Before I close the the previous year, I thought I would post my plans for the upcoming year in a series of groups: first, physical, personal, reading, spiritual, travel and couple; then yearly. Last year, I also made monthly goals. When I did not forget about these goals, I truly enjoyed the process; some of my monthly goals even became habits after the 30-day repetition! I did not have an organic list of goals I wanted to tackle, so I'm opting to omit them this year. I might have something I want to tackle when March or July roll around, and I will focus on that challenge then.
So without further ado, here's to 2015 and all that could be!
Personal
- Continue cooking. LOTS. The measurable task: Make one new recipe each week. This is the method I used last year, and it seemed to be practical for life as it was then and is currently. I'm ahead of schedule as the date reads now. This year I've made: a heavenly, wonderful corn chowder paired with a decent corn bread; a huge batch of minestrone to freeze for winter lunches; a meaty, porky chili; and two pasta sauces--vodka sauce and a creamy leek and pancetta topping.
- As an added bonus, I want to expand my palate, so I'm going to try to add a unique ingredient to the shopping cart weekly. In 2015, I've tried a prickly pear and made two meals with leeks.
- Run 50 miler - MAYBE. I ran a marathon, and have another 15 months before I can run the Boston Marathon. I need to stay in shape in between, right? My fans have not exactly approved said goal. I’m apt to run this thing anyway. This is the race I have my eye on, pending the brutality of winter 2015. Today, I learned (or recalled? ) running in snow is fun and peaceful and pretty (and, yes, cold).
- Abs, abs, abs! And more strength. In an ideal world, this would entail 30 minutes of core per week and an hour of strength training a week. I shall try.
- Read 40 books. This is an ambitious goal for me! I read a lot, again for me, in 2014 and I’d like to keep the trend alive.
- Read at least two 500+ page books. I'm one-third the way through Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton. And Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is on the docket. I’m taking recommendations though.
- More days of solitude. I'll aim for a day of solitude per month. This is going to be easy to knock out in the beginning of the year. Boyfriend will be out of town for two weeks, and I have ample time off work in the first two months of the year.
- Visit two new states. The line up is set for Connecticut and Delaware. I already have my ticket to CT booked, and DE is a jump, hop, skip from my location in the mid-Atlantic. This is part of a greater goal to reach all 50 states before I’m 50. Though I’m way ahead of schedule, I was unable to hit a new state last year; I’m doubling up this year!
- Travel internationally. I'm more than ready to leave the United States for vacation. Last year, I renewed my passport to do so. Thanks to Boyfriend’s generous parents, we’re booked for a B Family vacation in less than a month. I’ll knock this one out early. Though I wouldn't be disappointed with late in the year plans (or plans at all) for another adventure abroad.
Together, Boyfriend and I made a list of 15 things we'd like to accomplish this year. We threw in a bonus ideas to keep life interesting.
- Spend a weekend in Richmond, Virginia. My youngest brother has completed three of eight college semesters in Richmond and we have yet to visit. I'm a bad sister, I know. The eating, the surrounding hiking, the college basketball, and the music scene are all supposed to be incredible. I'm not sure what we're waiting on. I'm have my eye on the Richmond Half Marathon in November; this trip is looking as though it might happen then.
- Go the the Green Bay Packers/Kansas City Chiefs game in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Boyfriend claims the Packers. I love the Chiefs. The two will meet in 2015. And as soon as the schedule is released, we'll likely know if we'll be there to see.
- Pirates Stadium – I'm on a baseball stadium mission, and with Pittsburgh a short four hours away, and the Atlanta Braves visiting on a 2015 weekend, we'll be making my way to PNC Park this year.
- Mets Stadium – I have been to Citi field. Boyfriend has not. He'd like to do this one together. And if we can see the Braves, I'm in. (This is a bonus goal.)
- Yankee Stadium – Boyfriend has been to Yankee Stadium. I have not. I'd like to do this one together. And he's in, if the Boston Red Sox are in town.
- Delaware Overnight – As mentioned, I (nor Boyfriend) have not explored our nation's first state.
- Book of Mormon; Once – We like musicals. And both these are coming to the Kennedy Center in 2015. Tickets are to go on sale soon, and we have our alarms set; these shows will not be missed.
- One Restaurant/Month – Food is good. The end.
- One Book Club Book/Month – We have our first three books of the year set: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, and Boys on the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown.
- Pentagon and Air Force Memorials – Starting in March these memorials will be in our backyard, and we'll have no excuse not to visit.
- Participate in the Spring and Fall Book Sales – This is our favorite volunteer opportunity. We didn't get to participate in the Fall, so we're looking forward to being on the schedule in the Spring.
- Overnight Kayaking – Why not?
- Backpacking Trip – For the great outdoors, our home away from home.
- Hike 120 Miles – I opted for closer to 1,200 because #hardcore, but Boyfriend equated that to hiking half the Appalachian Trail while maintaining full time jobs and marathon training. I'm still unsatisfied with the number we agreed on but compromise; I'm learning.
- Chincoteague Pony Swim – On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Saltwater Cowboys will swim ponies across the Assateague Channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. This year is the 90th year for the annual swim made famous by Marguerite Henry's "Misty of Chincoteague. This is where you'll find us on that Wednesday in late July.
- Dog – Maybe? Bonus, big bonus.
With 11 months remaining, I'm confident I have lots of doing and discovering ahead of me.
