Chris rejoins the party

[ChrisWithaStick]

Howdy Y'all!

 

This has been in many ways the summer of slack, not the least of which not participating in challenges, or commenting much on forums.  It's been pretty status quo in terms of health and habits, so still some things to clean up, and some habits to get back into.  Hence the reboot.

 

Nothing fancy this time around, and, apologies to Sarakingdom, no planned Pratchett quotes (although I may have to find my inner Vimes at some point).

 

So -

Sleep: 

• Get out of bed when I wake up. If it's before my alarm (damn you, summer sunrise!), tough noogies. 
• Start winding down at 9, in bed by 11 at the latest most nights.

BTW's - sleep masks are at times useful. I discovered that this summer since I don't have black-out curtains, and there are bright street lights on my street (bedroom on the street side of the house).

 

Suburi:

• Do it in the am.  Wake up, pick up a weapon, swing it.  Repeat. 
• Use kata as suburi formats, working on smoothing out.
• Contact a couple of different locations about setting up a class.  (this might be deferred 'til later in the fall).

 

Stress:

This is a biggie at the moment. There's some transition at work - we're reviewing and updating a lot of training materials, handbooks, etc., and developing some roles to create better consistency between three shops (two right now, a third will come online in the spring next year).  On the plus side, I'm working with a lot of great people.  Still.  Stress. 

There's also some transitional stuff going on in my personal life, which isn't necessarily helping (as transitions are want to do).  So...

• Stretch, daily. - Nothing radical, but I tend to tense and shrink in when stressed.  Stretching counters that. 
• Go for a walk.
• See sleep and suburi

 

Food:

• Get back into the habit of cooking good food at home.

Speaking of - anyone have any good recipes for grilled veggies?  The next two weeks are supposed to be hot (actually hot - mid 90s), and I'd like to a) have some veggies, b), not heat my kitchen (no A/C).   Anything with zucchini is a no, because I can't stand the taste of it (makes me gag, seriously - I don't know why, just can't stand it). 

 

Dance:

• Start up lessons again (especially a group class, since they are a little cheaper)
• Go to actual social dances.

 

So, again, no goals per se, but working on habits and routines.  Seems like a good way to cap off the summer and head into fall. 

 

 

[Lou_be_Lou]

Yay for being back!

Cheering you on.

[sarakingdom]

On 8/21/2016 at 10:52 PM, ChrisWithaStick said:

BTW's - sleep masks are at times useful.

 

They totally are.  I started using one this summer, too.

 

On 8/21/2016 at 10:52 PM, ChrisWithaStick said:

Speaking of - anyone have any good recipes for grilled veggies?

 

On an actual grill?  I'd just slam a shish kebab skewer through some mushrooms and chunks of red pepper.  You could probably grill anything you'd roast.  Slow cooker might also be helpful in Operation Cold Kitchen.

 

Stretching is an excellent goal, and I should try to adopt it.

[Mistr]

Good to see you again!

 

You can roast veggies on a grill almost the same as you would in an oven. Chop up veggies and toss them with oil and seasonings. Put in a packet of foil (or a roasting pan) and put on the grill - not directly over the coals. Have most of the coals on one side and the roasting tray on the other side. Cover the grill with the vents open. How long it takes depends on the size and toughness of the veggies. I'd guess 15 minutes would be plenty for potatos and sweet potatos.

 

For shish kebab veggies, marinate them first. Italian dressing is easy, or you can make your own vinegrette with your favorite flavor profile. They will have more flavor and not dry out as easily. Kebabs take less time but more attention. You have to turn them every couple minutes.

[ChrisWithaStick]

Ok- modification time. I will be getting up with my alarm, no snooze button.  I have a cat now, and it likes to meow at, oh, say, 3:30. I'm not getting out of bed then.  So - with the alarm.

 

Monday - Got up mostly on time.  Suburi, cooked dinner, stretched, in bed around 11.

Tuesday - Got up mostly on time (it was rough - details about Sunday/Monday night below).  Suburi.  Stretched some in the morning.  Evening was dinner for mom's birthday.  Ended up in bed closer to midnight. 

 

Suburi this morning, some stretching.  I've got some kind of kink in my right shoulder. 

 

Ok - So, Sunday and Monday night I was woken up sometime in the 2 or 3 am time.  Tap.Tap.Tap.Tap.  thought it was the cat, but he came walking in.  Realized it was someone outside, walking.  Creepy as hell, and slowly got louder, then receded.  Now, I fully realize it's someone with a cane out for a stroll walking past my house (Bedroom is on the street side, and there's a sidewalk) ...  However, at 3 freaking am when you first wake up, and get creeped out, it's hard to get back to sleep.  I kept listening for it.  On Sunday, whoever it was did walk back by in the other direction.  Didn't seem to on Monday.

 

Thank you for the notes on the veggies.  Haven't thought of kebab style.  I have roasted asparagus in a cast iron pan on the grill (gas grill, alas).  That's darn tasty.

 

Has anyone roasted tomatoes on the grill?  I remember having something like that once, and it was great, but I can't quite remember how it was done.

 

 

[ChrisWithaStick]

Quick update:

 

Wednesday and last night - in bed around midnight.  Not the best, but better than 1 am.  Will aim for more days by 11.  I'm actually somewhat happy with the midnight, as I'm dealing with some relationship stuff right now, and it's really easy for me to put my nose in a book or screen to distract myself and lose track of time. 

 

Class Wednesday night, some suburi yesterday morning, slacking off it this morning as my shoulder is being tweaky.  Doing lots of small stretches to keep it from getting stiff.  Still not sure what I did to make it grumpy. 

 

Mixed success on food - Need to cut out late night snacking.

 

Will try out some kind of grilled veggies.  I might actually grill a wedge of lettuce - I recall having that once, drizzled with oil and S&P, and it being darn tasty. 

 

On to the weirdness - creepy walking with a cane at 3 am is continuing.  Last night it went back and forth twice.  I may end up looking. I shall try to not think about horror movies and what happens to those who look out the window. 

 

[Toshimi]

1 hour ago, ChrisWithaStick said:

Will try out some kind of grilled veggies.  I might actually grill a wedge of lettuce - I recall having that once, drizzled with oil and S&P, and it being darn tasty. 

 

We do grilled lettuce all the time! Romaine tends to work better than a lot of others. Although have had some success with just a red or green head lettuce. The main thing is they can't cook as long it seems like before its just a pile of mush. 

 

Adding a little vinegar is great on it too, or avocado

[Kishi]

Well, see, that's what you keep your stick for. In case it's something else what needs sticking.

 

Anyway, more veggies is generally a good thing, and roasted veggies are pretty amaze. Cauliflower is pretty great for that kind of thing. Butter 'em up afterward and it's great.

[ChrisWithaStick]

So, mixed bag on this fine weekend.  Later to bed Friday, decent time last night.  Damn cat woke me up at 6 this morning.  'twas not happy about that (evil little fuzz ball has the audacity to be napping on the sofa next to me as I type   )

 

I managed to stay in bed a little while longer, but still got up before my alarm.  Was 30 minutes early to class (my sensei also teaches another ryu, and sometimes I watch - my other co-students take it as well, I'm the last 'hold out' for a couple of reasons - it's fun to watch though), so got to stretch and observe.

 

Doing a lot of light shoulder and arm stretching right now, so getting some good (gentle) volume and it's making them happier.  Some dedicated stretching and a tiny amount of what silk-reeling I remember to get the rest of the body.  Feels good.

 

Ok - grilled lettuce is amazeballs paired with grilled corn and all chopped up in a salad (some diced tomato, too).   Boston lettuce, brushed with olive oil, and briefly laid on a hot grill.  I think it'd have been even better if I had a charcoal grill, since my gas grill doesn't get quite as screaming hot, and I want that little bit of extra smoky char without too much wilting.  For the corn, I went ahead shucked it before putting it on the grill (I've also grilled it in the leaves before).  Nice flavor and the hard to get rid of silk singed right off.  I don't eat a lot of corn (rice is my primary grain), but when it's in season I'll have a few ears, and this is a nice way to cook it.

 

So - week one wrap -

 

Sleep is going ok.  Could still be in bed earlier, but I'll take the first step. 

Food - Generally getting back on track, and veggies are going well.  Will need to watch the late snacking, especially as it's a stress response, and things are a little stressed in the personal life right now. 

Stretching - Small amounts daily - on track.

Walking - oops.

Suburi - mixed bag with the shoulder being cranky (this has made my elbow complain again, too). 

Dancing - no social yet, but looking at the group offerings this week.

 

[Lou_be_Lou]

YAY for grilled lettuce and new food combinations - that is definitely a win!  Plus sleeping and stretching.  All good.

 

Plus evil fuzz balls - yours is being quite good waiting till 6am for a wake up call....

Have you figured out the middle of the night tapping?

 

[ChrisWithaStick]

7 hours ago, Lou_be_Lou said:

YAY for grilled lettuce and new food combinations - that is definitely a win!  Plus sleeping and stretching.  All good.

 

Plus evil fuzz balls - yours is being quite good waiting till 6am for a wake up call....

Have you figured out the middle of the night tapping?

 

RE the evil fuzz ball - that's a 6 am wake up call, not counting the 3:30 am 'I woke up and I'm lonely' wandering around meowing. 

 

[ChrisWithaStick]

Monday - spent part of the evening with the lady friend.  Fuzz ball got an extra nap in so decided he was playfull right when I was thinking of going to bed.

AM - up with alarm.  Some gentle stretching, no suburi

 

Today - oy.  Fuzz ball was up at 3:30, then again at 6.  I wasn't not exactly thrilled.  It's an adjustment for both of us.  He came from a home with two other cats and a 4 person family, and now it's just me for the most part, so I do try to keep that in perspective.  Still...man, I did NOT want to get up this morning.

 

Dinner was with the fam (we have a few birthdays in August).  Tomorrow night is class, and I'm always bad about cooking on class nights as I have a bit of a commute and not much time between work and needing to head out.  If the timing works out I may try to grill off a couple of steaks (big sale on tri tip!) so I have something for after class and an easy dinner the next day. 

 

No suburi this week so far - I will probably pull the trigger tomorrow am just get to my shoulder moving. 

 

No idea yet on the tapping.  It's happened another time, but I was too tired to get up and look.  I'm past my creeped out - so long as it's on the sidewalk and not coming up the drive way, I'm good.  

 

 

[sarakingdom]

I sort of missed the new fuzz ball!  1) Pics plz, and 2) he'll settle down.  Where does he sleep?

[ChrisWithaStick]

5 hours ago, sarakingdom said:

I sort of missed the new fuzz ball!  1) Pics plz, and 2) he'll settle down.  Where does he sleep?

 

This is Lou.  He's on semi-permanent loan - some friends of my sister moved out of country (fantastic job offer, but uprooted the family).  There were two Maine Coon that I just couldn't take (I can deal with short hair, but long hair cats set my allergies to 'miserable').  They went to specialized adoption centers.  Lou was the kids' favorite, so they wanted to see if my sister could keep him for them, but a couple of things prevented that, but I was able to take him on.  He's actually a pretty chill cat, aside from midnight and 3-4 am.  He's a natural uke with an impressive side fall, but has really poor timing (right as you're about to step on him).

 

He has his own cushion to sleep on, and leave one of the blinds partly open so he can look out.  He will sleep on the bed, too, for part of the night.  Likes to be picked up, but isn't a lap cat.  I'm hoping he gets a routine that doesn't involve meowing at god awful hours, since it's wrecking havoc on my already shaky sleep. 

 

 

[Lou_be_Lou]

Lou looks ready to attack at any second!  No training advice here - my cats trained me into passive acceptance of head sleeping and multiple stop throughs during the night - plus I feed treats upon demand.  Sometimes they settle for a bit, sometimes they go especially bonkers for a bit.  I now only partially awake for most middle of the night cat-itude.

 

Enjoy class. 

YAY for family dinners.

[sarakingdom]

What a cutie.  Hrm, can't say if there's any way to chill him out.  I never had a cat who bothered me at night.  (Which suggests maybe... catnip toy that gets released at midnight and 3am?  Or, possibly, is he hungry?  If you don't free-feed him, maybe leaving out some food would do it.)

[ChrisWithaStick]

On 8/31/2016 at 11:59 PM, Lou_be_Lou said:

Lou looks ready to attack at any second!  No training advice here - my cats trained me into passive acceptance of head sleeping and multiple stop throughs during the night - plus I feed treats upon demand.  Sometimes they settle for a bit, sometimes they go especially bonkers for a bit.  I now only partially awake for most middle of the night cat-itude.

That's his 'oh my god it's hot!' look from a couple of weeks ago.  He likes the 'tempt with soft kitty belly petting, then latch on with all the pointy and sharp!' technique.  He's not too mean about it  though.

On 9/1/2016 at 8:35 AM, sarakingdom said:

What a cutie.  Hrm, can't say if there's any way to chill him out.  I never had a cat who bothered me at night.  (Which suggests maybe... catnip toy that gets released at midnight and 3am?  Or, possibly, is he hungry?  If you don't free-feed him, maybe leaving out some food would do it.)

I may go the catnip toy route.  Or just keep bugging him in the early evening so he can't nap.  He's free fed. 

 

Man, what a week.  Nothing really bad, just a whole heck of a lot of 'meh', plus shoulder being unhappy (it's more like blade and oddly, to the front under the collar bone).  It's calmed down, but still.  If I were to pass/fail this week, it'd be a fail.  We'll see how the weekend rolls though. 

 

[Kishi]

Yay, black cat! My parents have a pair of black cats, and I swear to God, once I move back out again, if I ever get a cat of my own, I'mma adopt a black cat. They are so cool! Especially if you're sitting up on your laptop at night and have all the lights off like an introvert, and one of them comes over for scritches. It's like a little piece of the night time came alive to play with you. Which sounds kind of goth but like it's totally not, you know?

 

Although, I have to admit, the whole "I'M UP AND LONELY AND DEMAND ATTENTION" meowing isn't so great. The trick to get around that, I found, involves shutting your door and having a box fan going to cancel out the noise, but I'm willing to be terrible and aloof to terrible and aloof animals.

[Lou_be_Lou]

My current approach to "I'M UP AND LONELY AND DEMAND ATTENTION" meowing monsters is to smother them with attention earlier in the day so that come night time they're all "if we wake her up she'll maul us, hush be quiet" - weirdly it has worked for a few days........  then again, they may be lulling me into a false sense of security......

 

Hope the new week is a lot less more "meh" and more superb.  Can you flip it over by doing some more things that make you feel like you?  Sounds goofy, but for me training, or doing some gardening, even walking the cat, just puts me back into myself in a good way.  Especially if it requires enough focus that any worry has to be ignored for a bit.

Have a good week.

[ChrisWithaStick]

On ‎9‎/‎3‎/‎2016 at 11:35 AM, Kishi said:

Yay, black cat! My parents have a pair of black cats, and I swear to God, once I move back out again, if I ever get a cat of my own, I'mma adopt a black cat. They are so cool! Especially if you're sitting up on your laptop at night and have all the lights off like an introvert, and one of them comes over for scritches. It's like a little piece of the night time came alive to play with you. Which sounds kind of goth but like it's totally not, you know?

I tend to have one light on when on the laptop, but yeah - the first time he did the lap kitty thing was when I was gaming, and he tried to walk the keyboard, but settled for the lap.  He's a noisy piece of the night. 

 

4 hours ago, Lou_be_Lou said:

My current approach to "I'M UP AND LONELY AND DEMAND ATTENTION" meowing monsters is to smother them with attention earlier in the day so that come night time they're all "if we wake her up she'll maul us, hush be quiet" ...

You might be on to something - I've noticed a couple of patterns.  Either he's thinking his food bowl isn't full enough "I can see bottom!  Help!  Help!", or yeah, there might be an attention quota - If I watch a movie and he curls up on or next to me, he's a lot better late at night.

 

4 hours ago, Lou_be_Lou said:

Hope the new week is a lot less more "meh" and more superb.  Can you flip it over by doing some more things that make you feel like you?  ...

Makes sense - to balance out the 'meh' - the lady friend and I had a good chat, and straightened out a couple of miscommunications.  There's still some tension, but it's improving.  Today I worked out with one of my seniors, and was able to help him work out some form issues he's picked up from training so much alone the last couple of years (wasn't in a position to make it to class).  It's an education in itself just to call out a way he's moving incorrectly and go through the correction with him (meaning, I learned a lot about how someone with his experience may process and correct). 

 

And while it's not exactly fun, I decluttered the roof (pine, cedar and fir needles, oh my!) and cleaned the gutters. That counts as a weekend workout, I think. 

 

 

[Lou_be_Lou]

Cleaning the roof is both a workout and bonus adulting points!

YAY for clearing up misunderstandings - oh the joys of communicating. 

[ChrisWithaStick]

So, that time an '88 Chevy pickup with a full load of firewood picked a fight with my car....yeah, that happened tonight.  I'm ok, but not sure insurance will pay to repair the car, or if it total it out.  Will know in the next couple of days. 

 

It was slow motion as it was around a corner, but the truck lost traction as there was a slight downhill.  My car - driver-side headlight is gone and body panel pushed under the hood from where the light was to the wheel well.  The truck?  scratch on the bumper...the joys of steel. 

 

Needless to say, I'm going to regroup for week 4. 

[Draegon (Liam P Boyle)]

Glad you're okay.  Good luck with the insurance.

[sarakingdom]

That's, like, all your adulting points at once.  You okay?  That sounds like a driver-side collision not too far from the driver.

[Toshimi]

Glad you're okay! Good luck with the insurance.