So
 after avoiding a moment of complete withdrawal from the world, things 
have been chugging along decently. I haven’t shut everyone out, and I'm
 not journey-bound to a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere to live a 
life of seclusion... yet. To be honest, if I had a partner and learned a
 bunch of that awesome survival stuff, that may not be too bad. Maybe a 
pet dog too, unless I could tame a bear. Or both. Both would be best. A 
PANDA BEAR!
Anyhow,
 thankfully things have calmed some and I’ve been attempting to focus on
 other things. Things like working out, writing, and thinking about 
trying to possibly find a job. That last one is probably the most 
important. Time is ticking.
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
I
 have taken steps to sell various “hobby” items and it’s tax season, but
 the time has come to buck up and look for some work. Selling cards is a
 slow business, at least with what I am trying to sell. I have a habit 
of waiting too long and not selling while an item is hot and on the 
move. Oh you cursed Collector in me. Damn you to hell.
There is a slight issue with the job hunt, though. I really
 don’t want to work. Work a standard issue job, but more so... 
interviewing. I hate interviewing. If I could just walk into a place, 
hand them my résumé (one I need to revamp), fill out the appropriate 
paperwork and just start working, I’d be all for it. Unfortunately, that
 isn’t how the world works.
I’ve
 been spoiled some with having the freedom to make my own schedule for 
the past six years. With the new company that has taken over, I may have
 had a reduction in income, but at least I still have some freedom in 
making my own hours. Getting back out into the real
 world is going to strip that away mighty fast. Back to punching in and 
clocking out. Battling traffic. Praying my car holds out. Some of this 
is relieved if I get a job right down the road, which would be optimal.
Either
 way, I have this strong resistance to getting out there and just doing 
it. This usually isn’t the norm. In the past, I would stockpile funds 
and if things went sour somewhere I would have something to fall back 
on. Once the funds dwindled, back out and nabbing a job I went. Given 
the times, that may not be so easy to pull off anymore.
The
 most painful part is disappointing those trying to help. I have some 
friends, new and old, who are incredibly awesome at trying to amp me up 
and help me find work. One friend, who is half the continent away, will 
go off on me and load me up with tons of jobs in the area. I am thankful
 she isn’t in close proximity only for the reason I fear she would 
literally kick my ass.
Another
 friend is already threatening to kick me in the head. This is odd, 
being another time (under more “peaceful” circumstances) I think she 
wanted to kick me in the head too. Or, at least, that is what I thought 
the result would be. Needless to say, she apparently really wants her 
leg (or foot) around or in some close proximity to my face. It scares 
me.
I’m doubly thankful that these two individuals aren’t able to team up against me. I am sure I wouldn’t survive.
It’s
 likely I will take up a friend’s offer to spruce up my résumé, and 
start the hunt. Like I said, the clock is ticking down fast. As much as I
 professed nonchalantly, in the past, about not caring about ending up a
  bum—being homeless on the street—I would rather not go that route to 
find out.
So
 a “thank you” to all those helping me! It is greatly appreciated and I 
will eventually get in gear, if for no other reason than having no other
 option.
- A Secondary Time Bomb -
Besides the job front, I have another time bomb counting down; my health.
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
Fortunately,
 this area seems to be improving. I recently joined a gym, and am 
attempting to go at least three times a week. I figured I would start 
off simple and build it up over time; small goals to begin with. Once I 
am more adapted to it, I hope to advance my program.
This
 week I watched an episode of Twin Cities Live and there was an 
interview with a fitness trainer. He mentioned that it took twenty one 
days to form a habit. There was no given time frame allowance between 
each specific action, but I assume it would have to be relatively close.
 Considering I usually go strong for 3 weeks, but then slack, this 
sounded like it could be right.
Out
 of curiosity, I scanned through my notebook I began keeping tabs in 
after being placed in the hospital. I kept track of what I ate, the 
quantities/carbs, exercises, and sleep. At the time, I had begun to use 
myself as my own guinea pig; a test subject. As I looked through the 
various entries, I noticed that I began with simple exercises like sit 
ups/push ups and then a gap of time doing nothing. Once getting back 
into the groove of things, I had shifted to using my treadmill and 
stationary bike. Then, once again, nothing. Each period was of about 2-3
 weeks and then just died off.
So,
 my goal is to combine those exercises (never sure why I hadn’t before 
and just shifted from one to the other over time), hit the gym more, and
 hopefully forming a habit of it all. This is easier said than done with
 me, but I am optimistic.
On
 the way home from the gym this week, I had a crazy craving for Dairy 
Queen. This likely stemmed from a friend and I driving by it, and them 
mentioning possibly wanting ice cream. That sounded like a splendid 
idea, but once I was done discussing something I wanted to talk about, 
they were hot to trot to head home right quick. That hankering desire 
for a Blizzard stuck with me, though.
So
 that evening, coming home from the gym, I turned in towards DQ and then
 had that inner struggle and instead of going through the drive through I
 just parked in the lot. It was like I was literally fighting against 
the craving.
“Hey! You’re working out now, you can eat whatever you want!” my Craving said.
“But, wouldn’t that be counter-productive to my progress?” I retorted.
“Whaaaaaaaaaaat?! You know I don’t speak Spanish!” my Craving feigned confusion. It was too late, I was already on to it!
After
 a while, I won out and avoided grabbing a Blizzard. I rationalized this
 by instead optioning to grab a shake from McDs or BK. I could save a 
few bucks, and it couldn’t be as bad
 as a Blizzard could it? On the way there, I shifted over to the 
appropriate lane to make the left turn, but then subconsciously moved 
back over into the other lane and veered off onto a side road; one 
leading back to my place. So I had avoided yet another attempt by 
impulsive cravings to thwart me!
I
 know they say that it's best to indulge a craving, now and again, to 
avoid splurging and going nuts. I'm sure I will eat a handful of 
unhealthy things while I travel down the path of better diet/exercise; 
perhaps often. But, I can’t help but feel a bit proud that I was able to
 counter the urge. Instead, I went and bought some fruit and enjoyed 
that.
All I know is, I have to get my head in the game, because time is running out.
Tick-tock, tick-tock and all that jazz.
 
It’s been a long while. I briefly discuss some of this year’s shortcomings, and in doing so, find it’s just more of the same.
Then I attempt to give a more positive spin…
Extra Life Game Day 2021 has arrived! It’s Year 8 for myself and I am looking forward to once again raise money for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. Team Cryton Crusaders is ready (kind of) for the annual fundraising event involving a 24-Hour Gaming Marathon! I kept last year’s fun, but likely impossible Milestone to reach!
Learn more about the challenge where my team and I play games and heal kids!