Grim

Make small commitments and keep them. Be a light, not a judge. Be a model, not a critic. Be a part of the solution, not the problem. - Stephen Covey



Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I've not trained in one Shaolin Kung Fu class in the last two weeks. My body is returning to its more motivated self, and some walking with my EDC ruck in the neighborhood has been good for me. I've started to get caught up with my rucking challenges, starting with July's Challenges but working on May and June, as well.

May's GoRuck 'Believe' Challenges are ongoing. The workout for May is the traditional 'Murph' Challenge. The Murph Challenge is "not just a physical test, but also a mental and emotional one. Participants are pushed to their limits and are encouraged to keep pushing through the pain and exhaustion, just as Lieutenant Michael Murphy did during his final moments." At the Tough level, it is a 1-mile ruck, 200 Sandbag Bent Over Rows (the substitute for 100 pull-ups), 200 Pushups, and 300 Squats, and then another 1-mile ruck, all wearing a 20-lb. plate carrier, and using a 60-lb. sandbag. The F*CK was Max reps of strict pull-ups in one set, and that turned out to be 0. *sigh* I'm not as strong as I was a month or so ago. I'm working on it!

June's GoRuck 'Resilience' Challenges are also now in progress, with a focus on Apache (pursed lip) breathing. The workout, "Take a sip of water and hold it in your mouth for the duration of the workout. Every time you swallow the water or spit it out do 10 Burpees over your ruck", is 4 rounds of a 400m Ruck, 10 Sandbag Power Cleans, and 10 Sandbag Shoulder to Overhead, wearing my ruck for the entire workout except the penalty burpees, with the ruck weight 30 lbs.+, and the 60 lb. sandbag for my level. The Rucking and Additional Challenge requirements are Apache breathing for a mile at base weight, with an extra mile every week, i.e., week 2 = 2 miles, week 3 = 3 miles, etc. The Film-of-the-Month is The 12th Man, a Harald Zwart film, and the F*CK is a 1-mile Apache Ruck for time. I have completed the first week's 1-mile Apache ruck with a 45 lb. plate in my ruck.

July's 'Dream' Challenges are also ongoing. The workout was the 'Independence Beer Mile', where "Before each lap, Chug a beer" (with sober options), "Next, ruck shuffle 1 quarter-mile lap. Repeat 4 times, for a total of 4 beers/drinks and 1 mile". The ruck weight for my class: 60-100 lbs. Also, "If you drop your weight prematurely or throw up, the penalty is 17 burpees. Note: the only person we’ve ever seen throw up doing this was drinking seltzer water. Choose wisely!" The book-of-the-month is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, the F*CK is a 100lb. 1-mile ruck for time, and the Rucking and Additional Challenge is, "Each week for the month of July, ruck 1 heavy mile. Every week, the weight increases." We knocked out the Beer Mile 'workout', modifying with a half a beer with each quarter mile. I have completed the first and second week's ruck with a 45 lb. plate in my ruck the first week, and an extra 10 lbs. for the second ruck. The book has been ordered.

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I'm still rereading The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön, and Death Without Denial, Grief Without Apology: A Guide for Facing Death and Loss by Barbara K. Roberts. Supportive people are still touching base with me.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I'm continuing Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. Week 19 was about health maintenance issues. I have scheduled all of my medical, dental, and eye appointments. Week 20 is networking, and I'm pretty good there, for now. I participated in a Call-Down Drill, a test of the volunteer emergency notification system for the Multnomah County Medical Reserve Corps.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: Medical, dental, and eye appointments made. The Whorse is scheduled to be back from the specialty transmission mechanic next week.

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: The shop site is still being leveled and expanded even more for new concrete and retaining walls. Footers are being dug for the concrete, and permits are in progress. We've started working in the Pump House, and I've integrated The Old Man's tools into the Pump House toolboxes. I've also labeled the Pump House toolbox drawers. I'm still slowly moving some things back into the Gate House, and I have consolidated and updated Base Station's medical supplies. I'm still working on transferring the homeowner's insurance and the power bill.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: I am still at the Gate House part-time. I've decided not to go to the Oregon Country Fair this year; instead, I may take a road trip next week.

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” — C.S. Lewis


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: No progress.

May's GoRuck 'Believe' Challenges are ongoing. The workout this month is the traditional 'Murph' Challenge. The Murph Challenge is "not just a physical test, but also a mental and emotional one. Participants are pushed to their limits and are encouraged to keep pushing through the pain and exhaustion, just as Lieutenant Michael Murphy did during his final moments." At the Tough level, it is a 1-mile ruck, 200 Sandbag Bent Over Rows (the substitute for 100 pull-ups), 200 Pushups, and 300 Squats, and then another 1-mile ruck, all wearing a 20-lb. plate carrier, and using a 60-lb. sandbag. The F*CK is Max reps of strict pull-ups in one set. No progress. No June Challenges progress, either.

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I've started rereading The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön, and picked up Death Without Denial, Grief Without Apology: A Guide for Facing Death and Loss by Barbara K. Roberts. I've completed the second and third week of a 4-week free college course, from Harvard Medical School, called PH755x: Lessons from Ebola: Preventing the Next Pandemic. Supportive people are checking up on me.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: No progress. I'm continuing Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. This week (week 19) is about getting caught up on health maintenance issues, and I will be scheduling all of my medical and dental appointments soon.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: No progress.

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: Excavation for the Shop is ongoing. The ground has been cleared for the septic lines. The old concrete has been removed, and the shop site is being leveled and expanded even more for new concrete and retaining walls. I am slowly transitioning away from The Hideaway, and we're working on emptying out The Old Man's storage unit. I've canceled the garbage service, and I'm working on transferring the homeowner's insurance and the power bill.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: The Old Man's dog, Alfie, is doing well in his foster home. I am still at the Gate House part-time, cleaning and still working on a legal/social/financial checklist of things to be canceled and changed, and also working on some of the little projects at Base Station. We did go to see the Brotherhood of Rock Tour - Don Felder (Eagles), Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), and Styx played a great concert, and was oddly cathartic.

“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”
― Anne Lamott


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: No progress. I did not train this week or last week. Training for future weeks is temporarily on hold (see below).

May's GoRuck 'Believe' Challenges are ongoing. The workout is the traditional 'Murph' Challenge. The Murph Challenge is "not just a physical test, but also a mental and emotional one. Participants are pushed to their limits and are encouraged to keep pushing through the pain and exhaustion, just as Lieutenant Michael Murphy did during his final moments." At the Tough level, it is a 1-mile ruck, 200 Sandbag Bent Over Rows (the substitute for 100 pull-ups), 200 Pushups, and 300 Squats, and then another 1-mile ruck, all wearing a 20-lb. plate carrier, and using a 60-lb. sandbag. The F*CK is Max reps of strict pull-ups in one set. This is also on hold, as are June's Challenges.

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I've started rereading The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön. I've started auditing a 4-week free college course, from Harvard Medical School, called Lessons from Ebola: Preventing the Next Pandemic. I once again 'sat' loving-kindness virtual zazen, thinking of The Old Man and Alfie, his dog. I am having trouble reading, concentrating, or thinking.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I've continued Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. This week (week 19) is about getting caught up on health maintenance issues, and I will be scheduling all of my medical and dental appointments soon. I had attended the two-day in-person class, FP MGT439 0578 Pediatric Disaster Response and Emergency Preparedness, this week - part of earning a Community Disaster Preparedness in Healthcare certificate. I had also attended a virtual Disability Access and Functional Needs Planning Preparedness training class through the Multnomah Medical Reserve Corps.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I've completed all of the 20 required minimum CEUs I'll need to have in October when I renew my LPC license. I've not heard about the Whorse yet. The Whorse may not be a priority, as my plans for Burning Man this year may be canceled (also see below).

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: Excavation for the Shop is ongoing. The ground has been cleared for the septic lines. Once the septic lines are in, I will build and install the generator doghouse and the generator backup for the Gate House. The old concrete has been removed, and the shop site is being leveled and expanded for new concrete and retaining walls.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: No progress. The Old Man has passed, mostly in his own bed. The Hospice Team was very helpful with funeral arrangements and with some final care provided. I had two wonderful people come and support me, cleaning and providing a lot of support while I made the hard decisions, and also fell apart. I hope to live my life paying forward the kindness and compassion those two have shown me, knowing that this has also happened to them. I am still alone at the Gate House, cleaning and working on a legal/social/financial checklist of things to be canceled and changed, and I am also working on some of the little projects at Base Station.

It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained. - Queen Elizabeth II


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: No progress. I trained the last two weeks, and we are still working through the Leopard Style. We completed the Bloomsday 12k (see below).

May's GoRuck 'Believe' Challenges dropped right on time. The workout this month is the traditional 'Murph' Challenge. The Murph Challenge is "not just a physical test, but also a mental and emotional one. Participants are pushed to their limits and are encouraged to keep pushing through the pain and exhaustion, just as Lieutenant Michael Murphy did during his final moments." At the Tough level, it is a 1-mile ruck, 200 Sandbag Bent Over Rows (the substitute for 100 pull-ups), 200 Pushups, and 300 Squats, and then another 1-mile ruck, all wearing a 20-lb. plate carrier, and using a 60-lb. sandbag. The rucking requirement is a 5-mile ruck for time at baseline weight, the F*CK is Max reps of strict pull-ups in one set, and the book of the month is In My Time of Dying by Sebastian Junger. I have, so far, done nothing except start the book.

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I've finished reading one of Harvard Business Review's 10 Must Reads, On Mental Toughness (with bonus interview "Post-Traumatic Growth and Building Resilience" with Martin Seligman). I've started reading In My Time of Dying by Sebastian Junger. I also showed up for another local Cigar Social this last week. I will be DMing this upcoming week.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I've continued Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. This week (week 17) is about keeping clean. I have enough baby wipes, toothpaste/dental hygiene supplies, hand sanitizer, and a small camp shower. I have enough supplies for at least two months, maybe longer. I'm scheduled for a 'Safe on the Road' tactical class from the ABR Academy this week.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I've completed about half the required number of CEUs I'll need on October when I renew my LPC license. I've not heard about the Whorse as of yet. I have completed the onboarding training for the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon (SERV-OR), Multnomah County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). I've completed the orientation video, basic HIPAA training, Oregon OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens training (the same training required for the Kinkfest Medical Team), OSHA Heat Illness Prevention, Disability Training for Emergency Planners: Serving People with Disabilities, and Responder Resilience Awareness.

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: All of the cut firewood has been relocated, re-racked, and covered. I have a completely empty 10-foot and a mostly empty 12-foot firewood rack that I will fill up with split logs this summer and fall. The deck box has also been relocated to the garden site and packed with hoses and gardening supplies. Our compost pile keeps growing. Everything is out of the way of the contractors, and the excavation will start next week.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: We went to Spokane last weekend for the Bloomsday Race, and stopped at the Garfield County Museum for a break and an interesting and varied collection of historical artifacts donated from around the county, including a county store/mailroom, a pharmacy, a military section, a blacksmith shop, and an original theater backdrop. In our travels, we also picked up 13 Washington Delorme Challenge squares. This weekend, I watched my nephew graduate from college. *smile*

I don't know the meaning of life. I don't know why we are here. I think life is full of anxieties and fears and tears. It has a lot of grief in it, and it can be very grim. And I do not want to be the one who tries to tell somebody else what life is all about. To me it's a complete mystery. - Charles M. Schulz


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: No progress. I missed last week, and I will miss next week.

April's GoRuck Tribe 'Laughter' Challenges are ongoing. I still have the Rucking and Additional Challenge, which is to "Strap on your ruck and turn on a hilarious podcast or favorite comedian stand-up. The first time you laugh, drop into a squat like you just heard your name in gym class. Every time after that, add one more squat". I also have the F*CK, which is 2 minutes of Ruck Swings, and the Warrior Poet requirement this month, which is to watch Ronny Chieng: Love to Hate It.

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I hope to finish reading Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals by Robert M. Pirsig, on the plane.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I've continued Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. I updated/replaced some of my trauma bag supplies at Kinkfest, and I was given a bigger airway management bag with some extra supplies. I will probably consolidate my gear into that bag this month.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I registered at the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon as a member of Multnomah County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). I have gotten an email back with some online training I will complete within the next three months to get onboarded; I have done nothing with this yet, but I will. Also, I have started completing a bunch of online mental health CEU classes this month because the Oregon Board changed the reporting rules, and my birthdate is an even year.

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: No progress.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: I have mostly completed managing the Kinkfest Medical Team after six days of pretty intense work. I've spent days with two radios, a deployment bag, and a portable AED. I am very proud of the Medical Team; we responded to many calls, handed out many supplies and band-aids, and kept the crews, staff, and participants safe for the entire event. I attended the Cigar Social at Kinkfest and enjoyed a cigar, a small bottle of The Glenlivet 12, and a travel humidor I got as a gift. I leave for Saguaro Man this morning, where I hope to get two of the oldest 100 geocaches remaining in the world and complete all of my Ranger training.

There's no harm in hoping for the best as long as you're prepared for the worst. - Stephen King


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I continue to train in weekly Kung Fu classes. We are continuing Leopard Style — a lot of crouching and squatting. We are also learning breadth and sound techniques.

I am behind on March's GoRuck Tribe 'Mystery' Challenges. I completed the “Fox Force 55” workout four days late. It was a Buy In of 50 Sandbag Clean & Front Tosses, and then 2 Rounds of 55 Sandbag Back Rack Walking Lunges, 10 Sandbag Devils Presses, 55 Sandbag Bent Over Rows, 10 Sandbag Devils Presses, 55 Sandbag Thrusters, and 10 Sandbag Devils Presses, and then a Cash Out of 50 Sandbag Overhead Flutter Kicks (4 count). I sprained my wrist on the second round of Devils Presses, but I persevered, modifying the Sandbag Thrusters to Ruck Squats. I still have the F*CK, which is 2 minutes of Max Overhead Presses.

April's GoRuck Tribe 'Laughter' Challenges dropped very late on the 1st. The workout is again the Manion WOD, honoring 1stLt Travis Manion, USMC, and the ultimate sacrifice he made on 4/29/2007 to save the lives of his patrol in Iraq. It is a 'simple' workout, 7 Rounds of a 400m Run and 29 Sandbag Back Squats, but experience tells me it'll be a tough experience with my 60-lb. sandbag. The Rucking and Additional Challenge is to "Strap on your ruck and turn on a hilarious podcast or favorite comedian stand-up. The first time you laugh, drop into a squat like you just heard your name in gym class. Every time after that, add one more squat". The F*CK is 2 minutes of Ruck Swings. The Warrior Poet requirement this month is to watch Ronny Chieng: Love to Hate It. I've never had a stand-up comedy routine for GoRuck challenges before. *grin*

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I've finished reading The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff, and I'm well into Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals by Robert M. Pirsig.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I've continued Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. This week, besides preparing for a future garden at Base Station (week 12), is Basic First Aid supplies and Training (week 13), and Radio and Cell Phones Communications (week 14). I'm low on a few dollar-store supplies, but I have well-stocked trauma kits and recent tactical medicine training, a cell phone, and 2-meter HAM radios. I'll hit the dollar store this week. I have also been creating 'replacement' firefighter turnout bags, both structural and wildland, for disasters and for helping out at festivals. I won't have SCBA or Engine-level gear, but I'm picking up good-quality used gear when I can.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I have renewed my Oregon EMT license. After I renewed, I registered at the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon as a member of Multnomah County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). That may lead to some free Disaster training. Also, I will be completing a bunch of online mental health CEU classes this month because the Oregon Board changed the reporting rules, and my birthdate is an even year. *sigh*

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: The generator doghouse finally arrived, and we're waiting to assemble it once some of the excavation is completed. I spent an afternoon in preparation for the future garden at Base Station, setting up composting and moving more stuff out of the way.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: I attended a Cigar Social, had an enjoyable cigar and conversation, and learned another way to cut and prepare a cigar. I have completed the minimum scheduling for the Kinkfest Medical Team volunteers, and I'm working on a second shift for event-critical times. It's turned into a part-time job.*sigh* I also attended the OMSI Sci-Fi Film Festival and saw both Dune movies (Part I and Part II) - they both are great movies that are best on the big screen.

“The essence of effective time and life management is to organize and execute around balanced priorities.” - Stephen R. Covey


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I continue to train in weekly Kung Fu classes and will restart Tai Chi Chuan classes. I need both mindfulness and strength training. We completed the new staff techniques training. We are starting Leopard Style—a lot of crouching and squatting. I picked up a non-COVID bug this week, and I've mostly stayed in bed.

March's GoRuck Tribe 'Mystery' Challenges are ongoing. The rucking and additional challenges are to, "[w]rite the following distances each on their own piece of paper. Fold them up and toss them in a bowl - 3.1 miles, 5 miles, 8 miles, and 10 miles. The beginning of each week in March, pull a piece of paper out and see what it says. That will be the distance you complete that week. Preferably do it in one session. If it is a distance you are not yet prepared for, break it up throughout that week. Remember that adding weight is a great way to up the challenge, especially for shorter distances!" The workout is the “Fox Force 55”, with a Buy In of 50 Sandbag Clean & Front Tosses, and then 2 Rounds of 55 Sandbag Back Rack Walking Lunges, 10 Sandbag Devils Presses, 55 Sandbag Bent Over Rows, 10 Sandbag Devils Presses, 55 Sandbag Thrusters, and 10 Sandbag Devils Presses, and then a Cash Out of 50 Sandbag Overhead Flutter Kicks (4 count). The with a F*CK is 2 minutes of Max Overhead Presses. Week 2: I drew the 8-miler (of course), and finished it (partially in the rain) in four days. Week 3: the 5-miler.

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I'm halfway through The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff. I have restarted my mindfulness practice with another virtual loving-kindness metta. I'm a little out of practice, and working on being patient with myself.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I've continued Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments, cleaning up to-do lists and organizing gear. I finished the second online tactical medicine course, Improvised Tactical Emergency Casualty Care.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I've finished preparing 2024's financial books for the accountant, and delivered them. It's unclear how much I owe due to changing tax regulations.

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: No progress. We will install the Weather Station, a new smoke/carbon monoxide detector, and move some garden stuff to the garden site.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: I enjoyed a McMenamins Forest Pub: Building the New PDX Airport with Local Mass Timber. It was interesting hearing the architects and project managers talk about where they sourced the timber on native lands, with the different Tribe's management and involvement, and how they created the beams and supports locally, with sustainable practices.

COMPLETED GOALS
finish painting the exterior of the Base Station Gate House and Pump House - completed 10/3/22
complete the Oregon DeLorme Challenge [73/73] - requirements completed 8/10/22, Final 10/15/22
complete the full year of the GoRuck Tribe/Life Has Risk Challenge [12/12] - Risk 1/31/22, Strength 2/25, Courage 3/26, Breathe 7/8, Reverence 10/2, Dare 10/28, Revolt 11/20, Peace 12/2, Freedom 12/9, Live 12/16, War 12/23, Fight 12/30 - completed 12/30/22
take 10 kink classes [14/10] - Mindfucks/Psychological Manipulation; Consent Dojo # 22: BDSM, Judaism, & Sex Therapy; Therapy Styles and Approaches; Botanica Erotica; The Best Kink Advice Nobody Told You; Kink & Disability; Co-Topping for More than Double Impact; Kink and Neurodivergence; BDSM & The Law; Chronic Pain and SadoMasochism; Don’t Tell Me What I Can’t Do: Dark Disability Play; Power Exchange for the Long Haul; The Science of Fear; Building, Negotiating, and Executing a Dynamic Mindfuck Scene - completed 4/9/23
complete all tasks/certify as a Wildland Firefighter Type I - completed 6/10/23
see 10 performers I have heard of [18/10] - Cypress Hill, Slipknot, Earth Wind & Fire, Santana, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Loverboy, Megadeth, Five Finger Death Punch, P.O.D., Evanescence, Korn, 21 Pilots, Garbage, Bryan Adams, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, GWAR, Mudvayne
and 10 performers I have never heard of [12/10] - Ho99o9, Fire From the Gods, The Hu, Infected Mushroom, Dana Dentata, Peter McPoland, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Metric, Soriah, Butcher Babies, Nonpoint, Coal Chamber - completed 8/23/23
install lights and cameras to Gate House for better security on gate - completed 9/30/23
clear all problematic/unsafe trees that could damage Base Station infrastructure - completed 12/15/23
complete the full year of the GoRuck Tribe/Change Challenge [12/12] - Change 1/31/23, Discomfort 3/10, Luck 4/20, Loss 5/23, Grit 6/15, Fire 7/5, Adversity 8/24, Stress 9/7, Hurt 10/5, Failure 11/1, Listen 11/22, Explore 12/30 - completed 12/30/23
attend/volunteer at a science fiction kink convention - completed 3/31/24
install Gate House septic system at Base Station - completed 4/3/24
go to a Major League Baseball game - completed 5/11/24
attend 10 plays or performances [12/10] - The Nutcracker, Straight No Chaser, 2023 HUMP! Film Festival, Cirque du Soleil: Corteo, MANIA (ABBA tribute), Churchill, No-No Boy, The Marriage of Figaro, Christmas with C.S. Lewis, 2024 HUMP! Film Festival, March Forth Marching Band, The Barber of Seville
and visit 10 museums or galleries [10/10] - Wallowa County Museum, Umpqua Head Lighthouse Museum, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, Tillamook Air Museum, Campbell House, LeMay Collection at Marymount, World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, Oregon Historical Society - completed 8/15/24
run five races a year [3/3][5/5], including a Spartan Race yearly [3/3] - 2022 Rugged Maniac, 2022 Bubble Run, 2022 Spartan Race, 2022 Turkey Trot, F*CK 2022 (virtual) Race; 2023 Rugged Maniac, 2023 Bubble Run, 2023 Spartan Race, 2023 Bimbo (virtual) Global 10K Race, 2023 Turkey Trot; 2024 Providence Heart To Start 5K, 2024 Donut Dash, 2024 Bloomsday 12K, Lakefair 8K, 2024 Viking (virtual) 5K, 2024 Spartan Race - completed 9/14/24
complete at least 25 CEUs of interesting topics a year [3/3][25+/25] - 2022 completed 11/20/22, 2023 completed 1/22/23, 2024 completed 9/16/24 - completed 9/16/24
earn 5 new Junior Ranger badges [5/5] - Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Redwood National Park, Siuslaw National Forest, Manhattan Project National Historic Park, Japanese American Exclusion Memorial/Minidoka National Historic Site - completed 10/14/24
read 30 books on Psychology-related topics [30/30] - I Wasn't Strong Like This When I Started Out; Tattoos on the Heart; Sexual Surrogate: Notes of a Therapist; Existential Kink; This Wild Darkness; Go Far; How to Think Like a Roman Emperor; All Secure; Freedom; Waiting to Die; The Not So Big Life; Four Thousand Weeks; Blessed is the Flame; Outlive; You Know When the Men Are Gone; Built to Move; Master/slave Mastery; Painfully Obvious; Scarcity Brain; Unbroken; Something Good for a Change; Notes of an Aging Pervert; Uncertain Ground; The Pleasure's All Mine; Never Enough; Living M/s; I Love a Fire Fighter; Don’t Let Me Be Lonely; Just Mercy; Your Pain, My Pleasure - completed 10/26/24
7-day fast/detox my body yearly [3/3] - 10/23/22, 1/10/24 (makeup), 12/11/24 - completed 12/11/24
complete the full year of the GoRuck Tribe/Create Challenge [12/12] - Create 1/31, Regret 2/25, Accept 3/31, Nurture 5/9, Remember 5/31, Mentor 6/25, Imagine 8/3, Serve 9/8, Reflect 9/30, Mercy 10/27, Purpose 11/30, Humility 12/31 - completed 12/31/24
engage in the 5AM Club protocol - completed 2/7/25
get a yearly complete physical examination [3/3] - 12/8/22, 12/7/23, 2/20/25 - completed 2/20/25
complete 10 FEMA/NWCG/tactical classes [10/10] - ASHER training 6/25/22; Trauma Symposium 11/9/23; S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior 3/11/24; EMS, Stroke and Heart Conference 2/23/24; MGT348 Medical Preparedness and Response for Bombing Incidents 4/17/24; How to Identify a Public Threat 7/23/24; Stop The Bleed 9/19/24; Stop the Bleed Instructor 10/3/24; MGT319 Medical Countermeasures: Point of Dispensing, Planning, and Response 2/27/25; EMS, Stroke and Heart Conference 2/28/24


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing Myself
1. train at least 3 times a week for 50 weeks in a hard-style martial art, makeups allowed [0/50]
2. train at least 3 times a week for 50 weeks in a soft-style martial art, makeups allowed [46/50] - 6/24/22, 7/1, 7/8, 7/14, 7/22, 7/29, 8/18, 9/19, 9/23, 9/29, 10/13, 10/27, 11/22, 12/1, 12/8, 12/22, 1/26/23, 2/2, 2/8, 2/16, 3/2, 3/8, 3/17, 3/30, 4/6, 4/15, 4/18, 5/6, 5/12, 5/18, 6/2, 8/25, 9/30, 10/14, 11/11, 11/16, 12/1, 12/9, 12/18, 12/22, 12/30, 1/11/24, 2/2, 3/15, 3/23, 4/12,
3. learn and be proficient with three weapon forms [0/3]
4. complete a 3-cut tameshigiri
5. run a 5K, a 10K, and a half marathon - 2024 Viking (virtual) 5K, Bimbo (virtual) 10K,
6.
7. complete 100 non-stop pushups [50/100], and 100 non-stop crunches [30/100] - updated 1/28/24
8. complete 25 non-stop chinups [/25]
9. bench press my body weight [135/210] - updated 12/8/22
10. log 100 miles on a bicycle [11.5/100]
11.
12. learn to salsa and tango
13. complete the full year of the GoRuck Tribe/Know Thyself Challenge [2/12] - Know Thyself 2/1, Beauty 2/22,
14.
15. learn to Haka Dance (Maori)
16. pass the APFT and the MARSOC Short Card
17. acquire a Kriswell Tanto
18. Sword maintenance training, cleaning

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health
19.
20.
21. sleep at least 6-7 hours a night for 6/7 nights a week for 50 weeks [47/50] - 6/26/22, 11/14, 12/11, 12/18, 12/25, 4/15/23, 5/20, 5/27, 6/3, 6/17, 8/6, 8/20, 9/9, 9/23, 10/14, 11/4, 11/11, 12/9, 12/23, 12/30, 1/6/24, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/24, 3/2, 3/17, 4/6, 5/11, 5/25, 6/1, 6/29, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/17, 10/19, 10/26, 11/9, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 1/11/25, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8,
22. re-read my martial arts library [11/23] - The Chinese Martial Code; The Art of War; Kodo: Ancient Ways; Way of the Peaceful Warrior; Bushido; The Unfettered Mind; Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior; Journey to Ixtlan; Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind; Zen in the Art of Archery;
23.
24. take Jukai - 16 Bodhisattva Precepts class 4/9/23,
25. do 3 days in silence again
26. spend another week in a Zen monastery
27. sit zazen formally at least once monthly, makeups allowed [30/33] - 6/23/22, 7/22, 8/26, 9/6, 11/5, 11/17, 12/6, 1/30/23, 2/3, 3/3, 4/14, 6/23, 8/11, 8/25, 9/15, 10/6, 12/22, 1/19/24, 2/2, 2/9, 8/2, 8/16, 8/23, 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 11/8, 12/20, 12/27, 1/3/25,
28.
29. eat only healthy foods for a month
30. take five classes to practice Japanese Calligraphy [/5] -
31. take three free online college courses
32. read 30 new martial arts/spirituality/disaster preparation books [23/30] - Dying Out Here Is Not an Option; Mind Over Water; The Fate of Food; The Last Season; How to Be Compassionate; Six Moon Trail; Prepper's Home Defense; Seeing the Way; The Creative Act; The Method of Zen; Faith, Hope and Carnage; The Common Sense Way; The Valkyries; The Inside Track; Blackout; Iron & Silk; After Disasters; Lone Survivor; Four Men Shaking; Adrift; Black Autumn; The Purge of Babylon; The Tao of Pooh;
33.
34.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done
35.
36. complete EMT CEUs biannually [1/2] - NREMT Recertification 12/7/22, OR EMSP completed 4/17/23; NREMT Recertification 11/12/24,
37.
38. tune-up/service bus yearly [0/3], motorcycle yearly [0/3], Whorse [0/3], daily vehicles yearly [2/3]
39. change passwords on major online accounts every 6 months [0/5], back up hard drive [0/5]
40. write up will, just in case
41.
42. get dental care every 6 months [3/5] - 2/16/23, 5/4/23, 6/18/24,
43.
44. rehabilitate/repair/resupply the Whorse for duty at Burning Man -

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation
45. restart/complete all Firefighter 1 certification tasks [31/84]
46. improve land navigating skills
47. learn to suture wounds
48.
49. Master Naturalist training
50. Organize/inventory Hideaway disaster preparation supplies [8/52]
51. complete all of the training requirements for ARES Field Operator
52. learn CW at least 12wpm
53. Master Gardener training
54. complete a tactical/defensive driving course
55. take another tactical self-defense class, complete another tactical medicine course - Tactical Casualty Course, completed 2/20/25
56. better my chainsaw and axe skills
57.
58. learn to pick locks
59. complete a Wilderness EMT (NOLS) course
60.
61. scan documents for BOBs
62. take an off-road vehicle class/course
63. pass a survivalist training course
64.
65. earn a Community Disaster Preparedness in Healthcare certificate

Base Station/Ol' Number 3
66. plant to harvest a successful garden/garden boxes
67. plant fruit trees
68. install generator backup to Gate House and Pump House
69. gravel and concrete large vehicle bay
70. build a shrine/dojo/play space
71. install a French Drain around the Pump House
72. create a target range
73. install CB antenna/mount, install better ham radio antenna on Ol' Number 3
74. external water system/hookups on Ol' Number 3
75. build Base Station pole barn/garage/shop
76. install Base Station fire suppression system
77.
78. build out/expand Base Station party/visitor/sitting space
79.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff
80.
81.
82. visit the vortex sites in the US -
83. hike 12 Curious Gorge recommended places [/12] -
84.
85. travel by train across the country
86. visit another country that I've never experienced
87. go on at least 3 week-long hiking/camping trips [3/3] - 2022 Burning Man 9/5/22, Northern CA Oldies Tent/Carcamping Roadtrip 3/2/24, Olympia/Bainbridge Island/Minidoka NHS/RnR Roadtrip 10/15/24 and go on 20 shorter (1-3 day) hiking/camping trips [15/20] - Central/SE Oregon Delorme Carcamping Roadtrip 7/11/22, NE Oregon Delorme Carcamping Roadtrip 8/11/22, Oregon Delorme Carcamping Final/Redwood NP 10/16/22, Oregon Coast/Oregon Dunes Roadtrip 1/21/23, NE Washington/E Idaho Oldies/Delorme/Manhattan NHP Carcamping Roadtrip 3/25/23, Safety NW 4/30/23, SOAK 5/28/23, Oregon Country Fair 7/7/23, SHIFT 7/23/23, Safety NW 4/28/24, SOAK 5/27/24, Oregon Country Fair 7/14/24, SHIFT 7/28/24, Missoula Baseball Roadtrip 9/924, Melissa's Memorial/CA Roadtrip 11/17/24,
88. go on 10 significant overnight hikes
89. find all 50 of the oldest 50 geocaches in Washington [12/50]
90. complete the Washington Delorme Challenge [41/90]
91. find all 50 of the oldest 50 geocaches in Oregon [43/50]
92. complete the Columbia Gorge Hiking/Geocaching Challenge III [81/100]
93. hike the Grand Canyon
94. visit Canada
95. visit Alaska
96. find the oldest 100 geocaches [34/100] - 2 found 2/29/24,
97. take the Green Tortoise across the country
98. learn to kayak
99. explore a Mayan Temple
100. use a zip line in some exotic place (Hawaii?)
101.



Supplemental Goals
pass an Appleseed, Known Distance
renew knife-fighting skills
Practice sewing & mending
geocache Roswell, NM and the ET highway
complete a Zen Sesshin
visit Iceland/Norway/Denmark
New Zealand
Australia
Go back to Scotland
Hike part of the PCT
Attend the Shakespeare Festival
reduce my emails to 100 active in both main accounts
play more chess
learn to build an igloo or a sand cave
find 10 more of the caches in California [11/50] - 2 found 2/29/24,
find 10 more of the oldest geocaches in Idaho [6/50] - 2 found 3/25/23,
find 10 more of the oldest geocaches in Montana
find the oldest caches in five new states/countries [1/5] - Arizona,
complete a second geocaching Fizzy and Jasmer Challenge - Fizzy [81/81], Jasmer [234/236] - Fizzy 12/5/19,
Hunter Safety course/hunting class?
take a trip on a small boat, and learn nautical skills
go down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
finish my back piece tattoo
raise money for a good cause
learn to snowboard at least reasonably well
learn to belly dance an entire routine
do 5 things that scare me [0/5]
see Niagara Falls
go on a helicopter ride
do the 4th of Juplaya at least once
go on a cruise
learn to rock climb better
learn to proficiently weld
learn scuba diving to certification
ride a Vincent Black Shadow
ride my motorcycle for a week-long trip without a destination
complete an Ironbutt Association (IBA) Saddlesore 1000 (a 24-hr 1,000-mile ride)
learn 5 different constellations
learn the language of fans, and at least one Iron Fan form
run a marathon
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/100-movies-to-see-before-you-die.html
Mentor a child in a handcraft
learn to cook 50 new recipes [0/50] that I like
write and send 50 letters/postcards [2/50]
play poker more effectively
abstain from fast food for 50 days [0/50]
use Bookcrossing 5 times
perform a Japanese Tea Ceremony
learn the formal care, folding, and knot of a hakama
IBA Bun Burner 1500 (1,500 miles in 36 hours)
IBA Bun Burner Gold (1,500 miles in 24 hours)
visit a Jewish temple
visit a Hindu temple
visit a Gurdwara (Sikhism)
visit a Mosque
visit a Jain temple
learn to spin fire
trace my family lineage
go parasailing
tell thirty random strangers that they are beautiful and then never see them again
raise money for a good cause
take in a Broadway or West End show
do Toastmasters
eat food I have never tried and whose name I didn't know
learn to use a chainwhip
Do something you told yourself you wouldn't
go ice-skating
go deep sea fishing
drive across the United States
go sky diving
Go snowmobiling
live in more than one country
see the Statue of Liberty
swim with dolphins
walk on the Great Wall of China
go spinnaker flying
go water-skiing
go snow-skiing
go to Westminster Abbey
go to the Louvre
swim in the Mediterranean
go to a National Football League game
http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/play/50-thrilling-experiences-116798Be
able to identify a dozen wild edibles
Be able to identify a dozen different trees
Learn how to skin & clean animals
Learn how to make good cheese
Learn how to make bread without a recipe
Learn how to quilt
http://www.theproject333.com/
Buy a guitar and learn how to play it
medieval weapons training/SCA

Most people don't realize that the mind constantly chatters. And yet, that chatter winds up being the force that drives us much of the day in terms of what we do, what we react to, and how we feel. - Jon Kabat-Zinn


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I trained in weekly Kung Fu classes. I'm still learning new staff techniques.

February's GoRuck Tribe 'Beauty' Challenges are ongoing. I have scheduled the 'The Valentine's Day Massacre' workout for this week. The Buy-In is 100 Sandbag Back Squats, and then 4 rounds of 200m - Sandbag Shuffle (carry any way you would like), 20 - Sandbag Clean & Front Toss, 20 - Bear Crawl Sandbag Drags (each drag is 1 rep), and 20 - Sandbag Shoulder to Shoulder (total), and then a Cash Out of 100 Sandbag Front Squats. That's all that's left for the month, although I'm still attempting to ruck at least a mile a day.

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I've kept progressing with the books in this entry. Still in progress: The Disaster-Ready Home: A Step-by-Step Emergency Preparedness Manual for Sheltering in Place by Creek Stewart, and Hidden in Plain Sight: Esoteric Power Training Within Japanese Martial Traditions: Tracing the Roots of Ueshiba Morihei's Power, by Ellis Amdur(editor). Still on the stack: Teachings of the Tao by Eva Wong, and What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula, and rereading The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I've continued Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. Week 7 and 8 are considerations of children and pets, of which I have neither, although I will talk to The Old Man about an Evacuation bag for Alfie at Base Station. Instead, I have added more water to storage, added another fire extinguisher to the Hideaway and my office, and organized some tactical options. I'm also attending the MGT-319 course, a two-day (16-hour) training that provides critical knowledge on planning, coordinating, and executing medical countermeasure responses for public health incidents. It's in Eugene at the end of the month. I'm also attending the Providence EMS Stroke and Heart Conference the day after. I've also finished one of two tactical medicine courses, the online Tactical Casualty Care course.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I'm still preparing 2024's financial books for the accountant, and the paperwork I was waiting for just arrived. My annual medical check-up was completed. My passport was renewed.

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: No progress.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: No progress.

“The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” – Bill Copeland


Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I trained in two Shaolin Kung Fu classes. I'm still learning new staff techniques.

January's GoRuck Tribe 'Know Thyself' Challenges are completed. The rucking and additional tasking requirement were a 1-Mile Ruck every day (Any Pace or Weight), and the F*CK was, a "2 Mile Ruck - Baseline weight; Test at the beginning of the month and retest at the end of the month. No music, just listen to your thoughts and breath, focus on the task at hand". We completed the F*CK in 43:48, slightly faster than the initial F*CK. We also completed the workout, a "1-Mile Ruck Shuffle For Time, Rest 2 minutes, 2 minutes max reps Hand Release Ruck Push-Ups, Rest 2 minutes, 2 minutes max reps Ruck Back Squats, Rest 2 minutes, and a 1/2-Mile Ruck Suitcase Carry For Time (alternate hands freely), all to be a baseline compared at the end of 2025". I have also finished reading the Book of the Month, Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea by Steven Callahan.

February's GoRuck Tribe 'Beauty' Challenges dropped, with the workout, 'The Valentine's Day Massacre', being the most brutal. The Buy-In is 100 Sandbag Back Squats, and then 4 rounds of 200m - Sandbag Shuffle (carry any way you would like), 20 - Sandbag Clean & Front Toss, 20 - Bear Crawl Sandbag Drags (each drag is 1 rep), and 20 - Sandbag Shoulder to Shoulder (total), and then a Cash Out of 100 Sandbag Front Squats. The trucking and additional challenge is, "Ruck with a buddy 4 times this month. If you can't ruck with them then phone a buddy and catch up with them while on your ruck." The book of the month is All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley. I've already got 2 of the 4 Buddy Rucks completed, and the book received.

Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I've kept progressing with the books in this entry. Still in progress: The Disaster-Ready Home: A Step-by-Step Emergency Preparedness Manual for Sheltering in Place by Creek Stewart, and Hidden in Plain Sight: Esoteric Power Training Within Japanese Martial Traditions: Tracing the Roots of Ueshiba Morihei's Power, by Ellis Amdur(editor). Still on the stack: Teachings of the Tao by Eva Wong, and What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula. I've also continued the 5 AM Club protocols with better motivation and focus, although I have slept in a few days. I have also finished rereading Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel, R.F.C. Hull, and D.T. Suzuki (Introduction) and Black Autumn by Jeff Kirkham and Jason Ross.

In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I've continued Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. Week 3 was Basic Water Storage, and Week 4 was Get Home Bags. My water storage is now more organized and accessible, and my Get Home Bag, designed for a 3-mile distance and different circumstances, has been slimmed down from 28 lbs. to 22 lbs. (16 lbs. without the external tear-away medical pouch). Week 5 was my Evacuation Bag, now about a pound heavier, but more organized, compressed, and modular, with twice the water and an extra day of clothing. Week 6 was updating my Family Communication Plan, not updated since 2021(!) I've updated it with different shelters and waypoints, with a copy of the new plan in every bag. The Old Man and my nephew haven't gotten their copies yet, but they will this week.

Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I'm still preparing 2024's financial books for the accountant, awaiting the paperwork I'll be sent at the end of January. My annual medical check-up is this week.

Base Station/Ol' Number 3: I made some good progress clearing the excavation site. I've still got a couple of days of work left to do.

Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: No progress. I DM'd yet another event, and I'll be the Kinkfest Medical Lead again this year - this will take over more and more of my time.