Kuiken's 6-wk Challenge #2-"Come with me if you want to lift."

[Kuiken]

The chameleon's dish.

Hmm-perhaps I should play this in the garden on a regular basis so he'll grow up to be a big mantis, and it might make my garden overall grow better. It can't be any worse than the neighbors' barking dogs or me singing at them. But I'll have to stop before the creepy laugh at the end, I don't want my garden to get all Labyrinth (no idea why, but that's what the laugh reminds me of). Unless that means David Bowie would magically appear in my garden wearing tights. Hmm-I'll need to think about this one.

Glad I can keep you entertained! I promise most of my day is not that exciting, so the bits that are I try to make the most of!

So. Much. Awesome. Like the real kind. Not like a hotdog. So scorpion pose, huh? I didn't even know that was a thing. Outside of gymnastics, I guess, because they do crazy body stuff. If you can do that, I'll be in awe of you forever.

And way to go bailing off a horse! While thinking about lunch! (Nice one, btw, I had to wipe water off my computer screen. Good laugh.)

I have a theory about the preying mantis. He eats anti-gravity space dust, which is what causes the film on the underside of glass objects, like the very sharply angled front windshield of my car.

The vader yoga thing was in one of the other guilds' general boards and I had to bookmark it. I really like the one with yoda, because that's what it feels like trying to do yoga with Kate around. (My burpee count is crazy low because I can't do burpees without getting tackled.) http://blog.thaeger.com/2012/02/28/star-wars-yoga/

I'm about to go whine about the cold in my own thread. It's low 70s, high 60s. (20ish Celsius?) I'm broken.

I didn't know it was a pose either! Now that I do, I feel like it was invited by someone who was trying to show off their handstand skills, failed miserable by bending all backwards, and then was like "oh no, I meant to do that-it's called 'scorpion' and it's even harder than a handstand, so there!". If I ever manage to pull that pose off, I will frame that picture and hang it on the wall in every room of my house-including the bathroom and kitchen, so that I will always be reminded of the awesomeness. Thanks for the Star Wars link! One of the teachers is infamous for doing a pop-quiz and calling out the name of the pose to see who can recognize the name-I'm totally going to practice using Star Wars. MUCH more interesting than any yoga book I've ever seen.

There was no chicken left for lunch, so I had to make beef brats instead-that was the real tragedy of the day Seriously though, my brain is trying to kill me.

Anti-gravity space dust? Sounds legit. I'll try to dust my car off in the garden while playing The Chameleon's Dish-then he'll get double the foods!

Also-SO HOT TODAY!

Thank you for the laugh. Loved reading your update - praying mantis, horseback riding, and twisted yoga positions for the win.

Hahah, thanks-surviving my weekends makes Mondays look safe and inviting!

What a weekend it sounds that you have had. You are still my hero

Good luck with second week. I am still looking forward to more art.

Aw-thanks Sunday's art was more macro photography, this time with a tiny centipede but the pictures give me the hebejeebies so much that I haven't wanted to edit them yet. Taking the pictures was already a battle because I had to get close, but then it would crawl towards me-there was a lot of squealing because those things are terrifying damnit! Best part? We found him in the house o_0 I'm never sleeping again. I think today's art will be guitar playing-much safer.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Awesome update, K and thanks for the laugh. I needed it!!

[Samunwal]

For the update, I've been eating well with a cheat on Friday night for a friend's birthday (we went to a Turkish restaurant where there were sword/fire balancing belly dancers-freakin AMAZING!), and I've been playing guitar and doing some minor drawing.

The downside-now the teacher is convinced I can do scorpion (do you see that chick's eyes? Does it look like she's having fun?!) and is making it her mission to get me there by Christmas! I admire her optimism if nothing else.

Today's 20 mins of art was photography! I found the tiniest praying mantis ever and decided to practice my macro skills on him. Afterwards I spent probably another 20 mins editing the photos, but I'm insanely please with the results! I'm really starting to get into this goal!

OMG! The mantis is so freaking cool!! And a Turkish restaurant? I love Turkish food. Hope you're happy- you're making me hungry and it's Z-gnome bed time. And as for scorpion chick- you gonna tell her she looks unhappy with that crazy Hannibal Lecter in a pretzel pose silence-I-will-keeeeel-you! stare going?

[Kuiken]

Awesome update, K and thanks for the laugh. I needed it!!

Glad to make your day a little funnier

OMG! The mantis is so freaking cool!! And a Turkish restaurant? I love Turkish food. Hope you're happy- you're making me hungry and it's Z-gnome bed time. And as for scorpion chick- you gonna tell her she looks unhappy with that crazy Hannibal Lecter in a pretzel pose silence-I-will-keeeeel-you! stare going?

Thanks-he was SO tiny it was adorable! And as I also love Turkish food, I won't make your hunger worse by telling you how amazing the dolmas were or how tender my lamb kabab with creamy yogurt was or how delicate the baklavah was. No, I'm a nice person, so I wouldn't do that to you. Damn-now I've made myself hungry

I missed my 20 mins of art last night (neck pain/headache/exhaustion=long, crappy day), so I'm going to have to make it up tonight. Think I'll mix some guitar playing in with drawing. I did actually make an attempt to practice guitar last night, but I had just rubbed pain cream on my neck and I couldn't get the goop off my fingers; plus I had Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting stuck like glue in my head, which wouldn't normally be an issue except that I'm trying to learn Johnny Cash's Walk the Line and those 2 songs couldn't be further apart. It was very distracting.

[Kuiken]

Nothing really exciting to report-lifted my weights, did some yoga today, and decided against pushing for the sprints for sake of being able to walk. I did manage to get into a wall version of the scorpion, but not long enough to take pictures! Still needs more work, although I have perfected "ermahgerd-what amm I doing?!" face (been practicing).

Caught up on my art on Wednesday night only to skip it on Thursday night due to attending an all day massive industry conference plus evening dinner with speakers. My brain meats were fried, but in a good way. But I'll make it up tonight or roll it on over to the weekend. 20 mins may have been too much each day-I probably should have made it 10, but meh-I'm committed now, I'mma quit whinning and just do it.

I *might* have something ridiculously awesome to share tomorrow-with pictures. Don't get too excited, as it's exciting in terms of my unbalanced sense of cool, not in the usual sense like "I'm graduating" or "I just won the lottery"-key word here is "ridiculously". I ordered something and it's suppose to arrive today-we shall see this afternoon!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

I *might* have something ridiculously awesome to share tomorrow-with pictures. Don't get too excited, as it's exciting in terms of my unbalanced sense of cool, not in the usual sense like "I'm graduating" or "I just won the lottery"-key word here is "ridiculously". I ordered something and it's suppose to arrive today-we shall see this afternoon!

Will be returning to see what this is!!!!!

[Samunwal]

Nothing really exciting to report-lifted my weights, did some yoga today, and decided against pushing for the sprints for sake of being able to walk. I did manage to get into a wall version of the scorpion, but not long enough to take pictures! Still needs more work, although I have perfected "ermahgerd-what amm I doing?!" face (been practicing).

Caught up on my art on Wednesday night only to skip it on Thursday night due to attending an all day massive industry conference plus evening dinner with speakers. My brain meats were fried, but in a good way. But I'll make it up tonight or roll it on over to the weekend. 20 mins may have been too much each day-I probably should have made it 10, but meh-I'm committed now, I'mma quit whinning and just do it.

I *might* have something ridiculously awesome to share tomorrow-with pictures. Don't get too excited, as it's exciting in terms of my unbalanced sense of cool, not in the usual sense like "I'm graduating" or "I just won the lottery"-key word here is "ridiculously". I ordered something and it's suppose to arrive today-we shall see this afternoon!

HEY! At LEAST post the "ermahgerd-what amm I doing?!" face for our edification and emulation, and to tide us over until you get the whole thing down. And hey, since we seem to have kindred warped senses of humor, and you're a woman who'll take pics of bugs, I can't help but get excited about something YOU are telling us is "ridiculously awesome."

[Kuiken]

HEY! At LEAST post the "ermahgerd-what amm I doing?!" face for our edification and emulation, and to tide us over until you get the whole thing down. And hey, since we seem to have kindred warped senses of humor, and you're a woman who'll take pics of bugs, I can't help but get excited about something YOU are telling us is "ridiculously awesome."

Hahah-fair enough. Here is my wall scorpion:

scorpion-Oct2012

This one isn't as pretty as the one I did in class since I'm on gravel and a concrete wall, but you can get the idea. My head is suppose to be looking at the wall, but the husband was making me laugh while I was shouting "TAKE THE PICTURE-TAKE THE PICTURE", but you can still get the idea. Holy crap but this pose is a workout out-how in hollandaise sauce am I suppose to do this without the wall?!

Now for fun stuff! About a year ago, I found this in my garage:

Bredie-socks

How/what/where/why-I have no idea. This is Africa, so I just figured it must be a "when in Rome" thing, that rabbits just show up in your garage (we posted found flyers and everything, but no one claimed her). We named her "Bredie" which sounds pretty in English and means "stew" in Afrikaans (I know, but I couldn't help myself!). As we already have 1.5 cats (we have a time share on one), we raised her around them so that she would know what they are and not panic (obviously play time was supervised), and pretty much gave her the run of the house.

Then she got big. Really big. Wait no-not radioactive big, but still big. Being raised with the run of the house, she begin to assume that she ran the house (including all that lived in the house) and turned into a mini, fluffy Gozer the destroyer of the world. Her play time with the cats is still supervised, but now more for the cats' safety than hers (one cat has to play "the floor is lava" to get around when she's loose). These are big cats who regularly kill bird, rats, etc...; it's embarrassing for everyone. She does still do sweet and adorable things, but basically she's not a bunny to be trifled with. Being at the top of the food chain, I could not allow this to stand, so I got this:

Bredie-leash

The idea was that I would now be in control, and we would go walking on the leash where I wanted to go. The reality has been that I just try to keep up with her and stop her from chewing the leash in half. But we're getting there. Slowly. And this is only Phase I. Phase II involves teaching her to ride on a tiny skateboard-Phase III? PROFIT! Or at least laugh our asses off. I know people think that because we don't have a tv that we must spend our evenings playing chess or reading Tolstoy or debating politics, but our free time is usually spent like this: teaching bunnies to walk on a leash and ride a skateboard. However if this doesn't work out, we're already planning on organizing a snail racing triple crown.

[Samunwal]

ROFLMAO! Bunny on a string! That IS freaking awesome!

Scorpion is impressive, even with the wall. And as for how to do it without the wall? Perhaps this explains example chick's Hannibal glare?

[Blaidd]

Um, it's not an African thing to find bunnies in your garage. I have never found a bunny in my garage (well not one that was planted there by my patents). BUT it's awesome that you got Bredie a leash. I wish Thumper (original i know but he did have only 3 legs) had been more into bondage.

Pro yogi!!

[FalseLikeCresid]

...I want to do a wall scorpion now. That's awesome.

[Absidey]

Is that a beer in your wall scorpion picture? If so - does that make it easier? =D That's crazy. And awesome. How do you even get up there like that without scraping the hell out of your knees?

Love your bunny. We had one in California that would terrorize my (former) step-dad's springer spaniel and teenage boys. (He liked to hump legs. But only male legs.) I hope your bid for supremacy is successful!

[Kuiken]

ROFLMAO! Bunny on a string! That IS freaking awesome!

Scorpion is impressive, even with the wall. And as for how to do it without the wall? Perhaps this explains example chick's Hannibal glare?

We're still working on the walking together part. The instructions said to "be a follower, not a leader" and "exercise LOTS patience"-the battle of wills continues!

No wall TOTALLY explains that chick's Hannibal glare! Maybe the glare is the key-like you just stare down gravity and say "I do what I wanna do gravity!"? I'm going to practice it along with my balance!

Um, it's not an African thing to find bunnies in your garage. I have never found a bunny in my garage (well not one that was planted there by my patents). BUT it's awesome that you got Bredie a leash. I wish Thumper (original i know but he did have only 3 legs) had been more into bondage.

Hahah-well we have squirrels in America, so I figured this was like long ear/short tail squirrels? How did poor Thumper only have 3 legs?! Please tell me you didn't steal one for a lucky charm

...I want to do a wall scorpion now. That's awesome.

DO IT! Well practice hand stands and stuff first or take a yoga class-maybe not do it immediately, do it eventually. Because it looks cool. And pro tip-DO NOT use a concrete wall. Bad idea.

Is that a beer in your wall scorpion picture? If so - does that make it easier? =D That's crazy. And awesome. How do you even get up there like that without scraping the hell out of your knees?

Love your bunny. We had one in California that would terrorize my (former) step-dad's springer spaniel and teenage boys. (He liked to hump legs. But only male legs.) I hope your bid for supremacy is successful!

Opps-well...it's not really a beer, it's a cider. And it's a light cider at that-only 3% alcohol. And I only had half of it (drunk yoga would be dangerous!). I needed a marker for where to aim my hands before the flip and that was the closest thing by me (yoga class was so tough, I needed a beer afterwards). ;D But yes, I think it makes my back more bendy and I feel more relaxed about throwing myself at a concrete wall.

My feet took most of the abuse. All the walls in the house are made of concrete, so I didn't have a lot of options-our landlord wanted a "rustic" look. I was more worried about falling on the gravel (we don't really have a grassy lawn-land lord also thought that gravel > grass; she apparently never played outside when she lived here!).

Thanks for the encouragement! Yesterday went a little better-we almost went in the direction I wanted to go in. Almost. And you have no idea how relived I was when I saw this was a girl bunny specifically because of the humping! I used to have a male bunny who did the same as yours and it was so awkward when people came to visit ("What a cute bun....what's he doing? Is he going to stop?").

Nothing exciting to report-still plugging away at my goals. The weekend got a little out of hand and my art goals did not get met Friday and Saturday, but whatever-this is a new week and new progress will be made!

Still tracking my food as well. I'm maintaining around 62kg (+/- 0.5kg, probably just water)-I would have thought with all this lifting I would lose a little bit of weight? Maybe I'm burning body fat at the same time as I'm gaining muscle? My lifting weights are going up as my reps go down, so I must be building muscle right? Honestly I'm not too bothered by it-I feel great and like I'm getting stronger, but it would be nice to get rid of some of this fat so I can show these muscles off! Might need set a goal to tighten up on my diet for the next challenge.

[Kuiken]

HAI U GUYZZZ!!!! SO excited-my friend was in between apartments so our Halloween party was up in the air because no one else has a suitable party house (either elderly neighbours small house, no yard, etc...), but she finally found a new apartment and I received the following message today:

"So I found a place to live last night. Halloween is ON! Key details are a big yard and party atmosphere and stripper pole."

I foresee my art challenge becoming all about the Halloween costume this weekend! I also foresee making up all the time I missed this past weekend while I'm trying to decide what to be and make the costume! Hmmm-anyone have any sewing tips?

[Absidey]

it was so awkward when people came to visit ("What a cute bun....what's he doing? Is he going to stop?").

Oh, I hear that! I was in high school so the teenage boys were usually either my boyfriend or a boy I wished were my boyfriend (not at the same time). Excrutiating!

Nothing exciting to report-still plugging away at my goals. The weekend got a little out of hand and my art goals did not get met Friday and Saturday, but whatever-this is a new week and new progress will be made!

Still tracking my food as well. I'm maintaining around 62kg (+/- 0.5kg, probably just water)-I would have thought with all this lifting I would lose a little bit of weight? Maybe I'm burning body fat at the same time as I'm gaining muscle? My lifting weights are going up as my reps go down, so I must be building muscle right? Honestly I'm not too bothered by it-I feel great and like I'm getting stronger, but it would be nice to get rid of some of this fat so I can show these muscles off! Might need set a goal to tighten up on my diet for the next challenge.

Take some measurements if you haven't already. When I started lifting regularly, I gained 8 lbs in the first month and would have lost my mind if I hadn't also lost 2 and some inches around my waist. You might hold onto water a little bit more, too. If you're sore, you're probably also inflamed a bit.

HAI U GUYZZZ!!!! SO excited-my friend was in between apartments so our Halloween party was up in the air because no one else has a suitable party house (either elderly neighbours small house, no yard, etc...), but she finally found a new apartment and I received the following message today:

"So I found a place to live last night. Halloween is ON! Key details are a big yard and party atmosphere and stripper pole."

I foresee my art challenge becoming all about the Halloween costume this weekend! I also foresee making up all the time I missed this past weekend while I'm trying to decide what to be and make the costume! Hmmm-anyone have any sewing tips?

Yay! I love Halloween! And, hey, with a stripper pole around, your yoga driven increased bendiness might come in handy! =D

Edit: That is NOT the face I picked.

[Blaidd]

Yay for your halloween party!! I think you should either go as a female version of Legolas (the archer) or maybe as a scorpion queen (was there something like that in Mummy?).

[Samunwal]

HAI U GUYZZZ!!!! SO excited-my friend was in between apartments so our Halloween party was up in the air because no one else has a suitable party house (either elderly neighbours small house, no yard, etc...), but she finally found a new apartment and I received the following message today:

"So I found a place to live last night. Halloween is ON! Key details are a big yard and party atmosphere and stripper pole."

I foresee my art challenge becoming all about the Halloween costume this weekend! I also foresee making up all the time I missed this past weekend while I'm trying to decide what to be and make the costume! Hmmm-anyone have any sewing tips?

Sorry- no help here. As a dude, I'm having trouble getting past the words "stripper pole." You and the hubby as a pair of those awesome blue cranes? Take turns being the crane that gets the crap scared out of it? Trying to think of what a big blue dancing bird would look like on a stripper pole.....

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Hmmm-anyone have any sewing tips?

Staples and/or hot glue guns work great. LOL!!

Seriously, go for something simple and accessorize the heck out of it. Make up might be easier than learning to sew at this stage. ;-)

[jimmie65]

Hmmm-anyone have any sewing tips?

Staples usually work. If not, duct tape. (Black, of course, for Halloween).

[Kuiken]

Take some measurements if you haven't already. When I started lifting regularly, I gained 8 lbs in the first month and would have lost my mind if I hadn't also lost 2 and some inches around my waist. You might hold onto water a little bit more, too. If you're sore, you're probably also inflamed a bit.

Yay! I love Halloween! And, hey, with a stripper pole around, your yoga driven increased bendiness might come in handy! =D

Edit: That is NOT the face I picked.

Right...that face just ended up there by itself? ;D I'm more likely to be the one running at the pole yelling "hey ya'll watch this!" and end up in bandages the next morning. Maybe I should just go as a mummy and save time.

I did measure my arms, thighs, waist, and body fat, but so far they haven't changed either. Good point on the retained water-might be that. I'm not gaining so it doesn't freak me out too much, but I'm not losing either which seems weird. Guess I'll have to be patient and see how it goes!

Yay for your halloween party!! I think you should either go as a female version of Legolas (the archer) or maybe as a scorpion queen (was there something like that in Mummy?).

OHHH-love the Legolas one! My hair's about long enough that I think I could pull it off. I'll have to give the scorpion queen one some thought-most of the costumes seem to be fancy bikini's and I know if I wear that, I'm going to get drunk and yell "Look I'm the scorpion queen" while trying to do that pose-that's just asking for a "wardrobe malfunction". Still it would make the party extremely memorable, but I think I want to be on the other side of the memory.

Sorry- no help here. As a dude, I'm having trouble getting past the words "stripper pole." You and the hubby as a pair of those awesome blue cranes? Take turns being the crane that gets the crap scared out of it? Trying to think of what a big blue dancing bird would look like on a stripper pole.....

I can understand your distraction. The worst is she sent me this message right before she went on holiday, so her phone's off and I can't get any details! I think the husband's going to be Allan Quartermain (basically Indian Jones with a beard), but he's pretty tall so maybe I can talk him into being a crane instead. But how does the crane hold onto the pole-would the feathers slide off. I'mma get some chickens and try this out.

Staples and/or hot glue guns work great. LOL!!

Seriously, go for something simple and accessorize the heck out of it. Make up might be easier than learning to sew at this stage. ;-)

Staples usually work. If not, duct tape. (Black, of course, for Halloween).

Thanks for the awesome suggestions! Duct tape pretty much is the answer to everything and what it can't fix, staples and glue can hold together! The plan is to lock myself in the garage with nothing but David Bowie music and I'm not allowed to leave until I have at least the beginnings of an awesome costume.

[Blaidd]

You could go as Alice in Wonderland, your hubby could be the Mad Hatter and Bredie on her leash? All 3 of you could have a tea party on the pole!!

[Librarian of Doom]

Your wall scorpion is awesome!!! Don't worry too much about the not losing; my weight stayed constant at ~230 from about March until about September of serious dietary changes and workout increases while measurements went down. but then it started going down; at last weigh-in was ~217. Your body might be like mine and like to hold steady for a bit before rocketing in another direction.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

I've been reading lately about how our bodies adapt in order to retain mass in the face of dietary and exercise changes. Plateaus are the result. I try to remind myself that even if I'm not showing cosmetic changes, I'm much healthier for exercise and eating right.

[CyningaDena]

You could go as Alice in Wonderland, your hubby could be the Mad Hatter and Bredie on her leash? All 3 of you could have a tea party on the pole!!

Ohhh, that is awesome!

I have to admit that I only know Allan Quatermain through the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics and not the original novels (where he was definitely not shagging vampire ladies), but that sounds pretty badass too!

[Kuiken]

You could go as Alice in Wonderland, your hubby could be the Mad Hatter and Bredie on her leash? All 3 of you could have a tea party on the pole!!

OMG-this is teh awesome! I need to check to see if they have pet dogs-if not, this might be a fantastic option!

Your wall scorpion is awesome!!! Don't worry too much about the not losing; my weight stayed constant at ~230 from about March until about September of serious dietary changes and workout increases while measurements went down. but then it started going down; at last weigh-in was ~217. Your body might be like mine and like to hold steady for a bit before rocketing in another direction.

I've been reading lately about how our bodies adapt in order to retain mass in the face of dietary and exercise changes. Plateaus are the result. I try to remind myself that even if I'm not showing cosmetic changes, I'm much healthier for exercise and eating right.

Thank you two so much! I've had two people this week ask me if I've lost weight-one who had last seen me a month ago and one who hadn't seen me for several months, so clearly changes are happening even if the scale isn't moving! I did take a picture at the start of the month and will take another in November. I feel fitter/stronger anyway, so I just need to tell my brain that's all that matters! One of my friends said I looked fitter now than I did five years ago when we met, so I must just remember that compliment (repeat daily on my way to workout)

Ohhh, that is awesome!

I have to admit that I only know Allan Quatermain through the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics and not the original novels (where he was definitely not shagging vampire ladies), but that sounds pretty badass too!

I first heard about him from the movie as well, so don't feel bad. The husband's got the beard growing, so he should be good to go by Halloween. He's pretty much growing a beard because I've always wanted one (so I could look cool stroking it while I sat thinking), but lacked the hormones, so he volunteered to grow one for me. Personally, I think he's doing it for the joke that "he didn't like the idea at first, but eventually it grew on him". Still I must admit I have a lovely beard.

Blah-so my art challenge has fallen down a cliff like that baby in Kung Pow Enter the Fist. I'm trying to prepare for an event at work that was sprung on me at the last minute and it's stressing me out so that when I come home at night I just want to sleep or read. Ya, ya-excuses I know. But then I get upset with myself and try to make it up the next night, fail again, get upset some more, get anxious about the whole thing-it's like a cycle of fail and not what this goal was suppose to be about. So in the interest of me not going insane and preserving some dignity, I'm modifying the goal to 10 mins a day. Hopefully I can accomplish this and when work calms back down, go back up to 20 if I think I can handle it. So let's breath deeply, recollect ourselves, and do this thing again!