Highlights of my Day... Tuesday, April 22

1. One of my students who didn't bring his profile practically begged me to reconsider letting him do the exam. I made him leave the classroom but he snuck into my second class's exam. Between getting kicked out of class and the second exam starting, he had gone and got his picture taken, and filled out his profile. I told him if he could give me one good reason why I should let him do the exam then I'd let him.

2. His reason started off with "i I don't do the exam, my heart will forever break." It was a rather exaggerated but it worked. I let him do the exam.

3. Much to my surprise, six students showed up late to my exam. They walked in and were surprised to see that the exam was in session. They thought they were early. Turns out one of their classmates told them that the exam time had changed. Ironically, that student who said this didn't even show up for the exam. Now given who these students were (3 being top students), I let them join us for the exam and then I redid some questions at the end.

4. Around 12:50am, 2 more students from the same class showed up. By then their classmates had come, written the exam, and had left. They were shocked. Turns out they had the same story as the other 6 and so I let them attend my other class's exam.

5. Lately my left foot has been hurting. It's just the heel of my foot but in the morning it's been so painful that I am forced to limp around in the morning and after training. I've never been one to race off to the hospital for every ache or pain. I just considered it another boxing related injury.

6. My list of boxing physical injuries:
* black eyes
* a bruised jaw
* overly swollen jaw
* bruised kidney (the WORST injury of all!!!)
* bloody, ripped up knuckles
* sprained wrist
* bump on the forehead
* cuts on my face
* bruises on my arms
* swollen knuckles
* and now, plantar fasciitis (foot injury)

7. Q decided that he wasn't going to let me just sit back and not do anything about my sore heel and so he made me go to the hospital. Turns out I have "plantar faciitis" is my left foot. It's a chronic injury that is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia — the tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis causes stabbing or burning pain that's usually worse in the morning because the fascia tightens (contracts) overnight. Once your foot limbers up, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position. In most cases, you can overcome the pain of plantar fasciitis without surgery or other invasive treatments. The doctor loaded me up with pain killers, lectured me on treatment procedures, gave me a very stern warning to be careful, and then sent me on my way.

Treatment procedures:
* no more walking around in bare feet
* take daily painkillers
* extensive foot stretching, 3 times a day
* foot massaging
* try not to wear high heels as much
* have to tape up my foot daily

8. Visited my old neck of the woods, where I use to live in Korea. Everything has changed. Kimbab Chunkuk is long gone, so is the bookstore I use to visit. A once vacant building is now booming with activity and it just doesn't feel like it use to. I was all excited to show Q my old area. I wanted to show him my old house and school, but while waiting for the elevator, I decided I rather not. I don't even know if I'd recognize any of the students, or if they'd recognize me for that matter.

9. Met my new sparring partner, supposedly, Min Chung. She's apparently a taekwondo champion which is great but really didn't impress me. I like my current sparring partner, we're like sisters. Anyways, Min Chung arrived at the club with two men, one being her taekwondo coach. All eyes were on her as they stood talking to Junior Mint about her training. She's just starting out at boxing and so I'm really not interested in her. I'll be months before I can even spar with her and so I see no reason why to jump the gun and designate her my sparring partner.

10. After training, Q and I roamed the streets in the rain and in our sweaty clothes... talk about nasty and uncomfortable. We ended up hitting the bookstore and even grabbing dinner at a local restaurant. Two hours later, I finally arrived at home, was able to shower and then studied my Korean.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What's your first priority in life?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Safeguard the health both of body and soul.
-- Cleobulus