Five Golden Rings

I wish I had a CD player at work today. I'm in the mood for some Christmas carols, and it's like a graveyard around here. Many of my coworkers are out today, and I haven't had a single phone call to break the silence. I'm jealous of Forest, who has a headphone-CD setup at his desk at MSU. I wish I were so lucky! But I'm being patient, because I was assured in a meeting yesterday that my boss's boss is trying very hard to get me an office space, so I don't have to be in cube-ville anymore. Unlike the other members of the cubicle community (Jane), I feel it's in poor taste to subject other people to my musical whims while they are trying to work. If I'm in an office, however, I can close the door and listen to whatever I feel like. It's blissful. My boss thinks the move will be in January or early February. I never hold my breath about this stuff, but it would certainly make me happy.

Last night Forest and I went out with Tae Kwon Do club to Bilbo's to celebrate the end of a successful semester. We were all floored when Master Kim showed up. He is so amazing. I have no idea how old he actually is, because if you ask him, he gives you crazy answers. Last night he swore he was 75, and none of us believed him. The coolest thing about Master Kim is that after 40 years of teaching, he can still communicate with an 18-year-old just as well as he can with his WWII veteran friends. He speaks to everyone with respect, and never makes you feel that he sees any difference between your life experiences and his own. He doesn't hold anyone's life against them. I really admire that. I hope when I'm claiming to be 75 I'm as open-minded as Master Kim.

Of course he was the life of the party, and we were glad he came along, and brought his sense of humor with him. As my Christmas gift to the unknown masses of the internet, here is a great Master Kim-ism:

Three masters walk into a room. The first one, seeing a fly buzzing about, karate-chops the fly in midair, and splits it into peices. The second master, seeing another fly and happy to show his prowess, attacks the fly in mid-flight with two fingers extended, and two little eyes fall to the ground. The third master, spying a third fly, attacks it with a quick grabbing motion, but the fly gets away. The other master laugh at him, because he missed. He says "Yes, the fly can still fly away, but he will never procreate again."

It's better in person, and with the Korean accent, trust me.

I'm determined to spend winter break catching up so that I can take the advanced Tae Kwon Do class in spring and summer this year. I have to get a whole lot better at chambering my kicks, and get them up higher. I also need to know Palgwe Chun Pubs inside and out without having to think about it, and I'd *like* to learn the next three poomses, too.

Well, at least I'm driven. I don't want to miss out on learning from Master Kim any chance I can. Since I am not a registered student at LCC, I won't be taking the class for credit, but that's fine with me! I'll have no pressure for grades, only my own desire to master what I'm taught. I like that.