My tracking :(

Hello again team so recently ive been preparing for the phase 4 test and i look at my acts of kindnes and enviromental acts. And realize that i should have more than i already have because in estamate i probably did 234 acts. so since im low on my enviromental acts and on enviromental acts. Now what i did to catch up to my self is that i went around my whole neigborhood and picked up any trash and the trash that i found was counted on my book and the amount of trash that i collected was 282!!!! that is a huge amount of trash only found along only 1 street! so i am not only up to speed on my acts now but i cleaned my entire neighborhood. have a great day! sincerly,Clark.Ahrendt

CORN SYRUP (medium)

HELLO again team so i have had the honor to visit the science pub talk so what is science pub? it is a group of scientist around oregon who set up speaches for certain subjects and they want volunteers to speek like perfesional scientists. so last night we had a scientist come up and talk to us about corn syrup. And what he had to say was very very interesting. Over time from the 1900 between now we have eaten so much corn syrup that it is scary im actually suprised that we even eat that much corn syrup everyday. Well there is 2 types of things that are bad for you think of this there used to be corn syrup just regular but then the government found out that if you procces the material a little more it become high fructose corn syrup. and not only was it sweeter but it was cheeper for the government to put that into every day foods to make them taste better. So if you wanted to check out more of these speaches then check out on google: SCIENCE PUB have a nice one! sincerly,Clark.Ahrendt

Ugh!

It looks like I will be testing on attitude tonight, all of this running around and not giving my body rest has caught up with me. Fever and sore throat this morning after :( I am taking the day off of work to sleep it off and hopefully be feeling better by testing time. I hope every one is ready and excited to bring the energy tonight, I have really enjoyed how the team has come together over the last phase and felt more unified. Good luck tonight all!

High Fructose Corn Syrup

So this is my understanding of the seminar last night: High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is man-made from corn and is 55% Fructose and 45% Glucose. The difference between fructose and glucose is that when you eat glucose, it slowly enters your body at a healthy rate and goes to your brain, muscles, and liver. When you eat fructose, it doesn't go through at a steady rate; it goes in at the same rate you eat it and only goes straight to your liver. There is also a part of your body that sends signals to your brain when you eat telling it that you are eating and you don't need any more. Fructose goes straight through and that certain part of the body doesn't send those "Hey, you are eating" signals, so you don't know if you are getting full, which makes you want to eat more food (possibly with fructose to start the cycle again). Another thing we learned was that when you drink soda (which usually has HFCS), some of the fructose goes to the part of your body that makes you want to pee, which means you would pee more than you usually would when you drink water, and it would also dehydrate you. Also, the amount of Fructose has gone up very quickly. One of the slides showed a graph that started when humans started to develop and the present day earth. Back then, yearly consumption of fructose of one person (which was from fruits and veggies back then) was 7 lbs, and now it has gone up to 147 lbs. People make HFCS because it's cheap and tastes 5X sweeter than glucose. Glucose is actually healthier than Fructose, but people use it in many types of foods to make it tastes sweeter. One person asked: "If people want that little 'kick', then why don't they just add Glucose?" The answer was that it doesn't taste very sweet, and if people used Glucose, they would need to use a lot of it, which is still unhealthy. Another person asked "What about honey? Isn't honey natural?" The spokesperson told us that the flowers most people use for the bees to make honey don't usually come with nectar to drink. So they do what they do, spreading pollen, and apparently the bees drink HFCS and make honey out of that.

I'm so glad I went to this seminar because my dad and I learned so much about sugary things and answered so many questions I had but never found the answer to, like "How come one day I feel like eating more than the previous day if I haven't used huge amounts of energy?" And "Why does water seem more refreshing than soda?" I was proud to see many AHAMA students there like Daniel, Antonio, and Clark. I was also happy to see Serena, Jae Jae, Ann Marie, CHN Devlin, and Jordan there, and they weren't required to go. I saw the girls taking notes, which I was thought was amazing. I was also happy that all of the AHAMA students (except one little boy, wink wink) didn't bring soda. It was really funny because the spokesperson said "Before we begin, just a quick show of hands, who here brought soda?" and the 2 girls and I Instantly looked at that "boy" from AHAMA with soda in his hands. If you didn't go to the seminar this should bring you up to speed.

BTW, you can also see this on Yahoo.

My evening

<p>Hey all sorry I missed you at the corn syrup presentation, I have been in Seattle this evening for a fund raising event for a.company called Arts Aftercare. They create tool kits and provide art and music therapy to kids who are survivors of human trafficking. It was a powerful event that brought me to tears when they spoke of more than 1 million children, some as young as five years old who have been sold as part of the sex trade. They are sold for as little as the cost of a Starbucks coffee, and struggle to recover from the trauma they have endured. There are so many amazing organizations in this world and this is one of them. It reminds me so much to be thankful for the childhood I had and gives me more of a desire to help those in need.

Friday August 17th

Today I started training for my position at PCC.  This school year I'm working with their student government to be the events coordinator for the Rock Creek Campus. Today it was an in-service training with all the other campuses and their student leaders. It was nice to meet new people and I was excited to get to know who I was working with better. We started out the day doing leadership games with all the other campuses. In the afternoon each student group from each campus did their own service project. Our supervisor Mandy had arranged for our group from Rock Creek to spend the afternoon scrubbing tombstones at the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland. I found out that Mandy did tours there, being that the cemetery was also an  historic site. We spent some time learning about the history of the place, learning that the families such as Burnside, Hawthorne, and Lovejoy  were buried there, finding out that people held their liquor in tombstones during the prohibition era.It was interesting to learn a little bit about Portland's past, before getting started.
Our group ended up scrubbing about 8 tombstones that day, and it was nice to see the engravings on the stone after all the moss was gone. We had a passerby, thank us for the job we were doing that day.
                 After cleaning up, Mandy had us regroup before heading back. After learning all those stories about the people that were buried there, and seeing the sayings and words on the tombstones, she told us that are actions and  what we do  make us. What type of mark are we going to make in the world? How are people going to see us when we are gone? Every little thing we do has an effect somehow, either on someone else's life, the environment, etc. I see it as a ripple effect. If we are mindful and think before we act, it can help us to leave a positive mark instead of a negative one.

Update! :D

Hello again team this is me clark checking up! So today i wanted to talk about incuraging other people to pick up trash ever since i went to the clackamas river cleanup i felt like just picking up more and more trash but no one will still notice so i am trying to pick up trash in front of poeple lately so that other people can see that they should pick up trash too! I really hope that all of us have been picking up alot of trash recently. because the more we pick up the more people notice. And if everyone sees that then they pick up trash if all of us pick up trash then this world will be a better place to be in! And remember.... Dont be a litter bug!

Have a great day! sincerly,Clark.Ahrendt

Operation shoebox!

HELLO again black belt team so i just wanted to let you guys know that i am excited to see the results of operation shoebox. And the amounts of what material that we need to collect is collected. My job was to bring in books so what i did is not only did my mom bring in 20 books but im also bringing in some books of my own that i dont need anymore that i think others would love. So like i said before it is really fun raising some items for the soldiers im sure they deserve it! Im really glad that we are able to be helping these soldiers it means alot to me because most of my family was in the army they told me it was pretty rough. Well i hope you guys and gals have a awsome day! stay cool in the shade and out of the sun! ;D :D yay 2 smiey faces! sincerly,Clark.Ahrendt

Getting closer!

Wow!!! This test is coming up quickly!!!! Hard to believe that things have been flying by so quickly lately. Phase 4 should be interesting as it is the only one so far that we have not had a curriculum for. I am excited and nervous for that because I want to be prepared, they can really throw anything at us and they probably will :)  I have been even busier lately with work and some changes that you have heard about with my potential move to Indonesia. As things get closer I will be most likely be continuing to strive for that balence that I've talked so much about. I am starting to feel more nervous and a little overwhelmed with that whole process so expect to hear more about the changes in the blogs to come :)

Clackamas River Cleanup

Steven Cason 1st Degree black belt candidate Forged team.

First of all I would like thank everyone who participated yesterday.  CGN Bo, his daughter Devon, Clark, his father Marc, CGN Jenalyn, CGN Jonathon, and Joel.  As Clark had mentioned in his blog we found lots of trash :( and it is a crying shame that this section of the river sees so much abuse.

We floated from Barton Park to Carver Park yesterday about 5 river miles.  Everyone went to work at the boat ramp where we launched there were beer cans and bottles everywhere around there.

One of my biggest disappointments was how some of the people just didn't care about throwing stuff in the river we were actually the subject of their jokes as they floated by us.

One of my biggest thrills for the day was the words of encouragement that some passers by gave us and the willingness of our younger people (Joel, Clark, CGN Jonathan, Devon, and CGN Jenalyn) to go out and pick up some other person's trash and set a good example for all of their peers and older folks as well.  You young folks I mentioned above will be leading activities like this in 20 years and passing concern for the environment to your children and other young people.  Good for you!  You guys are the future.

As I said in an email to our group today picking up the garbage is a good thing but what I am striving for when I do this is to convince people that each individual can help.  If we convinced one person to pick up after themselves when they are outdoors our trip was a success!

Now it is time to eat dinner and go out and work aerobics in an hour.

Steven Cason

Clackamas river cleanup!

HELLO again black belt team! so yesterday on saturday me and some of the black belt crew went on a boat that steven had provided us. And would paddle all the way across the entire river and wherever we went we would stop on an island and pickup trash. it really dispoints me to see this river so trashed its not even funny! every raft that we passed by people were always drinking beer and after they were done they would just toss it over theyre shoulders! im really scared that this river is getting polluted... So we had filled up about ten garbage bags full of trash cans beer bottles broken glass plastic it was so much garbage that we actually had to stop collecting it!we had filled up stevens boat completely filled with garbage! sometimes we were just going along the river when we would pass up about 50 beer cans on the bottom of the river we knew it was cans because we could see the reflection of the sun on the cans. we found some really strange items on the way my dad found a sewing machine then joel and johnathan found a car battery that weighed so so much! it was very cool that we were able to make a difference overall we did a amazing job out on the river one time BO saw a rubber mattres on the other side of the river and he had to swim all the way across then pick it up and come back we got a picture so im sure you can beleive us! Have an amazing day! Please dont pollute! :( sincerly, Clark.Ahrendt :D

The truth about this month....

HELLO team its me again! And i dont know about you guys or gals but im pretty nervoous for this test so im studying hard and i really hope that i can make it past this test here comes the moment of truth whether we pass or not or succed with honor or succed with regret. So i have been training alot going swiming and tretching out my hurt back so it can get better and i am actually fealing much better now! But no matter what i am going to be ready for that test! I'll do whatever it takes and i hope i get that belt! have an awsome day! keep cool in the shade! :D sincerly,Clark.Ahrendt

my jumping accident

Hello team so today i have something quick to talk about so me and my family one day went to a bungie jumping place called skyhigh and when i was bouncing i think that i might of hurt my muscles my mom said that i have never been used to jumping in my life so what i am going to is take some time to do some jumping so were going to go there again and keep practicing so that is my new goal! also i am really excited 4 phase 4 testing no pun inteded sincerly,Clark.Ahrendt

Introspective

Lately I have been spending a lot of time in deep thought surrounding the opportunity to go to Indonesia to work with compassion first. I also did an interview this week with the founder of edwards center which was thought provoking about the direction that I truly want my life and career to go. I am looking forward to this opportunity but am also starting to be more nervous and anxious. I think this will be one of the most difficult things that I have ever done. I am thankful for the skills that I have learned at aim high and will make good use of the attitude poem that we know and love :)  There is so much involved in preparation that is interesting and challenging, but it adds to what is already a very busy schedule. I will continue to strive for balance throughout the next couple months. Wow! It is getting so close!!!!!

Saturday Special Training with BSBN Brandy and Clackamas River Cleanup Aug 18th

Steven Cason 1st Degree Black Belt Candidate Forged 2012.

Our normally scheduled Special Trainings will be every other week from now until the end of the test.  BSBN Brandy challenged us today.  For me the mountain climbers were the most difficult to continue forward with, my legs were burning big time by the time the 5th set came up.  All in all I have a good sense of accomplishment after doing the work out.  This is for Beatrice, sorry for leaving the big puddle of sweat on the floor.  Next time I will bring my towel out.

CGN Bo and I talked late last week and would like to open our river trip up to anyone in the Aim High family who can secure a life jacket and floatation device.  I would love to have a larger group.  The only thing is anyone who is not on the current list will need their own equipment.  An inner tube and life jacket is adequate for the stretch of river we will be on.

Having participated in the clean up sponsored by We Love Clean Rivers (which occurs on Sept 9th this year) the last 3 years I can guarantee anyone who joins us will be appalled by how much garbage is on this river.  Last year they collected approximately 3.5 tons of garbage from this stretch.

Steven Cason

muscular desiese i think i spelled that wrong

Hello agin black belt team im really excited about this blog because today i was raising money for the "fight MDA (muscular dystrophy)." basicly we went in front of the hillsboro airport and started holding up signs as cars passed by some would roll down there windows i help by putting theyre money in a big fire fighter boot then that money would go to the children that have that diseise. On the other hand my job was by holding up a sign that says "FIGHT MDA!" it was such a blast we collected so much money for those children i feel very good about helping these children i was at the evnt for 30 minutes and in that period of time we got about 5,000 Dollars WOW!!! thats alot and im so happy that we helped really good people today i almost fee like im complete! :D Have an awsome day! good luck on your and our black belt test you all can do it YEAH!!!! sincerly, Clark.Ahrendt :( :) :D

my status with karate :D

Hello everybody its me again (Clark) so remember when i told you that things were going to changte like me cutting out electronics for me as in not playing video games and eating healthier foods no gluten or corn syrup and i would run more ofter well guess what i actually keeping up to my word i can now have no stomach aches because im eating healthier and im also kepping up with my running i can run alot faster and farther now and i got rid of my crocs for running hahah! :D but i feel like i can keep up to my words and i can challenge myself to make me a better person but i am strugling on my acts of kindness and enviromental acts of kindness i fear i may not make it on those but i have a good plan which is to purposely do aton of acts of kindness every single day. I hope that you all enjoy my blogs and have a great evening and also if you have any feed back you want to give to me then feel free to do that because feedback always helps me out especially now adays. You guys and girls are all very awsome have a awsome day! :( :) :D sincerly, Clark.Ahrendt

Back from camping trip!

Hey team I am back from my camping trip! It was a really cool experience. Now was the only time I had to write about it since we were unpacking yesterday. Anyway, the main highlight of my trip was when my dad and I were kayaking, and when we were halfway back to shore, there was a family on a paddle boat who said their boat was sinking. There was another group there with us who tried to help them too. Both of us groups latched on to them and started paddling back to shore. Everyone was calm, but the boy (about my age) was crying his eyes out. Then, CGN Jenalyn paddled by with Jae Jae and she offered to help by paddling back to shore and getting a lifeguard to come get us. My dad was blowing the emergency whistle the boat renter gave us and everyone looked at us, but didn't really care. Shortly after that, an old man paddle up to us and offered some rope and a fishing chain to use because at that particular moment some poor mom was grabbing onto both boats acting as a rope. My dad and I turned around, and that's when we found out that our kayak takes really wide turns .
It took us forever to get over there, and my arms were extremely tired. After a long session of paddling, a lifeguard in a wooden rowboat came by. The family in the sinking leg-powered paddle boat went in the rowboat and the lifeguard went into the sinking boat. After all of that, everyone made it back to shore safely. That was about 600 rows back, so that was pretty crazy. When I told Jae Jae, she said she did the same thing EARLIER!
That was a really big workout for me, but I think my dad did at least 60% of the work, considering the fact that it was my first time.

Good morning everyone!

Last week I talked to kjn Jeremy on substituting some of videos with my photography. I have to say I'm quite excited for this.  There are so many ways to go with this- with banners, diptychs, and triptychs,  photo albums, etc. Kjn Jeremy asked me why I haven't asked to do photography earlier. Truth is, I never really thouht I could change that part of my test. This just reinforces the fact that if you're having trouble with requirements or curriculum that there are so many people that have done this before and can help us out with our test.
Sorry Jonathan and I aren't there for today's special training. I'm currently writing this as we're heading up to Lost Lake for a camping trip that my family had planned this weekend. I'll update u guys on the trip when we come back.

Distracted

Hey everyone, as some of you know I was out of town last week for my Grandma's funeral, I have been trying to settle back in to routine these last couple days, and while that is no excuse for not completing my requirements I am being honest in saying that it has not been a part of my priorities this last week. This yet again brings me back to the idea of balance. I am a very all or nothing type of person, and for me and how I have been in martial arts means training A LOT! I struggle with and feel bad about not being there and additionally getting out of the routine swings me to the nothing end of things where I have a hard time getting motivated to be doing what I need to do. I realize that at this point in the test that there is no room for that, I hope that all of you were as affected by Master Tom's disappointment in us as I was. It was hard to think that after all the work I have put in up to this point, it did not show during his class with us. I realize what our expectations are and want to exceed them, not fall short. I will be pushing myself to do this but may need help from time to time to ensure I do not slip or get distracted, please check in with me if I am not there either physically or mentally.  I could really use that team mentality now.