#sugarhouse

CULT GAIA, Design District, Miami, Florida, United States,

Courtesy: Sugarhouse

PART 2

(Note: These are all far more horror/spooky themed than part 1)

Ulysses Klaue, Age of Ultron (2015)

Ulysses Klaue, Black Panther (2018)

**I had to make 2 for Klaue. His vibes are so different in both films that it was the only way I could wrap my head around it

Caesar, The Planet of the Apes Trilogy

Glen, Wild Bill (2011)

Lumpy, King Kong (2005)

Hoodwink, Sugarhouse (2007)

Ghost of Christmas Past, A Christmas Carol (2019)

Sugar Shack in the Woods

Yesterday we took a little drive out of town to go walk in the woods, and came across this little cabane à sucre (sugar cabin or "sugarhouse"). We stopped to chat with the owner and his sister, who were in the process of making maple syrup.

Neither the photo nor any description can adequately convey the pleasure of our experience that day: the sun filtering through the tall trees, the crunch of the ice and snow on the path underneath the feet, the sound of birds and the wind--but mostly silence; the smell of wood burning; the warmth of the cabin's small, inviting ancient kitchen; the smooth, delicious taste of that first sample, the sense of being completely at home with and part of nature.

You would have had to have been there.

First things first! A hearty congratulations to all the attending Aikidoka for their hard training and to those that were promoted: Ram Litchman, San Dan; Jan Arkless, San Dan; Barry Johnston Shodan; and Andrew Beal 5th Kyu.

In a country under quarantine during a worldwide pandemic a committed group of Aikidoka made the decision to further cultivate their Agoge Organic Training Circle (OTC) coming together to train in weapons and body arts. With determined attendance from Birankai dojos: New Tampa Aikido, Living Well Aikido, Desert Aikikai, Lansing Area Aikikai, Las Vegas Aikikai, Aikido Coachella Valley, Salt Creek Aikikai, and San Diego Aikikai (as well as friends from New Orleans), Summit Aikikai hosted a community-wide (OTC) aikido seminar filled with mindful training, testing, and teacher recertifications.

Face masks, hand sanitizing, dirt stains, grass stains, lots of fans, screening questionnaires, pre-registration, training bubbles, and frequent water breaks were consistent reminders of the unique context of a “CV19 era” aikido seminar. We all oathed a responsibility to come together and make Aikido training a possibility with appropriate safeguards. With many precious Aikido dojos closing throughout the country; now more than ever we felt the burden of duty to train and advance our BNA community in a creative and safe conscious way.

Pushing past our own personal CV19 views, I noticed a special type of respect in the air. Because of the more ‘life threatening context’, everyone wanted everyone else to feel as safe and as comfortable to train as possible. In this, I was especially proud of our Agoge OTC. This is where personal refinement has a real opportunity for growth and where bonds are forged between Aikidoka and BNA members. This is where aikido magic manifests itself. There were numerous valid opinions as to why we shouldn’t have come together to train in such dangerous times in the year 2020. Leave it to Marines and a strong frontline ER head nurse to persevere and MAKE A WAY. With their high standards of ‘keep training’ and ‘changing the world through Aikido’ as an utmost priority, we upheld the most sacred essence of our Agoge OTC lifestyle. We trained, trained, trained!