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Okay, I was just reading the comments from yesterday's blog and my wise friend Kelly had a really good point...
"Oh man... you have to wait this long to find out whether you are a first degree black belt? Barb, this is killing me. I had to laugh because in the world that is scrapbooking, people anxiously await The Call. But in the world that is TKD, The Call is something to be dreaded. Hmmm, quite the contridiction there."
I hadn't thought about it that way before, she's so right! For a scrapbook contest, I sit around all day practically willing the phone to ring and it's silent. Yesterday I prayed that the phone would not ring and it rang off the freaking HOOK!
Riiiiiing :::::: heart starts pounding ::::::......look at caller ID, it's the dentist's office. Whew.
Riiiiiing :::::: heart starts pounding ::::::......look at caller ID, it's a political survey. Go away.
Riiiiiing :::::: heart starts pounding ::::::......look at caller ID, it's my mom. Mom, love ya, gotta go.
Riiiiiing :::::: heart starts pounding ::::::......look at caller ID, it's my husband. He knows better!
Anyhow, I got a lot of calls. No winning contest call, no "no pass" testing call, so it's all good. That means that today is a pretty big day.
When I started training in taekwondo, I figured out that if I passed all of my tests on schedule and I didn't get injured along the way, I should be "standing on the chair" for my first degree black belt on Tuesday, May 23, 2006. That sounded like a really long time away. But you know how it is, especially when you get older and have kids, time flies. Time has flown and today is Tuesday, May 23, 2006 and tonight Shannon and I will take turns standing on that chair, having our instructor and our family say nice things about us, then get that belt which basically just moves us from the top of a small totem pole to the bottom of a big one! But that's okay. Two years ago when I was hopelessly fat, unfit, and somewhat depressed that totem pole seemed like something impossible. I didn't think it would really happen at the start.
Did you watch the Survivor reunion show? The woman who finished fourth, Cirie, was a classic middle aged couch potato who turned her life around by getting off of the couch, getting active and doing Survivor. She lost weight, she felt great, she looked really good. I could relate to her story a LOT. That's how I feel since I started at CTA, although when I signed up, I just wanted to survive from class to class and walk without limping. May 23, 2006 didn't even show up on my radar screen for quite a while.
Finally, it's Diet Deadline Day. About a year ago, when I realized that I would be standing on that chair someday, I had this ooogy feeling. Part of the ceremony involves our instructor untying our senior red belt, pulling it off of us, and making it crack like a whip. Now if you're a ten year old kid and have no hips or body fat, that thing snaps like a firecracker. I, on the other hand, had this vision that our instructor would go to pull my belt off me and it would get stuck. Ugh. I did NOT want that to happen. So for the past year I have been determined to be thin and fit enough that the belt would snap off of me. I didn't totally meet my weight loss number, but I'm fairly close. I'm down three solid dress sizes and I'm pretty confident that that belt will not get stuck tonight. It had better not. Yesterday my friend Karin suggested that I wear some heavy duty control panel undies and I thought that wasn't a bad idea. Perhaps I could find one of those old fashioned corsets and have Shannon "lace me up tight" before getting dressed.
So tonight is our night to celebrate and even eat guilt free pizza. Tomorrow we take our place at the very bottom of a big black totem pole. Yay! Second degree....Tuesday, September 25, 2007!
Congratulations!
Posted by: Jamie | May 26, 2006 at 08:01 AM
Barb - you da'bomb woman! I'm so impressed by you - You rock!
Posted by: Jodi | May 25, 2006 at 12:22 AM
Oops! I accidently read your blog yesterday & wished that you both get the call. Sorry bout that :)
I'm so happy you DIDN'T the Calls and I'm happy you are fulfilling your dreams of those coveted Black Belts.
Congratulations Barb & Shannon!!!
I couldn't be happier for ya :)
Posted by: Kimberly Brock | May 23, 2006 at 05:29 PM
Hi Barb! Way to go!! WOW, taekwondo! That is SO cool! Very inspiring.
I want to thank you for posting on my blog. I really appreciate it! And you're right, us science- and engineer geeks need to stick together! :o)
Have a great week, Barb! Thanks again!!
Leah
Posted by: Leah | May 23, 2006 at 04:20 PM
Congrats to you both. I was going to call you yesterday, and keep calling every 4-5 minutes, but didnt' have your phone number. LOL.
Posted by: Scotty 2 Hottie | May 23, 2006 at 04:18 PM
Hey girl! I suggested the "body slimmer". LOL! But, I don't think you'll be needing it. You'll get more crack than Bobby & Whitney!
I'm so proud of you!
G
Posted by: Ginger | May 23, 2006 at 02:58 PM
you are amazing!!!!!!! so proud and happy for you both. wish we could all be there to see it but we're there in hummer spirit. :) huge congrats!
Posted by: D1 | May 23, 2006 at 12:55 PM
You go girl!!! I love the way Kelly said it- "Snaps to you!" Congrats- enjoy your night and Shannon too!! Have fun girls!! Well deserved!
Posted by: Kate | May 23, 2006 at 12:47 PM
Barb and Shannon...I am so, so proud of both of you!!!! What a journey and what a story...just sat here reading it with tears in my eyes! You are such an inspiration to the rest of us!! Congrats!!
Posted by: Sharon L | May 23, 2006 at 11:39 AM
Barb!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe the day is finally here...you are the BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell Shannon the HUMMIES are proud of her too! deB
Posted by: deB perry | May 23, 2006 at 10:46 AM
YOU ROCK BARB! (And Shannon, too!) Good for you!! :D
Posted by: Susan | May 23, 2006 at 10:33 AM
Yay Barb!
Posted by: April Oaks | May 23, 2006 at 09:51 AM
What a wonderful entry Barb!!!
Posted by: Adrienne | May 23, 2006 at 09:49 AM
Barb, you are just the coolest!! Honestly, I'm so proud of you! Congrats to both of you. Enjoy your big night!!
Posted by: Nancy Rogers | May 23, 2006 at 09:39 AM
That is so awesome Barb and what a journey it seems to have been for you! So very cool!! And again you always make me giggle...love the corset!! So here it so a loud snap tonight as you enter the world of BLACKBELTDOM!!!!!!! :) Congrats my friend! ;)
Posted by: Heather | May 23, 2006 at 08:57 AM
Barb-
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND SHANNON!!!!
This entry brought tears to my eyes....I know how much blood, sweat, and tears you have put into this training. You have perservered through some shit to get where you are I think you ROCK!!
Way to Go!!!!
Enjoy every second of getting that belt tonight!
I'll be thinking of you guys!
Huge hugs!!
T.
Posted by: tina | May 23, 2006 at 08:48 AM
you go girls! : ) So happy and proud... what a cool accomplishment. : )
Enjoy your day! And "snaps" to you! : )
-kelly
Posted by: Kelly | May 23, 2006 at 08:24 AM
*sigh* I love this entry. Love, love, love it. Because you share the story of a journey that has been life changing. Barb, you inspire me to set my goals higher and, most importantly, to believe in myself. Thank you for being a shining example to women everywhere.
I am absolutely thrilled for you. This is such an achievement. Congratulations. This is hard earned, well deserved, and long awaited. Enjoy the moment and cherish the day. Again, CONGRATULATIONS! Here's to belt snapping!
Posted by: kelly edgerton | May 23, 2006 at 08:15 AM
wooooooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! GO BARB!!!!!!! Hiiiiiiiiiiiyah!
Posted by: Sharyn (Torm) | May 23, 2006 at 08:02 AM