Darkfoxx 64: Indoor Kids, Unite!

[darkfoxx]

 

This cycle opens with our heroes (the Rebellion, of course!) locked down in Quarantine - banished to our own little Fortrices of Solitude (@ me bruh), shut in and seemingly adrift - or are we? 
 

I think not. We’ve got this. We’ve got our hobbies, our Herd, and the know-how to weather this storm.

 

In this time of planet-wide uncertainty, where some of our fellow Rebels can’t help but be drawn to the dark side, those of us that are more - Neutral as D&D goes - should absolutely support those who are new to uncertainty; not with relentless optimism or our own brand(s) of nihilism (tempting as it may be), but take this time to show them that it’ll all be okay.

 

What I mean by this is that I see a lot of friends and family losing their Everloving Shit about the current world situation - and the political, economic and just general uncertainty that comes with it. 

 

I get it, I do, but ... this current BS doesn’t bother me more than life in general usually does.
 

Maybe I’m just out of Fucks to give, maybe I’m too much of a long-view sociologist, or maybe  my brain is so burnt out with (sometimes continually) having to (re)learn that uncertainty is reality, nothing is sacred, and nothing stays - that when shit hits the fan like this, I’m good. My panic reserve has been depleted.
 

I’ve been through global freakouts before. I can do this.

 

I’m an indoor kid - I can 1000% keep myself occupied from within these four walls. I know how to have meaningful and lasting relationships with people I’ve either never actually shared physical space with - or haven’t in a very long time. I feel so much more apt to set myself adrift in my little corner of the world now that the Internets are a thing. My day-to-day and levels of anxiety are manageable. 

 

“All will be well, and all manner of things will be well.”

 

Some of y’all are too young to remember what a big damn deal Y2K was - I’m not. 20 year old me and her ridiculous boyfriend had plans to run away to the mountains and form a neo-hippie commune (with zero actual skills, mind you) - and then we got sick. With no health insurance and too stupid to consider going to the doc-in-a-box. Or call our mommies. 

 

So sick I ended up laying on my hallway floor for an indeterminate amount of time, hallucinating from fever, unable to process whether the phone call from my best friend with bad news was real or part of the wavy hazy fabric of my current reality. (spoiler: it was, and hoo boy did that have her Spidey Sense going gangbusters re: my general life state). 

 

But the world didn’t end, we recovered, I continued on with my steady diet of apocalypse porn (The Stand: still my all-time favorite book; Zombies: still my favorite movie genre), and the world moved on to the next crisis. 

 

This too shall pass. This sucks royally planet wide - but it will pass, and every single one of us can weather this storm. 

 

Every crisis has people screaming that *this* time it’s different - *this* time it’s real - that Rome Will Fall Today! The End Is Nigh! 

 

And you know what? They’re full of shit. People (as a whole) enjoy being scared - enjoy getting spun up - enjoy prepping and planning and fantasizing about the worst-case. (I’m super not exempt here).

 

But time marches on and the world still spins. May not be the way it did before, but that’s not intrinsically a good or a bad thing - it just is.

Not sure if all that is helpful, but if you’re feeling particularly anxious - take a minute to step back, feel the sunshine on your face, do some breathing exercises, and find some stillness. Reach out to a friend, meditate, get lost in a book - allow yourself to put down that burden. 

 

There will always be someone out there trying with everything they have to sell you fear (and reap the profits that go along with it) - you can choose to make them irrelevant in your life. 

Ok, enough “pep” ramble - On to what we’re really here for - the goals. 

 

For this challenge cycle, I’m mostly staying the course. I’ve built myself a good little thing, and I want to let it chug along a bit before I start throwing wrenches at it. 

 

As such:

 

Daily yoga continues - regardless of when the studio opens back up. Aiming for more mat work than lazy breath work days; but something is better than nothing. Goal goal is for daily 10am mat class (unless superseded by social event - then directly after) and something “extra 2x a week - be it a walk if we are allowed, or revisit my old buddy HASFit).

 

I’ll continue to endeavor to not eat like an asshole (was going to recalculate macros to help with this a bit, but may hold off until things are back to rights). If this looks like noodles and ‘did I eat a veg?’ so be it. Veg is starting to sound really good again, anyways. Could be because it’s already consistently in the low 80s every day here. 

 

I’ll keep up with my crafts - whatever those are (currently embroidering a peplum for a blouse, tatting lace, and knitting a busywork shawl - should also bust out the quilt I wanted to sew).

I’ll keep my social life going - here, online, making myself reach out to two people a week. In-person if circumstances allow. 

 

I’ll keep supporting the Weens and DH. 

 

I’m taking minimizing out of the rotation this time - turned out to be a passing jones in the midst of all ... this. 

 

And I’m adding back in learning of some sort - be it about stocks and investing, yet another new handiwork skill, or something I can do that’s drive-related (sneaking up on $). Just ... something. This is amorphous for now; awareness and searching is good enough for the moment without attaching judgement. Judgement gets me stubborn and makes the whole thing less pleasant in brain-space. 

 

And that’s it - simple challenges aimed at providing a bit of structure. Not charging down a crazy path this go ‘round (though I’d planned a fairly intense 75-day thing), just bobbing along. And that’s ok. Not all challenges need to be glamorous (and let’s be honest: mine have been lackluster at best for *years* now).

 

Slow and steady. Time under tension. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Thanks for adding some perspective. Here to weather yet another end of the world side by digital side.

[Elastigirl]

Thanks for the  perspective. I remember Y2K. A lot of our friends were really worried  about it. I think I bought a couple of extra bags of rice.  I was also thinking after 9/11 , and how scared I felt when all the planes were grounded (my husband is an aerospace engineer)  But you are correct , the world kept spinning.

[Scaly Freak]

Following for the calm perspective I'm going to need later. Thank you for reminding me that this, too, shall pass.

[darkfoxx]

Thanks for the  perspective. I remember Y2K. A lot of our friends were really worried  about it. I think I bought a couple of extra bags of rice.  I was also thinking after 9/11 , and how scared I felt when all the planes were grounded (my husband is an aerospace engineer)  But you are correct , the world kept spinning.

That too - I hope, hope, hope against hope the anxious fervor doesn’t hit those levels and we as a people (talking specifically about the US) doesn’t wholesale give up rights for protection.

[darkfoxx]

Week Plan for cut & paste purposes:


Week 1 Schedule

Quarantine status: Full lockdown

Monday: 10am yoga video TBD, groceries & Walk in sun

Tuesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after, walk to pick dogs up if they go to daycare

Wednesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after

Thursday: 10am yoga video, walk in sun after

Friday: 10am yoga video, HIIT either after or when DH is on his way home

Saturday: 9am video chat date, yoga sometime, walk in the sun, probably virtual game night

Sunday: 10am yoga video, maybe HIIT?

Food

Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
Snacks:

Did I eat like an asshole?
Did anything try to kill me?
Did I eat a vegetable?

Movement

What did my yoga practice look like today?
What other movement did I accomplish?

Creative Fulfillment

What project did I work on today?

Social Fulfillment From A Distance

Did I participate in an online hangout?
Did I reach out to friends and family?
Did I support my Herd?

Mental Stimulation

What did I learn today?

[darkfoxx]

Monday

Quarantine status: Full lockdown

Food

Breakfast: Peanut butter on rye
Lunch: Japanese curry with leftover steak nibbles
Dinner: Beyond Burger with Finnish mustard, sauerkraut & a fried egg - with a side of sautéed zucchini
Snacks: Mixed chips

Did I eat like an asshole? It’s hard to not put judgement on chip-eating (it’s my OG no-go food; one I used to punish myself with for years), but I didn’t overeat. I didn’t wake up hungry Tuesday, but I wasn’t crazy full and our chip bowls are small
Did anything try to kill me? Nope
Did I eat a vegetable? Yes




Movement

What did my yoga practice look like today? Did an hour long class entitled choosing joy
What other movement did I accomplish? That’s it - meant to take a walk and get groceries but I didn’t make it out of the house

Bonus pic of the jerks who were Zero help in my yoga practice:




Creative Fulfillment

What project did I work on today? Finished my embroidery

Social Fulfillment From A Distance

Did I participate in an online hangout? None scheduled
Did I reach out to friends and family? Yes - chatted with my Aunt over Messenger
Did I support my Herd? Yes

Mental Stimulation

What did I learn today? Hmmmm... nothing particularly useful; spent the day catching up on YouTube, listening to Harry Potter and pushing on to finish my project. Which I’m now bummed I’m done with.

[darkfoxx]

Tuesday

 

Week 0 Schedule  

Quarantine status: Full lockdown

Monday: 10am yoga video TBD, groceries & Walk in sun  

 

Tuesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after, walk to pick dogs up if they go to daycare  

 

Wednesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after

Thursday: 10am yoga video, walk in sun after 

Friday: 10am yoga video, HIIT either after or when DH is on his way home 

Saturday: 9am video chat date, yoga sometime, walk in the sun, probably virtual game night 

Sunday: 10am yoga video, maybe HIIT?     

Food  

Breakfast: The last of my peanut butter on rye Lunch: The last of my Japanese curry 

Dinner: Sushi rice, chili tuna, furikake, pickled ginger, egg yolk, nori, sesame seeds, kewpie mayo, green onions

Snacks: Mixed chip bowl  

 

Did I eat like an asshole? Moar chips, and I can definitely tell I'm actively craving them - DH had best not replenish the supply

Did anything try to kill me? Nope

Did I eat a vegetable? Yep  

 

  Movement  

 

What did my yoga practice look like today? Failed my goal here - just some meditative sewing and light breath work. 

What other movement did I accomplish? Walked to get the dogs & walked them home    

 

Creative Fulfillment  

 

What project did I work on today? Cut the shirt pattern out and hand sewed the darts in     

 

Social Fulfillment From A Distance  

 

Did I participate in an online hangout? Yes! Ended up chatting with girlfriends until lunchtime 

Did I reach out to friends and family? A touch on Facebook 

Did I support my Herd? Yes    

 

Mental Stimulation  

 

What did I learn today? No classes, per se, but I did learn that I need to get off my ass and do my yoga pre-chat, and watched Horrible Histories and actually learned  a few historical facts. Go, British tv show from 2008.   

 

Pic under separate cover 

[darkfoxx]

[WolfDreamer]

I really appreciate your perspective. It gives us all something to think about for sure.

 

Have you seen the "Become Unbreakable" content Spartan has been putting out during the lockdown? They created a link with a bunch of resources, and they have been going live on Facebook every day, several times a day, with interviews, workouts, and other cool content. There are even some resources for mental health and mindfulness.

 

Love your challenge. Let me know if I can help in any way.

[darkfoxx]

I really appreciate your perspective. It gives us all something to think about for sure.
 
Have you seen the "Become Unbreakable" content Spartan has been putting out during the lockdown? They created a link with a bunch of resources, and they have been going live on Facebook every day, several times a day, with interviews, workouts, and other cool content. There are even some resources for mental health and mindfulness.
 
Love your challenge. Let me know if I can help in any way.

I have not, but will check it out - sounds like a campaign Reebok(???) ran a few years on the same subject - immersive site, lots of content.

And I’m good - just the usual Internet side-eye if I’m slacking for the sake of laziness [emoji38]

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

3 minutes ago, darkfoxx said:

I have not, but will check it out - sounds like a campaign Reebok(???) ran a few years on the same subject - immersive site, lots of content.

And I’m good - just the usual Internet side-eye if I’m slacking for the sake of laziness

Just know I've got a whole bag of

with your name on it.

[darkfoxx]

Just know I've got a whole bag of

with your name on it.

[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

[darkfoxx]

Wednesday


Week 0 Schedule
Quarantine status: Full lockdown

Monday: 10am yoga video TBD, groceries & Walk in sun
Tuesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after, walk to pick dogs up if they go to daycare

Wednesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after

Thursday: 10am yoga video, walk in sun after
Friday: 10am yoga video, HIIT either after or when DH is on his way home
Saturday: 9am video chat date, yoga sometime, walk in the sun, probably virtual game night
Sunday: 10am yoga video, maybe HIIT?

Food

Breakfast: Peanut butter panini thin
Lunch: A repeat Japanese bowl
Dinner: Tuna fried rice
Snacks: More damn chips

Did I eat like an asshole? Eh
Did anything try to kill me? Nope
Did I eat a vegetable? Yes




Movement

What did my yoga practice look like today? Did some free-form home yoga - mostly hangs and eagle wraps
What other movement did I accomplish? None

Creative Fulfillment

What project did I work on today? Hand sewed most of my shirt bodice - need to do the back still - and cut additional peplum fabric

Social Fulfillment From A Distance

Did I participate in an online hangout? Not for lack of trying. I set one up and waited, but my friends bailed on me

Did I reach out to friends and family? One of them reached out to me that evening to make sure I wasn’t pouting (I was only pouting a bit, was mostly busy)
Did I support my Herd? Yes

Mental Stimulation

What did I learn today? That my hand sewing is janky af and that I need to fix the arm scye on my bodice sloper

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

31 minutes ago, darkfoxx said:

arm scye on my bodice sloper

I know 50% of those words.

[darkfoxx]

I know 50% of those words.

[emoji38] Armpit hole on my all-purpose made-to-measure master pattern for a simple top

[darkfoxx]

Thursday


Week 0 Schedule
Quarantine status: Full lockdown

Monday: 10am yoga video TBD, groceries & Walk in sun
Tuesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after, walk to pick dogs up if they go to daycare
Wednesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after

Thursday: 10am yoga video, walk in sun after

Friday: 10am yoga video, HIIT either after or when DH is on his way home
Saturday: 9am video chat date, yoga sometime, walk in the sun, probably virtual game night
Sunday: 10am yoga video, maybe HIIT?

Food

Breakfast: Peanut butter panini thin
Lunch: Grocery store sushi
Dinner: Belter red kibble
Snacks: Damn chips

Did I eat like an asshole? Meh
Did anything try to kill me? No
Did I eat a vegetable? Ish? If textured vegetable protein counts - also a bit of tomato




Movement

What did my yoga practice look like today? A joyful vinyasa class from DoYogaWithMe
What other movement did I accomplish? Took a walk to the grocery store in the sun - wore actual clothes to do so - and a walk with the pups

Creative Fulfillment

What project did I work on today? Got as far as I could with my additional peplum embroidery - ran out of thread, so I’m at a standstill with this project. Mostly. I *could* actually make the closures, with DH’s help because I still want ridiculous back button closure.

Social Fulfillment From A Distance

Did I participate in an online hangout? None scheduled
Did I reach out to friends and family? Nope
Did I support my Herd? Yep

Mental Stimulation

What did I learn today? Stock purchasing is nerve-wracking, confusing, and is not going to work how I wanted it to work, because of initial purchase minimums

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

I had a friend who tried textured vegetable protein. He said he liked cooking with it cause it made tacos taste more like taco bell than using ground beef.

[Sloth the Enduring]

I had a friend who tried textured vegetable protein. He said he liked cooking with it cause it made tacos taste more like taco bell than using ground beef.

Can confirm.

[darkfoxx]

Ooh! I hadn’t thought of using it that way, but I bet it would!

I do kinda miss Taco Bell every time I’m drinking ...

[darkfoxx]

Friday


Week 0 Schedule
Quarantine status: Full lockdown

Monday: 10am yoga video TBD, groceries & Walk in sun
Tuesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after, walk to pick dogs up if they go to daycare
Wednesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after
Thursday: 10am yoga video, walk in sun after

Friday: 10am yoga video, HIIT either after or when DH is on his way home

Saturday: 9am video chat date, yoga sometime, walk in the sun, probably virtual game night
Sunday: 10am yoga video, maybe HIIT?

Food

Breakfast: Peanut butter panini thin
Lunch: Killer bowl of pasta, leftover garlic butter zucchini, half a can of chili tuna, tons of black pepper & red chili flakes
Dinner: Date night - split a porterhouse, hasselback potatoes, baby asparagus, homemade bread and split a bottle of red
Snacks: None, though I wanted some all afternoon but it wasn’t chip time

Did I eat like an asshole? Nope
Did anything try to kill me? Nope
Did I eat a vegetable? Yep




Movement

What did my yoga practice look like today? A killer :30 strength-focused vinyasa class
What other movement did I accomplish? None. HIIT wasn’t happening. Too tired and was trying to rush to have bread in the oven when DH came home. He came home early, so I was not successful.

Creative Fulfillment

What project did I work on today? Started cutting squares for my quilt which is going to be janky af

Social Fulfillment From A Distance

Did I participate in an online hangout? None scheduled
Did I reach out to friends and family? I did - reached out to some NY friends for a video chat Sunday evening
Did I support my Herd? Yes

Mental Stimulation

What did I learn today? Cutting quilt squares is really hard and I suck at it. Also that if I keep up with my current pace, I may finish all the Harry Potter books by next weekend and I’m going to be suuuuuuuper sad when that happens.

[darkfoxx]

Saturday

 

Week 0 Schedule

Quarantine status: Full lockdown

Monday: 10am yoga video TBD, groceries & Walk in sun

Tuesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after, walk to pick dogs up if they go to daycare

Wednesday: 10am video chat, yoga video after

Thursday: 10am yoga video, walk in sun after 

Friday: 10am yoga video, HIIT either after or when DH is on his way home 

 

Saturday: 9am video chat date, yoga sometime, walk in the sun, probably virtual game night 

 

Sunday: 10am yoga video, maybe HIIT? 

 

 

Food

 

Breakfast: Homemade bread with peanut butter

Lunch: Delivery club sub with sweet potato fries

Dinner: Chips

Snacks: None

 

Did I eat like an asshole? Eh

Did anything try to kill me? No

Did I eat a vegetable? Kinda?

 

Movement

 

What did my yoga practice look like today? Breath work only

What other movement did I accomplish? None

 

 

Creative Fulfillment

 

What project did I work on today? Tried some more needle tatting before giving up 

 

Social Fulfillment From A Distance

 

Did I participate in an online hangout? Yes! Played Ticket to Ride with friends on our phones while Google Hangouts chatting. Also found out that Catan and SmashUp are available for the same. Yay! And I had my Saturday morning coffee date with my girlfriend.

Did I reach out to friends and family? Yes

Did I support my Herd? yes

 

Mental Stimulation

 

What did I learn today? More ways to connect with friends.

[Jean]

I am separated, in my own home, alone and I FEEL PUMPED UP!

 

Best motivational speech ever!

 

On 3/22/2020 at 12:20 PM, darkfoxx said:

our fellow Rebels can’t help but be drawn to the dark side

Warm up the ovens! Batch cookies! We'll show them the light side knows how to do them best!

 

On 3/22/2020 at 12:20 PM, darkfoxx said:

not with relentless optimism or our own brand(s) of nihilism (tempting as it may be)

Whaaaaaat? I was so thrilled this was the time for my optimistic nihilism to shine. Awwww.

Wait a minute...

On 3/22/2020 at 12:20 PM, darkfoxx said:

I get it, I do, but ... this current BS doesn’t bother me more than life in general usually does.

Now I can rest knowing my particular brand of nihilism isn't going to sit unused! Whew, you had me scared for a moment.

 

Thanks for the "pep" ramble, I feel lifted. Looking forward to the yoga, and crafts, and learning. Looks awesome!

[Tobbe]

Started watching Little Women with my wife. I couldn't finish it, it was too damn boring. But my wife enjoyed it. I did see something that made me think of you though  

 

 

Have you seen the movie?

 

[darkfoxx]

9 hours ago, Tobbe said:

Started watching Little Women with my wife. I couldn't finish it, it was too damn boring. But my wife enjoyed it. I did see something that made me think of you though  

 

 

Have you seen the movie?

 

Oooh - love that Sontag, and a crochet market bag is actually high on my to-do list

 

I have not seen the newest version, but have seen previous. Loved them, and loved the book!