Disney Dream Light Valley (Nintendo Switch)

 Hello my peoples who humor me by reading this.  I hope you all are doing well.   I'm taking a quick break and thought I'd craft a short post.  

If you know me (which face it, this is the internet so most likely unless you are one of the few of my friends/acquaintances whom I told about this blog, then you probably don't know me), you know I occasionally like to dabble with gaming.  I'm very picky about games.  If I'm going to invest time and money into something I want it to be something I'll like.  I'm fond of the Lego games, GTA V, Lord of the Rings Online, Mortal Kombat, Kingdom Hearts II, The Sims 2, and Hogwarts Legacy just to name a few.  I never got into Animal Crossing.  I tried Stardew Valley and could not figure it out.   Previously, I would go months without playing any games.  This was mostly due to not being able to see the tv well from the couch.  I got a Nintendo Switch for Christmas this past year.  This significantly increased my video game playing since I could actually see the screen because of the handheld option.  I started playing Hogwarts Legacy, and I do enjoy that.  One of my friends plays it all the time.  I play at home maybe an hour before bed usually.  Or on the weekends.  

This past weekend, I had the crud.  So I was sitting on the couch resting and wanted to entertain myself.  I saw an ad for Dreamlight Valley being on sale.  I saw the previews and it looked interesting.  I used to play Kingdom Hearts II on the ps2 which had a lot of Disney characters in it.  I had a house fire in 2017  and lost the ps2 and all my progress.  I do have it for ps4, but I never got around to putting in the time required.  I enjoy the Disney games.  


Upon starting up Dreamlight Valley, I was very confused and almost quit immediately. So far I have maybe 12 hours invested into this game and I am still at the beginning.  I enjoy it so far because  you don't have to do the quests immediately.  You can garden, fish, cook, or hangout with the other characters.   You can play at your own pace.  I will admit I am old and had to look up some of the stuff on Google.  So far, I have only opened up one Realm.  I've been farming carrots for money and have maxed out both Goofy's stall and Scrooges store in the first biome.  

Pros:

You get to hang out with your favorite Disney characters
You can go at your own pace
You can easily change your wardrobe
You can design your own house and valley (although this comes much later in the game I am told)
You can craft storage boxes (simultaneously this is a con as well as you have to grind for materials)

Cons
Storage
Limited Energy - you have to go back into your toon's house to regain energy in order to play the game OR eat food which can be simple like an apple or if you want more energy you can grind and cook a lot of dishes to put into your already overflowing inventory
You have to grind to make money albeit you can plant and harvest crops to sell to Goofy, but that still takes time
There is soooooo much information to learn about this game and very little in game direction.  This can be very overwhelming.  My daughter was overwhelmed by this more than I was.  
The controls are a little fiddley (on Switch)  when it comes to clearing trees to put houses (I opened Remy's realm and am trying to put his house in the valley and have not been able to clear a spot).

Overall, I like it.  I played LOTRO since it debuted in 2007.  I am used to grinding.  While it can  be annoying at times, it's tolerable.  It's a cute game.  I like that if I just want to go fishing I can turn it on and grab Goofy to hang out and fish.  It's a bit of a break from Hogwarts Legacy which I do enjoy playing as well.  

Shameless Plug

 Just a quick shameless plug.  My daughter and I are building a small Lego city.  Granted, I'm more into it than she is, but she likes her sets and her contributions to it.  She will eventually be in some of the videos.  We started off just making a few videos that were not public except if we shared the link.  I have absolutely no idea what I am doing.  I do not know how to edit or make cute intros.  I'm just enjoying the creative process and talking about it.  I created a new channel that is separate from my main account.  It's called Bricks and Yarn.  It encompasses two of my favorite hobbies. So check it out if you want to.  I'll be "reviewing" some of the sets that are in or will be in my small city.  

https://www.youtube.com/@BricksandYarn

Mel Robbins, Author and Podcaster and YouTuber

A few months ago (back at the end of February), I was nervous about being in the same vicinity as an ex-friend.  That in itself is a whole other thing that will not be gotten into other than what is applicable to this.   Someone recommended that I listen to the audio book, The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins.  So I did.  Now with audio books, I typically have to listen to them multiple times before I hear the entire thing.  I typically listen to them while I am working and I tend to zone in and out.  I also have ADHD and my brain will occasionally go on vacation.  Anyhow, I thought this book was amazing.  The book was narrated by the author.  I found her tone of voice very uplifting.  She is positive, funny, and engages the listener.  I later found out via Reddit, that there is come controversy surrounding her and this particular book, but I don't care.  I like what I like.  I liked it so much, I bought a physical copy of the book.

Anyhow, after listening to this book, I purchased a couple of her other titles. I recently started The High 5 Habit.  It talked about how every morning we should high five ourselves in the mirror.  It went into the science behind it creating new positive  pathways in the brain (neuroplasticity).  I tried it.  It's a great way to start the day, I just don't recommend doing it in the rearview mirror of your car.  Don't ask me how I know this lol.  

I later discovered that she has a YouTube channel and lots of "podcasts" on YouTube.  She has guests on her podcasts and they are all very informative.  Some of these I am making notes and planning on ordering their books as well.  I've developed a bit of a long list of items to read (or listen to).  These podcast are usually over an hour long and go very in depth on their respective topics.  

I have listened to several and have gleaned a lot of information from them that I plan on utilizing in my own self improvement.  Some of my favorite videos of hers:

How to Stop Negative Thoughts and Reset Your Mind for Positive Thinking

Mindset Reset: Take Control of Your Mental Habits 

It's Not Your:  The Real Reason Adult Friendship is So Hard

Reinvent Yourself: Let Go of Past Mistakes & Create a New Version of You

How to Control Your Mind & Redirect Your Energy to Self Transformation

Why Making Friends as an Adult Feels Impossible & What to Do About It

I just named a few.  I have listened to way more than that. Now some might say not to listen to so much from one single author/podcaster.  However, I feel that she has opened up my options to numerous other individuals from them being guests on her podcasts on YouTube.  I love her delivery of the information as well.  I have had many lightbulb moments while listening to her material.  And I absolutely love how she opens up her videos with "Hi, it's your good friend Mel."  It feels more like listening to a friend than some random author.  I find that to be comforting.  

It was through listening to her that I heard some information, further researched it, took the information to my therapist and discovered that I have an anxious attachment style with abandonment issues.  This later led to the discovery that, that had a very active role in leading to the dissolution of friendship with someone that I held near and dear (the ex-friend mentioned here).  

My ex-friend once told me (generally speaking) when reading/listening to advice, etc to take the parts that pertained to what I needed and leave the rest.   That is loosely paraphrasing her.   So it is important to listen and take what you need and leave the rest or the parts you don't agree with.  My ex-friend's advice has made me more open minded when taking in new information.  But I digress.  Check out this author/podcaster.  You won't regret it. 

Hula Hoop of Ab Torture (Concussion Giver) UPDATE

 It's a good thing I do this exercise outside.  In the midst of swinging a weighted ball around on a string at a high velocity, it decided to break and go soaring across the yard  and land with an unceremonious THUNK in the yard.  I'm thankful there were no small children or animals in the crosshairs.  That would have been disastrous.  The metal hook piece that holds the weight to the string, snapped in half.   Now granted, mine was a knockoff from Amazon and was not the actually Infinity Hoop brand.   So just be mindful that they can break.   I'd hate to think would would have happened had I been inside and around people.   It might have injured my kid, hubby, cats, or the television.  I can't live without the television...... uh I mean my kid and hubby, yeah them lol   All jokes aside, be careful.   

As far as it trimming fat off my abdomen, that would be a big fat oh no it didn't!   As stated before,  you cannot spot reduce fat. no matter what TikTok or Instagram or Betty Boop the social media  influencer says.  They are selling you a pipe dream.    It was however,  a nice exercise to incorporate into my routine.     Will I purchase another one?   I am unsure at this time.  It was a nice tool to use, but I have other things I can workout with at the moment.  I might replace it one day, but not anytime soon.  

Mounjaro

 This is some background of what lead up to Mounjaro.  Some of this post is irrelevant to the topic, but this post is cross posted to another blog.

While I did a LOT of exercise last year in 2024 and I mean a lot, I did not really know what I was doing exactly.  I was mainly at the time trying to outrun my emotions.  Last year, the person that I considered to be one of my besties decided to end our friendship on my birthday via text message, over a misunderstanding.  I believe it could have been worked out if she would have only communicated.  But that is neither here nor there other than to provide some background info.  Prior to that I was already riding a recumbent bike.  But after all that pain I needed something more.  So I started taking my actual real bike to a local greenway and riding there once a week and I joined Planet Fitness.  I met with a trainer and learned how to start with strength training.  At one point, I was riding my bike (combination of miles between recumbent and real bike) between thirty and forty miles per week, and doing strength training at least twice a week.  At first it was to dull the pain.  I mean prior to that I had been casually riding my recumbent.  It worked to dull the pain for while.  Then I got to where I just liked doing it.  It made me feel good.  So I kept it up.  

I'm actually kind of bored with all that now.  I'm trying to switch things up a bit.  I'm tired of the 30 minute circuit at Planet Fitness.  Don't get me wrong,  it is my go-to.  But I've been looking into some of the other areas and after my usual workout, I've been trying out some of the other things there as well.  I have a goal to be able to do one unassisted pull-up by the end of 2025.  I have started using the assisted pull-up machine.  I have researched which muscle groups I need to strengthen in order to be able to do a pull-up.  Looking into increasing some work on the core as well as the lats and back.  Funnily enough the Lat Pull Down machine is my favorite.  I despise leg day lol. 

I had some serious health issues late last year.   So much so that it meant leaving work early via ambulance and being hospitalized for three days.   It was serious enough to ALMOST be put into the step down ICU, but I improved enough while waiting for a room that I was able to go to a regular room instead.  Since then, my body has been turned into a pin cushion.  I wear a continuous glucose monitor in my arm; I give myself insulin shots twice a day in my belly; and I give myself a weekly GLP-1 injection in my thigh once a week.  See what I mean about being a human pin cushion?  

I was prescribed Mounjaro for its intended purpose for treating T2D.   Any weight loss derived from it will be a bonus.   I started Mounjaro at the beginning of November.  2.5mg.  It was then interrupted due to issues with insurance.  It was restarted recently, although based on issues I am having with other medications, I will not be surprised if the insurance issue arises again.  I will move up to 5mg on MLK weekend.  I am very nervous about the increase.  It has so far not done a thing for me as far as losing weight.  I've actually gained a few pounds.  Moving in the wrong direction!  Even though my diet has drastically changed the scale has not really moved down.  I have noticed though that some of my clothes fit better.  So there is that.  I've been hitting the gym hard when I am able to go. 

Generally speaking though.  There is a stigma around GLP-1 agonist medications.  People seem to view it as taking the easy way out.  NOTHING ABOUT TAKING THIS MEDICATION IS EASY!!!!!!!  It severely limits what you can and cannot eat  (I am speaking of my own personal experience as well as stuff I have read).  It makes you nauseous and gives you the bubble guts at times, as well as backs you up.  I get nauseated just smelling certain food smells.  I have to mostly force myself to eat.  It makes things you used to like to eat, make you sick.  For example, one of my favorite holiday treats is Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes.  The medication changed the taste, and after eating just one as a treat I felt like I was going to puke my brains up.  Christmas Day while eating dinner, I took one bite of garlic bread and felt sick.  The smell of garlic bread lingering in the air after dinner made me so nauseated, that I spent quite a bit of time sitting outside to avoid throwing up.  It takes away cravings/food noise.  It takes away the dopamine reaction of eating.  For me, it increased my anxiety and depression drastically.  I went from the occasional panic attack to having them every single day without having my usual triggers.  I have since obtained medication for that.  Mounjaro makes me tired all the time.  I feel like I'm living in a fog.  Words are hard most of the time.  Annnnnd..... one of the things a GLP-1 does as well, is depletes your muscle mass.  So gym time is imperative.    

So right now the Pros:
Ability to lower A1C and increase insulin sensitivity.  (I do not have bloodwork until March so I will see if this happened or not)
Prevents the liver from glucose dumping for lack of a better word
Side effect of losing weight - I have not experienced this yet, but I have a co-worker on it that has.  The more you have to lose the faster you lose it starting off. 
Stops food noise
Stops food cravings
Forces you to eat smaller portions

Cons:
Nausea
Acid reflux
Vomiting
Bubble Guts/Hershey Squirts
Constipation
Gas
Abdominal Pain
Potential to cause Pancreatitis or kidney failure
Muscle atrophy
Fatigue
Headaches
Increased sensitivity to smell
Slower gastric emptying
Potential of becoming severely dehydrated 

While the cons list outweighs the positives, most of the cons are for the most part tolerable albeit uncomfortable.  There have been several articles stating they are are finding other off label uses of these medications.  

The above information is NOT medical advice in any way shape or form.  It is based on my own personal experience and research. 

I will be vlogging my journey on my YouTube channel which I will share eventually.  I'm not very tech savvy.  The only reason I'm considering doing that is because I have seen others' videos/vlogs and they were very inspiring and motivating.  So maybe my vlog will be a motivation/inspiration to someone else.

This is cross posted. 

Hula Hoop of Ab Torture/Concussion Giver

 Pictured above or below or wherever Blogger decides to place it, is what I call the hula hoop of ab torture.  This one is obviously a knock off I purchased from Amazon as the real brand (Infinity Hoop) is upwards of sixty bucks.  This one was around thirty.  It had decent reviews on Amazon.  I have a friend that has one and she likes it.  I watched some YouTube videos and also read some articles.  Reviews are mixed.  Some think it is a gimmick as it gives the impression that you can spot reduce fatty areas, which you cannot. And others think it is great.  So I guess it really depends on your personal preference and what you got it for.    For me personally, I recently lost friend, and one of my coping mechanisms has been to unalive myself via exercise.  Thought I'd add this one to regimen.  It must be paying off though I'm down to 196 (not solely due to this).  

If you're like me, I could never hula hoop with a regular hoop.  I don't have any hips.  I mean sure I have the skeleton pieces hip joints and bones, but I don't have any real visible hips.  To hear my hubby tell it, I don't have a butt either lol.  But anyway, this is different from the regular hula hoops.  This snaps snugly around the waist.  You might have to fiddle with it to get it to keep from sliding when you first get it going.  I know I had to remove 2 more links after thinking I had already sized it correctly.  It fits tight.  Then you sling the weighted thing to one side and start moving enough to make it continue to circle around the hoop.  This part takes some getting accustomed to, so don't give up immediately.  Also, if you are a dude I'd highly advise either avoiding this exercise equipment or wearing a cup because you will get smacked hard in the dangly bits and bobbles.  I'm female and it swung around and hit me in my area and even as a female it was not the best feeling.  So I can't imagine being a dude and getting smacked with that.  And when I say wear a cup, I really don't know what the purpose of a cup is.  Is it to protect your parts or is it to keep them from flopping around kind of like a bra does for us ladies?  Just being honest.  

Anyway, I don't know or have anything to report on the claim that you can lose one link in thirty days.  You're supposed to do this for thirty minutes a day for thirty days straight in order to achieve this result.

I have a problem with this idea.  For one, from what I have read, you're not supposed to work the same group of muscles over and over and over repeatedly without giving them an opportunity to heal.  So right off the bat, I'm slightly skeptical.  However, I can tell that it does definitely work the muscles because I know my abs area is super sore the day after, so something is happening.  

Another thing is you have to figure out what to do with your hands.  For me, I cross them over my chest and rest them there.  You will also look like an idiot doing this.  I use mine outside as the only area large enough to do this is in a high traffic area of my house and I don't wish to give my family a concussion should they decided to be foolish and tempt the blue weighted ball of fate and concussions lol.  I pick a shady spot in my front yard.  My back yard is full sun.    It is definitely an interesting way to exercise.   It's definitely worth trying.  I guess I'll report back a while later after using it more.  Although, this is not my sole form of exercise currently.  I am biking, using this, and using 3lb dumbbells.    

Fitbit Charge 6

 

Up until February of this year, I have not worn a watch since well........ I cannot remember.  Possibly a couple decades at least.  I've heard about FitBits for years.  Then I heard about the Apple SmartWatch and several other types.  At one point I bought a cheap 20 thing off Amazon.  I wanted to see if it would be any benefit.  I was not impressed.  Just seemed like too much to keep up with. Hard to explain that, but if you know you know. 

So over the past couple of years I have found myself having a significant increase in the amount of panic attacks.  If you have never had a panic attack, it makes you think that you are having a heart attack.  It is not a pleasant experience by any means.  Many times I would find myself going to urgent care just to make sure it was not a heart attack.  I know that sounds silly.  I just needed the reassurance or my panic attack would get worse.  

I do not know what possessed me to look at FitBits specifically other than I was trying to come up with ways I could  bring myself down from the ceiling.  I had started having panic attacks at work to the point of an ambulance was called one of those times. One day I just said heck let's order a real one and see what happens.  So the FitBit Charge 6 was on sale on Amazon one day.  It just happened to be a payday so I ordered it.  The fact that I had to really pay for it (a lot more than a 20 dollar knock off) made me decide to wear it religiously.  The only time it is not on my wrist is when I'm in the shower (it is water proof, but I don't want to take many chances) or when it is charging. 

I won't really go into all the details on how I use it to bring me down from the ceiling.  And I will say that it does not always work for that as it depends on how far gone I am.  If I catch a panic attack at the beginning I can use some of the features of it to bring me down.  I realize that most people do not use it for that.  

I'll be the first to admit that I do not understand all of the features nor do I understand all of the graphs that go with the app.  

Let me tell you about some of the features that I do like.  

It constantly monitors your heartrate.  
It tracks your sleep...... now this feature I like.  It will tell me exactly how much I slept.  It will even monitor your O2 rate while you are asleep.  It tracks stages of sleep as well.  I can log into the app and see the stages of sleep.  It will give you a rating of how well you slept.  The picture posted above has my sleep listed as fair.  I can tell you that is because I currently have the crud.  I do not sleep well when I have the crud.  I know how much I sleep on average as well.  During the work week I average 5 to 6 hours of sleep most nights.  No wonder I"m always dragging lol

Another feature I like is Google Maps.  You connect the Bluetooth on your phone and pair it with the FitBit.  There are a couple of different ways to use this.  You can be in your car and have the GPS directing you on your phone and it will come through the watch.  I have not tried that feature yet.  What I have used it for is in the exercise mode it will track how many miles you walk/run/bike.   I can connect it to Google Maps and hop on my bike and know a lot of data instantly such as distance, speed, etc.  This is good for me because I was looking at Google Maps and trying to do math to figure out my distances.  If you know me, you know I do not like to math!  Yes, I turned math into a verb. 

It does many other things.  It can take an EKG, YouTube Music, stopwatch, alarm, track exercises, step counter. receive text messages, do voice calls, and Google Wallet. I'm probably missing something.  I have not used all the features as of yet.  

So far I only have 3 cons

-  It has to be charged.  Call me old school, but I liked having an actual battery in a watch.  This is just another charging cord to keep up with.  

-  While it can receive text messages, it will only show a portion of the message if it is a long message.  

-  It does not have an exercise setting for recumbent exercise bike.  It has all these other things, but not that. 

From what I have used it for, I really like it.  I can use it to tell if I have a good or a bad Monday.  The more steps I log on a Monday means a bad day because I'm having to chase people down for timesheets and therefore logging more steps lol.