sooo close

Leaving for Boston in 11 days... !  I can't wait.  In between I'm still finishing cleaning up my drum kit, tuning all the new heads (they settle over time and warp back out of tune, see...) and working out on my new practice pad.  I've been doing hand drills in front of my computer with headphones on listening to Jojo Mayer lecture on technique.  My fingers are all sore.  My whole body is sore, actually.  I've been working out officially for about three weeks now, 2-3 hours a day at Paul's gym doing Gung Fu and Tai Ji.  It's a big change from just stretching and working and eating and living.

My knife is still getting worked on, I guess.  I had no idea it would take so long.  Next time this happens (cross my fingers that it doesn't) I'll just try and fix it myself and pay the hundred bucks for a new knife if I mess up.  There's a new sushi chef at work but he's an old hand from Tomo so he mostly knows what's up.  The guy wants to be a cop...crazy...

I have to fix my bike tomorrow, the damn brakes are all wonky and they're grabbing the tires all the time.  Should just take a hex wrench and some elbow grease.  I just got off work and I'm dead tired, Hannah's home now so I guess I'll call it a night.

gardening

I need to put some pics up of this amazing house I live in.  Most recently: the Outside.  Chris, Hannah, Stephanie and I just did hours of work on the garden, and it is transformed.  We've started laying landscaping fabric down after pulling up mountains of weeds, rocks, and old dead plants.  We need to finish that, build raised beds, condition our soil with hay and compost and all that jazz, but it's looking so sweet already.

Besides that I've been jamming on the drums, and working out 2-3 hours a day at Pauls gym.  I just soaked my feet for half an hour in epsom salt and scalding water, feeling gooooooooood.

My weekends over tonight, but I kicked a ton of ass these last three days.  I have to sharpen my knife tomorrow, and all the other usual crap.  Weeeeeeeeee.

hmmmmmm

Life continues.  I have been working out at Paul's.  I have reconciled some childish issues I used to have with the man.  I'm supremely happy for him in his new life; although the schedule and his dedication to his students has morphed in different ways, He still provides an amazing and wonderful environment to learn in.  Hearing about his travels and his new passions lifts my heart.  The man remains an inspiration and I know I can still learn much from him.

Seeing Les Nubians and Beats Antique was super fun, but I'm taking a break to be more of a homebody while I work on my drumming.  I'm drilling with JoJo Mayer's "Secret Weapons of the Modern Drummer" dvd because his technique and musicality are inspiring.  I want monster hands like his.  Besides the monotonous hours working on my pinky fingers, I'm stretching my thumb and trying hard to make it work like new.  Paul says that when people injure themselves, energy tends to become blocked at that point, no longer flowing freely.  He says I've already fixed that, so now it's just flexibility and strength I need to work on.  It still hurts like a mother fucker after a shift at the Spot, however.  Oh well, here's looking forward...

My yanagi-ba is being worked on by a pro, which is comforting.  He's taking his time straightening the knife and putting a mirror finish on the blade.  I can't wait to cut some fish up with that thing! On the other hand, my gyuto has started chipping; I think the included angle has become too steep, leaving the edge brittle.  I'm afraid the next step is a total regrind of the knife...oh well, gotta learn some time.  Our house is making foccaccia pizza tonight, I can't wait to eat it! YUM.