Muir

New challenge is over here!

Last month was a month of doing stuff. This month is the same. Some of the goals have changed, but the overall goal remains - to do all of the things in true Ranger style. Should I exceed any of my goals each week, I will be putting £5 into a savings jar per goal exceeded. At the end of the month, I'll use the money to treat myself to something on my Amazon Wish List. Join with me as I sail the 4 Cs with regular stops along the Exercise Islands. Goals: 1. Crochet. Last month my goal was to crochet 3 squares OR sew one row onto the blanket I'm making my son per week. This goal has not changed. By the end of this challenge I should have at least 1.5 rows worth of squares crocheted and 1 row sewed onto the blanket. I will be grading this goal by keeping track of how many squares/rows I get done throughout the week. Squares: 0/3 2. Cook. This is a new goal, but one that I believe I mentioned either on my challenge or someone else's challenge last month. My goal is to clean out the food shelves, fridge, and freezer by cooking one meal each day that I'm home. I will only buy food that is needed to use the food that we already have. For example, if I have a BBQ pulled pork spice pack, then I can buy some pork. The reason I'm doing this is because we have loads of frozen food, sauce packs, tinned food, etc that's been sitting on various shelves for well over a year and they need to be eaten before they go off. My version of the NFA eating plan is going to take a hit this month, but that's ok. Once all of this food is gone, I can start the second part of my plan and start stocking up on stuff that does fit with my eating plan. I'll be tracking this goal by sharing photos of what I cook over on my FB page and will link to the photos here (though you're welcome to add me or follow me over there, if you like). 3. Clean. Because I spend most of my time during the day job hunting, taking my Android Basics course, and taking care of my son's needs, T is meant to do the majority of the housework. However, he has a bad habit of not seeing when something needs to be done (example, he left the dishes piling up for nearly 3 days because we still had clean dishes, so he didn't notice the dirty ones in the sink). So to help him out, I'm going to clean one room from top to bottom each week. Week 0: Living Room Week 1: Kitchen Week 2: Paul's room Week 3: The Master Bedroom Week 4: My Bedroom 4. Class. My Android Basics programming course is nearly done, but that doesn't mean I can slack off. My goal is to get through the rest of my course by the end of this challenge month. (Weekly goals may be changed depending on how well I did the week before) Week 0: Complete at least half of Lesson 3B Week 1: Complete Lesson 3B Week 2: Design final project Week 3: Final project finished and posted in class forums Week 4: Fix any problems noticed by other students and mentors 5. Exercise. Welcome to exercise isles! Each week, we'll have a different goal to complete. Week 0: Go Geocaching. Last week I tried Geocaching for the first time. It was so much fun that I decided to make it a part of this month's challenge. My goal is to find 5 caches this week. To get to their location, I'll either walk or cycle. Week 1: Go on a Virtual Walk. I will choose one race from yes.fit and walk the entire thing this week. Week 2: Go on a Virtual Cycle. Same as above, except instead of walking, I will cycle the entire distance. Week 3: Do NFA Bodyweight workouts 4A, 4B, and 4C at least once (each) this week. Week 4: Battle NFA Bodyweight Level 4 Boss. Counts as exceeded goal if boss is defeated.

No ale for me, thanks. Pepsi Max is fine. Ready and raring to go, no matter what gets thrown at me this month!

Following! With or without the maid uniform?

I've put a fairly low price one (about £80) on my wish list. It has 4/5 stars in reviews so will probably be good. Not going to get it until the conservatory is completely finished being cleaned out though. (We're getting there) ==================== Challenge Review: Overall, I think this month went rather well. I've crocheted quite a few squares, was active for at least 20 minutes for 5 out 7 days on average, got up to Lesson 3B in my programming course, and ate fairly decently. I haven't lost any weight, but then I wasn't really expecting to. It seems that in order for me to lose weight, I have to be super active (high intensity for at least an hour every single day), and eat next to nothing. You know what? I'm not going to do that. What I am going to do is eat as healthy as I can, leaving room for a small treat every day, and try to be active every day. Even if it's just walking for 20 minutes or doing 100 squats or something similar, it doesn't matter, as long as I do something. Things I've learned this month: I work better when I've set a specific goal to work towards (e.g. study X number of hours each week or crochet X number of squares) instead of grading myself on how well I think I've done each day. The reason being is that I'm too hard on myself, always demanding perfection (or close to it). By setting numeric goals, I don't have to worry about it. The goal is set, I get it done, celebrations happen. And that's good. This next set of challenges are going to be good. I've already got it all planned out. Just waiting on the forums to be made.

He's so chuffed about it. His school is holding a special assembly next Friday to officially present the medals in front of the entire school. I'm going to look into them, see how much a simple fold away one will cost. I can remember my Grandmother having a bodyweight operated one on rails when I was a kid. It was loads of fun. So I've done a thing today. I've signed up and paid for my first virtual race as part of the next challenge month. Let's see how long it takes me to get addicted to them.

Week 4, Friday Paul won a first place medal in the rowing competition today! His teacher said she's very proud of the fantastic job that he did and that he worked really hard on the rowing machine and loved doing it. I'm now debating on getting a rowing machine for home use hehe. Goal 1: I was so bad last night. I got my days mixed up because P took yesterday and today off so I got it in my head around 21:30 last night that it was Friday, so I had a bottle of cider. And some caramel sesame seed peanuts. Today wasn't fantastic either. I had some Scotch pancakes with banana and raisins for breakfast and a bowl of chicken soup with a whole grain roll for lunch (to make up for not having a protein at breakfast). Supper was a pizza and I had a slice of cake and some ice cream for desert. I'll do better tomorrow. Grade: F Goal 2: Another square got done today, which completes the goal for the week! Squares: 3/3 Goal 3: Finally finished Lesson 3A today! Yay! Also did some foruming to bring hours spent on the course to 10 and a bit hours. Hours: 10/10 Goal 4: At least I went out for a walk today. Found my 3rd geocache this afternoon and walked just over 4800 steps. Grade: A

Definitely go to CAB about it. They'll be able to tell you exactly what your rights are and what you can do about everything work related.

I hope your weekend more than makes up for the bad day!

Paul's appointment at the dentist went well today. It was more of a trial visit to see how well he'd react to being gassed; all they did was gas him and take x-rays of his teeth. He did really well though, so they're going to try to do the fillings that he needs next month (he only needs 1-2 thankfully). Week 4, Thursday Goal 1 Since I took Paul out today, I opted to make today variance day instead of Monday, which works since I'm not going to game night this coming week. Paul wanted pizza for lunch so we went to The Candle and had their half pizza lunch deal each. Mine had salami and roasted red bell peppers with some rocket leaves on top. Then we went to a small coffee shop in the Dark Arches (which is now lit up in rainbow colours) and split a granola bar and a mug of coffee (Paul likes coffee, surprisingly). Supper was roast sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions and sausages. Desert was a small piece of lemon cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Variance day, so no official grade, but it would have been a C due to carbs, having caffeine during the day, and having two sugary snacks. Goal 2 I finally finished the second square for this week AND have nearly got the third one half way done. Squares: 2/3 Goal 3 By the time Paul and I got back home this afternoon, I was too tired to do anything expect crochet and watch Ab Fab. Hours: 8/10 Goal 4 Like I said yesterday...lots and lots of walking. We walked from Leeds Centre to Beeston and back today, totalling just over 13000 steps. Grade: A

I had a slight headache pretty much all day, but the fresh air seemed to get rid of the majority of it, which is very good! Week 4, Wednesday Goal 1: Lunch was a double bowl of Ready Brek (protein powder, raisins, banana added). Supper was a "quick and dirty" microwave curry which surprisingly contained less than 700 calories. I ate a banana and a handful of raisins to make sure I got the required two types of fruit/veg (there were onions in the curry sauce, but not very many). I woke up this morning with migraine warning signs and had a headache all day (thanks to taking pain killers before the migraine pain started) so was a bit lenient on caffeine restrictions today. I had an iced coffee around 2pm and a glass of Pepsi Max around 5pm. The rest of the restriction time I had water. Grade: B Goal 2: I worked a little more on the square I started yesterday. Still have 10 rows and the border rows to do though. Squares: 1/3 Goal 3: Lesson 3A is nearly finished. I only have two more sections to do, which will be done by Friday. Then I can start on Lesson 3B. Hours: 8/10 Goal 4: I went on another geocache hunt today. It was very slightly farther away than the Farnley Hall Park one and in the opposite direction. It took me about an hour to walk there and back, but about 20 minutes of that was spent in Sainbury's looking for reduced bargains. (I got some chicken thigh fillets, some gluten free bread, the curry I had for supper, some chicken soup, a lemon cake, and a few graze snacks for just under £10) The box contained a log book which I signed, a little army man figure, a bottle of nail varnish, and a Mighty Beanz. I didn't take anything, but I did put in a metal bell ornament. Total steps for today is just over 4000. Grade: A Tomorrow Paul has his dentist appointment so I'll definitely get loads of walking done (we usually get a bus into Leeds centre and then walk to the dentist which is in Beeston, and then walk back to Leeds centre after), but will most likely not get much time to do anything else.

I might try finding another one today. I've got a migraine coming on though, so we'll see how it goes. I don't mind a bit of light rain in the summer, when it's warm out, but I have enough problems during the rest of the year with being cold. Rain just makes it worse. We had loads of fun playing it, and there are like a couple dozen expansions for it, so we're thinking of getting a few for it to keep it interesting.

I'm super tired tonight, so have a drive by update! Week 4, Tuesday Goal 1 (Eating): I did OK today, but not great. Mostly because I was supposed to go to Circuit Training tonight so ate a "quick and dirty" supper (microwave mini pizza) only to receive a text from my gym partner literally right after I finished eating saying she couldn't make it. (If she doesn't go, I don't go because I rely on her for transportation) Lunch was a pb and banana and raisin sandwich, supper was a mini pizza. I had some roast carrots and sweet potato while everyone else ate their supper. Pudding was a flapjack and a scoop of ice cream. Grade: B Goal 2 (crocheting): I started on a square today, but haven't finished it yet. Squares: 1/3 Goal 3 (programming): I did pretty well today, getting two hours of programming and one of foruming in. Hours: 5/10 Goal 4 (be active): Total success here. I went geocaching today for the very first time. (there are loads of geocaches around here) Found the cache in Farnley Hall Park under a holly bush just off one of the bridle paths. It was fun and got me over 3700 steps and 40 minutes of walking in. Grade: A

Quick update for yesterday, sans gifs as I really need to start on my course work for today). Games night was loads of fun. We played Chez Geek (I won) and Zombies!!!. Zombies was hilarious due to our friend who rolls a 1 more often than not. It took him ages to move (he kept rolling 1s for movement), but he managed to find the helipad AND move over to it before anyone else was able to get there. He was one turn away from winning, and I played a card which caused him to "get lost", putting him back at the starting tile (Poor guy) and enabling someone else to win. I met up with P for lunch and then spent the rest of the afternoon walking all over Leeds centre looking for fake daffodils because Paul wants some in his room. I found them with an hour (Week 4, Monday) Goal 1 (eating): Yesterday was my variance day, so it's not being counted, but I had a southern fried chicken burger with a hash brown, coleslaw, and fries for lunch. I had an afternoon snack of hot chocolate and a slice of banana bread at Hotel Chocolat. Supper was a baked potato with spicy beans and cheese and some steamed veggies (broccoli, carrots, corn). Snacks during games night consisted of chocolate filled chocolate chip cookies (I only had 2 though) and a stick of rock candy. If it wasn't a variance day, I'd get a D due to having too many carbs and too much junk (cookies or the candy would have been fine on a normal day, but not both and I really didn't need the hot chocolate; tea would have been a much better choice). Goal 2 (crocheting): I wasn't home, so this didn't get done at all. Squares: 1/3 Goal 3 (programming): I got one hour done before I left to meet P for lunch. Hours: 2/10 Goal 4 (be active): All the running around Leeds centre in the search for fake daffodils netted me over 12,500 steps for the day! That's a lot of walking. Grade: A

I usually start on my side with the blanket tucked up against me on that side. Once I'm asleep, I tend to roll over onto my back. When I wake up briefly in the middle of the night, I usually cuddle up against P, either by wrapping my arm around him (if he's facing away from me), by wrapping his arm around me (if he's facing me), or half draping myself over him (if he's on his back).

Were they codeine by any chance? That's what I was given way back when and I was so sick. Now I tell all medical professionals that I'm allergic to it so I don't have to deal with those side effects.

That makes two of us!

I do love D&D. I remember one session we played a year ish ago. We were in a cave which lead to the underground lair of the evil dudes we were looking for. It was almost pitch black; there was just enough light so we could see one or two feet in front of us and that was about it. Following the cave tunnel, the DM said "You can feel that the cave floor slopes downward just in front of you. You can't see how steep it is, but a tentative feel with your feet gives you the idea that it's probably quite steep." The lawful evil mage immediately goes "I start walking down the tunnel." He throws a saving roll and rolls a 1. (This is the guy who has an uncanny ability to roll 1s. Seriously, he can roll a d6 6 times and 5 of those will be 1s) He immediately loses his footing and slides all the way down at which point we hear a "thud" followed by a moaning "Oooowww. I'm all right!". So the dwarf decides to "crouch down and carefully make his way down". He rolls a 2 and ends up literally rolling down the slope. The DM tells the mage to make another saving throw: 1; the dwarf barrels into him, knocking him down. "I'm ok! I landed on something soft!" yells the dwarf. (yep, you guessed it) My monk character sighs and shakes his head, motioning to the ranger to just stay where she is. I yell down to the mage "take out your rope and instruct it to slither up here and attach itself to the rock" (it was a magical rope gifted to the mage by his dark god. There was a slight chance that it would strangle the mage each time he used it, but it required a roll of 20 on a d20 to happen). He does so ("Why didn't I think of that?"), and the ranger and I make it safely to the bottom.

Glad that worked out for you! How is your kid feeling? Better, I hope.

I used to love running but sadly can't do it currently due to not being able to wear a binder while doing so. I used to wear a compression binder all the time which made me feel really good and comfortable with my body, but wearing something that compresses your chest and ribs eventually damages said chest and ribs. It got to the point where it was hurting to just breathe, so I had to stop wearing the things. And that means that what was once made flat is now free to flap about, which is so not comfortable when running. One day, when I've had chest reconstruction surgery to get rid of all the flappiness, I will take up running again.

That is a super simple recipe and now I want to fix it so much! Hmm... I wonder if sweet potato would be a good sub for the squash? I like butternut squash, but I like sweet potatoes more and they're easier to find around here. #ShortPeopleProblems (I have the exact same problem. It's like people who make things forget that there are people who are under 5' 6" tall and just assume that since they can reach it, so can everyone else.)

That waffle looks sinfully delicious and that soup wholesome and tasty.

Yep, it was me. Farms are tricky. (I know you already know this part, but I'm putting it down for any one who may not be conversant with the game) Basically you put your meeple down on a tile to signify that they're a farmer and there they stay until the game ends. Then you have to count the number of tiles that the fields (green areas) connect. Whoever has the most farmers on that large area wins those points. This is where it's tricky because you can't put down a farmer on a field that already has a farmer on it. To me, farms are a case of putting down as many farmers as you can and hoping that they don't end up being connected to other players farms while still ending up taking up lots of tiles. It's headache inducing to me; there's definitely a strategy there, but I'm pretty bad at strategy

Week 4, Sunday Dude! Week 4? It's like, the last week of this challenge! That can't be right, can it? No worries, I already know what the next challenge is going to entail. Hint: It will include food, exercise, crocheting, and more! Goal 1: I had the signs of a migraine today, so I allowed myself caffeine during the day and had a small snack between lunch and supper to help keep it at bay (sugar and caffeine helps, for some reason). Normally I would drop my grade down a letter for each infringement, but since it was to keep my head from feeling as though it was going to split open, I'm going to be nice and just dock one letter. Saying that, even though I had extra caffeine and a snack mid afternoon, I didn't go overboard ; I only had one glass of Pepsi Max and one chocolate biscuit. I am going to drop my grade for today one further letter though because I snacked rather heavily last night (half a bag of popcorn and a couple of After Eight Mints). Lunch was a bowl of gluten free cheesy pasta. T fixed a beef and veggie stew for supper. Pudding was a small slice of Madeira cake and a 35g scoop of mint choc chip ice cream. Grade: C Goal 2: I finished one square today. We're off to a good start. Squares: 1/3 Goal 3: P helped me finish the current version of the database. It now saves the player data to the table when the user clicks "save" and displays the saved data on the score boards when the user reopens the app. The next steps are to refactor the code, making it more versatile and Object Oriented, and to make the scorecards and tables for the other 3 games. Hours: 1/10 Goal 4: I walked outside today, but I didn't like it. It was raining and wet. Yuck. Grade: A