Found

I have been feeling lost in several different areas of my life. One area in particular would be that of exercise. Without anything to train for it has been easy to say "I don't feel like working out tonight" and going home after work, bypassing the gym. Of course, then I feel bad (usually) that I didn't work out and the cycle continues. Today I decided to take a couple of steps to re-focus at least this aspect of my life. I met my friend this morning for what used to be our Saturday morning constitutional. This was the first time we've met for a walk in several months. It was also 36 degrees outside! Brr!! Note to self: next time remember a hat to keep my ears warm. I also bought myself a new pair of tennis shoes. And the pièce de résistance, I signed up for the 12Ks of Christmas Run which, let's face it, will be more of a walk for me. I have about 7 weeks to train. I like the 12K distance (approximately 7.4 miles) and it is just long enough that you do need to do some training for it. The reason why I'm posting all this is to keep myself honest. By putting out the goal of doing this run, it will help motivate me!

It is a truth universally acknowledged...

My recent Jane Austen kick probably started when my college roommate introduced me to a Jane Austen website with a section for fans to write their take on a Jane Austen novel. I can't get enough of the stories! Even though I know the probable ending (every once in awhile one will surprise you), I still find myself wondering will Elizabeth change her opinion of Mr. Darcy or will Captain Wentworth forgive Anne? It's all so very exciting!! And so very time consuming! I can spend hours reading one story after the other.

What I Love about Fall

The glorious array of color on the trees

Orange, yellow, red, brown

Crunching through the fallen leaves

Waiting for the last few to fall

Leaving the window open a crack at night

Snuggling deeper under the covers to keep warm
Pumpkin Spice Lattes with a little nutmeg sprinkled on the foam

The roar of a crowd at a football game

You'd Have to See it to Believe it!

I was driving home today, waiting for the light to turn green when I spy a convertible driving by with the top down. Not anything out of the ordinary, until I saw what was in the backseat! A Saint Bernard!! The dog barely fit in the backseat but he looked like he was having a great time. I wish I had a camera!!

Where to next?

It always seems to happen. I get really busy at work and all I can think about is vacation! Even though I'm leaving in a month for Italy, I'm already itching to plan the next one! The short list for next year's annual vacation in November is:

Vienna & Zurich
Budapest & Warsaw
Stockholm & Oslo

For fun I've added a poll asking for input on where I should go! It's located to the left under the about me section.

Other places on my long "in my lifetime" list are (in no particular order):
Fall Leaves in New England
Macchu Piccu (Peru)
Christ the Reedemer statue (Brazil)
The family house in Germany (on my dad's side)
Great Wall of China
Pyramids
Hawaii
Australia
New Zealand
Tokyo (and of course Tokyo Disney!)