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The journey continues as ShadowLion decides to keep her theme the same and her stake planted in the ground. Shadow Lion Keeps on Shufflin' She decides to draw again... (And gets a very interesting result.) The Fool In the Single-Card Draw position A card in this position illuminates the present moment or the question at hand. Meaning: This first Major Arcana card is an excellent illustration of someone who is following their bliss. This card often materializes in a reading when the querent is trying something new and completely different. They may be just beginning their spiritual journey or are exploring a new magickal tradition or path. Perhaps they are taking on a brand-new job or are considering an innovative business opportunity. The Fool encourages us to dare, be more open minded, and enjoy the ride. Do not let yourself be dragged down by worries. The Fool laughingly persuades you to trust and take a chance, and not fret too much about the future—instead, just enjoy the trip and take things one day at a time. This card is all about the proverbial leap of faith. Sure, it is possible that you might make a mistake or fall down, but hey! You can always get right back up, brush yourself off, and try again. Sometimes that is the best way to learn—by daring to do. At the end of the day, the Fool encourages you to be open to new prospects and ideas. Live on the edge; think outside of the box. Be confident and bold! There is a big, wide, magickal world out there...go explore it! Keywords: Follow your bliss. Adventure, fresh starts, exploration, a journey. New ideas; take a chance and chase your dreams. The beginning of a spiritual quest; exploring a new magickal path or tradition. A leap of faith. (Who knew there was an X-Men Tarot?) Cue Twilight Zone Theme Song... I have had some big challenges the last week and a half and spent considerable time considering how to best move forward. I have asked myself some tough questions and looked at what needs to change. I've been taking all of that into meditation on a regular basis and the image I kept getting was of "The Fool" card in the Tarot. I kept dismissing it as not relevant, too simplistic, etc. I really wanted to keep doing the "Queen of Swords/Strength/Justice" thing, as that is familiar and I can do that pretty well. (Maybe too well?) I decided Monday that, yes, I was going to do a challenge this time, and yes, I was going to continue my theme from last challenge, but I wasn't sure whether I was going to focus on one card for the challenge, one per week, or one per day. Tonight, when I finally made the time to write up my post, I decided to just draw one card for this challenge's theme. (I hadn't drawn any cards since the start of last challenge when I constructed the last one's theme.) I focused my mind on "What do I most need to focus on this challenge?" And quite against the odds, I drew the same card that had been popping into my meditation for days, the one I had been avoiding for days: This may be a rather interesting challenge... I haven't fully processed the implications of what just happened - and how I should respond to it - beyond acknowledging that there are some very powerful forces at work in my life and I need to pay attention. For now, I am reposting the same goals that I had last challenge. I expect to make changes, but am not sure yet exactly what. I have no idea how all this will fit in with the standard challenge format. I just know that I am here and I am still shufflin'! 1. Move Forward Increase my total walking distance by 3 to 5 % each week over the course of the challenge. Starting distance is 12.5 miles per week. 2. Find Equilibrium Squat for of 5 mins per day, every day of the challenge. Stand for a minimum 10 minutes of every hour I work at GP. 3. Rebuild My Strength There are many types of strength I could choose to work on - physical, mental, emotional, social, soul (intuition, imagination), and spiritual. I am choosing soul and spirit as being the most in need of restoration I will take a minimum of 30 minutes every single day of the challenge to tend to my spiritual and soul needs through meditation, relaxation, play, creativity and/or spending time out-of-doors. 4. CodeWarrior Learn - Complete the Git and DevOps courses I am taking. Practice - Participate in at least one exercise through the AZCWR (Arizona Cyber Warfare Range). Let the intuition (and the cats!) begin...

I won't lie; eating Good Food was REALLY difficult during the last challenge, even after a successful W30. I've been stewing on the role of mindset in my quest to get healthy for the past few weeks, and I believe that's where I need to improve in order to make these changes stick. Inspired by those Rangers who've been taking a flexible, minimalistic approach to goal-setting, I'm following suit, in a way. My goals are a return to regularly scheduled programming; the foundation of my healthy habits, but the means have changed. I will aim for a minimum instead of a maximum and be counting any and every effort in my goal areas. While aiming to do all four daily seems daunting, they encompass a lot of effort choices on their own, and in my tracking spreadsheet, I've edited my formulas and formatting to account for a 70/30 compliance rating. As long as I'm hitting 70% compliance, I'll be RANGERING. My main goals have also evolved into smarter, more manageable pieces. I'm hoping that these changes will allow me to start shifting my mental focus from being too hard on myself for failing (and not being perfect) to appreciating my efforts and progress. Main Goal: Reach a healthy body composition by taking care of myself and my health. My current target number is 35% body fat. Goal One: Eat well. Do the best I can. Minimize consumption of grains, sugars, and Big Fast Food. Maximize consumption of veggies, proteins, and good fats. Find ways of making a sub-par situation better. Every effort counts. Goal Two: Sleep well. Give myself 8 to 9 hours in bed to sleep daily. I'll also be working to improve the quality as well, continuing my use of the Sleep Cycle app, remembering to wear my orange glasses, calming down after late classes with a bath, and maybe investing in some Natural Calm, but those aren't requirements. Goal Three: Move daily. This can take the form of Capoeira training, heavy lifting, bodyweight & endurance training, stretching, or yoga (or anything else that shows up). I should also be stretching at work, using Pomodoros to remind myself not to sit constantly (when my work flow slows). Goal Four: Love daily. This includes loving myself AND other people. Doing things for myself, like meditating, journaling, sewing, reading, writing, coloring, etc. This also includes spending time with the husband; gaming, model building, and all the other stuff we like to do together. We both need a bit more love in our lives.

Basically, my goal since the founding of the Blue Group at the Temple of the Jedi has been to figure out what real life skills and abilities would approximate the fictional abilities and skills of Jedi Knights. Or any of the heroic paladins from myths, epic tales, fantasy/sci-fi books, and role-playing games. And then .... here's the kicker .... figure out how to train up to be like my favorite characters from those stories, D&D and RPGs. I have been working on my long-term curriculum for quite a while and am gradually copying it over to my Epic Character page. Meanwhile .... here we are for the March challenge. The overall challenge for the rest of the year is to get down to "normal" range for my height, age, and gender. 146 lbs. Below 150 for the first time in 9 years. There. I said it. I commit to it. I will do it!!! Why??? I will feel better and be able to do more things that I want to do. I will look better and have greater self esteem. I will view myself with greater self-respect. During the golden years of the Temple of the Jedi, I weighed 127 lbs (21% body fat). Right now, I don't feel like myself, and I certainly don't look like myself. Part of my RPG story is the path to recovering my best self. How?? A Jedi May Need to Ration Food As much as I hate to do it, I am going to count calories. For MARCH, I will simply count them. No budget .... just setting the bench mark in preparation for setting a budget on calories and macros in April. A Jedi is in tune with the Force 1) I will impose discipline and avoid alcohol. I've already gotten coffee intake down to two cups per day, but alcohol is empty calories ..... and probably accounts for most of the weight I've gained gradually over the past decade. 2) I will meditate. I've already started a meditation PLP and am up to 12 minutes, adding a minute each day until I get to 30. It does help calm me and prevent emotional eating A Jedi trains every day 1) I am going to run a 5K at the end of the month; so I will do training runs 3 times each week for a total of 12 2) I will do strength training OR go to karate class 3 times each week for a total of 12 March Bonus Goal To do something worthy of a cool, custom title. What's that, Yoda??? Eh. Sorry, but you're wrong. I've been here a long time, and I feel like I should have done SOMETHING noteworthy. It's cold in the shadows. Changing Targets After 2 years of JOB HUNTING, I finally have a real, full-time position. No more project work. No more contract work. No more adjunct classes. The rub is where we currently live forces us to commute a long way. My new job is an hour away. Hubby's job is 45 minutes away. So, we're moving .... again. (I probably set the record for number of moves during the years I've been at Nerd Fitness. I'm an accidental gypsy.) So, I'm switching targets from job hunting to house hunting. We'll see how long my prey eludes me .....

I am typing this up in a rush since I need to be at a friend's in an hour for study purposes and likely won't be able to check in for the weekend. So, this will be my first guild challenge. Well, I hung out with the Adventurers two challenges ago, when it was still slightly less defined in its purposes, but that challenge was cut short by moving countries and never saw an end. So... I am really excited, this is a big step. Tags system based on: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/77949-incipient-order-of-taggers-lets-hack-the-tag-system-for-good/ I love the idea, go support htem. *SPACE SAVED FOR INTRODUCTORY BLURB* Overall Goal: Incorporate fitness in my daily life. Like many technomancers, I spend hours at a time sitting in front of a computer, a trait that is exacerbated by the fact that my particular trade involves 3D modeling and animation, which means hours at a time can easily mean 10-14 hours depending on the project I am currently working on. I have already started feeling the effects, and I don't think anything but daily exercise is going to counteract them. [Goal 1] : Balancing Include 10 minutes of handstand practice and support practice in my daily routine. I have been ignoring this part of the Reddit Recommended Routine that I am currently following. I had planned to include it in my daily routine rather than as a workout, but that has not happened yet. For handstand, I will start with crow practice. Moving on to handstand once I manage to hold a crow for 30 seconds or more. [Goal 2]: 30 Days of Change I have been focussing on bodyweight strength and building up a routine for the past couple of months, now I wish to incorporate running into it. I really love the feeling running gives me, and I have sorely missed it. To build this up, will be following Darebee's 30 Days of Change. POSTPONED: due to an excessively charged timetable, I will be waiting to finish Foundations before doing hits one. [Goal 3]: Eat Your Protein I eat realtively healthily thanks to a lifetime of conditioning in the form of my mom. However, due to family history, we don't consume much meat, and this combined with being tight on finances these months, means I am not getting nearly enough protein as I should. Since getting enough protein is something I find hard in first place (the idea of eating meat at every meal, which would be the easiest way, is just... really foreign to me... I don't even eat meat once a day, and red meat is even rarer) and i am not used to working meat, tofu and fish (which are luxury good here) in my budget, I will start with hitting a protein goal three days a week. In short: eat 103g of protein at least three days a week. [Life Goal]: Discipline Beat procrastination and distraction. I have come up with a reward system where I give myself points every time I get to work when I should and don't muck about or procrastinate my tasks. I can then spend these points to award myself time off, holiday, etc. (Aside from scheduled rest days and breaks that are already in my schedule - I DO have those, do not worry) The point system goes as follows: Points Gained: 1 pt: every hour I work on a scheduled task without distractions 0,5 pts: every hour I work on a scheduled task but have other stuff going on int he Background; e.g; Facebook or Better Call Saul. 5pts: waking up without snoozing. Rewards: 25pts: Small Reward (watch one episode of a favourite series/muck about for an hour) 100pts: Big Reward (Day off, Spa Treatment, etc.) 1000 pts: One Week Holiday. Easy enough, no? Ah! But there is a catch - every hour I procrastinate, my opponent; the Evil Monkey that is also harassing Briniel, gets 5 points. And if at the end of the week the Monkey has more points than I do - well, I haven't decided wet what will happen, but something will happen! That is all, see you all soon!

Shadow Lion Shuffles the Cards... and Decides to Stack the Deck (for success) I have been on a strange and unexpected journey this past weekend as I pondered what to do for my challenge. I found myself wandering down paths I have not traveled in some time, and I realized that my life feels wildly out of balance. I am in need of the Queen of Swords decisiveness and discipline, while also bringing my inner and outer worlds into better alignment through intuition and quiet contemplation. This challenge is a continuation of the last one in many ways - of my year theme of planting my stake in the ground - but it also promises to add some new twists to that. I feel that in many ways I have come full circle (or perhaps it is a spiral?), back to face the very things that once led me away from software development. Now, however, I have the opportunity to deal with those in a different, healthier way, and I can enlist a wealth of life experience from the intervening years to become the ruler of my own well-being. In keeping with the lessons of challenges past - surprise, surprise - I need to further simplify and focus. My year theme of planting my stake in the ground continues. Commitment, discipline, perseverance. This past weekend I took stock of where I was and it wasn't pretty. Depression was creeping in around the edges; I felt exhausted physically, mentally, spiritually. I just wanted to sit down and cry. I'd been working so hard and such long hours that I was totally drained, battling a cold, and wondering how I was going to dredge up the energy to put a challenge together - something that I normally find very enjoyable. I tried to think up some grand idea (always a good plan, right?) and came up with nothing. Then I remembered the conversation on last challenge's thread with Xena about tarot cards. I had planned to save that for later in the year, but I needed an idea... Hmmm. Maybe the answers to my other dilemmas were similarly staring me in the face? It has been many years since I really surveyed what was out there in terms of decks. Between Google, Pinterest, and other sites, I was amazed at all the new decks there are. Traditional tarot, non-tarot "oracle" decks ranging from fairies to vikings to manga to angels, pop culture influenced decks...you name it. I spent several hours marveling at the artwork and imagination behind it all and getting inspired to do a very unusual challenge. Harry Potter... LOTR... (LOL! It's Rurik Harrgarth!) So, I decided to take the hint from the Universe and draw a card using the cosmic code of random electrons and got... And laughed. The lady and the lion, 8, and a sideways 8 - infinity... That is my card. Has been for years. My totem, my number. I drew several more cards, too, which will be revealed over the course of this challenge. Suffice to say, they painted a very interesting picture of what I need to do to resolve my dilemmas and reach my goals. They may look similar on the surface, but make no mistake, things are very, very different now. 1. Move Forward Increase my total walking distance by 3 to 5 % each week over the course of the challenge. Starting distance is 12.35 miles per week. 2. Find Equilibrium Squat for of 5 mins per day, every day of the challenge. Stand for a minimum 10 minutes of every hour I work at GP. 3. Rebuild My Strength There are many types of strength I could choose to work on - physical, mental, emotional, social, soul (intuition, imagination), and spiritual. I am choosing soul and spirit as being the most in need of restoration I will take a minimum of 30 minutes every single day of the challenge to tend to my spiritual and soul needs through meditation, relaxation, play, creativity and/or spending time out-of-doors. 4. CodeWarrior Learn - Complete the Git and DevOps courses I am taking. Practice - Participate in at least one exercise through the AZCWR (Arizona Cyber Warfare Range). Learn, Practice, Share - Participate in a "Mob Programming" workshop Let the intuition (and the cats!) begin...

Actual video footage of the event from last year at my school. The guy wearing the bandana and doing flips is my instructor. >.< For this challenge, I’m going to shift focus temporarily from the standard and usual foundational quests to prioritizing my capoeira training. I’ve signed up for the Winter Games event; a three-day string of capoeira workshops and rodas, which also includes the batizado. In capoeira, the batizado is the initiation ceremony where a new student is tested on their basic knowledge (in the regional style). The prize is the first belt/cord ranking, which is solid green. Since I only started learning at the end of December, I’m going to need some supplemental training and practice to prepare for the belt test. This will be my focus, as I want to do my best. Changing things up, Ranger style! Main Quest: Do my best during the batizado test on February 20th and become proficient in the basic moves of capoeira. Goal One: Practice capoeira every day. Duh. I should be putting in practice time on non-class days (classes are on Monday and Wednesdays). Obviously, if you want to get better at something, then you should do more of it. Practice should consist of two of the three following parts: basic move practice, sequence practice, and movement drills. The sequences are going to be important; they are similar to katas in other martial arts and are what I will be tested on during the batizado. I’ll focus on the basic movements that are in those sequences (meia lua de frente, armada, queixada, martelo, bênção, aú, rolê, cocorinha, negativa, and rasteira) and practice some drills from class on my own. Goal Two: Do bodyweight training three times a week (specifically on non-class days). Capoeira is filled with bodyweight movements; the esquivas are akin to squats and lunges, there’s a lot of pushing yourself up off the floor (I foresee burpees in my future *groan*), and my back is always screaming after extended practice sessions during class. I’m going to be strengthening my weak points with this, combining capoeira movements with standard bodyweight exercises into a basic routine (following the NF exercise template). I believe this means that I'll be taking a break from my Olympic lifting, but once this test is over, I'll return to it and figure out a new training schedule. Capoeira-Inspired Bodyweight Routine: - 20x cocorinha - 10x push-ups - 20x esquiva de baixa (from ginga) - 10x inverted rows - 15sec. static cabeçada - 30 ginga Goal Three: Practice the songs and instruments at least once a week. This should be easy to achieve, but it’s necessary. I need to know one song and how to play one of the instruments at the batizado. I already know the basics of the pandeiro, atabaque, and agogô de castanha, I just need more practice. I have the opportunity to practice them after class and on open-gym Fridays. I will be taking them. Songs will be easy. We practice songs during the roda on class days, and I’ve got a collection of songs that we learned on Youtube; I need to make a CD so I can listen to them outside of class. That will definitely help me become more familiar with them. Goal Four: Eat Good Food. Ain’t givin’ up on this. I’m going to follow the W30 Good Food standards for the time being, so that I’m in peak condition for this training regimen. The only thing I plan to reintroduce during this time will be whey protein powder. I’ll gauge where my reaction is to it (positive or negative), and plan accordingly. This should also help keep my stress and Sugar Dragon in check, so I can focus on training. Even though the Winter Games/Batizado will take place during the third week of the challenge, I’ll keep this going for the full four weeks for simplicity and more practice. Can’t hurt, right? This challenge will start on Monday for me, the official start date, but it’ll roll in straight from the end of my Sugar Dragon quest, which I ain’t stoppin’ ‘til Sunday.

Hey guys, so, after failing my last challenge and going on a fitness hiatus, I decided to have a go at this again. I haven't been completely fitness-less. My eating habits are as decent as they can be on a minimal budget, and I have managed to keep up Reddit's Bodyweight routine for a month now. I have also been doing some of Darebee's challenges and am really looking forward to the moment I can take upon some of their tougher ones. However, at a 14-hour workday rhythm, it has been really hard to pick up the pace, so I am turning to Nerdfitness again to motivation. I have seriously missed the community. I have seen that quite a few things have changed here, so I feel a bit lost. I will try and catch up and check in at least once every couple days to report on my progress. My overarching goal is: Achieve a consistent fitness routine, with small exercises done daily. My future career will involve sitting 10-12 hours a day. I NEED to include daily exercise in that. Goal 1: Strength Training 3x a week. This will predominantly be Reddit's Bodyweight workout. However, given that I will be home at my parent's a couple of weeks, I may choose a circuit instead if it is more practical. The key for me is to not lose the rythm. Goal 2: Incorporate Darebee's Foundation Programme into my morning routine Link: http://darebee.com/programs/foundation-program.html Goal 3: Knee Pain Routine I have had increasing knee pain since I stopped working out. Part of this was due to a pair of shoes I have now ejected from my home, but part of it definitely has to do with loss of muscle mass and constant sitting. I have no idea why, but I swear it gets worse when I sit for long periods of time. So, the plan is now to do this routine twice a day: (For those interested this is the website I used to put the routine together: http://www.knee-pain-explained.com/knee-pain-exercises.html) Beginner Routine: Straight Leg Raise Glute Bridge Kick Backs Heel Raises Sit to Stand (also a great warm-up/drill for squats) Additionally, do this every 20-30 minutes of sitting: Long Arcs Knee Marching Life Goal: Adulting: Part 1/1: Empty my To Do list. - Register somewhere as a resident (long story) - Retrieve my Bachelor (long story) - Set up a CV - Make list of possible internships - Finish building IKEA bed - Bank business Part 2/2: Finances - Set aside 100 € - Pay off all loans

Volki scans the air as he looks through his night vision goggles. Thousands of numbers stream by in succession along the thin blue biothreads as they arc in every direction across the backdrop of the enormous city of buildings choking the starless skyline. Numbers and bits of code spew forth from each of the clueless denizen’s UID chip. The streams of code are broadcast to the cities central processing hub and archived for inspection. The streams contain information about each person’s natural abilities, social class and firmware version. At age 15 every person is awarded citizenship and has the UID chip implanted into the base of the skull. The chip then synchs up with the synapses of the brain and can upload and download new software packages for any patron with the money to afford the upgrade. For everyone but the Linux corps, these nanomite lines of code are invisible. We are the elite hackers of the grid and incidentally we are hunted by the Kaspersky agents who have placed our faces on every major Access Control List. The Kaspersky agents want our lives because we have found a way to modify our UID chips and have found a way to remain hidden on the network. Our major accomplishment though was when we cracked into the great code libraries and downloaded the ancient knowledge files that laid out how the Cyber Counsel took control and then proceeded to wipe the memories of everyone. I am determined to know what exactly they mean to do with us by turning us into walking zombies constantly consuming the filthy lies they weave for us on every screen. Every day millions of people hang on every word the news and Counsel has to say. They are made to believe that everything is fine and continue to push conformity. I have to get to the Central Hub of the city and sever the link the Counsel has to the masses, only then will we stand a chance to end their reign. I flip a switch on the goggles and enter in a few lines of code on the holo-keys built into my bionic arm. The vision in the goggles flicker and then a single biothread is left flowing from end to end of the city. A voice cracks in over the comm system implant in my ear. “Volki, status update. Have you found him yet?†“Yes sir, I just found his thread right now and I am sending you the comm frequency right now. Do you want me to ghost trail the target?†“You are clear for recon and possible extraction of the target but make sure the target is acquired without damage to the UID nanite link.†“10-4 Recon is a go.†I take a quick inventory of my supplies and throw my goggles into my backpack as the thread path is switched to the navigation program of my forearm screen. I lower myself down the rope that held me high above the mammoth structures that choked every inch of the sprawling city. From this height I can see the cars flying by like a swarming hive of bees. The life of the city moves on without regard for the time of day or night. The year is 2357 and the time of an organic earth was long since dead. It is now the time of the machines; computers and wire replace trees and wildlife. My boots splash down into the dark alley far below the data link tower I had descended. I unhook from the rope and set out toward the path of the target. The cars zoom by overhead and the talking hologram heads all around the city go on about the latest celebrity scandal and which products will make our lives better. I tune them out as I weave in and out of streets and alleyways moving ever closer to the blip on my map. I come to a stop on a rooftop as I peer down the street at a hooded man wearing a bag on his back with a small antennae protruding from the zipper. As the target crosses the busy street with hundreds of others on their way to work I can make out a small device in his hand. Just as he crosses the middle of the 6 ways street he raises his hand slightly as he presses a sequence into the device. Moments later all 20 of the screens in the area showed an insidiously laughing skull with a feather headdress above the flashing words “I AM THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE!†The screens flashed faster and faster until they simultaneously erupted into an explosion of sparks and glass that rained down onto the shocked pedestrians below. “Captain I have sight of the target, I’m moving in.†I grabbed the edge of the building and vaulted myself down to the pavement landing in a quick roll. Bolting to my feet I began to chase the man in the hood as he fled into a nearby alley. He ran from shadow to shadow trying desperately to lose me in the labyrinth of the city landscape. The distance on my Nav screen showed less than 20 yards away and closing fast. I unhooked my pistol from its holster on my hip and switched its charge down to a non-lethal voltage as I round another corner. I could see him clamoring up a nearby fire escape heading for the roof and out of view. I pause only a moment and take aim with my plasma pistol. The weapon lets out a sharp crack and then a blue streak of electricity arcs straight into his back. He lets out a loud yelp and then loses his grip and slips bouncing against the safety cage of the ladder and comes to a stop with a thud against the cold pavement. I rush over and peel back his hood. He has a thin face with sharp features. His hair is cropped into a short Mohawk and complete with an auburn beard. I inspect the UID for any visible signs of damage as well as the sleeping target vitals. “Helix come in, I have the target. He is down and unconscious, send the Vulture to come pick us up in his speeder and bring us home.†In order to be the best Linux Corpse Hacker I can be I am going to need to get stronger, more dexterous and up my programming skills. Goal 1: Fortification I am going to follow a 2X a week schedule for my lifting to allow adequate flexibility with fitting in the gym time with the 12hr work days D1 Pullup 3x10 D1 Skull crusher 3x12 D1 Alt db curl 3x10 D1 L sit dip 3x10 D1 1 arm rows 3x10 D1 DB bench 3x10 D2 DB deadlift 3x10 D2 Front squat 3x10 D2 DB alt lunges 3x12 D2 DB calf raises 3x10 Goal 2: Dexterity I have been following along with a PowerYoga for Athletes program online. I want to do power yoga at least 2Xs a week minimum. Goal 3: Python Programming I need to upgrade my programming skills so I am going to follow along and finish the Python programming course by the end of the challenge available on Codeacademy.com **So basically I am continuing my plan of splitting my focus into quarters this year. I am still in the structural and functional strength portion of my training before I move back into a more lifting heavy routine. **

I've been reading Steve's new book, and figure it's time to level up my life. I've participated in challenges before, but I've let myself rebound so far that I feel it's time to reinvent myself from level 1. I've also been reading the Throne of Glass book series, by Sarah J. Mass. I've realized that as heroes and their journeys go, I really admire assassin characters, not for the bloodshed they cause, but for their dexterity, grace, proficiency, creativity, intelligence, awareness, and self-awareness, as well as the intense training, determination, and dedication it took for them to achieve those things. To that end, I, Lag a'mhuilin, set out on my hero's journey, an assassin in training. This is my story: DrCalcart lives a humble existence as a geeky web designer. Every work day he rolls out of bed and gets ready, arriving late by anyone's standards. He's lucky he has a boss who genuinely doesn't care about hours as long as the work is getting done. Doc spends work time in his fabric-walled, open-air office jumping between Facebook, Reddit, and actual work. He's lucky to be able to divide the work day around a two-mile walk with friends and participation in short fitness sessions three times a week. After work, DrCalcart spends wastes hours playing video games, cooking and eating (or going out to get) dinner, continuing to bounce between Facebook and Reddit, watching streaming media, and reading. He goes to sleep without a sense of fulfillment of purpose, having made no personal progress. It's a humble existence, but that's just it. Doc is tired of merely existing. He wants to really live, to thrive even. Enter the Wise Old Man [don't say that to his face!], the "ridiculously good-looking, clever, and modest mentor" [apprentices have to use the full title], Steve, King of the Non-Violent Assassins' Guild. Steve saw something in DrCalcart—a sparkle in the eye that bespoke courage and passion, maybe a glimmer of potential—and agreed to train him. "DrCalcart," he intoned on the first day of training, "your first lesson is this: there are those may seek to hinder or destroy you for who you are to become. To shield yourself and those you love you must choose a new name, take on a new identity, but choose wisely, for names have a heft and significance beyond their constituent characters. In the course of training, you will be torn down and rebuilt until your new name becomes you and you it.†“I—I think I understand, Master,†Doc stammered in reply. And he looked within himself, around his room, and online, and proclaimed that henceforth he would be known as Lag a’mhuilin. Upon hearing that, Steve promptly broke the fourth wall, looked to the camera, his aforementioned ridiculously good-looking face scrunched Gollum-esquely in utter disbelief, and rasped, “WHAT?!...†You see, His Cleverness knew that “Lag a’mhuilin†was Scottish Gaelic for “hollow by the mill,†and in fact the name origin of the single malt scotch, Lagavulin. “...WHAT?! I said ‘names have heft and significance,’ and you name yourself after a SCOTCH?!†“Not just any scotch,†Doc—Lag a’mhuilin protested, “It’s Ron Swanson’s favorite scotch! But really, if you must know, Lagavulin was my gateway scotch, years before Parks and Rec. It represents a moment when I was open to trying something new and shocked and delighted to find layers of complexity. It speaks of adventure and discovery, of an appreciation of history and craftspersonship, of risk and reward. It’s downright poetic if you ask me. What’s more, the word “hollow†itself has many layers. A hollow is a hole—a depression or concavity. It's defined by what it isn’t. Hollow is the absence of meaning, of being, of ego, a place of stillness, and emptiness. It's a state of limitless potential. The mill can be a metaphor for training, so I stand here before you, hollow by mill.†Steve had to concede. He continued, nonplussed: “Right. Well...um...each step of your training will build upon the last. Your first task is to know thyself. You will spend the first three months among the druids. I expect you to become one of them, to learn their ways. They must never suspect what you really are. You will meditate daily. Learn to be aware of your senses and of your surroundings. Teach yourself to be mindful and present in your interactions with others. Rein in stray thoughts…†1st Quest: Mindfulness (25 xp) Meditate for at least 15 minutes every dayWhen walking alone try to think only of what can be perceived by the sensesWhen interacting with others truly listen and respond instead of thinking forward to the next topicBe observant “…You also need to begin to hone your body. Work on strength, flexibility, balance, and dexterity…†2nd Quest: Conditioning (24 xp) Attend at least two yoga classes per week, one for flexibility, and one strenuous, challenging one.Perform at least two strength-training workouts per week. “…Finally, you must give your body the nourishment it needs to be healthy…†3rd Quest: Food (26 xp) 4 weeks of full paleo. I’ve done it before, and I can do it again.At the end of four weeks, honestly assess how I feel and how easy or difficult it is to maintain. “…Lag a’mhuilin, these areas of study represent the foundation of your assassin training. In order even to be considered for full membership in the Non-Violent Assassins’ Guild, you must demonstrate steadfast determination and discipline. Over time you may be rewarded with freedom and flexibility, but not until you have truly earned it. You will not miss a workout, find an excuse not to meditate, or cheat on your diet.†“Sure thing, Master Steve,†Lag replied. “I can do anything for four weeks! I do, however, have a few more tasks I’d like to accomplish in the first month if you don’t mind. They also follow the general theme of ‘know thyself.’†Side Quests (5xp each): Contemplate where I want to be in 5 years and what steps I would have to take to get there.Start a profile on the Level Up site. Add above steps as quests.Create a budget and follow itOpen a savings account and establish a recurring depositDetermine a personal project that will provide growth in my skill set and begin. “Good luck, Lag a’mhuilin,†His Modestness bade. “You have a long and rewarding journey ahead of you. Take your first steps with confidence and grace.â€

If there’s one thing I can say after a solid 30 minutes of googling variations of the phrase, “Last Month of My 20sâ€, it’s that people have a lot of opinions about turning 30. I saw bucket lists and lessons learned and regrets and hopes for the future. After all, turning 30 is just another milestone – like starting a new year or even a new Nerd Fitness challenge. As much as I secretly want this month to be full of awesome adventures so that I can say I left my 20s with a bang, the truth is I am way too busy for that shit. And also it’s cold out. And honestly I’m working very hard on adulting right now and I don’t think I can schedule in ‘awesome adventures’. So if nothing else, I can accurately say that my 30s will be more exciting than the last month of my 20s. Goal 1: Adhere to a Whole30 reintroduction schedule (CON 3) Week 1: Dairy Week 2: Legumes Week 3: Non-gluten grains Week 4: Gluten Aside from these rules, I’m allowing sugar and alcohol in moderation. When reintro-ing a food group, the rest of my diet will be ‘clean’ – so no Mexican feast of beans, rice, and cheese all in one meal. Goal 2: Strength Train 2x a week, Cardio 2x a week (STR 2, STA 2) This worked really well for me last month so I’m going to keep it going! 30 min of ST and Cardio is required; can be done on the same day, or even in the same activity if it is 1 hour or more. Goal 3: TBD This challenge is still a bit of a work in progress, since I literally just finished last month's challenge yesterday... but I'll keep updating as week goes on!

For the first challenge of 2016, I’ve decided to tackle my biggest struggle head-on, improving my food habits and my relationship with food. This challenge will involve the first stage in the battle plan to tame my Sugar Dragon; another Whole30. Yep. You can’t call your challenge “taming a dragon†without everyone’s favorite cat-bat-dragon gifs. It seemed to fit, considering my struggles during the holidays, and admittedly, even before. I realize that I just recently completed a Whole30 in September. I struggled through it and did my best to do a slow roll reintroduction, then migrated over to tracking macros in order to find a way that I could live with moderation. I paid close attention to my thoughts and feelings during the holidays as my Sugar Dragon grew stronger. I reflected on my previous attempts to change my food habits and noticed that my Sugar Dragon’s behavior adapted to the situation. What I learned was what I suspected; while I completed the Whole30 as per the rules, I adapted the slow roll and macro tracking to fit my cravings that still whispered to me near the end of the Whole30. I will admit, I chickened out on making it longer to tame my Sugar Dragon. I wanted to dive right back into moderation so I could have the foods that I was missing. With macro tracking and the holidays looming, my Sugar Dragon kept getting fed, so I spiraled back into old eating habits. With these observations in the back of my head, I revisited the method and purpose behind the Whole30 when it was suggested by my husband that I should probably do another one. As a big girl, I must accept that I still do not have the control over my habits and cravings that I wish I had, that moderation cannot work for me unless I truly get over these habits and cravings. I understand that it’s a work in progress to make these habit changes solid, but I’ve found nothing else that works better for me in the long-run than Whole30’s black and white rules, while temporary. I cannot eat in moderation; not yet, anyway. This challenge will focus entirely on my Whole30. I’ve said good-bye to the foods that hurt me (though I imagine that I’ll still be going through some food grief), and I’m ready to accept that this Whole30 will probably go beyond January. That’s okay. I’m making it a point to focus on my habits pertaining food during this run, so a lot of the following strategy isn’t just about following the rules, but paying attention to my cravings and finding ways of forming new habits to replace the old. Main Quest: Tame the Sugar Dragon (make solid changes to my food habits/obtain food freedom) Goal One: Follow the Whole30 rules (CON +1.25, STR +0.5, STA +0.5) meat, veggies, fat, fruitno sugar, grains, legumes, dairy, artificial foodThis is a no-brainer. Focus on following the Whole30 rules to the letter, especially when dining out (which is where I usually get a little laid-back). Goal Two: Follow the Whole30 recommendations (CON +1.25, STR +0.5, STA +0.5) three meals a daymeat, veggies, fat at every mealpre & post workout snacksWhile not part of the rules, I believe that following the recommendations as though they were rules will definitely help keep me satiated and keep cravings in check. Goal Three: No separate desserts/snacks (including fruit) (CON +1.25, STR +0.5, STA +0.5, WIS +1.5) do not eat fruit or dried fruit snacks when craving sugar/stressed/super hungrywhen eating fruit/dried fruit, eat as part of meal, not on its own afterwardssnacks should be part mini-meal (include two of the three macros)This is something that needs focus. I tend to still reward myself for eating compliant food with fruit after I’m done eating the meal. This is obviously a reward habit that needs breaking. If I’m having fruit, it’ll be eaten WITH the meal or as a separate snack, and not when I’m craving sweets. Goal Four: Follow the battle plan (CON +1.25, STR +0.5, STA +0.5, WIS +1.5, CHA +2, DEX +1) Part of the Whole30 preparation strategy is to come up with battle plans so that you don’t need to dip into your willpower reservoir all the time. I’ve tried my best to come up with every incident that might come up this month, so I can make the conscious effort to change my food habits. I’ll probably come up with a few more here and there as the month goes on, and I’ll edit and update them accordingly. I’m not putting the rest of my habit foundation on hold. I’m keeping up with my strength training, stretching, and sleep cycle. And I’m even adding regular capoeira classes during the week (SO MUCH FUN). But I won't be counting it against me if I miss a few of those. It'll be hard to anyway; they're pretty habitual by now. Now that I’m done talking, it’s time to get started on my 2016 goals! Here are my mini-challenge feats. Yes, they are all inspired by my new found interest, capoeira. Strength Feat: AMRAP push-ups, assisted/negative pull-ups, & plank (with proper form). RANGERED Agility Feat: NF Yoga session on rest days. Stamina Feat: Practice basic capoeira moves for min. 30 minutes. RANGERED Ranger Class Feat: Practice Portuguese for 30 minutes.

Happy 2016 Everyone! It's a new year! A fresh start! And I am so very, very happy to be getting back into a new Nerd Fitness challenge. I'm Yvonne, or athousandwords, and this is my sixth challenge on NF. I've been an Adventurer for all previous challenges, but with the reorg of guilds and some soul-searching about what I want my fit-and-healthy life to look like, I've decided to make the move to Rangers. I'm happy to see some familiar faces over here, so looks like this will be a great challenge to reconnect with some old friends and make lots of new ones. 2015 was a strong year for me. I started off with a Whole30 in January, rejoined NF in June, and spent the majority of the year following a paleo diet and an exercise routine focused on strength training, cycling, and yoga. In November, I eased off a bit from my routine because of several (awesome) vacations and family gatherings, and let myself slip out of a lot of the good habits I developed. So this first challenge of the year will be about kickstarting good habits and health! Goal 1: Whole30 (CON 2, CHA 1) Starting the year with a Whole30 will help me hit the reset button on my poor eating decisions and curb that Sugar Dragon that's been roaring since Thanksgiving. Official Rules and Recommendations are posted here, but the gist is strict paleo: no grains, no sugar, no alcohol, no legumes, no dairy. I've done it before and I know I can do it again! Tracking: Posting what I eat daily (or on a regular basis) Grading: Pass/Fail Goal 2: Establish a weekday morning routine (DEX 1, CON 1, CHA 1) I think I'm secretly a morning person disguised in a very sleepy person's pajamas. I love the way I feel when I wake up early and get stuff done, even if the snooze button thinks otherwise. My goal is to wake up earlier on work days and get a jump start on the day with these five things: Floss Stretch Clean Cat Litter Eat Breakfast Take Prenatal VitaminTracking: Using HabitBull to mark each item complete. Half 'day' counted if something is completed but not done in the morning. Grading: Goal 3: Just Work Out (STR 1, STA 2) As much as I hate to admit it, working out is always the first thing that slips for me, and the hardest thing to get back into. I debated not having a workout challenge this month, but I want to start the year right and that means developing a habit of fitness, even if it sucks sometimes. This month, I will complete Strength Training 2x per week and Cardio 2x per week. They can be on separate days or the same day, and should be at least 20 minutes of activity. Tracking: Posting what I've done here on NF, and using HabitBull to mark complete Grading: Personal Goal: Weekly Cleaning/Organization Task (CHA 1, WIS 1) This year I'm taking the "52 Weeks To An Organized Home: Weekly Challenges" to help organize and declutter our house. This goal is to complete the first four tasks during the week they take place. Tracking: Updating here each week as completed Grading: Starting Stats: STR 13.5 | DEX 8 | STA 11.5 | CON 19.5 | WIS 15.75 | CHA 12.5 Weight: 161.8 Waist: 32"Belly: 38.5"Hips: 41"R Thigh: 24.75"R Bicep: 12.5"Neck: 13"

Hello fellow Rebels! I'm at work, and a guest asked me if there was a local Makerspace or Hackerspace in the area. I know the guys who run it personally, so the question is easy to answer and contact information can be exchanged. Well, after he left, it occurred to me to ask if there were any Rebels out there into the same thing. So, are there any Rebels out there involved in the Maker movement? Do you participate in making, hacking, tinkering, or any other related activities? Do you go to a local Makerspace or Hackerspace in your area? If you do, what kind of things do you work on? What are you interested in? Are you working on any projects at the moment? I'm just curious to see if there was anyone else around here involved in that kind of hobby. I have a B.S. in Physics, but circuits were probably my weakest subject in school. Electronics is still new to me, but I've been trying to learn as much as possible. It's great fun too. I haven't had the chance yet to really get involved in the local Makerspace here, but I plan to when I get the chance. I work in a science museum, specifically a hands-on physics and chemistry lab space. I design a lot of activities, classes, and workshops for people to participate in and learn concepts on STEM subjects. We started a Maker workshop series that I've been really pushing along. I've played with Arduinos, Makey-Makeys, and all kinds of things. We also have six 3D printers at work (two of which I'm more or less in charge of). We also have a laser cutter, but I'm waiting for the next laser cutter training session (I missed the first one). Right now, I'm trying to get the Thing-O-Matic's extruder reversed. I'm not sure why it started inverse extruding, but it's gotta go out on the museum floor this week to spit out parts for people to use.