Interests:To draw; lots of female characters. I like playing game music on my violin like Chrono Cross. I also like playing music from anime as well: Full Metal Alchemist, Macross Fontier, etc etc. Love to hang out with my friends and my awesome boyfriend who I love so much. : ) Expertise:My only: playing the violin. 13 years of it, but considering the fact that I DO not practice as much as I should, I'm not as good as I should be lol XD But I love playing at school because it's so green and foresty. I'd love to play on a hill one day :) Occupation:Student
We set down our shinai (bamboo sword) on the ground beside us and kneel to sit on our knees. We enter meditation as the head teacher's voice rings out boldly throughout the dojo. Breathing in deeply, I can only hope I can get through another day of training and intense practice and enjoy it. Voice to stop rings out "Yame!". Calmly, we open our eyes and bow to the front, the teachers and to each other. "Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu!" Kneeling up with one knee, we grab our shinai and wait for orders.
As we line up in several lines. We do something similar to "across the floors". However, a lot of breathing concentration is involved. Our kiai (inner energy) voice echoes loudly as we run across the floor. Our goal today was to manage our breath longer for farther and longer distances. Breathing is everything. When we move or attack, we need to use our kiai and exhale, never breathing in when attacking. So we must be able to control how we breathe at all times. As each rows moves forward, your heart thumps louder as you cluch the shinai and raise it to position. It's your line next. As you go, your mind is filled with things like technique, the speed, the quality and breathing all at the same time. And of course, the eyes of your instructors as you move past them. Back in line after a few runs, most of us are breathing and sweating heavily. A smile runs across my face as I hear the instructor yell "We're going to make it harder now!" I don't quite understand myself as to why that makes me happy, but the intense training brings back life into me. You're so into it, sweat rolling down your face is easily ignorable.
Next we separate into groups via levels and train specifically on each needs. You can get almost get a one on one with the best instructors for kendo in the bay area. Occasionally, I glance over at the higher level group who are wearing masks and body sheilds. My heart races in excitement as I think about one day being able to join them, but, in the meantime, I quickly turn my eyes back to my own practice. I have a long way to go. The teacher was about to teach us how to practice with a partner and another teacher comes in to give us a heads up on the time. The instructor gives our instructor a sign with hands crossed in an 'X': class is over. We smiled and laughed as the teacher told us that we ran out of time and will have to learn it next time. I wanted to learn more.
The call for lining up. The top and the most experienced sits closer to the front and the beginners sit closer to the end. We gently lay down our shinais next to our knees as we bend down and sit for the end of the class bows. "MOKUTOU!" (Meditation!) I close my eyes, our hands cupped in a traditional form for buddhist style meditation. I breathe in deeply and out in reassurance that I was able to go through another class. I like this art more and more as I attend the classes. "YAME!" (Stop!) We open our eyes. Bowing to the front, then to the teachers, and then to each other, saying "Arigatou gozaimashita!" (Thank you very much), we end our practice.
I actually looked at a photo on Deviant Art for reference. (By the name of "sepia horse". http://vadalein.deviantart.com/art/Sepia-Horse-78906604 ) Yay paint! :D Finished in about an hour or two on 5 / 27 / 09. Just blue, black and white for paint colors.
Watching TV, tossing a bit on rifle, listening to music, studying. Everything is going well and it feels like everything is perfect, yet not. I'm usually the one out on trips, being away and all that stuff. But James is in Maryland and I miss him. It's only for a short time which is good :) I can't wait until Monday.
So I figured out my schedule for next semester in the Fall in case people wanted to know:
You are outgoing, gregarious, and well loved.
And it's a good thing you're super charming...
Because you also tend to be a bit flaky!
Your confidence gets your far, and you always speak your mind.
You have a good sense of self control and hate to show weakness.
You're laid back and chill, but sometimes you care too much about what others think.
You tend to have one best friend you hang with, as opposed to many aquaintences.
Some of your past dreams have disappointed you, but you don't let it get you down.
Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything.
You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life.
You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you.
Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace.
You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life.
Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times.
At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you.
You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others.
You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.
You are pretty evenly split down the middle - a total eunuch.
Okay, kidding about the eunuch part. But you do get along with both sexes.
You reject traditional gender roles. However, you don't actively fight them.
You're just you. You don't try to be what people expect you to be.
