My Lists

Thirty is right around the corner. I have been anticipating 30 for a few years now. I have never dreaded turning 30, like so many women do. I've actually looked forward to it. Call it, a new beginning, the next chapter, or just embracing growing older - but I am really excited. I feel that our thirties are, by far, the best years of our lives. For me, my twenties were a time of just not knowing. Not knowing what I wanted, who I was, why I was here, who my friends were, what to do with my life. My twenties were a time of figuring all of that out. I cannot remember all of the times I questioned my beliefs, my ideals, my decisions, and mostly myself. I feel like, finally, after everything that I have done, gone through and perservered through, I am at a stage in my life where (almost) everything feels right. *Almost* just because I still haven't figured out what I want to do - career wise. But I digress...

Found this list on a girly website and thought it was pretty great.
30 things women should know how to do by the time they're 30:

1) Hard boil an egg - Um, who doesn't know how to hard boil an egg?
2) Diplomatically tell Mom to butt out - Got this one when I was about 21
3) Ace a job interview - Thankfully I have...a few times.
4) Ask a man out - It's not as hard as it seems.
5) Send a thoughtful thank you note - Or...thank you email.
6) Listen to a friend in need - I like to think that I have a time or two.
7) Ask for help - Still working on this one, getting better though.
8) Effectively end an unhealthy relationship (romantic or platonic in nature) - Check!
9) Beautifully wrap a gift - Err, my gifts look like a 5 year old with no hands wrapped them.
10) Say "no" gracefully - Sure have.
11) Whip up a great dinner with the 5 items in her fridge - Definitely.
12) Forget pleasing him, by 30 a woman should be able to tell a man exactly how to please her - Check.
13) Sew a button - Not very well, but I have sewn a button a few times.
14) Mix a kick-ass cocktail - Hellz yeah, I used to be a "mixologist", yo.
15) Take off her bra without removing her shirt - Perfected in my teens.
16) Apply lip gloss in the dark - Again, perfected in my teens.
17) Balance her checkbook - YES.
18) Create a budget -For sure.
19) Find the best deal - Always.
20) Negotiate a salary and/or raise - Still needs some work, but I think I can do it.
21) Read a map - I'm a fantastic navigator.
22) Hail a cab - Successfully. Although, never in NY or anything.
23) Say something in French just for the hell of it - "ou sont les ouefs"
24) Apologize when she's wrong - I'm wrong a lot, so this was checked off in the early 20's.
25) Dress for her body type - Could still use a little guidance, but for the most part, yes.
26) Change a flat (or know whom to call to come change it) - OnStar is the best.
27) Spot a fake (handbag, diamond, potential friend...) - Oh yeah.
28) Feign interest - Gracefully.
29) Know what to tip on a $25 dinner bill - I can thank my waitressing experience for this one.
30) Hold a baby - Um yeah, got this one.


Now here is my list for things I hope to accomplish by my 40th: (Thinking ahead a little? Maybe.)

1) Buy a house
2) Go on a vacation out of the country
3) Watch Lola dance/sing/act on a stage
4) Save $10,000 just because
5) Complete my credit repair and have impeccable credit once again
6) Run a full marathon
7) Go scuba diving
8) Go rock climbing
9) MS150
10) Teach Lola to ride a bike
11) Find a career/job where I am happy and fulfilled*
12) Have a research article published in a Historical journal
13) Join a historical society
14) Join Lola's PTA
15) See the Steelers play at Heinz Field
16) See the Red Sox play at Fenway
17) Take Lola to Disney World
18) Kayak
19) Go to Sea World
20) Go to the Opera
21) Go on a road-trip with the girls
22) See my besties get married
23) See my my besties have babies!
*This is actually more like #1 on my list right now*

This is just starting point. I am sure as I get older, things will be added to that list. All I know is that I am ready to start this new chapter in my life. I have accomplished some major things in my 29 years on this planet and I am looking forward to the next 10 years to be rewarding and fulfilling. BRING IT 30, BRING IT!

Daylight

Man, this daylight savings time thing has really interfered with my normal routine this year. I have been so tired as of late, it's ridiculous. I get 8-9 hours of sleep per night. When I get home, I am exhausted! I don't want to do anything, let alone clean, prepare dinner, or exercise. I'll probably get back on track next week, but this week I am just allowing myself the time to relax and adjust to the time change and the fact that it gets dark by 6:00 pm. That is killing me. I usually leave to go to the park at about 6:45, and by that time, it feels like it's 10:00 pm outside!

I'm just venting. I think I needed a break anyway. I know by the weekend, I will be ready to get back out there. This is the time I will need to run the most! With the holidays and all of the consumption that the holidays bring, exercise definitely needs to be in the mix. And not to mention the Marathon in January. C'mon brain, c'mon body - - time to get motivated again.

Results

Hallo -

I hope everyone had a wodnerful & spooktacular Halloween 2009. We had a good one. Didn't go trick-r-treating as planned, but that's okay. It's not like the lil' one knew any different! She did get to eat some Junior Mints, though. She loved it. And, man, Junior Mints or yumm-O!

So, official race results - 1:07:00 - that's 67 minutes, folks. A personal best. And I beat my mom's time of 74 minutes. Whoo-hoo! In my age group (24-29), I placed 23rd out of 38. I'm very proud of my time. And I'm very proud of Monique's time! Her first race and she did an oustanding job. The course got pretty rough for about a 1/2 mile - HUGE rocks to avoid. I'm very proud of Mo for participating in her first race. Hopefully she will go with me more often! Haha. And she won a door prize. Yep, a pair of XL socks. harhar!!

So, my goals for November are to increase my mileage to 10 miles. If I can get to 10 miles, then I know I will be ready for the half-marathon in January. I don't have any races lined up just yet, but I think I will try to find one. I know there is a Turkey Trot on Turkey Day, but we will be in Arkansas visiting the padre. But, if I can find another 10K, I hope to beat my time by at least 5 minutes! Whoop, there it is.