2010 has been an interesting year. It has been the worst year and the best year, all at once. I have been challenged to within an inch of my life on several occasions, and I have come through. I have grown and developed parts of me I didn't know I had. I know next year will have its own set of challenges. The ones I know about will be just as tough as the ones I've beaten this year. I hope that I will have the strength to succeed then too.
The worst challenge I faced this year was Bill's tour. The tour that took him from me on March 6 and has yet to return him. Ten long months so far, and plenty more to go. Thankfully we have Skype and email and great modern technology. I still feel connected to him. We can talk about things real-time and the distance doesn't seem that far. It's still not the same. I forget how it feels to sleep next to him, how strong his arms are when he hugs me, and how it feels to have his hand lightly on my leg when we sit on the couch.
He is still my biggest fan and supporter. I know he believes in me even when I don't believe in myself. He encourages me to challenge and better myself and is proud of the results. I know we will make it through this challenge, and the challenges of reunion.
I challenged myself to get in shape this year. I really committed to it on March 31, the day I started the Couch to 5k program. It is a great program designed to get you out the door and on your way. It takes you nice and slowly though nine weeks. I followed the program, even though it was difficult for me, and ran my first 5k on May 22. I hadn't even finished the program yet, but I finished the 5k and in what I considered a respectable time!
I really enjoyed the running, which surprised me (and probably most people who know me) and progressed through the Bridge to 10k program and ran my first 10k the week before my birthday. From there I started thinking ahead and started training for my first half marathon. That is scheduled for next Saturday. I ran 13.14 miles in training! That's unbelievable to me. I ran that far only 8-1/2 months after 15 years of a sedentary lifestyle. I don't think I will do a full marathon, at least not in the foreseeable future. It is just farther than I want to run. I will continue to run until the Seaside Half Marathon in March. Then I may take a break from running and put a few miles on my bike.
I have been running the shop the best I know how. People still come in and seem to be interested in it. Both potential buyers fell through, so I have to move to plan B. That's OK. Even though a big part of me feels like a failure for that, I know I have been successful overall.
When I started this blog I made a list of goals. Let's see how I've fared this year.
Get in shape and be fit Success! I can run 13+ miles.
Lose weight and fat Success! I have lost 16 pounds so far (before the trip to NJ, that is) and probably around 4". I have very few clothes that fit and I like how my body looks. I still jiggle, but now I jiggle in the right places.
Learn to swim Carrying this over to next year.
Improve my 5k time to 28:00 Carrying this over to next year, too. My PR now is 29:16.
Continue to learn new things Success! I learn new things often and I want to continue that.
Read more books I only read two books this year that I can remember. I started a few others, but have yet to finish them. I think once my knitting and crocheting demands wane (no more shop models or class models) I will be able to read more.
Eat healthier Success! I still have lapses, but my "one 'dessert' a day policy has worked for me. I feel fit and I've lost weight, and I've done that without depriving myself. I still have chocolate and wine and cookies, just not as much.
Declutter the house Carrying this over. I've made some progress, but so far I've been keeping new clutter from forming, not really getting rid of what's there. Once the shop closes I'll be able to devote time and effort to this.
Do I have anything to add to this list for next year? Not really. I'd like to maintain a level of fitness. I don't have to be in training all the time. I can take it easy for a while and run or bike at a lower intensity. I do want and need to clean our home. With a move looming, it would be best to declutter now. Also, I want to have a clean house. I don't want to be embarrassed when people come over. I want to read more. I love to read and get lost in stories. I would like to get over my fear of water. I see myself as a perfect person and when I realize I have imperfections, I want to overcome them.
The biggest goal I have for next year is to get through the rest of this deployment without going crazy and work really hard at reconnecting after he comes home. The changes we've both undergone are huge and we need to work hard to get to know each other again. We had issues after his first deployment and I don't want to go through that again. I hope the Navy will give us a less demanding tour next so that we can reconnect.
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I think the TV has officially kicked the bucket. I came back yesterday to the light blinking. Lately when that happens I can just unplug it and plug it in again. Sometimes it takes two or three tries. I've tried it more than a dozen times and it is not working. So much for watching the New Year's Eve events. Or a TV show or a movie. Oh well. Maybe it's for the best. I'll call the TV repair place on Monday and find out if they think it's fixable. Maybe I'll let them work on it while I'm gone. Maybe I should get a digital converter box and put the TV from the spare room in here.
I made myself a little snack dinner. Growing up we would have pigs in a blanket, shrimp cocktail, chips and dip, and other hors d'oeuvres for dinner. So I did the same thing, only different. It was OK, but not really all that exciting.
Some neighbors are shooting off fireworks. Tawny was freaking out. She went in the bedroom and crumpled one of the rugs into a pile. I was not pleased. I fixed the rug and then called her in and put her Thundershirt on. She came running in and seemed excited to wear it. It seems to be working, as she's been laying down without issue with the noises since I put it on. She got a little anxious a second ago as the back door neighbors lit off the fireworks that whistle. But otherwise, so far so good. We'll see how she does.
It is funny to see Abby laying on the dog pillows and the dogs feeling like they can't. I appreciate that they get along so well with the cats. But it is funny that the little pipsqueak commands so much respect from the dogs that they'll lay on the floor and let her have the bed.
I think it is time to refill my glass and toast the incoming year. I'll see if I can complete the gusset on my sock and call it a day. Cheers!
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