Pixie Kitten: Bookworm

[PixieKitten]

It's been a good few months. I've made challenges and succeeded at most of them (still trying to get those splits!). I'm training for a race, never thought that would happen. Queenie's looking amazing, so now I'm just waiting for her to drop down dead(she would totally do that just to spite me). And I'm going away. On a plane. Without parents. For the first time. In less than a week.

 

Barring the runs, which I absolutely intend to continue whilst away(I mean running on the beach, that's an experience right?!), I'm gonna take the next four weeks easy. Focus on relaxation, and eating right, and just chilling out. And what better way to chill out than to abandon the world in favour of a fantasy one? Enter challenge Bookworm!

 

Main Quest: Read 4 new books in 4 weeks (18XP CON+2)

 

-Buy 4 new books (18XP STA+2)]

Yes, I'm totes using this as an excuse to get new books. Why? Because I love buying new books. I love the book store. I love the comfy chairs in the bookstore. I love the zombie section of the book store. I love books. Books!!

-Read in different places, gardens, fields, beaches, in a tree, etc.. (16P WIS+1)

I used to just read in bed, but I kept falling asleep. As this is quite a sedentry challenge, I'm going to make a point of exploring new places to read. Though, going on holiday will defintely make one week easy!

-Occassionally read out loud (16XP CHA+2)

If I'm reading, I'm not socialising. I'm terrible at talking. I flub my words so bad people often think I'm drunk. It comes down to being very shy and quiet, then getting braces and learning how to talk around them whilst getting into my drama class in high school, then getting them taken off 5 years later and having to learn how to talk all over again. Talking is difficult. Let's practice without the pressure of actually having to talk to people.

-Focus on running and healthy eating when not reading (16XP STR+2)

Still training for this 5k. I can't afford not to, I want to do well. Or at least just do it. And my diet's gone out the window recently due to lack of money. So let's work on those things.

Side Quest: Teach Hutch a new trick. (16XP, DEX+2)

He hasn't learnt a new one since BANG, and that was a while ago.

 

I'm off to town tomorrow while Honey's at the vets, 1) to try and keep my mind off it, 2) I need more shampoo and conditioner, and 3) to buy these books.

 

BOOKS!

 

[PixieKitten]

Tadaaa! I decided to go for a variety. Nod is about some epidemic where no-one can sleep. The Secret Crusade is basically a written version of the first game. I don't have any gaming consoles, and it's not a priority right now to have one, but I miss the assassins creed world. So this fills a small void. The Taming of the Queen is about Kateryn Parr, 5th wife of Henry VIII being too headstrong for the society around her. Even The Dead is about some dude who works in a morgue. A body comes in as a suicide and he think's something's fishy about it, does a little digging and gets involved in 'a long buried conspiracy that involves his own family'. Sounded interesting. Fiction, crime, thriller, and.. I dunno. Historical gaming fiction? Variety!

[Finisterre]

Yay books!!  I read Nod a couple of weeks ago, it's pretty good.  Even The Dead sounds interesting as well!

[UnquietBones]

This... is the most awesome challenge!  *eyes her own bookshelf* I totally need to do this as well-- any reason to buy books is a great reason!

 

Which one are you starting with? They all sound like a good read!

[PixieKitten]

Thanks guys!

 

I'm actually still on my last book, Imijica. I've got no hope of finishing it tonight unless I stay up all night, which is a little counter-productive to relaxing, but I'm hoping to read at least 20 more pages. But tomorrow I'll probably start with Nod.. Simply because it's on top of the pile right now.

 

I'd write more but I've just come home from work and I need to start reading!

 

Because BOOKS.

[PixieKitten]

Ok, so it's day 2 and so far no reading has been done.

 

THAT is because I have been super duper uber busy PACKING FOR MY HOLIDAY.

 

Eeee.

 

I've put 2 of the books in my carry on and I do a lot of reading on holiday so I might actually come back ahead of schedule!

 

Anyway. Got to go. Ive still gotta run Queenie's food down to the stables, get ready for work, do a 5 hour shift, then we have a staff party, then I'm jetting off at 9am tomorrow and I think I've got everything and gaaaaaaah.

[Manarelle]

Love the quests! I've been stuck reading school texts for so long, I'm trying to relearn how to read for fun. Enjoy the vacation and read lots!

[Owlet]

Hope the holiday is going well! Perfect time to do lots of reading

[PixieKitten]

Guuuuuys I'm back in the UK and meh. I want to go back to Greece. It was so warm and sunny and full of goats and beaches and boat trips and good food.... I actualy ended up with more of an appetite than Boyfriend, where his went down.. I can definitely say it shocked both of us. But now I'm back in my foodless house at 8:40 and I'm starving xD So after seeing the horse I'll be going shopping!!

 

BUT QUEST WISE

 

I read both books. Nod was good, the narrator trying to stay both alive and sane whilst the world crashed and burned around him. The ending bugged me. the last paragraph was half a page with no punctuation and ended with 'and'. Not even a full stop at the end of it either! Basically it left his fate to your imagination, which isn't actually a thing I like in books, but other than that very last paragraph, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

Even the Dead was fantastic. Set in Ireland in a time where there were both motor cars and horse drawn carraiges, the main character is brought back into work after his assistant comes to him with a question about a supposed suicide. Apparently this is actually a series of books, so there was a lot of backstory that it hinted at that I wasn't aware of, but you can read it just fine without the others. It was very easy to read, as long as you could keep track of the characters. I think the only reason I was finding it difficult to concentrate on was that I was usually reading it in the sun, the pages were bright, I didn't drink enough water, yadda yadda.. But no. Slight heatstroke aside, I found it a very intresting read.

 

 

I read in our studio, at the bar, on the beach, on a boat, on a plane, by a pool, on a different island... I think reading in different places is a quest easily managed on holiday.

 

 

I haven't read outloud yet. When I first jetted off I actually had a really bad cold, and the first days of holiday were spent having trouble talking without my voice either squeaking or just completely disappearing from me. But I'm all better now and far more comfortable doing this in my own room!

 

 

I failed on the running. I didn't go for a single run on holiday, when I said I would. So I won't be allowing myself to go rock climbing until I find another quest where I can use that as a reward. I'm not beating myself up over it for multiple reasons. I was on holiday, I was ill to begin with, the beach wasn't long enough for a decent run, I'm not risking injury by running on concrete as it does do terror on my knees... But I'm diving back in today and going on my run later today.

 

And obviously, Hutch knows nothing because it's kinda difficult to teach your dog a trick when you're on the other side of Euorpe. But he's a fast learner so I'm not worried.

 

So there's your update guys! I'll do a proper holiday update on my battle log later, but now, I've got a horse to go see and food to buy and work clothes to wash and a vet appontment to get to and two episodes of Game of Thrones to catch up on and animals to clean out and AHH! *skips away*

[Manarelle]

Woo hoo vacation! Glad you got to go and explore, even with being sick to start off. Sounds like you're dropping right back into a good routine, too.

 

Welcome back!

 

[PixieKitten]

Thank you! It was a big and very needed de-stresser, even if it felt like it all came flooding back the moment I got through the front door! I'm happy that I can at least say that I ate healthily. In Greece you actually really have to go out of your way to be unhealthy. Today I've carried on by buying all the stuff that I ate there.. watermelon for breakfast, pepperoni salad for lunch, and chicken skewers with salad and rice for dinner. And I went out and did my running today! AND Queenie was good to ride! AND the rabbit was a star at the vets! AND Game of Thrones was awesome! AND... well, I didn't wash work clothes, I'm still not entirely sure where they are but I don't actually have work until 5 tomorrow so all is well!

[PixieKitten]

Currently on page 127 of The Secret Crusade. I think I've gotten to the point where I stopped playing now, or very near. No, I didn't get far in the game at all. I olnly got to play it twice

I've worked till half 11 two days in a row now. Probably gonna do it again tomorrow. Bedtime now pls.

[PixieKitten]

Finished teh Secret Crusade today. Spending the rest of my day before work (the 7th day in a row of work) organising my new Assassin/Academy folder. Tonught I shall be starting my final book, The Taming of the Queen!

[Manarelle]

Nice! Ahead of schedule on the reading! Hopefully you get a day off here, soon!

[PixieKitten]

Bwah!! Guys, I'm behind. I've had a few bad days at work, I've had shark week, I've had emotions all over the place, and on the couple of days off I've sat in front of the computer all day doing very little productive stuff(I did do a couple of hours of awesome, but I'll get to that in a bit.)

 

Guys.

 

Guys.

 

Yesterday, I went for my 25 minute run. I then did a 9.5 hour shift at work. Part way through the day, I remember tapping my fitbit and seeing that I was only halfway through my 20000 steps. I thought it was odd because the run surely would have racked more up, and work had been so busy? Then I gnored my wrist adn you know, carried on with work.

 

When I got home and got changed, MY FITBIT WAS NO LONGER ON MY WRIST. I don't know where it is. I'm really hoping a cleaner found it at work and it's being kept there for me to go back tomorrow. But ManagerD has a habit of throwing things away. PLEASE DONT THROW MY FITBIT AWAY.

Or it could have dropped in the den and a kid's stolen it. Or I could have dropped it in the kitchen throwing food away. Or bottles in the bottle bin. Or on the path on the way home. I DON'T KNOW. But I'm bummed.

 

But also not as bothered on a different side. I've been wanting an upgrade for a while, but didn't want to go out and buy one since I already had the flex. But, If it's gone, and it's my birthday very soon, and seeing how I just can't stand to not be able to check my data now that I'm so adjusted to it(seriously, I've logged onto my fitbit dashboard so many times today only to be disappointed) I could get the chargeHR! Which has a watch and heart rate checking and floors climbed and a buckle like a watch and not silly little poppers like the flex which clearly aren't good enough otherwise I'D STILL HAVE IT ON MY WRIST AND.... Ok, I'll stop there. I miss my flex, and I'll be happy if I can get it back tomorrow, but.. Shiny new gadget!

 

Also, today I beat Berserxes the Squat king. Whoo.

 

I'm only on page 50 of The Taming of the Queen, so I best crack on!

 

 

 

OH

 

And you guys really, really need to make sure you follow me o nthe next challenge. It's new, exciting, I've never done anything like it before, and there's gonna be the charity race part way through it. It's gonna be rough. And sweaty. And exciting... and there's going to be a fictional rough cowboy chasing me everywhere I go!

[Manarelle]

 Boo for losing your fitbit; hopefully it all ends well, whether that's finding the fitbit or getting a new and improved one! What's the fictional cowboy thing? I will definitely be watching for the next challenge!

[PixieKitten]

I'm now 160 pages into The Taming of the Queen, I got my fitbit back(a cleaner found it at work yesterday morning!), Queenie rode like a dream today (We JUMPED!), and I think I forgot to mention, Hutch learnt his new trick. It was a very simple one, but tied nicely into the agility training we were doing. He learn the command 'Stand', where he puts his front paws on an elevated surface. We also did more work on his tunnel, weave poles and a small ramp! He was a very good boy!

 

Oh, and in my last post I hinted at awesomeness then forgot to say much about it because I went on a fitbit-loss-inspired rant.

 

I got a new Assassin/Academy folder! And re-wrote all of my challenge ideas. And it has my running program, a sheet of dietry advice, better ways to sleep, I basically combed through the NF blog and wrote down little snippets of useful information so I have it at hand should there ever be no internet in the house and I need a refresher. It's got my big WHY, my measurements, notes on when I achieved some of the Academy quests, plans for future workouts, plans for future challenges.. .Like the next one.

Seriously guys, I'm so super pumped. I've got the intro all written down and ready to be typed up. I might type t up anyway and save it somewhere ready to be compy&pasted on the day the new challenge comes out. I might go and look for suitable gifs and bookmark them this week.

 

I also need to get my tent out of the attic. If that's where I put it. I can't quite remember, but it's defintely gonna be needed for this next challenge!

[Manarelle]

Dang, sunshine, that's an impressive amount of organization and togetherness. I am in awe.

 

Congrats on the progress with... well, all the goals! Sounds like it was a really good week, especially with getting the fitbit back. Is the tent for the race, or for some other awesomeness you'll be perpetrating? 

[PixieKitten]

Thank you Manarelle! The tent is for the challenge, I'm going to have to use it at least twice. Really must find it soon.

 

Also, I uploaded Hutchy photos while typing that last post, then forgot to put them on. Duh!

 

He looks so proud of himself ^__^

[Manarelle]

Aw! He does look proud! I love his ears, all attentive and floppy.  

[V for Vetinari]

Oh hey! Books and puppies. Two of my favorite things. 

[Owlet]

On 7/5/2016 at 7:40 AM, PixieKitten said:

And you guys really, really need to make sure you follow me o nthe next challenge. It's new, exciting, I've never done anything like it before, and there's gonna be the charity race part way through it. It's gonna be rough. And sweaty. And exciting... and there's going to be a fictional rough cowboy chasing me everywhere I go!

Haha this sounds amazing! And a tent? I am so intrigued! Glad your fitbit turned up, phew! And yay for jumping! Good pony  and clever puppy

[PixieKitten]

Today is the last day of the challenge.

Yesterday I had a 12 hour shift at work.

The day before was supposed to be my day off, but I had to do a 12 hour shift.. As a chef. Because the chef who was supposed to come in and work with BF decided he didn't feel like it. Said chef is now fired, and I'm currently revelling in praise for saving the day.

Today I don't have work until 5. As you can imagine, my reading was very much put back but the unexpected removal of my free day. But today I crammed like a student about to take an exam, and read 300 pages in 3 and a half hours. Taming of the Queen is FINISHED. I thouroughly enjoyed it, and it's inspired me to brush up on my history. High school was a long time ago, and I don't remember a lot of it.

 

Let's look over the goals!

 

Main Quest: Read 4 new books in 4 weeks (18XP CON+2)

Done! Very last minute on the last one, I should have taken three of the books on holiday with me!

 

-Buy 4 new books (18XP STA+2)

Nod, Even the Dead, tthe Secret Crusade, and the Taming Of The Queen. Gotta love variety!

 

-Read in different places, gardens, fields, beaches, in a tree, etc.. (16P WIS+1)

On the beach, on the plane, at the bar, by the poolside, in the garden, in my room, in my living room, on the sofa at work... Never made it into a tree, but you do have to go quite far to find a climbable tree around here, let alone one to sit comfortably in, and once home fro mholiday, time was not my friend.

 

-Occassionally read out loud (16XP CHA+2)

I'd do this at night to try and keep myself awake enough to get to the end of a chapter some nights. BF has been mocking me, saying he's never known anyone take such strides to achieve a goal... of reading books. He can laugh all he wants, 'Cause I did it!

 

-Focus on running and healthy eating when not reading (16XP STR+2)

Beign in Greece made it impossible to eat unhealthily. Souvalki, fresh-caught fish, watermelon, salads... We had one pizza but the way they made it.. It had to be healthy. Not a drop of grease. Fresh ingredients, it was sublime. I've not had a single unhealthy meal since returning. No pizza has been delivered, I've been inspired by Greek cooking, making my own dishes and always having salad ingredients available! And I've been on almost every run since coming home! Granted, there have been a couple of sessions I've had to miss, and they've all been because of work. I'd call this a sucess!

 

Side Quest: Teach Hutch a new trick. (16XP, DEX+2)

Done. Along with new skills on his agility course, Hutch has had education this month!

 

LEVEL UP!

 

[V for Vetinari]

Way to go!

[Manarelle]

Woo hoo! Congrats on nailing all your goals! AND congrats on a) being rid of a difficult co-worker, and b ) being recognized for the awesome worker you are. That's great!

 

3 hours ago, PixieKitten said:

On the beach, on the plane, at the bar, by the poolside, in the garden, in my room, in my living room, on the sofa at work..

 

This is totally what I thought of when I read this.