Peter’s Soapbox

MercRX 2010.1

This year’s first Mercury Retrograde is turning out to be a doozy. Some roadblocks are finally giving way (getting things underway with the coffee shop), other delays are springing up (from the construction taking place just before my favorite bike paths to the digging in the street outside my office), to a long lost friend, with whom I haven’t corresponded in well over a year returning, to all sorts of computer and communications breakdowns, as is typical of this time of year.

At least it’s predictable.

Book Review: Daniel Suarez’s Daemon and Freedom (TM)

I recently read both of Daniel Suarez’s novels, Daemon and Freedom (TM). They are what I would call great sci-fi, with a strong emphasis on the science. Warning – minor spoilers appear if you continue reading.

Continue reading Book Review: Daniel Suarez’s Daemon and Freedom (TM)…

Plateau

I’ve been feeling like I’m on a plateau lately. At least, that’s what people usually call this type of period in training, when it does not feel like you’re making any progress. Continue reading Plateau…

Tetanus Shot

Yesterday afternoon I had my annual checkup. The only number on my chart my doctor said he didn’t like was “2000,” which was the date of my last tetanus shot. So, a nurse gave me one (good job, by the way – I barely felt it), and warned me it would hurt tomorrow.

Instead, it started to hurt about 10 minutes into aikido last night. I didn’t let it stop me, although I did a few fewer rolls than the others. What was interesting was when we started practicing technique, I was forced to not use my shoulder muscles to lift, or I felt some serious pain. It definitely gave me some extra guidance when we practiced tenkan and shihonage.

Everyone should practice aikido with a tetanus shot at least once.

But maybe not more than once…

Book Review: Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk

This weekend I burned through Gary Vaynerchuk’s book, “Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion.” Continue reading Book Review: Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk…