ElvenEngineer Escapes Emelen

[elvenengineer]

Easy Peasy: (Emelan is a tieback to the Tamora Pierce series - @Alanna)

 

Now that I've developed a journaling framework that works for me, I need to use it. Every day.

 

Also, now that I've gotten WAY better at planning in my workouts, my main challenge is eating. I've lost some weight lately from just.... not eating. No good when your main goal is to get stronger! Track something in MFP EVERY DAY. Peeps on MFP feel free to like the "ElvenEngineer tracked for 5 days in a row! 6 days in a row!.... and on". [my handle is ElvenEngineer - feel free to friend me, just say you're from NF]

 

And what is the goal of all this you may ask? What does it have to do with the challenge title?

 

Everything.

 

Everything.

 

Every day I journal I get 1 pt

Every day I track in MFP I get 1 pt

Every workout gets 5 points (gotta keep up the habit)

 

I'm working on tying specific goals with numbers, but a la @Taddea Zhaan the goals will give me dollars towards my travel savings account. Since I *cough* keep forgetting to open/add to it.

 

Other things that need to escape Emelan (not that it isn't great, the magic is cool, but I want to visit other places!):

-Open a savings account to function as a travel savings

-report stolen passport found (in true Canadian form, they dropped it in a mailbox so it got returned to me)

-check to see if my middle name needs to be on my passport and why it isn't on the newest one?

-make sure I can fly with my TWIC card, since my state driver's license isn't TSA compliant as of January 22, 2018 (REAL ID - I'd check if you aren't sure if your state is compliant - half aren't) Handy Map: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

-Buy new travel backpack with either amazon gift cards or travel savings

-Get a credit card that doesn't have foreign transaction fees (all my current ones do)

 

^^ Each of these will be worth 10 points since they're all more labor intensive - the list may also be added to

I always identified the most with Sandy, and she's traveled a LOT. Time to follow her example!

 

*fun note about the Circle of Magic books - I think they're the only book I've read where in the group of main protagonists there are MORE girls than boys. Feel free to recommend other books if I've missed some. I've read plenty where there is a girl, a girl and a boy, a boy, two boys and a girl (twilight - ugh), but I can't think of any with two girls and a boy, or in the case of CoM - three girls and a boy! so many female protagonists!

 

 

[Laghail]

Tamora Pierce is a feminist dreamboat. Tris was always my favorite but Sandry is a close second. The second series, circle opens, Pierce showed off her writing chops with a few multi-genre pieces, like the Tris book that's a procedural murder mystery. Following for the Pierce love!

[elvenengineer]

45 minutes ago, Laghail said:

Tamora Pierce is a feminist dreamboat. Tris was always my favorite but Sandry is a close second. The second series, circle opens, Pierce showed off her writing chops with a few multi-genre pieces, like the Tris book that's a procedural murder mystery. Following for the Pierce love!

TBH I love the world of Tortall more, but it didn't make as much alliteration as Emelan. And it isn't that I dislike circle of magic so *shrug*

Kelandry of Mindelan was my favorite heroine as a child.

Picture Credit: https://klork.deviantart.com/art/Keladry-of-Mindelan-and-Peach-176906640

 

Yeah, the Tris extended (The Circle Opens: Shatterglass) was awesome, I loved the fusion of lightening and magic. I also love crime shows, so it was great. I also really loved the Sandry one with dancing because I used to do ballet and the idea of magical dancing just made me super happy

 

As for my love of Sandry in general..... I'm a quiet bookish girl who likes to sew (see my insta for latest cross stitch) so it was a natural fit. I love all of them though  

[RedStone]

/me sends Ramen. <3 you boo.

[Laghail]

5 minutes ago, elvenengineer said:

 

I also really loved the Sandry one with dancing because I used to do ballet and the idea of magical dancing just made me super happy

 

 

That scene with the dancing leap that flung everyone into the air?  Makes me sad the book isn't a movie, then happy again that Disney didn't have a chance to Ella Enchanted the whole thing.

[elvenengineer]

8 minutes ago, RedStone said:

/me sends Ramen. <3 you boo.

I found ANOTHER place with yummy udon.

 

You gotta come visit <3

[Br0din]

Ok, I'll add MFP to my stalking of you.

 

[elvenengineer]

3 minutes ago, Br0din said:

Ok, I'll add MFP to my stalking of you.

 

As if commenting on all of my Insta posts wasn't enough....

[Br0din]

1 minute ago, elvenengineer said:

As if commenting on all of my Insta posts wasn't enough....

 

Just trying to be supportive... but if I crossed the line to creepy... let me know

 

[Jord]

3 hours ago, elvenengineer said:

 

I'm working on tying specific goals with numbers, but a la @Taddea Zhaan the goals will give me dollars towards my travel savings account. Since I *cough* keep forgetting to open/add to it.

 

 

If it doesn't work out I want you to know that I stole this idea from other nerds. 

[Blocky]

Ok... so I'm clearly unfamiliar with these books....

 

I read "ElvenEngineer Escapes Emelen"   as   "ElvenEngineer Escapes a Melon". Clearly I'm not getting enough sleep.

[spezzy]

6 hours ago, elvenengineer said:

T

8 hours ago, elvenengineer said:

 

 

Other things that need to escape Emelan (not that it isn't great, the magic is cool, but I want to visit other places!):

-Open a savings account to function as a travel savings

-report stolen passport found (in true Canadian form, they dropped it in a mailbox so it got returned to me)

-check to see if my middle name needs to be on my passport and why it isn't on the newest one?

-make sure I can fly with my TWIC card, since my state driver's license isn't TSA compliant as of January 22, 2018 (REAL ID - I'd check if you aren't sure if your state is compliant - half aren't) Handy Map: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

-Buy new travel backpack with either amazon gift cards or travel savings

-Get a credit card that doesn't have foreign transaction fees (all my current ones do)

 

 

 

 

Following, obvi.

 

For monies, I like Capital One for savings account because you can create lots of little savings accounts and name them each what they are for. So that helps be like "okay, that money is for travel" and "that money is for a new puppy" and "that money is for a new car" and for me, that helps me not touch it or see how I'm doing towards different goals I'm saving for.

 

For credit cards, I recommend checking out nerdwallet.com (not associated with nerdfitness ;)) or thepointsguy.com - they both have great overviews and reviews. 

[Mike Wazowski]

17 minutes ago, spezzy said:

 

Following, obvi.

 

For monies, I like Capital One for savings account because you can create lots of little savings accounts and name them each what they are for. So that helps be like "okay, that money is for travel" and "that money is for a new puppy" and "that money is for a new car" and for me, that helps me not touch it or see how I'm doing towards different goals I'm saving for.

 

For credit cards, I recommend checking out nerdwallet.com (not associated with nerdfitness ;)) or thepointsguy.com - they both have great overviews and reviews. 

Agree on Capital One for that benefit - plus having fee free debit card access at any 7-eleven, CVS, Target and a bunch of other places is super nice (and being able to open all the accounts for Capital One 360 online).

[spezzy]

2 minutes ago, MikeWazowski said:

Agree on Capital One for that benefit - plus having fee free debit card access at any 7-eleven, CVS, Target and a bunch of other places is super nice (and being able to open all the accounts for Capital One 360 online).

 

Yup. Makes it easier to just be like "I NEED A SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR THIS NOW" and put monies in it instead of being like "ehhh I'll get to it tomorrow"

 

plus anxious introvert means online makes it less scary haha. i swear, i'm a functioning adult.

[Sam Ashen]

18 hours ago, MikeWazowski said:

Agree on Capital One for that benefit - plus having fee free debit card access at any 7-eleven, CVS, Target and a bunch of other places is super nice (and being able to open all the accounts for Capital One 360 online).

 

I still walk around with paper bills in my pocket.  Am I still behind the times?

[Mike Wazowski]

5 minutes ago, Sam Ashen said:

 

I still walk around with paper bills in my pocket.  Am I still behind the times?

My just out of college coworker asked if the person collecting cash for a coworker's wedding present took venmo. Hopefully you don't need me to connect the dots 

[Blocky]

3 hours ago, Sam Ashen said:

 

I still walk around with paper bills in my pocket.  Am I still behind the times?

 

No. This is the correct way of doing things. As is hiding wads of cash around the house instead of using a bank.

[elvenengineer]

On ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 3:19 PM, Taddea Zhaan said:

 

If it doesn't work out I want you to know that I stole this idea from other nerds. 

Noted

 

On ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 8:10 PM, Blocky said:

Ok... so I'm clearly unfamiliar with these books....

 

I read "ElvenEngineer Escapes Emelen"   as   "ElvenEngineer Escapes a Melon". Clearly I'm not getting enough sleep.

I can also escape from cantaloupes.... I suppose?

 

On ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 8:33 PM, spezzy said:

 

Following, obvi.

 

For monies, I like Capital One for savings account because you can create lots of little savings accounts and name them each what they are for. So that helps be like "okay, that money is for travel" and "that money is for a new puppy" and "that money is for a new car" and for me, that helps me not touch it or see how I'm doing towards different goals I'm saving for.

 

For credit cards, I recommend checking out nerdwallet.com (not associated with nerdfitness ;)) or thepointsguy.com - they both have great overviews and reviews. 

 

I love nerdwallet! I used them to pick my last credit card. I used to have a capital one 360 but I'm slowly switching over to chase since there aren't any capital ones in Michigan. It was frustrating. I like Ally a lot too for savings.

 

On ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 8:56 PM, spezzy said:

 

Yup. Makes it easier to just be like "I NEED A SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR THIS NOW" and put monies in it instead of being like "ehhh I'll get to it tomorrow"

 

plus anxious introvert means online makes it less scary haha. i swear, i'm a functioning adult.

I reported a card lost and ordered a replacement through a chat feature instead of having to call them and was SO EXCITED. I don't have to talk to anyone, I can just type! Yay!

 

Points so far:

Journaling - 1/2 days so far

Workouts - 1/3 for this week

MFP Tracking - 2/2 days so far

 

I opened a savings account at Chase since that's my primary bank now, so that's an extra +10 pts

 

Total Points: 18

[calanthrophy]

57 minutes ago, elvenengineer said:

I don't have to talk to anyone, I can just type! Yay!

 

 

The goal for which we all strive.

[spezzy]

6 hours ago, elvenengineer said:

 

I love nerdwallet! I used them to pick my last credit card. I used to have a capital one 360 but I'm slowly switching over to chase since there aren't any capital ones in Michigan. It was frustrating. I like Ally a lot too for savings.

 

I reported a card lost and ordered a replacement through a chat feature instead of having to call them and was SO EXCITED. I don't have to talk to anyone, I can just type! Yay!

 

I opened a savings account at Chase since that's my primary bank now, so that's an extra +10 pts

 

Total Points: 18

 

I looooooove how much live chat is becoming popular. I was able to do a ton of my moving stuff online (like moving around utilities and cancelling / starting servince) and it was amazing.

 

Chase is also a good call. I use them for my main bank and for a big national sized bank, have had no complaints.

[Blocky]

8 hours ago, elvenengineer said:

I reported a card lost and ordered a replacement through a chat feature instead of having to call them and was SO EXCITED. I don't have to talk to anyone, I can just type! Yay!

 

 

Why can't all of life be like this?

[Emerald_Dragonfly]

Following!!!!!!

[elvenengineer]

On ‎9‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 11:07 AM, elvenengineer said:

Points so far:

Journaling - 1/2 days so far

Workouts - 1/3 for this week

MFP Tracking - 2/2 days so far

 

I opened a savings account at Chase since that's my primary bank now, so that's an extra +10 pts

 

Total Points: 18

 

 

Journaling - 2 (2pts)

Workouts - 2 (10pts)

MFP Tracking - 5 (5pts)

Travel To-Do- 1 (10pts)

 

Total Points: 27

 

Workout Yesterday -

Lots of mobility stuff

OHP: what was supposed to be 5x8 at 50# turned into 7/7/5/6/5 at 50#

DL: supposed to be 5x8 at 95# was pretty much that but on the last rep I felt something pull in my back in a painful way.

 

It's doing way better today, but it's still a little iffy on hard extension backwards and twisting to the left. I'll keep icing/NSAIDs for a couple days and taking it easy.

 

Perfect Challenge would be (not including zero week, anything now is essentially a bonus):

Journaling - 28 (28 pts)

Workouts - 12 (60 pts)

MFP Tracking - 28 (28 pts)

Travel To-Do - 6 (60 pts)

 

Perfect Challenge Total: 176

 

Current total, 27 is 15.34%

 

 

[elvenengineer]

Zero Week Point Total: 27

 

Workouts: 1 (5)

Journaling this week: 1 (1)

MFP: 4 (4)

I got the amazon giftcard (work fitness points are handy) so I can buy the backpack, but the price jumped $20?!?!?! not cool amazon. I'm going to wait for it to go down a bit

 

Week One Total So Far: 10pts

 

Ren Festival Sunday wit @Taddea Zhaan was so much fun! I got glittered, it was pretty great. A little over-socialed at the moment, this is the first day I haven't had intense socializing since last Thursday, so that's basically a solid week. Self-care was really helpful during all the craziness.

 

 

[Br0din]

14 day's logging streak in MFP.