A List and a Bucket

Everybody has some sort of Bucket List, right? Mine doesn't include death-inspired activities like base jumping or skydiving, but it does include two things that somehow crazily feel empowering to me. The first: crowd-surfing. I've always wanted to be passed over a hyped up crowd for a few minutes (without being dropped). The second: learning American Sign Language. This isn't something I've always wanted to do, but it's something that would be considered a useful life skill, and it would also be exhilarating to learn and understand a foreign language. Taking French for 3 semesters as an undergrad didn't exactly do it for me; Madame Edwards and Monsieur Amoss weren't impressed. I learned minimal ASL during the first summer I taught at the Faison School for Autism, and the feeling of communicating with a child without using words was indescribable.
I don't have a complete Bucket List to share with you. Besides, sometimes I make things up as I go along ;)

I also have some fitness goals in mind, most of which have yet to be completed:
Run one mile without walk break(s)
Run two miles without walk break(s)
Run three miles without walk break(s)
Run four miles without walk break(s)
Run a 5K without walk break(s)
Run an outdoor 5K without walk break(s)
Run an outdoor 10K without walk break(s)
Run an outdoor half-marathon without walk break(s)
Be able to do 50 consecutive legitimate push-ups
Be able to do a 30-second plank
Be able to do a 1-minute plank
Be able to do 5 consecutive 1-minute planks
Reach my goal weight of 155 pounds

So, just a few things out of my bucket to share with y'all. Do you have a Bucket List?

P.S. Day Two of the H2O Challenge looked like this: 24 oz. of water, 2 cups of coffee, 1 10 oz. glass of orange juice. Day Three (yesterday) looked like this: 44 oz. of water and 2 cups of coffee. I'm plenty hydrated, I'm just not meeting my very realistic goal.
P.P.S. Week nine of 5K training is going splendidly! I completed 3-mile runs on Monday and Wednesday as specified, and I concentrated on my arms during Tuesday's weights session. I switched things up and hit the elliptical this morning. I really can't say enough good things about this training program. This weekend is going to be a little dicey since I'll be at home and Ian will be visiting for Easter, so I'll have to do some rearranging. Saturday calls for a 4-mile run (yikes!!).
P.P.P.S. I've had several readers ask me how I qualify saying that I have had a lot of support for a particular post, or thanking readers for their comments if they are not visible on the blog. I mostly receive texts, tweets, calls, and in vivo support. I know that little by little, my readership is growing -- it just doesn't appear that way on the blog :) Please feel free to leave comments here anytime!

My Heart Smiles For...

Nighttime thunderstorms.

Sweet Frog Cake Batter froyo with wet nuts and marshmallow creme toppings.

Watching a scary movie on Friday the 13th.

Completing every item on my to-do list by my goal time.

After-dinner coffee at a restaurant.

Breezy, 60-degree weather.

Carrying a new handbag.

Seeing a movie in the theatre.

The Christmas Eve 11 p.m. candlelight church service.

Juicy, perfectly ripe watermelon on a hot day.

Getting an A back on a difficult project.

Tent camping.

Winning at Monopoly.

Jersey knit cotton sheets.

The wind in my hair, flying on a jet ski.

My heart pounding after a new running accomplishment.

The smell of wood smoke in the fall.

Receiving personal or "just because" snail-mail.

Buying a smaller size than the last time I went shopping.

Peach champagne.

Walking on the beach late at night.

Sleeping in with no alarm.

Laughing until I cry and my cheeks hurt.

Losing myself in a great book.

Having my hair straightened.

Singing obnoxiously loudly passionately on a road trip.

Having a fully charged cell phone.

Watching old VHS tapes.

Listening to older people tell stories about times before I was born.

Holding a puppy.

Falling asleep with a smile.

Hearing from an old friend unexpectedly.

Tailgating with my family (and my second family).

Experimenting with new foods and new recipes.

Being a part of this fantastic blogging community.

Happy, happy, happy Wednesday!

P.S. What makes your heart smile? I really want to hear from you!

Challenge Update #1

Well, let's see... Yesterday, during the first day of my self-challenge, I drank about 30 ounces of water plus 2 cups of coffee. Though coffee is obviously derived from water, I didn't count it. I came up 18 ounces short. Maybe I'll do better today. I didn't run this morning; instead, I focused on arms during my weight lifting sesh. (I even tried some new machines!) I don't have a faucet filter or a Brita, so I'm relying on water bottles (primarily SoBe Life Water and Vitamin Water), which are expensive and which I buy in a limited capacity. I probably should have thought this challenge through better, at least before I publicized it... Nevertheless, drinking 48 ounces of water per diem is possible, I'll just need to put more effort into the challenge.

I've been thinking about getting one of those water pitchers that filters water directly into 4 reusable bottles, which can be detached easily and are dishwasher-safe (two key components for me). What an easy and eco-friendly device! I first saw this contraption during a visit to my close friend Kristin's townhouse. I'd like one for myself, but I haven't invested the expense in one yet. Maybe it's just the tricks my mind plays on me, but I feel like filtered water tastes much better than water directly from the tap.

In other news, spring has sprung up my allergies.
Spring: Pros vs. Cons
Con: I've been sneezing like nobody's business for a week! I'm not stuffy or foggy-headed and I don't sound like Morgan Freeman with a speech impediment... yet.
Pro: I don't usually get bad allergy attacks, and I'm actually more prone to be affected by the changing seasons in the fall.
Con: My poor beautiful car, however, is covered in a heinous yellow dusting of pollen.
One pro of this time of year -- aside from the semester being over 4 weeks from today -- is the temperatures. The days are warm and sunny, and the nights are crisp and windy. Anyone who even remotely knows me knows that I loathe hot weather, but I have been enjoying wearing dresses to class.
The con to this pro is that I have to be mindful of how often I shave my legs. Sorry to rain on your parade, gentlemen -- the vast majority of us don't mess with it daily.
Con: Also, the wolf spiders which really might be half wolf and half arachnid guard the mailboxes much too closely for my comfort. I guess the bills, Easter cards, and junk advertisements will have to wait.

I'll be keeping you posted on the H2O Challenge. Happy Tuesday, blends :)

H2O Challenge

As I was sipping my delicious Kiwi Strawberry Propel Zero last Friday morning gearing up for one of my longest runs yet, I decided to issue myself a challenge: Beginning Monday (because weekends at HSC are not ideal), I'm going to drink 48 oz. of water per day for one week. Currently I drink about half to seventy-five percent of that. Judge me if you must.

I began week 9 of my 12-week 5K training program this morning, so drinking adequate water is vital. The last 4 weeks of the training program call for running a certain number of miles rather than a certain length of time. Now that I've run more than a 5K three times during my prescribed 45-minute runs, I thought running 3 miles this morning would be challenging but doable. I was right! It always feels good afterward, but during these longs runs I get what I like to call jelly legs and I'm sweating like a drug testee on Niacin. (Side note: sweating absolutely does not bother me when I exercise. I'm not one of those girls who prefers to "glisten." In fact, I tend to have the mentality that the more I sweat, the better cardio workout I'm having.) I always try to hydrate well before a run (but not so much so that I'm bloated or I cramp up), and I try not to guzzle my whole water bottle as I complete my 3-minute cool-down. Needless to say, sweating and physical activity require water, water, water!

I have to say, running on the treadmill has become very enjoyable for me. If I miss or skip more than a few days in the gym, I truly miss it. Call me crazy... But I'm being honest with myself and with you all. Anyway, I'm straying a bit from the topic at hand. H2O it is. Thus far, I've only consumed about 15 oz. of water, so I'll get those extra ounces in as I half-consciously sip my water during class and dinner. Updates to come. Have a happy hydrated Monday!

P.S. I forgot to add this little jewel to my Greek Week post. It was duct taped to one of the main doors leading into/out of Ian's dorm hall:

Fratting Hard: Greek Week 2012

I could tell you that this weekend was peaceful and serene and full of melt-your-heart moments, but I'd be lying. This weekend is better encapsulated in the word insane.

Friday, my little sister and best friend in the world, Caroline, and Ian and I enjoyed the frattivities taking place around the clock. Hampden-Sydney does Greek Week in big proportions. There was cornhole, burgers and dogs on the grill (I elected for Taco Bell--I still don't do "real" hamburgers or hot dogs), bands all the way around Frat Circle, a makeshift hot tub (a tarp inside a pickup full of water), streaking, glow-in-the-dark Frisbee, an abundance of alcohol, couches on lawns, way too many above-the-knee khakis and pastel button-downs, and more than enough mingling with both old and new people. I managed not to fall this weekend, though I did trip over that same treacherous sidewalk, resulting in a few ugly but harmless blood blisters. I drank way too much Miller Light, and I ate two pieces too many of cheesy, onion-laden Papa John's goodness.

Saturday Caroline had to leave before lunch to get back to school to prep for a sorority ball, so Ian and I grabbed a light lunch (some very dry Philadelphia rolls, a Vitamin Water, and a Kit Kat for me) before meeting up with my parents. I was excited to take them down to Ian's fraternity house to see some of the frat bros they know, such as these clowns:

 Don't worry, Zsa-Zsa, you're not a clown!

I was also a little apprehensive that the inevitably shirtless guys sunning themselves on the lawn and playing cornhole with their cigars and their red Solo cups full of unspeakable cocktails would make them think differently, but they absolutely loved seeing everybody and getting a taste of our frattier weekends.

Afterward, we grabbed an early and delicious dinner at Ruby Tuesday before my family needed to head home and Ian and I needed to head out for more provisions. Saturday night was much less crowded but equally as hilarious and entertaining. This morning, I paid for it dearly. Luckily for me, Ian graciously plays doctor quite well. We had brunch in the dining hall, and then sadly, it was time for us to part company. I had a nap and several bottles of water on my agenda!

And just like that, Greek Week 2012 was over as suddenly as it had begun.

I love still having the best of both worlds for a few more months. Once Ian's in medical school and I'm in the second year of my M.Ed. program, things won't be so frattastic. I'm sure people judge me for my weekend decisions and my lifestyle, but frankly, my dears, I don't give a damn. I'm sure my liver feels differently, but my grades are high and my concerns are low.

I hope your weekend was excellent, and far more hydrated than mine!

P.S. Sorry I've been a little light on the pics recently. One of Ian's close friends asked if a photo of the airplane bottles I downed last night would grace "The Blog," and though they won't, consider this your shout-out, Raj!