2019 Goals

After watching Sustainably Vegan  on YouTube I got inspired to make some goals for 2019 for myself. Most of these goals were/have already been made at this point, but putting them in writing and planning the steps out makes it more real and will hopefully keep me from going over board. I have a habit of focusing on one thing to the exclusion of other things.

First goal is to complete the AutoCAD certification I started in 2018. This is my primary focus for the year as well, because it is my future. I do not like the person I am slowly turning back into at work. So getting out of the toxic environment is needed and it is not just the location I am working at, the whole field has gotten toxic because of the way those not in it treat those working.

The next piece of the puzzle for the life I want is multi-faceted. It is very difficult for me to maintain the amount of living space I have, so I need to reduce this. This is a need, not a want, it must happen and the sooner the better.

I was looking at the #vanLife movement, but realized while it is a great idea the application of would not work for me. #VanLife would be putting all my eggs in one basket; home and transportation. I like back up plans and living in a van would leave me with no back up. Instead I am looking at converting my existing old 14ft fiberglass boat into something livable. By using a trailer for a living space I reduce the moving parts in my "home" that need maintenance and provide myself a back up place to live aka the tow vehicle. I am going to plan/design for the total out come, but build toward it incrementally; thank you Daddy for teaching me this. This first step will require my newly acquired AutoCAD skills to create a blue print of the final design. The first build's goal is minimal investment to make tent camping in a solid structure happen with the ability to add on after. After the viability of the build and planning is proved in the first step then it will be incremental increases to the "comfort" of living in the boat/camper.

The next part of reducing my living space actually comes from the Minimalist and Zero Waste Movements. Finding items that are easy to acquire, but all have a function. This comes from the Minimalist and Zero Waste Movement, because they have done quite a bit of information spreading on things I need. Storage of food, good nutrition, cleaning. A lot of this information is not new to those older than me, and frankly some is not new to me, but there are many ideas out there that I have not encountered before. Focusing on this has also made me aware of how much the American Culture has conditioned me to buy things. For example; my first inclination for the trailer was to purchase one when I have a trailer stilling in my back yard. The mentality behind the Minimalist and Zero Waste Movements will be a good one for me to adopt if I am going to pull off living in a tiny home on wheels.

Then we have fitness. I have always been someone who likes to be fit/strong physically. Physical exertion helps me process stress and emotional issues for some reason. I am done trying to argue with this part of myself and just accept that this is the way I am. That being said it must be planned for, but in a manner that I will follow through with. After the motorcycle accident in February 2018 I am also left with an extra complication of catering to my knee. For some odd reason when you shatter your knee it causing all kinds of interesting results.

Fortunately I have gotten far enough in my recovery that my Personal Trainer Certification can take over as I am in the scaling of exercises that I know. Another good thing was that I was heavy into fitness prior to the accident, not only did this improve my recovery, but I also know my body much better than those who are not physical. All of that said, I still can't walk more than 3/4 a mile without the knee swelling and becoming difficult. So storing a bike will be needed.

That is my over all goal for 2019. The following is a bit of a monthly break down and I need to come up with a list of random challenges for myself to pick from.

January Goals

• Wolf Moon Jan 21

Fitness

• Cardio Circuit 2x / week

Education

• 1 Autocad Lesson / week

Project: Transform Boat - Tent Camp Level

• Plan Lay Out - use AutoCAD
• Plan Building Steps
• Cost out supplies needed

Waste Reduction

• Face Cleaning pads from cotton crochet yarn
• Research Alternatives to Disposable Pads

February Goals

• Snow Moon Feb 19

Fitness

• Cardio Circuit 2x / week
• Total Body Strength Training Circuit 2x / week

Education

• 1 Autocad Lesson / week
• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

Project: Transform Boat - Tent Camp Level

• Purchase supplies
• Prep / pre cut
• Build deadline Mar 16

Waste Reduction

• Alternatives to Disposable Pads
• Research Cleaning (body and space)

March Goals

• Worm Moon Mar 21
• Phoenix Fest March 20 - 24

Fitness: Plan next 3 months

• Cardio Circuit 2x / week
• Total Body Strength Training Circuit 2x / week

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work
• Find Social Networking Locations

Education

• Waste Reduction Ideas
• Heath

Project: Transform Boat - Tent Camp Level

• Purchase supplies
• Prep / pre cut

Build deadline Mar 16

Waste Reduction

• Cleaning

April Goals

• Pink Moon Apr 19
• Body Magic Apr 18 - 20

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

May Goals

• Flower Moon May 18
• FPG May 1 - 5

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

June Goals

• Strawberry Moon Jun 17

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

July Goals

• Buck Moon Jul 16

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

August Goals

• Sturgeon Moon Aug 15

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

September Goals

• Corn Harvest Moon Sep 14

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

October Goals

• Hunter’s Moon Oct 13

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

November Goals

• Beaver Moon Nov 12

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

December Goals

• Cold Moon Dec 12

Review of Sunsport Gardens

Sunsport Gardens; the place to go be seen in more ways than one.

I have  only been one time, but I know I will be back. The drummers at the drum circle were awesome. The staff helpful and knowledgeable. The buffet caters to vegan and omnivorous as well.

Having been to a clothing optional beach prior nudity was not a new thing to me, however if you are squeamish about these things Sunsport may not be the place for you as they have nudity requirements rather than options.

Going to nudist camps, beaches, etc. is something I recommend to everyone as it really forces you to confront your body issues. I still remember the first time I went to a clothing optional beach, I had to take off my glasses so I could remove the need to stare and study. Studying is how I get around being uncomfortable, I focus on the logic side of the brain. However as I said being in and around people who are comfortable with their bodies is a real eye opener for your own insecurities. Why does it bother you if you see all of a person's skin? What does it matter? Being around nude people also forces you to confront how much stock you put into appearances as well. Being around nudist has actually opened my eyes to how personality is expressed in a body; again there is that study side.

Over all the camp is a mix between primitive camping and the normal comforts of home. They have a hot tub, pool, and sauna, then there are nature trail walks. The over all feel is of a place that runs a tight budget, trying to fulfill multiple goals, and has been around a while. Talking to the regulars revealed that the camping sites with built in sewer access (can hook up an RV sewer) are hard to get. Another issue that many who stay there regularly commented on was the washing of dishes, because you cannot just dispose of the water anywhere, instead you have to dispose of it in the proper places. There are public showers and bathrooms, so at least as long as you do not mind sharing that is covered well.

Conversations with Red Vs Blue

I have been talking with a few people lately about Democrats and Republicans; the following is a bit of a summary of these conversations. Folks do have these conversations with everyone, but be respectful and do your research too. Pro-tip: News Outlets, talk shows, and the like are not research. It qualifies for research when the scientific method has been used or history proves it.

We all know that the kneeling during the national anthem was a protest. Did you know that, whether or not it was meant this way, it was done during the anthem because of what the anthem represents. The national anthem is an outward display of nationalism and this protest is about how their nation is oppressing them. Learning that blew my mind and now the protest makes perfect sense to me.

There is an opinion out there that breaking American financially will solve the destroying of the earth. My opinion is that if American is broken financially it will only slow down the destruction for a short period of time before it comes back with a vengeance. This is due, in my opinion, to the fact that those who do not only survive, but find a way to thrive the down fall are going to be rather near sociopathic or psychopathic as we define it now, if not both. In times of limited supplies over a long time the most ruthless survive. In times of limited supplies with a known end time frame, like recovering from a hurricane, charity abound. This is because it is easier to be very charitable when you know it will end and can compute the exact cost to yourself while maintaining your own accustomed level of living.

Destroying America financially will re-enforce the might makes right mentality that is the root of all the behaviors that got us in the position we are in. Find another way.

Democrats; can you change the way to talk about inclusion to mean also those who you think are resisting you? Why do I ask this? Because apparently Democrats are willing to let Republicans live as they see fit yet until I asked a campaign worker, who I believe knows the party well, I did not know this. 

In the conversation about Democrats being willing to let Republicans live as they see fit and with the topic of abortion it became apparent that there definitely is a line that needs to be defined; personal sovereignty. This is actually the root of the dispute for abortion. Can we stop fighting over abortion and start talking about the root problem? Where does personal sovereignty begin? It is not going to be an easy question to answer and it should not be, because answering it will affect so much.

Personal Responsibility. This is another seemingly unanswered issue that has been laid to rest, but is costing so much to everyone. Every time a doctor is sued, every doctor's insurance rates go up. Every time a person gets into an accident with out insurance, insurance rates go up. Should these people be held responsible; definitely! However; how much are you really entitled to for compensation? Example: suing McDonald's for being burned by their coffee. What was your coffee doing in a location that it could spill and burn you? And honestly; did you really need that amount of money to reach maximum possible recovery from the injury? I was in a motorcycle accident February 2018 and as of this writing total cost covered by my insurance and myself is less than $500, 000 as of this time. The bills seem to keep coming in, but I doubt they will break 500, 000 as the ones who would have the biggest numbers have already weighted in.

What If .. It is not what you think

What if it is not what you think.

What if your thoughts about what is sexually acceptable is not what you think.

What if what you think about appropriate amounts of publicly displayed affection is not what you think.

Mind Numbing Simpleton Games

I had a rather good weekend. Good drum circle at Shepard's Park in Stuart. Caught up on a lot of things including sleep. Get into work and realize that for the most part the employees behaved over the weekend.

On the way home I get a call from one of the employees ... someone was telling the employee off over the phone. There is really nothing I can do about this situation, so I tell the employee to do the required form.

So I finally get home and start my usual routine. Finally ending at the computer originally to do some paper work that just keeps lingering from the accident. Afterwards for whatever reason, probably habit, I start in on the games. Now some of them require some strategy to play, but for the most part they are mind numbing simpleton games.

While staring at the computer I get a bit of a dizzy spell and then it hits me ...

When did I pick up this habit? I have now wasted about an hour staring at my computer and accomplishing nothing! Hun?!?!?!

There is so much that still needs to be done around the house. Books that I am ready to let go of, crocheting to do (or yarn to give away), general cleaning, weeds in the planters... All things that require the same level of brain power as these games I was playing, but would provide a greater since of accomplishment and pride.

It does not compute.

Well, ok, I have a valid reason to not do the outside work. My neighbor, nice guy, loves to talk and I am just not in a talk mood. The reason is valid to me :P

So that is how much being held responsible at work and not having the power to actually do anything has. Folks, listen to that sentence, read it again. Then read this whole post from the top again. When we are being held responsible to such a standard and do not have the means to effect meaningful change we look for escapes. This is where our scape goat tendencies come from. This is where depression comes from.

I am a millennial and I am here to tell you while there is great opportunities out there, the level of responsibility you are held to for a lot of them is horrid in comparison to what you can actually do about it.

• The employee mentioned before, did not cause the issue, but was getting yelled at all the same.

• As the Boss I will be expected to do something about it, yet I really can not do any thing to effect a positive change. The client will be unwilling to back me and my employees if we are not 100% in the right and I know something messed up somewhere so that they will blame it on my people.

• We had a piece of equipment go missing today that I will undoubtedly be given a "stern talking to" by the client over it going missing even though it was deployed as requested by the client. 

• Why the client didn't take precautions to provide better methods of keeping it secure will be blamed on me or my company.

Seriously this is why #vanlife is so appealing and why it is so hard to not accept the seriously under cut amount for the house. But I have a goal; get at least 1 Auto CAD class in before I leave, preferable all 5 for the certification.

We will see how long this lasts.

Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Cleaner - Product Review

We all like a clean place to live and work, but some of us have problems with the actual act of cleaning.

I say try changing your cleaning solutions.

Now hear me out a bit. Most people will use the cleaning supplies they are exposed to and that is about it. That exposure normally comes from their parental unit(s), friend(s) or work place. This happens because we know those products will get the desired results. Cleaning is already work, why add more work to it by trying new products that may not do as well of a job?

So why did I pick up Mrs. Meyer's today from Publix? I had products that I knew would get the job done. I had been messaging Ashley of Beauty All Day on Facebook about various things. One was about cleaning products. With my recent aversion to a lot of processed foods, my not liking when my coworkers clean at work (makes me sneeze), and the combination of the conversation with Ashley I went intentionally hunting for a new cleaning product. (I have known Ashley sense High School, shoot her a message for some awesome make-up products that you can't get in a store)

I must have spent like 15 minutes in the cleaning products isle at Publix picking up a product, reading the label, and cracking it open when able to stick my nose in it. If it was packaged in a manner that I could not open it with out breaking some seal or another it got put back on the shelf; I was not willing to do that just to find out what my nose thought about a product.

Then I got to the Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Cleaning Concentrate. Now concentrates bother my nose. However when I stuck my nose at the top of the Mrs. Meyer's  ... nothing ... Ok well I did completely enjoy the smell, but there was no tickle sensation. You know that sensation you get before you sneeze. So I bought a bottle.

Once home I realized that I had over looked one thing; the directions to un-concentrate the solution. The directions are for a gallon of water. Sorry not going to make a gallon at one time as I don't typically go through that much. So I made a guess on the dilution, yes I could have done the math, but meh I got lazy what do you want. So I mixed it 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of water in a spray bottle.

The First thing I attached was the kitchen; using my spray bottle of Mrs. Meyer's and a wash cloth from the stack of them I acquired for cleaning the road rash earlier this year... It Worked! ... Cleaned the entire kitchen, every hard surface, floor included with it. I had to get a second wash cloth to finish the kitchen. The Mrs' Meyer's apparently was working better than my old cleaning solution.

Which means ... I just had to clean every where! Bathrooms, Doors, if it was a hard surface it got sprayed with Mrs. Meyer's and wiped down.

Down side is now I have to do another load of whites, but a clean house is a happy house!

AND I don't feel all worn down. Most bizarre thing of this whole cleaning experiment, I am not exhausted. Cleaning is not easy again for my yet, it still takes a lot of forethought and thought in general in order for me to clean everything because of the limitations set by my knee still recovering. Before I would clean just the Kitchen and be wiped for the rest of the day. Today I cleaned both bathrooms, the kitchen, and wiped all the doors down and I still can go more.

There is one thing that I found the Mrs. Meyer's could not clean; soap scum in the shower I use. Everything else, mirrors, counter tops, tile floors, all cleaned nicely, just not the soap scum in the shower. Oh Well I will take it!

Bullet Journal Eco-Friendly by Lemome - Product Review

Click Here to purchase and let me make a few pennies from Amazon Affiliates

I have noticed this whole save the world theme in my product purchases ... Yay! Me! ... ? ... But that is not the original reason I purchased this notebook. I went for this product because of the texture of cork. I wanted something in my hands that I would enjoy. Added to that I knew already that no matter what I planned it would end up in my lunch box traveling from home to work (to home) so the exterior had to be something that could handle the little dampness from temperature changes.

For me journalling is difficult. For what ever reason I just do not like laying my inner most secrets out where others might be able to discover them. This blog, while allowing  you access to my thoughts, is not my inner most self. It is my opinions, but filtered.

What I will do is keep to do lists, note what/where events I am interested in, and that sort of thing. Enter the Bullet Journal Trend. Oh God I am being trendy! But seriously. It is functional, it allows me to use my creativity, and gives me the ability to be flexible while enforcing some order. Prior to Bullet Journalling I would keep all the notes in my phone; which annoyed me as much as it was convenient. 

Now I also use this to keep track of my food and help me with my food prep by allowing me to write in each day what is planned for food.

And then keeping my weekly spread sheet as well,

Knorr Liquid Concentrated Base Vegetable - Product Review

So with the new Veggie Focused eating idea and the need to reduce my weight I had to find a means to make things taste better.

To be honest this was not my idea, but sprang from a friend giving me a free trail of Hello Fresh! i opted for the vegetable meals and in those meals they had vegetable stock concentrate that was used in place of just using salt. Cooking pasta? Add vegetable stock concentrate. Steaming vegetables? add vegetable stock concentrate. Making rice or Farro? add vegetable stock concentrate.

With this Concentrated Vegetable Stock entered my life.

It was a pain trying to find it in my local grocery store so I went to my trusty Amazon account and found ...

Click here to purchase and let me make a few pennies from Amazon Affiliates

Note: the picture is for the Chicken Stock, the link is for the Vegetable Stock

I have had the bottle for about a month now and am about a quarter the way through it. 

One thing  you do need to note is that all of these stock concentrates are going to be high in salt, so if you are sensitive to salt, or have to monitor your in take, be sure to read the labels. That being said the Knorr brand was the biggest bottle, with the least amount of salt per serving I could find at the time.

Flavor wise I like to mix it "rich" or instead of using the recommended amount per 8oz of water, I add more. Something along the lines of 1 to 2 extra tablespoons. For me this is about my only source of add salt, so not that worried about adding more than recommended.

I haven't found anything about this product that I don't like and do not have any buyers regret in any shape or flavor.

Ethique Shampoo Bar - Product Review

Click Here to purchase this item and let me make a few pennies from your purchase through Amazon's Affiliate program.

In considering the #vanlife you have to start researching ways to achieve the same things you are accustom to in significantly less space. Part of this for me is finding ways to clean myself using less produces. I was already familiar/comfortable with using shampoo for body wash from camping, so I went looking for a solid bar style shampoo.

One of the brands I came across is Ethique. I liked the sales pitch and figured I would give it a try.

To use the bar it is easiest to wet your hair then rub the bar directly onto your hair in the direction you normally comb it. This will get the needed amount of soap on your hair to get it clean. I tried wetting my hands and suds-ing them up then applying them to my hair, but it just took so many trips between my hair and the bar to get enough soap!

I am at about 3 weeks of use now and I can say that my hair and skin are responding very well to the product. There are less fly-away/frizz issues for me to contain. My skin is clearer than it has been in a long time.

The down sides for me are the shape of the bar. While I can understand why one would want to make it square, easy to shape, storage works better. Using a square bar is difficult. Now that the edges have worn down a bit it is easier to use, but square is not my favorite shape for this.

I was feeling rich when I got this Shampoo Bar so I also got their container.

You know the Drill Click Here to purchase and let me make a few pennies from Amazon's Affiliate program.

The container will fit 2 of their bars easily. It does not latch shut, but it does allow the bars to dry as advertised. Place this in a spot where it won't get bumped into. I suppose if I decided to use this in the setting I am researching for, #vanlife, I could use rubber bands to keep it shut.

Reusable Produce Bags - Product Review

One way we can all participate in the reduce-reuse-recycle mind set is to have reusable produce and other bags. We are all familiar with the reusable grocery bags, pretty much every store has them, but there are also produce bags out there as well. I have tried 2 different types of reusable bag and like them.

Click here to get the above pictured bags and let me make a few pennies through Amazon's Affiliate Program

These bags are great for items that are not too small as the holes in the mesh are about a quarter inch. They let the veggies breath and dry out if needed. I prefer to use these bags when going to open air fruit stands as the produce there tends to be damp early in the morning.

My only complaint was not understanding the sizes until I had them in hand. The X-Large bags can easily fit an entire 5 pounds of potato's. The mediums will fit about 6 apples. Doesn't mean I don't use the bigger bags for items that take up less room, but as a person buying for only myself switching out the 2 XL bags for 2 more of the mediums would have worked out better.

These bags can be washed in the washing machine, but I like to put them in a zipper bag to keep other items from hanging up on them. Also keep them out of the Dyer as they shrink.

Click here to get the above pictured bags and let me make a few pennies through Amazon's Affiliate Program.

This set of bags is great for getting grains as the holes are as small as you find in shirts. I am fortunate to have a bulk buy store near me called Jar the Zero Waste Store that requires me to bring my own containers. These bags make it really easy to fill up and weight out at the register with the weight on the side of them. However I have found that unless you are buying something like coffee which has a significant dollar amount per pound it is really not necessary to have them confirm the weight of the bags prior to filling as the bags only create a variance of a penny or two.

Again I didn't understand the sizes until I had them in hand. The X-Large bags can easily fit an entire 5 pounds of potato's. The mediums will fit about 6 apples. Doesn't mean I don't use the bigger bags for items that take up less room, but as a person buying for only myself switching out the 2 XL bags for 2 more of the mediums would have worked

These bags can be washed in the washing machine, but I like to put them in a zipper bag to keep other items from hanging up on them. Also keep them out of the Dyer as they shrink.

...........................

Or you can just take old T-Shirts stitch the arm, neck holes shut, snip a hole into the hem at that waist for a string and use that.

It's a New Direction

Now that my prescription pain medication vacation is over I have been re-evaluating where I have been going in my life. Prior to all the recent drama I have to admit I was spinning my wheels. The people I was pursuing did not lead the lifestyle I wanted and some were a down right detriment to it.  Some were down right horrid people, but most were just not going the direction I was wanting to. I had asked myself in a prior post "What do I want to do?" Now I can say I know what I want my life to look like.

First thing is first once cleared for full weight bearing on my leg: Work or some form of income needs to happen. Hopefully my prior employer will not shaft me for this, but I am anticipating it. Only getting released for work will answer that. If my prior employer doesn't take me back or shafts me by reducing my pay it may be time to make use of all the resources I have put into my personal trainer certification. It is a job that will support the over all vision I have for my lifestyle.

What's this over all vision? Well I want my life to be centered on healthy. Healthy body composition, food, fitness, and relationships. The first three I pretty much know how to accomplish. That last one ... clueless ...

So what is this life going to look like? Well to start off picking up kayaking again sounds like an excellent idea. Continuing with going to the gym will definately happen, ironicly I got into the gym because of kayaking. Some re-imaging of my diet needs to happen ... again.

I have also entertained the idea of getting into something competitive sports. There have been too many horror stories about injuries from cross fit for me to fill comfortable going there after such a major injury. Giving Tough Mudder a hard look because while the courses are a challenge none of it seems to have the dangers I have seen in the competitive displays of cross fit. The biggest hurdle will be having time to train with the team if that is a requirement. If I go back to my old job; I never knew when I would be required to work over time. If I don't get my old job I might have to work two to make ends meet.

In the end until it all boils down to what happens after I get cleared to return to work, but at least I know what direction I want to go in now.