Happy New Years!

Happy New Years everyone!
I will be going to Snoops in a little bit with Scott to kick in the New Year.
As midnight approaches, I can't help but wonder what 2016 will bring. I feel like I am slowly starting to get my stride back at work.
My goal for next year is I want to get our car fixed and at least start on working on getting my drivers license.  I know that would help alot, I obviously want to keep in shape , and see if I can save up to take a trip somewhere.
The hilight of my 2015 was definitely completing my first marathon.  I never dreamed I , Donna would actually be able to do it, because I always thought of my mom as the runner out of the two of us. I  still don't know where the trails will take  me. But, I definitely want to keep it as part of my life.

The hilight of my New Years Eve is a conversation I just had with my friend Matt.  He is going to try and run his first marathon in Hawaii next year. ( I know, a run in Hawaii- I'm jealous already. Can I make a run in Hawaii my birthday ,Christmas and Valentines Day present this year? haha. But if you're going to be on the island on 12/11/2016, be sure to cheer him on. :0) )   He said " it's a goal to work towards. And hell, you inspired me to go for it too!" Just knowing that I helped give someone the push to try something that's always been on their bucket list has made all my training worth it.
It's a definite reminder that sometimes trying is half the battle in life, and to continue shooting for the stars in the upcoming year.
I hope everyone has an awesome 2016.  Love you all.

After Christmas blog

Hello all! I've said it once , and I will say it again, San Antonio weather is bipolar. It was in the seventies on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Eve here. Now it is down to forty degrees. I know it's colder in other places, but still- brr! I was scheduled at Six Flags Sunday. But between the drizzle, and cold weather, there was noone really at the park, so we got to go home early. That's always nice every now and then. *hehe* I know I spent most of my time hanging around the little heater my co worker brought.  *hehe* (Hey I know it, they know it, so why hide it?)
After that, Scott and I had some leftover Christmas dinner for our dinner tonight as I dethawed from my few hours at the park. I am just looking forward to after this week . It'll be a new year, my company won't be in Six Flags until Spring Break, and a fresh start for everything. I am hoping to get up to Washington sometime next year to visit my family there since it's been a while, and I need to see my family, since my mom doesn't really talk to me anymore. I am also still trying to figure out where I want to go fitness wise. I'm running. But I can also tell I've been enjoying not having a race to prepare for since I completed the marathon. So far I just know I want to continue to stay in shape, and keep on becoming a better, stronger and faster person. *hehe*
Anyway, I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas, and is enjoying the rest of 2016.

Merry Christmas to all!

*Bursts into song* Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus . *hehe*  It's offically Christmas Day. Most of my presents are put together, and A Christmas Story is playing on the television. Last night, Scott and I went to Chilis for dinner. After that we went to the Sportsman bar for a birthday party afterward. *hehe* Today I went for a ten mile run in the morning, basically because I feel like it balanced out the 1/2 of a cookie and vanilla ice cream I had for desert last night . *hehe*  In a little bit we'll be opening presents, and then having Christmas dinner.  After working in malls in retail, and for Silverleaf, I think the most important thing about the holidays is just making time to spend time with one another. Really, gifts can technically be bought anytime, as long as you have the money.  As much as I love stuff like any other person, there's still nothing like sitting with people you care about over a meal or cup of coffee - just laughing and catching up. Happy Holidays everyone.

Christmas Eve blog

 Merry Christmas everyone! Well it's that time of year. School is out for Christmas break, and the malls are starting to  fill up with people getting that holiday shopping done. The ending of this year is a little better for me than last year. I have a little more money, and I just started working full time so I am thankful for that.Today I have to work a shift at Northstar mall mall until 3:00 then Scott and I will be going out to dinner and heading to  a birthday bash afterward. On Christmas day, we have company coming, so it'll be a day just to relax, open presents, and eat. *HEHE*
Right now the hard part is staying away from the fudge Scott got from one of his clients. OMG I love fudge, and as much as I am a believer in chocoalte for breakfast, I still need to save room in my belly for tonight and tomorrow. I got most of my Christmas shopping done. Now I just need to wrap everything up. *he he*
As presents get put under the tree, and everyone gets to their holiday destination, I can't help but think,I  know I focus too much on what I don't have. A car , any real relationship with my mom right now. But I am thankful for what I do have right now.

Saturday afternoon blog

Good morning! This morning  after my run, Scott and I went to visit a client of his after a little bit of Christmas shopping.  It was a nice way to spend the morning because this evening I will be working at Southpark mall, and attempting to stop shoppers when they are trying to get all their holiday shopping done. I still have a few gifts to get . You'd think since I work at malls during the week, I'd be done. But I tend to wait until the last minute to get things unless it's something I know someone is going to love.
For me, I am just looking forward to going out to dinner on Christmas Eve, and just relaxing on Christmas Day at home.  I am blessed to have a job that takes me where the people are, or where they think people are in some cases. But, after dealing with the crowds, it's nice to just come home and be with people I care about. I hope everyone is having a good holiday season so far.

Time for a change...

I am off today. Woot woot! Yesterday at work,  I ended buying two new pairs of shoes  while I was at Southpark mall. I got some shoes for the gym, and some boots I saw on sale, just because. *hehe* After work, I think Scott was wondering wether I worked or shopped there. But that's what happens when you work shifts at a mall- you just get stuff while you are there .
Aside from that, I am slowly getting back into my routine. I can tell my body is still a little tired from the marathon. I went to yoga to make sure my legs are stretched out, and now Scott is taking a nap, and I am taking over the t.v. We will be going to Dennys in a little bit for food, and he has a late night client at the gym.
I am looking forward to the holidays . It'll be nice to just relax at home, eat good food, and watch television.  As the year comes to an end, I can tell Scott and I tend to get frustrated about the same things. I am messy at home, and then I have a job that takes me all over the place ,and work weekends , so its a debate over everything when I have to work late.  At home, I am messy and he likes it clean , so we are like the Odd Couple in that sense. I hope things change for the better in 2016. *hehe*  Or, maybe it's just a matter of getting used to the little quirks that make us all unique.

Our own worst critic

At the staff meeting Thursday, my manager said if he tried to do the marathon, he would still be out there trying to complete the course. I couldn't help but think, that used to be me. I also think,maybe when it comes to things like that, we're our own worst critic. When it comes to things like running,  it really is trying that is half the battle.  When my dad got back into playing chess, he said you know you love the game when you're losing to  people younger than you. But that didn't keep him from playing.There's always someone faster than us, there's always someone who trains harder, or smarter.  In my case , I literally had to  start from scratch to get to the point where I could complete a full marathon. Last year  to start training for the half marathon, I literally started running a mile outside my house almost everyday one week, then two the next week, and I let the miles pile up from there until it got to this point. All we can do is try to be the best we can be,and keep our eyes on the horizon. After all if you're doing what you love, you are a winner already. :0)

Monday night thoughts..

Well folks, as most know by now I did it. I completed my first full marathon. My time was 4:50:05  I am still in shock that I can say I am a marathon finisher now. My legs are still recovering from the run, but it still feels surreal. I was fortunate it was nice outside when I ran yesterday. I was able to get through the first thirteen miles without much problem since I did the half last year.  The hardest part for me where miles 15-17 because it was after the halfway point, my legs where starting to feel it, and I knew I still had some distance to cover. At mile 17, there was someone there who reminded me  that I only had single digit miles left to go, which gave me a little bit of extra wind, but it really wasn't until I finally hit mile 22 that I began to think I'm really going to finish this after all, and ofcourse when I saw the finish line, I got a final push from that.  But, I cried once I crossed the finish line, and I cried off and on that day,and today. I cried because as much as I know I've come a long way, I still feel like that girl whose mom signed her up for a gym membership because she needed to work on her weight at the end of 2011.
The one thing that stuck out to me while I was running where these two guys who where obviously running the marathon together. One told his friend he could go ahead so his time wouldn't be ruined. But his friend said his time wasn't going to be ruined and they where going to get the same finisher medal no matter what time they complete the course. I couldn't help but think, why can't we always have that attitude?
After all, running, or not we're all trying to accomplish something,and we should all support one another as we try and make our way to our own personal finish line- whatever that is. I'd like to think I would be the kind of person that would give you an orange, or whatever you needed to help you accomplish your goal.
Today, on top of being glad that I only have a few stairs to go up when I go home, I had coffee with my friend Carrie , and we checked out Ross to see what we could find .  I don't know what lies ahead of me now, but we'll see.  It definitely won't be my last marathon. I am definitely going to do Rock n Roll San Antonio again next year for sure. After all, if nothing else, they're a definite reminder we can do anything we put our mind to, and we're stronger than we think. :0)