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Okokok HI FRIENDS~ I've based this challenge theme off my two favorite classes in FFXIV - Bard and Dark Knight. ( I know, you're SOOooOOoOOoo surprised~) Y'all know what a bard is obvs but the Dark Knight class is a tanking job with a big sword (see above) that's pretty much a combination of My Chemical Romance and Hot Topic and too much black eyeliner and has skill names like Delerium and Quietus and The Blackest Night IT'S NOT JUST A PHASE MOM The challenge theme really isn't apropos of anything, I just like the classes and wanted to cram them together to birth DIRGESINGER. (Also I have never played Dirge of Cerberus, isn't that a crime??) Also this time of year is my favorite and my dark little haunted heart loves a spooky New England fall.......... I guess I should set some goals, huh?? :3 So I have a LOT GOING ON in the next few months (aside from my normal hijinks) - mostly trips! I finally sat down and populated my personal calendar the other day with all my upcoming stuff and I was kinda like The things that will fall within this 5 week span are as follows: - Work trip to Texas for training (Monday 9.16 - Wednesday 9.18) - Saturday on-call shift (Saturday 9.21 from 9-2) - Tattoo consult (Tuesday 10.1 9:30am) - Work charity event (Saturday 9.5 all day - basically we have people submit applications for a family in need that needs a new hvac system and we choose a winner and go and install it all for free <3) - Tattoo appointment (Monday 9.7 9:30am) - Weeklong coastal MA vacation in a bomb-ass beach cabin with The Boy (Thursday 9.17 - Thursday 9.24) After that I've got a trip to NYC for a show with K, she is coming to visit here in December for another show in Boston, somewhere in there I have an audiology appointment to find out why I Don't Hear Real Gud, hopefully scheduling a dentist appointment sometime, the Holidays (HOW IS IT SEPTEMBER ALREADY) and just surviving I guess phew. PHEW. Anyways here's the shit I want to upkeep amidst the chaos: - Gym three times a week at minimum. - Keep batch-cooking work lunches. - Weekend drinking only! - Outdoor activity at least once a week! I'm a weirdo and want to visit as many historic New England cemeteries as I can this fall. - Finish Z'jai's new roleplay profile website AUGH JUST DO THIS SHAAR. I'm going to be doing some minor recruiting for my FC soon and I want to have this done and looking fly before I do. - Be mindful of my health. After my recent bloodwork, while it's nothing to be concerned about right now, I need to keep a closer eye on myself and how I'm feeling and take precautions to take better care of myself when I'm having an achy day, and find out what works for me. <3 - VLOG MORE, I want to try and do one vlog a week as an update!!! Okokok I think that's all for now thanks for coming to my Ted Talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*emerges from a secretive cave beneath a mysterious mountain a week late, as is per the norm lately~* OHO~ Crap guys it sure has been a while huh. HELLO HI GREETINGS! Jeez, where do I even start now?? Okokok, TL;DR version RQ - Last August I uprooted my entire life in North Carolina to move back home to Massachusetts. It’s been a long and, at times, heavy adjustment period as Literally Every Aspect of My Life Was Different. It’s been almost a year since the move and I feel like I’m finally at a point where I’ve settled into a comfy work/life balance - I’ve been at my job for 6 months now and I ABSOLUTELY love it, like, I just, there are no words for how happy I am to work where I do. I love being back home in New England, my sleep schedule is FINALLY regulated so I’m not all strung out, I’m able to integrate my job and my commute with getting to the gym and getting outside and doing things and still being able to lead my XIV FC events and have fun and be social without stretching myself too thin and it’s just. GREAT. V. v. great. So this is the part where I try to slowly add one more plate to my balancing act, and it’s returning to have a presence here. While I won’t be nearly as active as I used to be - work is SUPER strict about internetting on the clock - which I don’t mind at all but it’s v. different from my previous job where I was Around All The Time. I want to do my best to post when I can on my lunchtimes and on weekends, so I guess I’ll just..... Do my best?? Very Simple Goals: Gym, 2-3 times a week. I’ve been doing this! Go team!! Planet Fitness is really my only option and I’m discovering it’s really not the worst, but there sure are some Characters up in there. Keep batch-cooking meals. I’ve been doing this too! It’s definitely made a difference nutritionally and also FINANCIALLY. My weight/comp sure isn’t where it was when I was powerlifting, but frankly I could give a fuck because I am actively living my best life right now so, YOLO~ Keep posting here, and tackle life as it comes. And start checking in on everyone else more too! I MISS Y’ALL!! I want to know what’s going on in your lives so I’m going to do my best to carve out time for posting. I have lots to talk about - buying a new car soon! - visiting the New England coast for a week before Halloween with The Boy! - finally getting the tattoo I’ve wanted for ages! - I’m growing tomatoes in the backyard! - Finnegan related shenanigans! - and of course, the 3976 video games I’m playing........ OKAY here's to keeping up and LIVING OUR BEST LIVES WOOOOOO PARTY TIME Y'ALL LET'SGO~ ~ ~ ~

HI GUYS It is... springtime! (Is it? ???) Everyone is posting pics of leaves and blooms and flowers and I'm still looking out the window at bare trees and freshly mulched plots just w a i t i n g ............. Anyways my life has been 110% gogogo since uh. January? When I started my new job (which I love), and since I started fitting the gym back into my life routine (which I also love), so keeping up with challenge goals outside of DON'T FORGET TO SLEEP has been HARD for me! Life is seriously great for me right now after a long string of struggles and adjustments, so for this challenge I'm taking inspiration from the brilliant suggestion of @Urgan and we are gonna go.... IYASHIKEI. (surely you are thinking, shaar what is that WORD what does it MEAN i have never SEEN this word in my life???) Iyashikei (癒し系) is Japanese for "healing", a term used for anime and manga created with the specific purpose of having a healing or soothing effect on the audience. These anime can be about anything, and they tend to be slow-paced and peaceful – the complete opposite of action anime. Their stories meander as they draw viewers into their worlds, giving them a relaxed, joyful feeling. Iyashikei anime are meant to help audiences momentarily put aside their troubles and remember to appreciate the small delights of life. So we're gonna chill it out in here this challenge - no goals, nothing to achieve, my only accomplishment will be to be mindful when things get slam bang bananas and do my best to take a deep breath and not run my poor skeleton into the ground. (I mean I know they eventually GO there but you know, prematurely.) ... No wait, I lied, my second accomplishment is to get out and EXPLORE MORE. I want to use my weekends for getting out into the New England countryside, the mountains and tucked away sanctuaries of nature and beauty. There is so much around here that I never noticed (or rather, paid attention to) when I was a kid, and I'm real hype to start a short list and get out to see everything there is to see!~ I'll take you guys with me and take photos and videos of the rural mountain life, promise. IYASHIKEI. If you need a good vibe or a chill moment, you know where to come. HERE. It's here, y'all. LET'S DO IT. <3

Hihi y’all, WOO NEW CHALLENGE TIME~ I was gonna write a little bit of narrative for this originally but the nerw boards go up faster than a duck on a junebug lately so, time, not on my side. OH WELL. Perhaps later? Anywho, welcome back to the Furyheart Chronicles!~ <3 What is a furyheart? It’s everything I aspire to be - full of confidence and optimism and unstoppable fire, ready for adventures and whatever the world decides to throw at me. Knowing I can take on whatever obstacles come my way and come out the other side, while not necessarily unscathed (very often very scathed let’s be real), victorious. It’s my inner strength and indomitable spirit, it’s never saying die, and after a long period of change and struggle, it’s finally coming back to me. YESSSSS~ ~ MY GOALS! While they’re nothing as epic as ‘climb a mountain and punch a sasquatch in the face’, they’re slowly becoming more ambitious than ‘don’t succumb to the siren song of the void’ from a few months ago. I’ve got big plans and I’m setting the groundwork. So HERE WE GO! :3 1. PHYSICAL FITNESS THE GYM, guys, I love the gym, I’ve been gone for TOO LONG and it’s so good to get back. It feels like home. I’ve been consistent for 3 weeks now and my goal continues with lifting 3x a week; one day for legs, one for chest and back, and one for shoulders and arms. 2. FINANCIAL FITNESS My financial situation is very different now - but in a good way! I’m not used to having a fair amount of money and I’ve been a little frivolous with it - this coming from a VERY frugal person so I’m sure my ‘going out to lunch’ frivolity is minor - but I want to get a good handle on what I’ve got coming in vs going out so I can save and plan for the future. I’ve researched budgeting apps and am going to be using EveryDollar (thanks shadri!!) for the span of this challenge and track EVERYTHING! <3 3. MORE PHYSICAL FITNESS KINDA Limit alcohol ONLY to the weekends. I need to be stricter with myself on this!! IT’S BETTER FOR ME!!! 4. SOMETHING ELSE MAYBE I may add something else here IDK yet OKCOOL that’s all I got for now ZOOOOOOM LET’S GO NERDS~ <3

(it rhymes~) *runs in like some kind of maniac* WOWJEEZ it's new challenge time already??!? Where does the TIME GO.... Hi guys, it's me Shaar, and here's where I'm at right now in my crazy chaos life!~ I'm at a new job and it's been rolling for two weeks now, and I'm starting to get settled into more of a routine and schedule. I've been thinking about my goals and while I wish they could contain consistant fitness, right now, I need to admit that just can't happen. With everything going on it's just not a current priority, and I'm okay with that. BUT, I've got a lot of big plans and ideas simmering in my little bard brain, and to get back to my unstoppable furyhearted self I've gotta do it the right way and start with building myself a solid foundation!! That's what this challenge will be for - setting a baseline with consistent habits that have definitely fallen by the wayside while I was unemployed/stressed/in the pit/etc. SO. My goals are as follows: 1. STAY HYDRATED. It's so dry here y'all. Cold northern winter air and oh hey I live on a mountain now cool, it's doing a number on my poor skin. I'm not used to this AT ALL and my poor dry irritated face is coping the best it can, but I need to drink more water. I can tell I'm not drinking enough, I'm thirsty a lot and my energy levels dip and ugh. My goal here is 60oz of water per day! 2. EAT (AND SNACK) RESPONSIBLY. Now that I have a real schedule again I need to make batch-cooking my lunches a priority. I've been doing this already for the past two weeks but I also want to expand this to include - buying smart snacks to stash at work, and NOT forsaking my homemade lunch to go down the street to Moe's or something. 3. STAY OUT OF THE CANDY DISH. Hrrrgghhh okay we have a candy dish at work and I've been eating candy out of it ok I ADMIT IT. They're so good though it's those little hard fruit candies with the soft filling. I will allow myself ONE (1) candy per day. NO MORE. 4. WRANGLE THE SLEEP SCHEDULE Here's a toughie, phew. Last week I had a hardcore insomnia streak during my second week of work and almost lost my mind. Things have evened out since then but I still find myself waking up at 3am a lot of times for no real reason other than ???? [insert any reason here really, it's all nonsensical]. I know my system will even out eventually but right now I need to get to bed at the same time every night. This may be subject to change, but right now my goal is for weeknights, to be in bed by 10pm and set my alarm for 6:20am. (Earlier in case of inclement weather.) 5. TAKE YOUR VITAMINS. EVERY DANG DAY. I just edited this because I'm at lunch and almost forgot my vitamins AGAIN jfc shaar get your shit together here Okokok I think that's all for now. I have more plans and ideas I can't WAIT to put into action but I have to be careful not to let my RangerBrain take over and, yeah. ONE STEP AT A TIME!! <3

As dust gets swept away by footsteps of the newly arrived, a few pick pen and ink to dribble on recent developments. Many have perished on this path, many might never attempt it. “A man goes to knowledge as he goes to war: wide-awake, with fear, with respect, and with absolute assurance. Going to knowledge or going to war in any other manner is a mistake, and whoever makes it might never live to regret it†-- Carlos Castañeda, The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge You have accessed Aeri's battle log, and are welcome to give input or press for oath keeping. Much love, - Aeri

"You have to give it a name." The words were a gentle tug, but she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes yet. She wasn't sure where she was, how she got here, even who she was… The Voice seemed to sense this, somehow, and continued speaking. "Yours is Shaar Al-Khatabi." Ah. That sounded familiar. She mouthed the words slowly, 'al-khatabi', as if pronouncing them for the first time. But they were hers, through and through. Shaar Al-Khatabi continued taking slow metered breaths, the air brisk and cold in her lungs and equally heavy in scent, each one a little less shaky than the one prior as she slowly began to extend her senses outward to her surroundings. Fingers of one hand pressed gingerly into the ground she lay curled on; slightly damp, cold, spongy. She turned her hand, feeling leaves and pine needles against her palm, and honed in on the sensation against her skin as she brushed them aside. And one eye finally opened, slowly, gingerly, to confirm her suspicion that she was in fact, outside. She blinked slowly, trying to clear her blurry vision in vain; sunlight dodged through a heavy nest of branches above to illuminate the forest floor, autumnal hues of leaves stretching as far as the eye could see, piled aside age-worn stumps and massive tree trunks and strangely stacked rock piles. It was all too much - sensory overload - and Shaar squinted her eyes shut again quickly, curling a little tighter into her fetal position. "I feel like I've been poisoned." Exhaustion reigned and each enunciation was a struggle, and barely audible as they passed her lips. But he heard. "I know you do." The words were soft, kind, and tinged with a thread of regret. They settled around her like a warm blanket, comfortable and reassuring, and Shaar quietly relaxed her limbs and opened both eyes this time to have her gaze settle upon The Voice. He crouched at her side, unthreatening, slight in stature and in shape. His clothes were a shambles of rags and there was something about him she couldn't quite place, and perhaps it was his youth that caught her off guard; he was barely a scrap of a boy. Their gazes locked for a long few moments - hers that of a wounded animal, lost and frightened and scared, and his of nothing less than loving kindness, and Shaar felt the world around her slow as her breath hitched in her chest. "We're all so proud of you. All of us." He reached out one small hand, settling it delicately on the crown of her head as he spoke, and at the touch a single tear slid from one eye, curving slowly along her cheek. "You've done so much. Seen so much. Come so far." His intonation light and airy, like the first flakes of snow drifting from the sky on a cold winter day. Like the brief oft-lost moments of the morning where the sun glitters newly across the ocean. The pad of his thumb moved slowly across her temple as he spoke; back and forth, rhythmic. "We've been watching you for a long, long time. You are so skilled in conquering adversity in your path. It's why We chose you. But this challenge… this one…" The Voice let his words trail off as he lifted his hand from her head and moved it to his side, digging amidst the scraps to retrieve what seemed to be some sort of box. It was circular in shape, barely the size of his small palm, and as he held it out to her Shaar regarded the item with a quiet curiosity for several moments before extending her own hand in kind, gently taking the item with dirty fingers. The box had a hinge on one side, and she turned it over and over in her hands a few times before slowly flipping open the lid, steeling herself for whatever may come out or be lying in wait inside. "This one is different." There was a moment of quiet shock, and bright green eyes widened as Shaar found that she was staring right back at herself from the mirrored lid. - this one is different - Time froze for a brief few moments as the words rolled in her head, and Shaar slowly understood the task that lay before her. She let out a slow sigh, tilting her head to one side thoughtfully, watching her mirror image do the same. "This one is different," The Voice reiterated, kind but firm. "And you have to give it a name." She answered in one smooth word, voice lilting with the syllables. "Karaoghlanlar." ---- Hi my friends, and welcome (almost) to 2019! And also welcome to the story of Shaar. A while back I stumbled upon my old Nerd Fitness character I made eons ago, and it seemed to come at the right time for me, as inspiration with what to do with myself moving forward. I've always loved writing and have tried narratives a few times but they've always flamed out. This one though... we'll see, I'll do my best! It'll evolve as I do, and I think that'll be easier and more flexible on my creativity. ( The Karaoghlanlar are the nine evil sons of the Mongol deity Erlik Knah, the god of death and the underworld! ) 2018 was kind of a shit show (kind of??) and moving forward everything is going to be, and needs to be, different. Things that I thought worked for me in the past don't anymore, and I've effectively set myself back to square one to figure out what does work, and how to reawaken and move forward. This challenge will be different too, because this time none of my challenges come from outside, but instead inside. I'm still kind of in a hard place mentally and need to effectively deal with myself and learn how to take care of myself better, and all over again. My first challenge is my biggest: 1. Drink Less This is the big monkey on my back right now, and while I don't drink to excess at all, I still drink more than I would like to and I know it's not good for me. It's not a healthy way to cope and I don't want to do that anymore. It's bad for my skin, it's bad for my weight, it messes with my sleep... I KNOW all this but it's still hard to avoid "just one drink" to relax, and then it turns into two, and sometimes three. DO NOT WANT ANYMORE. My goal here is to not go cold turkey, but if I do want to drink, do it only on the weekends. That's it. Simple, huh?.. 2. Move Intentionally I've become so sedentary due to a. not working yet and b. it being winter in New England, and it's doing a number on me. I feel it in my achy body and my energy levels and this too, is not what I want. I'm not sure what I -do- want fitness-wise anymore, but that'll come in time, and right now I just need to get moving. 30 minutes of intentional movement at least 4 times a week. This can be anything from yoga to mobility work to getting outside. Just do something. 3. Find What Works This last one is less pass-or-fail but more trial-and-error - my self-care toolbox is empty and I need to find out what fits in there now. The first 3 months of a new year are always the hardest for me mentally and emotionally, and I have a feeling 2019 won't be any different... I need to keep a close eye on myself and figure out how to navigate these tricky times now that I'm in a whole new world. That's it! I'll start small, and see where it takes me. <3 ALSO HEY HI SORRY SO SERIOUS SHAAR WHERE'S THE CAPSLOCK?!!?! RIGHT HERE MY DUDES~

Hoo boy howdy y’all. Hoo. Boy. Howdy. 2018 has been a YEAR. I’ve had some challenging years but this one takes the cake, hands down. It’s been a literal Maximum Chaos Party but it’s coming to a close and after everything that’s happened and everything I’ve shouldered and powered through I’m determined to finish STRONG AS HECK Y’ALL. 2019 is coming and I've still got a lot ahead of me to accomplish, a lot, so I'm going to take the time this challenge to rest and stay steady and reflect on exactly where I've been, and where I'm going. My goals are simple and seasonal and they are as follows: 1. Keep the task list going. Doing a weekly task list now that I’m home and have no real schedule has saved my BUNS. I’m going to keep up with this like I have been and keep moving forward to get things done. One step at a time. Then the next step. Then the next.... 2. HOLIDAY HARD. For the first time in like, seriously, forever, I’m going to be home for the holidays. We’re doing a real Thanksgiving and parties with friends and getting an actual Christmas tree and I’m really really pretty darn hype to be in the holiday spirit, so I’m going to enjoy the heck out of this holiday season and stay mindful and be REALLY FRICKIN’ JOLLY AND STUFF OK. My mom is SO hype I'm home for this so I want to focus a lot of my energy on making these holidays full of joy and cheer and eggnogging and all that smarmy shit you see on the Lifetime movies. I’m REALLY EXCITED. *^_____^* And that’s it, folks. I’m going to finish up this epic respawn and rejuvenate during this challenge so I can get ready to hit the ground running once the new year hits! Where will 2019 take me?? We'll see............

HI FRIENDS, welcome to... uh-- *checks calendar quietly* OCTOBER yes yes!! Welcome to another caps-lock heavy fun-filled shaar style challenge!~ I'll spare you the details of the comedy/tragedy that has been my 2018, y'all probably know my story by now, but if not, JUST ASK, or something..... or read my old posts, I'm an open book. Kinda. A little. I’ve decided to go with an actual theme this time, even if it is just a minor theme of characters I really enjoyed in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Danganronpa is a visual novel type of game, think Phoenix Wright meets Persona 5 meets uh... Battle Royale. Each game features 16 high-school aged characters with Ultimate talents that are brought together for ??? mysterious reasons ??? and are forced to play a Battle Royale-esque killing game while solving mysteries to pinpoint the killers. It’s a murder mystery you solve as the story goes on and unravel the truth of why you’re there and it’s a really, really engrossing game with a well-written story (very brutal and sad at times but also very fun and thoughtful), and great characters. At its crux Danganropa is about the consistent duality of hope versus despair, and I feel that in my heart’s soul about the majority of 2018. I’ve had a lot of Ultimate Despair moments, because let’s be real, with so much big change and chaos moments it’s wholly natural, but in the end I’ll always fight for Ultimate Hope. I don’t know any other way. With that being said here are my four murderkid-paired goals!!!!! Gundham is my favorite character from Danganronpa 2, he’s just an absolute crackers looney tune. He’s this fashionable evil occult dude that screams on and on about how he’s the Supreme Overlord of Ice and about all the hellbeasts he’s battled and cackles evilly and ALSO raises hamsters in his scarf. His hamsters are his FOUR DARK DEVAS OF DESTRUCTION and help him with everything. Like Gundham and his dutiful hamhams, I need a weekly task list to keep me in line. As I’ve been doing previous, I’ll post a list of tasks to get done that week and DO THEM ALL OR ELSE I WILL BE TORN APART BY THE NEFARIOUS VOIDSENT OF THE NETHERSCAPE Kazuichi is just a blessed doof, looking at him you’d think he’s a trash talking asshole tough dude, but nah, he’s just a scaredycat doof that has the tendency to freak out and scream a lot and sometimes doesn’t really think before he talks even though he means well... most of the time.......... Kazuichi is also the ULTIMATE MECHANIC and he’s extremely skilled at repairing things and keeping machines going. I really really REALLY need to keep my mobility going. I’ve started with this and it’s helping (duh), but I need to make stretching 2-3x a week a priority. Foam roller, tennis ball, yoga strap, all of the above! Peko’s a stone cold hardass and I love her for it, she’s also the Ultimate Swordswoman and she didn’t get that way by sitting on her ass. I’m in a pretty good place right now (did i just jinx myself ahaha) and I’m challenging myself to get up and moving 5 days out of 7, for at least half an hour at a time. This can be anything from kettlebell work to bodyweight Darebees to HIIT to hiking to walking... I’ve been feeling sluggish during the days and I know it’s because I’m sleeping more than usual (due to not having to get up for a work schedule), and being more sedentary. NO MORE! Nagito is another delightful wackjob that just has too much intricate backstory to talk about here. He’s overall optimistic - to a fault sometimes - but there’s only one reason I included Nagito in this challenge (aside from the fact that he’s awesome) and it’s because of his talent, Ultimate Lucky Student. GUYS I AM GOING TO LAS VEGAS DURING WEEK 4 OF THIS CHALLENGE. I couldn’t BE more hype and pretty much all this goal is here for is to let me BECOME THE LUCKY STUDENT AND HAVE FUN. Eat what you want. Drink what you want! Gamble wh-- NO, actually, I’m not a gambler anyways but I will have FUN with whatever money I set aside! It’s been far too long since I’ve taken a real deal actual vacation so I’m gonna ENJOY THE FRICK OUT OF IT. <3 2018 has been a literal hellbeast and I deserve every bit of this week. During week 4 this is the only goal that matters. Nagito’s my pass, don’t ask me, that’s just how it works. OKOKOK LET'S GO NERDS HAVE FUN DON'T MURDER YOUR FRIENDS LET'S GET THROUGH THE REST OF THIS YEAR WITH ULTIMATE HOPE~ <3

Hi guys, happy fall!! (FINALLY am I right?!!?!) (Kinda maybe??) I have been waiting for this challenge for probably longer than I even know. If you’re new here or coming back from a prolonged chaos-moment (which I feel in my very soul) TL;DR, over the past 4 months I’ve completely uprooted my life - sold a house in the south, separated amicably from my partner of over a decade, tossed most of my belongings, packed up the remainder, and moved 800 miles north to find a new path. I’ve successfully set myself on fire and come out the other side heavily charred but also very much alive, and for that I’m hella grateful. I won't lie, it's been a struggle. On the one hand, most everything is new and different and a little jangly, and there are a staggering amount of variables and unknowns. But on the other hand, the world is my frickin’ oyster.... I actually have some goals this time around that AREN’T just like.... Don’t die or lose your everlovin’ sanity. SHOCKING, I know. Anyways. 1 >> f i t n e s s [edit to reflect rangerly adaptation] I'm going to hold off on getting back into lifting for a while while I deal with Big Change, and plus my nutrition is NOWHERE near where it needs to be to sustain that, so I'm going to focus on two things: 1. Yoga/mobility 2. Getting OUTSIDE (and hiking and taking pictures!) My goal right now is to do home yoga/stretching/mobility work 2-3 times a week, and to get out into the actual wilds once a week, weather permitting! 2 >> f o o d i n g [edit to reflect rangerly adaptation] Make sure I eat enough. No tracking, no worries, just get good nutrition. Don't drink like an asshole. There we go~ 3 >> t a s k s One of my biggest issues with all of the change is how much free time I have. As aforementioned I’m unemployed, and while I WILDLY deserve a month or two to decompress and re-set my compass, it’s also gently unnerving for someone who exists best with a bit of structure. So each week I’m going to give myself a to-do list for stuff I need to do - or want to do! - write something, do some maintenance around the house, visit a hiking trail, batch-cook some food.... It’ll vary obvs but it’ll also give me something to set my sights on instead of floating aimlessly through the V O I D. Especially with this is work on my narrative. I'll be posting bits and pieces as I go... <3 4 >> s t a y c h i l l My lizard brain has been getting the best of me lately. I'm having some trouble adjusting to so much change, and at times it overtakes me... I'm going to do my best to check in here daily, and try to be mindful enough to minimize my stress and anxiety. OK I AM READY. TO RANGER ON!!! <3

Nerds, comrades, friends, GREETINGS! Welcome to........ The Big One. The start of the ULTRA. MEGA. SHAAR RESPAWN CHRONICLES. So a quick recap from my last challenge, if you’ve lost your mind in the interim (like me) or if you’re new to these bardly parts - TL;DR, my house sold and is about to close this week, I’ve separated from my partner of 11 years (we live together and are still extremely close, which may make this harder), I’m quitting my job of 6.5 years in 2 weeks, and in the last week of August we’re loading up all of our crap to make the final road trip to move out of NC to MA for me, and NYC for them. Oh, and I’ll be bringing my heavily drugged-up anxiety ball of a cat. >:] Phew. Needless to say this a big, if not the biggest, turning point of my life. There’s a lot at play here mentally, emotionally... everything-ly, it’s been a lot of work to get to this point, and it’s finally here, and HOO BOY HOWDY BUCKLE UP YOUR SEATBELTS KIDS. My last few months have been nothing short of unpredictable and chaotic, and pretty much every aspect of my life has been in a quiet flux and is about to change real soon. Neat!! *^_^* (I’m v. much looking forward to the end result, FWIW!!!) So, my last few previous challenges have all led up to this one. The big one. The start of the real deal mega-frickin’ respawn. And, like the previous challenges, this one has only one goal - survive. I know I can do it, I’ve gotten through so much already, I only hope I don’t take a massive beating along the way. It’s like when you’re getting close to the boss room, and there’s a nicely placed save point, and you’re just kinda like “....Oh.” You know what’s coming. After the boss you get to like, go back to town and repair your gear and take a load off while the plot progresses. But you gotta do the hard work first. I’m going to do my best to take care of myself along the way - making sure I eat enough, get proper sleep, try not to let anxiety ruin my schedule of the aforementioned (because it has already), and try not to overthink things. One day at a time, take care of what’s in front of me, and then move on from there. Once this challenge is over everything will be done and dusted!... Right? (RIGHT.) And I’ll be able to continue my respawn and move on to more focused work - regaining my fitness, retooling my career, ENJOYING MYSELF, yes yes, all of these things! So I’ll get through it in the only way I know how - running and screaming and not letting anything get in my way. It’s worked so far.... Right?! I've got a lot of things I need to take care of so this challenge will also likely feature list after list of crap that I can check off as I move forward. HERE WE GO MY DUDES~ <3 [edit] OH THIS CHALLENGE WAS MY 10000 POST THIS IS A BLESSED AND SPECIAL THING !!!!!!!!!!!!! :DDDDDDDDD

(i feel this gif speaks to me on a personal level recently) HI EVERYONE WELCOME To whatever the heck this challenge is~ :DDDD If we haven’t met yet; hi! I’m shaar, longtime ranger and bard extraordinaire, I like lifting, lots of video games (no really don’t test me), caps lock hyperbole, food, and apparently piloting sky pirate airships. If we HAVE met; hihihi and welcome back my lovely nerdfriend I am so glad to have you here again~ <3 2018 thus far has been nothing short of a Fascinating Sort of Chaos for me and while I’m quite a resilient sort, it’s sorta thrown me off my groove. (THAT’S an understatement hahahahaha) I’ve been struggling with a delicate balance of consistency and not overloading myself that I’m looking to bring forward into THIS challenge. My only real goal is to be as adaptable as possible given whatever circumstances face me at any given time. [edit] YOINK! Due to new developments in my Chaos-Filled Fugue Life, I've totally updated my challenge goals to reflect everything that's going on, and have stuck them underneath this handy spoiler cut: I’m playing a mobile + browser based game lately called Granblue Fantasy - the series itself has been pretty popular in Japan for a number of years (there’s an anime, manga, lots of merchandise, etc. etc.) and the game now has an EN translation so nerds like me can play too! It’s really oldschool turn based JRPG style and is a total adventure fantasy with a sky pirate steampunk swords-and-sorcery setting, so, I mean. What’s not to love?? It’s super fun and easy to pick up and put down whenever and you can get a billion characters and I love all my sky children VERY MUCH ( oh and there’s a dragon named vyrn who is a DRAGON and NOT A LIZARD everyone calls him a lizard and he gets all huffy and it’s so cute and he loves apples VYYRRRNNN I LOVE VYRN ) Anyways I’m gonna take the Grancypher and hopefully pilot it to GREATNESS or adventure on a floating island or something, but if the skies get a little turbulent or I get lost I’ll just let Rackam take over, he’s a good boy and surely a way better pilot than me huh? .... I just wanted an excuse to theme my stream-of-consciousness challenge after a game I’m playing, so, ha HA! Did it~ :3

I've been racking my brain for a challenge theme but I've got nothin' except LIZARDS. Specifically mine. I mean, all lizards are cool tho'. They are v. happy and bring a heckin' JOY to the world!!!!!! And also quite STRONK AND FIERCE >:[[[[[ I also play a big ol' lizard in FFXIV - YOU KNOW, THAT GAME I OFTEN HONK ABOUT - here is his current look of rocking a springtime festival skirt and WIELDING AN ENORMOUS AXE 'cause he's quite fabulous and that's how we do. Full of MAJESTY I TELL YA'~ A - ny - way. Oh yeah. My challenge. My last challenge was all about staying afloat, and I'm really proud of myself 'cause I nailed it. I'm managing my stress and my emotions better, and because of that I've been able to slowly get back into a workout routine without burning myself out, which in turn helps me manage my stress and emotions better, etc.! (A good cycle~) Work is still a big question mark right now; I've quietly put that on the backburner for now as not to overload myself and send myself spiraling back to square one - one thing at a time. We've still got a fair bit going on with putting the house on the market next month, but I've powered through a lot and things seem to be much more manageable than they were. This challenge I actually have some ACTUAL TRACKABLE GOALS instead of me just babbling about Twitch streaming and dragging myself out of bed in the morning WHOA WAIT SHUT THE FRONT DOOR I know, right? Look out, here they are: 1. Gym. GO. At least twice a week. Possibly more depending on day-to-day fatigue and soreness levels. DON'T PUSH YOURSELF. But don't die either, v. important. Getting back into a routine slowly but surely first is crucial. 2. Log What You Lift I haven't been doing this for... uh, quite some time, and I think it's about time I slowly start re-tracking my gains. In a way I feel like I've circled back around to the start of my lifting days which is kinda cool because I've got my enthusiasm back, but kinda also like HEY I'VE BEEN HERE. At least I know what I'm doing now, yeah? Right now while I'm eyeing two workout days I'll split them into legs & general upper body/shoulders/arms, and if I hit three I'll toss a bench/back/row day in there. 3. Talk About Food Well, I guess, if I HAVE to. (That's sarcasm.) I'm not at a point where daily MFP tracking would be viable (to be fair I much prefer eating intuitively right now), but I HAVE found out over the past couple of weeks that posting my meals/snacks in my thread at the start of the week has really kept me on track with eating well and sustaining myself. So I'm gonna keep doing that! Somehow seeing it on the screen solidifies all my good choices in my brain. I'm startin' in zero week, y'all. LET'S GOOOOO~~

What are your favorite tunes for working out? You're extra brave if you share your Spotify playlist! My favorites right now for lifting: Herr Mannelig, Garmarna You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You) The Notorious B.I.G. x Gon' Give it to Ya, DMX Easy Love, Lauv

Nerdfriends!! <3 <3 W E L C O M E! Happy March! (Wow it's March already huh??) Last challenge seemed to kinda be a.... doozy, for a lot of people, self included. I've finally acknowledged that I've really been struggling over the past couple of months! So I've made this extremely basic but very important challenge to reflect that. Gonna jump right into this one because there's really not much to lay out - my only true goal this challenge cycle is to keep moving forward and updating regularly here. March is traditionally a really low month for me at any rate, but many points in my life are Gentle Chaos right now, including but not limited to: - Selling a house!, and going through said house and decluttering, moving things to storage, deciding what to keep and what not, cleaning the living shit out of it, listing it, powerwashing?? the outside?? is this really a thing to wash the brick exterior of your house???, and oh yeah hey where are we gonna go once it's sold??, etc! - Staying financially stable through all of the above! (Also; mentally stable, phew!) - Dealing with some massive work changes I'm not super psyched about but have no control over! (Something something cog in the machine~) - And segueing from that - figuring out if I want to study for and take the CPC! I think it's the next best step right now to furthering my current career and it's material I'm really interested in and also something I could see myself enjoying work-wise, but I'm really still in a massive research stage right now trying to figure out if it would be right for me, and what I'd need to do? Also can I shoulder this massive commitment right now?? Probably not??? (*quiet screech*) - Managing my emotions lately, which can range anywhere from hey I'm feeling super lonely, to hey wow I'm REALLY anxious for no reason, to oh suddenly I'm feeling like all the light has gone out of the world; sometimes all in the course of one day! H o o b o y! - Doing my best to support a very emotional partner who is dealing with a lot of the same things I am! - Plus much much more! Who KNOWS what fun and exciting things may blow my way?! Phew. I've found that making concrete challenge goals right now is just setting myself up to fail, because there is so much going on and it's all so variable that even a weekly checklist can go off the rails real quick at any given moment. SO. Stay stable. Take care of issues that arise. Do the thing. Be present. Keep lifting. Take care of yourself. You keep what you kill. I'm a huge HUGE fan of the Riddick films (yeah even the last one, well, parts of it maybe ugh); Richard B. Riddick is my personal idol and serious badass. In Chronicles, the Necromongers follow the doctrine of 'you keep what you kill', basically meaning whatever you defeat is yours to own and control. I'm looking to work through a lot of personal roadblocks and stressors over the next month, so I need to kill them and own them before they own me. These 4 weeks will be a stream of consciousness sort of deal; I guess more of a running journal than anything. I'm generally a highly optimistic and positive person, but I've had a lot on my plate lately and it's time to scale it back so I can continue to stay that way and not flame out like a dying star. My smaller goals will be variable and I'll post them as they come, and I'm gonna do my best to take 'em out and stay present. Easy? Totally. Kill it; keep it. I got this.

Fellow writers, young and old, accomplished and aspiring, welcome to the Bard's Guild! I know, I know. It's a bit rundown. But it's nothing that a bit of elbow grease can't fix! This group is for anyone with a desire to write. All levels of experience and all genres (even non-fiction!) are welcome here. You don't even need to have writing as one of your goals. I'll post prompts and writing challenges (which are completely optional, btw). But this is your group too, discuss what you'd like. Bounce ideas, get/give feedback and advice, bemoan your writer's block, celebrate your accomplishments. I think you get the picture. And now, I open the floor to introductions! (And please do tag anyone you think might be interested in joining us.) @IAmInfinite, @Wobbegong, @Stribs, @Plazmotic, @VellaMal, @Dyego, @Akira Kurusu

Man oh man. I've had my second challenge ready since before the forum was open and I'm just now getting it on here. o.o Damn procrastination monster. Sooo basically I'm getting ready for a Tough Mudder Half in August. I'm starting from square one. I want to, I guess, get some good habits in place this month to help propel me the rest of the way. In addition I also have studying and talking with y'all here. Statistic Quest Progress Strength Workout 0 / 8 Dexterity Yoga 0 / 8 Stamina “Running” 0 / 8 Constitution Food Diary 0 / 22 Wisdom Study 0 / 3360 Charisma Post in the Forums 0 / 28

Strap in, 'cause this post is gonna get long. This is it, the biggest of all resets, the mother of all respawns. This isn't just a do-over. This is deleting my character and starting from scratch, brand new, from the beginning. For the longest time I pursued the path of a barbarian, someone who is not only strong, but tough, and fearless. I had all the plans laid out in front of me, with goals setup, and a mindset to work from. Then, not long into it, I realized it wasn't the path I wanted. Sure it was a good plan, but I wasn't having any fun, and it's not who I am. But then, if I wasn't a barbarian, who was I...? I pondered this question for a while. I thought about what my qualities were, what I excelled at, what my thought process was, and what I wanted to achieve. It was almost like I was coming up with my big WHY all over again. "Well... " I thought to myself, "I like to inspire people through acts of kindness. I like to entertain people, or at the very least make them laugh and smile. I enjoy being creative, in whatever way I can. I'm a jack of all trades, and a master of none. I enjoy trying new things, even to the point of making bad decisions, if only for the stories I can tell. More than anything, I enjoy a good drink, a good meal, and time with friends and family." And then, out of the blue, like a ton of bricks, it hit me: I am a bard. At least, I had a good start on the makings of a bard. But then, if I were to walk the bard's path, where would I begin? How does one incorporate fitness into a path like this? What are my end goals? And more than anything, what the hell does a bard even do? I approached these questions the same way I approached becoming a barbarian: In games, books, and movies, what are the qualities of a bard? How can these qualities transition to a modern world? Could you apply these qualities to any of the classes on NF? After digging through a handful of online blogs, YouTube videos, and reading up on D&D and Pathfinder rules (both old and new), I knew I was heading in the right direction, and I started to notice some similarities. Outside of usual being a jack of all trades, playing some sort of instrument, and indulging in wine, women, and song, the bard possesses 3 qualities: A bard creates. A bard entertains. A bard inspires. After realizing that, I knew I was on the right path. But again, could I apply these qualities to a class on NF? Even more so, how the hell does fitness play in all of this? Do I want to stay a jack of all trades? Should I learn an instrument? What could I create? How could it be done? How would I want to entertain and inspire others? All this led me to seriously contemplate my EQ list, my overall story, my end goals, but more than anything, who exactly did I want to become. Rather than having 5 tenets with the path of a barbarian, I think 3 sounded like a much more achievable goal. Plus, I believe this is the path to not only achieving a healthy lifestyle, but also a happier one. That being said, Bob's headin' back to college. THE BARD'S COLLEGE! For the first couple of challenges this year, I'm going to get the basics down. I need to figure out what I want to achieve physically, but also bring life to my creativity, and get some things done on my to do list. This is where I figure out WHAT I want to create. HOW do I want to inspire people. HOW can I be more entertaining? Let us begin... A bard creates! Whether it's music, stories, jokes, or riddles, bard creates something for the rest of the world to witness. In a modern sense, this could mean anything from painting, to graphic design, to simple blog posts, or website and apps. For me, it's the latter, as I'm switching gears to learn software development. However, while my main focus will be on that, I still want to create other things for the world to enjoy. The "jack of all trades" portion of my EQ's. Quest 1 - Create 5 t-shirt designs I spoke with a YouTube music artist about making t-shirts for him, and he expressed interest, and was open to what I could come up with. While I'm not that much of a designer, I do have some ideas that I think could look great. After I'm done, I'll post the designs here to see if he approves of any. And no, I won't be telling you who he is until AFTER the challenge is over. Quest 2 - Create more homeless kits I've been making kits for the homeless for the past year, and I'm near completing the third tier of my "skill tree", with four tiers total. After I complete this, it means I will have handed out 150 homeless kits total, with only 1 more tier to receive my loot. 26 more kits, and the third tier will be complete. A bard entertains! At some point, somewhere, someone told me I was funny (I think it was my mom). For everyone else, I'm guessing they just smile and laugh to tolerate my presence until I leave. WHY YES I DO think I'm funny, but I've learned that I want to be better at being funny, and achieve laughter outside of horrible puns. I've told jokes, told stories, performed magic, read palms, and have even written riddles. However, I've been wanting to get back into music. I played alto sax in high school, and while I think it's a fun instrument, there's one instrument I've been wanting to learn for a while. Quest 3 - Learn to play "Hot Cross Buns" on the harmonica Yes the harmonica - a simple instrument you can create some great sound with, keep in your pocket, and even beat-box with. I've been wanting to learn to play for a while now, and I think it's the perfect time to do so. For those of you who don't know, "Hot Cross Buns" is the easiest song to play. It's literally 3 notes, and one of the first songs you learn on the recorder. If I can hammer out that, then I'm off to a good start. A bard inspires! This one was tricky. I mean, how the hell am I suppose to inspire people. Raising people's spirits with mere words is a little tricky for me, and I'm better suited for conversing and comedy. Then, it hit me: All those YouTube videos of fat guys, doing incredible parkour feats (back-flips, vaults, and tricks). THAT is how I inspire people, to show the world that you shouldn't be limited to the things you can do just by your size or shape. To show that if you have enough piss and vinegar flowing through your veins, anything can be accomplished. THAT'S where the fitness aspect comes in. Parkour is something that I love practicing when I can; honestly, there are few times I feel so alive as when I've moving and conquering obstacles not only around me, but within myself as well. Parkour is a lot like sex: It's a test of physical endurance, it's invigorating, you get all sweaty, you'll probably be sore the next day, and if you're not careful, you can roll an ankle. However, even if parkour is the end goal, for my first challenge of the year, we're getting back to basics. The VERY basics. Quest 4 - 50 squats + 50 push-ups per day I want to get a foundation for fitness, and with that, I'm walking. Just basic walking, with 50 push-ups total done throughout the day. Easy peasy (lemon squeezy). Quest 5 - 5 minutes of daily primal squatting Primal squatting is one of the best stretches you can do, and it greatly opens up your hips, and increases flexibility. I've tried doing this before, but had a goal of 15 minutes daily squatting, which was too much for my legs to take. So, we'll start small, and slowly increase it. Quest 6 - Use a foam roller every other day I thought for the longest time I wanted to be stronger, and while that's true, more than anything, I wanted to be a better mover. A bard's life is not necessarily one of combat, but of exploring: Climbing, jumping, crawling, and more often than not, running. I have access to a foam roller, and I'm not using it. So, it's time to limber up, and see if this is something worth my time. These quests are going to be challenging for me. But I'm reminded of the article posted by Steve, about the survey that everyone took, and what stopped people from being successful. I know I can find time to conquer all this shit, but I need to keep myself going, and make small changes. So if small successes lead to bigger ones, let's not waste anymore time, shall we? Let the challenges begin!

Happy New Year, beloved nerds! Welcome to 2016. If 2014 was the year of personal transformation and 2015 the year of settling into my own skin, I hope that 2016 will be the year in which I expand my successes into realms other than the physical (while continuing to hone my physical skills and being a BAMF, of course!) I start this year injured and rehabbing but not discouraged. I'm good at being the underdog. Between illness and injury and holiday madness, the last few weeks have been full of gluttony, missed workouts, and stress. I'm not a resolutioner in the traditional sense, but the end of the holiday season, marked by the coming of the new year, does bring with it a chance to settle into routine, which I really appreciate. And I do like the continuity of long-term goals, especially with the challenges getting shorter, so here is my list of concrete goals for 2016: Get my finances under control: cut down my CC debt by at least 1/2Rehab my injured leg to 100%Perfect and perform at least one aerial routine for an audience WITHOUT CATASTROPHIC INJURYPerfect the straight-arm/straight-leg straddle-upBench press 100lbsAnd here is a list of my more amorphous goals/desires for 2016: Make more memoriesWrite moreSpend more time with my familySpend time with my friends, especially those who I don't see as often as I shouldComplete at least one "wish list" remodel on my house, provided it doesn't interfere with my financial goalsIf it works out, become a parentA bit more detail about all of these below: All of that said, I spent some time considering the purpose of my battle log over the course of the last few weeks. With the challenge breaks shortening to a few days, the use of my battle log between challenges for fitness tracking seems unnecessary. Instead, I hope to use it for four things: Tracking my progress towards the big goals listed aboveKeeping an index linking to every 4WC summary so that they're easily accessible in one place at the end of the yearWriting about my thoughts and whatever topics catch my fancy - baby steps into blogging before I decide if I want to get myself a wordpressSharing some of my instagram photosSo hopefully following this thread (for those who choose to do so) will prove interesting and very different from my challenge sprints. Ready? Let's kick 2016 in the teeth.

Shaar slept for what seemed like forever. And she dreamed; dreams of neverending stone towers, of abandoned decay, of emptiness and gloom. The innkeeper took pity on her - from the way she moseyed her bedraggled self in there, it looked like she’d just survived the Calamity - and gave her a reduced rate so she could stay for the week to recover. And recover she did. Between fits of sleep and gorging herself on the cook’s seasonal pumpkin stew, Shaar made herself at home about The Hyaline for a spell. But she couldn’t ignore the remaining legs of her quest. The Dread Gods demanded her attention now. Tranicos, she’d muttered to herself as she packed her meager assortment of things, and prepared to head out on the open road again. One wraith down and two to go, Shaar had taken her resting time seriously and spent a few days poring over tomes within the Arcanist’s libraries, searching for information on her targets. Most of it had been relegated to myth and legend, but it was enough to get started. A light rain fell over the city as she left; cleansing in a way, but also really annoying. After having spent many weeks in a musty old lighthouse, Shaar was beginning to think she may never dry out. I hope I don’t grow gills. Have to go live with the Sahagin... She journeyed for a few days, uneventfully thank the Twelve, until she arrived at her destination - the Lost City of Amdapor. The magic and splendor of Amdapor now lived on only in history books - what was once a thriving city before the Calamity was now just an empty, decrepit husk of what once was. Long since abandoned by any sort of life, reports of lost spirits and haunts flooded recent research, and Shaar was fairly confident that she would be able to pick up on some clues here. Stepping inside she immediately became cloaked with a heavy sense of urgency and dread. This air wasn’t right, and it was eerily quiet.... Too quiet, with no organic noise to speak of. Feeling stifled and uncomfortable, Shaar reached into the small pouch at her side to retrieve the proper talisman for this job. It was obvious. Really really obvious. We always come back, to this. Shaar set the Soul of the Bard close to her chest, raised her chin a bit in bravery, and stepped forward into the ruins. Also she amazingly became a very tall dragonman, which is never really a bad thing, and also has no bearing on the story’s continuity save for screenshots~ [soul of the bard: 50/50] I will start out with a full 50 point health bar. This bar will stay full as long as I complete the weekly goals I’ve set for myself here. If I slip up and fail a week, my health will go down by a certain number of points determined by the quest in question. My goal to pass this challenge and advance the story is to come out of the 4 weeks with a 50/50 health bar. In the event of me missing a weekly goal, I’ve included some bonus quests at the end of my main duties that will help me regain points and stay in the game! 1 just one more thing [battle voice] Currently I’ve settled (shockingly) nicely into a M W Th heavy lifting schedule. My goal over time is to be working out more days than not, so at this point in my journey I’m looking to sloooowly integrate a fourth day into my week. I’ve historically had trouble getting this to stick in the past, so this will be a challenge for me. I’m aiming for Friday or Saturday, and for this challenge this workout will include something lighter like: yoga, walking/jogging/hiking, light plyometrics or cardio (no HIIT), or bodyweight/core drills. I want to ease into being mindful of activity on an extra day. This is really important to me and growing my discipline, so missing a week will set me back -15HP. 2 will sing for +dex [sidewinder] The next addition to my mobility regimen is going to be neck and shoulders, aka my NUMBER ONE PROBLEM SPOTS, so I am REALLY excited about this! I purchased a copy of FitForRealLife’s neck and shoulder workshop and holy smokes am I excited to put this into motion. (Pun verily intended) I will be adding this to my current 3-day-a-week mobility drills for wrists and ankles. Missing a day will drop me -5HP. (Aside, I’m sure D&D bards have CHA as their main or something, this is for FFXIV reasons only, so don’t flame me bro~)(I also have flaming arrows, just sayin’) 3 of venom and culling [bloodletter] My number one nutritional vice is rearing its ugly head again - no, not bread, or Mexican food, or pizza, or candy bars... mine is in liquid form, liquid like a sneaky snek, and it is beer. Fall/winter is by far my favorite beer season (hooray heavy flavor profiles) and I’m having some trouble not over-indulging lately. A lot of it for me is a very social aspect, mainly special events and brewery tap takeovers hosted by our local bottle shop, combined with really enjoying a drink while playing video games. I know too much beer isn’t good for me and won’t help me meet my fitness goals, so I need to make it a priority to nip this in the bud and be way more mindful about my intake! I won’t restrict myself completely because I feel that’s unhealthy, so I’ll pull it back to no more than one beer over the course of a M-F week span, and two allowed on weekends. Important caveat - these beers cannot be had if I am lifting the next morning! I need to be stricter with myself on this, so messing up will cost me -10HP. (The one exception to this quest will be Thanksgiving day, where our tradition is to celebrate with whisky~) 4 culinary barding [army’s paeon] Ok so this is a fun one. (I hope I’ll still be saying this later~) I’ve got a recipe book that has gone woefully underused over.... Oh, the past 8 years?? (I know, sad~) Now this is a traditional book where you write your recipes on each page - which is my favorite when cooking because I’m old school I guess - but get this, instead of actually, you know, writing down all of my recipes... I take the printouts and just STUFF THEM IN THE PAGES AND FOLDERS. LAME. SERIOUSLY. Also v. hard to find anything because it’s just a giant clutter of dumb. This quest is to finally do the thing I’ve been thinking of doing for y e a r s - write down and organize ALL of my recipes, and throw away the damn printouts and scraps of paper ya lazy bum. This quest will span the entire 4 weeks and cost me a big -10HP if not completed. In the event I slip up and fail something one week, I’ve built in a failsafe to redeem myself and my precious HP points. Extra options include: Extra GMB session - +3HP 30 minute outdoor walk - +3HP Excessive housecleaning (3 rooms) - +10HP Get some damn holiday shopping done - +5HP 30 minute outdoor jog - +8HP Ready?! READY!!! LET'S PLAY SOME DOOM METAL AND SAVE THE WORLD!!!!!

For my first challenge with the Scouts (hi everyone!) I'm channeling my inner Dwarf. ("Keep breathing . . . that's the key . . . breathe . . . *puff puff*") For anyone who's just meeting me, I tackled my last challenge with the Assassins, and realized I didn't care for bodyweight exercises and goals as much as I used to - my exercise goals these days are all about improving my running. So, here I am! At the beginning of my last challenge I hit a major milestone, and ran my first half marathon. My long-term goals from here are to keep slowly building my mileage base, and hopefully run a full marathon in the fall. Needless to say, I'll have lots of questions for you guys as time goes on! These days, I'm also doing barbell strength training on the side, which has made me feel like a stronger and better person in general. My life goals, on the other hand, are more in the short term, and pretty much all about rebuilding habits that I've been lagging on in the last few months. On the Hunt: - Increase max long run mileage to 15 miles With my half marathon goal under my belt, it's time to begin the long hunt for my next big milestone: the full marathon. If I stick to my training plan, I ought to be able to safely increase my max long run distance by a couple miles this challenge. This would be epic. - Work out five times weekly My normal schedule has me exercising six days a week, either doing runs or weights. If I do something else that's really strenuous that day, that counts. Missing one day a week is acceptable, if not ideal. (Sometimes weekends are crazy, y'know?) This specific goal should help me stick to the routine I need to achieve the bigger milestones. Party Like A Dwarf: - Practice barding (guitar and singing) five times weekly I've picked up music a bit later than most, but guitar has become really fun, and I've been very lazy about practicing this year. I saw rapid progress last time I had a regular practice schedule, and I'd love to get back to being comfortable playing for people, open mic nights, and such. Maybe learn a few more Irish drinking songs. Translate the Ancient Runes: - Practice Spanish (Duolingo, any other program) 5 times weekly As part of my current school program, I'll be traveling to Guatemala this summer for a month-long crash course in Spanish. Obviously, if I actually know some Spanish beforehand I'll probably get more out of the experience, so I'm going to start trying to brush up on the basics this month. This will be a new habit to build, so it might be the hardest goal on here. If you've read this far, thank you for sticking with me! For all the other Scouts, I'm looking forward to getting to know you this challenge. "Baruk Khazâd!"

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Back again with my basic challenge structure and its Mando theme. Because I WANT TO BE A MANDO MERC! As previously mentioned, I will be adding a co-op element to this challenge. I’ve listed the ways in which I can earn points this challenge (the same way I was grading before in the same structure), but with the goal points already calculated, the co-op elements will help earn points toward the goal (like in @Wild Wolf's previous challenge). The co-op players’ goals will stem from whatever mercenary job is running that week. Four weeks, four jobs. See you around the galaxy! Main Goal: To decrease body fat percentage by 5% through good habits and to build up a Ranger attitude of self-love and confidence. Haili cetare (Eat Well): GOAL 100 POINTS Clean Meal Eat breakfast in the AM Stick to packed lunches during the week When eating office candy, break off ¼ to toss, eat rest; increase to ½ at 2 week mark Nuhoyir (Sleep Well) : GOAL 60 POINTS Bedtime window of 10pm to 10:15pm Do NOT return to bed after alarm is shut off Verd ori'shya beskar'gam (Move Daily): GOAL 80 POINTS Pomodoros movement during extended sitting periods Capoeira class Acrobatics class Stretching/Yoga Bodyweight REPs Weight lifting Shereshoy (Love Daily): GOAL 60 POINTS Mando kit work Self-love/Confidence Meditation Journal/Tracking Food/Sleep/Mood Spread the Love Open Gym/Instrument Practice There's still time to sign up! Name: Species: Appearance: Primary Skills: Weapons & Equipment: Going Rate: Short Bio:

It's been sort of a whirlwind lately... And I've felt the need to tame the clutter and focus more narrowly. So, I will be concentrating on the Magician's Path this challenge, Instead of running in circles trying to do ALL THE THINGS! (ALL THE PATHS!) The Four Paths The Four Paths - as used in the epic fantasy novel that I have been writing, lo, these many years - is a system of training used by the members of a mysterious order. The paths are: Warrior Scholar Magician Healer Hmmm, sounds kind of like an RPG... I am continuing to use cards from the Tarot for focus and as visual aids and inspiration for my challenges. (Toga Party!) As established last challenge, I am working with the transforming the Fool's energy into that of the Magician. That overlaps nicely with the system of the Four Paths and thus, my challenge title. I like using the Tarot for my challenge themes so far. It helps me focus and to approach things in a more fun and intuitive way. That works well for me, especially since I simply haven't had the time to do the more imaginative gamified things I've wanted to do. I have come up with a multi-challenge sequence that should address all of the major areas I want to improve over the course of the year. It also provides a good framework for gamification and a storyline if I can make the time for that. We shall see. I am also continuing my years theme of "planting my stake in the ground" - commitment and persistence being qualities that I see as needed in my life right now. My Main Goal is to put more MAGIC and FUN into my life 1. MAINTAIN average sleep amount of 7 hours per night. IMPROVE the quality of my sleep through a wiser bedtime routine 2. AUTOMATE more of my systems: a revised set of daily routines, a system of modular "kits" for my more mobile lifestyle to help me organize the stuff I need to cart around for work, lessons, working out, and traveling. 3. GROW my creativity, making more time for fun in my life, things like juggling, drawing, Digital Storytellers group, fiddle. 45 minutes minimum per day. 4. INCREASE my physical fitness - Continue walking, stretching, working on posture. Move more at work - utilize standing desk, do quick bursts of exercise in small breaks to counteract the effects of so much sitting. Add in more bodyweight strength training and increase walking pace. 5. CONTINUE my cyber security training - 2+ half-day visits to the AZCWR (Arizona Cyber Warfare Range) for training; At least six hours of security study and training exercises the other two weeks. The above are a little vague on specific amounts. I plan is to make a spreadsheet with my current baselines and then just aim for hitting the goal numbers for #1 & #3; establish at the beginning of each week what kit I am going to make for #2, go for ~3% increases in mileage, reps, pace as appropriate for #4. #5 is already fairly specific. A few other goals that I am tracking: I will lose at least three pounds this challenge. I will continue my cleaning habits to keep clutter and home chaos at bay. And of course, cats...

ShadowLion keeps her stake planted in the ground... Shadow Lion Walks the Circle (Whaddya expect when you've tied your foot to a rope attached to a stake in the ground?) Transforming from the Fool... To the Magician... (This card I chose, rather than drew, to use as a meditation device in the coming weeks.) Last challenge - when I drew The Fool for my theme - was definitely an adventure, full of fresh starts, false starts, exploration, new ideas, taking chances and chasing dreams. A leap of faith. Now, it's time to focus that energy and balance it. To utilize will and discipline to become the Magician, specifically a Technomancer. This continues my year theme of "planting my stake in the ground" - focus, commitment, determination - in a general way. It is also directly linked to what I perceive as a great need to balance out the various "elemental energies" in my life, the very things that the Magician has mastered. I have have been out of balance with too much work and stress lately and need to correct that. From there, I am using the element of chance and drawing cards to guide my "walk around the circle" and determine my challenge goals. I thought it was pretty cool how there are circles in every card I drew, especially Wheel of Fortune, given the challenge title I chose a week ago! I used my Druidcraft Tarot deck to draw from, but used the internet for digital versions. Time is at a premium, these days. VII The Chariot Queen of Cups Oddly enough, I drew all female cards, though the deck is evenly balanced. And I am struggling as to how to fit a couple of these with my challenge goals. Challenge Focus & Schedule This is a transitional challenge, where the Fool begins to transform into the Magician. I want to keep and continue to enhance the positive qualities of the Fool - the creativity, joy, fresh outlook, and positivity - but mitigate some of the more chaotic ones with the discipline and focus of the Magician. I learned a lot from last challenge, where the Fool showed me that I have been over-emphasizing work at the expense of fun and just about everything else in life. I found out just how much I need more balance. It has taken me the first week of the challenge to get my act together enough to get my goals lined out, even with having the zero week this time. I expect to use the remaining 3 weeks, plus the next zero week, as transition time and pick up with a full-fledged Magician challenge in May. My focus will be in balancing out the various activities in my life as I clear some long-standing projects and create a (somewhat) less hectic schedule for myself. I have been over-working, under-playing, and neglecting relationships and personal growth in favor of getting my business off the ground. That only works for a short time and I have pushed it pretty far. This is the month where I get balance back, as symbolized by the circle motif in my challenge title, avatar, and mirrored in the cards. I am applying the cards to the weeks of the challenge: Week 1 is Two of Pentacles - I have been shifting my focus to the things I can control and where I can make a difference, rather than dwelling on those things that stress me out. Making plans as to how to better address the stressors and take concrete action over the next few weeks to make those more manageable. And, I have actually taken up juggling... It's a good break at work, works my hands and eyes and gets me away from the computer with something completely different. Staying foolish. Week 2 is The Chariot - Here is where I get down to earnest on the plans made in Week 1. Schedule changes. Drawing clearer boundaries on time and energy use. Adding new exercises. Dynamic balance. Week 3 is The Wheel of Fortune - Even more balancing and adjustment. More about internal balance, reflection on cycles of life, getting my inner house in order. Week 4 is the Queen of Cups - This is another card of internal adjustment, and of tapping into emotions and the unconscious. I expect that it will start to set the tone of the next challenge. A card with strong associations with nurturing home life, relationships and creativity. Goals 1. Ward Off the EVIL EYE My posture and my eyes are suffering from constantly being under the gaze of the EVIL EYE (being in front of a computer for so many hours of the day). Stretching, using my adjustable/standing desk, breaks, eye yoga are my defenses. The sedentary nature of my work is another concern. Daily stretch/squat/stand sessions and eye yoga. No more than 45 minutes without getting up and walking around or switching to at least 15 minutes of standing work. Eyes - 20 sec breaks every 20 minutes, a longer eye yoga session (5 mins) for every four hours on the computer. Specific checks of my posture, and especially head and neck positions on the same schedule as eyes and do a few quick stretches as needed at the same time. Hand/wrist stretches included, too. Daily (or more frequent) walks of at least 1K, to break up the sitting. 2. Create Sacred Space My minimalism progress from the fall has not held up to the chaos of the last few months. The Fool does not seem to do well with the structure required with home maintenance! Clear the clutter. The 15 minutes a day clutter patrol returns. I also have several short projects of: Rearranging furniture Office spring cleaning Work on a better setup for my drawing area, so I can sit down and do short sessions easily, without taking a bunch of time to set up each time 3. Make Time for Foolishness Last challenge's fun/relaxation/creativity goal helped me see how little time I was myself for play and recreation. It was a struggle most days to carve out 30 minutes for that. I am continuing that goal, but with upgrades this time. More art and writing, less reading and internet in that time. And more time overall. 45 minutes. 4. Sleep I need more sleep and a better sleep schedule. (And a lot of other things that aren't going to make it into this challenge.) I will start with sleep. 6 hours bare minimum, 7 hours goal. Log it, and see how I can make this work better. Once I have that in better shape, I plan to re-introduce lucid dreaming experiments again. 5. Whole Brain Balance I am experimenting with physical activities that will help me increase physical and mental balance in my life. Juggling on breaks at work, non-dominant hand mirror writing, using my non-dominant hand for everyday tasks, bi-lateral strength and agility training to increase muscle symmetry and help with Goal 1. I am using the parts of "Whole Brain Power" by Michael Lavery that make sense to me and ignoring what doesn't. I have a lot of other goals that I wanted to add, but I am restricting myself to the above to establish a stronger base to my balancing. I am leaving room for adjustments and possible additions upon each week's finish, as needed. Let the intuition and the cats (and the circles!) begin...

The base goal for the year remains to lose weight!!! Goal weight is still 146 pounds by the end of 2016. During March, I pretty much maintained on my plateau. I don't like it up there, and I want to come down and play with all the rest of the nerds. Process goals: 1) Reduce Net Calorie Intake by 10% The good news is that I tracked my calorie intake pretty well in March. It hurt sometimes to record a monster caramel roll at 800 calories (!) or a big bowl of Kemps premium chocolate and peanut butter ice cream. But I've established my actual maintenance calorie intake rather than a calculated estimate: 1538 net calories average per day. So .... new target calorie goal (net) for the April challenge is ...... 1384 calories. That's going to take some work and discipline!!! So ..... 2) Increase Movement by 10% My FitBit is my friend. I probably need to develop more friendships and get out a lot more, but this device is a constant data gathering wonder that tells me that I'm not very consistent in my daily activity. In March, my average step count has fallen to 9K. In April, I'm increasing my goal to a daily 10K. I should be able to fit in walking around campus and stair climbing, but I will also work at programmed fitness activities (running and weight lifting), which the FitBit tracks pretty well. 3) Weekend Food Preparation Saturday or Sunday needs to be cook-ahead day so that I have healthy lunches in easy reach at the office. This builds on the February Bento Baby challenge and incorporates Staci's article on meal prep. This makes it easier to avoid fries and chips and goopy mayonnaise-laden sandwiches .... plus, it also usually lets me get out for that noon walk ....... 4) Training Never Stops (Flexible Discipline) No, flexible discipline isn't some new sadistic type of yoga. It means that I will commit to working out every day, but that I will have a variety of workouts from which to choose. I'll set them up and then select from options based on how I feel, the weather, and Mr. Wizard's desire (or lack thereof) to participate. AND ..... I will be soliciting votes from the audience as I continue to write my RP story. A little randomness keeps it interesting. Finally ..... 5) Advance Planning for Missions!!! Sunday is a day to clean up and get ready for the coming week. I may not be able to do all 21 of the Easy Things to Do On Sunday That Will Make Monday Suck Less, but I will do as many as I can. Grading .... Well, I track calories on LoseIt and steps on FitBit, but I'll put a summary up in Google docs, unless we get progress bars working again. And, I'm going to averages really, rather than try to be perfect every day. If I can hold calories and steps to a good average each week, I'll count that as a major win!!!