Winter is not even here yet and I am already dreaming about spring.  We bought a large number of tulip bulbs and have planted them in the garden.  In another four to five months, the tulips will be blooming.  
Planning ahead is a critical factor in determining the success of any garden or life in general.  

I signed up for my spring half marathon.  I am contemplating running my first marathon next year.  Now that I am sharing this, I think I need to look into completing a fall marathon for next year.

Thanksgiving is just a few days away.  As you begin to prepare and celebrate the upcoming holiday with family and friends.  Please follow these simple eco-friendly tips to ensure that you host a great eco-friendly thanksgiving holiday party.
- Use sharpie markers to write the names of the guests so that you can minimize the use of disposable cups.  Better yet, use washable cups and use decorative beads and twisty ties to mark the washable cups.  Tie the twisty and bead on the handle of the cups.  I keep all of the twisty ties from bread purchases throughout the year so that I have enough to recycle and use for this purpose.
- Use your oven (not microwave) to reheat more than one dish of food at once.
- Lock doors of rooms where you do not want guests to wander off, too.  This keeps, the guests in the main area to increase social interactions and reduce lighting needs.
- Use non-holiday themed tablecloth and other decorations.  Fall themed decorations can be used for thanksgiving, fall, christmas and other winter parties.
- Consider offering non-electronic entertainment (e.g. have duplicate board games, decks of cards, pencils and paper available for guests). 
- Lower the thermostat by 5-10 degrees compared to your usual indoor temperature.  The more guests you have, the less you need to heat up the house.
- Set up recycling bins next to the trash bins.
- Consider giving leftovers/desserts to guests in reusable pyrex or plastic containers for guests to take home to enjoy.
- Ask guests to bring canned goods to donate instead of house warming gifts that you do not need.

This morning, at 6:30am I stubbled out of bed to get ready for a 5K race.  I went through my usual pre-race routine, eating a light breakfast, stretching, mapping out how I will get to the race site.  I arrived at the American Tobacco Trail for the Running Free with KWayne 5K race.  I did my usual pre-race one mile run and felt pretty good since it was nice and chilly outside (around 45-50 degrees).  I was looking forward to running a 5K since my last sprint triathlon was cancelled due to severe weather, I felt a bit de-motivated (all that training with nothing to show).  I figured I could ring in a personal best 5K time before the end of the year.  At the race start, I was doing well.  However, by mile 1.5, I was starting to get worried because I didn't see the race turnaround point (it was suppose to be 1.5 mile out and back).  I figure maybe my GPS watch was a bit off so I kept running, then, at mile 2, I noticed people frantically arbitrarily turning around and informing others that we over shot the turnaround point (when it was not even marked).  What a disappointment!  To make things worse, some walkers starting turnaround sooner than the 1.5 mile point so the race results are all off.  I was so frustrated and disappointed and had to remind myself that the race is for a good cause and what can I expect for a race that only charges $10 entry fee.  I could have expected some chalk markings on the ground indicating a turnaround point.  When I mentioned to the FSSeries staff that the course was not marked with a turnaround point, he said that he is only responsible for the start/finish line and that the race organizer is responsible for the rest of the race logistics (great way to take ownership of the situation).  

Again, the race is for a great cause so I tried to comfort myself for going the extra mile and running well with nothing official to show for it.  It resembles life in general, we often go the extra mile and do extra work without the recognition or reward.  The only thing that keeps us inspired or motivated is the cause we are running for.

I am thinking of running the race again next year.  If I don't run the race, I just might be the volunteer at the 1.5 mile mark shouting, "it's time to turn around!"


For more information about the race, please visit www.kwayne5k.com

Almost a year ago, I wrote a list of my 2012 personal goals and I am happy to be on track with most of them.  I have a few weeks to go for the rest. 
-100% donations and/or giveaways of outgrown clothes and toys
Status: Yes!
- Learn how to make jewelry using recycled materials
Status: Need to sign up for a class or look up how to online
- Learn more about recycled metal art (I came across a website  happyscraps.net that highlights metal art made from recycled metal and look forward to seeing their gallery of work at a local spring festival in 2012).
Status: Need to sign up for a class or look up how to online
- Expand gardening goals to produce 20% of more of my meals from my own garden (very ambitious given the size of my garden)
Status: About 5% of my food consumption is from my own garden, I have a long way to go to meet this goal.  Will miss it this year but have ambitious gardening plans for spring 2013.
- set up a rain barrel (finally, I have been wanting to do this for years!!)
Status: Bought a compost bin this year, need to set up a rain barrel for 2013.
- learn how to quilt so that I can recycle some worn clothes (that have sentimental value)
Status: Completed my first sewing class, need to sign up for my next one!
- participate in a family park replanting event (with my family)
Status: Completed park cleanup event, need to signup for pack replanting event in 2013

Here are some of my other new year resolutions:
- complete second half marathon (with a new Personal Record)
Status: Yes! 
- complete my first triathlon
Status: Yes!!!! 

One of my 2012 annual goals was to learn how to use a sewing machine.  I completed my first sewing class yesterday, making my very first tote bag.  I am excited about learning how to use a sewing machine.  I hope to take a few more classes before I decide whether to purchase a sewing machine.  

Learning how to sew will help me repurpose old clothing and scraps into new uses (think tote bags, etc.).  Besides the eco-friendly benefits, it is just very fun and rewarding to see something new created in front of you and to be part of the design process.

Seeing the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy makes me realize that emergency preparedness is more than a quick emergency go bag.  Like many, I believe that the effects of global warming will continue to drive extreme weather conditions in coastal regions of the world.  Pursuing an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle takes on a new meaning for me when I continue to learn how everything in life is inter-connected.