Challenge Complete!

It's a Challenge

Life has been pretty quiet in scenic Corvallis. Because a quiet life is a boring life, however, I have felt the need to arbitrarily complicate it with a Challenge or two.

Challenge number one:

The Whole Life Challenge consists of seven different dimensions. Six of those dimensions take minimal upkeep and consist daily of:

1. Drinking enough water (take your weight in pounds, divide by three, and drink that many ounces each day)
2. Taking a supplement (vitamins! What's in them is uncertain, as they have virtually no oversight, but, hey, it's the thought that counts.)
3. Exercising for 10 minutes (anything that gets your heart rate up)
4. Stretching for 10 minutes 
5. Writing a short reflection of your day
6. Completing a changing weekly lifestyle challenge (so far it has been 10 minutes of meditation, counting three items that deserve gratefulness each day, and getting 7 hours of sleep nightly)

So, that's cool and pretty easy and I've only slipped up twice. I forgot my (useless?) supplement once. On another occasion I was so incredibly sick I couldn't muster the enthusiasm to even pretend to exercise for 10 minutes. Other than that, I've been golden on those six measures.

The seventh measure is one that I've actually performed very well, but that requires its own consideration.

• Adhere to a diet that is similar to, but not quite, Paleo. 

This means: no added sugar or sugar substitutes (stevia is the only exception); no wheat or wheat by-products (this is something WTNV and WLC have in common!) or any other grain flour; no white rice, potatoes, or soy products (some fermented soy is A-OK, for reasons unclear to me); no artificial flavors or preservatives (there are about four considered okay, including guar and xantham gum. This also cuts out all cured meats except for an inexplicable allowance for sugar-cured bacon [I'm not complaining!]); no alcohol, soda, fruit juice (one glass of wine or spirit per week is allowed); and no dairy (butter and plain yogurt are fine).

I will admit that I have no love for many of the ideas behind the Paleo diet, and I think it is downright stupid to try to eat like a caveman or any of that nonsense. Cavemen did not live lives that I want to emulate in any way. But, you know, it's a challenge and I want to not suck at it. Also, I think we can all agree that subsisting entirely on processed foods may not be the best health decision.

The dietary restrictions? They're a bit arbitrary. But it's a challenge, and you gotta have rules, even if those rules mean you eat a ton of bacon and butter and coconut products. Hypothetically speaking.

If you spend an entire week not fucking up, you can earn food indulgence and/or rest day (no exercise) tokens. Because of this I have experienced the joys of a.) paella, b.) cornbread, and c.) gelato, but otherwise have adhered to the diet 100%.

I have to admit, this is the only thing that makes the challenge challenging, compelling, and a pain in the ass. This is why it's taken over my conversations, thoughts, and sometimes even dreams (cheeseburgers and desserts, man. Complex carbs are a helluva drug). I've become that person who has nothing new to offer other than thoughts on what I'm eating (or not eating...). Yeah, I'm pretty damn cool lately.

It's a little disappointing, and yet reassuring. I don't feel amazingly better without dairy or wheat or processed foods. Which is good, because I very much want to go back to eating those things soon. But also I guess I kind of hoped I'd discover something about myself and suddenly operate on a whole higher level, having overcome "grain brain" or whatever the current bullshit diet fad tells me is ruining my life. Nope, same old Jess. If anything, two weeks of cold-like symptoms revealed a worse Jess than the usual, fairly hardy model.

I'm on day 20 now. There are 56 in total. I've lost about 2-3 pounds, which is negligible (not statistically significant, in the general ebb and flow of things). I'm starting to feel pretty great, but that is largely because I am no longer a mucous-producing lump on the couch.

The best bit of this is that many members of my extended family are participating, and the daily reflections offer me unexpected glimpses into their lives. My nuclear family is very gung-ho about it all, and the competition is a fun way for my parents to try out a pretty drastic life change. I think this does more for them than it does for me, which is wonderful. I want to see them live long, happy lives. This is the first time I've seen sustained lifestyle change in a positive direction from them.

I will talk about Challenge Number Two at a later date. It's a reading challenge.

Month three. Time for Zee.

Time flies, one might say. One might also take accountability for a lack of coherent updates. Or, one might make a series of excuses that highlight the many ways in which life has been busy and great and altogether more important than a blog that no one reads.

However, this writer will refrain from such activities and instead forge ahead.

It is now December, and there are many things to say.

The most important update I can give is to note that Oak Vale has a new resident! Her name is Aziza, and this hairy little one crawled into my life shortly after her abandonment on Halloween.

The day we met.

 Home has benefited greatly with the new company. Someone greets me at the door every day, mewing loudly for food, attention, or some other unknown need that I have yet to satisfy. The language barrier is a significant one, I admit. But I think we can make this work. We disagree on how much she should be fed - I have been instructed to provide 3/4 cups of dry food each day, while she prefers food constantly. When she first arrived she was ridiculously underweight, but we had to start rationing once she made it clear she can eat (and then excrete) her own weight daily if left to her own devices. 

We also disagree on what is and isn't a cat toy. Azi considers anything she can sink claws or teeth into to be her domain. This includes paper towels, tea supplies, my earrings, my socks, my hands and feet, and all the furniture. No real damage has been done so far, so I continue to pretend I am in charge. Also, any food left in the open is fair game - Zee loves tortillas! 

She's pretty much twice as big now. 

Another point of contention surrounds the concept of sleep. Azi gets hers in bits and pieces throughout the 24-hour period, and doesn't understand the concept of sleeping through the night.  Her favorite toys while I sleep are the earrings attached to my head. This makes for painful and disconcerting wakings. She has lost bed privileges on multiple occasions.

Notice the lack of earrings in this picture. She's still trying though.

So yeah. It's pretty much love at first sight. There isn't much more to say than that. 

Other things happened too. But this is the most important one. Welcome to Oak Vale, Zee!

Week One

I've been a resident of Oak Vale for one week now. We arrived to an empty office and a full voice mailbox. Luckily, the apartment was unlocked, and we occupied the place for the weekend without any official word from the powers that be.

After the initial uncertainty, we sorted through the move-in paperwork and I shuttled my parents off to the Portland airport. I've been on my own since midday Monday.

There have been some definite high points to my week. I met some fun people who have been very nice and inclusive. I have an apartment that is nicely furnished, and a kitchen that is fairly well-stocked.

On the other hand I still don't know much about what my first day will look like. It's just me and my little houseplant so far (which my sister graciously sent me as a housewarming gift). I don't feel alone.. so much as I feel like I am at a slight remove. My friends and family are in another state, and the people I've met are still so new.

It's been a good week overall. Despite the initial absence of management, and many hours alone in my new home, it's been a productive time with some good social moments as well. Here's to my first week of work.

Off to Oak Vale

Welcome to Oak Vale! This blog is a place to write about my experience in the Pacific Northwest. I move tomorrow, so now seems like a good time to set the scene.

Corvallis, Oregon is a small (pop: 55,000) city about 20 minutes off the I-5 between Eugene and Portland. It is the home to Oregon State (Go Beavers?), and about 26,000 students during the school year. Corvallis is Latin for "Heart of the Valley." Which valley? The Willamette, damnit!  

My fellowship will take me to Corvallis and its surrounding three-county area for the next two years. I'm about to become a real public health professional! It's an exciting time. Don't expect to hear too much about work. 

As a caveat, I am a fan of Welcome to Night Vale, thus the name. When I make a silly reference to anything Night Valian, I'll let you know. For instance, here is a picture of my housing development!

I even found a realtor on the property!

Oak Vale is a woodsy little place approximately one mile away from my office. We visited and found a deer and cat friend! I'll be moving in on September 27th. 

The WtNV reference above is in purple. If you click the link you'll find some Night Valian deer info. See? Easy peasy. Also, WtNV is a pretty amazing podcast. Check it out. But I'll try to make this a blog accessible to all. 

So, yeah. There's that. 

Today is a day of packing. I've picked up my trusty U-Haul, and will shortly be filling it. 

Pricey, but the camels came free.

That's all for now. See you on the other side!