the phoenix

This is good marketing...and I still wonder who it REALLY is about!!! The world may never know

I love it! It was snowing and about 32 all day today I thought it was very tolerable. I work outside year round and I can deal with the cold, even if it's sub-zero windchill. It's the summer heat that gets me.

WuchildNZ that is a great story! This guy sounds like an amazing athlete to accomplish so much. Hats off to him! * tinny bit of shameless self promotion* I was on my feet ( out of the chair) ALL DAY TODAY!!!!

I'm looking into a new truck this year (or next)! It's down to the Ford Super Duty 250 or the Super Duty 350 Dually, 4x4, max. towing package.... and an 80 HP chip just for fun. *sigh*

I have gotten a lot of good info from this post. I think it might be my "I don't stand a chance" mentality that makes me panic as much as anything else. Very good advice!

I was already looking for a different school before this happened. A different style actually. The instructor is young but seems good and I'm sure he is still learning himself how to handle all the issues that pop up with newbies. I have felt panic several times now but have been able to work through it without having to stop. I am sticking with a female partner and that helps. I did catch myself holding my breath when I knew the next exercise was one I'm not comfortable with but knowing I was doing it helped me remember to breath. I appreciate all the advice, it's very helpful!

I am in fact looking for another school but have not come up with the right combination yet. I am a little discouraged.

Thanks for the suggestions! I think I need to work on my patience and get into some private lessons.Perhaps I push for too much too soon. I am so use to doing things without thought or difficulty that it is hard to accept my own limitations sometimes. A "disclaimer" to my partners is a good idea...I still feel really bad about that and my elbow hurts! Happy New Year!! The Phoenix

I guess you could say I'm physically small ( maybe not so much after the Holiday!) Even though I am a small female I have never before been bullied and have never been anything but secure and confident. I have to admit to being a little timid after my "unfortunate incident" I am having trouble adjusting to my new way of reacting/over reacting to any situation where I feel trapped and I am afraid this will hinder my training. Maybe private lessons are the way to go.

I'm not sure this is the right spot for this post and I have been debating asking for a little while but I could use some feedback. I have been attending a self defense class while I look for an appropriate style/school and have twice now had a bad reaction to some of the lessons. I am mortified to admit it but while working on breaking a choke hold I fainted. I was not in any way actually being choked. then a few days later working on another technique I freaked out and lashed out at my partner and gave him a nasty black eye. I am beyond embarrassed and am not sure how to handle myself. I didn't get much feedback from my instructor who clearly didn't know what to say and I feel horrible for hitting my partner. Does anyone have any experience working through something like this or any suggestions?

I picked up the best assortment of gift cards...Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, the movies. That Starbucks card came in handy on the monster 14 hr drive I have to get home! I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Ketamine and a dozen other sedatives and painkillers.

you are right cymry I use to work in Veterinary Medicine and it was my work truck that was taken. I was unaware at the time and am still baffled by the fact that PEOPLE get high on ANIMAL drugs. Stupid is as stupid does I suppose. Or maybe they just wanted the truck? It may have been pre-meditated but I can't say for sure.I think perhaps it is sort of irrelevant in the end what the motivation was.

Perhaps the chances are tiny but the repercussions can be HUGE! And as far as demographics go, I am a 35 year old, white woman and was in a VERY upscale location when my vehicle was taken. It can never happen, happens all the time.

Thanks Tony and usc96 for the tips, very clear and informative. I'll have to try those out.

Thanks for the info, I'll look into the options in my area. Since I have no frame of reference in MA's I am open to any and all suggestions to find what will best serve my purpose. At present I am not fully mobile so it is a consideration when I look into schools. As far as the gun goes, It does give me a lot of confidence and is my only concession to fear. I have invested a lot of time and energy into proper training and I have no reservations or hesitation in following through with deadly force if needed. Having said that I would prefer to learn to defend myself without the gun and I am fully aware that someone could take it away from me and use it against me.

I'll check the vids out. Thanks. The Phoenix

Yes I have ask about it but thought I might get some other ideas. Also, the anonymity of the internet helps you talk about things that might make others uncomfortable. Most people just want to pat my hand and tell me don't worry about it, you are just lucky to be alive. True that, but I want to learn and become better for it. I feel now that I am unable to walk very well I make an even better target and I want to have a game plan. I appreciate the information and I am really just trying to satisfy my curiosity.

He had me in a "bear hug" from behind, one arm around my middle and one arm around my throat. my left arm was trapped but my right arm was free until it was broken later in the fight.

I just started learning TKD and I have only had a few classes ( love it) I now carry a handgun, at all times.

this is my personal experience and would like your feedback on what, if anything could have been done to fight back/escape. I am a 5'4"/ 125lb female: I was jumped by 2 men while walking to my car late one night ( leaving work) One walked out from behind my truck so I would see him and the other came sneaking up behind and grabbed me while I was startled by the first guy. The guy that grabbed me picked me up off the ground while the other came closer. My reaction at that point was pure shock..no reaction.The guy who came from behind my truck had a baseball bat , I realized I was in big trouble and kicked him in the face, I used the guy holding me to get leverage and knocked him out cold. I am sure he didn't expect that. The guy holding me started to strangle me and I think if I had known what to do I could have gotten away. As it was I fought long and hard but the guy I kicked came back around and long story short they beat me nearly to death and took my truck. I think they were after legal drugs I kept in my truck due to the type of work I did. Could someone my size, caught totally by surprise escape from this attack? I realize that it is impossible to follow all possible outcomes and I have thought through several ways I should have responded differently.

Breaking a bat or being broken by a bat....hum Can I get a do over?

I hope no one minds if I put in my 2 pennies on this "possible" situation. I have some of that first hand experience with nearly being beaten to death with a baseball bat . I can say with no reservations that I would have LOVED to be in the company of anyone carrying any weapon! I would in all honesty like your opinions on defense in my situation ( random act of violence) Though it would be more of it's own topic I think. I have since learned in great detail about how to use a firearm and have a concealed carry permit. I hope to be able to defend myself without a gun but as I have just begun this journey I prefer a good "Plan B". ( I took no offense at the previous "lighthearted banter, you should hear the things I say about my near death experience. It's laugh or cry sometimes!) The Phoenix

I take back my enjoyment of the snow! I work in a none climate controlled building and it only hit about 22 today. I am frozen solid! ( but it's still pretty!)

Man is it kicking up outside! nearly whiteout conditions, 50 mph wind and it -6 right now! Getting to work is going to be "fun" but I love the snow Is anyone else catching this storm?