"May you live in interesting times"

My car - ready for the road trip home.
Not as loaded down this time!

I'm definitely living in interesting times! This phrase is intended to be a curse meaning "may you experience upheaval and trouble in your life." [credit] 


While I wouldn't say there is trouble or upheaval in my life, changes occur every moment. It isn't always easy, but it always works out for the best. I was expecting to head to San Diego to turn in my government computer and say goodbye to the 315th, but the my last battle assembly with them was cancelled due to the expected government shutdown. Instead, I packed and headed back to Washington. It was nice--I gain a lot of perspective during these long road trips, and I stopped in the Sacramento area and visited some friends on my way home.

Now, I'm packing and preparing for another road trip--to South Carolina. At first, although I'm definitely excited to visit friends along the way, I was wishing I had more time to rest before another road trip. Remember, I've been ill and am still recovering. But rest, for me, brings boredom.

So I'm getting excited about this new adventure. Rachel suggested awhile ago that I blog about my "adventures." I haven't written much about these road trips. This time, I'm going to take pictures along the way, and spend some time each day writing about the things I see and people I meet. It really is an adventure!

My life is good--I wouldn't trade places with anyone!


So don't be deceived . . . the true curse is "may you lead a boring and purposeless life."

I can always find the rainbow!

Welcome 2011--a new chapter!

Most people begin a new year with a list of resolutions. I set goals that align with my personal strategic plan, and I reflect on the previous year. Looking back over 2010, I'm pleased with my accomplishments. It wasn't an easy year though--I can't count the number of times I said "you did WHAT?!" or something similar.  However, I can positively say that the number of times I said "I love you" was exponentially higher. Life has its ups and downs and requires forgiveness and understanding. And for the forgiveness, understanding, and love I've received--thank you.

So far, 2011 is looking good. I'm beginning the year at MI BOLC at Ft. Huachuca. It's hard to believe that I began this journey three years ago . . . I'm amazed at how quickly time flies.

With this new chapter in my life, I'm struggling with blog topics. So far, this blog has been . . . boring. I'm working on it, but there are many topics about which I cannot write. That's just the way it is. For the next four months, I plan to write about what it is like to be a woman and a Soldier . . . It's a little different for me because I'm beginning this journey at a later stage in life than most. There are advantages and disadvantages to this, and I'll do my best to share them.

So, from Ft. Huachuca, AZ . . . Happy New Year! Let's make it a great year!

Cheers!

Lessons Learned

It's been awhile since I've written--I've been recovering from pneumonia. It hasn't been fun, but I've had time to think about the past several months that I've spent here in California and what I've learned about myself during this time.

I began training with Team in Training for the Nike Women's Marathon the month after I arrived here, and I spent most Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings with a group of wonderful people working toward a common goal--finding a cure for cancer. I looked forward to those days and formed some great friendships along the way. 

On October 17, the goal was met and training was over. We all knew we would feel a let down--we were even warned about this. To add to the let-down, I became ill the following weekend. A month later, I'm just finishing the last round of antibiotics. Yes, for the past month I've been resting, doing my best to recover from pneumonia (another reminder that I'm not Superwoman!).

My doctor allowed me to begin working out again just this week. Now I have a challenge ahead of me--in a month and a half, I'll be at another Army school. The first week there, I'll be given a diagnostic APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) at an elevation of 4500-5500 feet. I've been training at an elevation of ~240 feet. Ugh!

So I'm using the P90X program to train combined with running (I'm hoping to add swimming to the mix as well). Monday was my first day with the program, and by Wednesday, my body felt as sore as it did after running my first half marathon (Urban Cow on October 3rd). But it's a good sore. Yesterday, after working on arms, shoulders, and abs, I planned to go for a run. That morning, I received a text message from a friend on the team inviting me to run with a group. I got my Wednesday run back! I didn't run very fast or far, but I was out there, and it was good! I'll be running with another group of friends this weekend--I can't wait!

Now I realize that I have a great need for both short and long term goals. I have a personal strategic plan (no, I won't share it here, but I wrote it almost three years ago, and I've seen positive progress), and my short term goals need to lead toward the long range strategic plan--I need to have a purpose in everything I do. The school that I'll be attending was part of the original plan, as was the half marathon. 

With Nike being over, I need another short range goal that supports the strategic plan. My last APFT score was 199 (my highest was 204). 300 is considered a perfect score, although one can score higher than that. My goal is to raise my APFT to 270 before March 17, 2011. This will be a challenge for me, especially after having pneumonia, but I like challenges. Achieving this goal will help me meet another goal--an academic goal. I'll write more about that goal in another blog post. 

Cheers!

Be inspired--create a world without cancer

Left: Five squirrels enjoying breakfast as I drove by after my run

The Saturday Morning Run

I run with Team in Training every Saturday, and I've met some incredible people! This Saturday, I ran with a doctor and a program manager for health care continuing education. Most of the people I've met so far are involved in health care in some way, and many people are involved because someone they care about has fought a blood cancer. Their stories are incredible, encouraging.

Fund raising is harder than I thought it would be. I don't know if it's due to the current economy or if people are donating elsewhere. But I'm committed. This is too important, and researchers are making progress. Amazing progress. Researchers will soon be testing a vaccine for breast cancer, and the FDA recently approved a prostate cancer vaccine.

I've been posting messages on Facebook, but I've gotten a very small response. At work, I have a See's candy display in the break room, and I'll be hosting a Pampered Chef fund raiser shortly. If you have any fund raising ideas, I'm all ears! This is too important. And if you can donate, please do. It will help fund a cure, and it provides a tax benefit for you! Most importantly, think of the lives you will help to save . . .

After the run

After my run (six miles--woohoooo!), I cleaned up and went wine tasting. The weather was gorgeous, the views were incredible, and the wine was tasty! I think I like living in wine country! I was able to visit two wineries, but there are so many more to visit! If you are in my area, give me a call, and let's go wine tasting!

Writing

Now that I"m blogging again, I'm feeling the need to submit to a blog carnival. So far, I haven't written anything worthy of Grand Rounds--Where else can I submit? Has anyone submitted to Carnival of the Vanities lately? I'd prefer to submit to a theme oriented blog carnival--any ideas? I need to write!

A reason to write

I love to write. I do. And I've been wanting to get back into it. However, I don't really want to post all of my many opinions on the internet for anyone to read. So though I've had much to say lately (just ask my friends and family), I've been trying to weed through what I want to post here (in case someone chooses to read my blog!).

Upcoming topics:

Running for a cure. I recently registered for the 2010 Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. I'm training with Team in Training to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Although I've always been active, I've never been much of a runner. I can pass my APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test), but that is just two miles, and the time for my age group is generous. A marathon is 26.2 miles . . . So far, I'm enjoying the training and am learning to like running (one of my goals). Over the next few months, I will be blogging about my progress and about where the money goes and the people it helps. You can help me by donating via my fund raising website.

I'll continue to add topics as I read other blogs and items in the news, and I'm open to ideas! I want to use this space to work on my writing skills (I'd like to start submitting to blog carnivals again!), but I also want it to be a place for brainstorming and collaboration as well.

If you have a blog or website, email me a link and I will add you to my blog roll.

On blogging . . .

I've decided to start blogging again, but I haven't started blogging yet. What, you aren't happy with that? Check back . . . soon. I'll have something to say--you know I will.