Life is life. It goes, it changes again and again and then it ends...as all things do. I have recently ended my career as a Karate-ka. In March I announced what could be interpreted as a soft retirement from something I have done for the past 16 years. I still remember the day my sister invited me to try Karate with her and her husband in Tsawassen. Seems a long time ago. It was a small decision that would have a huge impact on my life, including a year in Japan, the driver for starting this blog. But now so many years into my training, a body that seems to refuse to get more flexible, and a level of enthusiasm that just cannot make up for it. I decided that my heart wasn't where it needed to be to set a good example for my kohai. Looking back now, I should have stopped grading after Shodan. Maybe my only regret in my karate training life. It did make me a better person and I met some amazing people, some of whom I consider friends.
Never say never, I may re-surface with an occasional drop in.
Until very recently, this is the last photo I have from a ride with my wife. Here she is with our good friend Brett. Later that day, we would drive in Surrey to change our lives forever.
We met and picked up our Chocolate Lab, Ozzie, from the breeder who brought him down from Burns Lake.
This of course was over 2 months ago now. Just about every photo on my phone since is of Ozzie. But here online, just so I never forget the day we were finally able to own a puppy.
Crazy cute, we loved him instantly.
And our neighbours kids were excited for us. They came over on the first day to help us walk him.
Chris chills next to our sleeping puppy...
...and later that day the Eatons would come over. Ozzie would snore in Izzys lap the whole time they were visiting.
This Ozzie watching the Canucks play Buffalo.
Nic and I have been taking turns going on rides most weekends. I often wake up and do a solo lap so she can ride with friends at the normal time. This all of course while Ozzie grows to a point where he can be a trail dog without us worrying about wrecking his joints. We should be green light on this by June 2023, I hope.
My first week with him, I had to be at my desk at 5:30am for Powershell training. Considering I would sleep on the couch for the first 3 days while we worked on crate training, I'd be surprised if I remembered any of my training.
One thing he does well is sleep when I need to ignore him.
For some reason this picture always reminds me of Bilbo Baggins in the animated Hobbit movie from the 1970's.
He's getting big fast, and turning into a tank. Heavy and dense even for his size, he can really pull on his leash when he wants to.
We keep him busy. Its maybe not be a wise choice to allow him on the couch, but I think we'll only ever get to do the puppy thing once in our lives so 'F' it as they say. Watching him konk out on Nic's lap from time to time is worth it.
Being puppy parents, as you might guess, comes with challenges. But my life is completely different now and I wanted that after being pretty much the same guy for past several years.
Nic has a few nicknames for Ozzie, the main one being Monkey, because that's what he is.
Karate out, Ozzie in. For now at least, this blog is Just about Monkey. And bike rides and board games I guess.
