2011 ... It Was a Very Good Year

"When I was 17, it was a very good year...." Do you know that Frank Sinatra song?  His version is my favorite.  It reminds me of the good times I've had throughout the years.  It's the last 2 days of 2011 and like many people I've been doing a lot of thinking of this past year.  Was it all I wanted it to be?  No, it wasn't everything I wanted it to be.  I don't make resolutions, but I'm hopeful and makes bucket lists of things I want to do.  I didn't do all of it, but I did a few things that weren't even on the list.  So, when I was 41 it was a very good year.....

A lot has happened to me this past year.

I lost 30 pounds ~ and then gained 15. Sigh…. Well I proved that it can be done. I just gotta work harder at getting over that 30lb wall I always hit.

In August I went back to cutting my calories but not exercising still.  I managed to drop almost 2 pants sizes by October. It was a start.  In August I also registered to run a 5K race in December called the Hot Chocolate 5K.  The race is sponsored by Ghirardelli Chocolate and the after party looked like lots-O-fun.  (the moral of that story is down below)

At the end of 2010 I joined a women’s shooting group call The Shooting Divas of the DMV (District, MD and VA). In march I took a basic firearms safety course and shot my first firearm. It was a Ruger Mark II (I think) 22lcr. It was great. It wasn’t scary like I thought it would be. In fact, it was very exciting.  I'm more active in the group now than I ever thought I would be. 

In June I bought my first gun. I bought a Ruger LCR 357. It’s a small easily concealable revolver handgun. The recoil on this gun when it’s loaded with 357 is more than I like. The beauty of this LCR is that it can also shoot .38 cal ammo. So as long as they keep making .38 cal ammo I’ll be OK. I plan to occasionally practice with 357 but will likely only ever have 38 loaded in this revolver.

In August I bought my second gun. I bought a Springfirled Armory XDm 40 with a 4.5-inch barrel. At the time this gun came in 3 differing lengths and this was the biggest. Now this gun I LOVE. It’s a great shot – or I’m a great shot with it. I’m not sure which. Either way, it has not become my regular carry firearm.

(I have many plans for me and my firearms for 2012)

In October I had my first mammogram.  I was totally cool with it until I got a call saying that I needed to come back in for a sonogram of my right breast so that they could get a closer look at "something."  That didn't bother me at first, but then my crazy brain took over and started coming up with reasons why I should be worried.  "It's cancer.  It's cancer."  Well, it's NOT cancer.  I have 2 small cysts in my right breast.  The Dr. (and I) will be keeping tabls on these two little fellows. 

On December 3, I jog/walked the Hot Chocolate 5K at the National Harbor with my BFF. It was 34 degrees that day and the race in general was a complete and epic FAIL. So many things went wrong but the biggest wrong was the organizers keeping us standing around in the frigid cold air for 2 hours waiting for the race to begin. I finished the race. Not in great time but I finished. I felt awful at the end. The route had 2 hills in it that just killed me. I wasn’t really sure I was going to finish. I hadn’t prepared or trained like I had intended. My emotions got the best of me and as I crossed the finish line instead of feeling happy I cried. I looked miserable. Even though I looked miserable, I still ordered some photos that I hope will be arriving soon. The result of this race is that I don’t want to stay like this. I want to finish a 5k race – only 3.2 miles – and feel good.

This is not a great pic of me but I look much happier than I did when I crossed the finish line.

I don't make resolutions.  I follow Yoda's guidance "Do or Do not.  There is no Try."  Most years I just opt for the "Do Not" but after that race I began exercising regular and eating better foods. By Dec. 21 I had dropped 10.5 pounds.

On December 22, I signed up with the personal training program at my gym in Chantilly, VA.  Although my first session doesn't start until Jan 1, I consider this a 2011 event.  I will be meeting with a trainer 3 days a week for 12 months.  12 months!? That's a whole year!  What have I gotten myself into.

Well, like I said I don't make resolutions so I'm just going to start.

I'm not going to promise to write on a regular schedule, but I will say this.  A lot is going to happen in 2012 so I will be back often to fill you in on the happenings. 

People told me that 40 would be a big year a good year for me.  40 wasn't a bad year, but 41 was definitely a better year.  So, here's to 42 and 2012. 

Have a safe and blessed New Years Eve celebration and remember

Don't Drink and Drive