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?

13 in 2013 (Late)

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). I actually skipped 2012, so unfortunately I can't review what I did or did not accomplish. I've also been writing a "Personal Year in Review" post each year in January, however, that one has not made it on here either. I would claim laziness but honestly, it's hard to look back over the past year when I seriously cannot remember what I did 2 weeks ago. My memory is that bad. I probably should be doing something about my horrid memory at such a not-old age but since my family and friends are used to it (and expect it) I just go with it. I'm still shocked I did so well in nursing school; I don't remember a thing from that either. With that all being said, I am still working on my "Personal Year in Review" and below is my 13 in 2013.

1. Start playing the piano again. I'm pretty sure I said this last year...and the year before. I have my Grandma's old baby grand and it's a beautiful piano. I need to play it more often that just over Christmas.
2. Get flat abs. I haven't been pregnant- I shouldn't look like it.
3. Run a 10K. I hate running but I'm a glutton for torturing myself. And damnit running is the THING to be doing these days. I must be a follower!
4. Travel somewhere new. I should count Whistler but 2 vacations a year never hurt anyone.
5. Volunteer. I'm thinking our local animal shelter, but I'm concerned I'll want to come home with more animals. Definitely considering it though (volunteering, not adopting).
6. Learn basic medical Spanish. Because "Tiene dolor?" only gets you just so far.
7. Decide what I want to do with my life. As in grad school, what kind, what degree, where to go, how to get in. Because I'm not getting any younger.
8. Start riding horses again. Oh! I've already done that. Unfortunately after my first 2 lessons I may have to wait a few months to continue (long story, uninteresting).
9. Read more. Working on that (refer to "Books" tab).
10. Start writing my book. First, I have to decide what to write about, and then remember from day to day to actually work on writing something so that I don't forget what story I want to tell. I think that made sense.
11. Get better at cooking. First, be able to afford the super-healthy ingredients. I have the cookbooks but that's it.
12. Pay off 1/2 of my debt (not including student loans and mortgage). This will happen once I increase my salary from a [hopefully] new job.
13. Try something new. This is a broad statement, mainly because I couldn't think of a 13th item. I will eventually though.