101/1001 Update: WorldCon
Aug. 18th, 2025 02:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grim23To be a warrior is not a simple matter of wishing to be one. It is rather an endless struggle that will go on to the very last moment of our lives. Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other. - Carlos Castaneda
Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I trained in a Shaolin Kung Fu class this week, continuing the testing process for a belt promotion. I performed better with Week 3 (hand and foot strike combinations), but now I have to correctly demonstrate the 21-hand strike series and explain the mechanics of striking. I've also registered to run the MLK Dream Run, and I am getting ready to take on the Spartan Race, both in September. I enjoyed an hour of a Tai Chi class at WorldCon.
May's GoRuck 'Believe' Challenges are still ongoing. All that's left for May is the workout, 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. No progress, but scheduled for this month.
August's GoRuck 'Evolve' Challenges are also ongoing, and I should be able to complete them this month, as well as the Murph and the June workouts and the June Week 4 ruck (both completed). The workout is “GRIN AND BEAR IT”: THE DRIVE: 100 Sandbag Step Ups, 20 Sandbag Bear Hug Squats, 15 Sandbag Front Tosses, 10 Sandbag Bear Complex, and a 400m Sandbag Shuffle, as well as THE RETURN: 10 Sandbag Bear Complex, 15 Sandbag Front Toss, 20 Sandbag Bear Hug Squats, and 100 Sandbag Step Ups. The Rucking and Additional Challenge is, "Max number of miles going upstairs or uphill in the month of August (downhill also counts for distance). Skip the elevators and escalators." The F*CK is "2 min max reps" of American Twists, using a sand kettlebell or ruck, and the book is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Noah Harari. Because there is no clear guidance on what the "max number of miles" refers to, I am interpreting this as at least one mile per week of uphill or downhill rucking. I've completed the first week's uphill/downhill ruck, only four days late, the second ruck (at WorldCon) one day late, and the third ruck (also at WorldCon) on time. Five levels of stairs at WorldCon!
Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I am halfway through Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.
In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I'm continuing Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. Week 22 is firearms, and I still need to check, clean, and practice more with my existing gear. Week 22 is still on hold. I'm in good shape for Week 26, Hand Tools.
Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I'm still working through the life insurance policies and the legal issues. The Whorse is not yet ready for pick up.
Base Station/Ol' Number 3: The County still has some questions. I have emailed them back, and I'll be submitting a Revised Site Plan soon. More progress has been made in the Pump House organization, and some repairs have been made to the insulation in the walls and the walls themselves.
Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: This weekend, I went to Seattle for WorldCon, taking small excursions to the Seattle Asian Art Museum and seeing a special presentation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Yes, it was at midnight. Yes, we danced the Time Warp and sang all of the songs. *grin* I also attended classes in Tai Chi, Military Logistics, Warrior Ethos, effective writing of dark/sexual topics, and Medical Emergencies in Space, as well as being in the audience while they presented the Hugo Awards.
Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I trained in a Shaolin Kung Fu class this week, continuing the testing process for a belt promotion. I performed better with Week 3 (hand and foot strike combinations), but now I have to correctly demonstrate the 21-hand strike series and explain the mechanics of striking. I've also registered to run the MLK Dream Run, and I am getting ready to take on the Spartan Race, both in September. I enjoyed an hour of a Tai Chi class at WorldCon.
May's GoRuck 'Believe' Challenges are still ongoing. All that's left for May is the workout, 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. No progress, but scheduled for this month.
August's GoRuck 'Evolve' Challenges are also ongoing, and I should be able to complete them this month, as well as the Murph and the June workouts and the June Week 4 ruck (both completed). The workout is “GRIN AND BEAR IT”: THE DRIVE: 100 Sandbag Step Ups, 20 Sandbag Bear Hug Squats, 15 Sandbag Front Tosses, 10 Sandbag Bear Complex, and a 400m Sandbag Shuffle, as well as THE RETURN: 10 Sandbag Bear Complex, 15 Sandbag Front Toss, 20 Sandbag Bear Hug Squats, and 100 Sandbag Step Ups. The Rucking and Additional Challenge is, "Max number of miles going upstairs or uphill in the month of August (downhill also counts for distance). Skip the elevators and escalators." The F*CK is "2 min max reps" of American Twists, using a sand kettlebell or ruck, and the book is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Noah Harari. Because there is no clear guidance on what the "max number of miles" refers to, I am interpreting this as at least one mile per week of uphill or downhill rucking. I've completed the first week's uphill/downhill ruck, only four days late, the second ruck (at WorldCon) one day late, and the third ruck (also at WorldCon) on time. Five levels of stairs at WorldCon!
Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I am halfway through Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.
In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I'm continuing Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. Week 22 is firearms, and I still need to check, clean, and practice more with my existing gear. Week 22 is still on hold. I'm in good shape for Week 26, Hand Tools.
Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I'm still working through the life insurance policies and the legal issues. The Whorse is not yet ready for pick up.
Base Station/Ol' Number 3: The County still has some questions. I have emailed them back, and I'll be submitting a Revised Site Plan soon. More progress has been made in the Pump House organization, and some repairs have been made to the insulation in the walls and the walls themselves.
Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: This weekend, I went to Seattle for WorldCon, taking small excursions to the Seattle Asian Art Museum and seeing a special presentation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Yes, it was at midnight. Yes, we danced the Time Warp and sang all of the songs. *grin* I also attended classes in Tai Chi, Military Logistics, Warrior Ethos, effective writing of dark/sexual topics, and Medical Emergencies in Space, as well as being in the audience while they presented the Hugo Awards.
