Aeryn Goes to Eleven

[Aeryn]

Yes, that's a Spinal Tap reference:

 

It's also cracking me up that I can only have 10 tags. But seriously, this is my eleventh challenge, how did this happen?! Anyway, there's nothing particularly surprising that I'm working on, just turning up the volume, keeping it going.

 

Goals:

1. Strength workout 3x a week.

Stuff I'm working on:

pull-ups (I'm up to 3 in set now…)

tuck front lever

handstands

pistol squats

 

2. Learn to ride the Ripstik I got for Xmas.

This is going to be hilarious and possibly painful - I've never been the most coordinated person (despite the juggling and unicycling…) and I've never ridden a skateboard, much less one with only two wheels. Hah.

 

3. Work on the house! I've got a huge list of projects - if I can knock 3 of these off my list by the end of the challenge, I'll be thrilled. Ones I might tackle:

- basement tool organization

- kitchen caulking

- basement door reversal

- hallway photo gallery

- front porch sanding

- swing sanding/staining

- living room shelf demo/repair

- hallway closet organization

 

Other stuff that's always going on - climbing, swimming, juggling, sleeping enough, eating enough (and enough good stuff), drinking less soda, listening to more music, more art and less tv-watching. Hey, it's a whole new year!

 

 

[Elastigirl]

Fun! So cool that you got a skateboard for Christmas

[obax]

Will there be a video of this Ripstik thing? 'Cuz I feel like it'd be amusing for a lot of people if there was.

 

Uh... I mean amazing. Yeah, people will be amazed by your mad skillz. I get 'amazing' and 'amusing' mixed up all the time...

[sammiejune29]

I love the house projects Here's to another great challenge *cheers*

[Relic]

good luck! Your work around the house list looks very similar to mine.

(also good luck on pull up #4)

[Figlet]

Wow! 11!

Sub'd - and I 2nd the wanting to see videos of ripstik-ing.

[raptron]

Will there be a video of this Ripstik thing? 'Cuz I feel like it'd be amusing for a lot of people if there was.

 

Uh... I mean amazing. Yeah, people will be amazed by your mad skillz. I get 'amazing' and 'amusing' mixed up all the time...

 

2nd the video request!

[Aeryn]

Fun! So cool that you got a skateboard for Christmas

 Yeah, it was kind of a random addition to my Christmas list, but I'm excited to have it!

 

Will there be a video of this Ripstik thing? 'Cuz I feel like it'd be amusing for a lot of people if there was.

 

Uh... I mean amazing. Yeah, people will be amazed by your mad skillz. I get 'amazing' and 'amusing' mixed up all the time...

 Ahahahaha. I'll have to see if there's a place I can prop my phone to acquire some video of the learning process - all its amazing amusingness.

 

I love the house projects Here's to another great challenge *cheers*

 Thanks!

 

good luck! Your work around the house list looks very similar to mine.

(also good luck on pull up #4)

 Houses are just a constant list of projects, aren't they? And pull-ups are happening, if slowly!

 

Wow! 11!

Sub'd - and I 2nd the wanting to see videos of ripstik-ing.

Yeah, 11. It's a little crazy, but every time I consider skipping a challenge, I start missing the focus and support that the forums give. We'll see about the video...

 

2nd the video request!

Sheesh, sounds like everyone wants to watch me fall over.

[Lilith]

You've got quite some house projects, wow! Do you think you're going to find time for all? Anyway, you'll have a happy spoiled house.

[sueperstars]

Great goals!

 

I, too, have a never ending house list. I have some experience in caulking, but mine was our ensuite walk-in bathroom shower, which is also my nemesis. It took me a long time to do it, because I wanted to make sure it was done properly, and it was. That was 4 years ago, and it still looks great!

 

Good luck!

[Jason Bourne]

You've officially achieved "Legendary" status in my book, Aeryn, with your 11th challenge. Thanks for being an inspiration to those of us who wish we were on our 11th challenge. Looking forward to seeing how it goes this time around! 

[thatgirljj]

Awesome!  Those ripstick things scare me and I can ride a regular skateboard no problem.  

 

And houses really are just endless projects aren't they?

[KB Girl]

Whole new year indeed! Do we get video of the ripstick progress?

[Aeryn]

You've got quite some house projects, wow! Do you think you're going to find time for all? Anyway, you'll have a happy spoiled house.

Likely I won't get to them all, particularly since some are bigger projects, but I can at least cross a few off!

Great goals!

I, too, have a never ending house list. I have some experience in caulking, but mine was our ensuite walk-in bathroom shower, which is also my nemesis. It took me a long time to do it, because I wanted to make sure it was done properly, and it was. That was 4 years ago, and it still looks great!

Good luck!

Thanks! I've done a good bit of caulking, but I've been procrastinating this final bit of the kitchen for... two years, now? It's just one of those things that's always on the list and never gets done, because it's entirely cosmetic. But it will happen in the next 6 weeks!

You've officially achieved "Legendary" status in my book, Aeryn, with your 11th challenge. Thanks for being an inspiration to those of us who wish we were on our 11th challenge. Looking forward to seeing how it goes this time around!

Haha, thanks! Sometimes I wonder whether this many challenges makes me hopeless, rather than legendary, but I'll take the compliment!

Awesome! Those ripstick things scare me and I can ride a regular skateboard no problem.

And houses really are just endless projects aren't they?

Yeah, no one tells you when you buy a house that you can easily spend all of your spare time doing stuff to it... forever. Luckily I like having projects.

Whole new year indeed! Do we get video of the ripstick progress?

I'll see if I can find a good spot to prop the camera. It has to get a bit warmer here before I go out to play on it, though!

[obax]

Oh, I also wanted to say, I love the Spinal Tap reference. I keep referring to turning it up to 11 at work and nobody gets it. They're all kids, and apparently kids with no culture...

[Aeryn]

Oh, I also wanted to say, I love the Spinal Tap reference. I keep referring to turning it up to 11 at work and nobody gets it. They're all kids, and apparently kids with no culture...

Aw, now that's just sad. You must educate them on the awesomeness!

 

Success #1 - the kitchen caulking is done! It only took a couple hours, actually, and it looks so much better - not that anyone but me would ever notice, but it's making me happy.

 

I have a stupid cold at the moment, which is making me less happy - hoping it'll clear up soon.

[artemiscuous]

Ha, great thread title! I love people's thread titles. Probably because mine are a bit dreary.

 

Anyway, good luck this challenge! I am hoping all your housework motivation will rub off on me :-)

[Aeryn]

Ha, great thread title! I love people's thread titles. Probably because mine are a bit dreary.

 

Anyway, good luck this challenge! I am hoping all your housework motivation will rub off on me :-)

Thanks!

 

Went climbing last night for the first time in 3 weeks - definitely rusty, and my grip strength was lacking. They've set some new routes, though, so I've got new projects to work on! Also got to try out my new harness and chalk bag, both of which worked as expected - I get all sweaty under the leg loops of the harness, but they're more comfortable when I'm hanging on the rope, so it's worth it. Got totally stuck on an overhang route - I'm still re-climbing it in my head to try to figure out how to get the next handhold. I'll get it next time!

[vengefulpear]

Yay for a new year!  

 

It's so awesome that you're on your eleventh challenge And that you're up to 3 pull ups! I know how hard they are, I only got a few out last year, so that's a nice goal for me this year too! 

[raptron]

Thanks!

 

Went climbing last night for the first time in 3 weeks - definitely rusty, and my grip strength was lacking. They've set some new routes, though, so I've got new projects to work on! Also got to try out my new harness and chalk bag, both of which worked as expected - I get all sweaty under the leg loops of the harness, but they're more comfortable when I'm hanging on the rope, so it's worth it. Got totally stuck on an overhang route - I'm still re-climbing it in my head to try to figure out how to get the next handhold. I'll get it next time!

 

It's funny how little time it takes to feel all rusty again. Glad to hear your new gear is working out and that your gym's set some new challenges for you.

[OrangeJorwell]

Yay for 11! This is like the Matt Smith of challenges!

 

 

 

- basement tool organization

I don't see how that's a project. Organizing tools is like the one part of cleaning that I enjoy. Although that may be my CDO acting up.

[obax]

Yay for caulking! Which is something I never expected to ever say, but there ya have it...

 

And yay to getting back to climbing! It's always amazing to me how quickly my grip strength regresses if I slack off the climbing. I get it back fairly quickly too, but if I'm less consistent than I should be it's definitely a case of one step forward, one step back. I'm glad you're enjoying the new harness, I'm currently resisting the urge to run out and buy one, since I dunno how long my newly minted climbing partner will be around, but they look so much more comfortable than the ones the gym has...

[Aeryn]

Yay for a new year!

 

It's so awesome that you're on your eleventh challenge And that you're up to 3 pull ups! I know how hard they are, I only got a few out last year, so that's a nice goal for me this year too! 

Yay indeed! And good luck with the pull-up goal!

 

It's funny how little time it takes to feel all rusty again. Glad to hear your new gear is working out and that your gym's set some new challenges for you.

Wow, really - I wasn't expecting to feel like I'd been gone forever, but it really was obvious. But it'll come back soon enough!

 

Yay for 11! This is like the Matt Smith of challenges!

 

I don't see how that's a project. Organizing tools is like the one part of cleaning that I enjoy. Although that may be my CDO acting up.

Haha, oh Matt Smith and his rubber-faced hilarity - love it. And you are welcome to come organize my tools for me! It's really that I set up my workbench but still haven't worked out where all my tools go, and it's all covered in sawdust already so I have to clean, too. Ack.

 

Yay for caulking! Which is something I never expected to ever say, but there ya have it...

 

And yay to getting back to climbing! It's always amazing to me how quickly my grip strength regresses if I slack off the climbing. I get it back fairly quickly too, but if I'm less consistent than I should be it's definitely a case of one step forward, one step back. I'm glad you're enjoying the new harness, I'm currently resisting the urge to run out and buy one, since I dunno how long my newly minted climbing partner will be around, but they look so much more comfortable than the ones the gym has...

Hee, caulking is awesome. And yes on the grip strength, why does it go away so fast? I guess it's tiny muscles so you notice changes more, or something. Also, all my calluses peeled off over christmas, so now they're re-forming.

 

The gym harnesses are definitely not as comfy - also, based on rental rates at my gym, it only takes 10 visits for me to have saved the cost of the harness in rental fees. And I'm planning on doing some outdoor climbing this summer, where I definitely have to have my own.

[KB Girl]

For a climbing nooby; you do rope secured climbing? While some ppl do this bouldering without a rope? And if you go outdoor climbing would you then also use a rope?

 

And yay to getting back to climbing! It's always amazing to me how quickly my grip strength regresses if I slack off the climbing. I get it back fairly quickly too, but if I'm less consistent than I should be it's definitely a case of one step forward, one step back. 

Not with climbing, but I do have the same experience actually. F*cking grip muscles.

[Aeryn]

For a climbing nooby; you do rope secured climbing? While some ppl do this bouldering without a rope? And if you go outdoor climbing would you then also use a rope?

 

Not with climbing, but I do have the same experience actually. F*cking grip muscles.

Yup, I do both top-roped and bouldering - bouldering you never go more than about 10 ft off the ground, so you can fall safely without needing ropes or other equipment. Top-roped is much taller walls, with harnesses and ropes and a person on the ground responsible for belaying you (making sure you don't splat). Outdoor climbing in my area is mainly top-roped, so yes, same necessary gear.