BeckyBuckeye

Eek, I just called my first 3 politicians' offices and I MAY have freaked out a little... I only got their office aides, but I got a promise of a message or an email response later. So that's exciting and hopefully next time I won't be so freaking nervous. I'm going to complete my challenge as written (probably calling during my lunch hour), but I'm thinking that calling politicians' offices isn't going to be long-term feasible for me. I work a full-time job during normal business hours, but that's when they would be able to talk to me. Luckily, after this challenge, there's more ways I can help that will be much easier for me both personally and scheduling wise. Still, I want to get better on the phone (even if I end up leaving voicemails) and this is a job that needs to be done, so I will make phone calls for another month.

In our case, we decided we wanted a significant trial period before going through the paperwork and having to deal with legal ramifications if we can't live with each other. Plus the financial aspect of just being out of college and moving to a new city. But I know those people that live together and never get married and are perfectly happy. I second the Kanye shrug.

I feel you pain on the Chipotle front. Veggie pizza also doesn't really count as a vegetable, haha. You're doing great though!

Getting money out of politics, giving everyday people the same legislative and lobbying power as wealthy people and corporations, and trying to reverse the Citizens United decision. Specifically, I volunteer for a group called Wolf-Pac which is looking for a Constitutional Amendment. Frankly, I think it's the only cause that could move me enough to volunteer on my own time; although I do support a lot of other causes, they lack the wide-reaching implications of this one. Thanks! I took my flashlight to the gym last night, which helped alleviate some of the worry. Don't think it's going to work for jogging, but at least my strength training is safe. Thanks! That idea is awesome! The only problem is that I don't ever get through either homemade guac or packages of romaine lettuce before they go bad I'm just subsisting on frozen veggies prepared in various ways. I'm going to have to start changing it up soon though before I get bored!

Well week 1 went fairly well, everything got done except calling senators. I got distracted by books So I'm going to call 6 this week to make up for it.

I'm jealous of your pull-up ability! I'm working on it, but progress seems slooowwww.... You can always get one of the bars that go over a door frame, that way you don't need to put holes in the wall of an apartment.

Nice work! I'm excited to see how your goals go! And welcome to your first challenge!

Hey WinterBreezy! Your goals sound like they'll be a lot of work, but doable. And I LOVE your level-up goal. I had a very "meh" attitude about makeup through high school and about half of college. Not to say I'm THAT much better now, but I usually do manage a little makeup in the mornings I'm excited to see how your challenge goes!

Well hello! Your goals sound awesome and measurable and since you found me, I decided to find you to see how you do and cheer you on!

Hey rbudding! Your goals look good to me, just don't beat yourself up if you do everything right and miss the 5 pound mark. Excited to see your progress the next 6 weeks!

Hey, nice work so far! How'd the past couple of days go? I had a bedtime goal a few challenges ago and I loved it. I set an alarm on my phone to go off a half hour before I wanted to be in bed. That was when I had to finish whatever I was doing, get off the couch, and get ready for bed. Good luck!

You sound freaking busy! Go get em! I stayed in one of those extended stay hotels when I moved out here without an apartment lined up. It was pretty nice to not have to go out to eat every night.

I'm just about to finish The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson, which is technically a young adult book, but still really engaging, talking about slavery in a really different and interesting way. Also listening to my first Stephen King, The Shining, in the car, I'm close-ish to the end (please no spoilers, I've never seen the movie) and loving it, although I've never read horror before. The Great Gatsby is next on my list, but I have to take a trip to the library after I finish my book-on-cd, meaning I'll end up with god knows what like always, haha.

Hey thanks, Brutesquad! I'm already glad I joined, I feel a little more motivated even if nobody posts here Because I can kick myself and say, "You HAVE to go, it's part of your challenge," which feels easier than, "You really should go..." Thanks Laureleye! Like I said, nothing exciting, but all necessary. Thanks Meiori! It's something I've been meaning to do for a while now, but haven't managed very well. I'm weirdly nervous about talking on the phone. Going well so far! I've had my veggies, done a RFG workout, and jump roped (because it was dark outside and I'm overly cautious). Haven't called politicians yet, but I have an entirely free weekend to leave voicemails if nothing else. And the gym was busy, but not overly so (at least the dumbbells I wanted were free), so that's good. I'm even considering doing my workouts in the morning instead of evenings so it's still light out (I walk there on an unlit path, which is pretty creepy), but I think I'll try that either next week or the week after.

I'm listening to The Shining by Stephen King (don't know who the reader is, sorry) and I love it (and no, I haven't seen the movie, so no spoilers!).

Because he requested me and I didn't care one way or the other. And I thought about that, I actually asked and he answered that she'd never have the guts to do it. I'm inclined to believe him, but it doesn't really matter to me either way (although he might have a problem if that's what happened), neither of them was going to get an answer. You're right. Sigh. I should have a conversation with them, it's just tough. Next time it comes up, I'll try. Hopefully not for a while, now that the holidays are over. And I would love the BAMF responses and always chuckle at them, just couldn't bring myself to say them, except maybe to a close friend

Hey there! Your goals sound reasonable and achievable, I'm excited to see how you do!

I was up in the air about joining this challenge because I'm feeling a little unmotivated and I don't like starting things without being a little excited, but I made the deal with myself that I could make my goals simple and only reinforce what I'm already supposed to be doing. Not an exciting challenge, but probably an important one. On a somewhat related note, I've been avoiding the apartment fitness center for fear of the New Year's Resolution crowd. This challenge forces me back there starting tomorrow. Hopefully it's not too bad. Without further ado, here are my goals: Fitness: 1. Complete the Rebel Fitness Guide Level 4A (Rebel). (STR+3, CON+1) I've been making my way through the RFG, made it through levels 3A and 3B, so time to move to 4. No half-assing it either, I will complete every exercise of every workout, leveling up EVERY TIME with no excuses. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday workouts after work unless something prevents it, then I will continue the next day where I left off. 2. Do a cardio workout for 10 minutes, 3 times per week. (STA+3, DEX+1) See how I said I've been doing the Rebel Fitness Guide workouts? Yeah, so, I've been leaving out the interval part because I was busy or tired or didn't want to, so I'm taking out those excuses, just committing to 10 minutes 3 times a week. Alternating days from the strength workouts (to start) so I have a daily routine and no one day is taken over by working out. I have a faint idea that I want to start jogging again, so I'll start with that, but my fitness center has a stationary bike if I don't want to be in the cold, I have a jumprope, I can dance, or if I'm tired, I'll even accept a walk. Just moving to cement the habit. Diet 3. Eat 2 servings of vegetables per day. (CON+2, CHA+2) I don't have much to say about this one except I've been skimping, so if I have one at lunch and one at dinner, that will cover me. On the other hand, if I decide to put one in my breakfast, I only have one left. Fairly simple. Life 4. Call 3 State Representatives per week. (WIS+1, CHA+2) I volunteer my time to a political cause important to me (I'll elaborate if anyone asks), but I've been slacking a little over the holiday break and I have never been fond of calling people I don't know. I promised I'd help, it's important, and I can use it to practice getting more comfortable on the phone. That's all I've got for now, so I'm off to eat dinner (with veggies!). Good luck to everyone else!

Oh my. I can't imagine trying to answer that, just, what? It's like asking someone without kids if they're trying. SUPER PERSONAL, what?

Yeah, it's pretty much what I want to say, but a little too rude for non-confrontational me, haha. Me too

Not personal improvement at all, but an interesting read is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Some interesting medical, science, ethics, and race history in it.

ARGH. Last night, my (follow me here) boyfriend's sister's husband chatted me on Facebook, "When u getting married?" Opened the chat with that (followed by trying to cover his tracks with "just wondering if he proposed yet." Yeah, like you wouldn't know). Annoying spelling and grammar aside, I barely know this guy. He and I have been in the same room quite a few times, but I think the chat is literally the first time the two of us have had a direct conversation. I got the same question from Boyfriend's aunt at Christmas. Why do people think that it's an appropriate question to ask? Frankly, it's none of their business and my boyfriend has been very blunt about telling them so when they ask him, which is why they're now asking me. It's not my family, so I feel weird being rude (even if they started it), but I've been so taken aback by the question I've never come up with a good response. Had I been clever last night, I may have answered, "When are you going to have another kid?" or "When people stop asking." I'm now defaulting to "Not yet." I also think part of what's bugging me is the not-so-sneaking suspicion that his wife (boyfriend's sister) put him up to sending me the question. Both her and his mom have been wondering for a while when we're planning on getting engaged and they talk a lot. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think he gives a rat's you-know-what if/when we get married, except that his wife wants to know. And for the record? Yes, we've been dating for 3 years (4 at the end of January), living together for nearly 6 1/2 months, basically sharing finances, and really enjoying ourselves. But we're still young (22), still figuring out the whole "adult" thing, still working on financial stability (he has student loans and no job yet), and still figuring out exactly what direction both of our lives are going. We're not in any hurry, whether you are or not, and you can do things at your pace and we'll do things at ours. Just stay out of it. Deal? I'm not looking for advice, I suppose I just wanted a place to rant. Anybody that asked you inappropriate questions? How did you respond?

That is awesome! When I'm home from work, I think I'll go read some of that.

Maj. Blooknok, I agree with you. It's an interesting read, but a little too "I don't like some pieces of my life so I'll completely destroy all of it." Throwing everything away to feel "alive" has some nasty consequences (do NOT try this at home). Not saying Palahniuk should have addressed the consequences, but I guess it's too much anarchy and destruction for my taste.