Darkfoxx 46: A Mixed Bag Of Things

[darkfoxx]

I need to reprioritize my life. Again. And like, for real this time. 

 

I’ve gotten away from the things that made me happy in Former Life and Former Former life - working out, eating in a way that makes my body feel good, striving toward minimalism, limiting my household waste, exercising my creativity, talking to my Nerds, and fueling my sense of adventure - since this move. 

 

Some due to feeling like some things are impossible here (I mean, we get free bottled water - in individual bottles - how wasteful is that?!?! + culture and language barriers are sometimes exhausting), some due to laziness, some due to lingering depression/ennui, some due to having a different lifestyle/needs, and some due to the DH and his moods.

 

I’m tired of feeling uninspired and constantly exhausted, often with a digestive system in revolt, and carrying a solid 7 - 15 lbs. over my comfort limit. I know, I say that almost every challenge lately - but it’s still true. I’m mostly just existing - with socializing and occasionally good meals - but that’s not really enough. 

 

Again this challenge, like I feel has been the goal of challenges for the past year or two, the main goal is to GET THE F OUT OF MY FUNK AND GET ON WITH LIFE. 

 

This is easier said than done. I know this. I’ve been here.

 

Doha is not NYC, is never going to be NYC, I don’t live in NYC or even the US any more, and being butthurt that I can’t get the things I want/the things I want to do are a zillion times harder/even communicating can be trying is not serving me and is wearing me down.

 

I need to step back, take a deep breath, and make due with what is available. I was doing great at that - and then a switch turned, and I’m back to weakly fighting against the system. Not even railing against the machine as I’m wont to do - just weakly flapping my arms in the face of it all and taking a nap. 

 

My patience muscle is huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge, and I need to exercise it even more. Also: my goddamn zen muscle. I NEED SOME DAMN ZEN.

 

So.

 

I started this mindset coaching thing a couple weeks ago, but it’s not yet helping - I didn’t think it actually would; was just hoping something in it would spark something in me to wake up and pull myself up out of ennui. This has happened many times before; no idea what I did to snap out of it - I think vacation? New boyfriends? Don’t remember, but I’ve persisted in this sort of mental space for months (and sometimes years). 

 

I’m going to continue on my mindset thing - I think getting back to the mat will help - I just got a new travel-friendly camera - I want to practice video editing - and I’ve got 2 vacations on the horizon — India in a week or two, and Croatia in July (hopefully. Tickets aren’t booked for that one yet). 

 

Things I need to do:

 

• Reconceptualize my schedule to focus around something other than being social and recovering from being social.
• Get out and take pictures before it gets surface of the sun hot.
• Find the energy to actually edit my videos. 
• Come up with more varied content for them.
• Do something else Creative - cough - graphic design - cough (though going to be harder without my Adobe CS) or *gasp* develop a damn website, providing my poor little decrepit laptop can handle any of this.
• Continue supporting DH - consider doing a better job with that. 
• Find more enriching things to do in general.

 

To support these initiatives, this cycle I will:

 

1. Eat what I need to be eating to feel good - and that means sticking to mostly paleo and within my macros
2. Follow my mindset program
3. Substitute workouts as appropriate - paddling and yoga in place of HIIT & Tabata for now, in addition to eventually
4. Pick 1 creative project a week to work on
5. Figure out what I can do re:waste reduction 
6. Go through my shit and purge a bit - and quit buying shit I don’t need just because I’m bored and spend all my time at the mall
7. Find novel things to do with friends or alone
8. Figure out what DH needs if he’s finally in a space to tell me and make whatever that is happen
9. Check in here daily - if I’m watching Netflix with DH after he gets home at whatever time he gets home, I have time to remember to talk to my damn friends
10. Continue expending energy on current friends while striking out to see some different people to mitigate friendship lulls and the cray shut that kicks up in my head

 

Goals and the cut & paste part:

 

1. Macros - Cut out the business lunches

 

1286 - 1686 Calories

62g protein

Under 80g carbs

Under 100g fats

 

2. Dailies - Keep socials; do 2 - 3 available workouts

 

• Monday: Arabic class + steps + gym (HIIT) or paddle
• Tuesday: Coffee group + yoga in the pm + film and upload videos
• Wednesday: Other coffee group + gym (Tabata) or yoga in pm
• Thursday: Girlfriend day + get in your steps + community (cheaper) yoga in pm
• Friday: Workout class with girlfriend or get in steps with girlfriend + film and upload weekly update video
• Saturday: Paddle + steps + upload recipe
• Sunday: Rest - steps

 

Yoga Classes To Choose From (Niya Yoga, Beach Yoga, Anytime Fitness)

 

Mondays: Vinyasa 4-5, Yin 6-7

Tuesdays: Slow flow 4-5, Yin 6-7:30

Wednesdays: Slow flow 11:30 - 12:45, Vinyasa 5-6

Thursdays: Community 3:30-4:45, Slow flow 5-6:15, Beach at VB 6:15-7:30 (I think)

Fridays: Aerial at Anytime Fitness 2-2:45

Sundays: Beach at VB 6:15 - 7:30 (I think), Slow flow 7:45-9

 

3. Other Shit

 

• Purge wardrobe, take pics, assess (again) what I need this season
• Pick a creative enterprise and do that
• Check in on the Boards
• Mindset programming 
• Do something to support DH that isn’t just sitting on the couch and watching Netflix (like he wants)
• Say yes to more things out - even if they are inconvenient - and drag DH to some if necessary 
• Buy more bulk items - find produce bags 

 

[Jack Ryan- Rebel Recruit]

You mentioned that you reprioritize before. I'm wondering what things you've come close to being consistent on before what the strengths are.

It's kind of a distant feeling as I read through it of parallel to what I've gone through. This last challenge I took a slightly different approach that is felt better.

The most importantly good luck and happy success.

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[keyisme]

I need to reprioritize my life. Again. And like, for real this time. 
 
I’ve gotten away from the things that made me happy in Former Life and Former Former life - working out, eating in a way that makes my body feel good, striving toward minimalism, limiting my household waste, exercising my creativity, talking to my Nerds, and fueling my sense of adventure - since this move. 
 
Some due to feeling like some things are impossible here (I mean, we get free bottled water - in individual bottles - how wasteful is that?!?! + culture and language barriers are sometimes exhausting), some due to laziness, some due to lingering depression/ennui, some due to having a different lifestyle/needs, and some due to the DH and his moods.
 
I’m tired of feeling uninspired and constantly exhausted, often with a digestive system in revolt, and carrying a solid 7 - 15 lbs. over my comfort limit. I know, I say that almost every challenge lately - but it’s still true. I’m mostly just existing - with socializing and occasionally good meals - but that’s not really enough. 
 
Again this challenge, like I feel has been the goal of challenges for the past year or two, the main goal is to GET THE F OUT OF MY FUNK AND GET ON WITH LIFE. 
 
This is easier said than done. I know this. I’ve been here.
 
Doha is not NYC, is never going to be NYC, I don’t live in NYC or even the US any more, and being butthurt that I can’t get the things I want/the things I want to do are a zillion times harder/even communicating can be trying is not serving me and is wearing me down.
 
I need to step back, take a deep breath, and make due with what is available. I was doing great at that - and then a switch turned, and I’m back to weakly fighting against the system. Not even railing against the machine as I’m wont to do - just weakly flapping my arms in the face of it all and taking a nap. 
 
My patience muscle is huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge, and I need to exercise it even more. Also: my goddamn zen muscle. I NEED SOME DAMN ZEN.
 
So.
 
I started this mindset coaching thing a couple weeks ago, but it’s not yet helping - I didn’t think it actually would; was just hoping something in it would spark something in me to wake up and pull myself up out of ennui. This has happened many times before; no idea what I did to snap out of it - I think vacation? New boyfriends? Don’t remember, but I’ve persisted in this sort of mental space for months (and sometimes years). 
 
I’m going to continue on my mindset thing - I think getting back to the mat will help - I just got a new travel-friendly camera - I want to practice video editing - and I’ve got 2 vacations on the horizon — India in a week or two, and Croatia in July (hopefully. Tickets aren’t booked for that one yet). 
 
Things I need to do:
 

• Reconceptualize my schedule to focus around something other than being social and recovering from being social.
• Get out and take pictures before it gets surface of the sun hot.
• Find the energy to actually edit my videos. 
• Come up with more varied content for them.
• Do something else Creative - cough - graphic design - cough (though going to be harder without my Adobe CS) or *gasp* develop a damn website, providing my poor little decrepit laptop can handle any of this.
• Continue supporting DH - consider doing a better job with that. 
• Find more enriching things to do in general.

 
To support these initiatives, this cycle I will:
 

1. Eat what I need to be eating to feel good - and that means sticking to mostly paleo and within my macros
2. Follow my mindset program
3. Substitute workouts as appropriate - paddling and yoga in place of HIIT & Tabata for now, in addition to eventually
4. Pick 1 creative project a week to work on
5. Figure out what I can do re:waste reduction 
6. Go through my shit and purge a bit - and quit buying shit I don’t need just because I’m bored and spend all my time at the mall
7. Find novel things to do with friends or alone
8. Figure out what DH needs if he’s finally in a space to tell me and make whatever that is happen
9. Check in here daily - if I’m watching Netflix with DH after he gets home at whatever time he gets home, I have time to remember to talk to my damn friends
10. Continue expending energy on current friends while striking out to see some different people to mitigate friendship lulls and the cray shut that kicks up in my head

 
Goals and the cut & paste part:
 
1. Macros - Cut out the business lunches
 
1286 - 1686 Calories
62g protein
Under 80g carbs
Under 100g fats
 
2. Dailies - Keep socials; do 2 - 3 available workouts
 

• Monday: Arabic class + steps + gym (HIIT) or paddle
• Tuesday: Coffee group + yoga in the pm + film and upload videos
• Wednesday: Other coffee group + gym (Tabata) or yoga in pm
• Thursday: Girlfriend day + get in your steps + community (cheaper) yoga in pm
• Friday: Workout class with girlfriend or get in steps with girlfriend + film and upload weekly update video
• Saturday: Paddle + steps + upload recipe
• Sunday: Rest - steps

 
Yoga Classes To Choose From (Niya Yoga, Beach Yoga, Anytime Fitness)
 
Mondays: Vinyasa 4-5, Yin 6-7
Tuesdays: Slow flow 4-5, Yin 6-7:30
Wednesdays: Slow flow 11:30 - 12:45, Vinyasa 5-6
Thursdays: Community 3:30-4:45, Slow flow 5-6:15, Beach at VB 6:15-7:30 (I think)
Fridays: Aerial at Anytime Fitness 2-2:45
Sundays: Beach at VB 6:15 - 7:30 (I think), Slow flow 7:45-9
 
3. Other Shit
 

• Purge wardrobe, take pics, assess (again) what I need this season
• Pick a creative enterprise and do that
• Check in on the Boards
• Mindset programming 
• Do something to support DH that isn’t just sitting on the couch and watching Netflix (like he wants)
• Say yes to more things out - even if they are inconvenient - and drag DH to some if necessary 
• Buy more bulk items - find produce bags 

 

I feel like you're setting yourself up to fail. You have too high of expectations and and too many things you're trying to fit into one day. Minimize your schedule. Give yourself 30 min or less of stuff to do everyday, outside of your job, and then you can feel a WIN when you accomplish 30 minutes or more. Wins are motivating. Wins help with funks. And for me, creativity comes when it's not on my to do list and I have time... I feel like it. Too high of expectations for yourself can create a lot of situational depression.

It also sounds like you have been or are talked into the minimalism/zero waste bandwagon, which are admirable goals, but can become an unhealthy obsession. Yes, the planet might be going in a bad direction, but stressing yourself out about it multiple times a day will take years off of your life. People are more important than things. There are seasons to your life, and this season may not be about waste consumption.

Consider goals such as:
1- exercise 2-3 times a week, with the goal of starting the habit - not loosing weight.
2- find a language class
3- eat well, to feel well. If the problem is finding the right grocery store, that's your goal. If it's prep lunches, schedule that in.
4- let everything else go. You can get to it later. 3 goals is plenty.



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[Tateman]

You got this!

[Raxie]

Ugh I'm sorry you're feeling this way my dear. It sounds like you've got a solid plan and you've just gotta do eeeet.  Get that hard hat on, and tell Freya to not let you slack.  I'm sure she's a very good coach.

 

In all seriousness though I miss you and we should do another google hangouts sometime soon! I miss your face.  I'm not sure we are ever awake at the same time but we can figure something out.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

You know what Foxx? You haven't quit. Through all the ups and downs, through all the moves, through all the setbacks, frustrations, pains and joys you have come back time and time again and started a new challenge. And no matter how they have gone, you have always come back to start a new one. That alone is a victory in itself. Remember, we started on NF about the same time, but you never quit. You have been here that whole time. That persistence alone is something to be celebrated. In fact, it may be the building blocks on which you build your new success. Sticking around means when your energy ticks back up again you will be in the right place to take full advantage of it. You are still learning, even in the down times, so even these slumps aren't wasted.

 

You are the mighty DarkFoxx, you rang the bells at my wedding, and I'm proud to know you.

[darkfoxx]

You mentioned that you reprioritize before. I'm wondering what things you've come close to being consistent on before what the strengths are.

It's kind of a distant feeling as I read through it of parallel to what I've gone through. This last challenge I took a slightly different approach that is felt better.

The most importantly good luck and happy success.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I’ve gone from training for 19(?) 22(?) races in a year with a solid 5 session a week schedule (+ mini challenges and pvps and 2.5/3 years of mostly solid macro tracking) to zero training and school, to zero training and job hunting, to zero training, a move across the globe and (temporary?) retirement.

The carrot of races used to be a great motivator - but I don’t have that carrot any more.

And life is just ... different now.

Finding my motivation has proved problematic.

What approach did you take during this last challenge that’s worked for you?



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[darkfoxx]

I feel like you're setting yourself up to fail. You have too high of expectations and and too many things you're trying to fit into one day. Minimize your schedule. Give yourself 30 min or less of stuff to do everyday, outside of your job, and then you can feel a WIN when you accomplish 30 minutes or more. Wins are motivating. Wins help with funks. And for me, creativity comes when it's not on my to do list and I have time... I feel like it. Too high of expectations for yourself can create a lot of situational depression.

It also sounds like you have been or are talked into the minimalism/zero waste bandwagon, which are admirable goals, but can become an unhealthy obsession. Yes, the planet might be going in a bad direction, but stressing yourself out about it multiple times a day will take years off of your life. People are more important than things. There are seasons to your life, and this season may not be about waste consumption.

Consider goals such as:
1- exercise 2-3 times a week, with the goal of starting the habit - not loosing weight.
2- find a language class
3- eat well, to feel well. If the problem is finding the right grocery store, that's your goal. If it's prep lunches, schedule that in.
4- let everything else go. You can get to it later. 3 goals is plenty.



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Thanks - I may be setting myself up to fail and I’ll think on what I can do to mitigate that.

Were it a couple years ago, this + a full time job would be about 2/3 of the amount of goals I had running at once.

But then is not now and sometimes it’s hard to wrap my brain around that.

As for time management - I’m retired and spend an inordinate amount of time watching YouTube

Minimalism is actually a passion of mine and something I’ve been practicing actively for a few years - I’ve done 3 resizing-my-life moves in the past few years - most recently with 6 suitcases. Just not a fan of the amount of shit I’ve bought because I spend too much time in malls over the last few months - and that I’ve been using cultural and language barriers as an easy out for doing small things (like taking a coffee cup with me or not using 10 plastic bags per grocery trip in a country that doesn’t really recycle).


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[darkfoxx]

Ugh I'm sorry you're feeling this way my dear. It sounds like you've got a solid plan and you've just gotta do eeeet.  Get that hard hat on, and tell Freya to not let you slack.  I'm sure she's a very good coach.
 
In all seriousness though I miss you and we should do another google hangouts sometime soon! I miss your face.  I'm not sure we are ever awake at the same time but we can figure something out.

A THOUSAND TIMES YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!!!!!

And I was just thinking on her walk tonight that her little ass really wants to jog - won’t be able to in a month or so because of the heat, but it was nice and breezy tonight.


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[darkfoxx]

You know what Foxx? You haven't quit. Through all the ups and downs, through all the moves, through all the setbacks, frustrations, pains and joys you have come back time and time again and started a new challenge. And no matter how they have gone, you have always come back to start a new one. That alone is a victory in itself. Remember, we started on NF about the same time, but you never quit. You have been here that whole time. That persistence alone is something to be celebrated. In fact, it may be the building blocks on which you build your new success. Sticking around means when your energy ticks back up again you will be in the right place to take full advantage of it. You are still learning, even in the down times, so even these slumps aren't wasted.
 
You are the mighty DarkFoxx, you rang the bells at my wedding, and I'm proud to know you.

[emoji178][emoji178]

You’re right per usual - I’m slogging, just off in the corner of the map caught in quicksand - doesn’t mean I’m not slogging and not learning.




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[darkfoxx]

Today’s Update

Did not reprioritize. Initial intention for the day was to hit the 3:30 or 6:15 community yoga classes on offer, or DH had volunteered to go with me to the gym after work.

Spent the day chilling with two of my girl friends - checked out a Thai place for lunch, walked in the heat a few blocks farther than either of them had any desire to, had adult beverages by the pool, and watched 3/4 of Mulan before the DH picked me up - went to dinner with him somewhere new on the way home then walked the dog before settling in to post. Have yet to turn the TV on this evening and it’s 8:19. Did manage to watch a solid 2 hours of BS this morning before leaving, though.

Breakfast: Smoothie bowl of chia seed + coconut pudding, strawberries, pepitas, tahini & honey + coffee
Coffee: Coffee
Lunch: Legit Thai - beef larb with a couple bites spring roll and 2 or 3 shu mai dumplings
Snack: Popcorn and a Bacardi breezer at a friends pool
Dinner: Korean beef with jap chae and aaaall the kimchi + takoyaki

—

1. Macros - Cut out the business lunches

1286 - 1686 Calories [emoji777]2090
62g protein [emoji777]125g
Under 80g carbs [emoji777]195g
Under 100g fats [emoji736] 85g

2. Dailies - Keep socials; do 2 - 3 available workouts

Thursday: Girlfriend day + get in your steps + community (cheaper) yoga in pm

[emoji736]
Maybe (I’m at 8,000)
[emoji777]


3. Other Shit

Purge wardrobe, take pics, assess (again) what I need this season [emoji777] I did, however, get my plain white tee in the mail from Everlane and love it - wore it today.

Pick a creative enterprise and do that [emoji777] didn’t think about it

Check in on the Boards [emoji736]

Mindset programming [emoji777] nooooooope

Do something to support DH that isn’t just sitting on the couch and watching Netflix (like he wants)[emoji736] took him to a novel dinner that wasn’t Delivery and wasn’t in our neighborhood, found things to do on his 3-day weekend - still need to book tickets, but at least it’s been narrowed down. Looking like: Dhow boat cruise tomorrow (deciding between 2-hour around sunset or Dhow to the Corniche and a walk to dinner in one of the hotels); Pool day Saturday somewhere we can get alcohol on the beach; Avengers and Indian food with friends on Sunday.

Say yes to more things out - even if they are inconvenient - and drag DH to some if necessary [emoji736] got him to pick me up from a friends and interact with another friend as he dropped her off - may go to a South African fest in the afternoon tomorrow; not sure. I had planned on going when he wasn’t going to be off, but now I’d rather do staycationy things

Buy more bulk items - find produce bags [emoji777] wasn’t near the Souq; no idea on the bulk bags.




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[darkfoxx]

Whoops. What is this? My day 3? Already forgot to update.

[emoji38]

Update

DH got a 3-day weekend and we’ve been staycationing.

Yesterday: had a nice breakfast out, picked up a few summer things he wanted from the mall, took a Dhow boat ride from The Pearl to the Museum of Islamic art, hit the Belgian Beer Bar at the Intercontinental Hotel for mussels & beers.

Macros were turrible.

Today: had a smoothie bowl for breakfast, went to the Hilton for a beach day - had a salmon wrap with fries for lunch and a sex on the beach cocktail on the beach. Have talked DH out of Indian for dinner - we’re ordering sushi in instead because daaaaaaaamn I don’t want that much food on top of pool/beach/heat nap/alcohol.

Macros will be turrible.

Tomorrow: Avengers with friends after Indian for lunch. We’ll see what other sort of shenanigans happens.

Macros will likely be turrible.

Monday: Back on schedule and track - Arabic class and some sort of full moon yoga class - there are 4 to choose from that I have seen on Facebook.

Also: meal planning and possibly grocery shopping needs to happen. Maybe I’ll do that tonight so I can make DH take me after the movie.


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[darkfoxx]

Today:

Lunch with friends at a Pakistani place - managed to behave there, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut then ate most of a mixed salt/cheddar/caramel mixed popcorn in the movie and a tiny bag of masala chips for dinner.

Avengers was good. Still thinking about it.

Friend bailed for tomorrow’s full moon yoga - I’m deciding what I want to do —


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[Elastigirl]

Bummer on the full moon yoga. You should still go, it's sounds cool.

[darkfoxx]

@Elastigirl: Totally should have gone to yoga. Snuggled pupper instead.

Today

Food was good, but macros were still off - too high on protein by double, too high on fat by 12 grams.

Breakfast: Coconut chia smoothie bowl with pepitas, berries & tahini + coffee

Coffee while out at Arabic class

Lunch: roasted sweet potato, avocado, chili pesto, chicken & spinach bowl

Dinner: Thai red curry with shrimp, roasted sweet potato, roasted eggplant & spinach

Did zero working out. Left it too long after getting home and got hella nauseous. Had to have a lie down. Took doggo for a walk when I felt better.

Downloaded this week of the mindset program.




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[darkfoxx]

Also: Ugly Delicious on Netflix is making me homesick for NYC and my food nerds.


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[Rurik Harrgath]

On 4/25/2018 at 7:52 AM, darkfoxx said:

Figure out what I can do re:waste reduction

 

This has been something on my mind a great deal lately - looking forward to hearing what you come up with!  Minimalism just isn't enough anymore.

[Jack Ryan- Rebel Recruit]

On 4/26/2018 at 10:55 AM, darkfoxx said:

What approach did you take during this last challenge that’s worked for you?

 

 

Instead of 'big fleshed out SMART goals. I did simple Noobs targets like in NFA,  'walk for 20 min'

[darkfoxx]

 
This has been something on my mind a great deal lately - looking forward to hearing what you come up with!  Minimalism just isn't enough anymore.

This far the ruminations have been:

Shopping for things like nuts at the souq (open market) instead of the grocery - I’m picking one favorite place and think I’ll be comfortable enough with them/their level of English next trip to chance bringing my own containers.

Quit carrying around so much coffee, opting to sit down and drink coffee instead.

Still looking for produce bags but have no idea how that’s going to work - they individually bag and sticker all produce here - maybe I can get them to put stickers on a sheet? Not sure, and this one is going to take a bit - the produce people are generally hella busy, on autopilot, and don’t really look up enough to chat - let alone talk to a weirdo white lady in English.

Start collecting at least a little Of our plastic bottles to bring to the one mall I know has a recycling bin when I know I’m going. I’m 1000% sure nothing is *actually* being recycled, but maybe it will start?

Also: Stop buying all the damn things. I’d say my biggest personal expenses are definitely food in restaurants, coffees out, and Uber trips - I’m trying to minimize those by opting to stay in my neighborhood two days a week, and I’m toying with the idea of eating breakfast at home every day and just skipping the breakfast part of going out 2x a week with coffee groups.

Wardrobe issues should mostly theoretically be ironed out in the next couple weeks, so I can stop it with the ‘gimmes’ there. I’m good on household stuff (mostly) for now - still want a food processor but am seeing how long I can hold out without one.

Trying to use half microfiber wash rags and half paper towels around the house to clean - dog stuff and biohazards: paper towels, food dirt and grease: towels.

Have minimized my personal care routine, but need to re-focus a touch — have let myself get swept up a tiiiiiny but in skincare that I *know* is marketing bs, but I want to believe. Also: goddamn YouTube beauty channels and their seductive, seductive makeups.

Hmmmmm ... what else?

Have started trying to buy more local produce (unless it’s weird fruit for vids), have started buying much less food in general and am making simpler/more local types of foods to cut down there. Have been buying less meat in general - and am buying a lot of precooked rotisserie chicken (mostly because I’m terrified of getting rotten raw chicken again).




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[darkfoxx]

 
 
Instead of 'big fleshed out SMART goals. I did simple Noobs targets like in NFA,  'walk for 20 min'

Nice! That’s a great goal and a good way to ease into things!


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[darkfoxx]

Update

Tuesday

Coffee group
Breakfast out
Bunless burger out
Tea out
Double long pupper walk with friends

Macros weren’t the worst

Today

Coffee group 2
Breakfast out
Lunch in
Getting ready to make dinner in when pupper gets her sleepy body off my legs
Half packed for India


This is all I’m taking - contact stuff, glasses, Kindle, and toothbrush

Tomorrow

Mall walking


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[Rurik Harrgath]

2 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

Still looking for produce bags but have no idea how that’s going to work - they individually bag and sticker all produce here - maybe I can get them to put stickers on a sheet? Not sure, and this one is going to take a bit - the produce people are generally hella busy, on autopilot, and don’t really look up enough to chat - let alone talk to a weirdo white lady in English.

Also: Stop buying all the damn things. I’d say my biggest personal expenses are definitely food in restaurants, coffees out, and Uber trips - I’m trying to minimize those by opting to stay in my neighborhood two days a week, and I’m toying with the idea of eating breakfast at home every day and just skipping the breakfast part of going out 2x a week with coffee groups.

Wardrobe issues should mostly theoretically be ironed out in the next couple weeks, so I can stop it with the ‘gimmes’ there. I’m good on household stuff (mostly) for now - still want a food processor but am seeing how long I can hold out without one.

 

 

1. Carrying reusable grocery bags isn't always easiest, but since I've been on the motorcycle for 95%+ of my transportation lately, it's "either it fits in the backpack or I don't need it."  It's a new and exciting brand of Rurik Minimalism™ for the summer.

 

2. "Going out" complicates things a bit, financially and conveniently - depending how you look at it. Helps that isn't really my jam but I totally get the impact.

 

3. Honestly I've been wearing the exact same single pair of Levis I bought a few months ago through the end of winter and for all of my riding lately.  They got washed once a week or so, and no one notices.  At the end of the day, no one really cares what you're wearing so long as you switch up a shirt or accessory here and there.  It almost becomes a uniform.  Now to buy a backup pair for the day these have a catastrophic wardrobe failure and I'm left without a support net...

[darkfoxx]

 
1. Carrying reusable grocery bags isn't always easiest, but since I've been on the motorcycle for 95%+ of my transportation lately, it's "either it fits in the backpack or I don't need it."  It's a new and exciting brand of Rurik Minimalism[emoji769] for the summer.
 
2. "Going out" complicates things a bit, financially and conveniently - depending how you look at it. Helps that isn't really my jam but I totally get the impact.
 
3. Honestly I've been wearing the exact same single pair of Levis I bought a few months ago through the end of winter and for all of my riding lately.  They got washed once a week or so, and no one notices.  At the end of the day, no one really cares what you're wearing so long as you switch up a shirt or accessory here and there.  It almost becomes a uniform.  Now to buy a backup pair for the day these have a catastrophic wardrobe failure and I'm left without a support net...

I love carrying groceries - one of my fav things about not having my own car and I think it forces you to be a bit more creative.

Urban bike rucking FTW!

Since eating out is about 50% of my interaction with the world at large these days and suuuuuuper necessary for my overall health and well-being, which is crazy weird and not normal in my brain at freaking all, I’m trying to make peace with it. Cost-wise, I’m counting it as the price of admission here - calorie-wise, I’m trying to make sense of it all — without going back to an Uber restrictive diet.

Ooh. And I looooooove worn-in Levi’s! Have you seen the crazy reddit threads talking about taking care of jeans/minimalism- can’t remember the exact board it was on, but there was a bunch of unconventional (I.e. not washing your jeans every time you wear them) care advice, which I found really helpful.

I’m still pissed I didn’t grab a backup the last time I fell in love with a pair of jeans - the DH is, too - he had a catastrophic failure with his faves kind of everywhere at once this past year.

For wardrobing, I’m still building my perfect grey Tech cloth travel arsenal - while attempting to brace myself for 50C temps mixed with aggressive A/C this summer. And maybe dress like a Japanese weirdo a bit

I’ve found that linen, while cool, is hella heavy in a pack and bulky.

North America, Europe, or even Asia or Australia I feel prepped to deal with. Middle East: not so much.


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[Rurik Harrgath]

3 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

Ooh. And I looooooove worn-in Levi’s! Have you seen the crazy reddit threads talking about taking care of jeans/minimalism- can’t remember the exact board it was on, but there was a bunch of unconventional (I.e. not washing your jeans every time you wear them) care advice, which I found really helpful.


For wardrobing, I’m still building my perfect grey Tech cloth travel arsenal - while attempting to brace myself for 50C temps mixed with aggressive A/C this summer. And maybe dress like a Japanese weirdo a bit

 

Now I definitely feel validated in tracking down another pair or two for storage, haha.  I need to check out this reddit thread too!

 

I'm all about tech fabrics.  My go-to tees are still lululemon Metal Vent Tech, I have a couple that I rotate.  Makes me feel like a bit of a Vancouver biker-hipster when I layer it with my heavy leather jacket and Levis though. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

16 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

Vancouver biker-hipster

Aside from the fact that you live in Manitoba this describes you pretty well. Didn't we determine you were a lumberjack-variant hipster 3 years ago? Now that you have the Harley you simply multiclassed into a biker-hipster. All that's left is to move west.