Targets of Steel

I went to my first shooting competition yesterday.  It was a "steel match", meaning that it is an indoor match where you just shoot at stationary steel targets with a pistol.  Definitely more my speed right now compared to the IDPA or other matches that have scenarios where you have to run or shoot around things, sometimes things that are moving back and forth.

We only shot two of the three rounds.  Corrected for that, I was 24th out of 33 people, and the leader of the women who competed.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited about that.

Change Is a Comin'

I think that I'm perimenopausal.  Yuck.  It's not like I have actually used my reproductive equipment ever or feel sentimental about menstruation, but I do not relish the many years ahead of the symptoms of menopause.

Right now, it seems that low back pain, headache, fatigue, bloating, vague pelvic cramps and intermittent crankiness (more than usual) are the symptoms.

Anyone else of my cohort going through this?  How are you handling your symptoms?

Bedrest Care Package

Pinterest really doesn't have much in the way of DIY care packages for pregnant women on bedrest.  Here's what I came up with for the one I made yesterday:

Bubbles to have something to play with when her little daughter visits.

Good lip balm.

A manicure set.

Treats in sunshiny colors, like gum, lemon drops and Goldfish.

Resistance bands to stretch and get a little exercise with.

Good body lotion.

Dry shampoo.


And a couple of other little things, like pony tail holders and hairbands and a notepad.

A Rowdy Style Day

Today I:

Helped a neighbor move some furniture out of his house.  He's moving to Cambodia; you know, like you do.

Worked half a day, listening to music as much as I could.

Drove all around.

Went shopping to find fun things for a friend who is on bedrest.

Got my motorcycle permit (finally!).

Shot guns.

This is a super-fun gun to shoot.

Had real Mexican food for dinner.

Visited with a friend.

It was a very good day.

Tender Mercies

I think "the tender mercies of the Lord" has become a trite phase in LDS culture.  However, it does apply to experiences I had today.  They were just little things that made me feel better about life in general and my place in it.

20 for 20

The San Diego Temple was dedicated 20 years ago.  In celebration of that milestone, our Stake Presidency suggested that we do something like attend the temple 20 times this year, or find 20 ancestors' names to take to the temple.  My thought was, "I think I've come to a dead end with family history work.  How in the world can I find 20 more names?"

So, I came home, opened Family Search and Ancestry, and started looking.  And praying.  Well, I prayed for help before I even got home from Stake Conference.  You have to know where to look when things seem like they're at a dead end.  Before I knew it, I had more than 20 names.  More. Than. 20. Names.  It took less than an hour.

So if you are doubting your ability to find your ancestors, don't.  They are there.  They are waiting.

Where I've Been/Where I'm Going

I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions this week, including if I want to make any.  I, like most people, don't follow through with most of the resolutions I make.

My solution is to chronicle some of the things that I accomplished in the last year and list a few things that I know I will be doing in 2013.  2012's accomplishments may not have been covered by any resolutions I made on January 1, 2012, but I am proud of them nonetheless.

1)  Early last year, I attended a Breast Imaging Boot Camp at the American College of Radiology.  It had been years since I had read mammograms, so I needed a refresher.  I completed that, and then the 700 mammograms that were required to meet MQSA regulations.

2)  I was appointed co-chair of my department's Patient Safety Committee.  As a committee, we have rolled out training information to the staff and assisted in the development of Best Practices in Patient Safety.

3)  Rowdy and I traveled a lot last year, which was fun, educational, invigorating and sometimes exhausting.

4)  I rode a horse several times without falling off or being too scared.

5)  I learned how to play the bass guitar.

6)  My sister-in-law, Molly, recruited me to be in a wellness competition, beginning in August of last year.  As a result of that, I lost some pesky pounds and inches and returned to the boot camp classes at my gym.  Plus, it was fun to get to know some of my teammates better.

Being called to be the YW president or being named Radiologist of the Year don't really rate as accomplishments, because I certainly was not lobbying or working to be either of those things.  They just happened, and I have tried to stay worthy of those responsibilities.

Usually, my resolutions include things like learning to play an instrument or improving my ability to speak a foreign language.  Those would be great, but I think that what keeps me from achieving those goals is the amount of time that I would need to dedicate to those pursuits.  Turns out that just don't have the long-term motivation or focus for those things, or the time to spend every week in classes.  If I could sneak that in, or if I felt so strongly about it that it became a priority, I would make it happen.

There are some things that I see myself accomplishing this year:

1)  Rowdy and I have made a goal to read the scriptures together every day.  We are 100% so far this year.  

2)  I am going to learn to ride a motorcycle, starting two weeks from tomorrow.  The point of this is to be ready to go to the Texas Tornado Boot Camp in April. If you don't think that looks like tons of fun, I feel sorry for you.

3)  This morning, I went to the TRX class at my gym for the first time.  Of course, since I missed three weeks of boot camp due to travel and injury I am not in prime shape, but that class kicked my butt!  I resolve to keep going and master that dang class.

Who knows what else will come along during the year to inspire me?