Scalyfreak vs. Stress Hydra, Round 1

[Scaly Freak]

Scalyfreak stops in front of the familiar looking doorway, and briefly closes her eyes. She takes a deep breath, lets it slowly, takes another deep breath. The large Hydra that awaits is a terrifying beast. The many heads use their varied breath weapons to maximum effect, in ways that suggest considerable intelligence and grasp of tactics.

 

The Hydra is fast, it is agile and since the many heads can attack from multiple directions at once, it is impossible for anyone who engages the beast in battle to escape without injury. More than one fighter of Scalyfreak's acquaintance barely escaped the Hydra alive. A large number of them lost their lives to the beast before the battle even begun, succumbing the flames and noxious fumes of the Hydra’s breath weapons.

 

Scalyfreak opens her eyes and draws her sword. She hefts her shield, squares her shoulders, and steps into the Hydra’s direct line of vision, prepared for anything.

 

The primary head of the large beast snarls, another head roars, and several others ready their breath weapons and prepare to use them. And the battle begins...

 

 

 

 

The business trip that was rescheduled multiple times has finally been finalized, tickets have been purchased, and hotel reservations have been made.

 

 

Because the long international business trip is dominating everything this month, the plan is to stick to the most basic of basic goals for this particular challenge period. This fight will be won by staying sane and calm, and prioritizing victory above any other goal.

 

Stay sane: Workout three times per week, minimum.

If there are no barbells I will find another way to exercise, the important things is to do resistance training of some kind. The hotel claims to have a “fitness center” but I have no idea what kind of equipment it has, so I have bookmarked a number of workouts and exercise programs for different types of equipment, so regardless of what I have to work with, I’ll be able to continue working out regularly.

 

Stay calm: Meditate every day

International travel across multiple time zones, is one of Hydra’s more brutally effective de-buffing attacks on the mind and intellect of its opponents. Forcing my brain to relax and recenter itself through meditation will be critical to remaining calm in the face of extreme stress. This goal also covers sleeping well, in the face of jet lag and time changes, since meditation help me fall asleep as well.

 

Prioritize victory: Victory is defined as finishing this project in a better state of mind than the battle with Stress-Monster left me with last year. This goal is intentionally left vague and unspecific because the requirements towards it are going to change in ways I have no idea of yet, depending on what happens on a daily basis as the battle business trip begins.

 

And that’s it.

 

Let’s do this.

 

 

[Harriet]

2 hours ago, scalyfreak said:

International travel across multiple time zones, is one of Hydra’s more brutally effective de-buffing attacks

 

Indeed. I am entreating the spirits of air on your behalf to sweep away some of the stress feelings and replace them with calm. I imagine them as psychedelically coloured yet invisible currents. How can an invisible thing have a colour, you ask? Faith, I say. I like to visualise breathing them in and then having all the grit and debris of the day falling out. Anyway, I know you have been meditating regularly, so I believe you will do well in this round against the hydra. 

[WhiteGhost]

Here to watch you slay the hydra

 

15 hours ago, scalyfreak said:

International travel across multiple time zones, is one of Hydra’s more brutally effective de-buffing attacks on the mind and intellect of its opponents.

Ugh, this is so true. I have a hard time doing anything productive when I am jet lagged

[Scaly Freak]

Ankle has healed to the point I can move away from box squats and on to "regular" squats.

 

So. Much. Doms.

 

Squats tomorrow night will be fun

[Harriet]

25 minutes ago, scalyfreak said:

Ankle has healed to the point I can move away from box squats and on to "regular" squats.

Yesssss. Squats forever. 

[WhiteGhost]

Looks like squats are back on the menu  

 

[Mike Wazowski]

Here for you and this boss battle - you got this!!

[Stronkey Kong]

Good luck with your mediation goal. 

[Scaly Freak]

1 hour ago, Curl Brogo said:

Good luck with your mediation goal. 

 

Oh, fine, I fixed it. Better?

[Scaly Freak]

On 7/1/2019 at 3:20 PM, scalyfreak said:

Squats tomorrow night will be fun

 

On 7/1/2019 at 3:46 PM, Harriet said:

Yesssss. Squats forever. 

 

On 7/2/2019 at 4:28 AM, WhiteGhost said:

Looks like squats are back on the menu  

 

 

So yesterday, when I thought I'd do squats, was actually deadlift day.

 

Hehehe.

 

I'm still working my way back on those, from the forced hiatus caused by the ankle sprain. I have made progress on bench press though, and continue to work pronators and supinators with the resistance tube. All in all, a good workout and very relaxing.

[Scaly Freak]

Stay sane: Workout three times per week, minimum.

This was done during Zero Week, but not during Week 1. Week 1 is the last one before I spread my wings and fly off to distant lands to do battle, so naturally, it has been spent healing, buffing, and stocking up on consumable that will be needed for the fight. 

 

Translation: Spent the days refilling prescriptions and purchasing stuff I need for the trip. Spent the evenings having quality time with Husband to preemptively make up for not being able to have any of that in person for the next two weeks.

 

Stay calm: Meditate every day

Yep, this has been happening. This will also continue to happen because it helps tremendously with dealing with stress and keeping the Flame of Anxiety from growing out of control at the slightest hint of anything going wrong.

 

Prioritize victory: Victory is defined as finishing this project in a better state of mind than the battle with Stress-Monster left me with last year. 

For the first challenge week, this goal essentially gave me a good excuse to not meet one of the other goals (skipped a workout, maybe two). I have also rediscovered the calming and very destressing quality of checklists and made several, that I have worked my way through. Most important, I have found a way to keep access to my Camp NaNo project while I travel, despite traveling with my work laptop, that won't let me access cloud storage or use USB drives. Large partial victory on that one, since it means I can continue writing while I'm off gallivanting in exotic locations.

 

And with that, back to packing...

[Scaly Freak]

...and I am learning the hard way that a weight limit of 15 lbs is practically nothing when you travel with two pieces of electronics, an international power adapter kit, and more than two prescription medications.

 

Seriously. If my checked suitcase is lost between here and Maharashtra, I am royally screwed.

[WhiteGhost]

10 hours ago, scalyfreak said:

...and I am learning the hard way that a weight limit of 15 lbs is practically nothing when you travel with two pieces of electronics, an international power adapter kit, and more than two prescription medications.

 

Seriously. If my checked suitcase is lost between here and Maharashtra, I am royally screwed.

15lbs???   Every international flight I have ever ever been on gave me 50 lbs. 

[Scaly Freak]

7 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

15lbs???   Every international flight I have ever ever been on gave me 50 lbs. 

 

There is a weight limit of 50 lbs for the checked suitcase.The carry-on bag may not weigh more than 7kgs, which the airline translated to 15 lbs, even though it actually is 15.4 lbs. I am now hoping they use the metric system when they weigh it at the gate, since the only way I can think of to lower the weight further, without removing laptop, power adapters, or prescription medications, is to either get rid of my toiletries or my Kindle, none of which is a good option.

[Harriet]

21 minutes ago, scalyfreak said:

 

There is a weight limit of 50 lbs for the checked suitcase.The carry-on bag may not weigh more than 7kgs, which the airline translated to 15 lbs, even though it actually is 15.4 lbs. I am now hoping they use the metric system when they weigh it at the gate, since the only way I can think of to lower the weight further, without removing laptop, power adapters, or prescription medications, is to either get rid of my toiletries or my Kindle, none of which is a good option.

 

With many airlines, you can have a "personal item" like a handbag or laptop in addition to the carry on bag. You might want to check the rules of your airline, because obviously it would help if you could put your kindle in your handbag. Also, I have never, ever had my carry on bag weighed (they do look at the size, sometimes), and I have travelled internationally quite a few times. They do always weigh the check in, though. 

[Scaly Freak]

30 minutes ago, Harriet said:

 

With many airlines, you can have a "personal item" like a handbag or laptop in addition to the carry on bag. You might want to check the rules of your airline, because obviously it would help if you could put your kindle in your handbag. 

 

I did check, that's where I got the weight limit from. I'm flying with Emirates, who permit only one single carry-on item per passenger if you fly in the cheap seats. That means either a handbag, or a laptop bag, or a carry-on suitcase, but no combination of any of the above. 

 

My carry-on bag is currently 15.2 lbs, which is below the 7kg limit, so I have officially stopped putting things in it. No one has ever needed a spare set of underwear in their carry-on, right?

[WhiteGhost]

I have flown literally thousands of times through more than 77 airports (yes,  I keep a record)  and have never once even seen anyone get their carry-on weighed.   I have gone through with a full sized duffel stuffed with about 40lbs of stuff and if you can get past the check-in counter you are free and clear.   The security check people don't care about that and when you get to the gate the only thing they may do is ask you to check it (this is how I always get an extra checked bag ).   

 

An extra personal item (such as a purse)  is almost universally allowed and many people supplement that with a shopping bag of stuff that didn't fit in either the carry-on or the personal item

 

[Scaly Freak]

One of my issues is that if they take my bag from me to check it, I lose my in-flight entertainment for a 15 hour flight, which is unpleasant but not a real problem, but more important, my asthma inhales go in the cargo hold instead of in the cabin with me. That's not acceptable.

 

But since I have managed to get my carry-on suitcase within the airline's specifications, I am now all set, and have one less thing to stress over today.  

[Harriet]

27 minutes ago, scalyfreak said:

I did check, that's where I got the weight limit from. I'm flying with Emirates, who permit only one single carry-on item per passenger if you fly in the cheap seats.

Huh. That sucks. Usually even with economy seats you get a handbag. Wurl, I wouldn't worry about the weight. But you could always wear or carry a jacket or hoodie with big man-sized pockets into which a kindle can fit. Also, NB: sometimes they'll take your carryon away from you and force you to check it if the overhead lockers are full on a crowded flight. That only happens when you're one of the last people at the gate, though. Ask me how I know, and I'll tell you about Mr Harriet's time management preferences. ETA just saw that WhiteGhost mentioned this. I'm pretty sure it won't be a problem if you're not one of the last people in line, and even if you were, they would probably pick on someone else instead if you make a fuss about your medications.

[Scaly Freak]

7 minutes ago, Harriet said:

Huh. That sucks. Usually even with economy seats you get a handbag. 

 

You do with the other kind of Economy seats on my flight. The ones work would not pay extra to get. 

 

I have three hours at the airport where I board my international flight. I plan to spend all 180 minutes sitting near the gate, because I overthink and I worry too much when I travel internationally, and being way too early at the gate makes me stress less.  

[JustCallMeAmber]

Hope your trip is smooth sailing, and that you enjoy yourself!

 

[WhiteGhost]

22 hours ago, scalyfreak said:

I plan to spend all 180 minutes sitting near the gate, because I overthink and I worry too much when I travel internationally, and being way too early at the gate makes me stress less.

I do this too (much to Ghostess's annoyance).  She just can't understand why I would rather be 1 hour early than risk the slightest possibility of being late.

 

Hope your flight goes smoothly

[Scaly Freak]

On 7/8/2019 at 9:48 PM, Harriet said:

Also, I have never, ever had my carry on bag weighed (they do look at the size, sometimes), and I have travelled internationally quite a few times. They do always weigh the check in, though. 

 

On 7/8/2019 at 10:26 PM, WhiteGhost said:

I have flown literally thousands of times through more than 77 airports (yes,  I keep a record)  and have never once even seen anyone get their carry-on weighed.

 

It is with great pleasure and considerable smugness I note that this makes me the only one in this conversation who has flown from Dubai in UAE, to Pune, in India with the airline SpiceJet.

 

They had a cart-like thing that turned out to be a scale on wheels, That an airline employee rolled up to the gate, and the line was herded via ropes towards a single opening that required everyone who wanted to board the flight, to weigh their carry-on suitcase. I have no idea what they did with a carry-on bag that was too heavy, since mine weighed in at 6.95 kg.

 

On that note, I am currently vegetating in my hotel room, with all my suitcases, and surprisingly well rested and lacking in jet lag. I have enjoyed a lovely breakfast buffet where I could visually identify only half the food on offer, along with delicious coffee, and now I get to spend the day catching up on work emails and find out what exactly I'm supposed to do during the work day for the rest of my trip. 

[WhiteGhost]

56 minutes ago, scalyfreak said:

They had a cart-like thing that turned out to be a scale on wheels, That an airline employee rolled up to the gate, and the line was herded via ropes towards a single opening that required everyone who wanted to board the flight, to weigh their carry-on suitcase. I have no idea what they did with a carry-on bag that was too heavy, since mine weighed in at 6.95 kg.

Your anxiety about this sure paid off for you.  I am seriously shocked, though.  I have never even heard of anyone trying such a thing before.

[Scaly Freak]

36 minutes ago, WhiteGhost said:

Your anxiety about this sure paid off for you.  I am seriously shocked, though.  I have never even heard of anyone trying such a thing before.

 

The Flame of Anxiety was harnessed for a good cause!

 

I feel completely justified and vindicated in combing through countless Yelp reviews for hours, to try and find out just how strict they were about suitcase weight. Hah! Now, please excuse me while I write an email to my colleagues who travel the exact same route next week, and who might appreciate advance warning that the weight of the carry-on does matter...