Since it seems the day of the ever-so-simple blog has died, I am making the switchover to MySpace. (Most of my current blogs are there anyway.) I'll keep this one up because it has so many memories tied to it, and who knows....one day the blog just might make a comeback when the servers at MySpace go ca-put, or they start charging, whichever comes first. SO! Here is the link to my MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/lexi682

And for now, I bid you adieu.

Adios mis amigos! Muchos abrazos y besitos! *tear*

I just want to say thank you to Guro Carl for inviting me to the Atienza Kali seminar in Wichita Falls, Texas. I really do appreciate the invitation, but unfortunately I will not be able to attend this weekend. I competed in the southwest regional WEKAF tournament today, and I have family in town who came to watch me compete. I hope Atienza returns to Texas, has a great seminar experience, and that the lines of communication remain open between us and our schools/systems. Thank you again for the invitation and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Alexis Robertson

Ok Ok, I guess I better clear the air about my previous post. I didn't know people would pay that much attention to it.

1) In no way, form, or fashion am I system or person bashing. I actually sat at the same dinner table as Guro Carl and the rest of the Atienza crew after the CSC tournament. I know that they are great people. I also know that all FMA is great.

2) This is a personal rant of mine. I know I'm a beginner and I know where I stand in the martial arts world. I know I'm a nobody. One of the reasons I wrote this is because I want people to see what it is like being a woman in martial arts, and on top of that, being a nobody. I have 2 strikes against me already, don't you agree?

Also, when people ask me how I did, I can't feel proud to tell them that I made it to the top 8 because it seems like a FARCE. How would you, as men, feel everytime you tried to tell people who look up to you that you only got to the top 8 because someone let you win? I may be young, inexperienced, and a woman, but like everyone else at the tournament, I put in time, I worked really hard, and I was ready to go down just like everyone else. And it's not like Texas is that close to California. I didn't know who Carl Atienza even was before or while I was fighting him.

3) I probably will not be attending the Cold Steel Challenge next year. I've been twice and that seems to have been too many. So I guess none of this even really matters. I didn't intend to anger anyone. This is just my personal weblog.

So I went to California last weekend to compete in the Cold Steel Challenge. It is a knife and sword competition held in Ventura, California. I actually did pretty good. This year it was only Larry, Roberto and I that went. I was a little reluctant about leaving, seeing as there was the huge hurricane lined up towards the Texas coast, aimed right at where my entire family lives. But Rita took a turn north, so it all worked out fine.

So the first day was knife. We got there and they announced that it would be a single elimination tournament since there were so many competitors, about 52 in all. Of course, I was the only girl there. We knew that we had to take care of business so we wouldn’t have flown 1,000 miles for nothing. I won my first fight that day and lost my second. The first guy I fought felt pretty sheepish and said he hadn’t heard the end of it from his buddies that “the girl” beat him.

The second day was the sword competition and there is some controversy to go along with it. My first fight, #28 was my opponent. Well, they called for him and no one came. Apparently, #28 had celebrated a little too much the night before and was puking in the bathroom. So the match went to me. The second fight I had was with Carl Atienza. And I won that match. Well, what I found out much later was that Carl Atienza is one of the caretakers of Atienza Kali. The guy charges $300/hr for private lessons, just to give you an idea of how big the guy is in this system. Well, I also found out later that Carl was saying that he let me win, and that Lynn Thompson, the president of Cold Steel not only condoned it, but also commended him for it, saying “it was the gentlemanly thing to do.” Mind you, in my third match which was in the top 8, the big Filipino guy from Bahala Na did not let up at all, and I came home with several bruises. Now, I would have so much rather have been typing in this blog that the great Carl Atienza of Atienza kali “schooled” me at the Cold Steel Challenge, that I learned so much from this instructor and caretaker of a system. Is it being a gentleman by withholding your knowledge just because I’m a girl and have much less experience?? On top of that, by letting me win and letting me advance to the next round, wouldn’t there be a large possibility that I could have gotten seriously injured? That doesn’t seem so gentlemanly to me. But what would I know? I’m a girl and I have little experience. 2 strikes in the martial arts world, and I’m waiting for the third. But out of 52 guys, I did make it to the top 8. So there.

Nonetheless, I did have a really great time in California. Berto and Larry are always fun. I also enjoyed hanging out with Larry’s instructor, Ron Balicki and his wife Diana Lee Inosanto, and just the whole crew in general. They are such great people and have so many interesting stories to tell. Plus, the Cali weather was such a relief from the extreme Texas heat. I just wish I had more time to sight see. I’m just always fighting and don’t have time or the means to get away from the tournament.

It was a learning experience all around. I just hope I can go to California some day and not come back with so many bruises.

You Belong in 1970

1970 If you scored... 1950 - 1959: You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in! 1960 - 1969: You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too. 1970 - 1979: Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all! 1980 - 1989: Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day. 1990 - 1999: With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

My birthday and SUCH

So I'm now a year older...woo..hoo. People say that 23 isn't a great number, and that there isn't another year after 21 to look forward to. I say to them, shuchofacemon. You can start renting cars at 26.

My birthday lasted 2 days. Friday (Jun 24th) we went out, downtown to drink. Scantily clad, I felt self conscious, yet sexy the whole night. Hey it did let me meet a guy who may have never ever spoken to me other wise. And here he is!



His name is Eric, and I doubt he'll ever call me again, but it was nice to have someone notice me for one night, and especially on my birtday.

Here are more pictures from my birthday.


My first Irish car bomb. (At least that I remember)


Druckie poo!


I think this is a really cute picture of Melissa and I.

On Saturday I had a small party at my house. We played a card drinking game called, appropriately, Beer!. I lost....or won..depending on how you look at it. Thanks to all who made my birthday really great!


Since then, I still haven't caught up on sleep. But things are good. I started teaching kickboxing at the YMCA and am actually getting paid! I've had 2 classes so far, and people seem to be enjoying the class. Word of mouth seems to travel fast, so I think my class is going to grow quickly. So exciting, I'm so happy being able to do something I really enjoy and actually get paid for it. Sweeeeet.

That's the biggest news for now. Going to Dallas for a kickboxing match this weekend to cheer on some of our boys going to fight. I just need to find a place to stay that's not going to break my bank. Hasta luego!