Strange Irony
I competed in my first championship since having Elle, with ironic results. I didn't feel ready for the forms competition at all - I felt disjointed and off-balance for most of my practice, but at the event something snapped together and I earned first place. I felt pretty ready for my sparring competition, going International and having been involved in my personal training these last few months...and got knocked out. Even though I didn't necessarily have expectations of the sparring win, I did not expect a black eye and swollen/bruised cheekbone. It was my impatience that cut me down (not waiting on them to attack); regardless, it was a complete switch-a-roo of my expectations for the two events. It was very disagreeable to experience my own personal first knockout as the one knocked out. I prefer the other side of the table; although neither sides are exactly enjoyable. Much learned - much more training to come.
18 February 2008
Not Impressed!
I never was terribly impressed with Butler University, except of course that it's an expensive school for rich kids that either weren't interested in Ivy League schools, or simply couldn't cut it financially or mentally. I've always respected their music programs though, and their support of the fine arts...until yesterday. We went to hear the student body's Wind Symphony, with very unflattering results. Nobody seemed "with it" and raw talent was definitely absent. All I could sit there and think was how amazing the children were at Purcell School of Music during a recital, and how they easily compared with professonals, then compare them to students 10 years older blatting their way through pieces.
I think partly the problem was that the modern pieces themselves were lacking the luster of the old classics, but their performance of a beautiful Bassoon piece was not much better, I'll give credit for the professor that played very well though.
Perhaps I'm being too harsh comparing 8 year old Purcell students to 18 year old "normal university" students; I just originally higher expectations. I've attended plenty of professor recitals and greatly enjoyed them. Perhaps all the student talent is off to Juilliard and the RAM :)
I try to avoid negative posts, but I'm not doing well.
I never was terribly impressed with Butler University, except of course that it's an expensive school for rich kids that either weren't interested in Ivy League schools, or simply couldn't cut it financially or mentally. I've always respected their music programs though, and their support of the fine arts...until yesterday. We went to hear the student body's Wind Symphony, with very unflattering results. Nobody seemed "with it" and raw talent was definitely absent. All I could sit there and think was how amazing the children were at Purcell School of Music during a recital, and how they easily compared with professonals, then compare them to students 10 years older blatting their way through pieces.
I think partly the problem was that the modern pieces themselves were lacking the luster of the old classics, but their performance of a beautiful Bassoon piece was not much better, I'll give credit for the professor that played very well though.
Perhaps I'm being too harsh comparing 8 year old Purcell students to 18 year old "normal university" students; I just originally higher expectations. I've attended plenty of professor recitals and greatly enjoyed them. Perhaps all the student talent is off to Juilliard and the RAM :)
I try to avoid negative posts, but I'm not doing well.
14 February 2008
Dick's Sporting Goods are full of dicks
I like to think I'm reasonable with my expectations as a consumer, but the lack of customer service, or even customer caring has pushed me to vow never to return to Dick's Sporting Goods. I was always frustrated that every visit there left me wanting...always missing the size I needed, or the ball brand I wanted. Therefore, I decided to use their web service to buy 17 mouthguards for my martial art students. Big mistake! I chose shipping that said 3-5 business days. Like a fool, I thought they meant that, so I choose it. My confirmation email said to expect it between 4-8 business days...2 business days too late for the tournament. I spend wasted time looking for any sign to contact these people since they provide no customer service number, weblink, or email in their confirmation email or their website account summary. I finally find a phone number where I was told that I would have to cancel and start over.
me: "First, let's focus on the fact that you say 3-5 business days on the shipping choice, and you provide 4-8 business days for the confirmation."
dick: "oh, it says very clearly that it takes 1-2 business days to get to our warehouse."
me: "WHERE?"
dick: "that information is provided with the product information."
me: "that is a very unhelpful place to put it. i very much need it by the 23rd, so please upgrade my shipping option."
dick: "we can't do that, i'll cancel your order and you can start over."
me: "i'll never be using your service again if this is how unflexible the company is!"
dick: "have a pleasant day."
Fine. Whatever. I'm told that I must move on to keep my blood pressure down. So I do it all over again. Please note that they were magically out of the colours I wanted because they had not returned the inventory from my cancellation, so I had to be satisfied with colours I didn't want. Then I discovered that in order to get the order within 4 business days, I have to freaking overnight it because they take 1-2 business days to send the order to the warehouse!!! I'm guessing at this point that they do not email the order, rather bike it across town by courier.
I post this in hopes that anybody that wants to Google Dick's Sporting Goods for feedback, that they'll read this and realise that it's another big business gone bad.
I like to think I'm reasonable with my expectations as a consumer, but the lack of customer service, or even customer caring has pushed me to vow never to return to Dick's Sporting Goods. I was always frustrated that every visit there left me wanting...always missing the size I needed, or the ball brand I wanted. Therefore, I decided to use their web service to buy 17 mouthguards for my martial art students. Big mistake! I chose shipping that said 3-5 business days. Like a fool, I thought they meant that, so I choose it. My confirmation email said to expect it between 4-8 business days...2 business days too late for the tournament. I spend wasted time looking for any sign to contact these people since they provide no customer service number, weblink, or email in their confirmation email or their website account summary. I finally find a phone number where I was told that I would have to cancel and start over.
me: "First, let's focus on the fact that you say 3-5 business days on the shipping choice, and you provide 4-8 business days for the confirmation."
dick: "oh, it says very clearly that it takes 1-2 business days to get to our warehouse."
me: "WHERE?"
dick: "that information is provided with the product information."
me: "that is a very unhelpful place to put it. i very much need it by the 23rd, so please upgrade my shipping option."
dick: "we can't do that, i'll cancel your order and you can start over."
me: "i'll never be using your service again if this is how unflexible the company is!"
dick: "have a pleasant day."
Fine. Whatever. I'm told that I must move on to keep my blood pressure down. So I do it all over again. Please note that they were magically out of the colours I wanted because they had not returned the inventory from my cancellation, so I had to be satisfied with colours I didn't want. Then I discovered that in order to get the order within 4 business days, I have to freaking overnight it because they take 1-2 business days to send the order to the warehouse!!! I'm guessing at this point that they do not email the order, rather bike it across town by courier.
I post this in hopes that anybody that wants to Google Dick's Sporting Goods for feedback, that they'll read this and realise that it's another big business gone bad.
06 February 2008
Important Focuses
I have discovered that it's essential to play Godsmack's Sick of Life while I grade. Why? Because these are adult students that have paid money to screw off even basic strategies to college success, such as reading the instructions on how to get into their course (online), reviewing the rubrics, and reading the student guides that tells them exactly what to do and why it's important. I support any adult student that wants to return to college and improve their quality of life and education, but many excuses that I run into are much worse than the children's excuses in my Tae Kwon Do school. Those are the people that I just want to say "you're a manager at Wendy's because you won't accept responsibility for your life, not because you don't have a degree."
I have discovered that it's essential to play Godsmack's Sick of Life while I grade. Why? Because these are adult students that have paid money to screw off even basic strategies to college success, such as reading the instructions on how to get into their course (online), reviewing the rubrics, and reading the student guides that tells them exactly what to do and why it's important. I support any adult student that wants to return to college and improve their quality of life and education, but many excuses that I run into are much worse than the children's excuses in my Tae Kwon Do school. Those are the people that I just want to say "you're a manager at Wendy's because you won't accept responsibility for your life, not because you don't have a degree."
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