It's annoying to have the wind taken out of your sail. My answer: be a submarine.

Problem solved. 

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Wrapped.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

White lights on the tree, and we just do candles in the windows, no lights outside. I've seen some houses look good with colored lights, but it's hit or miss. White lights-- sometimes less is more.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Nah.

5. When do you hang your decorations up?

We decorate the tree Christmas eve/ Christmas morning. It's kind of our tradition to procrastinate..

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

In general, I love sweet potatoes, but somehow I always really like the corn my aunt makes.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

Waiting impatiently on Christmas morning for my mom to wrap our presents, so we could unwrap them. Nowadays, we ALL wrap presents on Christmas morning. Yeahh, procrastination.

8. What is on your Christmas Wish list?

I don't really make a wish list.

9. Do you open a gifts on Christmas Eve?

We did last year because I had to work Christmas day, but usually, no.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

At my parents' house, we start with lights and then add in the mandatory ornaments we made when we were little. Then whatever else we have room for.

11. Snow? Love it or dread it?

It's fun watching it come down, but as soon as it accumulates, I hate it.

12. Real tree or fake tree?

My mom insists on real trees.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

I don't know what my favorite gift was as a kid. A few years ago, my friend got me a watch, in a style I really liked, even though I didn't even ask for a watch. I didn't know I even wanted a watch, but I ended up wearing it all the time.

14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Spending time with family. 

15. What is your favorite Holiday dessert?

My mom makes kind of thin crust with a whipped cream/cream cheese icing, and cherries on top. It's really good.

16. What is your favorite tradition?

Going to Christmas eve mass at the church right next to where I went to Catholic school for 9 years, and seeing how many people I can recognize.

17. What tops your tree? 

A star.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?

I like giving gifts, it's fun to figure out what people want. 

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Trans Siberian Orchestra, Carol of the Bells.

20. Candy canes, yuck or yum?

Yum.

21. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Home Alone.

22. What do you leave for Santa?

Nothing anymore.

23. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

Wake up, wait 3 hours for my brother to wake up, wrap presents, then open presents.

24. Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?

Mostly at the mall, but occasionally online.

25. Christmas letter or Christmas card?

Card. Though I always forget one or two people I meant to send cards to. Whoops.

2011 marathon update:

• Boston 4/18 (went better than expected!)
• Hatfield McCoy 6/11  (registered)
• Pikes Peak 8/21  (registered)
• New York City 11/6  (registered)
• Rehoboth Beach, DE 12/10 (still deciding)

So, luckily, most of my plans are going to work out. I'm really thrilled with how my race in Boston turned out- I learned that I need to be more confident in my training, and to not let one bad tapering run make me feel like I'm not prepared. I feel very fortunate that while training, I'm motivated to do a lot of hillwork. It pays off.

My goal for this summer is to work on my speed.. I'd really love to have a great race in New York this fall, since I've been looking forward to this day since March of 08 when I registered for my first New York Marathon (and then wasn't picked in the lottery 3 consecutive years).

I'm just really happy with my life and where it's going. I enjoy hard work, challenges, and learning. Lots of good adventures on the horizon..

"Do things without always knowing how they'll turn out." Yup.

Since I wrote the post below back in September, a lot has changed. I've qualified for the Boston Marathon and actually run in it, had a relationship end, graduated, found a job, and met new people. Internally, though I feel like not that much has changed.. I have the same insecurities, concerns, stresses.. that's why I end up removing entries I've posted since September and I haven't been too good at updating.. that entry still seems completely relevant.

I'd be lying if I said I was happy with how things are.. it's summer, so I've been somewhat content, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing out on something. It's hard for me to be content, though.. I feel like I'm only going to be young once and I need to experience as much as I can.

The topic of commitment has run through my head a bunch of times recently. On one hand, I can see myself going in that direction about certain things.. but at the same time, old insecurities die hard, and I'd rather be able to point to evidence that I was never really into it, anyway. So basically, what I said back in September.