Owlet: Summer Edition

[Owlet]

Eeep it's nearly time for another challenge! Ok here goes:

 

• Stand 3-4 hours per day on work days
• Physio exercise routine 2-3 per week
• Walk to work once a week

 

• try 3 new recipes during challenge

 

• Start painting for upcoming art show
• Chant every day

 

I have a few other unofficial goals but they're closer to being habits so I'll just keep doing them as per usual. 

 

My main aims for this challenge are, as usual, don't fall into the abyss of depression and anxiety, try to stay on top of things so I can bounce back quickly from setbacks. Work is going to be a bit of a grind because I'm well over my job, but I also don't have it for much longer so I will be working on my appreciation and trying to get in as many hours as I can without going crazy. Would like to get out and enjoy the summer while it lasts too, feels like it has only just arrived and it might flit away again soon. Lunchtime walks, weekend adventures, evenings at the community garden.. 

 

Gifs welcomed/encouraged as always.

 

[LittleTurtle]

Summer, yeah?  Where do you live?  I'm in Montana and it is the most wintery winter ever.  I miss the sun and warmth.  Soak some up for me.

 

And good luck to you this challenge.  Perhaps you can share recipes?  

 

And just for good measure, I'll add a .gif because who doesn't love a rooster riding a tortoise?

[NeverThatBored]

Following! 

 

[fleaball]

 

Initial reaction: "why tf are you thinking about summer when it's only- oh. right." #murica.

[Owlet]

11 hours ago, LittleTurtle said:

Summer, yeah?  Where do you live?  I'm in Montana and it is the most wintery winter ever.  I miss the sun and warmth.  Soak some up for me.

 

And good luck to you this challenge.  Perhaps you can share recipes?  

 

And just for good measure, I'll add a .gif because who doesn't love a rooster riding a tortoise?

New Zealand! It is the most un-summery summer so far lol. I will soak up sun whenever possible though  

I will share if I find any decent ones! Half the time I make them up as I go so it's hard to remember them but I want to try some proper ones this time. 

 

Ooh that is a good way to travel, so posh. 

 

8 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

Following! 

 

Gah! So cute!!!

 

6 hours ago, fleaball said:

 

Initial reaction: "why tf are you thinking about summer when it's only- oh. right." #murica.

Haha I love how it always gets you. It will never get old. Is that a llama? What is going on?!

[fleaball]

2 minutes ago, Owlet said:

Haha I love how it always gets you. It will never get old. Is that a llama? What is going on?!

Honestly. I mean I know you're in the future and also upside down. It's just the seasons thing I apparently have a mental block on. According to the caption thing it's an alpaca. Why? Who knows. I wanted a dog surfing but none of them were gifs.

[Owlet]

2 minutes ago, fleaball said:

Honestly. I mean I know you're in the future and also upside down. It's just the seasons thing I apparently have a mental block on. According to the caption thing it's an alpaca. Why? Who knows. I wanted a dog surfing but none of them were gifs.

Umm... pretty sure you're the upside down ones =P 

[fleaball]

2 minutes ago, Owlet said:

Umm... pretty sure you're the upside down ones =P 

WHAT THE HELL. Where was he when I was looking earlier?! Maybe I am the upside down one. Or at least my brain is.

[NeverThatBored]

2 minutes ago, Owlet said:

Umm... pretty sure you're the upside down ones =P 

 

 

asdfghjkkl This reminds me of a friggin' weird movie about 2 halves of the Earth and one is upside down but both sides think they're the correct way up. 

[fleaball]

6 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

 

asdfghjkkl This reminds me of a friggin' weird movie about 2 halves of the Earth and one is upside down but both sides think they're the correct way up. 

That sounds vaguely creepy. All I can think of rn is Stranger Things, which is unfortunate because I kinda wanted to sleep tonight.

[NeverThatBored]

3 minutes ago, fleaball said:

That sounds vaguely creepy. All I can think of rn is Stranger Things, which is unfortunate because I kinda wanted to sleep tonight.

 

That's next on my list of things to watch! 

[fleaball]

3 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

 

That's next on my list of things to watch! 

Don't watch it in the dark. Well, if you're a chicken like me I mean. If you're not then have at it. 

[Owlet]

6 minutes ago, fleaball said:

Don't watch it in the dark. Well, if you're a chicken like me I mean. If you're not then have at it. 

lol, didn't you watch it during the day? hehehe sorry for introducing the scaries into your life. Did you end up finishing it?

[fleaball]

5 minutes ago, Owlet said:

lol, didn't you watch it during the day? hehehe sorry for introducing the scaries into your life. Did you end up finishing it?

Lmao I did. And I was still freaked the fuck out. Watching it at night wooluld have killed me. I did finish it and I was confused af. 

[NeverThatBored]

21 minutes ago, fleaball said:

Don't watch it in the dark. Well, if you're a chicken like me I mean. If you're not then have at it. 

 

I am 100% a chicken. I hate scary things. I have been assured that Stranger Things is more ET and less horror. Have I been lied to?

[fleaball]

3 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

 

I am 100% a chicken. I hate scary things. I have been assured that Stranger Things is more ET and less horror. Have I been lied to?

No, it's really not horror at all. But there are a lot of suspenseful moments and those kill me.

[Owlet]

I hate horror but I loved Stranger Things. I will say there are some tense moments. Anticipation and what not. 

[Jessebel]

Following!

 

What kind of chanting do you do?

 

You've got this!

 

[Owlet]

4 hours ago, Jessebel said:

Following!

 

What kind of chanting do you do?

 

You've got this!

 

Welcome and thanks! I practice Nichiren Buddhism, so I chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo  focused meditation you might call it. 

 

[Owlet]

My mood has been all over the place today. Was looking forward to going blueberry picking with my flatmates but then we found out the summer hasn't been warm enough so there's nothing to pick yet. Decided to go for a walk instead which was nice but just felt pretty flat and never really got into it. Bummed around at home before deciding to chant for an hour and actually felt quite good after that. Was meant to be going on a date after that (ugh. So I logged onto tinder to test the waters and see if I can force myself to get over my ex. I don't think that's going to work haha.) but the guy never got back to me. Was really happy about that (because dear god, dates and terrifying and I hate them) but I also feel a tiny bit shit for being stood up. Went into town to pick up paintings now that the show is over and was pleasantly surprised to see a few of them had sold since I last checked. Except that when I did the maths I didn't manage to cover my printing and gallery costs. Trying to remind myself that it is more important st this stage that I even had stuff in a show. Then my flatmate asked me what I'm going to do for work once my contract ends and I got annoyed because it's a huge source of stress for me and also I haven't really been able to think about it because of other life dramas. Ugh. But now I have a sunbeam and a beer, so it's not all bad. Going to attempt a new recipe for dinner, wish me luck. 

[Jessebel]

How was dinner?

 

And if you get bored during walks, I recommend the app The Walk. It's by the makers of Zombies Run, and the story continue to unlock as you walk. 

 

It's free and lovely. 

[fleaball]

Wow, what a rollercoaster. Props for the chanting to pick yourself back up though. Sorry about the dick on Tinder. His loss. I hope dinner came out amazing and I hope you have pictures to make us jealous!

[Owlet]

1 hour ago, Jessebel said:

How was dinner?

 

And if you get bored during walks, I recommend the app The Walk. It's by the makers of Zombies Run, and the story continue to unlock as you walk. 

 

It's free and lovely. 

Dinner was good thanks

 

I normally love walks, I think I was just too down today to fully enjoy it. There were some lovely native birds along the way though at least. 

[Owlet]

1 hour ago, fleaball said:

Wow, what a rollercoaster. Props for the chanting to pick yourself back up though. Sorry about the dick on Tinder. His loss. I hope dinner came out amazing and I hope you have pictures to make us jealous!

Yeah it was weird, he was the one that was all keen, but whatever. I don't think I'm ready anyway. Dinner was good! I ate it all before I could take pictures though lol. 

 

For those who like chicken, here's the recipe:

 

THAI CHICKEN LARB

juice of ½ lime

3 tsp fish sauce

½ tsp brown sugar

2 tsp peanut oil

1 lemongrass stalk, pale part only, finely chopped

1 bird's-eye chilli, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

300g lean chicken mince

1 red shallot, thinly sliced

1/3 cup coriander leaves

1/3 cup mint leaves

1/2 a cucumber, shaved into ribbons with a vegetable peeler

1/2 an iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and trimmed into cups

lime wedges, to serve

1. Combine lime juice, fish sauce and sugar in a bowl and set aside. 2. Heat oil in a wok on medium and stir-fry lemongrass, chilli and garlic for one minute until fragrant. Remove from wok. 3. Stir-fry chicken for four minutes until brown, stirring to break up any lumps. 4. Return lemongrass mixture to the wok, add lime juice mixture, shallot and herbs, and toss to combine. Serve the larb with the cucumber in the lettuce cups, with lime wedges on the side. Serves two.

[Lara]

Following!