sarakingdom Posted June 13, 2020 Report Share Posted June 13, 2020 Nothing to see here, just prepping my next challenge for zero week. The middle of summer means fire bending. Or fire nation guys with swords, anyway. "The warrior practices a variety of arts to keep his mind sharp and fluid." This guy has a few very aikido things going on. Focus on elegance to make things fluid. Make the art yours. So I'm gonna do his training, and I'm gonna remember it's practice, and I'm gonna make it beautiful. "Concentrate on what you're doing." ADHD has been killing me lately. But being on the mat is good for focus. Time to work more on bringing that off the mat. (Especially since being on the mat is on the prohibited list.) First: Calligraphy "Stamp the paper with your identity. You must learn to use your sword to stamp your identity on a battlefield." Writing. Daily. Longhand. This can be letters, fiction, or a journal. Preferably more than one of those. But it must be longhand. Second: Painting "Landscape painting teaches a warrior to hold the lay of the land in his mind. In battle, you only have an instant to take everything in." Art. Daily. Sketching or painting. Third: Rock Gardening "Rock gardening teaches the warrior to manipulate his surroundings and use them to his advantage." Dude's got a pretty sweet pad, man. Manipulate my surroundings to my advantage. Cleaning, gardening, moving furniture, projects, whatever. Daily. Four: Master the Sword Physical training. Daily. Martial arts conditioning workout (strength/cardio) 3x/week. Yoga (mobility/flexibility) 3x/week. Books to Read Spark, on exercise and the brain The biography of Yamaoka Tesshu A pair of books on savate and la canne (Cuz I'm pretty sure a warrior is supposed to read books, too.) 6 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2020 Weekend -1, Week 0 Calligraphy: reply to a letter Check postage Select postcard Write postcard Calligraphy: write fiction Painting: find my sketchbook and pencils Painting: browse my ebooks on drawing Rock gardening: the Unfuck Your Habitat weekend clean checklist Rock gardening: bathroom spa project Configure raspberry pi Configure file serving (mpd) Configure lighting Charge speaker Set up in bathroom Final cleaning pass Set up a couple of control scripts Rock gardening (bonus): convert pots to hydroponic Unbox stuff Strip USB cable Cut lids for large pots Cut lids for small pots Solder USB leads to pump Assemble tubing Plant seeds Swords: strength training Swords: yoga Rest: nap Rest: nap Rest: movie Rest: movie 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
ChrisWithaStick Posted June 13, 2020 Report Share Posted June 13, 2020 My god... long hand writing? Have you no pity for yourself? Quote Human | Plays with Sticks | Monkish Leanings | Rangerish Overtones Occasionally Updated Facebook Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2020 4 minutes ago, ChrisWithaStick said: My god... long hand writing? Have you no pity for yourself? What I have is very nice fountain pens, art training, and studies on the mental benefits of writing longhand versus taking digital notes. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
ChrisWithaStick Posted June 13, 2020 Report Share Posted June 13, 2020 2 minutes ago, sarakingdom said: What I have is very nice fountain pens, art training, and studies on the mental benefits of writing longhand versus taking digital notes. My handwriting has devolved from merely so-so to impressively atrocious. It’s the mouse-pipes of handwriting. Quote Human | Plays with Sticks | Monkish Leanings | Rangerish Overtones Occasionally Updated Facebook Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2020 47 minutes ago, ChrisWithaStick said: My handwriting has devolved from merely so-so to impressively atrocious. It’s the mouse-pipes of handwriting. Mine isn't great, but mostly because I rush it. Given my training focus of "concentrate" and "make it elegant", I'll be working on slowing down, using a lighter grip, and thinking about form rather than function. (The irony being, when you stop thinking about function, you get better at function. It's the whole no-mind, do-by-not-doing paradox.) Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 This weekend's list is going to be a challenge, cuz I didn't sleep well. I don't have a lot of energy today to finish off the plan. But I did stuff. I worked on three projects, even if I didn't get done everything I planned for today. I'm literally angry over how hard it was to sleep last night and how much time I lost today to it. Probably there are wise fire nation sayings about that, but fuck 'em. Also, editing posts is ridiculously hard today, a lot of timeouts where it won't accept my edits and shit. Fuck that, too. I'm angry at everything. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 Hydration. Hydration is good. I'm going to watch TV, shower, and go to bed. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 Following along and excited I finally get all the ATLA references. 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Mistr Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 I love how you make everything fit into your training. My zen teacher would approve. Elf likes long-hand writing with fountain pens. I gave them all my fancy paper and a vintage sealing wax set. I considered your writing goal and my brain came back with that's lovely, but not our thing. I appreciate the creative spark that you are applying. 1 Quote Level 68 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
Scaly Freak Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 When work sent us home to quarantine and work from home, they allowed us to take equipment from our desks if we needed it to make working from home possible. I took my large spiral bound notebook and my fountain pen, that I use for note taking during meetings. It remains my favorite way of taking notes and scribbling reminders to myself during the workday. The journal that holds my daily non-work ToDo lists is also written in fountain pen every day. Here for the fountain pens. 1 Quote The Great Reading Thread of 2023 “I've always believed that failure is non-existent. What is failure? You go to the end of the season, then you lose the Super Bowl. Is that failing? To most people, maybe. But when you're picking apart why you failed, and now you're learning from that, then is that really failing? I don't think so." - Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020. Rest in peace, great warrior. Personal Challenges, a.k.a.The Saga of Scalyfreak: Tutorial; Ch 1; Ch 2; Ch 3; Ch 4; Ch 5; Ch 6; Intermission; Intermission II; Ch 7; Ch 8; Ch 9; Ch 10; Ch 11; Ch 12 ; Ch 13; Ch 14; Ch 15; Ch 16; Ch 17; Intermission III; Ch 18; Ch 19; Ch 20; Ch 21; Ch 22; Ch 23; Ch 24; Ch 25; Intermission IV; Ch 26; Ch 27; Ch 28; Ch 29; Ch 30; Ch 31; Ch 32; Ch 33; Ch 34; Ch 35; Ch 36; Ch 37; Ch 38; Ch 39; Ch 40; Intermission V; Ch 41; Ch 42; Ch 43 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 6 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said: Following along and excited I finally get all the ATLA references. I'm excited on your behalf! 4 hours ago, Mistr said: I love how you make everything fit into your training. My zen teacher would approve. Hey, that's what you do with a challenge! 4 hours ago, Mistr said: Elf likes long-hand writing with fountain pens. I gave them all my fancy paper and a vintage sealing wax set. I considered your writing goal and my brain came back with that's lovely, but not our thing. I appreciate the creative spark that you are applying. I do a lot of longhand writing, have for years. Not most of the writing I do, but I like having it in my back pocket. It's good for certain types of thinking. And I find that the more... deliberately I do it, the more mentally useful it is. 4 hours ago, Scalyfreak said: The journal that holds my daily non-work ToDo lists is also written in fountain pen every day. Here for the fountain pens. I switched partly for environmental reasons - I wanted a refillable, non-disposable pen - and partly because, after using one for a bit, I realized they had better gliding action, and put less strain on the hand, than even gel pens. Definitely a better writing tool, IMO. 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Scaly Freak Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 2 minutes ago, sarakingdom said: I switched partly for environmental reasons - I wanted a refillable, non-disposable pen - and partly because, after using one for a bit, I realized they had better gliding action, and put less strain on the hand, than even gel pens. Definitely a better writing tool, IMO. That is exactly what led me to them as well. I gravitate towards refills whenever possible, and they just feel so good when I write with them. Quote The Great Reading Thread of 2023 “I've always believed that failure is non-existent. What is failure? You go to the end of the season, then you lose the Super Bowl. Is that failing? To most people, maybe. But when you're picking apart why you failed, and now you're learning from that, then is that really failing? I don't think so." - Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020. Rest in peace, great warrior. Personal Challenges, a.k.a.The Saga of Scalyfreak: Tutorial; Ch 1; Ch 2; Ch 3; Ch 4; Ch 5; Ch 6; Intermission; Intermission II; Ch 7; Ch 8; Ch 9; Ch 10; Ch 11; Ch 12 ; Ch 13; Ch 14; Ch 15; Ch 16; Ch 17; Intermission III; Ch 18; Ch 19; Ch 20; Ch 21; Ch 22; Ch 23; Ch 24; Ch 25; Intermission IV; Ch 26; Ch 27; Ch 28; Ch 29; Ch 30; Ch 31; Ch 32; Ch 33; Ch 34; Ch 35; Ch 36; Ch 37; Ch 38; Ch 39; Ch 40; Intermission V; Ch 41; Ch 42; Ch 43 Link to comment
Kyellan Posted June 16, 2020 Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 My wife now uses a fountain pen too, and her parents were so excited by this that they bought her a pen and some ink. Because they didn't want leave me out, they also sent me one. It is an enormous Chinese-dragon themed thing that I'm pretty sure weighs a full point. It's quite lovely as an objet d'art, but writing with it is something of a strain on the hand. 😃 Quote "You are what you do. Choose again, and change." - Miles Vorkosigan Challenges 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Link to comment
Scaly Freak Posted June 16, 2020 Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 3 hours ago, Kyellan said: My wife now uses a fountain pen too, and her parents were so excited by this that they bought her a pen and some ink. Because they didn't want leave me out, they also sent me one. It is an enormous Chinese-dragon themed thing that I'm pretty sure weighs a full point. It's quite lovely as an objet d'art, but writing with it is something of a strain on the hand. 😃 That sounds like it defeats the purpose a little bit...! Mine are a model of Cross Fountain Pen that for some reason refuses to show up on their website. I have a black and a red one, with black ink in both. 1 Quote The Great Reading Thread of 2023 “I've always believed that failure is non-existent. What is failure? You go to the end of the season, then you lose the Super Bowl. Is that failing? To most people, maybe. But when you're picking apart why you failed, and now you're learning from that, then is that really failing? I don't think so." - Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020. Rest in peace, great warrior. Personal Challenges, a.k.a.The Saga of Scalyfreak: Tutorial; Ch 1; Ch 2; Ch 3; Ch 4; Ch 5; Ch 6; Intermission; Intermission II; Ch 7; Ch 8; Ch 9; Ch 10; Ch 11; Ch 12 ; Ch 13; Ch 14; Ch 15; Ch 16; Ch 17; Intermission III; Ch 18; Ch 19; Ch 20; Ch 21; Ch 22; Ch 23; Ch 24; Ch 25; Intermission IV; Ch 26; Ch 27; Ch 28; Ch 29; Ch 30; Ch 31; Ch 32; Ch 33; Ch 34; Ch 35; Ch 36; Ch 37; Ch 38; Ch 39; Ch 40; Intermission V; Ch 41; Ch 42; Ch 43 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 5 hours ago, Kyellan said: It is an enormous Chinese-dragon themed thing that I'm pretty sure weighs a full point. It's quite lovely as an objet d'art, but writing with it is something of a strain on the hand. 😃 To be fair, they may have figured that, as a non-convert, being an objet d'art would be the primary function of any pen they sent you. My first one, I did choose a heavier pen; felt better in my hand. But I've basically settled into just using cheap Muji fountain pens. They look sleek and never, ever dry out. They can sit in my bag forever. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 I maaaaaybe put too much Sriracha in my lazy cook's yu shiang beef, but I can't bring myself to regret it. Plus, it's probably in keeping with the challenge theme. Good, authentic fire nation cuisine. 3 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Week 0 Day 2 Did my rock gardening. Sword training next. Hydration is hard. I'm finishing up liter #3. I might hit the full gallon today. 1 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
WhiteGhost Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Took my sweet time getting here but I'm here. 1 Quote HUNTER OF ALL THINGS SHINY Intro Thread Challenge Log Bodyweight Exercise Library Recipe Book Shuffle Club Level 2 Ninja Strength: 13 Intelligence: 14 Wisdom: 6 Dexterity:14 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Did my HIIT workout. Only two challenges late on that. Oh well, better late than never. Lockdown fitness loss is a thing. (Compounded by hydration issues, no doubt. I don't really know how much was loss of fitness, and how much was struggling with the heat today.) I couldn't manage every set, and was sucking down water like crazy. But I came pretty close. I'll get back there soon. I did five or six liters today. Four of water, one of iced coffee, and probably an extra in ice. But I was also sweating a lot, so I don't know if that's the win I think it is. I stuck some electrolytes in this afternoon, and didn't even taste the salt, which is my sign that I really needed them. So I'll have to do more of that. Fortunately, I'm well stocked up. I actually cooked today. Not a disaster. Gonna call that a general win, because my brain has been really struggling this week. But it spontaneously cooked healthy food from scratch, so there's that. My next grocery plan is batch cooking, which is a step up from not cooking. (I have been hitting my macros. Just very much with the precut vegetables and cheese and crap.) 3 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
RisenPhoenix Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 On 6/13/2020 at 12:48 AM, sarakingdom said: Nothing to see here, just prepping my next challenge for zero week. "The warrior practices a variety of arts to keep his mind sharp and fluid." i just rewatched this episode and everything about it is amazing. And I debated making a challenge around it because amazing. Also because Iroh heavy. Quote RisenPhoenix, the Entish Aikidoka Challenge: RisenPhoenix Turns to Ash "The essence of koryu [...is] you offer your loyalty to something that you choose to regard as greater than yourself so that you will, someday, be able to offer service to something that truly is transcendent." ~ Ellis Amdur, Old School Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 20 minutes ago, RisenPhoenix said: i just rewatched this episode and everything about it is amazing. And I debated making a challenge around it because amazing. Also because Iroh heavy. The Iroh half was also great for lockdown fitness, no question. You should. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
RisenPhoenix Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 13 minutes ago, sarakingdom said: The Iroh half was also great for lockdown fitness, no question. You should. ....I am tempted. But I also wanted to make a challenge around this guy: 2 Quote RisenPhoenix, the Entish Aikidoka Challenge: RisenPhoenix Turns to Ash "The essence of koryu [...is] you offer your loyalty to something that you choose to regard as greater than yourself so that you will, someday, be able to offer service to something that truly is transcendent." ~ Ellis Amdur, Old School Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 8 minutes ago, RisenPhoenix said: ....I am tempted. But I also wanted to make a challenge around this guy: Am unexpected choice, but legit. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 31 minutes ago, RisenPhoenix said: ....I am tempted. But I also wanted to make a challenge around this guy: It's not meant to be taken literally. Obviously it refers to anyone in the brassica industry. Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
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