I am Jaex: Draugr

[Ryoko]

Oh no! I hope your ankles feel better. Rest up and take care of them.

 

the birthday cake smoothie sounds fun! With my sugar issues I could never make an exception to try one, but it sounds yummy.

 

That Mali Ba song is great! Saved it to my favorites. I have to jump off here shortly, but will check back in a little later with some song ideas.

[jaex]

Oh no! I hope your ankles feel better. Rest up and take care of them.

 

the birthday cake smoothie sounds fun! With my sugar issues I could never make an exception to try one, but it sounds yummy.

 

That Mali Ba song is great! Saved it to my favorites. I have to jump off here shortly, but will check back in a little later with some song ideas.

 

Thanks.  And I'm glad you liked Mali Ba.  Perfect music for relaxing or working or studying or watching the rain.  And I look forward to your music suggestions

[Ryoko]

Thanks.  And I'm glad you liked Mali Ba.  Perfect music for relaxing or working or studying or watching the rain.  And I look forward to your music suggestions

 

Gah sorry I never made it back today! It ended up being quite a crazy day. I will definitely come back with a few suggestions though - I haven't forgotten! ^.^

[Katydid]

I think what "counts" as a bad-meal has to be up to you, and probably has as much to do with motivation and your reason for having it as the content of the food itself (which sounds mostly healthy except for the cookie mix).  Did you eat it as a treat to yourself, or out of an impulse that you feel you shouldn't have given into?  Or is it a healthy meal by your standards, with the cookie mix overwhelmed by the healthy stuff?  In the end it's really your judgment to make, but you need to be honest with yourself.

[Katydid]

Double post

 

Have some music:

 

[blkhole24601]

Hope your ankle is feeling better!!

[NicTheRugger]

I hope your ankles are doing better!! Get well soon!

[jaex]

 

WEEK 1:

Exercises: Running + Stretching (1/2), Running + Stretching (2/2)

                     Bad-Snacks (3/4), Bad-Meals (3/4), Alcohol (1/4)                     

 

Thanks for all the support everyone.  My ankles are much better.  So much better in fact that I went for a nice run today followed by stretching.  It wasn't a great run, but it felt so good to get moving.  

 

I love Zombies, Run! and had just finished up Season 1 on my iPod.  And to my horror I learned that my iPod is soooo old that I cannot get Season 2.  So the past few days I have been debating whether it is worth it to upgrade to a newer iPod Touch or workout with my massive Samsung Note 2 phone.  Today, on my run, I tried out Zombies, Run! on my Samsung Note 2 strapped to my arm.  Here are my thoughts:

• There is no skip song feature on the Android version of Zombies, Run!  That is rather obnoxious as it was so easy to skip to a different song on the iPod; I could do it while barely slowing down at all.
• Getting a new iPod would cost money, and I'm not sure it is worth it.  I can put all my music on the Note 2.  I also seldom use my iPod unless I'm on a long flight/drive, I'm exercising, or I'm out on a walk.  Perhaps the only reason I don't use the Note 2 on flights/drives/walks is I hadn't put my music on it yet.
• All my music and numerous playlists are on iTunes.  And since the Android version of Zombies, Run! works best with the default player, I'm having to drag/drop all my music and playlists from the computer to the phone.  A slow process.
• The Note 2 is massive and is not the most comfortable thing to strap to my arm.  I never feel like it is totally immobile on my arm and in fact the armband does slide a bit down my upper arm.  Still I don't think it is going to slide below the elbow.  The iPod is small and does not move.
• The iPod does not have a GPS to track my run distance.  Though I can estimate it post-run using online websites that map runs.

So I guess really the only reason I'd want a iPod Touch is for exercise and ease of use with my iTunes music collection.  I'm just not certain it is worth it.  Do you guys have any thoughts?

[Teros]

Awesome theme you have going here.  Good that you're mended up with your ankles. After the spartan race, I really did some damage to them and I'm healing up right now.

 

 

 

   And is my birthday cake smoothie a 'bad-meal'?  

Subjective. For person #1, 'bad' means mashed potatoes with gravy. Person #2 thinks 'bad' is white potatoes, but sweet potatoes are fine. Person#3 thinks that all potatoes are too starchy and 'bad'.  It's all about what you are comfortable with. I would think that as long as you don't get detracted for days afterwards; it can't do much damage. The problem is letting something like that turn into another 'bad' meal, and another and then finishing off the week terribly and feeling defeated.  If you can have it and then walk away and go back on track with kicking arse then I wouldn't worry about it.

[GingaNinja]

Careful on the ankles, hope they feel better soon!

[LadyWitch]

I run with my iPhone (and keys) in a bumbag as I find the headphone cable gets in my way if its strapped to my arm... but it may also be a good way of carrying something slightly bigger?

 

Glad your ankle is better! It's never fun being injured.

[jaex]

WEEKLY WRAP-UP

 

Damn looting bandits!  Earlier this week I had one creep in here and attack me while I slept.  I was lucky.  Many a draugr has perished by being sneakily attacked while he rested.  I only had to deal with some ankle pain after his poorly aimed iron arrow hit my lower legs.  

 

While the damage was not too bad I decided it would be best not to push it.  Or, well, I decided not to push it after some cardio seemed to have exacerbated it a bit.  And I know it is kind of off-topic but cardio for an undead being such as myself seems a tad odd; does I even have a beating heart?  Anyways I ended up skipping my mid-week combat training and rested on several other days I would have exercised.  

 

Once the ankles did heal up, I was back to working out.  In total I got in: three runs, two days of serious stretching, and one day of strength training.  My other normally scheduled combat class was canceled when too many of my colleagues bailed last minute.  Methinks they might have had too mead and song the night before.

 

Now while I fared well enough I cannot say the same for the stupid bandit.  If you are interested, I left his corpse where he fell, in the eastern-most hallway; I know how much you "living" enjoy looting corpses.  Freaks.

 

Oh, you have a question?  What is behind the door down that eastern-most hall?  I don't know what you are talking about.  There is no door down that hall.  You must be mistaken.

 

Oh.  You mean that door.  

 

Right...  It is rather ornate isn't it? I can see why you are interested.  Obviously you are thinking that something so unique must be hiding something special.  But nope, there is absolutely nothing interesting behind that door what-so-ever.  Just leads into an entirely boring room.  Let's talk about a more interesting room shall we?  For example, my library.

 

I honestly did little work organizing my library this week.  Rather I spent some time thinking how to best cart my library around.  I hope next week to find more time to sit and organize.  

 

I also did well enough laying off the bad foods and alcohol.  I ended up cooking some tasty and nutritious meals and successfully limited myself on bad-snacks and alcohol.  I only had four bad snacks, three bad meals, and just two alcohol, which has to be record here in Skyrim.

 

Now enough talk.  Please take out your lute and regale me with music I have not heard before.  I appreciate the music you have already shared with me and would like to hear more.  Listening to the same stuff for centuries can get rather old.

[Balthazar]

WEEKLY WRAP-UP

 

Damn looting bandits!  Earlier this week I had one creep in here and attack me while I slept.  I was lucky.  Many a draugr has perished by being sneakily attacked while he rested.  I only had to deal with some ankle pain after his poorly aimed iron arrow hit my lower legs.  

 

Bet you're just glad it wasn't "an arrow to the knee" many an adventure has been laid low by such

[jaex]

The non-roleplaying weekly wrap-up

 

Quest 1: Do one day of strength training outside of Kung Fu - technically, yes I did this.  But I only got the opportunity to do it when Kung Fu class was canceled on Sunday.  Still, I'm a lawyer and the letter of the law quest is quite clear so I did well here.

 

Quest 2: Do extensive stretching twice a week outside of Kung Fu - I did this.  Yay! 

 

Quest 3: Did well enough here.  Snacks are still a challenge for me but I limited myself to 4.  I also only had 3 bad-meals and 2 alcoholic beverages

 

Life Quest: Did very little work organizing my music library.  I did spend some time however in weighing the pros and cons of getting a new iPod or sticking my music on the Note 2.  

[jaex]

Bet you're just glad it wasn't "an arrow to the knee" many an adventure has been laid low by such

 

Man, how did I miss making that joke.  Oh well.  

[Balthazar]

 

I meant to ask, how's Kung fu going?

[jaex]

 

I meant to ask, how's Kung fu going?

 

Well I haven't been for one reason or another in a week and half.  But it is going quite well.  Near the end of last challenge I passed my sash test to get out of beginner level.  I then invited a good friend of mine to try out the class.  She loved it but sadly I don't think it'll work with her schedule.  Overall Kung-Fu has been better than I expected.  It has also given me a much needed social group to hang with after many of my friends left town.  And most importantly, it has kept me honest about exercising.  It was my plan all along to join a fun fitness class so working out wasn't just a thing I did for a month and then let excuses sneak in.

[GingaNinja]

Glad it is going well on the kung-fu side it is important for things to be fun and good for you

[jaex]

WEEK 2:

Exercises: Elliptical

                     Bad-Snacks (1/4), Bad-Meals (1/4), Alcohol (0/4)                     

 

With my recent ankle 'injury' and doing back-to-back runs in my VFFs, I decided to give my joints a rest.  But I still wanted to work out so I hit the gym.  Did the elliptical for 45 minutes while watching Arrow (good workout show, btw, plenty of action, fast-paced, but requires minimal use of the noggin).  This turned out to be quite the feat for me as I was hungry before starting my workout and starving afterwards.  This hunger led to some poor (but delicious) decisions with food as I ate too many cookies and ordered in a tasty burger.  Also, WTH Taco Mac, why is the Kenmore Burger gone?!?  That was the best thing on the menu!  At least the guy taking my order was nice enough to add in grilled onions free of charge.

 

Lets keep the music suggestion train going!  Since Katydid has been talking about her acapella group, today I'll showcase Pentatonix.  They one amazing acapella group and that bass, is amazing.  The first song is a Daft Punk medley (if someone could convince them to do a full version of Digital Love I'd be much obliged):

 

And since multiple-genre songs seem popular on this theme, here is their evolution of music:

So what do you got?
 

[0gravity]

Hey man, saw your status post! I'm always looking for new tunes too. Here's a sweet tune I heard the first time yesterday, seems appropriate for NF.com  

 

 

Great quests and progress too!

[jaex]

Hey man, saw your status post! I'm always looking for new tunes too. Here's a sweet tune I heard the first time yesterday, seems appropriate for NF.com  

 

 

 

Great quests and progress too!

 

Thanks!  I really like this song.  Definitely will check out more of this group's work.   

[0gravity]

Glad you like it! Heard it yesterday for the first time, its been stuck in my head ever since. Polish Ambassador on the beats, Mr Lif on the verses, Ayla Nereo on the chorus

 

Thanks!  I really like this song.  Definitely will check out more of this group's work.   

[jaex]

Glad it is going well on the kung-fu side it is important for things to be fun and good for you

Oh so true.  Who wants to work-out when it is viewed as a chore.  I'd rather do something that I look forward to.  

 

 

Glad you like it! Heard it yesterday for the first time, its been stuck in my head ever since. Polish Ambassador on the beats, Mr Lif on the verses, Ayla Nereo on the chorus

Thanks man.  And if you have any other awesome music, swing by and share!

[jaex]

WEEK 2:

Exercises: Elliptical, Elliptical + Stretching (1/2)

                     Bad-Snacks (1/4), Bad-Meals (2/4), Alcohol (0/4)                     

 

Yesterday after work I again hit up the gym, worked the elliptical for 45 minutes, and watched an episode of Arrow.  Followed that up with some good amount of stretching.  Helped that I planned better and wasn't starving throughout the workout.  Tonight is Kung Fu class, my first in about a week and a half.  I've been looking forward to it.

 

Thought I'd share some more music with y'all.  After listening to what 0gravity shared yesterday, he reminded of an indie hip-hop group I really like, Blue Scholars.  They are from Seattle and I think I read they even helped Macklemore get his start.  Here is my favorite song by them, North by Northwest:

 

And now a slightly more introspective song, Joe Metro:

[Balthazar]

hope you enjoyed kung fu!