Librarian of Doom's Staying Connected challenge

[Librarian of Doom]

After several weeks of being unable to communicate with the Rebellion, Ari sighed with relief as she slipped her report into the cleverly disguised drop point and picked up her new mission order. Already planning her next few weeks, Ari jogged back to her quarters. Once safely inside, she lit a candle and began to read, blushing a bit at the injunction to keep up better communications.

Character Name: Librarian of Doom (LoD, Librarian, Ari, etc.)

Race: Hobbit

Class: Ranger

Stats:

STR 12.25

DEX 10

STA 12.5

CON 7.75

WIS 10.25

CHA 6.5

I had a bit of trouble keeping up with the boards during last challenge; school starting was a big adjustment and posting fell by the wayside in favor of, you know, actually doing things. Like sleeping. And eating. And spending time with my darling daughters. But it was also a kind of laziness on my part, because my brain was tired and I didn't want to strain it further by having to put what had been happening into words. And it was a kind of perfectionism, because I felt like I didn't want to post if it wouldn't be up to some arbitrary standard. So this time, I will do better!!!

Goals

1. Run from zombies - Sub-40 5k - +3 STA +1 CON

I haven't been running, but I have been doing CrossFit. I'm hoping to do a 5k and Mud Run on Sept. 29, and I told my BFF I'd come join her for her first 5k (a zombie run) on Oct. 27. I finally managed to sign up for the local program that will pay my 5k entry fees, so I may do some others; we'll see how it goes. I don't think running is really going to be my "thing". I'd like to start doing obstacle races a la Warrior Dash, but running a straight 5k gets a little boring to me around the 3-4k mark. Maybe that's just running by myself, though; it's definitely more interesting when someone's running with me. I need a running buddy who doesn't mind sticking with my slow pace. I would like my pace to be less slow, however, thus the goal.

2. Fit into small spaces - Be able to do a shoulder-stand - +3 DEX

When I first started doing yoga, the teacher would do a shoulder stand, and I couldn't even get close. But last night I was able to rock up toward my shoulders a bit. I think with consistent work I should be able to get this by the end of the challenge.

3. Prepare for battle - Be able to do at least one regular pushup with good form - +4 STR

I can do regular pushups, kind of, but they're ugly; my abs are not where they need to be to do them with good form. I foresee lots of planks in my future

4. Make a chore chart for C and implement a bedtime routine for both girls - +4 WIS

This is something I've needed to do for awhile. We kind of sort of have a bedtime routine, but it's in flux, and we need consistency to make bedtime a bit less of a trial.

Will probably edit later, but this is the basics.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Yea!!! Welcome back LoD!!!

Have you ever checked out Chore Wars for the kids? (http://www.chorewars.com/)

[cline]

THIS IS an AWESOME challenge. Headstands = great goal. And pushups???? oh boy when you get them you'll feel soooo proud of yourself. Totally doable in 6 weeks - esp with crossfit!!

How's crossfit going? How's school???

Glad you're back.

[Kuiken]

Considering how hard you rocked the last challenge and even surprised yourself with your feats of awesome, the shoulder stand and pushups shouldn't be a problem!

Good luck and can't wait to see you complete all these goals!

[cacklesmadly]

Glad to see you back. Last challenge was full of awesomness that you are sure to continue. Life happens then you write about it here.

[Kinder]

Good luck with the life goals. I am a preschool teacher and mom myself, so I can relate to getting that stuff in order.

[Librarian of Doom]

Yea!!! Welcome back LoD!!!

Have you ever checked out Chore Wars for the kids? (http://www.chorewars.com/)

Thanks! Chore Wars looks awesome, and I think in another year or so it'll be great for C; I don't think she's quite ready for the whole concept yet. But I love it.

THIS IS an AWESOME challenge. Headstands = great goal. And pushups???? oh boy when you get them you'll feel soooo proud of yourself. Totally doable in 6 weeks - esp with crossfit!!

How's crossfit going? How's school???

Glad you're back.

Thank you! I'm excited for my goals. CrossFit is going well; I thought I was going to have to take a break for a bit, because we had some unexpected financial issues this month, but the coaches told me that my dues were covered for two months. I love my box! School is slowly settling into a routine. I've got 6 academic meets in the next 5 weeks, and I'm presenting at a conference next Tuesday and my presentation is not done. But I'm learning to take things a little at a time and not stress too much or beat myself up too much over my mistakes; at least, not as much as I used to.

Considering how hard you rocked the last challenge and even surprised yourself with your feats of awesome, the shoulder stand and pushups shouldn't be a problem!

Good luck and can't wait to see you complete all these goals!

Thanks!!! I really hope this is easier than I'm thinking at the moment...

Glad to see you back. Last challenge was full of awesomness that you are sure to continue. Life happens then you write about it here.

Thanks! Yeah, life definitely happens.

Good luck with the life goals. I am a preschool teacher and mom myself, so I can relate to getting that stuff in order.

Thanks! You have my utmost respect; if I taught preschool, I wouldn't even make it out the door to get home each day, I'd be so exhausted.

Day 1 and 2 (9/24 & 25)

Day 1 was not a workout day; we had our first academic meet. I left the house at 7:30 am and got home at about 7 pm. It was a long day. I did manage to eat well, though, so points to me. Today, Day 2, I got to go to Crossfit! 21-15-9 KB swings and C2B pullups. I did ring rows in place of pullups, but I did the KB swings at 25lbs (my sister and I were the only two ladies to do 25, and only 1 other did it at 44 as RXed, so I was pretty proud of that. Finished in 6:14; I had to do my ring rows in smaller sets, but the coaches said the goal was maximum effort, not full sets.

Found out I am actually going to get to do the 5k and mud run on Saturday (wasn't sure before if my registration had gotten in in time or not). Now I just need to find a running buddy.

[Gobnait]

For Chorewars, I've actually stepped out of the technology part by printing up a chart of the chores and using magnets to mark which ones I had done that day, then I just sit down in the morning or evening and transfer them into the computer.

It might be fun for C to have a physical system. Make each task worth one coin or stone in a vase, and tell her she can have a reward when the vase is full. Then again, I don't understand children from monkeys.

[Kinder]

Physical is definitely a more concrete system, easy to see when the "prize" is. Also, for my daughter when she was about 6 or 7 we set up a points system, and there were prizes worth certain numbers of points. She could redeem early for a smaller prize, or redeem later for a more awesome one.

Great for her math skills btw, we made her add the points.

[cline]

Found out I am actually going to get to do the 5k and mud run on Saturday (wasn't sure before if my registration had gotten in in time or not). Now I just need to find a running buddy.

Wheeeeeee! Awesome! Are you soooo excited? You'll have a blast!

[coonskee]

LoD!! HI! Those are some great goals.

Push-ups are super-intimidating and I was always TERRIFIED of doing them. I don't know at what level you're starting, but I really liked what New Rules of Lifting for Women had us do: higher reps of "easy" pushups (incline, or knee, whatever level you're at), then decrease reps and increase difficulty (e.g. incline --> knee --> real). Once I felt knee push-ups were easy for me, I moved to real pushups, and my trade-off was that for every rep I did less in a set, I had to go lower in the push-up. (I hope that maeks sense >.>) You'll be doing them in no time! <3

So excited to hear about your race! I'm doing a 10k mud run the day after yours!!

[Seabright]

Aaaaannnnnnnd...she's back! Yeah! Librarian of Doom, so great to see you!

Love the goals. Awesome, as always. So excited for you about the 5k-mud-run fun! And, cross-fit, too, as well, also? Day-yam. The next six weeks are gonna be fun!

[cacklesmadly]

I have the this (http://www.melissaanddoug.com/magnetic-responsibility-learning-chart) for my almost 4yr old and he gets a gold coin dollar each night he finishes his chores. and some are getting ready for bed. I found this really helps him and my husband keep a routine.

[Librarian of Doom]

For Chorewars, I've actually stepped out of the technology part by printing up a chart of the chores and using magnets to mark which ones I had done that day, then I just sit down in the morning or evening and transfer them into the computer.

It might be fun for C to have a physical system. Make each task worth one coin or stone in a vase, and tell her she can have a reward when the vase is full. Then again, I don't understand children from monkeys.

No, that's a very good idea. The teachers at school do something similar for behavior with beads; the kids get a scoop when they have good behavior. And if they're bad, the whole thing gets dumped out. Will ponder this.

Physical is definitely a more concrete system, easy to see when the "prize" is. Also, for my daughter when she was about 6 or 7 we set up a points system, and there were prizes worth certain numbers of points. She could redeem early for a smaller prize, or redeem later for a more awesome one.

Great for her math skills btw, we made her add the points.

Yeah, I think she needs physical.

Wheeeeeee! Awesome! Are you soooo excited? You'll have a blast!

I'm super excited, especially since my sister is going to be able to go with me! She's faster than I am, but that's okay, just knowing I'll have someone there with me is going to be awesome!!!

LoD!! HI! Those are some great goals.

Push-ups are super-intimidating and I was always TERRIFIED of doing them. I don't know at what level you're starting, but I really liked what New Rules of Lifting for Women had us do: higher reps of "easy" pushups (incline, or knee, whatever level you're at), then decrease reps and increase difficulty (e.g. incline --> knee --> real). Once I felt knee push-ups were easy for me, I moved to real pushups, and my trade-off was that for every rep I did less in a set, I had to go lower in the push-up. (I hope that maeks sense >.>) You'll be doing them in no time! <3

So excited to hear about your race! I'm doing a 10k mud run the day after yours!!

<3 the pushup suggestions!!! And your 10k mud run is going to be full of awesome. The one I'm doing is just 2 miles (I'm really just doing it for the slip & slide )

Aaaaannnnnnnd...she's back! Yeah! Librarian of Doom, so great to see you!

Love the goals. Awesome, as always. So excited for you about the 5k-mud-run fun! And, cross-fit, too, as well, also? Day-yam. The next six weeks are gonna be fun!

You're back too! We're gonna party!!!

I have the this (http://www.melissaanddoug.com/magnetic-responsibility-learning-chart) for my almost 4yr old and he gets a gold coin dollar each night he finishes his chores. and some are getting ready for bed. I found this really helps him and my husband keep a routine.

I love that. I need to get one, or make something similar.

Day 3 & 4 (9/26-27)

Day 3 was an unexpected rest day. Friends came to visit from out of town, so we hung out with them, for longer than we really should have. C got a bit overwrought, and I got tetchy when a friend tried to correct her.

Today, Day 4, there was a celebration at school, because the kids worked really hard to bring up their test scores last year. So first I worked at the concession stand for ~2 hours, because someone decided it would be a good idea to give all 520+ kids a ticket for a free popcorn and a free drink. Then I worked the obstacle course at the "carnival" for another hour and a half, putting the flimsy plastic obstacles back up each time they were knocked down, which was almost every time. I think the only person who got more exercise than me was the guy pulling kids around on one of those wheeled slider boards. Then I went home, nursed K, ate some food, and went to CrossFit. I took C with me, since I thought we were doing untimed skill work. Nope. 6 rounds of run 400m, rest 60 seconds. I did 5 rounds cause I was getting the about-to-black-out-tunnel-vision, and everyone else was done. My average time was under 3 minutes for the 400m, though, so I was okay with that. Went grocery shopping and came home. Time for bed.

[Avalon]

So can I just throw this out there? I feel like you're like my nerdfitness AA coach. Or pledge, or sponsor, or whatever they're called. Every time I log on I see you giving support to others and being insanely awesome and it's just so friggin inspiring.

You should take a picture of the shoulder-stand when you get it. That is an EPIC pose for an equally EPIC rebel. Good luck with all of it!

[Librarian of Doom]

So can I just throw this out there? I feel like you're like my nerdfitness AA coach. Or pledge, or sponsor, or whatever they're called. Every time I log on I see you giving support to others and being insanely awesome and it's just so friggin inspiring.

You should take a picture of the shoulder-stand when you get it. That is an EPIC pose for an equally EPIC rebel. Good luck with all of it!

*blushes* This was a lovely thing to see after an exhausting day. Your progress and all your wonderful adventures are an inspiration to me!!!

Day 5 (9/28)

Today was a fairly light day at work; a nice little cloudburst blew up a couple of minutes before school let out, so I got pretty damp getting kids to their cars at parent pickup. Then I had to wait on a teacher who was talking with a parent to finish up so I could lock the gate. Since I'm a rebel, I did incline pushups on the benches while I was waiting (I wanted to do burpees, but the ground was wet. And covered in bird poop. So I didn't. Sorry.

CrossFit tonight!

Warmup:

3 minutes each:

Rowing

Bike

Jump Rope

2 rounds of 10:

Supermans

Pushups (all on the knees with decent form. Not great, but decent)

Ring Rows

Squats

SWOD: 3 attempts for best time on Vertical Jump and L-Sit

My jumps were all pretty close. 92 7/8, 92 3/4, 92 3/4. I really need to work on opening my hips

My L-sits were L-Tucks, because my abs aren't there yet. I did :20, :45, and :30. Very proud of that :45

DWOD: "Going the Distance" Farmer's carry 100lbs with the trap bar. We got two carries, with a max rest of 2 minutes in between. I got approximately 225m (estimated because I don't know the length of the parking lot. But I did a little over two lengths altogether. Oh, the blood rushing back to my hands. Ow.

5k and mud run tomorrow!!! Gonna be sooooo much fun!!!

[EmCee]

How have I missed this!?

Great job so far! Will totally be keeping up with this!

Welcome back

[Librarian of Doom]

How have I missed this!?

Great job so far! Will totally be keeping up with this!

Welcome back

Thanks!

Came back to add that I got my Firefly 10th Anniversary Celebration Art Print in the mail today and it is GORGEOUS. Can't wait to frame it and start planning my living room decor around it!!! (I've finally accepted that I'm never going to be "mature" and "sophisticated" and I should just embrace that).

Pic for those who don't want to click the link:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5621[/ATTACH]

[cacklesmadly]

/Serenity/ is a refined taste, and who ever said you needed to be mature? We just get more experience at being not mature, not grow up. "never grow up. Not Me!"-

By the way, you are killing CrossFit. How did C like going? My boy loves to work out with me, he even does really good pushups. Good Luck with race, have fun.

[Kuiken]

WOOO! Cranking out pushups while waiting-that's rebel!

How'd the MudRun go? They look like fantastic fun-I need to find one to try!

[cline]

Maturity is over rated.

[Kinder]

I hope the Mud Run was awesome! I do one in two weeks.

[coonskee]

Excited to hear about your rn! I'm doing mine tomorrow!!

[Seabright]

Came back to add that I got my Firefly 10th Anniversary Celebration Art Print in the mail today and it is GORGEOUS. Can't wait to frame it and start planning my living room decor around it!!! (I've finally accepted that I'm never going to be "mature" and "sophisticated" and I should just embrace that).

Pic for those who don't want to click the link:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5621[/ATTACH]

*jealous*

[Librarian of Doom]

/Serenity/ is a refined taste, and who ever said you needed to be mature? We just get more experience at being not mature, not grow up. "never grow up. Not Me!"-

By the way, you are killing CrossFit. How did C like going? My boy loves to work out with me, he even does really good pushups. Good Luck with race, have fun.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who feels that way about being "grown-up". C really liked going; I would've taken her on Friday but she was having a late nap. She did the warmup with me, and really wanted to run with me. I thought about taking her with, but part of the run was in/along a semi-busy street and I wasn't comfortable with that, given how lately she's been acting out a lot to get attention. A coach's wife entertained her with sidewalk chalk while I ran.

WOOO! Cranking out pushups while waiting-that's rebel!

How'd the MudRun go? They look like fantastic fun-I need to find one to try!

Thanks! The Mud run was awesome, details below.

Maturity is over rated.

Exactly

I hope the Mud Run was awesome! I do one in two weeks.

It was pretty fun

Excited to hear about your rn! I'm doing mine tomorrow!!

Hope it was awesome for you!!!

*jealous*

Awww, thanks. It is pretty sweet

Days 6 and 7 (9/29 & 30)

Saturday was the 5k and Mud Run. I convinced Husband of Doom to bring C and K along with because the website said there would be inflatables and a zoo safari for kids. Fun, right? tl;dr, there was nothing for kids to do. The website had not been updated from previous years when they had them. So he was stuck wrangling a toddler and a preschooler in a strange town at a time when we shouldn't be spending extra money. He was grumpy. I felt guilty. Lessons learned. Anyway.

I hoped to get my sub-40 minute time at this race; alas, it was not to be. However, I did set a PR at 41:47, so I was very close. I ended up walking about half of the last kilometer; I think I pushed a little too hard at the beginning and burned myself out, but I refused to let myself walk until I hit the 4k mark. My little sister (well, one of them. I have three) A was running it with me; she kept pace with me because her knee was twinging at her the whole time. I might have started running sooner if not for that, but then again, I might not have waited so long to walk if she hadn't been there with me. You never know. I was 50/58 in my age division; w00t for not last!!!

After the 5k, I was feeling guilty and offered to just go home, but HoD knew I had been looking forward to the mud run, so he urged me to go. In a little bit of a martyr way (now I know how annoying I must be when I get like that) but I went ahead and did it. It ended up being more of a mud "walk or jog then wait in line at the obstacles" because there were so many people. A and I decided that next year we'll just skip the 5k and do the mud run twice to maybe get through before so many people pile up. We're going to bring C too. And wear tutus. Just because. It was lots of fun, and I managed not to lose my shoes. But the slip 'n' slide was the best part. After we went through the course, we went back and did the slip 'n' slide twice before showering off. No pictures, because HoD was busy wrangling grumpy girls, but lots of fun.

Today was a pretty quiet day; grocery shopping and we worked on our weekly cookup. Both girls actually napped at the same time, so HoD and I got some time to actually spend together without children climbing all over us. It was nice. Did some yoga; I can get up on my shoulders, but I can't get far enough to stay there; when I try to move my hands down to support my hips, I fall back down. Still, it's progress. Discussed C's chore chart with HoD, so progress is being made on all fronts.

This week is going to be nuts. I have an Academic Team meet tomorrow until 6pm, then Tuesday I drive 3 hours to a conference, present at the conference, Wednesday after the conference is over I drive 3 hours back home, then work as usual Thursday and Friday. I'm going to try to do morning CrossFit this week just so I can actually get some in, but it's going to depend on how hard the girls are to get to sleep, since I'll need to get up about 4:30 to go to CF at 5:00 before work. We'll see.