Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
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What gets YOU off your butt and moving?
Last weekend my seestah mimi2three and I took a short trip out of town to hang out, shop, talk, and giggle. Mostly giggle. We spent a lot of time poking fun at our own aging bodies, because this is not a trend that's going to be reversing itself any time soon. Ok, ever. May as well laugh (as smileycreek waves her upper arm and notes that her jiggling batwing just started a hurricane in South America).
I told seestah about Jane McGonigal's fun and amazing book, Reality is Broken, which is about how games can be used to better our lives, make us happier people and even save the world. Inspired, we hatched a new game the two of us can play together, a game that will get us both moving more. We can't turn back the clock, but we can have more fun and be more at home in our bodies (until they completely disintegrate, that is).
This fits into my rebuilding efforts from last year's horrors of pNut's cancer treatment, with the worry and stress I felt while caring for him and working for both of us. One by one all my healthy routines went right down the tubes. People were cooking and bringing me food that was richer than I was used to, I had no time for or interest in exercise, and (big mistake) I even let my meditation practice flounder. I was so exhausted I started sleeping in instead of meditating. This all added up to, guess what, a descent into depression. It's a pretty tough spiral to climb back out of.
I've gotten the diet and meditation pieces back but I am still struggling with feeling depressed and tired, and I still have trouble getting myself motivated to work out, much less to get out of the house. Lately I spend most of my days off in bed with my iPad. Any review of medical literature will tell you that exercise is essential for mood regulation. But it's just soooo hard to get started. Did I mention problems with motivation?
Hence the game. While I can't currently be motivated to exercise by vanity, health, guilt or desire for fitness, I can be motivated by....fun.
Our game is still in its formative stages, but here are some principles we came up with:
- We want to support each other's efforts. We do not want to compete with each other.
- We want external rewards to work towards together as well as the intrinsic rewards of feeling better.
- We want challenges, level-ups, badges, avatars, and the social rewards of making time to hang out more and plan more fun.
Since we enjoy each other's company so much we decided that from now on every time the two of us meet a goal or complete a level we'll each chip in a small amount of cash into a jar to be saved up for our next trip.
The most addictive games start out so easy anyone can play. First you get hooked on the game itself, and then you get hooked on the gradually increasing but always achievable challenges. So for our first week, which started last Monday, the rules were simple:
Move for 5 minutes a day, every single day no matter what.
We're not even using the intimidating
word exercise yet. Anyone can move around vigorously for 5 minutes, whether it's taking a brisk walk, putting on some music and dancing, or seeing how many push-ups and crunches you can do in 5 minutes. The habit of making time to exercise we're creating in Week One will form the foundation of the ongoing game. Gotta take time out to play, every day!
That's Week One, and so far despite massive obstacles (in our own minds) we have each done our 5 minutes of movement every day. In the interests of not competing we're not even telling each other the times we go above and beyond Level One of the game, even though I'm pretty sure we've each secretly leveled up. That's ok-- the challenges will get harder soon enough! Soon we'll start meeting up weekly for a social challenge-- a hike or bike ride together, or maybe even a visit to Soul Shake Dance Church!
But for now the hardest mental part is already in place. The first thing I wonder in the morning is, How am I going to get that first 5 minutes of movement in today? I can't let my team down!
I'm using the website Fitocracy for tracking my meager little workouts so far. They promise to be a source of ongoing challenges and ideas, as will YouTube videos and any other suggestions you all might have.
Got any suggestions for us for level ups, challenges, or ways to make our quest even more fun?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the New Day sunrise cloud
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
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Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks: Kosmail boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kossacks: Kosmail highacidity
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
nhox42 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: [Founder stepped down]
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Admins: Catte Nappe and dalfireplug. Please contact them to join the group. An Event Organizer needed.
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Dave in Northridge
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
• Indianapolis Kossacks - Formed: Feb 6, 2013, Organizer: CityLightsLover
• Southwest Ohio Kossacks - Formed: May 10, 2013, Organizer: Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN
• Northern Arizona Kossacks - Formed: Jul 5, 2013, Organizer: Sam Sara
• Mexican Kossacks - Formed: Apr 14, 2013, Organizer: roberb7
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite.
• New York City Founded by Eddie C - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks, Event Organizer: Azazello
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011
• Nashville KosKats, Founded by ZenTrainer Formed: Jan 30, 2012
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente Formed: Aug 29, 2011
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
• DKos Asheville Founded by davehouck, Formed: Feb 13, 2011 - Organizing Assist by: randallt
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
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Wednesday, October 9th
Twin Cities Kossacks Happy Hour with navajo!
Drinks will be courtesy of navajo.
Please RSVP.
TIME: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
LOCATION: The Stone Arch Bar inside The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel [Bar Menu]
225 Third Avenue South • Minneapolis
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. raptavio
3. left rev
4. parryander
5.
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Maybees:
angry marmot
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Saturday, October 19th
DKos Asheville Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr. • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. gulfgal98
6. DawnN
7. Sandy on Signal
8. Mr Sandy on Signal
9. Munchkin
10. Alecia
11. Mr Alecia
12. cultjake
13. flwrightman
14. Otteray Scribe
15. Burns Lass
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Maybees:
people power granny
One Pissed Off Liberal
Christian Dem in NC
SteelerGrrl
SteelerGuy
polecat
Audri
Phil S 33
emmasnacker
bobwilk
Elaine
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Latest diary: DKos Asheville - Weekly Open Thread
Sunday, October 20th
MEGA Philly/NJ/NYC Kossacks Meet-up!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Stuff Yer Face
49 Easton Avenue • New Brunswick, NJ
ORGANIZER: Send mconvente a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. mconvente
2. belinda ridgewood
3. thankgodforairamerica
4. gchaucer2
5. sidnora
6. rubyr
7. mattc129
8. hayden
9. mallyroyal
10. Avilyn
11. blue jersey mom
12. ericlewis0
13. Rogneid + husband
14. aoeu
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Maybees:
aravir and son
ask
Cinnamon
No Exit
andgarden
asterkitty
pfiore8
joanneleon
renzo capetti
MRA NY
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Latest diary: Philly/NJ/NYC Mega Meetup! Additional Call for People Interested in Attending!
Friday, October 25th
LAKossacks & SoCal Inland Empire See Lewis Black!
TIME: 9:00 PM
LOCATION: Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa
32-250 Bob Hope Dr. • Rancho Mirage
ORGANIZER: Send 714day a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. 714day
2. jakedog42
3. susans
4. Otoelbc
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Maybees:
Shockwave
SoCaliana
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Latest diary: L.A. Kossacks, Lewis Black Fans in So Cal
Friday, October 25th
Meet the Daily Kos Editorial Staff!
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Daily Kos HQ
Address given privately to RSVP'ers • Berkeley
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
You will need to bring Potluck.
HQ will be providing the main course; Salvadoran pupusas queso y loroco, (thick corn masa tortilla stuffed with cheese & Salvadoran vegetables and served with curtido & salsa) tamales de sal, (chicken tamales with potato & gravy steamed in plantain leaves) tamales de elote, (white ground corn served steamed) fried yucca and plantain.
Please volunteer for beverages & side dishes needed below.
- POTLUCK SIGNUP -
Beverages:
20 bottles of wine [11 down, 9 to go]
16 six-packs of beer [5 down, 11 to go]
8 six-packs soft drinks
6 six-packs bottles of water
Appetizers:
5 appetizers, anything goes here. Whatcha' got? [3 down, 2 to go]
Side Dishes:
4 green salads needed, each to feed 10 [4 complete]
3 black bean side dishes needed, each to feed 10 (need Salvadoran inspiration?)
3 rice side dishes needed, each to feed 10 (need Salvadoran inspiration?)
Desserts:
6 desserts, a dozen hand-held desserts each [5 down, 1 to go]
RSVPs:
1. Markos
Editorial Staff:
2. Susan Gardner
3. Meteor Blades
4. Joan McCarter
5. Hunter
Staff:
6. Faith Gardner
7. Will Rockafellow
8. Jen Hayden
Activism Team:
9. Paul Hogarth
10. Chris Bowers
11. Rachel Colyer
12. Michael Langenmayr
Tech Team:
13. Jason Libsch
14. Scott
15. John
SFKossacks:
16. navajo + large ice chest with ice + 4 bottles of red wine
17. Lusty + dessert
18. side pocket + two 6pks beer + 2 wines + stuffed mushrooms appetizer
19. paradise50 + two 6pks beer
20. smileycreek + 2 wines
21. citisven + beer + beet dip
22. norm + pumpkin bars
23. Lorikeet + big bowl of fruit
24. kimoconnor + appetizer
25. remembrance and TLO? + 1 wine
26. Glen the Plumber + Pasta Mystery Dish
27. madhaus
28. dharmasyd + brownies
29. ceebee7 + green salad
30. lineatus
31. Dave in Northridge + 2 bottles of wine
32. linkage
33. LinSea + bottled water
34. Shockwave
35. Eyesbright
36. catilinus
37. FogCityJohn
38. justiceputnam + grilled balsamic veggies
39. zmom
40. exlrrp + souvenirs ;) !
41. shanikka + salad
42. DAH
43. BroadBlogs
44. jpmassar + dessert
45. PatG + dessert
Maybees:
Cedwyn
LaughingPlanet
Saturday, October 26th
Drinks and Dinner at Lefty O'Doul's
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Lefty O'Doul's
333 Geary St • San Francisco near Union Square
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. smileycreek
3. paradise50
4.
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Maybees: |
Saturday, October 26th
New England Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 10:30 AM
LOCATION: Silly’s
40 Washington Avenue • Portland, ME
ORGANIZER: Send nhox42 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. nhox42
2. rebereads
3. Portia Elm (a potential mileage winner!)
4. bjedward
5. nailbender
6. Bill in Portland Maine
7. Common Sense Mainer
8. mdevine
9. theMarti
10. patmoshimer
11. commonmass
12. Actbriniel
13. LoreleiHI
14. mayim
15. Jane in Maine
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: C+J Kossack Fall Meetup (Updated 9/25/13)
Saturday, November 2nd
SFKossacks BBQ in the Wine Country
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Andrew McGuire's home in the Wine Country
Address to be given privately to RSVPs • Windsor
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
Andrew McGuire is Executive Director of California One Care
RSVPs:
1. Andrew McGuire
2. navajo
3. Shockwave
4. Hunter
5. elfing
6. Hunter/elfling offspring
7. smileycreek
8. paradise50
9. dharmasyd
10. maggiejean
11. norm
12. Lusty
13. dksbook
14. Mr. dksbook
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15. kimoconnor
16. jpmassar
17. side pocket
18. Mrs. side pocket
19. ceebee7
20. ceebee7's sister
21. leema (will carpool from Marin)
22. Meteor Blades
Maybees:
Glen The Plumber
remembrance
TLO™
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Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?