Dr. MonkPuncher... Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Job

So as you all know, I started my new job Monday – and thanks to all of you who have been writing and texting and calling giving me the congrats.

The job in and of itself presents some new challenges for me – not since I lived in D.C. have I been responsible for knowing intimate details of legislation that comes down the pipe, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.  It’s hard to follow right now simply because there’s so much to catch up on that I don’t quite know yet… but after I get all caught up I’m looking forward to having fun with what I’m doing…

And speaking of fun… how many people get to punch a Shaolin Monk in the stomach? Well, on my first day the Monks were in Sacramento being presented by a State Senator who works closely with a co-worker of mine on transportation issues – so we went to support him…

Let me tell you something – there’s no way I could do what they do… they did a team demonstration and then individual stunts – there was one guy who flipped himself with a staff, there were guys breaking stuff left and right, there was a guy (see the first picture) who got himself propped up by his Boys with nothing but spears.  HUH?  Yup…

And there was another guy who called for volunteers from the audience – so when four guys went up there, so did I… I mean, how many times are you going to get the chance to punch a Monk in the stomach? Well no, I didn’t hurt my hand, and no, he didn’t even flinch when I gave him my best jab… then my best haymaker… then my best head-butt (jk…)

But they were incredible – this (to the right) is a guy who propped himself on a spear, then placed a brick square on his back and had another guy break the brick with a freaking sledgehammer! You can see the pieces of brick by his feet that were broken! Are you kidding me?! Rad…

So basically, in short, that was my first day… what kinds of fun things have YOU done on YOUR first day of work???