It's so awesome that you stuck to the strength training and enjoyed it! Erm. Is this is same unfavoured guest who was there recently?

Slightly late challenge wrap up post!   Things did not go at all how I expected, but I think I'm getting back on track.   So far on the new diet I have lost 7 lbs.  With the lack of groceries, I have gone back up a little bit as I flail in the general direction of the diet, but it's not by a whole lot.  I did get the grocery list sorted - it was a lot less intimidating once I realized the week 1 list had a bunch of dry goods for the entire month, not just the week.  Didn't go grocery shopping yet, because my Sunday evening got taken up with unplanned medical stuff.   Little One took a weird fall during the scrimmage right at the end of practice, and slammed his head into the ground.  He came and sat down, with a headache, for the rest of practice.  Then, right after we walked out of the building, he ran back in to throw up.  So, off to urgent care we went.  Which ended up being way more time consuming than expected, because apparently the "walk in" place near us takes appointments and can fill up.  The doctor said it was likely he had a minor concussion.  Blergh.  I have a whole bunch of complicated emotions about that that I'm trying to work through, with mixed success.  But, after coming home from school early Monday and staying home yesterday, he got cleared by his regular doctor to start doing things again as long as he doesn't have a headache (and sit out if he gets one).  So that's good news!  Just need to get him a new helmet before Sunday, so he can skate in the fundraiser.   Haven't gotten my regular exercise habit back on track yet, but I am having success with sneaking stuff in - like walking for 45 minutes while on the phone with my best friend.   Slowly getting my shit back together, likely just in time for it to be upended again, because 10% of the company I work for is getting laid off.  But, maybe this time I can use the couple months I have before things go crazy (because I will be shocked if I don't end up getting another layoff notice) to build habits that will survive the chaos.

It's not really worth doing anywhere that isn't tropical, except I was in the mood to Plant All The Things. Ginger needs a really long growing season, like ten months of warmth. I can't give it that, but I can get a little baby growth. A few knobs. (Cue snickering.)   It also does well indoors as a houseplant. As long a growing season as it likes, that way. It just needs a wide pot, it spreads horizontally. Just jam in some stuff from the grocery store and water it.

😆 I love it!

Hey Sov! Have missed you!   It went very well....she's originally from Athens, moved to London in 2016 to study and moved to Liverpool 3 years ago.   She was great, alot of our ideas overlap and also she has new ideas and new thoughts and exciting ideas!   Today has been long.   Took Bronze out reluctantly as it was pouring down. Absolutely pouring down and we both got drenched.   So we had showers then I responded to some emails then went to Manchester.   Big meeting with 6 others - the marketing job I got, it was meeting the team and discussing the project.   Pretty exciting stuff. Happy to be part of the project defo.   Plus they will pay 25% of the fee up front so 2k will help a lot!!   Now I'm just about to drive to the pub. It's a friend's birthday eve out.   It's 7pm and I would honestly love to go home and have a bath and relax.   Oh well.   X

Thanks! This one was a lot of fun. It's interesting to look back on all the things that had to come together to make it happen. Nearly 5 years here with 34 challenges, a number of which were fairly boring, just setting goals, and others which fizzled out either halfway through the challenge or succeeded for one challenge, but fizzled when I tried to continue them for a second challenge. A year and a half of watching Critical Role, which led me to buy the Player's Handbook and eventually the Monster Manual and DM's Guide (and borrow half a dozen other DnD books from the libarary), even though I don't have any plan or expectation of being part of a game, just so I could follow along with what they were doing on the show. Some combination of those things allowing me to feel comfortable enough to buy a single set of dice even though I didn't have any "real" use for them (I'm so happy to have my dice!). I'm excited for the next one as well! It's hard having to wait for the forum update so we can get the new challenges up.

Wow, you grew your own ginger?!?   I know it was a specialty crop in my area in the '80s and '90s. I suppose your growing season is similar. 🪴   You are wiley and powerful. You will get the difficult things done. 

Brilliant.  I just did this after reading your post, so thank you!

Hard agree and congrats on showing up for yourself the way you wanted!      Hard agree. I like to add a bonus column and row  of blank space if I'm expecting to screen grab from the spread sheet frequently.     Honestly that later approach to budgeting is super common, and it also make sense when things are so tight that extra money isn't really a thing. I've gotten myself in unnecessary trouble for not adjusting how I think about money when I was lucky enough to not be paycheck-to-paycheck anymore.

This is such a good goal!      Honestly this was a game changer for me. Just turning off notifications for Amazon and Facebook alone gave me back some executive function.      A. I love how you're navigating family legacy here. B. I've been playing banjo for a year ish - welcome to the banjo side of the force! I'm curious about a couple things about your instrument, but PLEASE ignore the spoilered list of questions if you want more privacy with your new instrument. I'm slowly saving & banjo shopping to buy my own instrument in 2026 and I'm curious about everyone else's banjo (sex joke goes here).        Amazing!