Whistler

Yes Christmas day, here we are in Edmonton airport leaving for Vancouver, fog has delayed the flight. It is leaving a two hours later than expected. Our bus connection in Vancouver is not going to line up so we will take another bus.
The sea to sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler where the winter Olympics are being held is a beautiful piece of construction. The highway is built part way hanging off the side of the mountain with concrete and rock bonding the three and four lane highway to the mountain . The town of Whistler is built in a valley the main part of Whistler Village is constructed at the base of the ski mountain. The village is built so there is no driving all walking streets as you wander from shop to shop and food sources.
We ventured up the Whistler mountain in a small gondola which will hold about six people and ski equipment about a twenty-five minute ride. It was quite weird there was a thermal inversion that day. At the base of the mountain the temperature was minus ten at the top at twenty-one hundred meters the ambient temperature was plus ten snow was melting and the day was absolutely stunning not a cloud in the sky sun bearing down with extraordinary heat. We then boarded the Peak to Peak gondola it holds twenty-five to thirty people. The structure holding the cables are massive. Two cables suspending the gondola and one push pulling, I heard that it is one of the longest free suspended gondola's in the world. It is a very smooth ride of eight minutes, the view is stunning all the way over to the top of Blackcomb. We had lunch out on the patio in the sunshine, viewing the valley of green pines covered in snow and the sun glistening off the snow covered peaks. Skiers and snow boarders carving the snow as they make their way down the mountain. We rode the gondola back to the top of Whistler mountain and back down to the village. The Peak to Peak was a beautiful day of unbelievable scenery and well worth the trip. Something to be aware of is to make sure it is a sunny day. I now see why so much money was spent on upgrading Whistler, there is so much skiing at this wold class facility that you can ski for weeks and not take the same run twice. British Columbia has done quite a wonderful job of preparing for the Olympics, I will be focusing my full attention all sports events this February.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Feeling Buried

All the projects that I want to do seem such a huge task that I will never survive them all.
There is a basement room that needs a new floor, I am going to install in floor heating, trying to decide to go Hydro or Electric. Both are a huge undertaking.
Then there is the outside dirt wall that should be stabilized although it is frozen now (yes :-) it will be good till summer.
I picked up a thirty-year old fifteen-foot Lund boat that looks in great shape but will still need quite a few hours of TLC, and rebuild the Mercury motor for it. The trailer needs to be stripped down, repainted, new tires and rims.
Also picked up a 1984 Fiero that I want to restore or possibly turn into a mock Ferrari. The engine is in fairly good shape, what I originally wanted to do is drop a small V8 in it. That might be too large of a task!
Doesn’t seem like much, but I do like to do as much myself as possible. Looks like lot of man-hours.
Also will be adventuring more into the Cane curriculum getting the Kwoon up to speed. This winters project.
Looks like I need a big dollar retirement.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Discerning

I was raised in a home that was made clear what was right and wrong. If the rules were not followed consequences would follow.
Why is the line between right and wrong not so clear anymore? It seems that truth and error they run so close together in this day and age and weird time we live in how can any one call anything wrong. Especially when society judges itself and follows Hollywood and the super jocks of our world and watch them do what ever they want. Such as curse, swear in the ring. Maybe slam a guy into the ice with a stick to the head from behind. Have no control; just pass it off, as oh the guy was just to pumped to know what he was doing. Or make society believe that he is a clean-cut family guy and when they come out of the Woods find out later he’s not. They make all kinds of money in advertising, pushing products that our children and society use. Only to find out they are leading a double life and if these lime light people can do it, well it must be OK and right. It is no wonder that violence is becoming the norm when kids play such violent video games. Practice anything enough and you become good at it. Instead of real being real it is like virtual reality is becoming reality. Our younger generation is thriving on this. We are watching a move from a standard of morality to emphases on tolerance. We have changed from a society of beliefs to a society of self.
Instead of life being interpreted honestly it is interpreted emotionally. Back in the day there was a level of morality, one was appropriate, and one was not. There was a clear line drawn in the sand which was right and wrong Now days there seems to be a line but it gets moved by the persons morality and how you feel at the moment just move the line over a bit or better yet erase it.
No rule is valid- break it. No authority is valid- ignore it. Just do what you feel is right. Style is more important than substance. Image or appearance is what is real not substance. Is morality just a choice? Do words have no adherent meaning?
We live in a world where everything is possible and nothing is certain.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Early Celebration

Being that our family will not be able to get together for Christmas. We had an early festive fondue feast this weekend. We had a great time listening to stories of Christmas’s past when the kids were younger. It is nice to hear the house full of laughter while sitting around the dinner table. The celebration is over and everyone has gone back to his or her destinations to different parts of Alberta and BC. It is comforting to get the phone call, when they made it home safely. That’s all for this week.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

What’s UBBT done for me

When I heard about the UBBT my first thought was not again more body abuse yahoo! Seeing I was lacking in my quest to try to stay in shape. So in July of 2008 I started doing a hundred pushups a day in small sets during the day twenty at a time. I remember trying to squeeze out twenty pushups. Getting frustrated with myself that I had let myself go to that point. When ten years ago a hundred pushups was no big deal. Well a good thing for muscle memory I guess you never really lose it. Within a month I was doing a hundred fifty pushups and sit ups a day. By the end of four months had whittled them down to two sets of seventy-five. I am comfortable there. I have had set backs bad shoulder stopped for a month. I am happy with the outcome of the pushups and sit-ups. This part has given me a routine to just do it. Body has changed too.
Walk/run /swim. The running part did not turn out to well I had high hopes of running more. But my back give me problems where it laid me up for a while, lower back would not take the pounding so resorted to logging my walking and swimming. Bicycling was in this category, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Meditation. Gives me time to reflect on the day ahead, and day past. And just be mindless. Ten minuets in the morning, gives me a start to the day. Keeps me calm.
Stretching. Not exactly where I want to be with this. I am better off than if I didn’t do anything. Ten minuets in the morning, it is enough but did not push myself hard enough.
I stepped out of my comfort zone when I decided to try scuba diving. I like the water but I liked to be on top of it, maybe in a boat and breathing air from the massive atmosphere that has been provided for us. Well this was an experience that I defiantly will keep pursuing. The feeling of weightlessness with only sound of your breath it is very peaceful. With good instruction and friends in this aquatic sport it has been one of the best experiences in my life, I have not been to the ocean yet. I will get there I can hardly wait! It will happen someday.
Over the last year I have been more conscious of our environment I’m reading The Sacred Balance by David Suzuki wow great book but that is for another discussion.
I have tried to do more conversing something I am not the best at. I don’t like gossip or idle chit chat so that kind of puts me in a position where conversation, in to days world, there does not seem to be much left! Wow that sounds kind of humbug.
So Has the UBBT changed me, definitely? Physically as I have described and mentally it has made me look inside myself and try to change things I didn’t like about myself as in conversation, helping more people and the environment. It is my duty to spread knowledge that I have learned otherwise not much use getting the knowledge and keeping it all locked up inside yourself, besides the best learning experiences I have had are from helping and teaching others. The best question you can ask yourself is what don’t I like about myself and change it.
Pushups 66,200 Crunches 66,200
Walk/Run/Swim 949 KM Bicycle 1,162 KM total of 2,111 KM
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Da Flu

Had the flu last few days, head not working very well did not journal! Still not out of the woods yet. This is it for this week.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

November A Time To Remember

I wrote this Eulogy for my dad, a year ago when he passed.
Thought I would share this.

To say goodbye to Charlie is not easy. He built a farm. He worked hard. He affected so many of us in so many ways over his 95 years. He has changed many of our lives.
This day is a day of mourning for the passing of Charlie Hayes, of saying goodbye, but it is more to honor him and celebrate his life. While he has departed from us in body, his spirit and memories live on.
On special family occasions and holidays, there was always the ice cream maker, Mom would mix the ingredients into the cylinder, Dad would take it, very carefully put the machine together, put in the correct amount of ice and salt, and he would crank it by hand, we were to small to keep that constant speed, so we would watch patiently till it was done. Later on when we were big enough to take turns cranking, he would always disappear and listen to us talk about how it should be done, from the other room.
In the winter on Sundays he would sit by the heater and read the paper, his feet were always very ticklish, as kids we would tickle his feet, just when he was about to fall asleep, he would always say (you kids cut it out), always a favorite saying of his.
Charlie had trouble with his stomach, always snored very loud, funny thing his stomach didn’t bother him, and he never snored the day he sold the cows and quit driving the school bus, he also stopped smoking at 65 years of age.
Charlie had a ulcer attack when he was working cutting brush at Green Water, he came home all bent over in pain, neighbors took him to the hospital, he was in the hospital for three weeks, our wood pile was low, hayloft was empty, neighbors showed up with wagon boxes full of wood and helped us kids and Mom fill the hayloft
Dad and Mom were always watching out for friends and neighbors, as friends and neighbors did for them, it’s just the way it’s done, and that’s all there is to it. Dad helping them thresh, bale. Mom would bake that special something if someone was in sorrow. As kids we always had the best decorated cakes and cookies to take to school.
Charlie was always very inventive and creative; a lot of it was dew to the lack of finances. When he was working for Uncle Alf at Green Water in the 30’s, he got tired of rowing people around the lake to give them rides, so he put a Model T engine in a big boat, probably Green Waters first boat with inboard motor.
He built a plywood boat in the 1950’s so he could take us kids fishing and camping. His favorite boat was the one he built from two old boats he bought, one had a rotten front the other a rotten back, tore them apart and built one. When he was finished the out side shone of its colors, the inside sparkled from varnished wood. Boats are for fishing, not planters.
He pulled that boat all over Saskatchewan fishing with friends, at every lake he and Mom could find.
He needed a lawnmower, so he made the deck from a piece of three quarter inch plywood, bolted on wheels from a baby carriage, fenders from a old truck to keep the grass from hitting your feet, a leaf spring sharpened for a blade, a old water pump for bearings to mount the blade on, and a (Iron horse) kick start washing machine motor to drive it, a two by four handle and away you go. One day the hedge needed trimming so he mounted that lawn mower on a couple of two by fours Rick and Dad put the two by fours on their shoulders and they walked down either side of the hedge.
Remember Dad getting the ticket because he told Lorna to take the car, to drive a friend home; she had no driver’s license; He said it was the only ticket he ever got.
Remember the day Dad came home with five ducks from Herbert’s pond, he waited and waited, till they were all lined up, he got them all, one shot.
There was always deer meat to eat; --some of it was at strange times of the year. -- It must have been because of our icehouse.
Remember the bear, that Mom was picking Saskatoon’s on one side of the tree, she thought it was Charlie she was talking to, until she moved around the tree and seen the bear, she hollered at Charlie and he came running with the rifle, he always packed around in the car the truck and on the Fortson Major. Rick and Dad went after the bear shot it, ----Dad did have a little exposure--, we skinned it out and kept the hindquarters, Mom cooked a roast, told Uncle Jack it was beef, --until after supper.
Dad and Mom loved to travel, they wore out a motor home, they went on numerous trips with family; Lorna and Gary took them on a month trip to Alaska also traveled to eastern Canada. Gloria and David took them on trips to Hawaii, Florida. Gloria took Dad on his first trip to Australia in 1997.
Charlie loved to put a hook and line in the water. He probably has fished with most of the people in this hall today. If you haven’t fished with him, he has probably told you a fishing story or two. When we went on our yearly father and son’s fishing trips, he would never have his regular afternoon nap because he was afraid he would miss something, so we would fish, cook, we would get him to tell us stories, he always looked forward to our midnight fish fries, but
Not until a dozen games of crib were played.
In August of 2006 at the age of 92, I asked him if he wanted a ride in my Ultra light tike, expecting him to say no, he said sure, he said what is the worst that can happen I’m 92 years old, it didn’t mater how old he was, or what it was, he wanted to give anything a try, I think that describes Dad’s attitude towards life. So I got him strapped in. Oh by the way, if you didn’t know, that’s him in the memorial card; he would probably say he finally made it to the Centerfold. We flew over our house at Stony Plain Alberta, the coal mine where I work, saw the draglines and shovels, also Lake Wabaman where the train derailment oil spill had happened, and the oil booms were out soaking up the oil. We had an hour and half flight. He thoroughly enjoyed it.
Charlie’s wood working skills as you can see, on this display table, was something he loved to do, and he had a great talent for. No piece of wood went to waste, as we found out when we cleaned up the farm.
When Mom passed in 2004 he decided he would build his own urn. So he thought about it for a couple of years, he knew he; didn’t really need it yet. Besides he had to do one more trip to Australia in 2006, he went with Lorna, Gary and Darryl. Then this year he decided it was time to start building the urn. This past summer he worked on his project. We all know how his eye site was, but there he was with a hundred pieces of half-inch square wood of different colors that he had cut on the table saw and glue on his fingers feeling his way through his project. As you can see, his loving hands and his sole shines through the beauty of the wood.
Thanks to Gary and Rick for putting some finishing touches on it.
After Mom had passed away, I was telling a friend of mine about her passing, my eyes filled with tears, he told me something that I will never forget, simple yet very true.
(WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART-- LEAKS OUT YOUR EYES)
Now I would like to share this poem.

God looked around his garden
And He found an empty space;
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest;
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best,
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain
He knew you might never
Get well on earth again,
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb,
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, “Peace be thine.”
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you never went alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

Anonymous poet

For Dad and Mom for now they are together again.
Thank you from the kids Gloria, Rick, Lorna, Max
Thank God for my growing up with Charlie and Joyce, my parents.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Training set backs

How to keep focused. This to me was always my biggest problem. I would stay focused for a few days until something new would come up, then it was down another road. Bad choice. What the UBBT has taught me through the simplest of things, the pushup, and sit-up program. I still have days that I have to force myself to get going. The other side of it is that what I put off today I have to do double tomorrow, put off again then it is triple the next day so just get down and do it.
I think I have heard all the reasons for not having a form or a kick perfected or at least look different from one week to another. Yes I know we all have different body types, which in turn gives us different ways we have to learn or complete tasks. Generally where you lack some one else will excel and visa versa. That just means where you lack skill that comes easy to others you will have to work harder. Again, visa versa. Set goals that are within reason at first, then make them bigger as you succeed. The reason for goal setting is you are setting yourself up to succeed. Why do I say that, well, this is the first of the positive things you can do for yourself. You have already set the universe in motion to be a winner. Being a winner or champion is all about thinking and living with the positive. Your vocabulary will not have, I can't because--, you may have to change things for your body, but there are no such words, as I can't. No more self-defeating thoughts. No blame on genetic make up. That just shifts the blame off you and onto your parents. It is easier to blame Mom and Dad, then accepting responsibility for your own actions. Negative thoughts only set you up to defeat and limit you. When negative thoughts enter your mind dismiss them and replace them with positive ones. Positive thoughts and positive speech will replace all negativity, I mean every day thoughts and what comes out your mouth.

“A lifetime of negative thoughts and vocal bashing makes for a miserable old person”
Quote; Max

Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta.


"With your thoughts you make the world"
Quote; The Buddha

Forgiveness

I will forgive you if------
I will forgive you as soon as-------
I will forgive you when ever------
If you are finishing these sentences when or if you forgive someone is that true forgiveness no that is putting conditions on your forgiveness. It in no way will set you free.
First there is an offence, if there is not forgiveness after the offence there is resentment. If there is not forgiveness after resentment this leads to hatred. Then hatred leads to grudge. Then grudge settles in revenge. Once a person has reached this thought pattern there seems to be no turning back revenge has to be done and people cannot forgive. Holding a grudge will suck the life energy out of you fill you with negativity and make you weak. What you have to do is find the strength to rise above negative energies like anger, fear, resentment, hatred, vengeance, finger pointing, suspicion, bitterness, and condemnation. It is said that for the sake of your future you must let go of the past, become wiser, and move forward. Forgiveness is necessary if you ever plan to live fully and happily again. Remember that the best cure for guilt is forgiveness. Holding on to guilt or resentment or worse yet a grudge weakens the immune system the same way chronic stress does. The forgiver is the one that is freed in forgiving.
When you are feeling down and at the bottom of that pit and then it feels like someone kicks you again, if you have the ability to forgive and not be offended you will know the happiness of having a clear conscious. People have got to develop a thicker layer of skin, and not to take things so serious. Some people are going to make petty remarks about anything you do. People bashing or gossip falls into that category. Soft heart and thick skin that’s what you need. In more blatant terms embrace and give the love, ward off the crap.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

The Weekend

Went pool diving this weekend nice to be totally suspended in the water just hovering around in total weightlessness! It is just not like the open water but it is the only place us land locked people can practice. Our daughter bought a house, nineteen fifty-nine, quaint and nice. Also carpet covered hardwood floors, they can be repaired and sanded. The house is well built. They bought it from the original owner.
Got our male cat neutered, he was not too happy about going to the city in a cage. I can see his point.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Arrangements

Doing some funeral arrangements for wife and myself. No not thinking of dying yet! Just getting a place for and type of burial prepared. Getting it set up so someone else dose not have to do it when I am gone. Been through that when my parents passed. Not the best time to be making decisions for some one else when they can’t help you, and emotions are running high. We think it will be a lot easier on everybody else if it is prepared and prepaid. It’s a lot cheaper to come into this world than going out!
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta

Think

The way you think creates your attitude. The way you think creates your emotions. The way you think governs your behavior. The way you think influences your immune system and your vulnerability to illness. Everything about you flows from the way you think. Whether we are filled with confidence or fear depends on the kinds of thoughts that habitually occupy our minds. This principal affects every aspect of our lives. In a climate of economic instability we are bombarded by media messages painting a picture of gloom and doom. No we shouldn’t deny what is happening around us but also we should not let those fear filled messages to imbed themselves into our thoughts. This makes you an expert worrier about finances, employment and investments. If we occupy our minds with memories of how someone has hurt us in the past, chances are pretty good we will become angry and bitter toward that person. If we recall bad choices that cause personal failures in the past we will become entrenched in self-blame and discouragement. If we compare ourselves to someone’s circumstances in life that seem better than ours we will fall into the trap of self-pity or envy. Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, and excellent. When thoughts that fall short of this standard, enter our mind, we are not to entertain them. Because the thoughts we entertain have a huge bearing on our lives.
Some quotes from John Ortberg
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Fall

Fall is upon us again. I love to see the change in the leaves, from green to all the autumn colors. That doesn’t mean that I jump on the bandwagon and say yahoo winter is coming. It means that yahoo no more mosquitoes. That morning frost in the crisp air as it fills your lungs with the first breath outside. The leaves changing, makes every day brand new, as Mother Nature works her wonders. I often think of moving into town to get away from the travel and a lot of the extra work, but when I wake up and look outside and see the beauty I just can’t make that move, it will be inevitable someday we will wait till then. Winter is always easier for me to stay totally connected with Kung Fu. In summer I really have to push myself with staying practiced, as that time of year is so busy with other things. I haven’t been at the Kwoon for nearly a month because of job, retaining walls, driveway and holidays; it sure felt good to be back this week. Oh Yah. No I have not slacked off on the UBBT. Till next time.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Something Funny

Something funny happened to me the other day. I was in a wine store and choose two regular size bottles of fine grapes. As I approached the counter to pay for the wine, the cashier pulled out a stretchy piece of plastic and pulled over one bottle, so the two bottles would not crash together. I commented on the cool looking piece of stretchy plastic. The cashier stated that it was not plastic it was made from some sort of organic stuff, it was biodegradable, environmentally friendly, also it falls apart if it is pulled on, yet strong enough to keep the bottles from breaking. I’m thinking wow a really great idea, as I comment on the gizmo, the cashier reaches under the counter and pulls out two plastic bags and states I better double bag this.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Quote

All human beings, though they may seem to be walking on different paths, are all marching to one goal, and that goal is Self-realization. The Bhagavad-Gita
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Trip

Traveled to Bullhead City Arizona Saturday Sunday and Monday on the Interstate 15 highway, you can drive from Edmonton Alberta to Las Vegas Nevada on four lane highway. It is a long drive, but the country is beautiful. In Alberta farmers were combining fields of wheat, canola, barley and what have you for grain crops. Then there were fields of the famous Tabor corn their brown silk tassels and green leaves and stalks blowing in the breeze looked like they were dancing a slow waltz.
As we dropped down into Montana it looked like most of the crops were taken off already. There were still corn crops left but I believe it was to be used as feed for corn silage. We seen huge windmills standing majestically on the hills. These giants at two hundred feet high, with their three sixty foot long blades slowly turning, these monsters are producing, the clean electricity. The farther south we went the drier, browner and shorter the vegetation became.
Moving into Idaho, we seen potatoes being harvested, tractors pulling harvesters with tons of potatoes rolling off the tip of the harvester into the trucks. The trucks hauling potatoes to be sorted and stored in low roofed, partly underground dirt covered buildings.
We crossed into Utah then to Salt Lake City. The wind was blowing fifty miles an hour temperature thirty seven Celsius and raining, you could cut the humid air with a knife. That city is busy, four and six lane highways crisscrossing over and under each other, the cement highways were like spaghetti sitting on posts hanging in the air. We drove over mountain passes at six thousand feet, the vegetation would be greener at that altitude but still short. There was more signs of irrigation, with large circles maybe two hundred yards across of absolutely stunning color of green set in a sea of brown sun baked grass and other vegetation. Other farmers pumping water through pipes that are arched between rubber tired drive systems spraying water gracefully on the land in all directions onto freshly seeded, golden stubble.
Then into Nevada where the rocks became reddish brown, the short vegetation forcing is way with crooked short trunks and small green leaves between rocks that look like there should be no reason for anything to be growing there. Also prickly little cactus and plants that resembled short little palm trees looking out of place in the baron landscape. Las Vegas pops up out of nowhere, the land turns from everything struggling to grow, to a bustling city with water, greenery, tall palm trees and traffic going in all directions with tourists and local people going about their day. Down through to a town called Cal Nev Ar where the three states meet approximately there. Into Laughlin and across the Colorado river into Bullhead City. The desert is full of beauty as long as you can look deep into it and appreciate the struggle for life that the plants and animals go through, which for them is just another day of that's the way it is.
Sifu Hayes silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Our comfort zone

How many times a day or week, do you step out of your comfort zone? When you are young, if you step out of that zone more often that not, by the time you are older your comfort zone will become very large. Thus making your non-comfortable zone smaller. The more you step out of your comfort zone when you are young, your confidence becomes better, and you become more assertive. But you do have to control yourself not to become so aggressive that you dominate every one you meet. Otherwise you are not teaching the martial arts. Being out spoken is fine, as long as you take the time to pay attention and actually listen to what another person is saying. A person can dominate a conversation, and are so into him or herself, concentrating on what they are going to say next. That when you are speaking! Their eyes wonder, look at themselves in a mirror maybe fix their hair, look around the room, waiting for you to hurry up and finish talking, so they can make their statement that must be way more important than what you are saying. What is trying to be said here is at least give the person that is talking to you the time of day and courtesy to what they are saying by looking at them, at least pretend you are interested. Wow quite a rant.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Summer

August is almost over and what we call summer is getting close to being gone. It sure would be nice to have a nice long fall.
All of the out side improvements that we are doing at our house, tearing out the old retaining walls that were ant infested and installing new concrete blocks. Ripping out the old broken up sidewalks installing new ones. Digging out the old driveway, then laying asphalt. These projects are almost done accept the finishing touches, we still need about five yards of black dirt and seeding grass along side of the asphalt. Should have this completed before the snow flies. The last month has been very busy, and not much time for play. You know how it goes one thing leads to another, you decide to change a hanging flowerpot and end up with retaining wall, sidewalk and asphalt. Oh! I thought I seen a butterfly. Two more weeks then maybe some holidays.
Sifu Hayes wwwsilentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Exercise Good

I am actually very surprised that my body has held up as well as it has with the abuse that I have given it over the last two weeks. I have placed about a fifty- forty pound blocks most of them two and three times, shoveled about four yards of sand and gravel. I was at Kung Fu on Friday my body was not feeling in very good, I dared not do anything to erratic for fear of putting something in my back out of place, my arms were feeling the pain of the last few days of continuous muscle strain. Saturday came around and with a good rest and a good soak in the hot tube. I actually didn't feel to bad.
What the amazing thing is that a year ago I would definitely have been down and out, my body is in far better physical shape now than it was back then. What I am contributing it to is the fact that because of the UBBT push ups and crunches have built my physical strength and core strength, that my recovery time is a lot shorter, it does not mean that I can be ridiculous about what I do. Just about got the block wall done.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Busy

I’ve been very busy this last week trying to get things set up for concrete pouring. Had some dirt dug out and replacing some retaining walls. Installed some huge blocks for the new retaining wall. Then there was back fill with sand and gravel and dirt. Did you know it is possible to spin a long handled spade and pass it behind your back like a spear? A person should wear a hard hat doing that, as I found out, actually it is not a good idea. Then poured ten yards of concrete. There was more back filling and cleaning up. Needless to say my shovel is getting way to personal. Along with a sore back and aching arms. Push-ups have not been fun lately. My shoes have not been lifting very high this week. This post sound like I need a bit of cheese.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Quote

An unbiased mind is like a clear mirror, held steady, not oscillating with hasty judgments. Any person reflected within that mirror will present an undistorted image. –Paramahansa Yogananda –
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Monday

Monday this week was a real nerve tester. Delivered my motorcycle to get the valves set and tire changed. Service said it would be about four hours so we though we would do our city shopping that day and wait for the motorcycle to be finished seeing it was at the shop at nine AM. We went shopping for four hours went back to the dealer he said the mechanic had to have lunch then go to an appointment so the motorcycle would be longer. So I left it there and drove the forty-five minuets home and pick the bike up the next day. On the way home message came on the cell phone that my time on the cell was going to expire at midnight. When I got home I went to use the landline to fix the cell problem, the landline was dead, the phone company was rerouting the line thus no phone. No problem I’ll use the cell to call Rogers to straighten out the problem. Now I am talking to Melanie the Rogers computer you know how it goes if you want this press 1 if you want that press 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 by the time you get to number 6 I’ve forgot what number 1 was so I listen again. Press the number I think is right and guess what it is not so back to the main menu and listen again. Pick another number yah this is right but still can’t talk to a real person. Seems like they give you the run around! Probably just me being paranoid eh! I get tired of talking to a computer put the cell down, it rings at five-thirty my motorcycle is ready. Good thing I didn’t wait…. Now I’m ticked off at the cell phone company. Decided to phone the landline company and talk to their computer, it tells me to call back later, because there is an overwhelming amount of calls. Then my daughter Kylee wants to give my cell company a try. She listens and is pushing buttons. Soon she is hollering at the cell phone, HELP HELP the same as I did, because there is one part you can’t push buttons it has to be voice activated and it will not activate it just keeps asking you to say help if you need help. Now I’m standing back laughing at her. She gives up. I’ve had enough I’m going to Kung Fu to rid my frustrations. Then she goes down the road to the neighbors where the phone is working, makes the call to the cell phone company on the landline, gets through and the twenty-four hour help line tells her she will have to call back between nine to five tomorrow. Well I did call back Tuesday. My credit card was updated in December, and I emailed Rogers about the update. They thanked me; January I’m cut off I call back, everything gets straightened out February I’m cut off call back they tell me everything is OK. March I’m cut off, call them, and fix it. Till last Monday when they cut me off. I finally find out what the problem is. It’s because my credit card was rejected three times the system did not except it. But they also used it six times! Now the system has permanently rejected my Credit card. Seems to me it was their fault I was rejected. Needless to say Monday was a bad day.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Coffee Cups and Cigarette Buts

Why is it, that everywhere you look? This is the repeditive garbage that’s in the ditch, on the road, sidewalks, in front of buildings. Pathways on nature walks! The coffee cups are not only creating the garbage, they are of course using up our recourses of trees for paper cups and oil for Styrofoam. The coffee is hot so a layer of bubbly plastic is wrapped around the cup so you don’t burn yourself, or put an extra wrapper of puffy paper, or better yet give you two cups. America uses enough disposable coffee cups in a year if placed end to end could wrap around the earth 55 times and would weigh 900 million pounds, so use your reusable mug.
Now rules have been set, no more smoking in the work place. Glad that happened. But that chased everyone out side in front of the doorways. I guess now we can see who smokes. Just wish they would throw their buts in a proper disposal not on the ground and out the window of a vehicle. Smoking is the number one killer in the US. It is stated that 800,000 people die a year of smoke related illnesses.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Fishing

Went fishing today. Sad to see that fishing in Alberta lakes is depleting. People taking more than their limit, also taking fish that are smaller than regulation and of course the train wrecks that spill toxic chemicals into the lakes and rivers. A person really has to be careful on reading the regulations. Every lake has different rules about the size, type and quantity of fish that can be taken. At least there is a size limit on most fish. Hopefully the quantities will come back if everyone follows the regulations. It takes a Walleye eight years to become big enough to spawn. With growing an inch a year that is a lot of up hill battles for a small fish. When humans insist on destroying nature.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Not Good

Just realized I missed my deadline blog. I totally apologize.
No excuses!
Well I think I have broken the barrier of no more elbow pain it took just about a year. My elbow has been pain free for about a month still doing pushups at one-fifty a day and elbow feels fine.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Down Days

It seems that my team mates are all talking about their down days, good topic! You know the day we set aside to just rest our mind, body and soul. It has sparked something inside of me and made me realize something about my life. Well I do choose Sunday along with most of my other teammates. But they work a five-day workweek. For me a rest day still seems to be Sunday, which I totally agree with, and I love Sundays, and I do chill on that day, but the problem is I work four days on then four days off, so I get four Sundays off in a row then I don’t. So I tend to not take a down day on those four weeks. I carry on, with the constant on the go stuff, but then I crash, and say enough! Hey that’s not good. Then there is a knee jerk reaction, I just decide to throw in the towel, but when I finally decide to do that it is generally to late, and I need more than just one day of look after me. I tend to push myself a little to far, and when I do I am no good to anybody. So what I’ve got to do is find more balance and I will.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

This Week

Over the last week the more I train with the Double Broadsword, Tai Chi broadsword, and the Cane. The forms (kata) are starting to get mixed up. Which is kind of cool! I will be doing Tai Chi Broadsword and then right in the middle of the form I will start doing Double Broadsword. Or in the middle of practicing Cane block set and go into Tai Chi Broadsword. This is because I am not fully concentrating on the weapon or the form. If I am not concentrating, my body recognizes this same stance or technique from another form and just goes there, because my body doesn’t care what is in my hand as long as it gets the job done. I just have to try harder to stay in the zone.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Am I An Example?

A story I have to tell. One day at work I was listening to some coworkers and my self in a conversation. Just a normal discussion about politics of all sorts you know the kind, government, the school system, the country, and the world, the usual. I was listening to the conversation and the amount of cursing words that were being used. I listened to the conversation and of course certain words are used a lot. One of the questions to myself was do these people, including me, use such language at home, I know myself the only place I used that language was at work. That day I decided that I wanted to change. At first it was difficult because I associated my coworkers with the type of language that was spoken. After a few weeks, my using of better adjectives became easier and expressing myself was better, just by breaking an old habit. The humorous part was the shop gossip! Was something wrong with me? Or did I suddenly become very religious? I always did believe in the higher power and I always was very spiritual. A good friend told me about the shop gossip, we had a good laugh. But the cool thing was that mostly all of my coworkers do respect no cursing, and for that I am very respectful of them. We can change the world one small step at a time. Thanks UBBT.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Canada

I am connected

Feels good to be out peddling the bike again. Leg muscles remind me that I have not given them a good workout in a long time, funny how it feels good to get off the bike and the leg muscles are very tired and wobble around to get stability, that always puts a smile on my face. Why does that feel good to some people and awful to others? I guess we know that the tiredness and wobbly feeling in fact is a step ahead, a gain, a progression and if we do this to our muscles two to three times a week they will build strength. If my muscles feel tired after a five mile ride, then if I do this two or three times a week by the end of the month my legs will feel tired after twenty five miles.
My ankles are giving me pain every once in a while not sure what the cause is, weird thing is sometimes it’s the right sometimes the left, a sharp pain then its gone.
I was discussing with some fellow UBBT members the other day and telling them that I have noticed that the one hundred fifty pushups a day is changing my body, my shoulders are pulling back into alignment, my back is straightening, my elbows don’t touch my sides any more. That’s kind of cool. Crunches are firming up the belly. These both have helped my lower back. All in all it fee eels good. Mind and body connected.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

New Experiences

WOW this has been quite a week Master McNeill’s cane seminar was a super experience. I learned a lot of new techniques from the In The Shirt seminar so many the old brain went into overload, I think too much info for one weekend. But as I progress, I believe most of the info will come back. The more I play and practice the more I love it; it’s funny how a person learns and loves the feel of our personal canes the balance point and where the grip feels so good to strike. When I pick up someone else’s cane it feels like some one else’s socks, if you know what I mean. Master McNeill thank-you for spending a weekend with our Silent River Kung Fu family.
My next challenge is to learn to fly-fish. I know that it sounds like too much fun to be a challenge. Well I went fishing with (Kylee, Kim and Martin my fly-fishing instructors) this week never caught a fish. I did catch a sore arm and sunburn on the bottom of my arms; I put suntan lotion on the top of my arms, but not on the bottom hmm! It is not as easy as it looks! When I watch someone who knows what they are doing, the line lazily snaking back and forth over their head, then with the last whip of the rod setting the hook in the water thirty feet in front of them exactly where they want it. Me a different story; I catch the weeds behind me and set the hook down in the water ten feet in font of me. I can tell this is going to take some practice.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

I am on track

It was nice to get back on the bicycle after a long cold winter and enjoy the fresh air, heading toward the thousand-mile walk, run swim. I have completed one of my personal requirements I am officially a certified open water scuba diver, got my certificate number. Crunches are going well, as for pushups I have good days and bad days elbows give me problems doesn’t mater where I put my hands still using the same muscle, tendons in the elbow. Oh well just keep plugging along take a couple days off then play catch up. Still on track with crunches and pushups, have not faltered a bit, if I miss guilt sets in and I catch up to my weekly amount of 1050. Stretching 10 minuets a day is helping keep the old body more flexible. My meditation is going well I found that practicing scuba diving in the deep pool at the Kinsmen center is a great place to meditate no one can bother you and all that can be heard is the sound of my breathing and bubbles. Learning the cane form going well and also teaching it. No Black Belt participants to learn the Tai Chi Broad Sword form yet. Next on my list is to learn to fly fish may start next week. Journaling that is another story, not easy. Many times I sit in front of the computer black screen, blank mind. I do think it will get better in time.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Spring I’m Sprung

Spring is here finally; after a day of warm weather then a week of cold a day of warm weather a week of cold a day of warm weather a week of cold, oh I am repeating myself. Do maintenance on the tractor off with the snow blade on with the lawn mower. Ready the motorcycle for summer by the way I have not had a ride yet. Change the winter tires over to summer tires on the vehicles. Cut the grass, rake the grass, till and plant the garden, fix the driveway, fill the tomato boxes with fresh dirt. Cut down some dead trees some for firewood some for the brush pile. Get rid of some dandelions. Fix the deck. Put out the lawn furniture. Trim the trees. Looks good when it’s done. Oh ya UBBT. oh oh……... Catch up. Don’t you just love it! Oh ya!
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Certified Scuba (open water)

Went to Jasper Friday night so my body could adjust for an altitude dive. (Altitude 3484 feet) Saturday morning 8:30AM at Lake Edith it is four Kilometers from Jasper. Air temperature 33 degrees F or plus 1 degrees C. Water temperature 42 degrees F or plus 5 degrees C. Adorned a seven mill wet suit, hood, gloves, boots. Then the BCD (buoyancy control device) air tank, mask, snorkel, fins thirty two pounds of weights, then we are ready to go, looking more like the Michelin man with an air tank, than anything else. There is something about looking at the snow line in the mountains two hundred feet above the water and saying to yourself, I know where the water is coming from, it just does not sit well with your mind, this looks cold! But we come this far we must forge ahead. Into the water we go, the initial shock of the water is cold but not that bad. It is just a little instant cold when the water seeps into you suit, then your body warms up the water, then it is OK. It is not that bad! We go out into the lake down to twenty feet, at altitude it is like being in thirty-five feet deep in the ocean. I do my skills like I have been trained under the watch full eye of our instructor. Take my mask off put it on clear the water out. Take the air regulator out of your mouth put it back in. Basically skills are practicing every thing that could go wrong so you can deal with an emergency if need be. Done some under water navigation. That is different following a compass under water. After Saturday and Sunday dives I logged two and a half hours of bottom time. Passed a few hours in Jasper to let my body adjust before crossing over the Obed Summit (Altitude 4400 feet) on the way home, a precaution against the nitrogen narcosis. I had a great time; this is a sport that I will continue. Can’t wait to dive the ocean.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Home Stretch to Scuba

I am now on the home stretch to next weekend Scuba open water. I’m really feeling a little anxious and wondering if I will accomplish what I am tested on. What is happening; my mind is playing tricks on me before the testing. I’m just over thinking. I have practiced and I am ready for the experience. The open water exam will be done in Jasper Alberta Canada; the lake is glacier run off water. Going to be interesting. Till next week then.
Sifu Hayes Stony Plain Alberta Canada www.silentriverkungfu.com

Peace and Quiet

Have you ever just sat quietly and watched people on a downtown street busily going here and there, makes you wonder what our society is so hurried about. Or at a beach and watched people talking and splashing in the water having a relaxing fun time. Have you ever sat in a forest just listening to nature? Listening, watching in silence to the tranquility of life. There is nothing like just sitting outside in peace, and taking in all nature has to offer. It seems like our society just does not have time or doesn’t know how to enjoy silence, there always has to be a radio, TV, IPod, or some electronic device making noise. How about just sipping on a tea. Have you ever hugged a tree?
Sifu Hayes http://silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Am I A Procrastinator

The reason why I sometimes take along time to make statements is my mind takes in information then weighs the yeas and nays then I give an answer. I think that knee jerk statements are great but that depends on how you are feeling emotionally at the moment, if you are answering on a personal emotion it might not be true to the statement. How many times has a person given an answer to a question then later thought about it and you wonder why you said what you did? So with that being said is procrastination so bad. Yes if you are avoiding a situation because you don’t want to deal with it. If it is causing guilt, stress, loss of sleep or keeping you from doing anything at all, then it is a problem. It is said that it is a way of dealing with anxiety. As the years go by I now see more situations as being gray, then I do black and white, as I did when I didn’t have any gray on my head.
Sifu Hayes http://silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Am I Responsible

Being responsible for your actions is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. If you are not responsible for your actions right at the moment, lessons will keep repeating them selves and haunting you till they are learned or you finally deal with them. The lessons don’t go away they keep coming back again and again. For you alone are the one that creates the good and bad in your life. Simple things such as speaking badly of people and idol gossip are not being responsible; those actions will have to be learned from. Life will keep throwing you curve balls until you finally say to yourself, that’s a curve ball.
Sifu Hayes http://silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

I am blessed

As I look back and reflect on what developed from my life, leaving home at eighteen with two hundred dollars in my pocket and a two hundred and fifty dollar car. I think back of my parents, all that they taught me. Since they have passed I miss picking up the phone and calling them, to here their laughter and listen to stories of their life. I am so glad that I had a good relationship with my parents. Sure there were the odd disagreement but things were always quickly forgotten and never dwelled on for to long. They always repeated the old saying; life was too short to carry on a grudge. They both lived into there nineties! A word of advice to every one, keep a good relationship with your parents because when they’re gone, they are gone!
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

I Am Changing

My Life has been changing over the last few years. I went through a period of mixed feelings not knowing where I was going, or what I wanted to do, also being an empty nester, life was focused on raising kids, taking them here and there, then they were gone. I was trying to rush life along and not setting any goals. If you have nothing to look forward too, I was left feeling empty. I know some times you just have to let things happen and work with it. Guess they call that, the change of life, which no one really talks about! It is just a part of getting older, you start to see that life does have an end, you are not invincible and you finally start to realize that you have more years behind you than there may possibly be ahead of you. For a while I was focused on working lots of long hours and putting money away, sure the money is nice to have but at what sacrifice. Was I willing to miss family functions and lose that time spent with loved ones, that time spent on my motorcycle, that fishing trip, scuba diving, on the ATV, flying in my airplane, helping people, just seeing the world and not to forget what has been keeping me on track most of all, Kung Fu? I don’t want to be looking back on my life and saying I wish I would have. I realize my body is changing and it doesn’t recover as fast as it used to. With that being said, if I wait too long to do the things I’ve always wanted to do, I’m going to be to old to do them.

Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

You must know who you are, understand your inner nature.
You must become conscious of this infinite nature in yourself.
Then you will break free of your shackles.
Swami Vivekananda

Electric cars

What is going to happen if we, the consumer start to buy electric cars? Well here is my opinion! It is proven that if electric cars start to become a thing of the future there is not enough electricity to go around that is why oil is so important. We are a country of massive transportation. So we need more electricity that is why more and more coal fired generating plants are being built. If not coal then the next thing is nuclear. Now who wants a nuclear plant in their back yard and what do we do with the waste. What I see is if you want to save the environment and drive electric car, you should also invest in a solar and wind generator to charge it then you are really doing some thing for our environment.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

What is the cost of going green?

For North American to go green. We have to change, but at what cost, will the change be a small process or a quick one. If it is quick enough to save our world. There will be a total collapse of our economy. Oh, we are in one now. Is this the start of our country going green. I think not but it is possible. We have people trying to shut down the oil sands projects, to get oil. They are saying that it is dirty oil. Why are they trying to shut it down, instead of trying to get the company’s to clean it up? Good heavens the amount of coal fired power plants across the Canada and the United States, that have been pouring tons of carbon and sulfur into the air far out weighs the amount of garbage that the oil sands projects produce. Every body still wants to keep their lights on. Hey, I am not saying we should let any more pollution go on, such as the oil sands project. But why is it that every time, a large corporation gets caught doing something wrong the green wants to shut it down. People still need to work. It is never the people that work at a corporation that want to close it. It’s always put some one else out of work not me!
Sifu Hayes wwwsilentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Scuba Wow

Very interesting weekend in the pool Scuba lessons were a blast. Learning how to take your mask off and put it back on under water, then clearing it. Taking your mouth peace out, instructors shutting your air off. Taking off your buoyancy control device (BCD), and weights, on the surface and at the bottom of the pool and putting it all back on was a great experience with excellent instructors it is not such a big deal. Sipping air from a simulated broken regulator. Instructors covering scenarios of things that could go wrong, like running out of air in deep water and learning how to do a controlled ascent, makes you feel quite comfortable in the water. First rule never hold your breath, second rule breath slow, deep, easy, and stay calm. Where have we heard that before, fellow martial artists? What did not make me feel comfortable was swimming eight lengths of the pool then, treading water for ten minuets. Good heavens have not done that for about twenty years. But it did give me a great sense of accomplishment. Then it will be off to the mountains, Jasper. May ninth, tenth weekend to do four open water dives to get certified as an open water diver. Hope it warms up by then. Thanks again UBBT for giving me the push over the edge.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Studying Scuba

Next weekend I take confined Scuba Diving lessons for the weekend. Confined, just means it is the pool part of the training. I am excited to see what it is like to breath under water. This is a part of my UBBT personal requirements I set for myself. As I had said before Scuba is something that I wanted to try but always procrastinated on it, being we live in the middle of Alberta, that made it easy to put off. So this week is nose to the books, should have started studying last week, lots of stuff to remember. Thank you UBBT for coming along and pushing me to try Scuba.
Sifu Hayes silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Mistakes and Forgiving

Always made me wonder why leaders of country’s, large corporations, and any other management positions are all taught; do not admit you made a mistake. I guess the corporation’s perspective is that if you made a mistake and admit it; you must not be a leader. So what they are saying you can make a mistake but don’t admit it –So if you can’t admit you made a mistake, I guess you didn’t make a mistake. Hmm--- didn’t know any body that didn’t make a mistake! I guess what goes along with that and is the cure all, is you have to be able to forgive yourself and forgive others. For forgiving is what will get you to the next level. Holding on to the thought you made a mistake or someone has done you wrong, is NOT a part of growing, forgiving is.
Sifu Hayes http://silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Words of Hurt

What causes people to act the way they do by spewing out words of hurt. With out thinking, whom they will infect, or what harm it will cause to some one else. Most of which is done on impulse, or better yet called a knee jerk reaction. Generally, it’s about feeling powerful, getting attention or someone to feel sorry for them. Now after the bad act is set in motion, and realizing you were wrong, next comes thinking how are you going to get out of this situation, with out losing face! Ah- here comes another knee jerk reaction. Do I tell a lie? Blame it on some one else? Some other person caused me to do that? It’s not my fault! The list goes on and on about not taking responsibility for your own actions. Just take the time to think, before speaking.
Sifu Hayes http://silentriverkungfu.com
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

The (ox) New Year

Things are back to normal again after a wedding and the Chinese New Year Black Belt promotions Ceremony. The New Years Banquet was a great success especially with all of the students taking care of their volunteered jobs setting up tables, chairs. Laying out the place settings, serving trays, making coffee and juice, for two hundred forty people then clearing tables after the superb meal, supplied by our local restaurant. The welcoming committee done a great job of making people feel comfortable and showing them to their tables. Thanks for the videos presentations and speakers, they gave us insight into how the money was being distributed to the charities, chosen by the Silent River Benevolent Foundation. The Lion Dance Team, Changing of the Guard was the theme this year. They done such a roaring job most people didn’t know the dancers changed in the Lion. Demonstrations that were choreographed and preformed gave the audience laughter, watching the cute five year olds, to beauty in the musical demos. Congratulations to the excellent video and forms demo given by the newly promoted Black Belts. Thanks to Tom Callos for the video from Hawaii. The night ended with cameras flashing on all students for group pictures.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Daughters Married

Wedding was a native Indian ceremony. An Indian lady conducted the ceremony. First she had the forty people, immediate family and friends, stand in a circle, The Bridesmaid and Groomsman closed the circle. Asking every one to bring positive energy into the room by saying ohm and ridding the room of negative energy. Kristy and myself walked into the circle between the Bridesmaid and Groomsman and the circle was closed again. We stood at the East facing the Groom; the three of us were cleansed by sage smoke and feather. I gave Kristy’s hand to the Groom and announced what I expected of the Groom for her. Then the Bride, Groom proceeded to the South, while a Flute was playing, their Mothers stood at the South, reminding them not to forget where they came from, the mothers gave the Bride and Groom a rock each to put into a container, which Kristy’s Grandfather had made, the rock was chosen to represent Mother Earth. Bride and Groom walked to the West, flute was playing. The West represented fire; candles were lit, and fire place meaning the eternal flame for one another. The Bride, Groom now walked to the North, flute playing, pouring of water represented, life must keep moving forward to keep from getting stale. After the water was poured into a goblet, Kristy’s Grandfather also made. Their wedding rings were placed on each other’s fingers. They were wrapped in a blanket meaning becoming one, made by Kim (Brides sister). Bride, Groom then walked around the circle being congratulated by everyone. Then I blessed them, everyone shed a tear even myself. Then circle opened between the Bridesmaid, Groomsman. The married couple walked out followed by the circle of people walking around the room in single file. The last ones out of the room were the Bridesmaid and Groomsman. Everyone enjoyed the ceremony. A Fondue of Bison, prawns and lots of veggies was held for the reception. Speeches were held after the reception. Dance followed. Everyone had a great time.
Sifu Max Hayes Stony Plain Alberta Canada, www.silentriverkungfu.com

Daughter's Wedding

My oldest daughter’s wedding this weekend. There has been a lot of preparation on her part to make the day go smoothly. She wanted a winter wedding, they got engaged more than a year ago, loves the snow. The family is excited for the weekend of celebration. It is a small wedding, forty people. Thinking about the speeches I will be making at the ceremony, giving my daughter away and such, I’ve put enough thought into it that I will wing it. That seems to be the best when it comes directly from the heart. That’s about it, four-hour drive to get to Canmore Alberta. Let you know how it went next week.
Sifu Hayes
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain Alberta
Canada

Life is Changing

The older I get the more I realize that material things become less important and keeping up with the Jones (so to speak) is not important at all. It is what a person can find inside yourself, the love of your family and fulfilling your dreams is what makes life, and keeps it interesting. Having a purpose to get up in the morning and keep going everyday. Always tried to walk the straight and narrow. Even when I was a kid wasn’t afraid to be called chicken if I thought something looked like it was the wrong thing to do. Was taught to do the right thing and hold your head up high and not be ashamed of the choices you make, if they are not right-- change it. Hey I am not without my faults.
Kung Fu and age has helped me, and to be proud of my family and things that I have accomplished. Have a couple of things to do yet this year take Scuba Diving lessons and learn to Fly Fish, I know that they sound like to much fun to be accomplishments but these are two things I have put off for years. If I do not put this out there I will probably procrastinate and another year will pass.

Laughing, especially at yourself when you make those dumb little mistakes.
FOR
Sadness brings sickness

Pushing Snow

The snow dump and cold weather is gone for a while, out to clean driveways. Been looking after cleaning, neighbors’ driveways on the acreage in the subdivision, as acts of kindness since the middle of December, one couple is south sunning themselves for a couple of months. Other couple is on the west coast trying to sell their house here. Another neighbor just doesn’t have any equipment. On the way home the newspaper deliveryman had been stuck, so cleaned that driveway too. Don’t think they know who pushed their snow. It was certainly nicer to get out in the plus ten degrees and sunny, then two weeks ago, minus twenty-five.
Push-ups going OK, when I get my tendentious strap in the right place.
Sifu Hayes

The Pain of Pushups

The pain of pushups hope I got your attention. Not pain mentally but physically but mentally---. I have been trying to work through tendonitis in my right elbow of course from repeditive action, it started because of what I do for a living and now the pushups have added to the -------. It has been playing on me mentally, got to do the pushups, ouch, don’t do the pushups, got to do the UBBT, got to work, what do I do, my one hundred fifty a day that is not stopping. Took December off not doing pushups to try to remedy the elbow. One thousand pushups New Years day, to break in my well, rested arm. No problem, a week later we are back at the same place I was at a month ago. The Doctor suggested getting a strap for tennis elbow. Now the strap is on my arm when doing anything repeditive. Will try this and see how it works. February 2010 looks a long ways away.
Sifu Hayes

Happy New Year

Hello my name is Max Hayes from the Kwoon of Silent River Kung Fu in Stony Plain Alberta Canada. I have joined Master Brinker’s team to help improve how people in our community view the martial arts. Take a journey of a lifetime to improve my physical and mental skills, and do some activities that I always wanted to do but never did.
The one thousand pushups on January first was a great experience stayed with sets of fifty pushups and fifty sit-ups till I got to seven hundred then dropped down to sets twenty-five then to sets of ten. Glad I brought in the New Year at twelve ten with one hundred of each, should have stayed up another half hour and done another hundred of each, the afternoon would have been more comfortable. Arms are not bad today. Soreness usually catches me on the third day.
Thanks for the challenge