Getting old

So the date for Berzerkely is set for 5/1 this year. That's five days after my 30th birthday. OH BOY I'M OLD HOORAY

Wushu has definitely been more of a downer, in recent months. Ever since the knee problems started, really. My knee is marginally better--at least I am able to run once or twice a week now--but it's not *great*. My hip flexors feel tighter than a pair of size 0 skinny jeans, no matter how much I stretch. My ankles pop and the arches of my feet ache. My stance transitions are borked, because the hip joint mobility required to do them WELL? Aggravates my knee. Of COURSE.

And don't even get me started on my hops, or rather, my complete and utter lack of them. You might not think that gaining back 10 of the 20 lbs I lost last year would make that big a difference, but it DOES. My lotus kick 450s are back down to 360s, and the hope of hitting 540 is fading.

Am I seriously getting too old for this? Is it just because I gained some weight back? Is it the fact that other parts of my life aren't going well, either? I'm not sure of any of it. All's I know is, I feel like this battle may be turning into a losing one.

I don't even care about the stupid tournament anymore. I don't care about winning, or even competing. I may not even be in any shape to do so, judging from how my body is holding up.

I just want wushu to be FUN again. And it's hard to get past the aches and pains, and re-find that place where it feels good to simply be doing it.

Bleh

Jesus, I've been a downer lately. I need to stop with that. ;p

On the nice side, I now have my 2009 W2 in my hot little hands. I can has big tax refund plz? ...okay, so all I would do with it is something boring like putting it in savings. But that would feel *really* good right now. <3

Other Good Things of recent:
--Rock Band and awesome cupcakes and sarapada's birthday
--Saturday vintage theater photoshoot of awesome
--actually winning money at poker for the first time ever. $10 richer, y'all!
--CUTE PUPPIES ;_; (one of our models brought hers to the shoot, d'aawww)
--grabbing a bite at Produce Row with veiravx on my day off.
--finding recipe on Teh Internets and making yummy Moroccan-type beef stew
--long walk up to Hawthorne with Boy, with stop at pizza joint
--guy at said pizza joint who was TOTALLY a more well-spoken Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds
--getting mac-n-cheese for lunch yesterday
--having lunch with Amy earlier today
--it's already Wednesday and it's almost over!

Ahhh. That's better.