Thanks Guys and Reading...

Hey everyone,
 I want to thank everyone who responded to my venting blog on Friday. Believe me, I just had so much aggression I needed to let out that the last thing I wanted to do was vent out to Amanda and make it look like I was taking it out on her. Well, everything is okay now, so I'm feeling much better. Spent the day with the family yesterday as we took a walk around the block, spent time playing with Jessa and A.J. (we play this little hide and seek game now and again and when I see the kids laugh, I can't help but bust my gut laughing), and get this...I baked chocolate chip cookies last night...2 dozen batches.

 I've also gotten back into reading lately. It took me a week, but I read a book entitled Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman. For those who don't know who Mark Salzman is, I'll give a quick bio on him. Mark Salzman has been a fan of the Chinese culture since he was young. At 13, he began studying wushu, Chinese calligraphy, and literature. He went to Yale and graduated Summa Cum Laude in Chinese language and literature. The book was an account of his life from 1982-1984, when he was an English teacher in Changsa, where he studied wushu under Master Pan Qingfu, a legendary martial artist who appeared as a villain in Jet Li's first film, The Shaolin Temple. He studied wushu under Master Pan and studied Tai Chi under various masters, hence the title "Iron and Silk"

 Iron refers to wushu, a hard style martial art and Silk refers to Tai Chi, a soft style martial art. However, this book was not just about Mark training in these styles, but it was also a look at China during this period and its effects on foreigners and its laws. Mark took an in-depth look at the people he would meet throughout his journey, taught us a thing or two about the customs on Mainland China, with some of his martial arts training mixed in. I really enjoyed this book and one day, I hope to find a way to contact Mr. Salzman himself and tell him how much I enjoyed this book.

 Movie fans will want to know that a movie version of this book came out in 1990. Mark wrote the screenplay and starred in the film as himself as I think Master Pan played himself as well. The book is definitely worth reading and I will suggest it to anyone who asks me for suggestions on books to read just to kill some time.

 Today looks like it's going to be somewhat of a quiet day. Mostly house work to be done so maybe after the kids' cartoons, I'll just turn Winamp on the play music today. I hope everyone is doing okay...I for one, am doing much better And Gary, you are right..."parents just don't understand"

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