Caught red-handed!

YES—absolutely YES—you can break down a longer task into 60-minute or less segments. I'm going to do that once I finish the smaller tasks. It's just all about getting something done that has been sitting around for a long time. 

And on that note, this happened yesterday. 

I will be honest about it. All day yesterday, I knew I had a small project to do for my 60-minute or less challenge. Hmm - let's call that a goal, not a challenge. Anyway, it was only when I woke up this morning that I realized that I did NOT do the small task. ACK!!! That can't do! And before you yell at me for beating myself up - I'm not. I rarely do that any longer! I don't have the time or the mental bandwidth!

So I went to the gym this morning, and Brooke didn't show. Hmm—hopefully, she's OK, or I missed something. That meant that I could sneak out a few minutes early. When I got home, before I sat down at the computer, I went downstairs and did the task. You are going to roll over when you see it. It's so small, it almost doesn't count!

Every time I complete a virtual challenge, I receive a medal from The Conquer Challenges. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, as they can quickly add up, which is why I'm doing all the long ones—the ones that take a year or more to do. Well, I received the medal for my virtual walk of 4,500 km for 2024 in January of 2025. The way the lanyard is stitched together, the medal won't fit nicely on my medal rack. 

I took the seam apart MONTHS ago, and it's been hanging around on the sewing table ever since. So quickly, this morning, I grabbed some bobbins with thread on them and found one that worked for the top and bobbin. Still, with my RUNNING SHOE on, I stitched the seam. OK -- that is challenging. I could NEVER sew with my shoes on! And here's the seam - that took less than ONE MINUTE. 

The seam on my virtual challenge medal!

I was excited, and I was going to sneak that into the blog without saying anything. And look how pretty they all look. There's only one problem. Keep in mind that the ones on the left are the long-haul ones—Route 66 (3,669 KM), Pacific Crest Trail (4,000 KM), and the Appalachian Trail (3,343 KM). All of those were done concurrently with the annual ones, which are on the left. Starting from the right - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024. 

My Conquer medal collection

Yes --- that was NOT a typo. It would appear that the 2023 medal is still on the sewing table with the lanyard needing some stitching! Good grief!!! And the Great Wall of China (3,513 km) is also missing from the left. I know what I'll do as my 60-minute or less challenge later today! But this time, I'll do both of the missing ones! 

Where is 2023?

Let's not forget the Great Barrier Reef (2,119 KM) I just finished two days ago. That medal is coming in the mail. Then there's the Hobbit series (five medals—2,920 KM). I don't know what to do with those. They are still in the boxes downstairs. 

Since I had completed The Great Barrier Reef, it's time to start a new one, and as usual, I picked a long one. This time it's The Silk Road (4,828 KM), so it will take until next July to complete. 

My virtual bib for The Silk Road

Phew—all of that virtual walking is making me tired! OK, so the challenges are virtual, the walking is not! Keep in mind—I'm double-dipping in a way, but it works for me. The yearly challenges allow me to have an annual goal (from Jan 1 to Dec 31); the others happen whenever. 

Speaking of walking, it's so pretty in the forest, with everything amazingly green from all the rain! And the girls couldn't care less about the rain. I just put on my rain jacket, and away I go—sometimes with an umbrella, and sometimes not! 

Miss Lexi and I on her walk

I managed to get a lot of writing done. Instead of all the pictures, I made some videos. Taking videos is the hardest. Try taking a video of something you do on your sewing machine and explain what you are doing. What is your "bad" word? Mine is SO, NOW, AND. I hate saying them, and I'm a little too wordy. No AI to cut my words out when they come directly from my lips! I must be more aware of saying those words! Once you are aware, it's easier to break the habit. 

I used to say, "Just hit that button on the sewing machine." Well, hit isn't really the correct word, yet everyone says it. Say, "Select" instead! I've almost broken that habit. 

Then I had a ton of videos to go through and delete the crap. But I managed to get five done, and it was a good day. I'm not sure what's more challenging—writing or doing videos! 

I also finished another customer quilt, so that is good! So --- DO YOU SEE HOW MANY TIMES I WRITE THAT? And I eliminate many of them! 

Custmoer quilt - DONE

So -- kidding! 

Have you ever wanted to write a note to your future self to tell you something important? Or perhaps, as mature people, we wish someone had told us these life lessons when we were younger. But would we listen? 

Someone sent me a video clip - it was Tim Minchin (an Aussie comedian) giving a speech at a grad ceremony. Here are his nine life lessons: 

1. You don't have to have a dream

2. Don't seek happiness

3. Remember, it's all luck

4. Exercise

5. Be hard on your opinions

6. Be a teacher

7. Define yourself by what you love

8. Respect people with less power than you

9. Don't rush

You should listen to the entire speech. It's well worth listening to, as he elaborates on each point. 


I would like to say that I live by many of those philosophies. I didn't always follow some of them, but I do many today, and I think life is much better because of it! 

If I had to choose just one, what would it be? There are so many good ones. But think about No. 4. That one deals with your physical independence. I almost let myself fall into the trap of getting old ungracefully. I almost said, My body is falling apart, and there's nothing I can do about it. Yes - I was walking and doing spin class, but without any strength training or stretching, I was probably doing more damage than good to my body. Thankfully, I had a wake-up call, and I've been able to reverse many of the issues I had. While my muscles are still tight, the amount of flexibility I have recovered is incredible! 

The key here is not letting myself revert! Stretching is a lifelong thing. Everyone should be doing it! EVERYONE! You don't need to be a yoga pretzel - just stretch! From your chair, your bed. It will hurt, but you'll be so happy once things loosen up. Putting on shoes, getting out of bed, sitting in a chair or the toilet, getting in and out of the car are simple tasks, and they should be simple tasks even if I'm 100. But I was letting myself go, and I struggled with them! Now - no issues! 

Anyway, think about those nine things - you'll get a better perspective after listening to the speech. 

Here are the links for the Virtual Retreat this weekend. I almost forgot them!

Saturday, May 24 - starts at 6 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82693702241?pwd=QpQkm8Ppppy1XwCPOqva1bcgJCWKdP.1

Meeting ID: 826 9370 2241
Passcode: 795071

Sunday, May 25 - starts at NOON

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81073536036?pwd=uxRqMnK1aSKrmrcSO78w8QQs5g44eA.1

Meeting ID: 810 7353 6036
Passcode: 596838

And on that happy note, I'm out of here! The girls are waiting, and it's not raining at the moment! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!