Dear Diary.

Do you keep a diary? I've never been very good at keeping up with daily entries, so I've never kept a diary for more than a week. For awhile there I came to think of this blog as sort of my diary and in a way it still is.... only to be honest I don't share all my deepest secrets with the internet. But even my blog has at times been difficult to keep up with. I just sometimes feel like I don't have anything to say. The other day I was staring at one of my bookshelves trying to decide what I wanted to read next (I'm trying not to buy any new books until I at least finish one book from my shelf). I noticed a little book in the corner there. It was a five year "One Line a Day" Journal. My cousin Katy had given it to me as a birthday present and I had never started using it, probably because I wanted to start on January first. But I was inspired so I've started all the way at the end of the year!

I think it will be very fun to see what I was thinking or doing on any particular day five years from now. Since it only gives you enough space for a sentence or two the commitment isn't a big one.

Since I know I haven't blogged everyday I can't go back to Nov. 8 2011 or 2010 and see what I was blogging at the time... but I can get close...

Nov. 2011
I didn't even blog a single time in November of 2011.... so this comes from September.

Nov. 2010
Really big surprise here.... I was talking about being burned out on reading...

When I look back I can see how much I've changed in some ways... and how little in other ways. I will forever be trying to read, blog, and run more!!

Vote.

Yesterday, November 6, 2012, was Election Day here in the USA. While many stood in lines for hours around the country I had already placed my vote days ago via absentee ballot. To be honest I felt done with this election months ago. I don't even have cable and I was sick of the political ads, roadside signs, as well as all the election talk. I feel like in the past few months our country has been slogged down by our differences. All the money that was spent on negative campaign ads is disgusting. Neither side is better than the other when it comes down to the hate that they spewed at each other. I feel like the day after a presidential election we have to start picking up the pieces.  It doesn't matter if you voted blue or red. Now is the time to start working together. There should be no sore losers or sore winners. There is too much at stake to not come together to work it out. I don't really like to talk politics. Mostly because I get angry and feel really small, but if there is one thing I believe in it's this: if we work against each other no one wins. America isn't going to be in shambles four years from now if we can work through our differences. I really think most Americans feel this way. We are sick of politics. We are sick of both the Democrats and the Republicans. So anyways... that's enough of my incoherent ramblings...

Yesterday I had a thought. I was at work, frustrated and wanting to go home. I thought to myself, "Gosh, I want a glass of wine." Then I had another thought, "I used to let out my frustrations with a nice long run.... not a glass of wine." My knee injury has of course been an issue for me lately.... but I need to get back to NEEDING to run. I hope my thought doesn't lead you to thinking I might have a problem with consumption... while I enjoy a glass of wine from time to time I didn't think to myself, "I NEED a glass of wine."

So off I go right now... The sun is shining, my ipod is charged, and my running shoes are on!

November.

Welcome to November. Wow, where has the year gone?! Time seems to be flying by at a ridiculously fast speed lately. I feel like I can't keep up! Wasn't I just celebrating the coming of Summer?! Now it's time to start thinking about turkey and Christmas present. This weekend is the start of the holiday bazaars in town and although I alway enjoy them, I just can't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that this year is only 60 days away from being complete.

I haven't been very good about my resolutions this year. To be honest I've failed spectacularly..... but I'm not letting that get to me. 2012 has been an amazing year, one of my best yet. I have no doubt that the last few months will be just as fantastic.

Since it is the first day of the month I think I will do something I haven't done in a while... set some goals for the month!

November Goals:

1. Cook dinner 3 times a week.
2. Run 3 times a week. Any distance, just get out there!
3. Try to have a majority of my Christmas shopping done by the end of the month.
4. Try 3 new recipes.
5. Make an effort to show my loved ones how special they are to me.

Ok... five goals for the month! Wahoo! I'm excited. Some of these goals are connected to my year-long resolutions and are meant to save me money, get active and lower my holiday stress level!

I guess the holidays sort of started last night with Halloween. We had a great time walking downtown as my nephew Buzz Lightyear (Callen) trick-or-treated. The rain almost held off for the first hour then the black clouds rolled in and let out buckets of sideways rain. That was when I was grateful my costume included an umbrella!

Mary Poppins.

Cowgirl (Josephine)
Buzz (Callen)
Witch (Madeline)

Bert and Mary Poppins

Cute Family!