Ya, I know it’s been awhile since the last update. Mainly because there’s nothing to report, sadly enough. My last update was Saturday November 22nd — coming up on 3 weeks ago. Well, after that I got in a nice Monday morning solo ride at Lake Hodges aboard the new Turner 5 Spot. It was a good ride and the new Spot handled beautifully. I can’t wait until I can start dropping a little weight on that thing. Not that it’s too bad as is, but dropping those
3 lbs I figured I can drop will make it even nicer. And just because I like to add pictures to my posts, here’s a pic of the Spot. I love those red grips with the silver clamps!!
The next day at work, I kinda-sorta-maybe started to feel sick. I just was barely starting to feel achy. I am usually really in-tune with my body when it comes to illness coming on. I wasn’t 100% sure I was getting sick, but deep in the back of my mind I knew I was.
With that in mind, I called my Sgt. and asked him if I could take the next day — Wednesday/the day before Thanksgiving — as a vacation day, so I could extend my weekend. I really did want a longer weekend but also thought it’d be a good insurance policy in case I did get sick. Our Thanksgiving plans were to go to the Thanksgiving Eve service at church and then spend the night at mom and dad’s since we would be eating Thanksgiving dinner with them. Sarge said that was fine and I now had a 5-day weekend in front of me.
Sure enough, I woke up Wednesday morning and felt like 5 pounds of dirt in a 3 pound bag. I felt AWFUL!!!! I proceeded to lay in bed all day and attempted to rest and fight it off. I had to go in later and assist class at Taekwondo (we were on a shortened holiday schedule and I would only have to be there for a little over 2 hours). I made it into to class but felt terrible the whole time. I was never so glad to leave the Do-jang/school.
I went back to mom and dad’s and rested a bit before church, went to church and then came back feeling even worse. I was up all night with a raging fever — as high as 102.3 at times. I then proceeded to lay around all day on Thanksgiving. I felt bad and didn’t even really eat any of the fine meal mom and Tonya had prepared. We went home that night and I spent the next 3 days laying in bed. So much for a fun 5 day weekend.
I went to work Monday and still felt lousy, so I made an appointment with our family doc for the next day. I went in and after the exam, our doc told me “Congratulations!! You’re the first official case of the Flu I’ve seen this flu season!!” Wow. What a dubious honor. He said I would just have to let it run its course and I should be fine in a week.
Flash forward to this past weekend. The flu moved into my sinus and into my chest and I was beginning to feel worse, not better. By Wednesday I could barely breathe at all — my nose was all plugged sure, but my lungs were so jacked up I couldn’t take in hardly any air even inhaling through my mouth. It was bad!! Having had sinus infections and bronchitis before, I knew that’s what it was and I was screwed!! I called the doctor back and made an appointment for Thursday/yesterday.
To make a long story even longer, I am now on 3 different medications. Man, I’m hoping these meds do the trick. I’m really starting to get tired of being sick. I had that 3 week bout with The Plague back in September. Now I’ve been down with this thing for nearly 3 weeks. I just want to be healthy and get back on my bike!! Which, with my luck is going to be just in time for the rainy season. Oy!!
In other news, the Fallbrook Christmas Parade was this past Saturday. Our Taekwondo school enters a float in the parade every year. Even though I was sick, I wouldn’t be missing it!! The boys and I arrived at 9AM to decorate the float we would be entering, along with several other students from our school. The boys and I would be walking alongside the float during the parade in full uniform. It was nice to spend some time and joke around with the other adults there in an informal setting — since class is structured and we aren’t there to joke around. The float turned out really well. The boys and I grabbed lunch, went back to mom and dad’s to change into our uniforms and headed back to the Do-jang. We rode over to the line-up area with my Chief Instructor, Mrs. Neal and her husband. It was 3:30PM and the parade didn’t start until 6PM. It would be a long wait — standing the whole time.
We didn’t actually get moving until about 6:30 PM and we still had a 3 mile parade route to walk. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but being as sick as I was, 3 hours of standing had already taken its toll. Mrs. Neal put me and one of the other instructors Mr. Baker, out front. The kids would be walking behind us, some holding our school banner and the rest of the kids behind them. The float was behind that group with our little 3-5 year old Tiny Tiger students riding inside, with the other instructors walking alongside. After that a few other students carried a really nice ATA (American Taekwondo Association) banner.
I was a little nervous about being put out front, but was honored Mrs. Neal chose me for the task. The parade was actually a lot of fun and we got a really good and positive response from everyone watching the parade. I’ll try to get some pictures posted up soon. I didn’t take any myself, but know that lot’s were taken.
Also, we had our Taekwondo school’s Christmas party on Tuesday evening. I arrived a little early to help set up. The set-up went relatively quick and the party started at 6PM. We always have a potluck and are always blessed with really good food. After dinner, we had our annual awards ceremony. I won “Most Dedicated Student” last year, which was an honor and was curious to see how this year would go. Not that I expected or felt like I needed an award, just that I was curious to see what would happen. The awards — for Most Dedicated, Most Inspiring, Best Black Belt Attitude and Student of the Year — were all handed out. I must say the students who won were all very deserving! More on student awards in a bit.
After that, Mrs. Neal called up all the instructors. Since I’m only Level 1 Certified and not Level 3/Nationally Certified, not technically an instructor — at least not in my mind, at first I didn’t get up from my seat to go on stage. I figured she wanted our 3 other Certified Instructors to come up. We were sitting at a table right next to the stage and Mrs. Neal looked down at me and said “Come on Mr. Sullivan, you too.” OK, I wasn’t expecting that. She then proceeded to hand the 4 of us gift bags but said not to open them. She then went down the line and talked about how she appreciates the hard work and sacrifices we make. We got much applause which was nice.
She then specifically pointed out how she appreciated the sacrifices I made. She told everyone how far away I live, how I put in many hours a week and am working hard to become a Certified Instructor. I received a nice round of applause which was unexpected and nice. I’m not trying to come off like I bragging — I’m not. I just thought it was really nice and I was glad to hear that the work I am doing is appreciated. It was a special moment and I wanted to share.
She then told us to open our gifts and I received a very nice ATA warm up suit.
The set is actually pretty expensive. I was both surprised and honored. It was nice to feel appreciated and validated for all the hard work I’ve put in this year. Back to the student awards: After the other instructors and I were all up on stage receiving our accolades (LOL), one of the other instructors whispered in my ear in a joking, yet matter of fact way and with a wink, “You’re an instructor now. You don’t get student awards.” I wasn’t expecting that either! To be included with the other instructors was an honor.
As the party was winding down, many of the adult students and parents of the younger students came up and congratulated me. Quite a few of them said I was doing a great job teaching and that I seem to have a gift for it. Wow!! That floored me. Before I started Taekwondo and down this path to becoming an instructor, I never saw myself as a teacher in any way. But the passion I have for teaching is strong and it made me feel good to have others compliment me. It helps me to know that I’m going down the right path. To have those compliments and that sort of validation is very inspiring. I can’t wait to get healthy and get back to class 100%!!!
Also, Mrs. Neal talked to me during the party and informed me I am right on schedule to test for Black Belt at the next Black Belt testing on Saturday, February 28th. Wow!! I now have a date set. Pretty crazy to think that after 2 years and close to a thousand hours of hard work later, that I am finally this close. Pretty cool.
Wow, this post turned out WAY longer than I thought it would be. Sorry!! Anyway, I’ll post another update when I finally kick this sickness and get back into the normal swing of things.
And also just ‘cuz I feel like it, a pic of my ‘92 Trek 820:
Until next time, seek your bliss.
Ride lots…
