Search the Community

Here we are again, at the beginning of another adventure!! This is one of my favorite times of the year (Autumn and Halloween) so it's time to really take my fitness goals by the horns and ride them to the ground. Really have to get this challenge right this time so why not pick a great theme to go along with it. This time I'm going with another book theme but this one has WAAAAAAY much more source material to play with/have fun with. And the winner is: For those that don't know, the Dresden Files is a book series written by Jim Butcher about the wizard and private investigator Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden and his misadventures through the mean streets of Chicago. I've heard it described as a "Philip Marlowe meets Gandalf" series. Told in the first person, you get to see things through Harry's eyes and in his head. I have been reading this series from the very beginning and I haven't been able to stop since! I absolutely LOVE this series (the TV series... that's another story). So, this theme is ON!!! I'm looking to four major goals this time around. 1) Empty Night -- No eating of any kind after 8:30pm every night except Saturdays (36 points // STA +2; CON +1) I really wanted to make this goal more about eating my larger meal for breakfast and/or lunch and then a smaller dinner but sometimes you just have a craving for something hearty after a long day at work. I relax, start watching TV or checking the forums and I tend to snack on crap food. I'm going for the next best thing, cut off all food intake after 8:30pm except for Saturday night gaming night. 2) Infriga/Forzare/Fuego -- Scheduled, specific exercises with two days on, one day off. (28 points // STR +2; DEX +1) Not only do I need to get my exercise game going again, I've discovered I need to SCHEDULE IT!!! Doing that will take the burden off of what I need to do and allows me less room to make excuses. The three workout types I'm planning are for Leg Work (Fuego), Arm Work (Infriga), or Walking/Jogging (Forzare). Two on, One off. 3) Keeping Up With My Allies -- Sustained support to my peeps here. Minimum 5 Rebels and 5 messages of solid importance weekly (Pass/Fail per week // CHA +1; STA +1) I love this community, I don't think I've said that enough!! Anyone that has given me a like, said a supportive or positive word to me, and you crazy lot that follow my challenges, I love you all greatly!! I've had my bumps and bruises the last couple of challenges but I know that I can keep up on it with help and support from you all. So, helping others helps me so I will be making sure I keep up with my fellow Rebels this time along. 4) Not Just Phallic Foci -- Cosplay/Halloween Costume of Harry Dresden for Party just after challenge (Pass/Fail overall // CHA +2) Elaine -- "Still going with the phallic foci, eh? Staff and rod?" // Harry -- "They make me feel all manly." OK, I just remembered that line and it felt waaaay too appropriate but I'm thinking that since I know I will be available for my friend/gaming buddy's Halloween party, I've decided to shoot for doing a Dresden costume/cosplay for the party. Now, I did do one for a convention three years ago and I really just threw some things together for that and it was OK. I know that it's only 7 weeks til Halloween but I think I can put it together. Now, I've seen both the artistic drawings on some of the covers, plus the show and actual book descriptions so I'm hoping to put something together that channels it all together. Here are a few examples: My tentative schedule is here under the Spoiler tag (plus so I can fiddle with the sizing) Now, to officially start this challenge, this quote pretty much shows the focus on I have on this challenge: "My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, conjure by it at your own risk. When things get strange, when what goes bump in the night flicks on the lights, when no one else can help you, give me a call. I'm in the book"