"Differential Diagnosis"

Having been “tainted blue,” I was suffering from severe cognitive dissonance.? “If you are unhappy with your life, don???t try to rationalize that unhappiness away. Do something about it!” ? On one hand,? I was enjoying every minute Juli and I spent together, and I had reached a level of happiness I once thought lost. ? On the other hand, keeping up with Juli’s lifestyle had been taking its toll on my martial arts and had even started affecting my performance at work, which in turn unbalanced the happiness.

Strolling into the office a few hours late, with only a tease of sleep, a few times a month isn’t the way to earn a promotion. ? One supervisor in particular began to take notice…the crosshairs were on me, and I had to shape up, or she’d pull the trigger and I’d be done.

It was a Wednesday evening, ladies night at the club, when I decided I needed to make a change. ? I was due at the club that night to uphold my VIP duties, but instead I took a little blue pill and went to bed. ? Just before falling asleep, I sent a text to Juli letting her know I wouldn’t make it that night.

The next morning, I woke up bright and early, feeling great, ready for a full day’s work! No longer was the early morning world cruel and grey, but rather bright and cheerful. ? I suppose everyone needs a recharge, and a full night’s rest is just what I needed. ? While at lunch that same day, I ran into an old friend who told me of the martial arts class she was in.

Chinese Kenpo? She explained as she demonstrated a few attack combinations. Kenpo seemed to be better suited against hand techinques, which would suppliment my existing knowledge and make me a more formidable opponent against that boxer. ? There was also the fact that this “old friend” is a girl whom I had chased years ago, only to come out empty handed. Could this be another chance? That same afternoon, after Taekwondo class, I arrived for my first Kenpo lesson.

The warmup was intense, and what followed was a breakdown of some very “basic” strikes. ? Strikes which would serve as the foundation of our beginner attack combination, “the basic three.” ? Using these basic three strikes, we learned to incorporate them into a variety of situations for a smooth, constant defense & attack pattern. ? The class seemed to end all to quickly, but I didn’t mind since my body was exhausted! ? Time to refuel with some unhealthy junk food!

Ari and I soon found ourselves at a local pizza parlor for dinner, enjoying each others company and catching up. We chatted for hours, and later took a stroll around town before finally heading home. I showered and turned to my little blue friend for some instant sleep. Thursday nights were usually Juli’s night off from the bar, and while this was normally “our” night to do as we wished, the combination of Taekwondo & Kenpo really drained all my energy. ? A quick phone call to cancel, and I was off to bed without a care in the world.

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1. unbreakable says:

   May 11, 2009 at 3:47 pm

   Maintaining a balance is very important and at the same time very hard at times,one thing you don’t want to do is risk loosing out big time by unbalance,she will understand that you cant maintain that lifestyle and keep up at work, and your job is what you cant afford to loose.

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2. TOPolk says:

   May 11, 2009 at 7:27 pm

   I’m curious where the next post goes. More times than not, ladies aren’t too keen on guys disappearing for more than a few days at a time. Especially when they decide to go off and do their own thing.

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3. Ella says:

   May 11, 2009 at 9:55 pm

   A quick phone call to cancel, and I was off to bed without a care in the world. -This one caught me.

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4. ScoMan says:

   May 12, 2009 at 4:17 am

   It sounds like your life took you down a windy road with several exits along the way, each leading to a different opportunity.

   Like the commentors above, I’m hooked and can’t wait to see what the next post brings.

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5. ChinkyGirLMeL says:

   May 12, 2009 at 8:40 am

   Ooooh…Interesting. I wonder what’s running through Julie’s mind right now. Girls usually tend to panic when this happens… Looking forward to your next post.

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6. “Differential Diagnosis” » Breathing Room says:

   June 5, 2009 at 11:04 am

   [...] the “Bartender Saga” (Parts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) of the past wrapped up on the site almost three weeks ago, final exams were just commencing [...]

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7. “Differential Diagnosis” » The Introvert Transition says:

   August 16, 2009 at 7:45 pm

   [...] me in exchange for a taste of my power or cash flow (ex. “The Bartender Saga” parts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8), and of course those that I could manipulate with words alone (like the USAF pilot trainee). I [...]

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