A short one

Just a short blog this week - the pandemonium was fun, although it was weird to me to not be involved with the kids' game like the previous years. But it looked like they all had a blast! It was really awesome that Po showed up too. It was great to see my girls more involved this year too. While they weren't on the mats, they sold baking and painted faces. All in all a great day. Thanks to everyone for coming out, regardless of how you spent your day. There is a lot of moving parts when putting something this incredible together, and it seemed to run like a well built machine.

Missed it

I missed blogging last week, and put it off again yesterday. Not the time for bad habits to start. The pandemonium is this coming Saturday, and it will be a great day I am sure. 24 hours of non-stop Kung Fu - it doesn't get any better than that!

There's a smurf in my house!

Well, close anyway. It's been a blue hair adventure, that has made me smile. It's been a trying week and a half, so the smile was needed.

How's that for a kicker?

I've read several blogs over the past few weeks, and there seem to be injuries abound. Some are new, and some are recurring, almost like an old friend. Obviously not a friend, more like a foe.

I have had tendinitis in my wrists for many years now, but mostly it comes and goes. It creates challenges, and I am glad that I have started to work with my weapon for next year. It's frustrating though, as I want to play, but have to take a step back from everything. My wrist pain feels more sinister this time, so I am really trying to be good to them, but it isn't easy.

But there is a bright side. I can work on being the best kicker out there!

 

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"it's a small world" 50th Anniversary Global Chorus | Disney Parks

I found this the other day, and it really touched me.  It is a project that involves Matt Harding (note: dancing around the world - where the hell is Matt?).

I love it.

Har, Har Matey!

No, it isn't International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Sorry, but this is where my brain went while I was formulating this blog. However as I was writing, I decided that I need to write something on a different note, so my apologies to all closet pirates out there. I received a wonderful gift today. Actually, the Lil Leopards kids instructors did, including some that no longer teach with us. One of the mom's has taken pictures of the class over the past couple of years, and today she gave us all pictures of ourselves in the midst of it all. She took the time to sort them, and give each instructor pictures of themselves with the kids. I really loved this, as I don't think we ever really see ourselves when we teach. In all the pictures, I saw grownups totally in the moment with the kids. I was reminded of why I teach the kids, and the gift that I receive from being with them.

Thank you so much Mrs. Werbicki.

Something different

We tried something different this week - we went to the Royal Alberta Museum. Parts of it haven't changed much over the years, but they have this exhibit called "Chop Suey" and it is on the history of Chinese restaurants in Alberta. I have never noticed, but almost every town in Alberta has at least one Chinese restaurant! When we first entered the exhibit, they have a timeline displayed starting with when the Chinese first arrived. It started with the gold rush, which then moved into the railway. I was surprised and ashamed to see the awful treatment the Chinese received. They were charged a head tax, and were monitored very closely. Immigration was very tight, and only men were allowed in initially. First to allow for the railroad to be completed, and after that, they ended up working traditional "women's" jobs - mainly cooking.
The men (who had families back home in China) started to open restaurants, as that was something they could do. And over the last 125 years, these restaurants have endured and have become a part of our culture. Funny though, most of what we consider "Chinese Food" isn't very traditional at all. Our tastes are different, and so are the flavours here. There is much more to this though, and if it still open, I highly recommend it!

Now, the coolest thing ever! In this exhibit, we discovered our very own Sihing William Choy! Bing's is a staple here in Stony Plain and Spruce Grove, and it was such a treat to see him, and to hear about how they used to grow bean sprouts in the basement of their restaurant. I feel so very proud!!! Many high fives to you Sihing!

This was an awesome day... (they even had an interactive Koi pond).