Darkfoxx 71: Another Year, Another ... Dollar(?)

[darkfoxx]

 

I crack myself up. 

 

Weeeeeeellll ... it’s another year. Which will hopefully be better than the last. Fingers frickin crossed there.

 

Let’s turn to a fresh page, shall we? Let’s start this year off on the right foot with continuing to stay the course on most things, while peppering in a few extras for spice. 

 

Goal 1: As always, Nutrition

 

Staying the course on my more recent nutritional guidelines: Smaller portions, less meat, more veggies, nutrient dense food options, no GI issues. Drink enough water. Eat with an eye toward Base MFP goals for slow weight loss: 1,260 calories, 20% protein, 50% carbs, 30% fat but without judgement if I go over or under on calories. Basically, eat what I’m going to eat - but by the fact of tracking, that tends to be more reasonable. 

 

I’ll also be continuing onto my third year of daily food photos (to go along with my Picture of the Day), since y’all seem to enjoy that and get something out of it. 

 

Goal 2: As always, a Fitness Component

 

Staying my Druidy course of action (shocker) with 4-5 yoga classes per week - hoping to mix in live 3-D classes with my Zoom schedule. Not sure as of writing this how exactly that’ll take shape. Will update later. 

 

Also adding my wrist, ankle/quad/glute, and breath work rehab exercises here for accountability. Wrists & breath work are daily, along with trigger point massage; ankle/quad/glute work is every other day. 

 

Goal 3: Fulfillment 

 

This goal encompasses a bunch of small things I have going on a daily basis already - with a couple tweaks. The secondary digital project is new, but I’m enjoying learning how to create in this space so I think I’ll keep it up. Pup training is back - I think they’re ready to move on from just working on reactivity; we can find another project aside from deep naps. 

 

[ - ] Duolingo Arabic classes

[ - ] Primary craft project 

[ - ] Secondary digital project

[ - ] Enrichment feeds for the pups

[ - ] Training for the pups 

 

Goal 4: Do Some Shit That Feels Adulty 

 

We have a few things on the fire at the moment, or hope to in the near future, so I will have goals & targets there. More on those as they materialize. Hopefully. 

 

I also still want to focus actual (step up from minimal) effort on my blog, so that goal is staying. 

 

Picture of the Day has been going strong for 10 years; I’ll be continuing that

Weekly recipes are staying

I’m hoping to add weekly ingredient spotlights

e-Book(s) are happening this year

At least a modicum of Pinterest effort is happening

Working on yet again revamping my food photography style for this year 

 

And aside from that, I need to find something else to work toward so my brain doesn’t mush. Pulling sentences for the last big blog post I wrote was harder than it should have been, and it isn’t a great post, tbh. More on this one when I pick a course of action. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along. How much longer till you move to San Antonio leave the Sandpit?

[darkfoxx]

14 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along. How much longer till you move to San Antonio leave the Sandpit?

6 years? Or next year? All depends on: how long DH can hold out, what happens with the World Cup, and what happens when the company’s contract comes up for renew. 

 

We will, however, most likely be stateside for a week or two at at least some point in 2021. Mostly on the East Coast, stretching to the Midwest ... and now Mexico City is on the table, because good friends just found out they’re moving there from Bahrain  in 8 weeks. They’re super excited to explore the Americas. Finnish friend is beyond excited to get to Texas and the Magnolia store (HGTV people she’s obsessed with). And Target. 🤔 Wonder why on that one 😆

 

[WolfDreamer]

Excellent challenge. I commend you on sticking to familiar goals while also implementing new areas of growth.

 

Let me know if I can help in any way.

[Heidi]

Hey hey, lookit you!

I'm PhilosophyHeidi on Duolingo if you want to follow and have me cheer you on. I'm doing Spanish.

I love the idea of you being East Coast at some point. Keep me posted; I'll have a pot of tea warm and waiting.

 

Following, of course.

❣️

 

[Renate]

On 12/23/2020 at 7:53 AM, darkfoxx said:

since y’all seem to enjoy that and get something out of it. 

 

We dooo Thanks.

 

Go Darkfoxx! 

[Ann of Owlshire]

Books, food, craftiness? I’m in. Good luck with your goals! 

[darkfoxx]

Week: 0, Monday

 

Nutrition

Goals here: smaller portions, less meat, more veggies, nutrient dense food options, no GI issues. Eat with an eye toward Base MFP goals for slow weight loss: 1,260 calories, 20% protein, 50% carbs, 30% fat

 

Week 0 Averages:  _calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 1 Averages:  _calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 2 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 3 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 4 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 5 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _

 

Breakfast: Crepe with a fried egg, Quorn ham & vegan cheddar 

Lunch: Leftover chicken taco stuff from last week

Dinner: Vegan mozzarella penne with garlic bread

Snacks: Nope 

Did I eat a vegetable today? Marinara totally counts 

Did I eat like an asshole? Nope 

Did anything try to kill me? Also no

Did I drink enough water? Probably not 

 

Movement

Goals here: 4 - 5x a week yoga classes via Zoom or in person if that’s available and desirable + a little or a lot of accessory work on Saturdays and a walk on Sundays. Projected weekly schedule: TBD, Sunday mall walk

 

Yoga Class: Online yoga classes this week aren’t listed on the site, so I don’t think they’re being held. With no notice, which totally sucks. Not sure what this means for January, but I guess an actual zero week won’t kill me. I *could* always choose to do YouTube videos. 

[ - ] Did my wrist rehab exercises + leg rehab + breathing exercises: Nooooope 

 

Fulfillment

Goal here: Keep up the little extras I’ve been doing + add a few more

 

[ x ] Duolingo Arabic class

[ x ] Primary craft project: Sashiko 

[ x ] Secondary digital project: Did some graphic design, colored a bit, and drew either today or yesterday 

[ x ] Enrichment feeds for the pups: Frozen foods night: wet food, kibble, cheese

[ - ] Training for the pups: Nope 

 

Adulty Shit

Pick a direction to go on the brain not liquefying front, Adulty $ stuff, blog roadmap

 

[ x ] Worked toward some or all of that: Designed 5 (read: cribbed from template) Pinterest pin versions and will give them a second glance in a few days, then pick 2 - 3 versions to use. 

 

 

 

[Harriet]

Oooh, those food pics are indeed nice. What is your blog about, if I might ask? Wait, is it food?

[Terra]

Here because you remind my dumb brain that portion size is important.  (though you should know that it helps!!!) 

[Fonzico]

Sorry to hear about the lack of yoga! Hopefully it's just a holidays things and it'll be back in January?? 

 

In any case, following!

[miss_marissa]

First food pics deliver!!!

[darkfoxx]

13 hours ago, Harriet said:

Oooh, those food pics are indeed nice. What is your blog about, if I might ask? Wait, is it food?

 

Primarily, but not exclusively. I post a recipe a week on Saturdays, a picture of the day, and longer photo essays if I do anything interesting. Http://gastography.com 

 

 

4 hours ago, Fonzico said:

Sorry to hear about the lack of yoga! Hopefully it's just a holidays things and it'll be back in January?? 

 

In any case, following!

Maybe? And if not at that place, the one I can walk to (but landed me in quarantine) is back up and running in-person classes. Everything here is notoriously bad about pre-planning and communication, so I may be waiting to see wtf is happening until the 1st. Which is annoying, but I suppose I’ll live. 

5 hours ago, Terra said:

Here because you remind my dumb brain that portion size is important.  (though you should know that it helps!!!) 

It is! I’m glad my body has said no more - I think that’ll help my brain a bunch. 

1 hour ago, miss_marissa said:

First food pics deliver!!!

🙌

[darkfoxx]

Week: 0, Tuesday

 

Nutrition

Goals here: smaller portions, less meat, more veggies, nutrient dense food options, no GI issues. Eat with an eye toward Base MFP goals for slow weight loss: 1,260 calories, 20% protein, 50% carbs, 30% fat

 

Week 0 Averages:  _calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 1 Averages:  _calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 2 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 3 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 4 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 5 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _

 

Breakfast: Skipped

Lunch: Part 1 was leftover “cheesy” pasta from yesterday; part 2 was my usual grocery store sushi 

Dinner: Taco Tuesday - ground beef, huge peppers, a little avocado, a little vegan cheddar, Choula & radish 

Snacks: Japanese snacks - a matcha cookie thing, crispy kinda sweet crunchy bites, “Texas Corn” flavored cheesy pouf bites 

Did I eat a vegetable today? Yep! Marinara at lunch, peppers at dinner 

Did I eat like an asshole? Nope 

Did anything try to kill me? No, though I had some random ass ripping cramps while out and about - was not sure if they were potty, girl, or food related so skedaddled home as quickly as possible while walking subtly bent over. Still no idea what that was, since it cleared up when I got into the building and were out of mind until after I ate Lunch 2. 

Did I drink enough water? Yep. Shotgunned a bottle of water in the half hour before bed. Wasn’t the best plan, but I was thirsty for 3/4 of it. 

 

Movement

Goals here: 4 - 5x a week yoga classes via Zoom or in person if that’s available and desirable + a little or a lot of accessory work on Saturdays and a walk on Sundays. Projected weekly schedule: TBD, Sunday mall walk

 

Yoga Class: Nope. 

[ - ] Did my wrist rehab exercises + leg rehab + breathing exercises - Also no, though I did work on some of the rib & belly positioning I’m supposed to be working on - just while upright. 

 

Fulfillment

Goal here: Keep up the little extras I’ve been doing + add a few more

 

[ x ] Duolingo Arabic class

[ x ] Primary craft project: Sashiko

[ - ] Secondary digital project: Nope. Freya The Asshole ate my damn Apple Pencil. 

[ x ] Enrichment feeds for the pups: Scatter night. I loosely knotted a portion of kibble in pillowcase bits and then scattered the rest, sprinkling some from up high, and hiding the rest under pillows and blankets. I think I blew Odin’s mind. Poor guy got the scattered stuff, and then excitedly ran over to share his joy - aaaaand then I walked around to the other hiding spots, telling him to Find It and lifting each hiding place. He did well - he got #1 spot, forgot the other two in the excitement, but went right to #2 when I pointed at the hiding place. I’m glad to see at least he is getting better at learning to look to me for answers and is figuring out what pointing means. He then spent the next half hour flipping a pillow across the living room like a tire flip. Then Freya came out of her room and had a go at the pillow. It was an exciting night in pup land. 

[ x ] Training for the pups: Tonight’s enrichment included a little training. 

 

Adulty Shit

Pick a direction to go on the brain not liquefying front, Adulty $ stuff, blog roadmap

 

[ - ] Worked toward some or all of that: Not especially. 

 

 

 

[Heidi]

The week between Christmas and New Year always seems to be some sort of teflon-coated zombie wasteland. Nothing works, and nothing sticks, but that's okay because nothing works.

🤷

You seem to be doing well, and wow food pictures. 😎

[darkfoxx]

17 hours ago, Heidi said:

The week between Christmas and New Year always seems to be some sort of teflon-coated zombie wasteland. Nothing works, and nothing sticks, but that's okay because nothing works.

🤷

You seem to be doing well, and wow food pictures. 😎

I remember that being sort of an annoying comfort in the US — here, it’s just annoying. NYE is kiiiinda a thing here, minus the fireworks, and getting things done Stateside is always a pain - moreso at this time of year. Time Zones are (one of the) bane of my existence. I suppose that’s one of the drawbacks to expat life. Still annoying, though. On a side note - since this year has happened, at least people are more willing to jump on a video conference so it’s more like you’re having an actual meeting than a phone call with office workers wandering in  and out. Fingers crossed our adulty meeting takes place today and gives us some answers and a path forward re: the house. 

[darkfoxx]

Week: 0, Wednesday

 

Nutrition

Goals here: smaller portions, less meat, more veggies, nutrient dense food options, no GI issues. Eat with an eye toward Base MFP goals for slow weight loss: 1,260 calories, 20% protein, 50% carbs, 30% fat

 

Week 0 Averages:  _calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 1 Averages:  _calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 2 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 3 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 4 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _
Week 5 Averages:  _ calories, _g protein (_%), _g carbs (_%), _g fat (_%) End Weight: _

 

Breakfast: Almond yogurt & granola 

Lunch: Leftover chicken tacos with peppers & vegan cheddar 

Dinner: A kinda hash with multi-colored potatoes, green beans, homemade lemon herb seasoning, fresh dill & rosemary and vegan cashew curry sausage

Snacks: Split some weirdo salad and bacon potato flavored breadstick things with DH 

Did I eat a vegetable today? Yes! Peppers at lunch and green beans at dinner 

Did I eat like an asshole? It felt like it. I was full af after lunch 

Did anything try to kill me? Something did but I’m not sure what. Random stabby stabby for a few minutes after dinner. I’m thinking it’s either I’ve had too many peppers in my diet (though I strangely don’t *smell* like peppers like I do sometimes when I eat them), or I’ve had too much vegan cheese and whatever is in that is causing a slow burn issue. Probably time to forego all hummus, knock back the garlic & onions, and stick to super safe shit for a week or two to see if that solves the random stabbies. Bastards. 

Did I drink enough water? I think so. 

 

Movement

Goals here: 4 - 5x a week yoga classes via Zoom or in person if that’s available and desirable + a little or a lot of accessory work on Saturdays and a walk on Sundays. Projected weekly schedule: TBD, Sunday mall walk

 

Yoga Class: Nope 

[ - ] Did my wrist rehab exercises + leg rehab + breathing exercises - Also no

 

Fulfillment

Goal here: Keep up the little extras I’ve been doing + add a few more

 

[ x ] Duolingo Arabic class

[ x ] Primary craft project: Sashiko 

[ x ] Secondary digital project: DH brought me home a replacement Apple Pencil so I went back to coloring

[ x ] Enrichment feeds for the pups: Frozen foods night - kibble mixed with wet food & a chew sticking out the top 

[ - ] Training for the pups: No extra training; we are back to working on not being an asshole at hall noises. Ms. Princess thinks she no longer has to listen & Odin has tuned me out. Yelling may make me feel like I’m doing something, but I need to go back to not doing that and just setting them where they need to be. Grrrr. I prefer yelling. 

 

Adulty Shit

Pick a direction to go on the brain not liquefying front, Adulty $ stuff, blog roadmap

 

[ x ] Worked toward some or all of that: Somewhat hammered out a time to meet with our property manager to review the house, wrote down a list of blog to-dos for the new year, found the notes on exactly what I needed to analyze $ wise. Also found out just how much this year of staying home has saved us. It may not have been an exciting year, but man was it a year of savings. Funny how not leaving the house, reducing fitness costs, and reducing the amount we eat out can do for that. Torn on whether I want this savings trend to continue - yay, savings, and building a future; boo no traveling. 

 

 

 

[Heidi]

5 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

Torn on whether I want this savings trend to continue

Selfishly I want to see you, of course, but I live this upside for you.

 

Also, the numbers are crazy with this new Covid strain, so we might all find that 2021 is actually 2020-2.0

[darkfoxx]

5 hours ago, Heidi said:

Selfishly I want to see you, of course, but I live this upside for you.

 

Also, the numbers are crazy with this new Covid strain, so we might all find that 2021 is actually 2020-2.0

I know, right? 
 

Fingers crossed here for a swift vaccine rollout - the Ministry has pledged to give all residents free access, but with no real timeline for that roll-out. 
 

On that front, interestingly, the Emir (President) has gotten his vaccine - and then days later it was announced that Qatar has received an invite to this year’s GCC summit by Saudi. Which could indicate an end to the blockade; which will mean - something - for life here. Not sure what, as supply chains seem to have mostly normalized, but it will still be interesting to see. Fingers crossed that it means good things for local travel, doubly so for healthy competition driving prices out of the crazy zone. 

[darkfoxx]

I know y’all are probably deep into the NYE modus, but I’ve just watched an interesting video outlining a more businessy approach to setting measurable (SMART??) goals for 2021. 
 

This chick is super cute and worth the watch regardless if you’re interested in: productivity & $, expat life, minimalism, sustainability or pups: 

 

 

 

[darkfoxx]

2 minutes ago, darkfoxx said:

I know, right? 
 

Fingers crossed here for a swift vaccine rollout - the Ministry has pledged to give all residents free access, but with no real timeline for that roll-out. 
 

On that front, interestingly, the Emir (President) has gotten his vaccine - and then days later it was announced that Qatar has received an invite to this year’s GCC summit by Saudi. Which could indicate an end to the blockade; which will mean - something - for life here. Not sure what, as supply chains seem to have mostly normalized, but it will still be interesting to see. Fingers crossed that it means good things for local travel, doubly so for healthy competition driving prices out of the crazy zone. 

Also, apologies: I ran off the rails a bit. Blame it on 4 whiskies for NYE.

 

it’s a super #youngandfun night filled with dumplings, a meeting with our real estate manager, a couple rounds of Rummikub, trying to dig up an old movie that doesn’t really exist digitally (The Young Poisoner’s Handbook), and catching up on YouTube while the hubby sleeps before watching some damn fireworks on my island in Animal Crossing.

 

man, we live a #exciting #blessed #yolo #morehashtagsthatmakemeoneoftheyoungs life 🤣🤣🤣

[Big_Show]

At the very least, an end to the blockade would make trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi much quicker and easier.  They were always fun to explore.

[Fonzico]

On 12/31/2020 at 12:09 PM, darkfoxx said:

Also, apologies: I ran off the rails a bit. Blame it on 4 whiskies for NYE.

 

it’s a super #youngandfun night filled with dumplings, a meeting with our real estate manager, a couple rounds of Rummikub, trying to dig up an old movie that doesn’t really exist digitally (The Young Poisoner’s Handbook), and catching up on YouTube while the hubby sleeps before watching some damn fireworks on my island in Animal Crossing.

 

man, we live a #exciting #blessed #yolo #morehashtagsthatmakemeoneoftheyoungs life 🤣🤣🤣

 

Sounds perfect ;)

 

Happy new year! Good things coming, one way or another. 

[darkfoxx]

14 hours ago, Big_Show said:

At the very least, an end to the blockade would make trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi much quicker and easier.  They were always fun to explore.

No doubt. I’d be thrilled to not have to spend 8 hours’ travel on a trip I could drive quicker than that. 

 

4 hours ago, Fonzico said:

 

Sounds perfect

 

Happy new year! Good things coming, one way or another. 

Happy New Year! And they are

[darkfoxx]

Thursday & Friday Update

 

Thursday: Took DH to the doctor to check his calf tear - looks like it was minor, thank goodness. He seems to be well on the way to mending. Grabbed a too-big breakfast, of which I finished half. Ordered dumplings for dinner, met with the property management for our house, played a few rounds of Rummikub, had probably too many whiskies, DH conked out by 9, and I stayed mostly up to watch the fireworks on Animal Crossing. 

 

Friday: Video call with a friend to catch up while our hubbies played CoD, lunch was a fantastic steak sandwich with a spinach pie thing - too much damn food again, but it was so good.... Snuggled the pups all afternoon, and met our other friends for drinks at a pub + some catch-up time spent at “home” (from their staycation apartment while their actual apartment has some fixes done). Came home, more pup snuggles and bed. 

 

Have actually managed to get a ton done adulty-wise - list coming when I can locate my notebook, but suffice it to say I’ve been busy blog-wise, finally de-activated my old business site & Facebook page, have updated all my auto-post things - we shall see if the last two work by 8:01 pm today - planned next week’s menu, signed up for next week’s yoga classes, still haven’t figured out what to do about the house but have talked a lot about it, and sent the dogs on a training scavenger hunt for treats. The next day we tried so hard to get Odin to fetch a toy to play with to burn a little energy, and the poor guy just couldn’t make the connection. He does get that pointing at something means I want him to interact with it; which is good, but not the association I wanted him to make. Find It was the association I was looking for. He’ll get it. In the meantime, he had a good time trying. And then a little game of tug to celebrate. 

 

I think that’s all I’ve done the past two days? I keep thinking it’s Sunday.