14 in 2014

Several years ago, I found a post by another blogger that listed the 10 things she wanted to accomplish in 2010 (11 in 2011, etc), and I thought it was a really neat idea.  For the most part, I've managed to write one of these posts *almost* every year since 2010, and although I've been a lax blogger lately it's definitely time for the 2014 one. So, here is my 14 in 2014 (some of the goals are borrowed from last year because I never completed them):

1. Get into grad school. Self-explanatory, it needs to happen. I'm not getting any younger (or smarter).
2. Get flat(ter) abs. I haven't been pregnant- I shouldn't look like it. I'm accepting that my body is not built for an actual 6-pack but I don't like that I can squish my belly into  a donut shape and talk about Krispy Kreme with my belly button.
3. Run a 1/2 marathon. I continue to despise running but I'm signed up for a half-marathon in April and I really should just suck it up and do it. Besides, I've always wanted to prove to myself that I could run 13 miles rather than sit on the couch and watch Castle reruns.
4. Travel somewhere new. With grad school looming in the near future, this may not happen, but as always I'm going to aim for it. I guess this year I'll just have to aim for somewhere within the borders of the United States. 
5. Volunteer. I originally wanted to volunteer at a shelter but I realized I'd just want to take all of the animals home with me. Since then, I've been contemplating different places but need to just suck it up, find one I'm at least semi-passionate about, and do it.
6. Learn basic medical Spanish. "Tiene dolor?" only gets you just so far. Plus it would help when I (eventually) become a nurse practitioner.
7. Spend as much time as possible with my nephew and sister. Because once they move to Japan it might be a very long time before I see either of them again. And I super love both of them.
8. Start riding horses again. Do I say this every year? Why yes, yes I do.
9. Get a massage once a month. Many people may laugh at this, but ever since I hurt my back at work and burned through some PDO I realized I need to take better care of my body parts, including my worn out muscles. Massages help and I'd rather do that than get dependent on pain medications.
10. Find a hobby I'm passionate about. I try a lot of things and most of them I never seem to stick with. I think my personal satisfaction and my marriage would both benefit from me finding something to do in my spare time that I truly enjoy.
11. Get my concealed carry & a handgun. The world is changing and the direction it's heading is not towards sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns. If someone decides to threaten my safety, especially in my own house, I have every intention of defending myself. 
12. Pay off some debt. It's so much fun accumulating it but it's nearing the time to start paying it back. Damn you Amazon.com.
13. Read a wider variety of books. Sometimes I don't read for a month, other times I get stuck on one genre and read 20 of those in one month. I really want to branch out more and attempt to include more classics or "book club" type books. It can't hurt and it's always nice to widen my vocabulary.
14. Watch less TV. Between AB and I our DVR probably records 20 shows a week...and then we sit on our tails and watch all of them...along with some Castle reruns, some HIMYM reruns, and occasionally some 90210 reruns. Both of us need to spend less time in from of the tube and more time doing something else (see above).

Does anyone have any goals they want to achieve in 2014?

New Year's & Edamame

Being the first of the year, my parents invited me over for their traditional January 1st lunch/dinner of ham, black-eyed peas, collard greens, and biscuits. I believe the collard greens are supposed to symbolize money and the peas good luck, but I guess in the past I just haven't eaten enough of them to do any good! I also went on a nice walk with my mom, sister, and Stetson despite the continuous drizzle.

AB worked last night and again tonight, so I left my parent's in time to get home and spend a few hours with him before he had to leave. The rain had picked up so unfortunately the dogs didn't get their nightly walk (and it's still raining right now) but they're suffering by lying all over the bed instead. Poor dogs; so abused!

In keeping with my goal of exercising more, I hauled my [slightly large] butt onto the elliptical and got in a [sweaty] 30 minute workout, followed by...

I am limiting myself to alcohol once a week so I guess today is my one day for the week! I've also gone ~24 hours without Facebook and haven't been tempted to even get on AB's to stalk people...yet.

Oh, and did anyone notice the lovely oral herpes sore on Jenny McCarthy's NYE sailor?

Updates & All

It's been a busy week, mainly because I've been working every day while still managing to cook, exercise the pets, run, and get my required 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Yes, I require that much; if I get less my eyes get red, my face swollen, and I trip over my own feet.

So here goes- my updates in bullets:

• Work actually went smoothly- I don't have any patient stories but it's because I honestly can't remember any. After a while, they all start to blend together.
• I have not managed to study for the GRE but that's not surprising considering I'm a master procrastinator.
• I don't think I want to go to grad school - quite yet. Mainly because I really have no clue what I want to do (other than knowing that I don't want to be a nurse forever) and I don't need more student loan debt for something I'm not passionate about. Which leads me to...
• I've started looking into other RN jobs to apply for in the new year. My contract is up March 1 and I'd like to try something else...something that doesn't require paging doctors that never respond for orders, trying not to spill bedpans, and sucking copious amounts of mucus out of a stranger's mouth.
• I've got an idea for a new blog- one that will simultaneously fulfill a New Year's Resolution and make me a better person (or at least look like one)- and no, it has nothing to do with looks!
• I got new boots. That's right- rain/snow boots. My husband has turned me into a North Face whore (I never used to buy NF- too expensive) and now I'm in love with pretty much everything they make. I will be taking these to Seattle next week:

• As mentioned previously, I get to spend some time with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew next week (this also means I get a break from work...double awesome)
• I'm up to 3.2 miles of running; not every time but I can manage it...which is good because the costume 5K is next week (stay tuned for the absurd candy my sister managed to get me to agree to dress up as)
• I purchased a Living Social deal for a box of fresh produce from a local delivery company, DoorStep Produce and it was well worth it. I chose the Fruit & Salad box and ended up with a hearty serving of fresh turnip greens, pears, apples, onions, tomatoes, green/red/orange peppers, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini.
• This evening I wanted to finish up the veggies from above mentioned salad box so I cut up the onions, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and peppers, coated them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and had AB toss them on the grill. I also cooked some 3 cheese tortellini with Ragu sauce and it made for a filling dinner (followed by the fabulous Apples & Pears Foster).