Socks, Starter Wife, and Sparring

It actually took me a few minutes to come up with that title, and that's all I have to show for it. Sorry!

I frogged the STR sock. I was starting the gusset increases, too. It just wasn't working for me. I really like the fabric of the US 2's, but didn't cast on enough stitches, and it was just a smidge too tight. I kept telling myself I could live with it - even just change ever so casually to US 3's when I got to the leg - but it was driving me nuts. Could I wear them? Yes. Did I want to wear them? Yes. Did I like the way they looked on my feet when I wore them? No. I went to restart again on US 3s and I really don't like the fabric. So I don' know what I"m going to do with them now.

I started watching The Starter Wife this week on USA (watched the first episode on the website and the second one on tv tonight). I gotta say, I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I like the characters and the actors (I really like Debra Messing in this, actually), but it kind of seems like the story is moving just a hair faster than what we see on screen. There's been a couple of times I've gone "Um, just a little more backstory here would help this scene a lot!" Oh well. I'm not a multimillion dollar producer or screenwriter, so what do I know? I do realize that it is a mini-series (sorry, a "television event"), so perhaps all will be explained in the end. There is a semi-mystery in it, though, so maybe I'll just pick up the book instead. (We know the guy committed suicide, but the characters don't.) Has anyone else seen it? What do you think so far?

I went in for a pickup on the self-defense this afternoon. Sir helped me finally figure out what I was doing wrong with the take down (now I just have to remember it!) and then started showing me some different sparring footwork drills, and explaining the different numbers to the kicks (a #1 front kick v. a #2, 3, or 4 front kick, for example). He helped me place the order for my sparring gear and told me he was really interested in seeing what kind of style I'd develop for myself as I got more confident with the sparring. I'm kind of interested too. I'm still nervous about it, but it's a "I'm going to make such a fool of myself!" scared now. Which isn't really a problem - one of the things I really like about this studio is how extremely patient and helpful the other students are with lower belts in class - but still. Sir told me to just concentrate on footwork and putting just two or three techniques together at a time for now. I went back this evening and watched the sparring class again. Mr. R. told me that it was too bad there wasn't an odd number of people, or he'd've made me join the class. Sir did have me join the rest of the class for formwork at the end, though. It's tough getting up cold and trying to go through your form! And once again, my theater training and tkd collide - don't let the audience, or judges, know that you know you just messed up! I'm good for Saturday, but I'll only be able to go to Monday night regular class next week due to tech and Opening. The whole work thing is just inconvenient sometimes! Oh, and I'll do the camo belt form next - I somehow landed so that I'll actually go through all the forms in order, which is kind of nice. I like reverse side kicks, even if I suck at them right now!