Marauder

Well apologies for the disappearance. Been fighting something and my energy level is just really low. I’ve managed to get in my strength workouts but not much else. Just a walk to the park tonight had me tired. The heat isn’t really helpful and our cooling isn’t great in the house. I mostly want to nap all day.  Here’s hoping I’ll snap out of it in the next day or two. 

On 8/1/2022 at 12:30 PM, MaeradCase said:

Nice! 

For laughs, I recommend Pratchett, Fforde, and Hines. The three of them write comedic fantasies in which the most bizarre things happen to the protagonists, and there's usually a good plot to lead the story forward.

 

For strange, unusual, and colorful cursing, the one that comes to mind is Scott Lynch. His "Gentleman Bastards" series features a troupe of rascals raised to be the best con-men/-women in the world. Oh, and "Egil and Nix" by Paul Kemp also has a flair for curse words, but I had a hard time re-reading them. Not sure why, since I read them the first time.

Thanks for the suggestions!  I’ll check them out. 

1 hour ago, Maigs said:

Hub's suggestion is "Just stop it. Turn your brain off" 🤣 If only it were that easy

My husband has the same advice!!  🤣

Dinner sounds good!  Do you use an air fryer ever?  I’m thinking I could try that chicken in there or a version of it anyway. 

Once a ranger, always a ranger.   Here to cheer!

On 7/28/2022 at 6:31 AM, MaeradCase said:

Are you requesting book suggestions? I know a few authors who make me laugh, and others with delightfully creative explicit word usage. 😂

I ALWAYS accept book suggestions!! I read a lot so there’s always room for more TBR.   Also, hai!

On 7/26/2022 at 5:55 PM, Elastigirl said:

Fantastic challenge!

On 7/29/2022 at 1:26 PM, Shello said:

hello friends!

3 hours ago, Maigs said:

Following along as another chronic over thinker

It gets so exhausting!  I wish I could chill a bit. 
 

Sorry for the vanishing act this week. Time got away from me. There was alot going on this week that I hadn’t anticipated and then we ended up dog sitting for an acquaintance and wow I forgot how crazy the multi dog household can get. 
 

Progress:

3/3 workouts complete

0/2 runs complete  

3/5 daily joy

I back burner’d the runs and then dog chaos happened.  Mistakes were made. 
 

I may change up the goals once I have a chance to sit down and really think about them on Monday. Ever since seeing Tank’s one goal challenge I’m curious if that makes more sense for me. I appreciate simple consistency. 

I'll raise one of the few remaining from our trip...  Enjoying these on the hot days... 

Now I feel like I should just have one goal. 

I love a good crust.

I'm the damn queen of over-thinking, over-researching, over-analyzing.  I'm quite good at researching things and designing plans.  What I NEED is to actually do things.  So, simple balanced goals, simple balanced plan.  

NEED to strength train, WANT to run for fun.
NEED some joy (dancing), WANT to read.

Goals:

1.  FIT:  Strength training 3x/week.

I have a strength program.  It's well designed and it's at-home.  No excuses.  No need to look for another program.  No need to join a new gym or any gym.  No new equipment is necessary.

2.  FAST:  Running 2-3x/week.  

I've always wanted to get back to running (it's been a very very long time), but I've been letting pretty much everything stop me from trying.  I'm done waiting.  Get started.  Run/walk intervals for now.  This is really something I want to be my pleasure exercise.  Something I do for fun.  100% reserve the right to bail out if this starts feeling like a chore.  I have enough of those.

3.  FABULOUS:  Reading and dancing daily-ish.

I've been spending far too much time watching Instagram reels and I don't even like them that much (except for the videos of people falling, because I really do love those.   ).   No time requirements or limits.  Audiobooks count.  Bonus points for funny stories and explicit lyrics.

Once again, I will have a trip near the end of the challenge, so will be gone when the challenge actually finishes up.  I'll try to wrap up my challenge before we leave, probably around August 25th.  I'll probably start early.  Haven't gotten a workout in yet this week as life has been busy, but have one planned for tomorrow.  ❤️

We have returned!  It is a bit of a shock to return from wearing your puffy jacket to stay warm on the coast to 107 degrees in Salt Lake this week.  Shock to the system to say the least!  I ate all the seafood I could possibly eat and it was awesome.  My activity level was 200% of usual, so probably a win overall despite my rather rampant appetite.  The pup had enough of vacation though.  I think he was legit thrilled to see home when we got here.  We visited a few towns with possibilities for retirement locales.  Specifically really liked the Corvallis and Salem areas.  I loved Ashland as well, but it's so dang far from any airport that I think we ruled it out.

I'm hoping to find time later in the morning to check on everyone's challenge progress while I was gone.   I have plans for next challenge already as I have some new program(s) I'm going to run.

Just a quick pop in.  We leave soon on vacation and this challenge is going to remain pending until I return.  We don't have a set return date, so might be right at the end, but unsure.  

❤️ 

Your link got me to watch that video again. I never have read the book though and definitely should. Thanks for the reminder. 

I get called almost every year lately and then something happens.  Still haven’t seen a courtroom after 6 times. 

Sorry for the restless evenings. I suffer from the brain that won’t stop but when I’ve felt restless before when trying to get to sleep, the only thing that worked for me was getting up and doing something for a bit and trying again.  I got worse and more frustrated if I laid there and kept trying. Even if it’s just a bit of stretching or reading. 

Workout - ✅ in an effort to not be inflexible and rigid I did a random workout with my daughter today from YouTube. Caroline Girvan can kick some butt. Not my kinda thing but I’m pretty sure I’ll be sore tomorrow.  So, still got in 3 workouts this week.  Take that Covid shot!!!

eat slow - ➖ I do well on this when I remember.  Sadly I do t seem to remember enough.  Need a better solution. 
 

sleep - ✅. 8+. YES.   I really need to find an app for this. The Apple Watch does the things but it’s so stinking hard to find the info. 
 

Got a few things ready for the trip and will need to stay on top of it for the rest of the week. 
 

hope everyone is doing well. Hoping to find time later tonight to get caught up on everyone’s challenge. 

1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

How do you solve the ventilation problem?

Well, the van isnt insulated so it's pretty  naturally leaky in the air department.  We always sleep with a fan running on low and front windows cracked.  The little single burner we use is rated for indoor, and butane burns much cleaner than other fuels and creates carbon dioxide rather than monoxide (which is cool).  We do have a carbon monoxide detector in there too.  Even if we needed to have one of the side doors open, it would be a big improvement over both back doors open.

We've looked into installing a ventilation fan.  Most people that modify vans have them, but we just haven't needed one so far and if we add one we wont be able to squeeze the van in the garage, which would be a bummer.

44 minutes ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

Oh that looks great.  The kitchen looks super handy.  I want to modify the mini-van to make it better for camping and  one of the goals is cooking out of the back.  

The only downside we've found with cooking out the back is that the van has to be open while you're doing it.  This can be a problem if its buggy or particularly cold.  We haven't had a ton of bug problems, but Im always a little annoyed when Im sleeping and the husband wants to make coffee with the back doors open in the cold morning.  This has now been solved with a little butane stove that can sit on top of the fridge inside for coffee. 

12 hours ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

Oof. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot recently.  I gotta give you props for lifting and squatting through all that. 
 

If possible I’d love to see how you modded your van.  

We havent taken any pictures since we ripped everything out.  I'll have to take some later today or tomorrow and post them for you.  We have a low roof (regular) Transit cargo van and basically built a floating platform for the queen size bed, put in a large idea drawer between the bed and driver seat, slapped a Dometic electric fridge/freezer on top of it.  The "kitchen" is out the back doors with a pull out drawer style kitchen setup (bought prebuilt) and some homemade pull out wire basket drawers for food and stuff.  It's very DIY and unfancy.  No insulation or anything.  LOL.  We are fair weather campers. 

Here are some pics of the old setup....  I had to go looking for it, but thought I had posted some before.  Everything below the bed is gone now and replaced.  It's working out much better now.  We spent way too much on a prebuilt kitchen, but its so worth it!  It's here... https://www.nomadkitchenco.com/product-page/nomad-kitchen  We debated building our own, but by the time we bought all the supplies, tools, and made a (probably really crappy) copy, it would've been 70% of the cost anyway.

15 minutes ago, Maigs said:

@Marauder and @Machete - Due to some imbalances I have a very tight and somewhat painful right hip and some issues with my right shoulder. I'm also incredibly inflexible, as in I can't touch my toes and if my legs are straight the best I can get is a 90 degree angle at the waist. 

 

What I'm hoping to get out of Elements is getting my hip and shoulder back in good order, increased flexibility, and what I think of as light and slow gymnastics (back bends, handstands, walkovers, etc). From their website it sounds like it would do exactly that. In your experiences, do you think it would help get me in that direction?

As Machete said earlier, it basically involves a lot of the animal movement patterns.   I would possibly be a little concerned about a painful hip or any pain in the shoulder.  This program is definitely good for addressing range limitations and functional movement, but I'd be hesitant if you are having pain in those joints.  If you've seen their monkey, bear, and frog movements and you'd be good with those pain-free, then go for it.

I have Elements.  I've never gotten through the whole thing because Im a bit of a program hopper, but I'm happy to answer any questions you have!

7 minutes ago, Athaclena said:

FWIW - I read them over and sometimes go "nah" and use the same ingredients and do something different.

For instance - hubby refused to eat meatloaf but loves meatballs. I'll look at instructions and go - that'd be better or still good but less effort to oven roast or oven fry. I've picked up a LOT of new tricks though - and now have some "go to sauces" for the nights I don't have a meal kit meal

I secretly suspect he did that anyway, but still complained about having to read during cooking.  🤣

Im in Utah.  I can't help anyone.  Not even myself or my daughter.  Im mostly just angry.  I imagine there are plenty of us feeling that right now.  I've always been the minority here in many ways, but its feeling more and more burdensome as time passes.

Dude, you were always a funny grumpy ass curmudgeon though.  

Im sorry to hear about the second round of Covid.  That is brutal.  I hope you have a smoother and less complicated time with it.  Hugs.

Reading anything good?  

Very exciting!  Thank heavens my husband loves to cook because I'm with you on not wanting to.  My lunches are literally whatever is a) leftover, b) edible in its current state, or c) absolute minimum effort.  We tried a meal service thing, but husband doesnt like to follow instructions/recipes.    How are your meals delivered to you?  Frozen?  Fresh?    Our oldest is moving out at the end of July and I'm picturing our grocery bill going way down.  Then again, inflation.