Starpuck sneaks back into the Assassins

[starpuck]

My favorite class to play in D&D is a rogue.   

My favorite book series is about an assassin. 

My favorite tropes in anime / fantasy / etc, are the sneaky, do good from the shadows types.

One of my favorite game series is Assassins Creed.

Assassins are relied on to work alone, but they have a strong network of people supporting them with info, details, contacts and everything else.

And my at work gym is off limits until we're allowed to break the "Firewall" between the warehouse and front office so... more bodyweight than not for the time being!

 

We're going Rogue!

Don't tell Tank I am here.  [/looks around nervously ...]

 

My goals will remain largely the same as last challenge.   Honestly, despite the chaos, I did a ridiculously good job of still working out, eating healthy, counting calories and enduring.  (Even dropped about 5lbs during the challenge.) The only bits that suffered last time around were art during the final week and the budget - which is all shades of different for the time being.  And that's okay.  

 

{Headquarters of the 11th Hour; location undisclosed.}

"You have been too long gone from our fold, Starpuck.   Perhaps we should see if you are still worthy of being a part of this elite organization.    You once held the title of the Unerring Bolt- that position has since been granted another.  So here, take these blades.   You will be required to prove proficient in dual wielding going forward.   If you succeed in passing the Masters tests, you will become the Twin Blade."

 

[GOAL ONE] Your Body is your Weapon - Make sure it is Honed

I've been granted the following resources for my re-training:    50lb Dumbbell // 2 x 25lb Dumbbell  // Pull up bar (door style, once it comes in and I get it set up) // 12lb and 15lb Kettlebell // Resistance Bands (Therapy Style)

* Strength Train - 3X / Week

* Move - 3X / Week

 

Strength will be a lot of learning and advancing body weight options, and using the few weights I have to add some resistance to things.    Move - let's be honest... I am pretty hooked on Beat Saber (dual wield connection see?) and I am burning plenty of calories with that game!    Walks, maybe some Dance Central, and other options might come up, but the point is to just get the heart rate up and a sweat going.

 

[GOAL TWO] Your Body is your Armor - Make sure it is Strengthened

Food.   Continue to track calories (as it has become an easy thing to do once more) and focus on putting nutritious things down the hatch.  

* Track Calories - 7X / Week

* Matcha Daily - 7X / Week

* Fruits & Veggies - Be Conscientious about focusing on these.

 

[GOAL THREE] Work from the Shadows - But let the world see your good deeds.

This will be about continuing to share videos, art, stay in contact, and possibly delve into Twitch Streaming.    No particular weekly goals will be had here, just a list of things to work on and see what I can figure out.

* Art Lessons 1X / Week

* Art Practice 3X / Week

* Continue to share Video Game videos.

* Add more dialog to game play for content sake. (Hard with Beat Saber)

* Get green screen sorted out and work on bettering light and recording options with that.

* Get familiar with Roll20

* Do some live chat workouts with friends.

* More to be added...

 

Might be some project goals here once I get that sorted out.  But let's not get crazy!

 

Now then, time to find my old bunk room and make sure my hooded cloak is still in my chest...

 

[Sloth the Enduring]

Following to see if Tank moves this thread back to the Rangers.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

Don't tell Tank I am here.  [/looks around nervously

You cannot hide.

58 minutes ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

Following to see if Tank moves this thread back to the Rangers.

I'm running the whole forums now. I have to pretend to be unbiased. 

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

My favorite book series is about an assassin. 

out of curiosity what is this book series and should I read it?

 

also following.

[starpuck]

1 hour ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

Following to see if Tank moves this thread back to the Rangers.

That didn't take long, lol!

 

30 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

You cannot hide.

I'm running the whole forums now. I have to pretend to be unbiased. 

Or should I say ... That didn't tank long.

 

7 minutes ago, Rebel Pilot Gar said:

out of curiosity what is this book series and should I read it?

also following.

Fallen Blade series by Kelly McCullough

Back of cover of first book:

Spoiler

 

Aral Kingslayer was an assassin once upon a time, perhaps the best in the world, one of the fabled Blades of Namara, goddess of Justice. With his familiar, a living shadow named Triss, at his side, he killed for a cause, never for money. Life was hard but good.

 

That was before. Before they murdered his goddess and burned her temple to the ground. Before they outlawed his kind. Before the wanted posters and the sentence of death. Before his life fell apart and he crawled into the whiskey bottle.

 

Now he’s a shadow jack, a free lance problem solver who makes his living out of odd jobs on the wrong side of the law. He doesn’t much like what he’s become, and Triss likes it even less, but Aral doesn’t see any way out. Not until a young woman named Maylien hires him to deliver a secret message.

 

A simple enough job. Or is it? When Aral delivers the message, he gets the biggest surprise of his new life, and maybe, just maybe, the chance to forge a future where he won’t have to be ashamed of himself.

 

 

- Everything I love.  Assassin for a cause.  A shadow dragon?  Strong, amazing female characters.     I am NOT a reader, and I've read a book of his each on my last 4 vacations. ((I only ever have time for serious reading on a trip it seems.))

[Red1263]

 

Of course I'm following my favorite Puck Assassins! I'm here to watch your awesomeness!

[raptron]

Muahaha, welcome to my territory.  

 

Excited for your pull-up bar!

[starpuck]

Some Zero Week Update Foo

 

So Monday and Wednesday this week were lift days, and while I am at the office this week, we're keeping warehouse separated from front office.  Annnnd, the workout area is in the warehouse.   So I had my boss bring a few staples up for me so I can adapt and work out in my office proper.   I use this awesome app called Strong to track my workouts, and only after doing the workout yesterday did I check my history on some of the things... woops.

 

So I did some single arm push presses. 

Hypothesis: I do pull ups, and I weigh a lot.  I thought 25lbs would be easy.  

Reality: Omg, so hard and my arms are aching!

Also apparently that's the most I've ever done - Last time was more than a year ago and only 15lbs. 

 

I also did some walking lunges.

Hypothesis: I've been doing squats like mad, less weight will be too easy.

Reality: My "DOMS" started 4 hours after the workout and I am dying.

Also - PR'd these, because last I did them (in August 2019) I wrote down 20lbs.  I assumed 20lbs per hand.  Nope, 10lbs x 2.   I did 25 x 2 yesterday for 3 sets of 8 each.  OMG.

 

And lets add some single leg deadlifts because, you didn't already do a bunch of single leg stuff...

Hypothesis: I do these pretty frequently, and don't have enough weights available to do a decent regular deadlift, it's fine.

Reality: Well, sure easy.  Until you've tagged them in after the lunges that you more than doubled your work load on after not doing them in 7 months.

 

So I am feeling it today!   Holy crow.    Tonight is a Beat Saber night, and I am seriously wondering if I will be able to move my arms enough to play at the levels I am working on.   Hahaha.  Cahrazy!   We've got a string of clouds and rain due our area for the next four days, so that's kind of a bummer.   But I am going to tackle a few projects this weekend that I would normally tackle on an 'inside' weekend.

 

Project 1: Rearrange Room. 

Steps Involved ->

1. Tidy clutter and throw stuff out.
2. Wash sheets and blankets.
3. Find a set up that will allow great position for the green screen and cameras.  (Oh yes, I now have a green screen mwuahaha.)
4. Move furniture, clean/dust while doing so.
5. Test green screen on closet wall side of room / adjust camera positions for ideal angling for Beat Saber.

Project 2: Tackle Linen Closet with my Sister

Steps Involved ->

1. Wake sister up!  LOL
2. Pull items from closet and go through them.
3. Toss old things.  Wash things that need washing.
4. Reorganize and put closet back together.

** My sis needs some help from falling into a rut while she is working from home (with her retired hubby), so I am on a mission to force her into doing some things to combat the rutness.   The only things that should fall into rutting season, are elk and other cervids!  Yeah.  

 

Project 3: Creative change of pace.

1. Do an actual painting with my sister.

 

Behind spoiler, thoughts and focuses I am using to fight the Anxiety Monster during these days.

 

Spoiler

 

• God is in control.  Even when I can't see it, or feel it, He is working.
• -> God did not create us to live a life apart from one another.   This will not last forever. <-
• Our generations have not experienced this sort of thing before, but our world has ... and it did recover. We are here as proof of that.
• "Corona" - Has several meanings and origins.     The sun has a corona!

Def: the rarefied gaseous envelope of the sun and other stars. The sun's corona is normally visible only during a total solar eclipse, when it is seen as an irregularly shaped pearly glow surrounding the darkened disk of the moon.   

 

For me, this really struck home that right now our world is 'darkened' but the sun Son is still shining beyond what we're able to see.   And if we keep our eyes on the crown of the King of Kings, we'll see Him still there.  Still in Control.   And absolutely NOT affected by the darkness the rest of us are experiencing.    And much like an eclipse- that darkness will eventually fade.   It's not forever.

 

I still have a lot of moments of discomfort and fears of the uncertainty of the future.   But I am working to focus on the ideas and promises that give me Hope.    None of us human race folk are very good at being told what we can or can't do, so this is a real position of struggle for us.    I know that we can do it though.

 

 

Also - bright side silver lining thought:   I can wax my lip and chin hair and not be worried about the bumps of irritation it will likely cause!  I'm working from home next week!

 

Now off to eat some delicious ham sandwich and cucumbers!

 

[starsapart]

Here to follow along~

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

I also did some walking lunges.

Hypothesis: I've been doing squats like mad, less weight will be too easy.

Reality: My "DOMS" started 4 hours after the workout and I am dying.

[bigm141414]

I looked for your challenge in the Rangers section. But I found it over here? The world is truly ending! Everyone is switching around in the guilds! Pure madness! 

 

But I'm here to follow along. Also to convince you to get Half Life Alyx for your VR setup. Because headcrabs.

[Jarric]

Tracked you down! Sounds like an awesome workout - embrace the DOMS and they'll make you stronger!

[NightWatcher13]

Starpuck - "I'm just gonna sneak back into the assassins' guild, don't mind me here..."

Assassins - 

 

 

[Elastigirl]

Found you. Looks like a fun challenge

Spoiler

Thanks for reminding me the other meaning of Corona! I had forgotten that. When we saw the eclipse, we saw the Corona. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen (well right up there with my  baby son) It was light like I had never seen before. It took my breath away, even now thinking back on it feels me with wonder. And at the time, I felt like it was God saying" I am the light of the world" Now when I am having anxious moments, I will have this visual reminder of where to put my hope

 

[starpuck]

9 hours ago, starsapart said:

Here to follow along~

Woot!  Thanks!

 

7 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

 

Haha, this is how I feel about burpees.

 

6 hours ago, bigm141414 said:

I looked for your challenge in the Rangers section. But I found it over here? The world is truly ending! Everyone is switching around in the guilds! Pure madness! 

 

But I'm here to follow along. Also to convince you to get Half Life Alyx for your VR setup. Because headcrabs.

I've dabbled in Assassins before.  I was there a long time, but then Father Tank dragged me back to the Rangers.

 

5 hours ago, Jarric said:

Tracked you down! Sounds like an awesome workout - embrace the DOMS and they'll make you stronger!

Oof, I hate DOMS!

 

4 hours ago, NightWatcher13 said:

Starpuck - "I'm just gonna sneak back into the assassins' guild, don't mind me here..."

Assassins - 

 

 

Omg, I feel so lovingly welcomed back to the fold!!

 

4 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Found you. Looks like a fun challenge

  Reveal hidden contents

Thanks for reminding me the other meaning of Corona! I had forgotten that. When we saw the eclipse, we saw the Corona. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen (well right up there with my  baby son) It was light like I had never seen before. It took my breath away, even now thinking back on it feels me with wonder. And at the time, I felt like it was God saying" I am the light of the world" Now when I am having anxious moments, I will have this visual reminder of where to put my hope

 

Glad  to hear that my sharing that, brought a connection to that awesome experience for you!  Thanks for following my friend.

 

 

Was an okay day!     Nothing out of the norm to report.  Food good, Beat Sabered for 70 minutes because I have no self control with the time limit. 😛   I added the modifier of "Ghost Notes" which give you invisible blocks and disappearing arrows.     My skills are improving.

 

 

[WhiteGhost]

Starpuck back in the Assassins?  I can't miss this!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

I've dabbled in Assassins before.  I was there a long time, but then Father Tank dragged me back to the Rangers.

 

I'll do it again if I have to. 

[Red1263]

Glad you're making excellent progress! And I've noticed a lot of people are resorting to cleaning their places/rooms/cars. 

 

And once again, Those Beat Saber videos are awesome!

[DarK_RaideR]

Day 3: The Assassins still don't suspect anything

[raptron]

MORE RANGERS IN HERE THAN I CAN SHAKE A STICK AT.

 

[starpuck]

Am I a ranger infiltrating the assassins?

Or an assassin that has infiltrated the rangers, pretending now to infiltrate the assassins.

 

 

My Gorilla Bow has shipped already!   I thought for sure they'd be out of stock given the rush on at home options.   Dunno when it will show up, but maybe our little hero will still keep her title of the Unerring Bolt!

[starpuck]

Tagging @Jarric here.  I see your workout video and raise you a workout video!

 

 

If only he had told me this starting on Monday I could have been doing them all week!   He only saw a video of a dude doing it last night, and so he tested the door and it worked and so now I am clear for door pull ups!  Yeaaaah!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

2 hours ago, Starpuck said:

If only had had told me this starting on Monday I could have been doing them all week!   He only saw a video of a dude doing it last night, and so he tested the door and it worked and so now I am clear for door pull ups!  Yeaaaah!

Time for a Grease The Groove high score!

[Red1263]

Dude! You're freaking awesome and have a wonderful... Asset. >.> But you rocking those pull-ups makes me swoon 

 

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

21 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Tagging @Jarric here.  I see your workout video and raise you a workout video!

 

 

If only he had told me this starting on Monday I could have been doing them all week!   He only saw a video of a dude doing it last night, and so he tested the door and it worked and so now I am clear for door pull ups!  Yeaaaah!

ooooh. Now I gotta go test my doors. Add this to my pushups & squats sets