25 Days of Christmas

It is finally my favorite time of the year and I'm going to make the most of it! Last year, I was deep in wedding thank you notes and putting away gifts. This year I'm going to enjoy every minute of the holiday season and hopefully doing some or all of these activities!

Revert to My 99th Blog Post

Lately, I've been trying to schedule blog post ideas in an effort to help me post more regularly. Today's post idea: My 99th Blog Post.

Turns out I wrote that post following my second half-marathon: Runner of Steel Recap.

Kind of ironic now looking back because I'm coming off an injury that has the potential to affect my running moving forward. The good news is that I've been running, I've been discharged from physical therapy and that my therapist doesn't even want me running with the brace. The bad news is that now I really do have a bad knee, in addition to being incredibly out of shape from not running.

The next few weeks will hopefully tell if I will be able to run more than a few miles on a treadmill. At this point, I'm thinking that running the relay is much more realistic than trying to run the half again. We'll see...

Anybody interested in joining a relay team? Let me know.

My Crazy Type A Personality

This weekend I saw a BuzzFeed list circulating about Type A personalities, which of course I had to read. Man...it was me to a T! I think everything applied to me except for like two of the points.

Here is the article: "28 Problems Every Type-A Personality Will Understand."

And this is my personal take on the points...

1. Not being stressed does stress me out. I thrive on stress I think.

2. I do need everything done ASAP. My husband reiterated this to me. I'm always working on deadlines set by no one but myself.

3. I HATE BEING LATE! I have a panic attack if I'm late.

4. This one doesn't really apply to me...I sometimes take quite a while to reply to emails or texts. Depends on the day I suppose...

5. I am a total wreck until my project is complete. I can't think about anything else.

6. I HATE WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME TO CALM DOWN OR RELAX! It isn't that easy!

7. Yes, and even when I'm relaxing it is regimented.

8. Weekends are definitely not for relaxing! They are win I work on my ultimate to-do lists and run lots of errands.

9. Dating wasn't really hard because Dennis definitely has some Type A tendencies.

10. I really don't like notifications that are unchecked.

11. Dennis' desktop is my nightmare. Too many items on the desktop!

12. Unless for some crazy reason, I have extra time I do hate waiting in line. The G6 needs air in the tires but I wouldn't wait yesterday in the line, so I'm just driving on really low air pressure.

13. I can not waste time. I always feel like I am though.

14. I would say I'm pretty competitive.

15. I probably wouldn't say everything in life for me is a competition though.

16. My to-do list is my guidebook for life. I would not survive without it.

(Case in point. My work planner and my non work planner.)

17. I normally just have Post-Its everywhere. My planner has Post-Its stuck everywhere.

18. My calendar is ridiculous. I schedule bills and workouts too.

(And this is just my personal calendar! Google Sync wouldn't work, so this doesn't even include my work meetings, etc. which are below.)

19. I'm not gonna lie. My books are color coded in the office at home. Not sure if I like it though...

20. I definitely do more than two things at a time.

21. I can't handle not being in charge of group projects because then nothing gets done!

22. Slow walkers are like my biggest pet peeve.

23. No one can keep up with my pace! Ha ha!

24. I don't do all nighters. I've only ever done one when I was rewriting my honors thesis because I didn't like it. Ha ha!

25. I can't procrastinate. It's impossible.

26. I don't drink any caffeine, which I guess is weird for Type-A personalities.

27. I definitely bite off more than I can chew but I get it all done.

28. It is stressful!

Are you Type A? Do you have these problems?

What Happened to Saturday Morning Cartoons

I apologize in advance for any typos. Blogger isn't working on my dying computer but I need to get back to posting. I'm on my tablet, which is not very conducive to extensive typing or pictures, so this post will be short and sadly lacking of images.

I was thinking this morning when I turned on the TV to listen to music on the DVD player that there were no cartoons on. Granted we don't have cable yet, so I'm sure there are cartoons on those channels.

The regular channels are full of news, morning shows and infomercials. Remember the days of classic Saturday morning cartoons with a big bowl of cereal and wrapped up all cozy on the couch. I loved watching Fieval, Ariel and Garfield. 

Those days seem to be gone. Kids watch cartoons all week long, so there is nothing special about weekend cartoons. I'm an adult tho and I want to watch cartoons and eat Lucky Charms. How awesome would that be one Saturday!

Well, off to watch college football...at least that hasn't changed.

Adventures in Mexico with My Friend Paco

The first port on our Caribbean cruise last week was Cozumel, Mexico. When booking the cruise, this was the port I was least interested in visiting. However, the minute I stepped off the cruise I was in awe of the clear, blue waters. My excitement continued to build as we took a crazy taxi ride from the port to Club Caribe Cozumel, the site of our Mexican excursion.

At Club Caribe, we went paddle boarding and snorkeling under the guidance of my new friend Paco.

Dennis picked the excursion, so I would get the opportunity to finally try paddle boarding and we would both be able to try snorkeling. First, we got fitted for life vests and learned how to use the paddle. The men and women split up into two lines. I went in second, brace and all. Paco instructed us to paddle out and then stand.

I will be the first to admit that standing was a little awkward but after some shakiness, I was standing and regaining my balance. A few minutes later I was off and paddling down the beautiful Mexican coastline. I never fell once and it rained while we were out on the water and there was a current. Paddle boarding was fabulous and I can't wait to go again.

I can't say the same for Dennis. I give him so much credit for trying but he spent more time in the water than on the board.

After we finished paddle boarding, Paco taught us how to use the mask for snorkeling and wear a special life vest. Dennis and I jumped off the pier into those spectacular blue waters. The water was so clear that it seemed much more shallow but it was actually 20-30 feet deep and you could still see the bottom.

The minute I put my mask on and looked underwater I realized I wasn't looking into the murky Lake Erie waters anymore. It was like looking into an aquarium! There were brightly colored fish and interesting coral. Paco would feed the fish and then we would try to catch the fish as a school of hundreds of fish swarmed around us. It was amazing!

My only regret is that we did not have a waterproof digital camera or a better case for the iPhone because we have no pictures of these wonderful adventures.

Following our morning in the water, we had delicious chips and salsa and margaritas under the palm trees with a stunning view of the water. The afternoon ended too quickly, first because of rain that sent us in a very crammed taxi back to the port and then an early departure time but not before a quick stop at Ron Juan Surf Shop!

Someday I would like to return to Cozumel for more time paddle boarding and snorkeling but for now I will just treasure our memories made in this Mexican paradise.

Returning to My Roots

I love swimming. It's my favorite. If it weren't for my eczema, I'd like to think that swimming would have been my sport and not tennis.

Well, after my running set back this summer, swimming seemed my only workout option besides slow walking that wouldn't do any more damage to my busted knee.  I went to North Park and Highland Park Pools a handful of times and then last weekend we joined LA Fitness. I'm addicted to the pool.

Even swimming isn't easy with my knee. I won't lie. I can't kick as hard. I do flip turns one legged. Yesterday was a breakthrough for me and feeling bad for myself with my knee problems. I met a woman in the pool who had a knee problem that would never get better. Mine will. She encouraged me.

Then after weeks of trying to do the breast stroke kick. I finally mastered it! That might seem like nothing but for someone who is used to being incredibly active and swim like a fish this is a setback because my knee wouldn't move that way but with perseverance it did! I was so happy!

So, I'm enjoying being back in the pool. The Great Race might not happen but I'm OK with that if I can run at least one race a year and get back to my active lifestyle.

Fall Reading List

So I made another list (I know I'm list obsessed) of books I want to read this fall. I loved making a summer reading list and it helps me to actually read some of the books on my book shelves, since I'm running out of space!!

Fall Reading List:

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

New book that has received great reviews and been on lots of reading lists.

Monuments Men by Brett Witter and Robert Edsel

Loved the movie and can't wait to read the book!

All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner

Love Jennifer Weiner books! This is her brand new book.

Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham

A book by Lorelai Gilmore! I can't wait!

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Always add at least one children's/tween book.

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Middlesex by Jefferey Eugenides

Possibilities by Kauri Hart Hemmings

Got the ARC of this at the PLA Conference in Indy.

Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor

Got his book free and autographed at the PLA Conference.

Tara Road by Maeve Binchy

Numerous recommendations to read this book!

My Accidental Jihad by Krista Bremer

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan

So, what are you reading this fall? Are you ready to curl up with a hot cider and a warm blanket and delve into a book?