R.D. Nottingham Finds the Three Hidden Keys

[Son of Rylos]

Welcome friends to Challenge Three!! Although we have two weeks til the challenge starts, I'm excited to get on track with this one because I have a theme that will (hopefully) keep my mind centered, focused, and structured for two challenges. Now, introducing the source of my motivations:

 

 

That right friends, I am using the novel Ready Player One by Ernest Cline as the focus for the next two challenges. For the uninitiated, Ready Player One is the story about a contest to find a Easter Egg within a virtual "internet" game with the prize of control of the company and the vast riches of the owner in a future where energy is shaky, the economy is crumbling, and this virtual game is real life for most. The book is FULL of 80s references, which gets me at my core. Plus, the audiobook reading by Wil Wheaton is phenomenal.

 

To begin this challenge, I will be focusing on the first part of the first line of the contest's declaration which reads:

 

Three hidden keys open three secret gates

Wherein the errant will be tested for worthy traits

And those with the skill to survive these straits

Will reach The End where the prize awaits

 

 

In the novel, three keys, one of copper, jade, and crystal, are hidden within the virtual world of the OASIS that will open three gates to get to the end of the contest. In the book after finding a key, you look for the same colored gate but for the sake of the goals and the activities in the book at the time, I'm splitting my challenge into finding the keys first, then the gates. I've thought long and hard about this and it should work perfectly.

 

Goal One: Running for the Copper Key

 

 

My journey towards the Copper Key is very much like the protagonist's, Wade Watts. The first key is found in a location that is accessible to everyone in the OASIS unlike other places that require lots of skill or money to reach. I think of this like my discovery of Nerd Fitness, something accessible to everyone, no matter where you're from or what you have. Since Wade had to run to the location of the Copper Key, then so shall I.

 

1A. Cardio, specifically walking and/or running, 3x per week, 30 20 min minimum (or, at my current speed, about 3K 2K) (18 total)

1B. Prepare for and/or sign up to do a 5K race (C25K program)

 

Goal Two: Working towards the Jade Key

 

 

With Challenge Two, I feel like I stalled out a little bit, kind of like what happens in the book during the quest for the Jade Key. Wade goes at least 6 months (like the last 6 weeks) without much progress to show for his efforts. During that time though he does realize that there are things that he needs to work on unless he wants to end up not finding the egg. Two of those things happen to be exercising and eating better. Doesn't sound like a bad idea!

 

2A. Bodyweight Workouts 3x per week (18 total)

2B. 7 Healthier Meals per week (42 total)

 

Sidebar: My definition of Healthier Meals will include anything homemade. Looking to limit/avoid fast food plus try to train my brain to actually eat breakfast every morning. EDIT: No more than 4 meals can come from the same course. So I can't cheat and make 7 healthier breakfasts. I need to get ALL the meals healthier!

 

Goal Three: Discovering the Crystal Key

 

 

Near the end of the novel, the protagonist has a low moment. Things seem bleak and doesn't see much of a solution (similar to my feelings near the end of my second challenge). It takes the spirit  and resolve of one of his comrades to remind him that there is something to fight for, something to keep going after. My feelings towards these next two challenges is remembering that I would probably not be as committed to my goals without the support and help of those around me.

 

3. Become more vocal in the NF community

 

Sidebar: This goal is still kind of a work in progress. Mostly working with Mental Health or Mind, Body, Spirit

 

So, without further ado, let the hunt for the Three Hidden Keys BEGIN!!

[Polgara19]

This looks like a great challenge!  I like that other people are using books as themes for their challenges.  I haven't read this book, but it sounds interesting!

[Trewest]

I'll be watching and cheering on from the peanut gallery!

[T2sarahconnor]

Great challenge! Now I have to go get the book! I am a big 80's nut too. You would have loved the challenge I did all 80's music trivia in my,challenge. May have to do that again...............

[Urgan]

I have this book on my shelf, maybe I'll have to pull it off sometime, huh....

 

Here for this, and I hope to see you in the minis this challenge. I have a quest similar to your Crystal Key, too, and that's where I'm trying to focus my efforts for physical and social benefits!

[Lightning]

Following  

 

Hope to have my challenge up soon.  Your challenge has some really great goals.  You will establish some very healthy habits with this one!

[Son of Rylos]

This looks like a great challenge!  I like that other people are using books as themes for their challenges.  I haven't read this book, but it sounds interesting!

 

It speaks to me in my 80s nerd heart!! Plus, the audiobook done by Wil f'ing Wheaton, couldn't have picked a better person. Cline has a new book coming out later this summer, probably going to catch that. I hope he can make it two for two with his books.

 

I'll be watching and cheering on from the peanut gallery!

 

Peanut Gallery?!? Please, you already have a reserved seat in the splash zone!!

 

Great challenge! Now I have to go get the book! I am a big 80's nut too. You would have loved the challenge I did all 80's music trivia in my,challenge. May have to do that again...............

 

Ohhh, wasn't the 80s pretty much the GREATEST decade for music?!? I may have to look back at your old challenge for that. I hadn't thought about doing a challenge with that as a theme. 

 

I have this book on my shelf, maybe I'll have to pull it off sometime, huh....

 

Here for this, and I hope to see you in the minis this challenge. I have a quest similar to your Crystal Key, too, and that's where I'm trying to focus my efforts for physical and social benefits!

 

After last challenge, with how awesome the minis were (even the ones I didn't participate in at all or a lot), you bet you'll see me again! The Crystal Key goal is the one I'm still working on but definitely social/mental/spiritual based. 

 

Following

 

Hope to have my challenge up soon.  Your challenge has some really great goals.  You will establish some very healthy habits with this one!

 

 

I'll be looking for it. I'm hoping the focus with the theme will help keep me on my goals. Chuck was good but I just didn't think to do much more than start with that theme. This time around I really thought about the theme and looked at how the book actually is similar to my personal experiences so far.

[annyshay]

Cool theme. Must investigate this book... You got this!

[Trewest]

 

Peanut Gallery?!? Please, you already have a reserved seat in the splash zone!!

Oh hell yes!

[hybrid756]

I LOVE THAT BOOK!!! There's a documentary on Netflix I watched around a month ago about them trying to pull the E.T. games out of the desert... Ernest Cline heads along to the dig as pretty much The Supernerd Of The Nerdiest Archaeological Event EVER. Definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it already, I forget the title (doh!) It's called Atari: Game Over.

 

Plus, I want to adopt #3... that's a good goal, one I need to work on too.

 

Good luck with your challenge!

[Son of Rylos]

I LOVE THAT BOOK!!! There's a documentary on Netflix I watched around a month ago about them trying to pull the E.T. games out of the desert... Ernest Cline heads along to the dig as pretty much The Supernerd Of The Nerdiest Archaeological Event EVER. Definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it already, I forget the title (doh!) It's called Atari: Game Over.

 

Plus, I want to adopt #3... that's a good goal, one I need to work on too.

 

Good luck with your challenge!

 

No, not yet, I haven't seen that documentary yet. I remember seeing Cline and Major Nelson from Xbox both being at the site of that dig. I think I might get myself a nice beer and watch that sometime this weekend

 

I'm really feeling Goal Three. I love this community so much so far and I can't believe how much heart there is here

 

Thank you for the well wishes and I'll be looking out for your next challenge!

[Polgara19]

I LOVE THAT BOOK!!! There's a documentary on Netflix I watched around a month ago about them trying to pull the E.T. games out of the desert... Ernest Cline heads along to the dig as pretty much The Supernerd Of The Nerdiest Archaeological Event EVER. Definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it already, I forget the title (doh!) It's called Atari: Game Over.

 

Plus, I want to adopt #3... that's a good goal, one I need to work on too.

 

Good luck with your challenge!

 

 

No, not yet, I haven't seen that documentary yet. I remember seeing Cline and Major Nelson from Xbox both being at the site of that dig. I think I might get myself a nice beer and watch that sometime this weekend

 

I'm really feeling Goal Three. I love this community so much so far and I can't believe how much heart there is here

 

Thank you for the well wishes and I'll be looking out for your next challenge!

 

I know the archaeologist that did that!  (I'm an archaeologist!)

[Son of Rylos]

I know the archaeologist that did that!  (I'm an archaeologist!)

 

Ok, now I'm kinda jealous!! Only fun thing I can really say is that I met the guy playing the Red Power Ranger in the first Power Rangers movie back in '95. The manager of a Lazer Quest near my place then knew the guy personally and he was in town about the movie. Let's just say that was a fun night of laser tag.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Audio by Wil Wheaton?  Count me in.  (I'm just finishing up the final episode of Eureka .....)

[Volki]

Awesome I really like how put together your goals are. I also am trying to climb out of the shadows and be more apart of the community. I wish you luck and I will be checking in on you.

[Son of Rylos]

Audio by Wil Wheaton?  Count me in.  (I'm just finishing up the final episode of Eureka .....)

 

I got into Eureka right before the last season started. I enjoyed that show and rewatch it sometimes. 

 

He's also going to be doing the audio for Cline's next novel Armada. Once it comes out I'll let you know how that goes.

 

Awesome I really like how put together your goals are. I also am trying to climb out of the shadows and be more apart of the community. I wish you luck and I will be checking in on you.

 

Thanks! It was a long thought out plan. The idea sparked midway through the last challenge. 

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

 

He's also going to be doing the audio for Cline's next novel Armada. Once it comes out I'll let you know how that goes.

 

 

Thanks!  I'd gotten out of the habit of listening to audio books in the car, but that's really an ideal place for me to "read". 

[Lightning]

I got into Eureka right before the last season started. I enjoyed that show and rewatch it sometimes. 

 

He's also going to be doing the audio for Cline's next novel Armada. Once it comes out I'll let you know how that goes.

 

 

Thanks! It was a long thought out plan. The idea sparked midway through the last challenge. 

 

I seem to get hit with ideas mid-challenge too.  The problem for me is that I start wanting to focus on the next 6 weeks before finishing the last.  

[Volki]

Lol me too, maybe I should pretend it started already so I will have time to tweak it before it officially starts...

[Son of Rylos]

Challenge Status Report

 

Considering all the kids are doing it, I'm going to set up a progress post for my goals (plus just my luck it'll be the last one on the first page FTW!!).

 

Goal 1A -- Cardio Workouts (3/18)

 

16.7%

16.7%

 

Goal 1B -- C25K or 5K Signup

 

50%

50%

 

Goal 2A -- Bodyweight Workouts (3/18)

 

16.7%

16.7%

 

Goal 2B -- Healthier Meals (7/42)

 

16.7%

16.7%

 

Goal 3A -- Community Interaction (4/30)

 

13.33%

13.33%

[jennilovesryan]

this is AMAZING!!! so very super rad excited to read your progress and also re-read this most excellent book!!! XD

[silvermoonlady9]

Very cool! I haven't read this book, but I love your goals and how they fit into your theme.

[Son of Rylos]

As a precursor to the challenge (plus Chapter Zero of the book), I'm bringing up one of the first video game Easter Eggs. Since the contest in the game involves an Easter Egg within the creator's own game, he brings up one of the first notable eggs in a game. It was found with our wonderful ancestor, the Atari 2600 and the game Adventure.

 

 

Now, I personally never found the egg within the game but I did play my fair share of that game plus others on the system. I didn't hear about the Easter Egg until much later in life but more specifically when I read it in Ready Player One. For those who don't know like myself, there was a hidden key that allowed you to cross into a secret room that showed you this:

 

 

Within that room are the words "Created by Warren Robinett" the designer of Adventure. Apparently before that, the creators and designers of games weren't readily credited for their achievements. (I've now heard through the documentary Atari: Game Over that the initials of the designer was in Yar's Revenge as well). It must have been amazing then that just one person could completely produce a video game as opposed to the dozens or hundreds of people involved in games now.

 

Just a little informational tidbit for everyone before Week Zero begins!

[Son of Rylos]

Week Zero Status

 

So far this pre-challenge week has been fruitful. Already making one adjustment to one challenge goal with some thoughtful discovery. Also getting myself into a good mental space to get my exercises back up to snuff. Have a doctor appointment on Friday because my shoulder has been a little sore for several weeks. Changing up my goal soon.

[Son of Rylos]

Week Zero Status Update

 

Went ahead and made a significant change to my healthy meals goal. Now, instead of it just being 7 meals out of 21 per week, I'm making it harder by saying no more than 4 per week can be from the same course. I know if I really put my mind to it I could eat eggs or yogurt parfait every morning and make that goal way too easy to accomplish. This is in an effort to spread my healthier eating habits across all meals and not just what I feel comfortably doing.

 

Starting to suit up for my semester at Nerdwarts School of Assassincraft & Ninjary (Assassin Mnis). Got my exercises picked out and will be going through them AMRAP tomorrow morning. As for picking my House, that's going to be a difficult choice. I had so very much fun with the GoT minis last challenge and met new friends there within the Assassins. Looking forward to this next adventure.

 

Work has been a chaotic hot mess. At least in my world of pharmaceuticals, full moons and the beginning of the month don't mix. This month, doubly so. Stress and strain have been trying to derail my previous works but I've learned that my body is trying to understand the changes I want to impart and is helping. Had a bit of overly bad binge eating and poor choices late last week but this week I've been doing better. I need to get my health, heart, and head all in the right places before this challenge starts. 

 

In the book, Wade faces some issues early on with his life before his opportunity towards greatness arises. I need to find that thing that will be my Eureka moment to really get this challenge on the right track. Monday will be upon us all shortly, hope everyone's ready!!