From Missouri Back to Orange County

After 5 Days with my mom I’m back in the OC (Orange County, CA) where it all began. I’m staying with both my Grandma and also my friend Len depending on the day and what all I do. Both good people and both places a good time in there own way. My Grams and I talk about life and decisions and Len and I hang around and make each other laugh. Both places I make time for studying Chinese which has improved over vacation but still needs work.

Whenever I’m in town Len and I try to make it up the Hare Krsna (Krishna) Temple in Venice Beach, CA. Interesting philosophy, good people and excellent food. Len’s vegetarian and I used to be also. So when I used to live in the OC we used to go there all the time to grub out as their food is entirely vegetarian and entirely delicious and many people say the food is spiritual as well. Even if you’re not affiliated with their religion (which I’m not) all are welcome to enjoy the food (which I do!). Now whenever I visit Orange County we try to make an appearance at the temple. Well this trip, because of a lack of time as well as a lack of gas money on both our parts, we didn’t make it. But next time for sure.

Past Temple Photo

Well tomorrow it’s back on the mountain…Vacation sure went by fast!

From Pennsylvania to Missouri

Last week I said my goodbyes to Pennsylvania. I had such a good time seeing my friends and family that I decided to prolong my stay for 3 more days. Those 3 extra days went by fast but were memorable.

Following that, Rebecca took me to the airport where I boarded a plane to visit my mom in Missouri. This past week I’ve been with her and the pugs chillin, studying, and spending quality time. My mom and I are very close and she is very supportive of my path and my decisions, which means quite a bit to me. We spent a lot of time talking about where I see myself going and what my options might be for the future. We went out to eat a few times at some really good places in the area.

My mom is hilarious and has me rollin with laughter all the time. She is very uplifting and easy going which are qualities I admire. She lives in Branson, Mo which apparently has a lot of different types of shows going on in the Summer but not too many in the Winter. So we gotta save that plan for next time I visit which will hopefully be this Summer.

Elmo is good, Fernie is good (The pugs), and her cats which I don’t know if I mentioned them before but they’re good too. She has a black one which used to be my sisters, his name is Shlittle (Short and Little), and also a white cat whose name is Priscilla (named after her prissy disposition). Both awesome cats. Both the pugs and the cats are awesome so I guess that means my mom raises awesome animals. So with this in mind I asked her some advice on raising our Retreat Center pup Xiao Hu. We’ll see what happens.

Mark Seidel

Me and Mark Seidel After His Long Fist Class
(Picture from last year)

Last Tuesday I was able to visit my teacher Mark Seidel. Mark is both Allan's original Hung Gar and Long Fist teacher, as well as a former student of Shifu (Master Yang). I began training under Mark shortly after applying for the Retreat Center program. Mark is both very skilled and also a very good teacher with good training ethics. Training with him was a very painful time...Definately good memories. It was very nice to see him again.

Tuesday nights are his Tai-Ji Quan classes, which I was able to attend. After warm ups and forms we did basic push hands...something I don't yet have much experience in. I pushed with Mark which was a good time (I got my butt kicked!). However he, like Shifu has in the past, pointed out that I'm too stiff and I need to relax and be less tense. Too much Hung Gar hard Qigong on my part...Being hard is good at the right times, but still I gotta be soft too.

We used to train out of an office building however Mark recently re-opened his old school located in Scranton, Pa. Tuesday was the first time I've been there. Its a really big school with alot of open space and good training equipment.

If anyone in the area is interested in training a curriculum similar to what we train at the Retreat center, or just want hard traditional training (Long Fist, Hung Gar, Tai-Ji Quan), I definately recommend Mark Seidel's school. Mark Seidel can be reached at (570)249-1087.

Night out

My dad, myself, and Rebecca went to the local bar Thunder Alley on a couple of nights during my stay here. Rebecca and I played pool and darts. We all had a good time catching up, talking, sharing stories and having lots of laughs.

My Dad, Rebecca and Me

Training

Last Saturday I went to Allan’s school in Kingston,PA. He recently remodeled his school and I havent seen it since I left for The Retreat Center in March. It turned out very nice.
Saturdays are informal classes at his school between 12-2 pm. When I got there shortly after 12 there were already people working out. They were all familiar faces, friends and training partners. It was very nice to see everybody and how they‘ve progressed. Allan teaches Hung Gar so everybody there was practicing their Hung Gar forms or drills. While they were doing that, I trained my Retreat Center routine. Mainly TaiJi Quan, Jing, and conditioning. At the end of my workout I practiced Chin-na with my ex girlfriend Rebecca… I kind of enjoyed locking her up!

Me and Al


Rebecca's Revenge
I don't know what she did but it hurt!

Northeast Pennsylvania

I’m in Northeast Pennsylvania and I’m having a really good time. It’s nice seeing my old friends and family and hanging out at all the old places I used to chill at. For the most part I’m staying with my Dad and Grandma. I’ve especially missed my Dad as we’re close. Its great seeing him and of course its nice seeing my Grandma too.

My Dad, Grams, and Me

My first night out I went to “Old Time Charlie’s,” which is a pretty popular bar in the area. I went with one of my best friends and former roommate Angie and 2 friends. The 4 of us went out and had a couple of drinks and a lot of laughs.

Christmas was very nice. I spent Christmas day with my Dad and Grandmother. The night before on Christmas Eve I had dinner at Amy’s, my old landlord’s house. Angie was there with her friend Kevin, who I knew from way back. Al (my Hung Gar teacher) was also there with our good friend Jon. Amie and Angie did most of the cooking and me, Jon and Al did most of the eating. Great food and great people.

Jon (Right), Al, Amy, and Amy's BF Dwayne(Left)

Al, Amy (The Best Landlord), and Me
(Last Years Picture)

My Old Roommates Angie (Left)
and Megan (Right)

The past few years living in Pennsylvania I had a long-time girlfriend Rebecca. Although we broke up a while ago, we still keep in touch. Rebecca is a little more than a few years older than me and we met in Hung Gar class. She has a daughter Chynna who is a great kid, very good at art and music. Chynna was my little sparing buddy back when I lived here. We used to have so much fun sparring and rough housing…she’s definitely a tough kid. Rebecca also has this amazing cockatoo bird with so much personality and a taste for coffee. The birds name is Snowflake although we almost always call her Pretty as she constantly says “pretty bird”. Years ago I taught the birdie how to whistle…and she still does. She‘s also picked up a number of new words and phrases...some are really funny but I probably shouldn’t mention them.

Rebecca
(Before Dyeing Her Hair)

Rebecca's Birdie Says Hi

Rebecca's Daughter Chynna

Although I’ll be back on the mountain soon, its nice to be here while I can...