Cynforgiven

OMG... Did not realize how massively long that post was. Sorry about that. :bashful:

I'm guessing you missed a spot on your back? Maybe try a spray sunscreen or look for a lotion applicator - basically a sponge on a stick - to get the hard to teach places.

Love your challenges and your knitting. I have two projects that i started about 10 years ago and haven’t finished. One is making squares just to use up yarn remnants and eventually make a blanket or something with them, the other is either a wrap, throw, or blanket depending on how big it is when i eventually get done. Both are using an afgan hook bc between the beginnings of carpal tunnel and entrenched arthritis I can crochet/knit maybe 3 stitches then can’t move my hands. at least with the afgan hook I’ve found that I can do 2 or 3 lines before having to take a break. I guess its the ay I hold my hands or something. good luck on your squares and reshaping your trapezoid ~~~~~~~ Whether you decide you can or you decide you can’t, you’re right. In a world of princesses, dare to be Batman.

Here I am. Late again. Since I’m a week late this time maybe I’ll actually finish the challenge. Now that I think about it, maybe I should just do an ongoing thing in the general rebel chat.... Something to think about. Anyway, on to the challenge! Since I’ve FINALLY started my new job (SQUEEEEE!!!!) and have never actually finished a challenge I decided to keep the same challenges - almost. 1) meditate 5 minutes every day. 2) elliptical 5 minutes a day 3) read every day for at least 30 minutes and the one that’s changed from last time- 4) actually finish the challenge - last round this was “log my food every day”. I’m still working on that but the change in job has had a few positive side effects already so I’m leaving that one on the back burner for now. So, for anyone keeping up with the “Cyn hates her life, is trying to change that, and in doing so gets a new job” saga... Last week was screwed up. I let the nursing home know that I was changing my work status from full time to as needed (basically quitting) effective July 1. Since I worked my 16 hour shifts last weekend (my theoretical last 2 days) then that would give me Monday to Thursday to chill, start getting my sleeping schedule adjusted to day shift, and maybe kinda actually have a mini “stay-cation”. 3 days after I give them my notice I get asked “Could you pleeeeeeeese work the 3rd and 4th before you go? You know how our staffing is and it’ll be time and a half for the 4th? Could you?” By this time i’m already sleeping better, not having chest pains or anxiety attacks, and just all around happier. So, knowing my first day at the new job is 8:30am on the 5th, I agree to work 2pm to ‘whenever I can manage to get my ass out of there’ on the 3rd and 4th. Yeah, I know. I have “sucker” tattooed on my forehead in that ink that can only be seen by certain people. ( and before anyone asks - yes she knew my first day was the 5th when she asked me to work the extra days). All that aside, it’s only been one really easy day but I think I’m going to like this job. It will be half medication nurse and half office work. I’ve never had an office job before! I’ll be able to actually take a lunch. Unless something happens right at time to leave I’ll be leaving on time. No constant requests to pick up shifts or work over. 12 hr day shift on a regular rotating schedule so I can actually plan stuff for my days off and after work. I CAN COOK! I’ll have time to cook on a routine basis now. And get into a routine to clean house. And i know it sounds silly but i’m actually bouncing up and down excited thinking about it. I knew working at the nursing home was having a negative effect on me. It was almost like an abusive relationship... turning a blind eye to the mistreatment and maddening behavior because I love you and really want this to work. (I have a history of abusive relationships... maybe that’s why it took me so long to break and say ‘i can’t do this any mores. it’s killing me.”) Now I’m realizing how much of a negative impact it was having on me. I know the new job won’t always be great - what job is? But I do know that the way things are run is different (more organized) and my boss/manager/supervisor is different and way more positive. As far as the changes I mentioned I’m already seeing - I’m sleeping longer and more restfully. Not 8 hours of blissful sleep bouncing out bed ready to take on the world (i’m picturing something like she-ra or red sonya standing next to the bed in full armor, blade drawn giving a battle roar - lmao) but a helluva lot better sleep than i’ve had in a long time. I cooked yesterday - twice. Well, kinda two halves. First was throwing stuff in a bowl a microwaving it for breakfast versus a prepackaged microwave breakfast. Second was a box meal for supper that required oven baking, some mixing, and putting onto plates. Compared to how food has been for the past probably 2 years at least that is cooking. While i cooked i puttered around the kitchen starting to clean the counters off ( next will be the kitchen table so i have somewhere to sit and do stuff. the couch just ain’t working for me now) I’m mentally psyching myself up to do some meal planning and prepping. And i wish i could say that even though I hadn’t posted yet I still stuck to my goals and did the thing every day as planned, but I didn’t. But, the intention is to do the things daily for the next 3 weeks of the challenge while working on getting the rest of my life back up to some livable standard. So I’m going to go either meditate or read while doing the elliptical and get those tasks knocked out for the day. and here’s a pic of my dog, just because i’m in that sort of mood ~~~~~~~ Whether you decide you can or you decide you can’t, you’re right. In a world of princesses, dare to be Batman.

I think one of the wights got me bc I fell completely on my face and didn't get up during the battle. I remember trying to accomplish my thing then fighting to stay alive and get enough sleep to fight it all over again. I'm glad our side won though In all seriousness, work has been kicking my ass much harder than usual so the past 2 weeks have been in survival mode (work, forage for food, try to rest, rinse and repeat) so anything outside of that (i.e. some semblance of a life) has fallen by the wayside. Congratulations to everyone and another of whatever you're drinking to celebrate :-D And I am so going to try these recipes when I get enough time to grocery shop and actually cook.

So I'm noticing a pattern in my challengeishness... in how I participate in the challenges. I do really well up to the first weekend I work after the challenge starts. I hit that mark and fshzzzzzzz.... I completely fizzle out. I wasn't sure if that was the case, but looking at my schedule along side my postings here and I can see I'm definitely more active before that first weekend verses after. I also notice that my challenge participation runs parallel to my posting - if I'm more engaged in the challenge I post more; when I've been bodyslammed by work and it's all I can do to get up to forage for food and the bathroom I don't post at all for a few days. Seems that I start off things (even non NF life stuff) really well but work sucks all the life and energy out of me and I fall flat on my face. Needless to say, I don't really have a challenge update bc that all got put aside because - sleep. I'm still reading, but haven't every day like when the challenge started. Elliptical, meditation, and logging food every day went the same route. But in better news I have oreintation for my new job on July 5 and go live on July 8. It's 12hr day shifts so hopefully there will be a bit more routine in the work and sleep schedule and I can start to incorporate other better habits as I get settled. My biggest problem there is my current job doesn't know yet that I've decided effective the first I'll be very part time (bc I do love my co-workers and my residents). I only found out Friday when my actual start date is and would like a few days at least to (hopefully) reoreint myself to being awake during the day and sleeping at night since it might be a good idea to stay awake at the new job. So that's where I'm at right now. If I participate next challenge (not sure yet) I may just keep these same goals and work on being consistent with them, posting here, and actually completing the challenge while adjusting to the newness. Thoughts? Comments? Bueller? Bueller? *listens to the crickets..... Anyone here?

Whenever I get overwhelmed and confused by too many choices I try to just take a deep breath and pick something and remind myself there's no wrong choice bc I'm at least doing "something".

@miss_marissa I'm beginning to think that you're either secretly following(stalking) me or that you can read my mind. The mini challenges have been totally in sync with my challenges - especially this challenge round. Work and trying to sleep was the thing all last week so I didn't even see the week 2 challenge until this morning. If coloring counts as mindfulness or meditation then I'm golden. My mental saving grace this past week has been my 2 go-to apps when I need as mini mental vacation: Unicorn - a coloring app that I think I might be slightly addicted to [emoji57] and Solitaire Decked Out - traditional solitaire but can buy chances for new card decks/animations. It's really cute and cartoon-y and I think I'm slightly addicted to it as well. I think I averaged at least 10min (total) a day between the two. I already had the goal this challenge to be more active on the boards here, so will do my best to complete that mini this week (late, but still completed) This week's challenge I actually kinda already got a jump on - as i said you've been mind reading or something. I did my dishes yesterday. Sounds minor, but housework of any kind is a major hurdle for me. Most times having clean uniforms for work is an accomplishment for me and about all I can get done. There's only 2 of us living in the house and at least half the time it looks like a frat house on Monday morning. So in the spirit of the challenge, I will attempt some other house chores I've been neglecting to get done this week (I'm thinking cleaning bathrooms [emoji13]) as well as last week's task to meet and greet. Ok,@miss_marissa ... What am I thinking now? [emoji848]

Adulting sucks and takes a lot of practice. You're already doing better than I do a lot of days. Be gentle with yourself and remember to breathe - it'll help keep you calm and help you scream louder if you need to vent. I hope your difficult times are over soon and you can get back to attempting normal operations. And if it helps, here's a hug.

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I work 2 16hr shifts every other weekend. This weekend is a work weekend. Unfortunately challenges go by the wayside if I'm working a 16 hr shift, especially if afterward I'm off for less than 8 hours before I'm back at work. (No, I don't get much sleep on the weekends I work, thanks for asking) I've managed logging my food and getting some reading in to make myself take a break. Didn't elliptical before work mainly bc the AC is out at home, it was 83° inside, and I was dripping with sweat already (so much for taking a shower this morning). As far as the meditating I might be able to squeeze it in somewhere while I'm at work. Depends on how busy things get. Also, to cross post with the mini challenge - I haven't been able to do a dedicated 5 min walk either and less of a chance of doing it tomorrow as well. And I find I miss it. And the elliptical. And it hasn't been a week yet. I see that as a good thing. If I like it most likely I'll keep doing it (I hope).

No dedicated walk for me today since I'm working a 16hr shift. Same thing for tomorrow. And as I'm typing im realizing that I miss that extra little 5 min already and it hasn't even been a week. But I'll take the time this weekend to figure out when and where I can get my walking in next week

Currently I’m working my way through the Kurtherian Gambit universe of book series. The original author wrote a 21 book series, then a few other authors joined in and wrote spin off series using some of the background characters. Now there’s 145+ books from 20+ authors and at least 3 different genres. Not to mention the multiple facebook fan sites - including one devoted to fanfic. If you search for Michael Anderle you’ll find it. As far as having a set amount of time each day to read, the answer is “not really”. I’ll read while doing my 5 minutes on the elliptical and whenever I have a chunk of spare time otherwise with the hours I pull on workdays I don’t get much reading in, but like yesterday I was off and went through 2 and a half books I think (I read fast, the books are short, and it was finishing up a story arc with an exciting ending so I couldn’t help myself. Plus the ac is out and I couldn‘t sleep anyway.) ~~~~~~~ Whether you decide you can or you decide you can’t, you’re right. In a world of princesses, dare to be Batman.

Other half of yard completed as planned (yes!) And just before the rain started too :grin: Bonus points!

I tested as INFP but it said that I’m also very close to INFJ. I’m surprised though. This is the first time Nursing hasn’t popped up on the career choices for me. Usually it does. I got Social Worker, Psycology, and Archeology like I normally do though. Maybe I’ve changed a bit since the last time I did one of these. ~~~~~~~ Whether you decide you can or you decide you can’t, you’re right. In a world of princesses, dare to be Batman.

Yesterday I got my elliptical in before work again (yay!) I tried to meditate when after I got up, but ended up dozing off. I signed up for the GoT mini challenge and got my 5 min walk in after work (yay again!) Today I was trying to figure out when I was going to do challenge-y things. Did the meditation thing this morning. Not well, but did at least give it a hardy attempt. Mowed half the yard and used that for my mini challenge walk. I was logging my food (in the passenger seat) while hubby and I were out to shop for work food for the weekend. He asked me "Your back to writing everything down again and finding out how naughty you've been?" I told him that I stopped doing to last month and gained 7 pounds so, apparently, at least logging the junk I do eat makes a difference. I know when I'm logging it makes me really think about my eating habits. He said "Fair enough. Carry on" lol My reading goal has kinda slipped the past couple of days. I've been reading the NF boards when I've had time to read. I treated myself to a reclining lawn chair today (when I was supposed to be getting just food for the weekend :bashful: ) so when I sit outside with the dog I can have a comfortable place to sit and read. I plan on reading a bit tonight and getting a good bit in tomorrow too. (Edit: That chair is da BOMB! Maybe I'm so excited about it bc I now have somewhere actually comfortable to sit and put my feet up. I reclined back in it the first time and instantly felt myself relax. And I got my 5 min meditation in while I was at it. :happy: Now let's hope I don't spend too much time sitting in it with my feet up :bashful:) Still no word on a start date for the new job. I hate feeling like I'm in limbo. I really want to know so I can know how much longer I'll be at the current job and be able to plan how I'm going to change my sleeping schedule from going to bed at 4 or 5 am to getting up then and have a bit of time to hopefully do it. Hopefully I'll hear something soon. I'm just afraid of getting a call letting me know that my orientation is scheduled for the following Monday and I haven't even given notice at the current job. Breathe.... It'll be ok... Hopefully I'll hear something soon. I'm about ready to just put in my two weeks notice anyway and figure it out from there.