CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

So, even doing minimum pokegoing due to assignments, study and a hefty publishing schedule, I managed to start yesterday by earning this: Of course, to earn it, my pokemon had to be knocked out of the gym for the hours to be counted, but that only means I can keep working towards being a battlegirl. This is what happens when I remember to stop at yellow gyms, feed the inhabitants, and add a new contestant, if there's space. Also what happens when I remember to give myself time to battle red or blue gyms when waiting for the bus or on the way to and from school. And yesterday ended well, too: Got to say, that last 1,000 takes forever! Finally, I get off the bus to be met by this little guy - and those black-and-yellows that came with the level-up suddenly have purpose, because I still don't have enough candy to evolve one of my own. He might not be too good at battling, but he fills a hole in my pokedex - and that's good enough for me :-) 

I started back on my exercise routine on Sunday, combining Ingress and PokemonGo with a bit of family time, so not a lot of gaming went on, but it was enough. The company was enjoyable, and great delight was taken in seeing sheep in a nearby field, dogs out with their families, and small birds doing their best to remain unseen. Oh, and there were attempted tonsil pictures... Don't ask; it's a kid thing. Anyway, the day, by 10 a.m. was absolutely glorious! To be honest, I didn't expect much out of today's jaunt, just some stop spins, and the incidental catch, but Old Palmerville has this tendency to have a concentration of one type of pokemon, amidst all the rest - and there are a lot of pokemon, there. This week, it seems to be spinarak. I like spinarak. I caught 3, but saw around a half dozen in the short time I was there. The highlight of the walk, apart from a very cute bull terrier pup, was catching this little larvitar. It's not the best at battling, but ...

This week, I kicked off my walking, again. Hatching eggs in PokemonGo helps with the motivation—especially when you hatch one of these! She’s a strong pokemon, and worth keeping. Plus, I get to use the candies to power up my first lapras (which was also my very first hatchling playing pokemongo). It was a pretty good day, and then this popped up: I’m a simple critter at heart. This made the last 10 km of walking well worth it… never mind the practical good it does. It was just a bit ironic that the Solstice event started the very next day…

As you know, one of the things I have decided I need to improve is my fitness. This is important for everyone, and not just writers, but it’s hard to actually get out and do. Me? I hate walking for the sake of walking, moving quickly but aimlessly for the sole purpose of keeping mobile for 30 minutes. This is in spite of knowing I need to keep my blood pressure and blood sugar under control, and in spite of seeing an improvement in both of these, my weight, and my general health. There are days when I wonder why that isn’t motivation enough. Instead, I use two augmented reality apps to help improve my attitude to an activity that does me no end of good: Ingress and PokemonGo . Both these apps have built-in encouragement for walking: Ingress has its Trekker medal in five levels, and PokemonGo has a Jogger medal, as well as the need to walk to hatch eggs. This does not mean that every PokeGo or Ingress player is going to be fit, though. Many still take to their cars and do onl...

And here they are. I have to admit that it got to a point where I didn't have time to take pictures of each one, as I hurried for a bus after class, or to catch the next little critter I'd seen nearby... and then there were the swans. Swans are not pokemon, but they are cute, and cygnets are fluffy. These ones were on the Australian National University grounds, possibly touring for their little ones' future education. I was sick for Friday, and then wrote an essay most of Saturday and Sunday. Monday, I had an impromptu class to make up for one I wouldn't make later on due to a conference. Anyhow, here we go with the pokebits. On Saturday, August 20, 2016, this little guy came to say goodnight...    On Sunday, August 21, I went for a quick walk in the morning - there's an Ingress badge that requires you to hack a portal every day for 360 days - and our local portal is also a pokestop, so, of course, I had to catch these two before heading back ...