I ran the Crystal City Twilighter with Jess "just for fun" in 102 degree weather on July 24 and conquered another huge life goal with Greg, when we also ran the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in September in VA Beach, with my cousin Tim and his finance Shena. I finished the grueling race in 1:53:52 (a whooping eight minutes faster than Greg I might add) after months of hard training and yes, I'm going to keep repeating my time because I'm damn proud of it.
GO TEAMGW, Greg and I celebrated our third anniversary on September 29 at the Oval Room in DC. I think the movie What Happens in Vegas had a really great line. "Listen, I've been married for twenty five years to the same wonderful, infuriating woman. And granted there are days when I want to light her on fire but I don't, because I love her. And that would be illegal. And you know something, and I might be old fashioned but when I said those vows, I meant them." Ditto baby, ditto. Love you more than Arthur loves pizza.
Greg and I also took our annual trip to the Shendoah Mountains in November for a day hike, buying honey and peanut brittle at the general store, and getting lost........again...oh it's a great story though, ask Greg about that one. We chose Signal Knob this year.
We slid off to Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania for a week long get-a-way which was so much fun. Who says you can't pet a giraffe, eat ridiculously good caribbean food, go on a hike, go to a spa, ride on a trolley, and go on a 25 mile bike ride in the mountains on the same vacation. Was smashing good fun and highly recommend the place to breathe and destress for a bit.
Mom and Dad bought a really awesome Lake Anna house and also started building their new home in Charlottesville with a killer view. I'm really excited for them and can't wait to help them move. No more Manassas? Crazy!
Christmas 2010 was fun and eventful this year. Greg and I did our usual traditions and we hit all four family events without completely losing our minds!
Looking forward to all the fun and excitement in 2011!
In light of this shocking revelation, I became ravenous for answers. I plowed through old journals, boxes, and equally embarressing photos to investigate. (Of course, journals did exist, at one point, all the way back to the 5th grade; however, after further inspection, everything pre freshman year at JMU ended up in the trash to rid the world of rubbish. Dear Diary, I like joe, I played volleyball, I like mike, I played volleyball, i like jason, I played volleyball, i like todd, i played....., if there was ever a time for WTF, this was it. Even my older self couldn't stand the ramblings of the frothing baboon that was me in high school and prior. BTW, long overdue, but mom and dad, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE. I'm sure I'll get slapped with a head-strong, defiant, gum smacking, beer chugging teenager as part of this wonderful thing we call karma, and you guys can at least rest in the solace of that.
So I began to regale and relive tales from 2000 (age 22) to present. I was fresh out of JMU and full of excitement. My optimism and naiveness were so thick you could cut it with a cleaver.
Two resounding themes were peppered throughout my in-depth analysis, one, that it's quite a feat to keep the same resolutions for ten long years and never once achieve them, and two, that I don't have to continue to carry around my biggest fear of dying without doing anything or feeling like I never really "lived". Even in this ten year fly by from 2000-2010, I was surprised and impressed at myself for grabbing the bull by the horns (family translation), for just going all out, balls to the wall (friend translation.....to the window....to the wall). I did so much it made my head spin going through it all, and I have all the memories and scars to prove it. The word rollercoaster springs to mind.
So here goes, in the past ten years, I have learned how to utilize a casserole dish, do a catch on the trapeze, and scuba dive. I've explored, experienced and traveled many cities, including: Amsterdam, Los Angeles, London, St. Louis, Paris, Venice, San Franciso, Mykonos, Corfu, Steamboat, Waikiki, and Croatia. I've gone through 5 jobs (i could write the definitive guide on what to do when your company burns through 60 million in venture capital in six months and you're pink slipped, sniffling and shuffling to the door with only your box of personal items from your desk). I've gained about one pound per year which I consistently lose and then regain each year, as some sort of sick game with myself. I purchased two houses on my own, rode a mechanical bull in PA, finished a basement with my dad, my uncle and some illegal immigrants in herndon virgina, painted countless baseboards and quit smoking. I ran countless miles, became an aunty, did loads of squats, drank gallons of beer, and berated myself for devouring too many big macs. I doubled my salary plus some, won two grand at the roulette table, became a total wine snob, stayed at two awesome bed and breakfast places in southern virginia, squeezed myself into size 25 true religion jeans too often, and replaced fallen closet racks over five times (where the hell is my studfinder?). I played truckloads of volleyball games, cried oceans of tears, and danced in my car so hard that I missed my exit on 66. I successfully constructed cupcakes (sort of), got into trouble on wine tours with friends, helped the homeless, hiked many mountains and trails, got back with Jesus, and realized my mother was right about pretty much everything all along. I dumped toxic boyfriends and friends, while messing up perfectly good relationships with great men for no good reason at all (sorry Ryan, hope you are happy and well). I adopted two cats, two gay guys as best buddies, and younger web designers to mentor. I've lost my keys, my mind, and many good friends that were taken too soon. I found the love of my life, my rock, my knight in shining armor, Greg. I've dined at the best restaurants the dc area including the inn at little washington and got to meet the genius that is Mr. Patrick O'Connell, as well as tour his kitchen. Obviously, in light of that last observation, I discovered my calling as a "foodie" and will now stalk Mike Isabella's new restaurant simply because he was on Top Chef. I got married in a beautiful wedding in a perfect dress, swam with dolphins, got promotions, flashed people, and purchased scores of completely uncomfortable but absolutely fierce shoes. I've danced around my bedroom naked, laughed until I cried or wine came through my nose, sang into my hairbrush, and embarressed myself many more times than I can count.
So on this 23rd day of July 2010 at the ripe old age of 32, do I have anything exciting to tell you about what we've been doing lately? No. Do I feel bad about that? Not in the slightest. Mistakes: 253,098,238 and counting. Regrets? Zero. Do I care what you think since I turned 30? No. So, put that in your pipe and smoke it Carrie Bradshaw.
