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In media res.... Having surmounted numerous challenges in the two years of chapter 1*, I am now ready, refreshed, older, and wiser for new chapter in my life. With more stability and a more confident perspective, I can finally begin a six week challenge. Main Quest: Get down to 175lbs by Easter. (Ultimate goal is to be below 150lbs!) Exercise Goal: Follow the Level 1 Rookie Guide as much as possible. (Already in my second week and only missed 1 workout A and 1 cardio day.) +1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 STA, +1 CON Diet Goal: IF by skipping breakfast every day, eating Paleo as much as possible 5-6 days a week. ALWAYS smaller portions. (Seems to be my weakest point so far!) +1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 STA, +1 CON, +1 WIS, +2 CHA Study: Do ALL readings before class and start assignments well in advance. (2 weeks in and I only missed the readings for 2 classes.) +1 WIS Prayer: ALL Liturgy of the Hours, every day, especially the most elusive Compline. Plus: 60 minutes of silence every evening and 1 rosary on knees. (Failed in this on most days... Need to work harder.) +2 WIS, +1 CHA Thanks for reading! *Previous books and chapters exist only in the author's memory of an epic, autobiographical bildungsroman.

Every time I ever imagined what the world would look like after the apocalypse I envisioned waking up some morning and looking out my front door at a wasteland, smoldering ruins, the smell of the dead and the moans of the dying filling the air. But… I never imagined this. The books and the movies led us to believe that the apocalypse would come all at once from some enormous disaster, an earthquake, an emp blast, an outbreak of some pathogen. But that’s not how it happened at all. The apocalypse is here alright, but it didn’t happen all at once, it happened slowly, like a creeping sickness, an odorless, invisible toxin that effected everyone so mysteriously that no one saw it coming, until it had already over taken us. The people around us are dying. Most people literally couldn’t walk a mile to save their lives. There are grocery stores filled with products, but actual food is scarce. Everyone is beginning to atrophy, people are hardly strong enough to carry themselves let alone do any sort of heavy manual labor. Hope is all but a memory. I see people going through their lives despairing or despondent. But not us. By the Grace of God, we’ve survived, and now it’s time to rebuild civilization, starting with our own family. Goals: Search for survivors. (Go for family walks for at least 30 minutes at least 3 times each week) Scavenge for food. (Prepare at least 3 100% paleo meals together as a family each week) Haul water. (Do heavy lifting appropriate to everyone’s age/ability using water filled containers at least 3 days each week) Keep vigil at night. (Pray a family rosary together at least 3 days each week)