But before I get to that… (I know, I’m such a tease.)
It happened.
I’d been keeping an eye on my Jiu-Jitsu place’s Insta to see when and who would earn their next belts. When I finally saw it, the sucker punch wasn’t as bad as I expected. Probably because I was surprised it took so long for someone else to pass the test. Also, further vindication that it’s HARD to pass the test! Thank you! Not that I failed, but the one piece I was able to complete before my injury took… a while to perfect.

I really miss Jiu-Jitsu, but it was hard being out so much in the evening. Instructor told me if he starts daytime classes up again, I’ll be the first to know.
I also miss it because I’ve begun the self-defense class for students again. (And it’s NOT killing my foot. Had to mention the foot somewhere, right?) It is showing me how rusty I am, however, making me all the more want to get back to class for some serious refreshing. Le sigh. We’ll see what the future holds.
Now on to the amazing thing…
The beautiful and wonderful Wynne Leon graciously invited me on her Heart of the Matter podcast. Thus, I made my zombie debut.

The combination of a high curtain-less window and a lousy camera make for a very washed out me. But anyway, I had a blast talking with my dear blog buddy, Wynne. Here’s her super sweet write-up:
When I was new to blogging, I spent some time looking for bloggers that were good writers, aligned with what I was interested in, and who I was inspired by. I lucked out by finding Betsy Kerekes on Parenting is Funny.
There’s much to love about Betsy but I think what stuck the most for me is that she tackles hard things with humor and grace. This is true for parenting and now that she’s changed her blog name to Motherhood and Martial Arts (MMA), it’s true for martial arts too.
I’m not a martial arts practitioner, but in the great stories she tells about learning, getting injured, and keeping up the practice, I’m inspired by her grit all wrapped up in a lovely package. Whatever it is she practices, she moves me to laugh about all the great lessons she learns.
So I know you’ll love this entertaining podcast that I did with Betsy on Mountaineering, Martial Arts, Overcoming Challenges and Motherhood.
You can find the podcast at the original post here.
I hope you’ll have a listen and give Heart of the Matter some love.
And if anyone stumbled upon this blog because of Jiu-Jitsu, I highly recommend you visit Tom Writes and Rolls and Grappler’s Graveyard for your further Jiu-Jitsu reading pleasure. 🙂
Thank you so much for the mention! I greatly appreciate it
LikeLiked by 2 people
No problem. I waited until I talked about something relevant. 😛
LikeLike
💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just gave it a listen and it was so fun to match your voice with your face! You were so right about not only getting to meet people from around the world through blogging, but also being friends with people you wouldn’t necessarily have as a real life friend. I feel as though my circle friend was wide in college, but has slowly become homogeneous as I’ve grown older, living in the suburbs and being a SAHM.
Anyhoo, thanks for sharing the link and I hope you have a wonderful week.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Homogenous–great word! Yes, blogging has widened my horizons, to be sure. Thank you for listening, Bijoux!
LikeLike
You mean not only can I read you here, but I can also hear your voice?! Looks like Christmas has come early this year!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha. Wow, Mark. But then, did you??? Haha.
LikeLike
I love the affirmation that the test was hard. Which of course we already knew but still makes it worth suffering through the injuries for!
I loved talking with you on the podcast. So fun to hear your voice to go with your writing voice. And for anyone that hasn’t listened yet – Betsy is even more fun and impressive in conversation than in writing. Which is REALLY saying something since we all know how fun and inspiring she is in writing!! ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
My goodness, Wynne. If I ever need a pr rep, you’re hired! 😛 😛 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sheesh – talk about an easy job. Sign me up! 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
My goodness! You’re unstoppable! If I’m having a truly awful day, I know who to call!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤ And you can do likewise!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know I will! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clicking through…
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK, I’m loving this podcast. You are so clear, natural, relatable!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awh, thanks, Jacqui. It was easier to relax into this, when any sort of “public appearance” usually makes me queasy, because I already know Wynne and we did some “warm up” chatting for a while before she said those dreaded words: “I’m about to start recording.” 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
So we’ll said! What I thought of as I was listening to it was Madeleine Albright’s “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”
I’m glad you decided not to be silent!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awh, thank EWe. (We’ll see if that catches on.) I was so nervous, but talking with Wynne for a while before we started helped me relax.
And great quote!
LikeLiked by 1 person
EWe (I’m trying to help it catch up) did not sound nervous at all. EWe both sounded natural, and I think it deserves a second podcast with the two of you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh goodness. But I shared all my best stuff already! Not sure what else to talk about.
And thank EWe for using EWe. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
So EWe say, but I think there’s a lot more for EWe to share with us ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah-ha! If Wynne came up with specific questions, I supposed I could pull something out of my… out of somewhere. My brain! I meant my brain!
LikeLike
You two girls are making a name for yourselves. Happy for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Thanks, AB. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are too kind, Betsy, thank you so much for the mention and recommend! Glad to see you’re slowly but surely back on the path! 😎👊🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Doing my best, Tom! Spoiler for a future post: I’m about to start a women’s self-defense class at my kids’ school. I have several interested moms signed up already. This makes me 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awesome! Great job, Betsy! You’re a natural.
LikeLike
Awh, thanks, Jill! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome podcast news! Congrats Betsy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Barb! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great Podcast Betsy. Loved the interaction between Wynne and you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Brian. Wynne is a good friend and a great person, as I’m sure you know, so she made chatting with her for a podcast easy. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It comes across in the podcast. Two friends chatting over coffee. Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! That’s good to hear. Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on your podcast interview!
LikeLike
Thank you, Rosaliene! It was fun. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see you’re starting to practice for your talk show! Keep it up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. And yet, cats never came up! I still need practice, clearly! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, a little more practice bringing cats into any and every conversation you have. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be a CATastrophe otherwise!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Julie Holmes pointed out that I DID mention cats! I’d forgotten. I told a silly story about my son involving cats near the end of this. A-ha! Slid it in there after all. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on your Heart of the Matter podcast. I usually avoid blog/podcasts but I’ll make an exception for yours. I remember when I started to Zoom during the beginning of the pandemic, I tried several different lighting scenarios before finding one that didn’t either wash me out or relegate at least half my face to complete darkness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh. Being on camera ads a layer of stress, for sure. My camera is just the worst; though, to be fair, I am rather fair to begin with! 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too… I look like a ghost on camera.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re quite the California girls aren’t we? Which reminds me–The Band, the one I love and booked once for my b-day and failed to do so again for the last b-day, will be playing at a winery in C-bad April 1, juuuuuuuust in case you’re interested. If you like hits from Classic Rock and forward, you may enjoy. 🙂 Plus, I’ll be there! 😉 😉
LikeLike
I’d love to but we’ll be out of town. Have fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awh, drat! Okay. You have fun too! 🙂
LikeLike
What a great podcast! And you even managed to get a cat reference in there 🙂 Blogging friends are definitely a perk of blogging, even knowing you’ll probably never meet any of them in real life–except for maybe one or two 🙂 🙂
So much insight, both you and Wynne. And humor! I love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wait? I did? When did I talk about cats? That’s hilarious! I can’t remember.
I met the MOST important one in real life, Julie. (But hopefully there will be more some day. 😛 )
Thanks so much for listening, Julie! Honored you took the time. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, the allergic to cats line! Right! Of COURSE I had to mention a cat. 🙂
LikeLike
It was a very nice podcast. Of course, since I love the sound of my wife’s voice…she could be saying almost anything and I would enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha.That sounds like a challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used the word “almost” so I should be covered. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Should” be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to listening to this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Way to go Betsy, nice podcast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awh, thanks, Diane! Honored that you listened. 🙂
LikeLike
Nice podcast Betsy.. you aced it!
LikeLike
Awh, thanks, Cindy. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so welcome! ❣️
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s fantastic to hear that you are cautiously but optimistically making your way back to the activities you love – yay you!!!
Listened to your podcast – I love that I now have a audible voice to connect to your face. To say that I was moved is an understatement – to hear about your journey into martial arts in a single space, to taste your struggles & triumphs on behalf of those you meet & yourself, I was truly inspired.
And I am chuffed that Ice Cream sandwiches a la Singapore would fascinate you so much (I am honoured to be mentioned). I am waiting for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awh, Ju-Lyn, you are the kindest woman. And I’m delighted you listened so you could hear that mention of you. 🙂 🙂
Keep the ice cream sandwiches cold for me. 😛
LikeLike
Ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cones, ice cream sundaes …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can almost feel myself getting fatter. Thank goodness for all the running we’ll do to make up for it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😆👍❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wee! You know, I kinda had a guess how you sounded like just by looking at your pics, and I’m glad to know that I was correct! Totally a fluke though. And yeah, it sucks being sidelined, but as the cheesy saying goes, it’s a marathon and not a sprint, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marathon not a sprint, yep. Hey, I got “it’s you versus you” in there. Sorry, no mention of “it’s not about who’s best, it’s about who’s left.” And I mentioned you! Did you catch that?
LikeLike
Yas! Am _I_ that mutual friend? ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
But of course you are!!! 🙂
LikeLike