Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you & yours! We look forward to celebrating the new year with you soon!

1/2 Marathon!

Some friends and I are signing up to run the Rock&Roll 1/2 Marathon in Las Vegas. This will be especially cool because it is at night on The Strip. This will be especially daunting since I haven't run more than two miles since high school. As a result, here is my training schedule:

The race is December 4th, so we've allowed plenty of time for training. Our plan is to drive up Friday afternoon, go out on Friday night, recover by the pool on Saturday, run the Half on Sunday, drive back on Monday. 

Anyone is welcome to come and cheer us on! 

Books Galore!

With Dave gone, I've had a lot more extra time this past week. So I've read two books - There isn't anything more satisfying and heartbreaking than finishing a good book. I love the can't-put-it-down-stay-up-till-1am-reading feeling, though I do feel sad when I finish a book.

So here's what I've been reading recently, and what's next on my shelf.

Recently Finished

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

A Young Adult aka Teen novel, this was a fun book - adventure, fantasy, some romance. Barnes and Noble advertised it as an "Epic Series," so I bought it, read it in two days, and then moved to ....

Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

... Book 2 in the series, read that in two days, and now have to wait until November for the next book in the series to be pulished. WhompWhomp. 

There's just something timeless about YA fiction. First, it's easy to read. Second, the themes transcend age. A 90 year old reader and a 20 year old reader can relate to teen anxiety, heartbreaks, rebellion. 

I will admit that these two Tiger books were more along the lines of the Twilight series - predictable, over the top emotions, but still a good adventure/escapism book

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

This one was more "my age." I love historical dramas. This book on www.paperbackswap.com was billed as Historical Fiction. Well there's some romance in it. Like Steamy romance. I hadn't expected that and it surprised me. But I've got the next book in the series on order, as well. 

Next Up

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

I think the two different covers of this book tell two different stories, so we shall see. I chose this book based on NPR's recommendation. Their book critics made a list of books to read for the Hogwart's Grad, books to read for (post)college students that grew up with Harry Potter. The list includes Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, which I've already read - coincidentally in my YA Fiction class in college, and The Magicians by Lev Grossman. 

Summer Travel

We've been out and about a LOT in the last month. We had POM leave - Pre-Overseas Movement vacation days - scheduled for late June-early July. Luckily for you, I forgot my camera most places we traveled. Whomp Whomp.

Dave and I spent a few nights in San Francisco, where we played tourist. San Francisco Giant's baseball game, Alcatraz night tour, Point Loma National Seashore, 1917 Earthquake spot, and fantabulous Indian burritos. Those were the highlights.

We spent the 4th of July visiting Dave's family in the South. We bought fireworks and set them off! I know, it sounds boring but let me quantify. 1) I grew up outside of DC, and we usually only had sparklers. 2) We bought big exploding fireworks in Mississippi. 3) We attempted to blow up a watermelon. Additionally, we ate at Rendezvous, the originator of Memphis-style (dry rub) ribs. We got to spend time with our nieces, who eventually accepted Dave, and Dave's family. It was relaxing and fun. Except for the fact our return flight was canceled. But we made it back.

Last on our tour-de-everywhere, we drove six hours up the spine of the Central Valley to Redding, CA. Redding is the northern-most point in the CenVal, and as such, it doesn't feel so much like a valley but more like you are surrounded by mountains on three sides. Dave's future roommate, TJ, and my friend, Amy, tied the knot in a lovely, lovely ceremony. We bought a camera for the occasion, but it was left behind at the reception - never to be seen again. So no photos of Dave in his dress-whites and I dressed up. Whomp Whomp.

Jaime and I wiating for the ceremony to start - I was so excited, I wanted to cheer during the vows.

The newly married couple. (I was there when she chose her dress, so pretty.) 

OCF girls

Now we are home for a few weeks. And no more traveling. We were glad to accomplish so much during our time off, but we were exhausted.