All Day Taekwondo

Today is Rank Camp Day One, because Maddie had to go to at least one camp this summer, right?  Yeah, there was Summer Xtreme and Forward, and even a vacation in there too.  But this camp seemed like a good idea, and Maddie was interested in learning some new self-defense techniques.  She was probably more excited to see friends in the camp, and of course these things are really well planned out.  The Edges start things off with fitness exercises, which include jump ropes, "Roman Soldiers" and other activities - the students see if they can increase their numbers of each as the week progresses.  Maddie did 98 jump ropes this morning in the specified time, and I'm not sure how many of the other things.  We'll see how that goes as the week continues.  Early on there is the self defense training, where she said they were learning some new things.  I can't remember if it was her that tackled someone else, or visa versa, but that was a pretty fun moment early on.  Today she had eleven hours straight at the studio - she had her normal classes tonight after the camp, so it was a really full day.  She never left that building all day long - we brought her lunch (Chick-Fil-A) at one point, and she had a packed meal with her as well, so she was good to go for an entire day of taekwondo.

Mom and I got squirrel number 56 today.  We had taken a break from the trapping, because there was a small lull and besides, the new squirrels were okay, not knocking anything over.  Not until today.  No, they were back to their paths of destruction, including a bit of gnawing on the railing there. So we got number 56, and we transported him over to the sanctuary.  Afterwards, Mom and I went to Outback Steakhouse to do a more formal celebration of our twenty-third anniversary.  Mom had grilled shrimp, and I had the Queensland chicken and shrimp - we haven't eaten here in a while, but this was really good.  Twenty-three years ago, we ate at a Outback Steakhouse on Maui, one nearby Lahaina.  I remember that was somewhat of an "off day" for us, one where we didn't have any elaborate plans.  We had a good meal there, and then went on a train ride there at the foot of the mountain.  I think we saw the play "Ulalena" a little later on that night, a pretty fun day.

The heat index is climbing this week.  The sun is blazing, the humidity is on, and there's no doubt about it:  we're in summer.  It's July, so that makes sense.  You just run indoors as soon as you can.  I know in Florida, things are worse.  The idea of a mid-Florida vacation right now is just too much - I couldn't imagine standing in lines on concrete with it feeling like 110 outside.  

Anyway, tonight we finished up our Indiana Jones marathon with another look at "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."  This movie gets better to us every time we see it, particularly in comparison to the latest movie "Dial of Destiny."  I think it's all Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Williams.

It was a nice day today, a quiet day after all the fuss and bother of Forward and Summer Xtreme.  But we're moving on to new things, and we can't sit still for too long.  Eleventh grade is coming, so there's back-to-school shopping, and there's a new series at KidPak looming too.  Tonight we read, and we said our prayers - we got to bed earlier, because tomorrow we get up early for camp!