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Sara Kingdom's Hogswatch Challenge


sarakingdom

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It's Hogswatch!  It's Hogswatch!

 

My life has not totally settled down.  I'm real close, but not quite there.  But it's Hogswatch, so there is a Hogfather challenge.

 

(People just starting on Discworld?  Hogfather is the most gloriously crazy bit of Discworld there is.  It's up there with the best.  If you've done Guards Guards and Mort, that's probably enough.  I mean, preferably one book set in Ankh-Morpork with some wizards, and some Death.  Also, there's a really good two-part movie adaptation.)

 

Onward to the challenge.

 

hogfather-death-albert.jpg

 

1. “DO I DETECT A NOTE OF UNSEASONAL GRUMPINESS?" said Death. "NO SUGAR PIGGYWIGGY FOR YOU, ALBERT.” 

 

This will be a somewhat stressful December.  I need to watch out for unseasonal grumpiness.  I will find a way to score and compensate for this.  0-5 Points, based on grumpiness levels.

 

Also, I want to cut down on sugar piggywiggies, although that's going to be a stepped process.  I want to go a lot more low-carb by the end of the month (minus a small dispensation for Hogswatch), but the first half of the month might be just eating whatever I can, whenever I have the time.  So we'll call that a goal to reach by the end of the month.  Low-carb by the end of the challenge. (points TBA)

 

2. “Nevertheless, it was a little bit surprising to find that Bloody Stupid Johnson had turned to bathroom design. But, as Ridcully said, it was known that he had designed and built several large musical organs and, when you got right down to it, it was all just plumbing, wasn’t it?” 

 

Bathing is big in this book.  Bonus points for excess bathing.  I could use the relaxation.  And extra bonus points for ridiculously seasonal peppermint or pine soap.  (points TBA)

 

d6823876273ddf385a6dbc91ed8a3828.jpg

 

3. The members of the Guild of Assassins considered themselves cultured men who enjoyed good music and food and literature. And they knew the value of human life. To a penny, in many cases... There was considerable satisfaction in a clean kill. What there wasn't supposed to be was pleasure in a messy one.

 

I need to deploy a certain amount of extra tidiness this December.  Things are up in the air, so I need things to be organized and clean. 0-5 points, based on cleaning efforts.

 

4. "You can't give her that!' she screamed. 'It's not safe!"
 

IT'S A SWORD, said the Hogfather. THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO BE SAFE.
 

"She's a child!" shouted Crumley.
 

IT'S EDUCATIONAL.
 

"What if she cuts herself?"
 

THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT LESSON.” 

 

Well, I'd like it to be sword month, but let's be honest, that won't be happening.  My sword is elsewhere.  Anyways.  Since he's giving the sword to a small child, I think we can call this part of the challenge "baby steps towards swordplay".  I've been sick and out of training, so this month is easing back into training.  Probably some yoga and stretching.  5 points.

 

shs0323a1.gif

 

That's a good start, we'll go with that.

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I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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Coincidally I'm halway through Hogfather at the moment. Nice book and fitting challenge. I think I'll go fo a Marvel challenge this time. We went to see Dr Strange yesterday.

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level 12 Hobbit Monk (respawned September 2016)
STR 4 | DEX 15 | CON 16 | STA 15 | WIS 33 | CHA 24 | Halfling | Newbie | Fencer and Bookworm

Introduction | Character | Daily Battle Log | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 67 | 8 | | 10 | 11 | 12# | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | #### | 17 | Current Challenge

Spoiler

 I'm exercising, because I want to get my stamina and strength. I enjoy medieevil swordmanship,  Tai Chi, yoga, aikido and fire spinning. I'm also a roleplaying nerd and a book worm. Let's fight the procrastination dragon!

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6 hours ago, Luciana Valerosa Culming said:

Coincidally I'm halway through Hogfather at the moment. Nice book and fitting challenge. I think I'll go fo a Marvel challenge this time. We went to see Dr Strange yesterday.

 

I've heard good things!  I might see it, despite being a little tired of Benedict Cumberbatch.

 

1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I like the goals.

 

Not super-great ones, but they'll get the job done.  I had plans that were super-great, but, you know, life and things, so I need to scale back slightly till I've done all the things.  I may do some little seasonal add-ons.  Visit from the Cheerfulness Fairy, or have a few teatimes, that sort of thing.  I've pulled some quotes.

 

1 hour ago, Kishi said:

Ooooh, so that's where the Death Christmas Hogswatch quote comes from. I was wondering. :)

 

Which Death Christmas Hogswatch quote is that, then? :)

 

1 hour ago, Kishi said:

Anyway, nice! Do you do actual swordplay in your training, and will you be finding your way back to it this challenge or next?

 

There are a few weapons kata, and it's one of the few aikido things that can be practiced without a partner, so until I find a dojo, it's something I can play with and not be wasting my time.  Once I'm reunited with my sword, I'll start up again.  I've got one I haven't memorized yet that I want to attack.

  • Like 2

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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Hogswatch is a little uncertainly-located in the calendar, since it matches the solstice (shortest day of the year), Christmas, and New Year's Eve (last day of the year, the 32nd of December).  As this challenge conveniently ends on December 31st, we shall call that Hogswatch Eve.

 

All my daily reminders for this challenge are in my to-do list manager, so I am officially entering the Hogswatch season.

 

(drum-roll for a dramatic start of the challenge)

 

 

Everything starts somewhere, although many physicists disagree. There is the constant desire to find out where - where is the point where it all began. But much, much later than that, the Discworld was formed. Drifting onwards through space, atop four elephants on the shell of a giant turtle, the Great A'Tuin. It was some time after its creation when most people forgot that the very oldest stories of the beginning are, sooner or later, about blood. At least, that's one theory. The philosopher Didactylos suggested an alternative hypothesis: "Things just happen. What the hell." And so our story begins in Ankh-Morpork, the twin city of proud Ankh and pestilent Morpork, the biggest city in Discworld. A city where magic is just another job, and where the Tower of Art of the Unseen University for Wizards looms over all the dark narrow streets. Our story begins on a midwinter festival bearing a remarkable similarity to your Christmas. And so... it was the night before Hogswatch.

  • Like 2

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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Week 0: Day 0

 

DO I DETECT A NOTE OF UNSEASONAL GRUMPINESS?: 0 points (0 total)
Sugar Piggywiggies: 0 sugar piggywiggies (0 total)
Taking a nice hygienic bath with Ridcully: 0 points (0 total)
Assassins are tidy: 0 points (0 total)
Baby steps towards educational swordplay: 0 sharp points (0 total)

 

Weekly Summary: M/Tu/W/Th/F/Sa/Su

 

I'm grandfathering in today's Boffo bar, even though it technically falls under the category of sugar piggywiggies.  As a loot drop received in a day that fall into both challenges, it's legal.

 

So basically I did not do any challenge today, and eating sugar did not appeal, so my loot drop is postponed and I am starting my pre-challenge tomorrow.  Eh, things happen.  I won't get worked up about what happens before even Week 0.

  • Like 1

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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Week 0: Day 1

 

DO I DETECT A NOTE OF UNSEASONAL GRUMPINESS?: 3/5 points (3 total)
Sugar Piggywiggies: 2 sugar piggywiggies (2 total, just tracking)
Taking a nice hygienic bath with Ridcully: 2/5 points (2 total)
Assassins are tidy: 2/5 points (2 total)
Baby steps towards educational swordplay: 5 sharp points (5 total)

 

Weekly Summary: 12/Tu/W/Th/F/Sa/Su

 

Two bath points for lingering over my morning shower.  It's not quite the recreational bathing in question, but my standards for recreation right now are low, and I washed my hair for fun and smell like a fruit salad, so I feel that probably qualifies.  Hygiene.  Ridcully is all about the hygiene.  (God, what am I doing with my life that this is what I do for fun now?)

 

Two assassin points mostly for mindset change.  I took a little extra care over tidying the things I had to tidy, and also I wore all-black, which I'm sure assassins do because it leads to a certain tidiness of mind.  A certain effortlessly neat sartorial presence.  Also, I looked at a tidiness problem and asked, "What would Vetinari do?", and found that, totally by luck, I still have the right bit of kit to implement the answer, and it's even in black, which is very Vetinari.

 

Sugar piggywiggy accounting: Alas, I sort of mindlessly ate a few Hershey's kisses. (On the other hand, I used a low-carb alternative for my breakfast sausage inna bun.  Purchased from C.M.O.T. Dibbler on Treacle Mine Road.)  The second sugar piggywiggy is a bunch of potato.  All home-cooked, and, well, potato's not too bad, but I had it at two meals.  I'd let myself off the hook for once, but twice gets recorded.

 

Two points deducted for grumpiness, because I didn't sleep well last night and was a bit grumpy.  But I rested a little, and I'm on track for a better night's sleep.  (It's partly residual being-sick stuff, so if I'm careful, I should sleep okay.)

 

Five points for getting yoga in there.

 

shs0388e.gif

  • Like 1

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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46 minutes ago, Kishi said:

The one about swords and important lessons. :D

 

Ahhhh yes.  An excellent quote from a scene that continues to be excellent in so many ways.  One of the many highlights of the book. :)

  • Like 1

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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Hm.  So I need to read Guards Guards and Mort before Hogfather.  Good to know.  I've known about Hogfather long before the rest of the Discworld, and I've always wanted to read it.  But I'm currently under a pile of books I need to devour first.  But if I do my challenge right this time, I should devour a lot more books, so maybe that'll work.

 

Good challenge all around.  Definitely need to watch the unseasonal grumpiness myself...

RisenPhoenix, the Entish Aikidoka

Challenge: RisenPhoenix Turns to Ash

 

"The essence of koryu [...is] you offer your loyalty to something that you choose to regard as greater than yourself so that you will, someday, be able to offer service to something that truly is transcendent." ~ Ellis Amdur, Old School

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4 hours ago, RisenPhoenix said:

Hm.  So I need to read Guards Guards and Mort before Hogfather.  Good to know.  I've known about Hogfather long before the rest of the Discworld, and I've always wanted to read it.  But I'm currently under a pile of books I need to devour first.  But if I do my challenge right this time, I should devour a lot more books, so maybe that'll work.

 

Good challenge all around.  Definitely need to watch the unseasonal grumpiness myself...

Reading Reaper Man ahead of Hogfather is helpful as well.

Current Challenge

"By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath

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5 hours ago, RisenPhoenix said:

Hm.  So I need to read Guards Guards and Mort before Hogfather.  Good to know.  I've known about Hogfather long before the rest of the Discworld, and I've always wanted to read it.  But I'm currently under a pile of books I need to devour first.  But if I do my challenge right this time, I should devour a lot more books, so maybe that'll work.

 

It's not technically necessary for plot reasons, but IMO Hogfather is one of the books that benefits from at least some introduction to the universe and characters, because a lot of the book is playing these characters against type, which is less funny if you don't know them already.  I think at least some introduction to Death and his cohort, and some introduction to Ankh-Morpork makes it way better.  Hogfather is well worth it.  It's an amazing book, in many ways.  And all three of those books are great antidotes for unseasonal grumpiness.  If you're fighting that, you could do worse than a Discworld binge.  He somehow manages to combine cinematic action stories with some very thoughtful human heartwarmingness leavened by realistic cynicism, so they succeed on all levels.

 

We're doing Guards Guards over in the reading club, if your pile of books makes room for it.  And Mort is quite a short book.

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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16 minutes ago, sarakingdom said:

 

We're doing Guards Guards over in the reading club, if your pile of books makes room for it.  And Mort is quite a short book.

 

I'm currently reading like, 6 books because of book ADD.  I may finish Foundation's Edge before the challenge starts.  If I do that then I'll consider joining the book club.  Last book club thing I did was with the girlfriend, and it felt... kinda forced and annoying, honestly.  So I'm not sure if I work well with book clubs. >.> <.<

RisenPhoenix, the Entish Aikidoka

Challenge: RisenPhoenix Turns to Ash

 

"The essence of koryu [...is] you offer your loyalty to something that you choose to regard as greater than yourself so that you will, someday, be able to offer service to something that truly is transcendent." ~ Ellis Amdur, Old School

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1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Reading Reaper Man ahead of Hogfather is helpful as well.

 

It's one of the books that introduce worldbuilding details and backstory, but IMO Pratchett does a good job of making books self-contained in a plot and backstory way.  He does it very quickly, but you very rarely need a basic introduction to characters and things.  (Sometimes there are spoilers in reading out of order, like I think that it might be good to read Guards Guards and Men at Arms before later City Watch books, to see Sam Vimes's arc unfold, but after that, you kind of see the direction he's going, and it's not really spoilers to read out of order, just getting the facts out of order, she says being vague like a vague thing.  Fifth Elephant or Jingo before Guard Guards would sort of undercut the development of Guards Guards, but Fifth Elephant before Jingo doesn't undercut Jingo, if you see what I mean.)

 

What you need for Hogfather, IMO, is an understanding of why the things he's twisted into a Christmas story aren't normal.  So, for instance:

 

Spoiler

I think you need an intro to Albert to understand why Pixie Albert is so damn ridiculous, and Mort does that best.  Any book where Death is actively trying to escape his role will show why this is such a bittersweet thing for him, whether that's Mort or Soul Music, but probably Mort.  And it's helpful to see the ways Ankh-Morpork is twisted from reality before seeing how it's being twisted away from that for Christmas themes, so any book set there with Nobby and so on would do it.  (Because Nobby has some great scenes that benefit from realizing it's Nobby Nobbs.)

 

I think the backstories of the Auditors and Susan are pretty self-explanatory inside Hogfather, though Susan might benefit from a little explanation of why Death has a human family, and that could be either Mort or Soul Music.  The Auditors don't change and don't have more than one line of explanation about their grievance in either book, so I don't think you need more on them to make them work here.

 

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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6 minutes ago, RisenPhoenix said:

I'm currently reading like, 6 books because of book ADD.  I may finish Foundation's Edge before the challenge starts.  If I do that then I'll consider joining the book club.  Last book club thing I did was with the girlfriend, and it felt... kinda forced and annoying, honestly.  So I'm not sure if I work well with book clubs. >.> <.<

 

Fair enough.  If it helps, we have no idea how to run a book club, so it'll probably be reposts of favorite quotes. :)

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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Week 0: Day 2

 

DO I DETECT A NOTE OF UNSEASONAL GRUMPINESS?: 4/5 points (3 total)
Sugar Piggywiggies: 1 sugar piggywiggy (2 total, just tracking)
Taking a nice hygienic bath with Ridcully: 2/5 points (2 total)
Assassins are tidy: 2/5 points (2 total)
Baby steps towards educational swordplay: 5/5 sharp points (5 total)

Waiting up for the Hogfather (last night's Black Ribbon update): technical pass 3/5 points)

 

Weekly Summary: 12/16/W/Th/F/Sa/Su

 

One grumpiness point deducted for having some trouble focusing, and being a little impatient as a result.

 

The sugar piggywiggy is cereal for breakfast.

 

Again, not a full recreational bath, but I played with extra lotions and things to make the functional shower more entertaining, and still smell like a fruit salad, so a couple of style points, at least.

 

Assassin points for mostly the same reasons as yesterday, just trying to be a little more mindful about the tidying that has come up in the day so far.  (Full points will be extra time devoted to it.)

 

Three yoga mini-sessions for my sword training.

 

And I'm adding the Black Ribbon points back in, under the guide of waiting up for the Hogfather.  Last night was a technical pass, in that I was in bed on schedule, if not quite asleep on schedule.

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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5 minutes ago, joedog said:

I might have to tell my beloved companion that Hogfather is going to be required Christmas viewing. 

 

It is.  It is absolutely required.  I am going to watch the heck out of it, while eating sausages.

  • Like 1

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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Week 0: Day 3

 

DO I DETECT A NOTE OF UNSEASONAL GRUMPINESS?: 8/5 points (7 total)
Sugar Piggywiggies: 1 sugar piggywiggies (4 total, just tracking)
Taking a nice hygienic bath with Ridcully: 1/5 points (4 total)
Assassins are tidy: 1/5 points (4 total)
Baby steps towards educational swordplay: 5/5 sharp points (10 total)

Waiting up for the Hogfather (last night's Black Ribbon update): pass 5/5 points (3 total)

Bonus Drumknott points: 200

 

Weekly Summary: 12/16/W/Th/F/Sa/Su

 

A seasonal cheer bonus, because I did something very nice for other people.

 

The sugar piggywiggy was an almost-legal dessert while eating out.  Or at least, it would have been legal if it were smaller.

 

The baby steps were a nice long walk and a yoga mini-session.

 

Also, he's not in this book, but I'm awarding 200 Drumknott bonus points for today.  Well-deserved.  I am my own PA.  Unfortunately.  (I am the worst PA.)

  • Like 1

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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11 hours ago, sarakingdom said:

Taking a nice hygienic bath with Ridcully: 1/5 points (4 total)

The thought just occurred to me that Ridcully would most certainly object to a bath with anyone else as being unhygienic. 

  • Like 2

Current Challenge

"By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath

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1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

The thought just occurred to me that Ridcully would most certainly object to a bath with anyone else as being unhygienic. 

 

It is certainly true that he's big on the unhygienic nature of sluicing down with the other chaps.  He might make an exception for a lady.  One has to be hospitable.

  • Like 1

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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16 minutes ago, sarakingdom said:

 

It is certainly true that he's big on the unhygienic nature of sluicing down with the other chaps.  He might make an exception for a lady.  One has to be hospitable.

While it's true he might make an exception, he would still object for appearance's sake.

Current Challenge

"By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath

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1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

While it's true he might make an exception, he would still object for appearance's sake.

 

Ladies first, then, I think.  Preceded by a wholesome morning walk and followed by a lunch invitation.

  • Like 1

I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.

Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge

Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6,  #7#8, #9#10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23

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