Chris, the Ice Dragon, Rises!!!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Life has been pretty rough since I moved for a job that turned out to be completely NOT the job I'd accepted.  That frustration has kept me generally pretty torqued most of the time, which negatively affects my sleep, my ability to problem-solve calmly, and my overall health.  

 

Of course, lots of different things are contributing to my stress:

• My job is a problem - I came to run the online program for the college and ended up being technology support. 
• My husband cannot find a local job (and actually likes his job in northern Minnesota and doesn't want to give it up). 
• We can't seem to sell the house in Bemidji. 
• My husband is driving long distances to be "home" with me every other week -- and has had one minor accident already. 
• My brother has cancer and is not responding to treatment. 
• And I managed to trip on some rough pavement, further twisting my sprained ankle (and racking up some scrapes and bruises), which means I need to get creative with exercise but won't be running or going to karate any time soon.  But I saved the laptop ... although at the expense of my face (which will heal ... more than I could say for the laptop if I'd dropped it.)

With a host of stressors arrayed against me, I need some serious magic to help me chill out.  Enter the Ice Dragon!!!!!

 

 

For the next 6 weeks, I am focusing on ways to chill out.  Exercise, meditate, and daily non-food rewards.  Eating knights, peasants and even those annoying faculty members is right out .... especially not deep fried.  And no washing them down with kegs of ale or wine.   I will reduce stress by working it out in careful turns around the kingdom and meditating while reclining on my piles of gold.  Hopefully, no hobbits will try to sneak in.

 

Plus deep breathing - and if a few poofs just happen to freeze a few of those annoying divas, I'll consider it a gift to the universe. 

 

And I'll just do the job without freaking out about how it isn't what I should be doing --- just solve the problems to the best of my ability.  And not take it personally when - each and every day - the IT department screws up and the faculty divas blame me.  Orcs, the lot of them!!  They won't bother me since I have impenetrable armor above and below.  Plus, I can fly away - Duluth and her cold Lake are my refuge when things heat up too much for me to keep my cool.  

 

For the challenge:

Health Goals

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes (+2 CON, +2 STA, +1 STR) - simple counting here and calculating a percentage
• 5 points per day in the improvement game (+2 CON, +3 WIS) which is tracked on my spreadsheet
• Meditate daily (+2 WIS) - I'm aiming for 20 minutes per day but I will build it up from 5 minutes per day, adding 5 minutes per day.

 

Life Goals

• Daily reward (+3 WIS) from my stack of index cards - I keep a stack of rewards and pick one from the stack every time I get asked a code 10IOT question.

 

I'm aiming to lose weight through the improvement game.  The theory is that if I can adopt life changes that decrease intake or increase calorie burn by 100 calories per change, I should be able to lose a pound per week by earning 5 points per day or 35 points per week.  

 

But I will consider the challenge a success if I simply don't feel like strangling everyone who walks through my office door by the end of the 6 weeks.  

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Wow - NO nerd love?  Ouch!

 

But it is good to see all of the new faces in the forum.

 

Yesterday, my new employee started work, and I realized that I had finally made a good decision.  He's got a really positive attitude and is eager to learn.  With a background in video and music, he went through the cabinets of unloved toys and started telling me what they all were - and why they were really, actually cool and useful.  Now, I just have to find some fun projects for him to work on using said gizmos and gadgets.  I still want to name the rooms Warehouse 13 and the Room of Requirement.  Think any of the faculty would get it?

 

Score sheet for yesterday was good, good, good.  Although with a bum ankle, I'm not breaking a sweat when I walk.  Still, I walk.  

 

Health Goals

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes:  Walking (1/1)
• 5 points per day in the improvement game:  I made it for 5.  Almost got 6, but a bummer of a Google Hangout with hubby found me in front of the fridge to get a second beer.  He refuses to move.  I'm considering a divorce lawyer.
• Meditate daily: did 10 minutes after the walk.

 

Life Goals

• Daily reward:  Watched Game of Thrones - but I probably should lay off the series until my spirits are higher.  It's a tragedy.  I keep hoping that the Starks will pull it out, but it's looking like they can't get a break in this series.  Time to watch movies with happy endings and butterflies.  

[cline]

I didn't see your thread!!!! I was in recovery mode all day on Sunday and fell way behind on things.

 

I'm sorry to hear your brother isn't responding to treatment.  I'm so sorry. 

 

And I know how sucky things are for you at work and with your husband so far away.  That will change eventually - keep looking for a new job.  Consider online education for companies, etc. Many do a ton of online certs and credits for employees.  Graduate degree doesn't mean you have to work in academics!  ;-)

 

And I'm really sorry to hear you fell!!! Oh noz!!! The ankle has been bugging you for so long.  Boo.  At least, of all stressors, that one is temporary.

 

you have a good plan.  Walk.  Enjoy your parks, the campus, the gardens.  Be outside.  It's good for the soul.  Find a new friend at the campus.  I know they are there.  HINT:  they usually have fewer letters behind their names!  ;-)

 

What is your stack of rewards? 

[Seabright]

Chris-Tien, my little pumpkin-seed!

 

Wow, it just sounds like we are in such similar work situations, it's kah-razy.  I was hired for a content manager role for my kick-ass background, but it turns out that the job is actually just piece-meal writing work. Plus, I'm surrounded by Negative Nancies! Eeek!

 

Okay. Can I come work for you? Because my happy, upbeat, can-do attitude is really bugging the sh*t out of my new manager. Oh, but wait. You're in one of those in-the-middle-of-the-country states. Dang.

 

 

In other news, I love your challenge goals. And I plan to steal some of them for myself. I mean, I will pay an homage to them. Especially the don't eat-and-drink-our-troubles away one. I was tossing one back every single night there, for awhile, so I can relate. Oy! 

 

Just keep reclining on those piles of gold. And keep the hand gun in the wall safe, not in your desk drawer. Bullets in the refrigerator.

 

Walk the tightrope and stay strong and true, Rebel. 

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

 

Chris-Tien, my little pumpkin-seed!

 

Wow, it just sounds like we are in such similar work situations, it's kah-razy.  I was hired for a content manager role for my kick-ass background, but it turns out that the job is actually just piece-meal writing work. Plus, I'm surrounded by Negative Nancies! Eeek!

 

Okay. Can I come work for you? Because my happy, upbeat, can-do attitude is really bugging the sh*t out of my new manager. Oh, but wait. You're in one of those in-the-middle-of-the-country states. Dang.

 

 

In other news, I love your challenge goals. And I plan to steal some of them for myself. I mean, I will pay an homage to them. Especially the don't eat-and-drink-our-troubles away one. I was tossing one back every single night there, for awhile, so I can relate. Oy! 

 

Just keep reclining on those piles of gold. And keep the hand gun in the wall safe, not in your desk drawer. Bullets in the refrigerator.

 

Walk the tightrope and stay strong and true, Rebel. 

 

 

Seabright!!!  I am so sorry about your job, and I wish I could hire you.  We don't do much real writing here in the middle of the country, but I AM working hard at improving morale.  We have a common turntable.fm room (LS Media Mob), and I have hopes for improving the rooms where we work.  Some color would be nice!  Morale at the U is pretty low, and we have lots of negative nancies and aunt toms.  One has gotten at least two custodians fired.  *Sigh* 

 

Keep bugging everyone with your attitude - they can't do anything about you doing your job cheerfully, right?  And it will drive them nuts!!

 

I need to get back on track with my goals.  Between conference and being ill, I haven't done anything this challenge.  But I'm getting back on that horse.  Or pile of gold, as it were.

 

Gun in the safe and bullets in the fridge ... check.  Tomorrow, I have to deal with one of the faculty who decided to aggro all over me a couple of weeks ago.  And I found out from a secretary that another who was acting irrationally is actually bi-polar (and obviously was struggling the day she was angry that she got what she wanted).  To quote the Dr. "Geronomo!"

 

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes:  (0/42)
• 5 points per day in the improvement game:  (2/210)
• Meditate daily: none today (1/42)

Life Goals

• Daily reward: (0/42)

[Eirlys]

Re nerd love - these forums are crazy busy, aren't they?  It's hard to find anybody's threads!

 

That sucks on the job, and obviously I hope everything turns around with your brother's treatment.

 

Are you going to look for a new job?  There's no reason why you should stay if it's been mis-described.

 

Love the ice-dragon!

[cline]

Psssssst..... All faculty are bipolar and so are most of the students. The normal people are campus security, most people in the advising center, people in non academic jobs like finance or marketing, people in the alumni office, and so on. Seek out those people.

Back on the horse kiddo!!! You got this.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

And faculty who are administrators are doubly bipolar.  Does that make them quadpolar???

 

Today was a good day - lots of successes at work, and I'm trying not to ruin the moment by anticipating trouble.  MEDITATE!!!!

 

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: Walked - ankle is just about healed with no swelling or pain  (1/42)
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: Well, I exercised and ate salad for dinner.  It's a start - 2 points (4/210)
• Meditate daily: 5 minutes to reboot the process of getting back into meditation (2/42)

Life Goals

• Daily reward: HAIR CUT and COLOR !!!  (1/42)

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

It was a another relatively good day at work until my mom called to see if I'd seen the news about my brother - which ended up not being new to me but had really upset her.  She'd pulled me out of a meeting and stressed me out before I had to go back to the meeting, but I managed to keep my cool the rest of the day anyway.  

 

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: Walked - ankle is just about healed with no swelling or pain  (2/42)
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: I need to get over my 2-point plateau here - 2 points for exercise and reduced fat dairy (6/210)
• Meditate daily: So easy and yet so hard ... none today (2/42)

Life Goals

• Daily reward: Playing hooky at work - had a "meeting" with a co-researcher to write articles (2/42)

[cline]

Soldier on Chris!!!!

[Seabright]

Why is it so dang hard to meditate? It's, like, the one thing that will really help center and calm the mind, the one thing you really NEED, and, yet, it sort falls by the way-side because we are not feeling centered and calm already. Dang it.

 

I'm going to suggest this, which has worked for me:

 

1. Alarm goes off in the morning.

2. Roll out of bed, put on bathrobe, take care o' bathroom-business.

3. Meditate. 

4. Start the day.

 

This works for journaling, too. :-)

 

You can do this, little darlin'! I KNOW it!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Soldier on Chris!!!!

 

Thanks!!  I'm working at taking it one step at a time and one objective at a time.  Part of the problem is that there are too many fronts in this war .... and we know how that usually works out.

 

Why is it so dang hard to meditate? It's, like, the one thing that will really help center and calm the mind, the one thing you really NEED, and, yet, it sort falls by the way-side because we are not feeling centered and calm already. Dang it.

 

I'm going to suggest this, which has worked for me:

 

1. Alarm goes off in the morning.

2. Roll out of bed, put on bathrobe, take care o' bathroom-business.

3. Meditate. 

4. Start the day.

 

This works for journaling, too. :-)

 

You can do this, little darlin'! I KNOW it!

 

Maybe I'll switch to more of an affirmations practice.  I can do that well in the morning and then do the "be quiet" part afterwards.

 

Saturday, June 22nd

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: Walked and hit the elliptical for 30 minutes EACH.  The second season of Zombies, Run!  has me really pushing the pace and breaking a sweat on the elliptical machine; so I don't feel bad about getting most of my hard exercise that way these days.  The ankle is generally feeling pretty good but still aches after a long workout.    (3/42)
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: 7 POINTS!!  I tell you, I wanted that bacon with my eggs, but I rested its temptation and mocking from the fridge. (13/210)
• Meditate daily: So easy and yet so hard ... none today (2/42)

Life Goals

• Daily reward: I didn't really do anything here.  In some ways, the whole DAY was a reward.  Hubby is in northern Minnesota, and I just enjoyed a day of recording lectures for my class, playing GW2, working out, and cleaning the house.  Lame, but ..... maybe I am finally setting down?? (2/42)

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Sunday, June 23rd

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: Walked   (4/42)
  
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: 5 POINTS!!   (3/42)
  
• Meditate daily: YEA!!!! (3/42)
  

Life Goals

• Daily reward: watching the sun set from the back deck .... lovely!!! (3/42)
  

[cline]

Yea!!!  Sunset sounds soooo nice

[Seabright]

 

Sunday, June 23rd

• Meditate daily: YEA!!!! (3/42)

 

 

 

Yay!!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

/wave

 

Hello all.  It's been a challenging week.  Flash floods finally found their way into my basement.  And the sump pump didn't kick on .... bad float didn't trigger the pump - which I really didn't expect to be an issue in a brand spanking new house.  Go figure.

 

So I've been hauling up wet boxes, drying out what we can, and trying not to cry over what can't be saved.  Fortunately, the water was clean, and just about everything but cheap trade paperbacks can be dried.  Hoping that old, stuffed toys will dry and not mold.  Not sure that the boxes of photographs will make it, but we'll try.  Ugh.  

 

I know tons of Rangers have faced the fury of the weather.  I will try to live up to your example.

 

Catching up - July 1st

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: Walked   (14/42)
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: 4 POINTS!!   (24/210)
• Meditate daily: forget that - I want to stomp something (3/42)

Life Goals

• Bought clothes!!! (4/42)

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

July 2nd 

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: Nada   (14/42)
  
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: 6 POINTS!!   (30/210)
  
• Meditate daily: forget that - I want to stomp something (3/42)
  

Life Goals

• Daily reward --- I don't think marathon watching "Bones" counts .... (4/42)
  

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

July 3rd 

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: Nada   (14/42)
  
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: only 3 POINTS, but at least I am making SOME changes  (33/210)
  
• Meditate daily: affirmations -- it feels like I'm pulling myself up by my bootstraps some days, but at least I'm still tugging!! (4/42)
  

Life Goals

• Daily reward --- MOVIE!!! (5/42)
  

 

We went to see World War Z.  Skipped dinner and split a BIG bag of popcorn instead.  Not the healthiest, but it was good.  

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

July 4th

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: 35 minutes on the elliptical   (15/42)
  
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: 6 points - and on a national holiday no less  (39/210)
  
• Meditate daily: affirmations -- did affirmations despite having to glare at hubby when he came out to chitter at me.  Damn squirrel.  We are having a hard time resetting as a couple when he is gone half the month.  When he's here, he's on top of me, making me wish he'd go away.  When he's gone, it's awfully lonely and bad things happen.   (5/42)
  

Life Goals

• Daily reward --- Carnival, live music, fireworks.  Hubby didn't want to go, and I was just about to walk out the door and go stag.  But he changed his mind and decided that staying home alone to watch "Bone" reruns didn't sound so appealing. (6/42)
  

[cline]

WWZ was fun!!! Yea for laying low w husband. That's our plan this whole weekend.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

The Lone Ranger was funny as heck too.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was a nice, light movie for a Friday night.  And I ate popcorn, but at least it was a small.  

 

I had a really good day for the challenge.  A bit frustrating at work, but I did better in my personal life!!  

 

July 5th

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: nothing.  It was such a waste of time going into work that I should have taken the time for at least a walk.  Oy!   (15/42)
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: 6 points!!!  (45/210)
• Meditate daily: affirmations -- quick run through, but I think that even that helps.  (6/42)

Life Goals

• Daily reward --- Movie!! (7/42)

[Eirlys]

Hi Chris

 

Glad to hear the Lone Ranger movie is better than its trailer  Are you finding that you're feeling more relaxed now that you're close to the end of this challenge?

 

Well done on your latest points in the mysterious improvement game!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Yea, the trailer for the Lone Ranger didn't look that promising --- and the film is definitely not a good example of modern cinema ---- but it was entertaining.  And it was Friday night.  I hate staying home on Friday night.  Since it makes me feel like a loser, anything is better than watching reruns or playing videogames at home.  

 

I got back up on the proverbial horse yesterday and restarted training for the 5K.  My ankle continues to twinge occasionally; so I wear a brace when walking on uneven terrain or when running outside.  But I did it.  And it was fun.  So fun that I signed up for the local 5K which will take place on September 22nd.  I almost went for the half-marathon, but I thought better of it.  I'll do a good 5K and try to decrease my time.  My pathetic PR on the distance is 36 minutes (and even that has allowed me to place 2nd in some races!).  I'm hoping to get something between 40 - 45 minutes by September.  

 

I exercised great restraint during the rest of the day.  We went to IHOP and I avoided pancakes and hashbrowns and french fries.  I had an omelete with lots and lots of veggies!  I did not have dessert of any kind.  Nor bacon.  I exercised and did housework.  I had only one glass of wine.  

 

I was very, very virtuous. And I need to be so consistently for a long time.  The scale is still not my friend.  

 

July 6th

• Exercise Daily 30+ minutes: Zombies, Run! 5K training W1D1 -  38 minutes   (16/42)
• 5 points per day in the improvement game: 6 points!!!  (51/210)
• Meditate daily: Started, repeatedly, but got interrupted each time  (6/42)

Life Goals

• Daily reward --- SHOPPING - got cosmetics and a new running shirt (8/42)

[cline]

Hey!!!! That's awesome that you signed up for the 5k!!!! Yea!!! Well done.

How do you only have one glass of wine? I'm so bad at that...

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Hey!!!! That's awesome that you signed up for the 5k!!!! Yea!!! Well done. How do you only have one glass of wine? I'm so bad at that...

 

Start late in the evening.  That's the only way for me, unless I'm out and know that I can only have one before I drive home.