[Scaly Freak]

After spending several days of practicing how to fight in her new body, Scalyfreak says a warm farewell to her paladin friend, and continues her travels. He has his own battles to fight, just as she does, the way it always has been, and as she follows the road in front of her up into the mountains, Scalyfreak reflects on how the two of them always seem to run into each other when one of them really needs help. The strange timing of it all amuses her, and makes her wonder if there might be some other forces at work controlling their fates, not merely the plot scrolls.

 

The road is splitting up ahead, the path to the right going further into the valley, and the one on the left going up along the mountainside. The valley path is smooth, with no weeds or grass growing in the hard packed earth. The path to the left is narrower and a little uneven, with large rocks here and there.

 

Scalyfreak stops just at the spot where the road splits in two, looking back and forth between them. The path to the right is clearly the more popular one, and from what she can tell it leads to a settlement deeper into the valley, known for its hospitality towards travelers. The one to the left, just as clearly not used nearly as often, leads higher up onto the mountain itself, towards what appears to be a quite spectacular view.

 

The decision is an easy one. Scalyfreak turns onto the path that's less traveled, and begins to climb the mountain.

 

 

 

Before diving into the “few and small” goals for this challenge period, here's a brief “intro” for anyone who doesn't know me very well:

 

Spoiler

 

I cheerfully approach all my challenges as video game quests, with boss fights and level grinding, I have re-framed my anxiety into pyromancy (specifically, the Pyromancy Flame of Anxiety), because it's very destructive when it flares up and gets out of control. But like the pyromancy flame, if the chaos is embraced and can be harnessed, all that energy can be used against against my enemies. In fireball form.

 

Track record in my boss fights so far:

 

• Self-Sabotage drains levels and health, and heals herself with what she drains from her opponent.
  • Current strategy: Apparently it is to face her without my armor, while carrying a long needle.
• Procrastination is good at hiding and then hitting me with a back-stab when I least expect it.
  • Current strategy: Pretend to ignore and deal with her later, while secretly plotting to use the bullet journal calendar thingy to ambush her back.
• Self-Indulgence was gradually convinced it would be easier for her to reach her goals if we worked together. Before the alliance fell apart on its own, Self-Indulgence was viciously killed by a very angry unicorn, that has not been seen or heard from since then.
  • Current strategy: Dance on her grave
• Stress-Hydra spawns whenever too many things are happening at once, or when something really big and overwhelming happens, and cutting off one of her seven heads makes no difference because it re-spawns a replacement head almost immediately.
  • Current strategy: The Herakles Method - Ask for help

 

I'm currently dual-classing as a Warrior Druid, because meditation is a great way to quietly build Endurance and Resilience stats while figuring out how to make my need for sleep work with my need to make my body lift things and move and generally be active in a way that builds strength and resilience.

 

 

Recover HP (physical health)

I am still attempting to build a regular exercise habit, which has been a lot more challenging than it has any right to be. Procrastination has been working hard to throw up obstacles and has been largely successful in preventing me from getting anything at all done towards this goal.

 

So clearly a new and different approach is needed. I'm going to shamelessly steal this new approach from @Tanktimus the Encourager, and simply go for consistency above all else. My new goal is to do one exercise every day. That's it. If I do more than one, that's a great bonus, but I will be using a very simple strength program from Darebee, so I don't have to put a lot of effort into creating the program, because that has been an obstacle in the past. I also deliberately chose a beginner program, because they use simple and easy exercises that Self-Sabotage can't use against me. And I'm typing this during the breaks between circuits in Day 1 of my new program.  

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

To absolutely no one's surprise, this goal is all about meditation. Daily meditation needs to continue.

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

This goal remains vague, but I'm trying to make it less so. For the remainder of this challenge period, this will require me to do at least one daily activity for no other reason than because I know I will enjoy it. Today, it was to go to the small nearby park with Husband and Happy Sidekick, and alternate between sitting in the shade and talking, and getting up to play with Happy Sidekick in the shade.

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Simplicity for the win.

[Stronkey Kong]

Following! ... for a short while.

[Harriet]

One exercise for the win!

[Mistr]

You did a day of exercise. That is forward progress!

 

Nice, clear and simple goals.

[Scaly Freak]

Recover HP (physical health)

3 sets of the Day 2 workout, and two walks today.

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

Now on day 37 in my 40-day course. Today's topic was Mindful Speaking, which is meditation-speak for stopping and thinking before speaking.

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

Immersed myself in the marvels of Middle Earth.  

[Jarric]

Simple and consistent is never a bad plan. Following along.

[Scaly Freak]

Recover HP (physical health)

All 5 sets of Day 3. all mobility and stretching, and it felt as good as a heavy squat used to. ... My poor neglected body has not been given nearly enough attention in the form of movement in far too long. I feel like I need to apologize to it. I shall do so by going for a walk.

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

Day 38 of 40 completed.

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

Tested out a new recipe for chicken wings, for dinner, called "tar pit wings". the wings go on a baking sheet (on top of aluminum foil for easy clean-up), get covered in a sauce made from red wine, brown sugar, soy sauce and ginger, and then bake in the oven. Absolutely delicious, and these wings will make a reappearance.

[KB Girl]

18 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

All 5 sets of Day 3. all mobility and stretching, and it felt as good as a heavy squat used to. ... My poor neglected body has not been given nearly enough attention in the form of movement in far too long. I feel like I need to apologize to it. I shall do so by going for a walk.

 

Great exercise plan for this challenge! And this update made me smile  Sounds like you're getting a nice positive motivation loop from it! 

[Mistr]

Yay for doing exercise again!

 

Those wings sound yummy.

 

[Scaly Freak]

5 hours ago, KB Girl said:

Great exercise plan for this challenge! And this update made me smile  Sounds like you're getting a nice positive motivation loop from it! 

 

Today was leg lifts and calf raises and balancing, and it was a fun change of pace. I'm liking this new exercise plan so far.  

 

 

 

Recover HP (physical health)

Day 4 completed.

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

Repeated Day 37 about mindful Speaking.

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

Downloaded a sheet music program that can create MIDI files, that I can edit and convert to files my character in LOTRO can play on her lute. My first attempt was

to simplify and convert this song: 

 

 

[Scaly Freak]

So I did not get my workout done yesterday. Spent the evening stressing over all sorts of preparations that need to happen for an upcoming family visit, and the things that needed to be done and the conversations all these things led to, ate up the entire evening. 

 

In keeping with the ancient Nerd Fitness creed of "never two in a row", I will do todays workout as soon as I have posted this (and changed out of the snug skirt I'm currently wearing). I just need to do one single set, after all.  

[Scaly Freak]

Recover HP (physical health)

I have now completed the Day 5 workout.

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

Day 40 of my mindfulness course has been completed.

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

Located several sheets of rainbow-hologram-colored dinosaur stickers, that I will use to mark "days with workouts" in my journal. Today is a bright sparkly green triceratops.  

 

Also begun a podcast series about Jack the Ripper.  Because obviously.

[sarakingdom]

35 minutes ago, Scaly Freak said:

Today is a bright sparkly green triceratops.  

 

[Harriet]

15 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

In keeping with the ancient Nerd Fitness creed of "never two in a row", I will do todays workout as soon as I have posted this (and changed out of the snug skirt I'm currently wearing). I just need to do one single set, after all.

 

Excellent, excellent. Never two in a row is a great guideline.

[Scaly Freak]

Recover HP (physical health)

Day 6, a series of stretching and mobility exercises, has been done.

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

Meditated while having my morning coffee.

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

Today was draft day for our fantasy football league. I also played with makeup and tried out a new look, and continued my Jack the Ripper podcast listening.

 

Spoilered for graphic Ripper details:

 

Spoiler

One of the pod cast hosts is an autopsy technician. It's surreal and fascinating to hear her talk about the "ripping" Jack did, and compare it to what is done during an autopsy, and the level of anatomical knowledge and actual autopsy skills someone needs to have in order to be able to identify a specific organ inside a dead body. It really brings home just how very difficult it would have been to do the eviscerating and organ removal that Jack did, as quickly and as cleanly as he did, under the circumstances he had to work with (out in the open on a street corner, with no light to see by), in Whitechapel in 1888. Fascinating stuff.

 

[Scaly Freak]

Recover HP (physical health)

Five sets of Day 7 leg lifts and calf raises and other leg things.

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

Listened and half-heartedly followed along with a guided mindfulness meditation while I had bonding time with Happy Sidekick by brushing her.

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

Video call with parents and sweet quality time with Husband.  

[Loveable_Bouncer]

Yay for a week of showing up!!

 

On 8/23/2022 at 10:13 PM, Scaly Freak said:

tar pit wings". the wings go on a baking sheet (on top of aluminum foil for easy clean-up), get covered in a sauce made from red wine, brown sugar, soy sauce and ginger, and then bake in the oven. Absolutely delicious, and these wings will make a reappearance.

Can't stop thinking of these..... I normally don't cook with wine but I need to try it along with trying to figure out a veggie. 

[Scaly Freak]

1 minute ago, Fairly_Bouncer said:

Yay for a week of showing up!!

 

Can't stop thinking of these..... I normally don't cook with wine but I need to try it along with trying to figure out a veggie. 

 

Recipe here  

 

I did a side of carrot sticks and celery sticks

[Loveable_Bouncer]

2 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

 

Recipe here  

 

I did a side of carrot sticks and celery sticks

When my bf has this awesome air fryer... but yup the sugar would make it a pain to clean. 

Definitely will make it on a planned gaming day. 

 

Hope your Monday goes well!

[Mad Hatter]

On 8/25/2022 at 5:50 AM, Scaly Freak said:

Downloaded a sheet music program that can create MIDI files, that I can edit and convert to files my character in LOTRO can play on her lute. My first attempt was

to simplify and convert this song: 

Epic.

 

And yay for happy stickers!

[Mistr]

Yay for progress on your exercise plan and having fun with it!

 

The dinosaur stickers sound awesome.

 

I hope the family visit is enjoyable and the preparations are not too stressful.

[Scaly Freak]

Recover HP (physical health)

Four sets of Day 7 have been completed.

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

Meditated over morning coffee.

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

Slightly cooler days means lunch break walks with Husband and Happy Sidekick.  

[Scaly Freak]

Recover HP (physical health)

I've done my required set of Day 8 exercises, and the rest of them. 

 

Restore Mana (Mental Health)

Meditated again this morning. 

 

Regenerate Stamina (emotional bandwidth)

Played with Happy Sidekick between Day 8 sets.

[Harriet]

On 8/30/2022 at 4:22 AM, Scaly Freak said:

Meditated over morning coffee.

 

Can you meditate and have coffee at the same time? One of the main barriers to me doing anything is the possibility of not having tea. So if I could meditate with tea, that could be good.