30 Things

Inspired by Stephanie, in no particular order, and subject to change...

30 Things Before I'm 30:
1.) get married
2.) become a mom
3.) reach "runner" status
4.) buy a house
5.) parasail
6.) snorkel
7.) buy a new car
8.) organize my college pictures
9.) crochet something brilliant
10.) have a garden
11.) sew
12.) fall in love
13.) have a "first job"
14.) get a dog
15.) dust (HA!)
16.) cook like Jamie
17.) run a 10K
18.) visit many beaches
19.) go back to Jamaica
20.) live on my own
21.) backpack Europe
22.) bike
23.) graduate college
24.) run a half marathon
25.) maybe a duathlon (hmmm...don't know yet)
26.) move out from parents' house
27.) retire
28.) volunteer
29.) find my niche (yes, it's vague...I like it like that)
30.) run a marathon

Relay

There are 5 of us who have committed to and are training for the Memorial Marathon relay in April. There's Steph (who runs like a gazelle without even trying), Bryan (who has a dad and brother who both ran track in college), Chris (who has more motivation than any of us put together), Kelly (who may not even know she's in a relay - no, really - she's just a tad busier than the rest of us - love you!), and me (well, I try hard). We're such a great combination that we might actually pull this thing off.

Plus, we've had a ton of fun already. We've been talking about training methods and styles, getting new shoes, planning workout times and days together, and trying to impress each other (oops, I mean "challenge" each other). Maybe I'm getting too excited, but this will be something that I always remember. We're getting into shape, feeling good, getting to know each other better (if that's possible), and having a blast! We also get a shirt that says marathon (this will be my first - all others say "run")! Why doesn't everyone do this? And on a personal note, this is a step in the right direction to running a whole marathon (someday).

Only 72 days left to train!

...now all we have to do is convince the spouses to get up and come support us at 6:30 AM on race day... come on, it's not that early!

Radiology Update

Here's an exerpt from our Christmas letter (as an update):

Interventional Radiology
Chosen specialty? Yep, it’s official! An interventional radiologist is someone who performs procedures, or surgeries, using a needle instead of a knife. (My apologies to anyone who I offend by my horrible generalization. That really is the best I know how to explain it!) Here's what a medical dictionary has to say about it: the clinical subspecialty that uses fluoroscopy, CT, and ultrasound to guide percutaneous procedures such as performing biopsies, draining fluids, inserting catheters, or dilating or stenting narrowed ducts or vessels. Helpful at all? I must admit that it's still a little foggy for me right now, too. Bryan brought home a DVD for me to watch that explains more about what kinds of procedures are involved with IR, but I have yet to watch it. Maybe all of you can take a turn watching it as well.

Residency
Applications for residencies went out in September and interviews are right now through January. Bryan has been invited to interview at 12 different programs in 7 different states. He’ll get to visit Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Colorado, Missouri, and Texas (the 7th state is Oklahoma). We find out in March where Bryan will be placed. Keep us in your prayers as we try to follow the Lord's guidance about where He wants us! It's a really exciting time!

P.S. - If you didn't get a Christmas letter and wanted one, I apologize. Shoot me a little email and I'll put you on the list for next year (our email address is on the right side).

P.P.S. - Only 29 days until match!

And more Grayson

Check out Leslie's site for updated 3 week old pictures.

Ode to Mervin*

He sure did raise me right,
I'm Daddy's little girl.
He has dark and straight hair,
he gave me no color or curl.
Best coach of the decade ('89-'99),
he taught me all I know.
Bats, balls, gloves and private lessons,
even though I wore a bow.
As a Jeep fanatic he stays busy:
tires, wheels, and gadgets galore.
You think he's done it all,
but it never fails there's always more.
Hard times challenge him,
but they never turn him batty.
You're one I look up to,
Happy Birthday, Daddy!

*his name really is Marvin, "Mervin" is a little inside joke

Nutrition

Do you know how much I'd have to eat each day in order to get all the things I need? I guess it wouldn't be that much if I totally eliminated the things I don't need, like cookies and dessert and stuff (who wants to do that?), but it still seems like I'd be really full if I ate all the stuff I need each day.

According to My Food Pyramid, here's what I need each day:

Grains - 6 oz.
Vegetables - 2 1/2 c.
Fruits - 2 c.
Milk - 3 c.
Meat & Beans - 5 1/2 oz.

I know I don't get all the vegetables and milk products I need everyday. The vegetables are a little more complicated, too, because we are supposed to have a certain amount from each category of vegetables every week, like 3 c. of dark green vegetables over the whole week. There's really not any room for chips or pretzels (unless they're whole wheat pretzels) or any variance at all.

How intimidating! Uh, cookie, anyone?