We spent most of the day at Epcot. I've learned more about myself today than I would have thought possible at a Disney Theme Park:

1. Norwegian women want to get me drunk.
2. Birds like my head.
3. I'm a troll.
4. I'll bitch about buying my 9-year-old a $3.99 pack of English Yu-Gi-Oh cards at Wal-mart but I'll drop $45 on the Japenese version at Disney without even blinking an eye.
5. I excel at getting other people in trouble.
6. I don't like other people's monkey children.
7. I like beer.
8. It is possible to survive on ice cream, patries, and beer.
9. I'm better at buying souvenirs for myself than gifts for other people.
10. I'm a crappy mom because my little girl turned 3 today and I spent my day at a Disney theme park drinking beer.

Well, we were supposed to see some of our black belts test today, but it turns out that none of them are going to test. So, we went to Universal Studios Themepark instead. It's amazing that the parks are up and running when everything else in Orlando is a wreck.

Lefty, Guam, and I took a hotel town car to the park. Odd, I know. It worked-out costing less than a cab...we think. BB-J phoned Lefty while we were at Twister. Seems we had a miscommunication and he had wanted to join us. So, we headed back to the main gates and waited for him to show up. We were able to ride most of the big rides. Back to the Future rocks. I laughed so hard from the tummy tickles I hurt my ribs and my throat. I think I frightened Guam. The Mummy was pretty good too. We enjoyed the silly movie they show when standing in line more than the ride. Guam didn't realize it was an indoor roller coaster. I think she considered bolting when see saw the roll bar for our laps. She stuck it out though.

I have to say, Universal attracts a different caliber tourist than what I recall seeing the last time I was at Disney. Not sure why that is. Apparently most of the other park patrons thought we were a peculiar group. We racked up some nasty stares.

The cab ride back to the hotel could have been a theme park ride. Things were flashing and rattling that should not have been flashing and rattling. The transmission seemed to give a couple times on acceleration. But, the driver gave us a sweet deal on the fare because he didn't call in our ride.

After the park, we went to Red Lobster for dinner. We sat for about 45 minutes and watched the lobsters in the tank. A couple were doing their best to climb out of the tanks. One exceptionally large lobster keep combing it's tiny hind legs through its underbelly. Nasty. I'm not sure I'll eat lobster again.

I had a temper tantrum during dinner; I was cranky tired and didn't want to go to bed after we ate...at least that's my story for this post. Anyway, Lefty, Guam, and BB-J agreed to drag their tired, battered bodies to Pleasure Island to meet up with some other people from our school. We went to an okay Improv Group and then did some 80's dancing. I think I'm now afraid of BB-K. Talk about a loaded pistol.

Special Day Four Memories:
5. Bread and butter pickles
4. Chil-ly
3. Lobster bellies
2. Where's the Welshmen
1. I Will Survive

The big day. It started with being reprimanded for being late to a breakfast that never happened. Getting pissed-off because it's too early to be awake. Getting more pissed off because everyone else in our group is wearing team t-shirts. Hell will freeze over before Lefty, Guam, and I get ours because they're the only freakin' ones still in the trunk of BB-B's car.

Next, confusion and delays checking in for the tourny. Is it one line or two? Possibly three? Who knows? No one. Signage? What's that?

Followed by, warming up, cooling down, mediocre cover-down and trying to stand at attention on a concrete floor for an hour. Lefty, GiGi and the Guamese were there, they know the pure hell I refer to.

Once competition started, my mood improved. I reveled in cheering for anyone opposing Mi.

SBNC gives off the "Cobra Kai Sensei" vibe.

Speaking of deficiencies, my form sucked. I made a little blunder, got flustered, then made a bigger blunder. Lefty caught it on tape. I'm sure at some point I will be forced to watch. Makes my tummy hurt when I think about it.

Breaking went better. I missed my first palm strike. Got pissed at myself. Thought, "this is it, if you don't want to walk away empty-handed break all these M-F'n boards." So, I went banshee and broke all three stations. Won gold. Pretty jazzy feeling.

Quite a lot of inspiring moments through out the day. I already want to start training for the next tournament. I want to be like Dragon Lady and the Welsh and New York Women.

Once the tournament ended, we got cleaned up and headed down to the hotel bar. We hooked up with the Welsh and had some beers. The Gosses made an appearance at our tables and took a moment to rub elbows with we peons. (Unlike some other SBNs who snubbed us so they could frolick with what were either karate groupies or hookers.) Anyway, I feel somewhat satisfied because G-Sr. selected a Guinness from our table over a Heiniken from the Welsh table. It would have been nice if G-Jr. had made a selection from our table as well. Despite all the snubbing, Guam and I were a party unto ourselves. The only thing missing was Lefty.

Special Day Three Memories:
5. GiGi and the Guamese
4. Me, breaking
3. Guinness
2. Shaft, Aah-Aah
1. Goss

Today was gup seminar, black belt team forms and sparring eliminations, and banquet day. It is also the day hell blew down on Orlando in the form of Charlie.

I was somewhat disappointed in the Gup seminar. I think I was hoping for more hands-on instruction than we actually received. On second thought, I should be relieved it wasn't more hands-on. SBN Behr doesn't really spike the estrogen, now if Junior had been around. Oh well, I guess I should be grateful for the fact that I was able to run through my tournament form a few more times. And I did get a pretty good work-out. At the end of it, I was the only female in my group actually sweating like a pig. I curse my spigot pores.

I missed watching the team forms stuff cuz I needed to go get cleaned up following gup seminar. However, I made it in time to see all of the black belt men sparring. The seeds of Team Michigan hating have been sown. What a cocky group of...wait...I'm not supposed to say those things about "family." They just make it far too easy to dislike them.

The banquet was okay. Charlie was slamming into Orlando full force during the banquet. The lights in the ballroom flickered a few times, but we didn't lose power. The sound of the wind battering the building was pretty awe inspiring. Of course, it made me think twice about going up to our 20th floor room. After we ate, we sat in the lobby for a little while and watched the wind make white caps in the hotel pool.

Special Day Two Memories:
5. Charlie
4. The Welsh
3. Black Belts Mario, Calvin and King
2. Hating Michigan
1. Guam

Made the trek to Orlando today. Despite the fact that Hurricane Charlie is on the way, Lefty and I, along with hundreds of others have managed to arrive in Orlando for the festivities.

I consider the fact that I didn't meet my doom in a flying death trap an encouraging sign. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Lefty was laughing at me and not with me on both legs of our flight. I was grateful that it was a little boy doing the vomiting in between Memphis and Orlando. It could very easily have been me. Something about watching a little kid vomit into his souvenir bag has a calming affect on me. I must arrange to have one aboard all the flights I take.

If I had to rank the things that will hold a special place in my Day One memories they would be:

5. The sweet sounds of a child vomiting.
4. Lefty accusing a 6'2" swedish male hotel desk clerk of stealing her license.
3. Lipstick, particulary the lovely shades in Lefty's mother's purse.
2. Organ Fest 2004 and the old people that flock to it.
1. Green belt Guam was birthed.