Erick the Red: Full of sound and fury, signifying ... something?

[Erick the Red]

I turned 40 last week.  And I have been trying to shake a bad cold.  And so I am thinking about death, and purpose, and accomplishment.

 

Sir Patrick Stewart (2010):

 

She should have died hereafter;

There would have been a time for such a word.
— To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing.

— Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5, lines 17-28)

 

As explained by a young Sir Ian McKellen (1979):

 

 

1. Strength training at least twice per week.  Compressed morbidity is a thing.

 

2. Metabolic conditioning/aerobic training at least twice per week.  I plan on dying roughly a hundred times at Gulf Wars (15-22 March), and I need to be in shape to make it back to the resurrection (or respawn) point each time.

 

3. Paleo diet.  Eat better to make less of myself.

 

4. Stop spending money on impulsive eating.  Save $10 each week to pay for the mission accomplished reward.  I probably have been spending $20 per week, so this seems fair.

 

Eventual goal is to go from current ~180 lbs to ~150 lbs while maintaining/increasing muscle, going from current over 25% bodyfat to less than 12% bodyfat.

 

Reward:

 

 

Quote

[Arm rings] were given out by a king or dryhten (overlord) as bonding gifts between the lord and his followers. They were also given as rewards for brave or faithful service.

 

I think that I will earn a silver arm-ring if I can meet my long-term fitness goals. It will take about six months of consistent effort, more if I slack.  I will be able to pay for it by then with the some of the money I have saved by avoiding spending it on food that I don't need to be eating anyway.  

[elinox]

Glad to see you're back for yet another challenge! 

 

And Happy Birthday!!!

[RoxyFreefall]

Happy Birthday! Hope you get to feeling better soon.

[PositiveBlue]

Happy Birthday!

Also, best of luck preparing for the Gulf Wars.  Those events can get crazy intense in the best of ways.

[PositiveBlue]

Double posted - my bad...slow computer.

[Jakkals]

Happy birthday.

 

I will be keeping an eye on you again.

[Firedance]

Happy Birthday!

[Reyna]

Happy birthday!

 

That arm ring is gorgeous!! What a good idea.

[TwinBear]

I'm glad to see you back in the challenges again.

 

So much subbing going on.

[Erick the Red]

Glad to see you're back for yet another challenge! 

 

And Happy Birthday!!!

 

Thanks.  Glad to be here.

 

Happy Birthday! Hope you get to feeling better soon.

 

Hope so too.  Still coughing, but less stuffed head.  Another sign of age -- my kids are all better, and my wife and I are clawing our way back to normalcy.

 

Happy Birthday!

Also, best of luck preparing for the Gulf Wars.  Those events can get crazy intense in the best of ways.

 

Thanks.  I have been to kingdom-level events with a few hundred peope, but never with a few thousand.  

 

Happy birthday.

 

I will be keeping an eye on you again.

 

 

Ditto.

 

Happy Birthday!

 

Thanks.

 

Happy birthday!

 

That arm ring is gorgeous!! What a good idea.

 

I play dress up, and this would go well.  But I felt it would be presumptuous to wear it without earning it first.  Also, I need a reason to stretch.  Change is hard.

 

I'm glad to see you back in the challenges again.

 

So much subbing going on.

 

Thanks.  Back atcha.

[Erick the Red]

Progress report: Week one, day three

Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015

 

Still getting better, and heavy exertion not advised.  Yesterday increased level of medication from "that's a lot of meds" to "sorry liver, one of us has to take one for the team".    (i.e. "Dayquil Cold and Flu" to Maximum Strength Mucinex) 

 

1. Strength training at least twice per week.  0/2.  Dates To Be Determined:

 

2. Metabolic conditioning/aerobic training at least twice per week.  0/2.  Dates TBD.

 

3. Paleo diet.

Fails:

Monday: Pizza.

Tuesday: Some choclate-covered doughnuts.

Since putting up the challenge thread: Clean.

Eggs are my friend.  Some steamed brocolli.  Raw baby carrots.  Dinner had quinoa and black beans (my "paleo" is rather liberal).  Portions moderate.  On track for now.

 

4. Stop spending money on impulsive eating.  

Early week fails mentioned above, but today we are expecting a blizzard (for us in the Southeast US) so work and school is cancelled and there is little fear of me nipping out for something in 6 inches of snow.

 

[rowan]

Hooray, Mr. Red is back!  I'm so exited to see you win that arm ring!  I agree that it's important to earn things like that - that's why I'm doing my jacket and patches!  Nothing like that sense of pride and accomplishment, and a symbol of what you've achieved! 

 

Also, Shakespeare

[rowan]

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger. . . .

Henry The Fifth Act 3, scene 1, 1–6

[Erick the Red]

 

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;

Or close the wall up with our English dead.

In peace there's nothing so becomes a man

As modest stillness and humility;

But when the blast of war blows in our ears,

Then imitate the action of the tiger. . . .

Henry The Fifth Act 3, scene 1, 1–6

 

 

Now I have to wait another week to post that.  Jerk.  

[Nikki222]

Hello!!! Subbed!!

 

Great to see you again!

[Reyna]

ooooooooo I LOVE playing dress up! I started to get involve with the local group, then got pregnant and spent so much time puking I missed every meeting/event. I should call them up, it was a fun (though small) group and I think the kids are old enough they'd enjoy it. The one event I did manage (before the joys of gravidness set in) Munchkin freaked out being in period dress and cried and fussed the entire time (she was 2). A friend of mine is involved with a huge group down south, they have equestrian events and everything. She occasionally sends me pics and I wither with jealousy.

 

That reminds me, I think I still have cloth for making tunics. Maybe I should add that as a side quest-finish a sewing project. Hmmm....*thinks*

[Thalianost]

Love the arm ring.  I am into reenactment myself, trying to build up my own group.  Best of luck to you! 

[rowan]

Now I have to wait another week to post that.  Jerk.  

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!  

[Erick the Red]

Hello!!! Subbed!!

 

Great to see you again!

 

Thanks.  Good to see you too.  I hope this challenge gets you even closer to your Mountie goal!

 

ooooooooo I LOVE playing dress up! I started to get involve with the local group, then got pregnant and spent so much time puking I missed every meeting/event. I should call them up, it was a fun (though small) group and I think the kids are old enough they'd enjoy it. The one event I did manage (before the joys of gravidness set in) Munchkin freaked out being in period dress and cried and fussed the entire time (she was 2). A friend of mine is involved with a huge group down south, they have equestrian events and everything. She occasionally sends me pics and I wither with jealousy.

 

That reminds me, I think I still have cloth for making tunics. Maybe I should add that as a side quest-finish a sewing project. Hmmm....*thinks*

 

A few years ago I dropped out because of little kids and other life commitments getting in the way.  Last year I realized that if I did not do this RIGHT NOW, I may never do it. 

 

No one is getting any younger, and if we let other people keep us from doing the things that we love, someday we will reach the point that we don't have any more days.

 

Love the arm ring.  I am into reenactment myself, trying to build up my own group.  Best of luck to you! 

 

Tell us about your group! 

 

I do weekends with the SCA when I can, but I have friends who do US Civil War (at Gettysburg over 1-3 July is amazing) and I would like to get in with more specific groups like the Vikings or Vikings NA or Regia Anglorum.  You can find sub-groups within the SCA that focus on these particular times and places, but it would be nice to have some more support as well.

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!  

 

I love you rowan, but you are still a jerk.

[Erick the Red]

Progress report: Week one, day five

Friday, 27 Feb 2015

 

Some days happened.  Eight inches of snow happened.  Did not work for two days, and worked hard trying to get better.  Feel about 90% now, and am off my medication.

 

1. Strength training at least twice per week. 0/2. Dates still TBD.

 

2. Metabolic conditioning/aerobic training at least twice per week. 2/2. I'm going to count two long walks I did on Wednesday (before the snows) and Thursday (after the snows).  No running, but I would not have been up to that.

 

3. Paleo diet.

Fails:

Monday: Pizza.

Tuesday: Some choclate-covered doughnuts.

Thursday: Potato soup.

Friday morning: Oatmeal.

Not 100%, but doing better.

 

4. Stop spending money on impulsive eating.

No more impulsive spending to report.

[Thalianost]

 

Tell us about your group! 

 

I do weekends with the SCA when I can, but I have friends who do US Civil War (at Gettysburg over 1-3 July is amazing) and I would like to get in with more specific groups like the Vikings or Vikings NA or Regia Anglorum.  You can find sub-groups within the SCA that focus on these particular times and places, but it would be nice to have some more support as well.

 

 

My group is called The Order of the Gules Oak.  We cover a relatively broad time range: 700 - 1599 AD.  We are not really strict about being period accurate, though we try our best.  Right now we have 4 members, we meet at a Starbucks, and we have no sparring venue until the snow thaws.  The hope is that once we can get out sparring in public we will start to attract some new members.  If it doesn't pan out though, I may join SCA or Belegarth.  (I realize those two are wildly different and probably shouldn't be used in the same sentence)

 

Vikings are always fun, though.  Almost landed in a Viking group myself once, but it tanked before it could get off the ground.  We are hoping to build a Long Ship with OGO though and sail around Lake Michigan.  Perhaps we could raid Navy Pier. 

[Erick the Red]

Thanks for the information.  Good luck with your group, may you live long and prosper.

 

My group is called The Order of the Gules Oak.

 

For the uninitiated, in Anglo-Norman heraldic language the word "Gules" means red, and is pronounced with a "u" like in "cute".

 

Best watch out, it's probably red with the blood of their enemies.

 

[Xena]

Glad you are on the mend! Love the idea of paying for your reward with money saved from fast food. Very clever. As for today, if oatmeal is your biggest dietary failure, I think you are doing pretty well.

[rowan]

Mr Red!  Happy week two!  How fares the battle?

[Erick the Red]

Week one results:

 

Went to Knight's Gambit on Saturday -- left at 06:15am, back at home at 10:15pm, 3-plus hours drive each way with three other guys. Only one significant bruise, and made it into the semi-finals because I drew the newest guy on the field for my second fight.

 

1. Strength training at least twice per week. 0/2. My nose and chest onlt felt pretty normal by Saturday.  I will do better on week 2.

 

2. Metabolic conditioning/aerobic training at least twice per week. 3/2. Two long walk and double-elimination tournament plus pick-up fights and training after.

 

3. Paleo diet.

Fails:

Monday: Pizza.

Tuesday: Some choclate-covered doughnuts.

Thursday: Potato soup.

Friday morning: Oatmeal.

Saturday: Shared some Mellow Mushroom pizza on the way back home from the SCA tournament.     I should have dared to be different and got a salad.

 

4. Stop spending money on impulsive eating.

Some early impulsive spending fails in the week, but none after I posted my goals on Tuesday.  I will put $10 in the jar to show willing.

 

 

 

Progress report: Week two, day one

Monday, 2 March 2015

 

1. Strength training at least twice per week. 0/2. Plan to go in Monday evening and Thursday.

 

2. Metabolic conditioning/aerobic training at least twice per week. 0/2. Plan to run on the treadmill on Monday after lifting, and will make one or two more times.  I also need to get out for a longish run n Saturday since it has been over two weeks. 

 

3. Paleo diet.

Fails: A new week brings new hope.

 

4. Stop spending money on impulsive eating.

A new week brings new hope, part two.

 

I've never done strip fencing.  They start pretty formal, but the action quickly falls into chaos. 

 

And behind the scenes with Robin Williams: