September 101 update

So I forgot when I was doing my August update that I actually did complete one! I ate bison. Bison burgers with a shit-ton of feta, to be exact. And they were delish. So I'm counting that one for this month, since I forgot to for last month.

Completed:

• ate bison.

Made progress:

• read one book!
• paid $1800 toward student loans. (I'm pretty proud of this one! That's more than 10% of my goal, and my loans haven't even matured yet.) 
• updated the blog with one recipe
• answered ten questions
• donated some rice

Goals for October:

• make an effort to catch up on rice (50K+ grains donated)
• run 1 mile
• lose another 5 lbs. (get down to 137)
• pay $1200 toward loans
• read 4 books

Let's see how it goes! 

365 questions: 256 - 260

256. When should you reveal a secret that you promised you wouldn’t reveal?

The mental health professional has established a good precedent on this one, I think. Only in situations of life and death, personal injury, or immediate harm. 

257. How would you spend your ideal day?

I'm a total homebody. Knitting, drinking hot cocoa in front of the fire, reading a book, snuggling with my man. Or winning the lottery. Or making oodles and oodles of money at a job I enjoy. 

258. What is the one primary quality you look for in a significant other?

Trustworthiness. If you can't trust your partner, there really is no relationship. 

259. What do you admire most about your mother and father?

They both work harder than anyone I know. My dad owns his own business and has worked incredibly long hours to provide for the family. He built it from the ground up after we moved up to Alaska and has made a name for himself that is recognized nation-wide in some circles. My mom is going back to school and has a 4.0 GPA. She studies like her life depends on it - determined to do her best. 

260. What is the best advice you have ever received?

Probably that to never regret. And I don't know that it was ever said to me; it's something that I've always tried to do. All other "sage advice" coming to mind has exceptions. 

Oh, Sedona.

In my head that sounds like the chorus of one of my earliest musicals. "Ooooooooo-klahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain..."

Anyway, that's where I was this weekend. Or for a very short time on Sunday, anyway. Kyle and I packed up and headed out Saturday morning. We got the obligatory trail mix granola bars and hit the road. After stopping for gas and dropping the puppy dog off, we made our first stop at Javalina Leap Winery.

It was pretty neat. Their wines were tasty, for the most part. We bought a bottle of their Sauv Blanc to take home (which, interestingly enough, is the only wine they have nothing to do with. It comes out of California and they slap their own label on it), and got to peek in their back room where they have huge fermentation vats. I liked the place. Some of their wines were underwhelming (particularly the rose), but the ambiance pretty much made up for that - walls plastered in local art for sale, entertaining wine sayings, etc. Kyle was a bit put-off by the amount of advertising on their tasting glasses (which included their website and tasting hours), but oh well. We didn't buy them, so I don't really care.

Headed back into town and had a late lunch at The Tavern in Old Town Cottonwood, and then wandered around town. We stopped in a few bookstores and nifty little shops. My favorite was probably the olive oil and balsamic vinegar store. Of course I couldn't leave without buying anything, so I now have a bottle of vanilla balsamic on my kitchen counter.

Oh, dog. 

We picked up the ornery dog and headed up Mingus Mountain to set up camp. Toured Jerome the next morning on our way down the hill, and someone bought me jewelry for the first time ever. (I can't get a good picture, but the earrings are gorgeous. They remind me of fern fronds. Super delicate. Beautiful.) Took a detour to Tuzigoot National Monument, where the dog remembered he was afraid of stairs, and I laughed aloud as the big, strong man carried the 90-pound wimpy dog down the steps. After that adventure, we finally headed up to Sedona. Toured the shops for a few hours, got a pretty good sunburn, and headed home so we could retire early, since I had to work at 6AM Monday.

We did much less overall than we had planned. I had a whole itinerary for Saturday - all the things we were going to do and see, etc. that didn't go according to plan. It was wonderful and relaxing, and I thoroughly enjoyed having a whole weekend off. On the way up north, Kyle commented on the ridiculous grin I was apparently sporting, and we came to the conclusion that, aside from planned vacations surrounding the Marine Corps (and our three-year anniversary), we had never had a weekend off together in the four years we've lived down here. We've never taken a weekend to get out of town and just go do stuff. It wasn't everything I'd ever dreamed of, but it was amazing and wonderful and exactly what I've needed.

In other news, I picked up a bunch of new books from the library tonight, including two cookbooks. Look for some new recipes coming soon!

365 questions: 251 - 255

251. What do you understand today about your life that you did not understand a year ago?  

I'm not sure I totally understand the question. But I suppose the superficial answer is that I understand paying the interest on your student loans while in school is much more important than one might realize. 

252. Whose life have you had the greatest impact on?

Outside of my family, probably Erika's or Kyle's. Erika and I have been friends since we were seven years old. It's hard to be friends with someone for 17 years without having a huge impact on their life. Kyle and I were together for four and living together the majority of that time. It's impossible to be in a committed relationship with someone without impacting them in some way. 

253. What did life teach you yesterday?

That it might not be such a bad idea to give someone the benefit of a doubt. That sometimes you might be pleasantly surprised when you do. 

254. Who impresses you?

As silly as it might sound, Ron Paul. He has stood by his convictions and tried to do this country right for a number of years now. He holds strong to his convictions. And he doesn't try to force his personal moral beliefs on anyone by legislating their bodies. 

255. What have you done that you are not proud of?  

Many things. I've said things that were untrue. I've behaved in embarrassing ways. But I don't regret any of it. I apologize if necessary and move on. 

August 101 update

Progress:

• donated 8000 grains of rice
• read four books
• used $13 in coupons
• answered 25 questions
• paid $200 toward student loans
• lost another 5 lbs!

I didn't complete any goals, but I'm not all beat up over it either. I made substantial progress on a number of goals and made my first student loan payments in years, so I'm happy.