Remember all those whiny diaries about how much my body hurt after some $milestone in martial arts training? Well, March 29th is the beginning of the end - the first of three phases of black belt testing. Expect several whiny diaries between now and May $not-sure when the graduation party happens.

For example, Saturday I was showing (off) how to break boards to some of the teen agers. My favorite trick is the "3 inch punch". I touch the stack of boards with the tips of my fingers and then, without picking my hand up, I roll it into a punch and break the boards. The point is to show that you don't need a huge wind-up-hay-maker punch to hurt somebody. It also demonstrates that the key is to hit correctly - with all the force focused behind a single knuckle.

I must have done this 3-4 times, at least twice with 4 boards. Lots of single board breaks to show the kids how it's done.

Sunday I woke up and discovered I couldn't find my knuckles on that hand. Seems it was a little swollen. Enough that I couldn't make a fist or lay it out flat.

Why doesn't the pain come soon enough to be helpful? I mean, a little idiot light saying "warning: your knuckle is getting sore" would have been worth while.

Anyway - the swelling's down now, enough that I could do push ups without pain, but I decided to forego the bag work today.

And now the nightmare. I had a dream that my wife and I went on a trip to see a friend of hers get married and my family was there too and we got split up and I couldn't find her  - and everyone knew it was because she was avoiding me and no one would tell me why. I finally made some one bring her to me and I started to ask her why...

and I woke up.

That's it. Except I was completely devastated. She had to sit and snuggle with me for 30 minutes this morning before I felt better.

I can't decide whether I should be relieved or annoyed that my worst nightmare is cheap melodrama.