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Morag's The Mountain I don't know if THE MOUNTAIN holds the same significance for others as it does for me. Neil Gaiman coined the term in my mind. Joining the rebellion has been an enlightening step towards the mountain. I just yesterday realised that I am only with the rebellion for 10 short weeks. Wow. I have turned a few things around, have learned A LOT, am making real progress... and it's only been 10 weeks. Which makes me wonder: what else is possible? And with that thought I am formulating my list. It's an unfinished thing. It's going to change without notice. Things may vanish without explanation, appear without warning or change because that's what life is like: Impossibly to gauge and full of changes. Fitness Freestanding handstand Push up 5 consecutive push ups Pull up Muscle up get into crow pose June 13th 2017 hold crow pose for 10+ seconds or longer (Dance onstage) Done a staff fighting class Done a wall climbing or bouldering class Do a kayak thing with the hubby Try out aerial silks Try out parkour Run (and walk) an OCR October 8th 2016 Run (don't walk) an OCR (I didn't walk exept for the obstacles but it's hard to cross this out anyway) Travel Visit friends: Kansas Cornwall Scotland West Australia East Australia Florida Abu Dhabi Visit megalithic temples of Malta Visit Hathor Temple in Dendera, Egypt Visit Faroe Islands Visit standing stones circle in Portugal Visit Denmark Visit Japan - rural and urban Visit China Visit Atacama Desert Languages german sign language have a conversation about life without stumbling over missing vocabulary Spanish sing a spanish song, knowing what the words mean / write a poem -- not sure if I want this anymore Learn French alongside my older boy -- he shall enjoy his exchange programme 2017/2018! Danish give directions to someone who is lost / ask for directions Dutch visit friend and have a conversation in his language -- not sure if I want this anymore Learn Maltese. Visit Malta and avoid Tourism Arabic haggle over a coin belt, veil or other piece of clothing (and get a good price) Try Russian see if you want to learn it... Try Tyrkish see if you want to learn it... Try Swahili see if you want to learn it... Sanskrit (?) Give a drive by compliment in any of the languages I'm not native with. Skills Shoot a bow -- and hit my mark (and not by accident) Forge a brooch or other item of adornment Spin a ball of yarn Knit an entire garment from yarn I made myself That is not a shawl cook a delicious 3-5 course feast for guests (no instant sauce) Cooking and Nutrition - Knowledge is Power learn about coconut oil learn about almond milk make my own learn about smoothies learn about meal planning And do! learn about batch cooking And do this too. learn about liver learn about home made bacon (Ressources, other ressource) make a batch of bacon at home learn about brewing mead, Link Personal Remember people's birthdays -- I'm -slowly- getting better at this Remember and use new acquaintances' names -- I'm -slowly- getting better at this too Live a life connected to Source -- more shamanism in everyday life -- fallen a bit by the wayside... Write (and finish) a short story -- Wildwood Manor Write (and finish) a good short story Write (and finish) a novella Write (and finish) a novel Write (and finish) a screen play Be happy (and confident) with how I look naked and feel with myself Be happy (and confident) with my body and wardrobe and how I am perceived from the outside Raise my boys to be good men Find apprenticeship -- not sure at all Learn a trade -- not sure at all Professional Get Licensed - C-Licensed since May 21st 2017 - yay! Figure out what I can do and can not do with said license -- picture is clearing up some. Yoga instructor -- Ressource: expensive. long. is it worth it to me? Not sure yet. Pound instructor - hell no! maybe in the future sometime... Try out Zumba, see if I could stand doing that... if yes, get instructor thingy... No. Learn about anatomy, Legs, Shoulders, Pelvis, Ligaments, Sinews, Muscle chains and imbalances, rarara. As hinted above: this list is going to evolve as I go.

So then. It has been a while. The last time I was on the Forum was over a year ago. A lot has happened since. Anyway, now that I have returned form my year living in Switzerland, I still feel the need to travel, and see new land. That and my bucket list are the reasons why I now have chosen to go on a journey and not just any old one, but a trip around the globe. This trip will start in three years, probably at the end of July 2017, and it will take me to countries such as Ireland, France, China, Australia, Chile, Ecuador, Brasil and the USA. It is in nature similar to the one Steve did. Not only will this thread show my progress in preparing for it, but it is also asks the readers of it to give advise and help. Help I need mostly in understanding and finding a flying miles (living in Estonia I have not heard there is one, so if you live nearby and know about any, please say). Also, I'd like to know the cheapest ways of transport and living in those countries or in general, because I probably won't have a large budget. Thirdly, can anyone recommend places to visit in the mentioned countries. I'm more interested in nature and landscapes than in cities. This is a really big project and it will take me a lot of time to prepare so any advise given will be appreciated.

Get a helmet and strap yourself in. This will be a long and, hopefully, exciting journey, and I’m glad that you’re here along for the ride. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do. Below is a living list of my goals in life; they are constantly adapting and evolving as I level up my life, complete these goals, discover more concrete steps for each, and find new goals to work toward. Fitness Goals reach 30% body fat live without added sugar do a full, dead-hang pull-up reverse my anterior pelvic tilt deadlift 250lb/bench press 200lb/row 150lb Hobby/Skill Goals re-learn and become fluent in Russian complete writing my (fictional) stories complete costumes (list in process) join the 501st Legion/Rebel Legion/Mandalorian Mercs re-learn and become proficient in Physics/concepts learn and become proficient in Electronics get involved in the local Makerspace learn to align and use my telescope Capoeira Goals attend first ten classes achieve first cord level Life Goals get married (currently engaged, need plan of action) live off last month’s income (budget goal) live without social media (except the Rebellion) minimalize clutter (physical and digital) host weekly/bi-weekly game nights with friends train the huskamute Travel Goals Camp Ranger Fitness 2017 take the husband to Otakon take the husband to GenCon Feel free to join me in my daily grind to reach these goals. However, you will know when significant progress has been made along these goals and when they have been completed.

Before I am 50: July 7, 2019 I would love to - See Pearl Jam live in concert from floor or back stage - Go surfing with son - Spend three weeks in Italy painting, looking at art and eating - Have my artwork in a Chicago, LA or NYC gallery - Travel to Scotland with husband and friends; go to Glasgow, Little Sparta garden, and Fringe Music Fest - Get my MFA - Hike up Half Dome - Have a big 50th Birthday weekend in Chicago with friends (July 7, 2019 will be a Sunday so a whole weekend just makes sense!) (Work in progress)

Ever since I joined NF, I have wanted to do something Woot-worthy. Well this weekend, my daughter and I (and my team), participated in the Tough Mountain Challenge. A 4 mile mud obstacle course event. I finished despite the fact my contacts kept on falling out and getting messed up from the water events and my calves kept on cramping up. I suspect I will be voted the lily pad jumper with the worse form, but I did not fall in and I DID IT!!! I get to check this one off my bucket list! There was talk we may do this again next year.

...Or maybe I'll just work on these things instead. I've made many bucket lists and to-do lists before, but I want this one to be detailed, with a range of activities and goals. Even the wild and crazy ones I don't think I could ever do, with projected end dates from next week to the end of my life. I'm sure I'll add more to this as time goes on. If there's anyone out there who can help me with this list or has similar goals, let's do it together! Travel -Europe -Finland (explore ancestry in Kalvia and Kokkola, see Lapland, Northern Lights) -Italy (flex my Italian language muscles, explore ancient monuments, Renaissance culture) -England (visit Shakespeare's tomb, ride the Tube, work on my British accent, go to 221b Baker Street, admire British people, Hadrian's Wall) -Ireland (kiss the Blarney stone, explore ancestry) -Scotland (get inspired, buy a kilt... can girls wear kilts?) -Spain (because why not? figure out what to see) -France (see the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Normandy) -Germany (learn German, figure out what to see) -Greece (see the ancient ruins, Mediterranean Sea) -Asia -Japan (Fox Island and the Pokemon Center) -China (Great Wall of China) -Nepal (Himalayas) -Africa -Kenya (Safari, wildlife) -Malawi (Lake Malawi) -Tanzania (Mount Kilimanjaro) -Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls) -Egypt (Pyramids, Sphinx, Nile River) -Australia -Swim in the Great Barrier Reef -Uluru -See a kangaroo -New Zealand -North America -Canada (Timmins, Ontario, Niagara Falls, Quebec, Nova Scotia,Newfoundland, Alberta) -United States (Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Washington D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, amusement parks) -South America -Chile (Easter Island, Torres del Paine) -Peru (Machu Picchu) -Ecuador (Galapagos Islands) -Venezuela (Angel Falls) -Argentina (Igguasu Falls, Buenos Aires) -Antarctica Health -Complete a Tough Mudder, and then 2, 5, 10... as many as I can! -Complete a Spartan Race -Get down to 145lbs. -Waist 30 in. -Grow to not hate cooking -Run for 30 minutes straight Skills/Things to Learn -Train in traditional archery -Compete in an archery competition (field, 3D, and target) -Learn basic survival skills -Fire starting -Self-reliance -Shelter construction -Primitive tool skills -Create a WTSHTF pack and emergency plan -Geocaching (and how to read a map with only a compass) -How to pick locks -How to whistle with two fingers -How to ride a motorcycle (get my motorcycle license) -How to drive manual -Basic firearm safety -How to change a tire (I know in theory... but I've never tried) -A martial art (no idea which one or how to choose) -Basic woodworking, carving, and whittling -Blacksmithing Giving Back -Volunteer at an animal shelter -Give to the homeless -Become a living organ donor -Donate blood -Donate unused possessions -Join AmeriCorps Living Simply and Honoring Myself -Live in a tiny house -Own 100 items or less -Follow my "Should I Buy It?" Flowchart -Make meditation a habit -Follow the Rede in daily life -Be true to my spiritual path Miscellaneous -Keep up with my blog, "The Giving Project" and amass a following -Become internet famous -Go skydiving -Publish a book -Rescue and foster as many shelter animals as possible -Build a chicken coop, get some chickens, fly with them off buildings like Link, receive eggs -Build a bird feeder (already have the plans drafted) -Go cliff diving -Pay off all debt -Conquer my fear of horses and go horseback riding again -Continue healing from my previous relationship and find new love -Kick social anxiety's ass -Curb stomp depression

My ugly house:) Make it pretty Incorporate a grey water system install solar energy Career Become a better data scientist Become a convincing public speaker Completely change the way the US criminal justice system Money Pay off my house Buy my uncle's house and pay that off to help family members that need it Save for retire Be able to pay off my kids college Fitness Become and advance yoga student Learn some gymnastic skills: front flip, back flip, various holds, handstand Body and health 18% body fat percentage (just to see what I look like) Adopt a vegetable based diet instead of my meat based one Other stuff Buy land in the mountains and build a tiny house for a vacation home Build a food forest in my yard and get all my produce from my yard Back pack through Europe Hike the Appalachian Trail Learn to program Learn another language Write a book Complete the Yale open courses on the bible Ideas for upcoming 6 wk challenges PLP challenge ( I got to day 50 but pulled a muscle in my belly) Handstand Muscle up Vault Back flip Front flip That's what I have right now!

STORY TIME BECAUSE I'M SO OVER THE MOON HAPPY ABOUT THIS LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!!!!!!!! So back in March, I was drinking with some friends (the same friends who convinced me to sign up for a 10K while drunk) and next thing I knew, I was signed up to run a half marathon at the end of May. I do 5Ks and lift weights and do CrossFit-esque things. I was NOT a runner. I'm 5'8 and weigh over 200lbs. I'm strong, but I'm not fast, and I've never enjoyed running because it just makes me feel inadequate and weak and too large for the space I occupy. It's very much a mental thing for me. Yet there I was, with this seemingly-insurmountable task ahead of me, all focused around running. I set my training plan, kinda stuck with it up to mile 5, then a back injury followed by shin splints sent me spiraling off the wagon. I continued with my lifting/CrossFit/functional fitness workouts 4-5x/week because those made me happy, but I did no running because running made me miserable. And yet the half marathon continued to loom!!! Fast forward to one month before the race and I FREAKED. THE EFF. OUT. How was I going to run 13.1 miles in a month when I hadn't run more than three in the past two months??? So that Sunday, I laced up my running shoes and did an 8-mile training run. Did I run every step? Of course not. But I did it and I was committed to at least doing my long runs leading up to the race. Next week, I did 9 miles. Then 11 miles. Then it was the weekend before the race and I ran a casual 3 miles and it was HARD. I went to my gym on the Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to the race to keep momentum and because it puts me in such a good mood. I have some of the best coaches and best gym buddies there that make for a fantastic support system. I was in the middle of moving apartments and was wicked stressed, so it was just plain GOOD to be there. Got a lot of pep talk from my two coaches and plenty of words of support and advice from my gym buddies. Packed my bag Friday morning, went to work, then off I went with three friends to Virginia for the half marathon! I slept MAYBE 2 hours the night before the half. There were four of us squished into a hotel room and I'm a really light sleeper. And I was nervous as hell. 4:45 a.m. came WAY too early, but up we were and by the time the 7 a.m. start time rolled around, I was ready to just get the damn thing over with. Humidity was at 90%, but at least it was overcast. The course advertised as "flat," but it was clearly all hills! Despite all that, all my mental freaking out and failed training plan, I absolutely FLEW through those first five miles. My average mile time for all my training runs had been between 11:41 and 12:30. My usual 5K time is around 35 minutes. But those first five miles? I was doing 10:00 miles. Holy moly was I flying!!! I knew I had to slow down, so I did, and settled into a nice pace with some walking interspersed to give myself some recovery time so I could keep trucking. I really don't like plodding along, so during all my training runs, I did this nice run-one-song-walk-one-song routine so I could run at a decent pace for half of the time instead of plod at a miserable pace for the full time. A lot of the course was not only hills, but also a weird dirt road! Nobody in my group was prepared for that. One of my friends has run a full marathon before and another has run 6 half marathons, and even they didn't run every step. That made me feel SO good about how I was doing. I felt great until mile 10 when pain started to settle in, but by then I was so close to done that it didn't matter. I also saved a baby turtle at mile 10, so that was a mood booster! This lil guy tinier than my palm was trying to scuttle across the road, so I stopped to move him to the other side so he wouldn't get stepped on. So cute! Also saw some bunnies and at one point I was running by a pasture and a horse and two ponies came out to run alongside the course. I crossed the finish line with an official time of 2:32:00. I think that comes out to an 11:36 mile? BUT BUT BUT according to my GPS I wore, I actually ran 14 miles (I weave around a lot), which actually set me at a sub-11:00 mile average. Which is a whole 1:30 faster than most of my training runs! I WAS SO PUMPED!!!! Three real training runs during the course of the whole prep period, and I logged a 2:32:00 and a faster mile average than ever. Crushed my 5K record. Crushed my 10K record. I felt like I was on top of the freakin' world. TL;DR I failed at training for running and only did lifting/CrossFit leading up to a half marathon then I went out and crushed it and had a 24-hour endorphin rush that I may or may not still be high on and I've never felt this good about my life or this happy in a long time and everything is awesome.

So I was thinking through some of the things that I want to do at one point in my life as an extension of this challenge. I came up with this list so far. I am sure there will be more things to add in the future. Climbing 1) Finish a lead climb route 2) Climb outdoors 3) 5.12 4) 5.13 5) V4 6) V5 7) V6 8) V7 9) V8 10) V9 11) V10 Running 1) 52 second 400m 2) 2 min 800m 3) 5 min mile 4) Under 18m 5k 5) Marathon Basketball 1) Dunk Softball 1) Home Run at Fall Tournament 2) Switch hitting Other 1) Be on American Ninja Warrior 2) Tough Mudder 3) Spartan Trifecta - Sprint - Super - Beast 4) Clutch Flag 5) Human Flag 6) Tricks on slackline 7) Muscle Up on rings 8) Iron Cross on rings

As my journey through life has progressed, I have come to realize that I need more out of it. My journey has been long, but it hasn't really taken me anywhere. I feel like, just maybe, there is way more to living than eating and breathing. Recently I came across an artifact that I had heard of, but never before seen with my own eyes. I feel, if I could just unlock its wonders, its secrets.. its power.. than I could harness some of it. I could become more than what I am right now. Brothers and Sisters of the Rebellion, I show this to you so that you might help me glean some insight into its purpose and its power. I don't yet know how powerful it may be, but perhaps you may ALSO gain something from it. At least, I hope so. Thus, I submit to you.. The Map of Infinite Pathways Gather close and follow me, the World's bigger than you may see. Your hearts desires, I unfold. Untold Power, I yet hold. Travel well these Paths I show Scratch them off as time will flow More appear, but little fret You, yourself, your biggest threat Landmarks on the Path of Mortal Travels: Step foot in Japan - During the Cherry Blossom Festival Wander Iceland Explore a rainforest Travel to Scottland - Do some Scottish Country Dancing at a festival Enjoy the sights of New Zealand Board a boat on the Pacific Ocean Bask in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean Revel in the joys of Comic Con Attend a Ballet Witness the performance of - MC Frontalot - Schaffer the Darklord .... .... Productions in the Path of Skilled Hands: Hand Craft and Wear Cosplay of - Shannon Casull - Scrapped Princess - Vincent Valentine - FF7 - D - Vampire Hunter D - Legato Bluesummers - Trigun - Alphonse Elric - Full Metal Alchemist - Richter Belmont - Castlevania - Hard Suit (group cosplay) - Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 - Vicious - Cowboy Bebop - Rin Okumura - Blue Exorcist - Kraft Lawrence - Spice and Wolf - Yuri Lowell - Tales of Vesperia - Voltron - Voltron: Defender of the Universe - Gene Starwind - Outlaw Star Construct a Bookshelf Produce a Comic/Manga Finish a painting Work to improve someone's Home .... .... Lessons Learned on the Path of the Mind: Learn to Speak in the Foreign Tongues of - Japanese - Gaelic - Spanish - Mandarin - German Become an Adept at - Drums - Bass Guitar - microKorg Get a Degree .... .... Prowess on the Path of the Body: Learn the Art of - Fencing - Capoeira - Jeet Kun Do - Parkour Become capable of 20 push-ups - Push harder: 50 push-ups - Evolve power: 10 Handstand Push-ups Endure a Warrior Dash Endure a Tough Mudder Endure a Spartan Run Become competant at skateboarding Complete a 5 mile run Break the habit of cigarette smoking Go rock climbing Walk from Ames to Boone - Faster now: Jog to Boone Go bouldering 4 times in one month Compete on Ninja Warrior .... .... Events on the Path of Success: Become financially stable Start a band Accept payment for performing Music Accept payment for producing a work of Art Act the Voice of a character in a game or animation Maintain motivation for something for a Month - Motivation maintained for 6 Months - Motivation maintained for 1 Year Become Self-Employed Create a Line of clothing Publish a Book Publish an Album Get married .... .... Objects on the Path of Gain: Become the owner of motor vehicle Purchase a 40"+ flat screen tv Own a sewing machine Be the owner of a pinball table Purchase a fine pool table Put together and own a desktop computer Buy a home Have a home theater .... .... Delights on the Path of Fanciful Longings: Own a Castle Discover a new creature Attend 5 conventions in a single year - Attend 10 conventions within a single year Discover "Magic" Get a half-sleeve tattoo .... .... .... .... Current Level: 2 Progress towards next Level: 0% *Afternote- It seems that this artifact continues to grow over time. I will endeavor to keep you all updated on what new information it reveals to me. Until then, may your own journeys lead you down a successful Path.

Not in any particular order. This will probably grow as I do some self reflection and actually find what's important to me and what's not. I also have a few kinks to work out for some of them. Take Belly Dancing Lessons Travel to Germany Drive a motorcycle Drive a motorcycle to Sturgis Go on a Mission Trip Graduate with Associates Degree Graduate with a Bachelors Degree Start my own company Attempt Aerial Fitness and Static Trapeze classes Learn another language Attend Comic-Con

Gone are the attempts at hyping myself from 2014. This bucket is not so much epic as it is a bare-bones attempt to breathe life back into myself. (Last edited 4/12/15) Fitness Goals Start walking for mental health, work up to jogging/running for physical healthEat less carbs and more proteinPushups and squats, whatever else I need for strength trainingLearn yogaManage stress and negativity through exercise and meditationPersonal Goals RelocateWriteArtSpiritualityLife Goals Be happy

Epic Fitness Quests · Body Weight Exercise (without stopping) o 50 pushups without stopping o 100 squats without stopping o 3 minute front plank o 10 pull-ups · Running o Run a 6 minute mile o Run 5 miles in less than 45 minutes Epic Health Quests · Weight between 175 – 190 lbs · Fit into size 32 pants (comfortably) · Have normal cholesterol levels (without drugs) · Have normal blood pressure (without drugs) · Have normal testosterone levels (without drugs) · Have a resting heart rate less than 70 BPM · Live without Anti-depressant medication Epic Personal Life Quests · Gain 30 days of sobriety 2/22/2014 · Gain 90 days of sobriety · Gain 6 months of sobriety · Gain 1 Year of sobriety · Gain 3 Years of sobriety · Gain 5 Years of sobriety (etc…) · Quit Smoking Quit date 2/24/2014 · Save 6 months of my salary · Create and record music · Learn to sing · Read “Moby Dick†Epic Career Quests · Obtain my CCNP · Obtain my CCNP (wireless) · Obtain my CCDP · Become an authorized Cisco trainer · Write a book related to the IT industry Epic Adventure Quests · Complete 100 + mile through hike of an awesome trail (AT, PCT, etc…) · Become proficient at rock climbing and bouldering · Try ice climbing · Learn some sweet free running moves · Learn to sail · Learn paddle board · Learn to surf · Go skydiving · Go bungee-jumping

Urban Ranger Quests Challenges☐ Spartan Sprint - Sat. February 8th, 2014. ☐ Phoenix Go Ruck Light - March 22nd, 2014.☐ Tough Mudder - Sat. April 5th, 2014. ☐ Boston Go Ruck - Fri. May 23, 2014.☐ SF Go Ruck - Fri. July 4th, 2014. ☐ Camp Nerd Fitness - Thu. September 18th - Sun. September 21st, 2014. ☐ Hike Grand Canyon - Fall, 2014. ☐ Run For Your Lives - TBD. ☐ Warrior Dash - TBD. Skills & Practice ☐ Take Urban Survival Course.☐ Take Wilderness Survival Course. ☐ Obtain Concealed Carry Gun License.Obtain​​☐ Purchase Honda Element. ☐ Purchase a gun. ☐ Purchase emergency rations. Future☐ Learn Basic Electronics & Electrical Repair. ☐ Learn Basic Mechanics and Vehicle Repair. ☐ Learn Basic First Aid. ☐ Learn Blade/Knife Self Defense. ☐ Learn To Pick A Lock. ☐ Learn To Capture, Gut, and Cook a Fish. ☐ Eat Paleo for 6 Months. ☑ Learn Basic Self Defense (Krav Maga). Ongoing. ☑ Purchase/create get-out bag. 9/8/13 ☑ Sell my car and purchase a bike for primary transportation. 3/22/13 ☑ Shoot a Gun. 2013 goal. 4/1/13 ☑ Purchase GoRuck entry. 3/23/13 Fitness Endurance ☐ Run 5k in Vibrams. ☐ 10 Consecutive Double-Unders. ☑ Run 5k. 7/16/11 ☑ Run 10k. 8/12/11 ☑ Run Tough Mudder. 1/14/12 ☑ Jump Rope Double-Under. 1/23/12 Strength ☐ Muscle Up. ☐ Deadlift 405lb (4 Plates). ☐ Squat 315lb (3 Plates). ☐ Bench Press 225lb (2 Plates). ☐ Press 135lb (1 Plate). ☑ 10 Minute Plank. 8/29/11 Health & Appearance ☐ 10% body fat. ☑ 82 days of Whole 30. 1/23/14 ☑ Fit into a medium T-shirt. 6/10/11 ☑ Fit into a 32 waist pants. 8/1/11 ☑ Paleo/Primal & 100% Gluten-Free. 8/31/11 Sport ☐ Try Archery. ☑ Try CrossFit. 4/2/12 NerdFitness ☑ Go to a big NF Meetup. 1/23/14 ☑ Meet Steve Kamb. 1/24/14 ☑ Win a NF Challenge. 1/20/12 Faith ☐ Read through Bible in one year. Life ☐ Purchase a Home. ☐ Release a professional music album. ☑ Learn Piano. 4/2/12 Finances ☐ Become financially and job independent. ☐ Save 6 months of life expenses. ☐ Pay off debt... again. ☑ Pay off debt. 9/31/11 ☑ Save $1000 for emergencies. 4/14/12

Long term, in no particular order... Earn a Teaching Degree (Half way there!!!) Hike the Continental Divide Trail Get each page of my passport stamped in a different country Take a PDC (http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/permaculture_design_course) Live on a permaculture farm Finally make it to Comic-Con (So close, yet so far!) Travel somwhere far away by train Learn archery Become fluent in Spanish Do at least 10 pullups (In a row!) Hunt and dress a deer (On foot, by bow.) Be ready for the apocalypse (This might be the trickiest.)

OKay, here's a rough draft cobbled from many sources... I want to be fit and healthy as I can be by the time I get to 40... bit airy fairy that idea, so I started to think about what that might mean in terms of Epic Quest and more importantly measurable, achievable milestones/goals. Lifting - Squat x1 (1.5?) Bench x1 Deadlift x2 ? press x1 Compete in lifting comp? Pull up/Chin up Ride 100 miles (160 km) or more. [Maybe complete round the bay in 40th year?] Confident cosplay (Wonder woman - Diana in Odyssey #600s?/ Xena?) (Stupid scary idea - Figure competition (Bikini division) in cos play around the 40 year) 20% or less BF (and keep it there). Maybe aim for Red belt TKD? (Black too much work by 40) They are just some ideas to keep working towards... For now, in a fitness sense. There may well be a bucket list following at some point, because an epic ballad will need some action and adventure!

Everyone who's ever set foot into Vana'diel know that it was an endless, bone crushing grind back in it's day. I was one of those who had the willpower to play it out, so I figure I have a shot here at making my goals come to life. We shall have a number of different categories to play around in, each coinciding with various milestones in the FFXI world. Get My AF Set: As it stands now, I have 81 pounds to reach my goal. Every 10 pounds will give a piece of my artifact gear with level 8 granting me my Joyeuse (yes I know the game has far progressed past these items, but these were Holy Grails when I first took up the journey so many years ago). 10 lbs - Warlock's Torque ACQUIRED20 lbs - Fencing Degen ACQUIRED30 lbs - Warlock's Boots40 lbs - Warlock's Gloves50 lbs - Warlock's Tights60 lbs - Warlock's Tabard70 lbs - Warlock's Chapeau80 lbs - Joyeuse The end goal here is to look good enough that I would be comfortable cosplaying an Artifact level Red Mage. Only then will I have completed my quest and unlocked my new Job. Traverse Quon and Mindartia: Here is where I see the sights in my homeland. Just as proud Elvaan from San d'Oria should set out and see all that Jeuno, Bastok and Windurst have to offer, so should I see places in North America. Visit/live for a time in New YorkVisit/live for a time in SeattleVisit Alaska ( I want to experience untamed wilderness)See Montana (always had a weird fascination, I want to see if there's anything there)Hit the other states at some point, even if it's just a pass through.See various wonders of our lands (Grand Canyon, revisit Arches)Make my way to Jeuno (Hawaii in this case)Step north of the border and visit my Canadian brothersVisit Roslyn, Washington (the real life Cicely, Alaska) preferably during Moosefest Traverse Aradjiah and Ulbuka: Now I take the airship out of the surrounding lands and see new places far and wide. Visit/live for a time in the UK (near about London)Visit IrelandVisit ScotlandVisit Japan Visit Australia Subjob Scholar: Here is where I flex my mental muscles and add to my Red Mage repertoire! Write a story or book and be publishedFinish my Degree ACQUIREDPick up, pursue and improve my languishing art skills Subjob Warrior Here's where the physical goals are. Get to a weight of 250 lbs. Complete the Festival Quests We all know that Vana'diel is the host of many seasonal celebrations and with those come various garment to celebrate. My biggest seasonal event is a Yearly Con I attend known as AnimeIowa and I have always wanted to do a truly awesome cosplay but never felt comfortable with my weight to do it. Cosplay something truly awesome! Finish my Quest Log: In here you will find the various quests I have assigned myself to complete as time goes on. Stick with and paint a Warhammer 40k army.Run a long term (successful) RPG again.Much as my travels through Vana'diel were long and meandering, so shall bits of this be I am sure. This list will grow and evolve over time, but nothing will leave it until it is completed. That being said, I am determined to unlock all the possibilities this world has to offer and though it will be a grind at times, the rewards will be well worth the work. Won't you journey with me friend?

2013: The Year of the Snake - Some thoughts: "The sixth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, the snake represents wisdom, intelligence and self-control. The snake also represents the ability to strike at will, quickly and powerfully." (source) "This 2013 year of Snake is meant for steady progress and attention to detail. Focus and discipline will be necessary for you to achieve what you set out to create." (source)Some things I want to accomplish in 2013: Finish writing Jubilee's storyStart my small business on EtsyGet my kitchen licensed so I can (legally!) branch out my business from my Etsy store to online sales through my own website as well as custom orders via word-of-mouthPlant a small vegetable gardenOne complete pullupOne complete pushupSecret Big-Time Scary Goal (part of this goal is just being able to talk about it without having an anxiety episode)Pass the bikini test, just once3-minute plankStart a local meditation group... I'm going to log my workouts here, starting today. Next challenge, my goals will be focusing on inner stuff more than fitness or diet benchmarks. I feel like my diet and training program is well-established now, and yet I am held back by some inner stuff. At this point, no amount of changing my diet or exercise routines is going to move me forward; it'll only move me side to side or, worse, backwards. I have to tackle some of this inner stuff now, while the time is right. And the time is right, finally, because I can see the edges and the shape of the obstacle in front of me. Something with edges and a shape can be climbed over, shoved out of the way, or broken down. So that's my task for challenge #5 starting Feb 25th. My challenge thread will focus on updates relating to challenge-specific goals, and I will use this battle log to track my workouts and diet stuff, as well as general updates re: year-long goals.