I'm back, baby!

I've been gone a long time, lots to report. What, exactly, you might wonder, has kept me so, so busy for the last six months? So busy that I haven't even blogged? Well, here's a convenient top 10 list.

1. I've been studying! Seriously, this was the biggest blogging blocker. Between July and October, I estimated that I put in somewhere between 130 and 170 hours studying for the Professional Engineering exam. And my long blogging hiatus allows you, readers, to skip the ten weeks or so between the test and published results... I passed! Proof here: Virginia License Lookup. Type in my name, check the "Professional Engineers" box, and hit search.

2. I've been planning! I think the wedding is actually going to happen. (I've harbored this secret concern that we wouldn't get our act together and there would be major planning gaps.) Now we have all the key elements - a place, an officiant, food, something for me to wear... I'm about 95% switched over from stressed to excited. Here's one thing we won't have at the wedding. Sorry.

3. I've been running! After taking 6-8 weeks totally off from any regular exercise during the high point of my exam prep, I decided to start back up focused exclusively on running. Why? Because I haaaate it. Also because Pat (also a running non-fan) totally inspired me by overcoming his hate and running the Philadelphia Half Marathon right before Thanksgiving, where he turned in a great time. I'm not so concerned about pace, but I have opted to give up the run-walk. Yesterday I did my longest continuous run (no walking at all) EVER at about 3.5 miles. Gotta have a goal in mind, mine is this.

4. I've been househunting! Obsessively! Post-wedding, Pat and I are transplanting ourselves back in the "other" Washington, and we'll need a place to live. For a whole mess of reasons, we are deeply embroiled in the rent-vs-buy decision. (Are you? NYTimes has the best calculator we've found.) All that means is more options for me to mull over five times a day. Have I mentioned my real estate obsession?

5. I've been networking! Moving necessarily implies a change in my day job, so I've been talking with lots of my Pacific NW contacts. It looks like I'll be switching teams again, moving back to the Navy organization where I began my career. This will also probably be my first position not related to construction. AND may end up being supervisory. Change... is... good? Kidding - I'm nervous but excited.

6. I've been traveling! Pat and I had a great trip out to California for Christmas. Every time we head to the ranch, I gain a new skill. This time, I learned spider identification. Spot 'em and stomp 'em. If someone could please explain to me why it is fairly easy for me to dispatch a very, very poisonous spider but I Totally Freak Out at the mere sight of a harmless (though admittedly very, very disgusting) cockroach, I would feel far less insane.

7. I've been wanting to travel more! So Pat and I have made lots of plans - Colorado for skiing in January, West Virginia for skiing in February, and we're looking at what we want to do for a honeymoon. We were hoping to go to Italy, but the euro premium is convincing us otherwise. No decision yet, although Argentina and Turkey have been on the table.

8. I've been thinking! I don't know if I've mentioned, on this blog, how much I want a dog. Our DC life has not been particularly conducive to dog-ownership, though, especially since our favorite dogs are big. But WA is a different story. This line of thought has not switched to action yet, but I'm itching! And not from fleas!

9. I've been shivering! Well, actually the problem is that I HAVEN'T been shivering. Because of my careful avoidance of the pool. I miss it, though. Pat's sister gave me a Total Immersion book at Christmas, and I'm excited to try some of the drills. Thankfully, I have not been shivering on my runs - the siblings did well with Christmas gifts overall, and a new warm hat plus a long-sleeved running shirt are keeping me toasty.

10. I've been socializing! Saved the best for last. Especially once the exam was over, I've had lots of time to spend with friends, family and coworkers. Knowing that the move is coming faster than we think, it has been especially important to me. We've done lots of good hanging out, and also managed to hit the DC theater scene to see Avenue Q and Spamalot over the last couple months. I even squeezed in a last-minute trip to see the Nutcracker with my cousin and her daughter. That made my holiday season this year.

So, that's where I've been. (I can't believe I got to 10 things! Sorry about the spider pictures, by the way.) I'm hoping to get back into a blogging mode, although the content may be a little more "gestalt" than purely tri-focused. Happy 2008!