Hm...
-me looking over my glasses like a librarian that is considering which edition of War and Peace she's going to launch at you-

That's kind of how I feel a little. Except a bit more aggressive.
I have that feeling of annoyance where I am the person who really enjoys class and takes it seriously and then there is that one person in class who is goofing off, not paying attention and talking about things entirely irrelevant. Yeah, that kind of annoyed. It's worse than the person being an asshole, because if they are being an asshole it's likely that they will be openly reprimanded by the instructor.

Self-defense. Yay. I really like it. I take it seriously. My skill has significantly advanced. I said to my partner today "Where was the punch?" because she basically held her arm out at me. The instructor laughed at the line and also at my complete non-response to her lack of aggression and my sense that she was aiming for my shoulder instead of my face as she should have been. I made her re-do it with speed and the technique went fine.
My reactions are speeding up a lot. I love being played with and manipulated as well as seeing the techniques. I mean I was bent over backwards with my right arm twisted at that 90 degree angle that torques your tendons pleasantly and my face almost in an armpit and what was my reaction? Laughing my ass off and saying "I'm glad you wore deorderant today."
Yeah, I'm getting it. Freaking wicked fun day.

Except Evie.
Oh Evie.
She's so good when she wants to be, even better than me. She can kick above your head like it's a piece of cake. But unfortunately she has been skipping a lot of classes, using excuses of recent body mods and sickness and even menstruation. I'm pretty sure with all the orgasms, smoking, and drinking that she openly discusses with class that the bleeding can't be that bad.

She's my friend and I love her but I'm finding it hard to resist the urge to discipline her and snap her back in to order during S-D class. I do do it sometimes when I can't stand her just sitting by talking about her latest tattoo instead of focusing; "Okay, punch now." "Your turn to have the technique done." "Hey, attack me." "You, do this now." The instructors kind of shake their heads and ignore it at most times, get a laugh out of her and I try to but....agh. It's hard when I just want to proceed and get things done but she is being distracting to me. The annoyance is starting to show on my face. At least it makes me more aggressively realistic but really, how hard is it to have your shit a little together when you come to class? She doesn't want the pain of having to be the demo-chick? Fine. At least be paying attention enough so I can feel an attempt of effort at the technique when I attack and get twisted up.

My patience is wearing a little thin. I can tolerate newbs that have never taken the class before but seriously, she is a veteran of that class. Get it together.

I did have highs. I like that I am getting faster, that I am understanding technique enough to do some counters so that the instructor has to play harder with me. My body is really taking it in. The memory is in my mind and leaching in to my limbs. I feel proud of it, as though the strength I strive for is becoming part of me. It's amazing and empowering. I can't even describe it. The temporary pain is so worth it.

Anyhoo, I need to get going like now because I just realized I am missing part of a meeting (not overly important) as I write this.
Peace.
~Lo