Hello from the Runkles

Just posting to say hi and give the link to our blog (Click on the title of this posting and it will take you to our website). I think this counts as my post.

BJJ Tourny

A few weeks ago, on Dec 1st, I had another BJJ tournament. This one took place right in Portland so lots of family and friends could come to watch. My friend Lee even came up from Mass to watch my matches.

Team Mofut -My instructor Andy, Michelle and myself

Overall I did very well and was happy with myself. In my weight class for Gi there were only 2 of us so we only got to fight one match, and Jill (my opponent) won. I was very frustrated after the fight cause the only points she got were for taking me down once.

Warming up with Michelle

In BJJ you get points for taking someone down to the ground and you get various points from 2-5 for different body positions. For example, if you are holding someone from the side (side control) it's 2 points; if you get on top of them and are sitting on their belly (mount) it's 5 points. You can also get advantage points which are just reminders for the ref that you were being more aggressive trying to get points or a submission. (When you manipulate the person's body so that they are in such pain that they must "tap" or give up-ending the fight.) Advantage points only matter in the event of a tie. Then the ref looks at the advantage points and whomever has more is declared the winner.

Going for Jill's back (4 points)

My next 2 matches were also Gi matches but they were in the Absolute division. The Absolute division is where weight class and belt/rank don't matter. I was fighting people bigger and better than me. Also the matches in the absolute division are 10 minutes instead of the standard 5 minutes. I won my first match by a submission. I choked the girl using my legs in a position called a triangle. My second match was against Liz- the girl that I had lost to in the previous tournament. It was a very good match and I was happy with my fight, but she won by submission. She got me in a Kamora, which is a type of joint lock on my arm.

This video is of the end of my first Absolute Gi match when I triangled the girl.

Lee and I after my Absolute Gi fights
Liz and I- 1st and 2nd in Woman's Absolute Gi division

My next matches were immediately after my 2 ten minute matches and they were No-Gi. First I went against Heather, whom I beat in the last tournament. Our match went the full 5 minutes and I won based on points. My next match was against Jill- the girl who beat me in our Gi division. Our fight went the full 5 minutes again; with me on her back attempting to choke her for most of the match. I was winning 2-4 when in the final seconds she got another take down on me giving her 2 more points so we were tied at the end of the match. But since I had gotten advantage points for all the attempted chokes, I won the match and took first place in our division for No-Gi. I was completely EXHAUSTED by the end of my last match because I fought 4 matches in 30 minutes and 2 of the matches were 10 minutes each!!!

Heather, 3rd, Jill 2nd, and Me, 1st

My instructor, Andy, my roommate, Randy, and another of Andy's students, Michelle also fought in the tournament. Andy only had one match which he won due to a submission- though it didn't really matter because he was winning 22-0!!!! Randy had 4 Gi matches and won his first 2 by arm bar. The first fight was 15 seconds and the second was 25!!!! I think they were the fastest fights of the day!!! This was Michelle's first tournament, and she has only been training for a few months, but she had an excellent and entertaining fight against Jill.

My instructor, Andy, going for a choke.

Christmas List

Seth has proved himself to be a trendsetter this year posting his Christmas list on the family blog, and he's asked us to do the same.

Both Greg and I would appreciate anything around the theme of hiking. I'm providing a couple of ideas here, but you can also go the gift card route if you'd like.

Wool Cresta Hiking Socks (midwieght) TA48328 1 pr = $13.50; 2 pr = $21.50
Greg wears size 8 1/2 shoe; Meg is size 6

Leki Ultralite Treking Poles TA 50343 $109

Power Dry Underwear (midweight)
Men's: Zip-Ts: TA51252 size XL $36 Storm Blue or Grey are preferred
Pants: TA51256 size XL $29.50

Women's: Zip-Ts: TA51253 Size L $36 Nautral or Blue for the top
Pants: TA51257 Size L $29.50 Black or Natural for bottom

Timberledge Hiking Shirts
Men's: Long Sleeve: TA54956 XL $39
Shirt Sleeve: TA55716 XL $29
Women's: Long Sleeve: TA54858 L $39
Shirt Sleeve: TA55716 L $29

Timberledge Hiking Shorts and Pants - XL for Greg; L for Meg; Ash or any dark color
Men's: TA53757, 53756, 54937
Women's: TA53768, 53767

Thanks! We can't wait to see you all very, very soon!

Greg's shop pictures

Here are some shots of a project Greg is working on .... a big reception area for a plastic surgeon on 84th St. in Manhattan.

Sculptured receptionist desktop being glued up.

The base unit with a curved front door.

Rocking Out in VA

Tina, Maria, Linds and me out on the town for a friend's birthday. Linds and Tina are my roomies, and all 4 of us work together at Rockbottom.

Rya's breastfeeding group had a party for everyone's second birthday. I was the unofficial, non- parent photographer. If you look closely you can still see the cupcake:)
Looking at Auntie's camera or blueberries-hmm easy-blueberries. I thought it was a good one of Rya and David.
HE IS SO CUTE!

Tina, me and Linds hanging out .

This is when Tina and I went to PA to visit our friend Josh. We are showing off our BFF rings which we bought for 8 dollars from Sears. Yes, we have some serious bling!

Basome, Me and Tina relaxing at Josh's

Josh and I-we went out to see his uncle play at a bar. He was good-it was a heavy metal band. Josh's mom and aunt both won prizes for their costumes (this was right before Halloween).

Soooo, I don't take a lot of pictures but I thought these were some nice ones. As far as my life is going, lots has changed. I haven't written since the beginning of October. My boss (Ron) got fired-HOORAY! He wasn't the easiest person to get along with, but this also means that I got an informal promotion-I am now the Lab Manager! I am enjoying the position so far but it is lots of work. This is only a temporary position tho-Bill (a guy from inside the company) will be taking over sometime after the new year.

My company is still moving from Gaithersburg, MD to Leesburg, VA, and we are hoping to be in the new facility by the end of March-oiy. I still work both jobs so I pretty much work 7 days a week all the time although tomorrow I have off cause I am moving. I have decided to move in with Rya and Ben for the time being. They very graciously offered to let me live there while I figure out work and life (at least a little bit). I really do miss the north and am seriously considering moving back perhaps in the spring/summer. I am also looking to buy a car-eekkk-so keep that in ya'll prayers.

Tina is moving back to Kentucky so my social life is leaving:( buuut I will get to play with David at all times so that will be a blast. Watch out boys! He'll be a hard act to follow-he is sweet, smart, gooooood looooooking and the reigning lightweight champion of Alexandria Virginia (see the Runkle's blog). I had Thanksgiving at Rya and Ben's-which was fabulous. It is crazy how well David can speak now and Rya n Ben have a great video of what happens when little ones eat sugar.

I am really excited to come home for Christmas it will be a blast! I hope everyone is doing fabulous. Love you all very much. God Bless.

xoxo,

Bing

p.s. HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY DADDY!! you're a pretty sharp looking guy and you've "got the cutest little baby face"-love you!

Thanksgiving etc.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving Day this year: just Greg, Meg and Gail! It was yummy non-the-less and very relaxing. Gail commented that she couldn't ever remember the house being so quiet. I guess we know who makes all the noise around here!

New Phone Numbers

Hey all! We got new phone numbers. Thought the best way to get the word out was to blog them!

Seth 801-755-1606

Lindsay 801-755-0075

Only one more month until we get to come to Maine!

To Whom it May Concern

This is my Christmas list in no particular order.

World Peace, man. (Will settle for United States being sole super power)
Long Johns
Books-Crow Killer(About John Johnson mountain man), Lone Survivor, Day of Empire(All non-fiction), and anything historical or political on Ben's list.
Snow shoes
Chimineya? Iron like Dad's, not clay
Work Coveralls for winter
Windbreaker outer shell waterproof type deal

more bjj pics and random stuff

This move, that Hannah has on the other girl, is called the triangle.

Meg took these pictures of Hannah's first competition.
Springli's favorite tree
Toys from aunt Mimi and Tanta

Ben on a pumpkin seat

You got a problem wit dat?
Second place in her first tournament
Supper with Grandmere and Sarah

Lots of pictures, not much writing, I don't type fast.

Dad

BJJ Tournament

Hey everyone, most of you know by now that I ended up getting suckered into a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament last weekend. I say suckered 'cause my roommates were giving me a hard time about not competing and I had to open my big mouth and say "when you pay my entrance fee I'll compete!" They paid my entrance fee!!!!!! I've got to learn to keep my mouth shut!!!



So anyway, in this tournament there were two categories Gi (traditional martial arts uniform) and No Gi. And in the women's category there were 2 weight classes: Featherweight, 130lbs, and under and Super Featherweight, 130lbs and over. I weighed in at 120, but there was no one in my weight class so I had to go up a class. The smallest girl I fought was 143 lbs!!! I fought a total of 4 matches: 2 gi and 2 no gi. I won my first fight in no gi and then lost my second- Both went the full 5 minutes and went to a judge's decision. I almost asked for a DNA test on the second girl I had to fight!!! She was a bit scary, but I was happy with my fights. I took second in No Gi.

My first BJJ match!!

Then it was on to Gi; I ended up fighting the same 2 girls with the same results. Won my first fight- I got her to TAP OUT!!! And then I lost my second Gi fight it went to judge's decision again.

Working open guard against Liz (147 lbs) durring our Gi match


My roommate Randy also competed and he took 4th in Gi in his weight class. My instructors are Bruce Caralton, probably the best all around martial artist in the State, and Alexey Cruze/Pickerel. He is a 3rd degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt from Brazil and is one of the highest ranking Jiu-Jitsu guys on the east cost.

Bruce, Me, Alexey, and Randy- I guess I look pretty small compared to all of them!!

Roomies and collar chokes!!!!!!!

After the tournament Randy and I went to a Pirates and Wench's Halloween party....I made him dress up as my wench (because I placed higher in the tournament then he). Here's a pic with all the roommates

I Love to Blog

Lindsay is pregnant. Dogs are good. Further bulletins as events warrant.
Just kidding. Here are some pictures of our cozy new home in Utah County, Utah. The most conservative county in the country. Sweet. Lindsay has her first of many appointments on Nov. 30th for her nine week check-up and there's a good chance we will be able to hear the heart beat. Very Cool! The baby is currently the size of a poppy seed. When he is all grown up to the size of a kidney bean he will have eyelids and webbed hands. Cute. The due date is July 7th so there's a chance he/she will be an Independence Day Baby! Of course then it will be named after a Founding Father or Colonial General. I like Artemus Ward Payeur. Lindsay just hit me.






Here are just a few pics of Lindsay and myself at the sand dunes (Sweet Shirt Lindsay!) and Park City where the Olympics were held.

The Runkles Visit to Maine

We enjoyed a visit from Marya, Ben and David a couple of weekends ago. They were up for Marya's sister's wedding. I don't have it yet, but stand by for a picture of David in his wedding tux! That's right; he definitely stole the show!

David enjoyed his time at the little park down the street from us.

He had his pick of prime pumpkin seats! We grew over 40 pumpkins this year and donated most of them to the children's wing of Maine Medical Center. Greg took them in and they used wheel chairs to transport the pumpkins up the elevators. They were quite the sight and got lots of smiles along the way. The kids loved them!

We had to graduate to a bigger toy box...Marie, do you recognize this? It used to be lime green with decoupaged pictures on top!!! Brings back memories! Mr. Potato Head is still an all time favorite though...he's hard to beat.

Before Marya, Ben and David headed to the airport we stopped to see Hannah at Starbucks. She continues to work hard at the largest and newest store in the district.