :)