Australia

I've been back for over a month, so I really need to post about my experience. Traveling with Mark wasn't nearly as awful as I thought it would be and the trip went MUCH better than expected.

This weekend I am going to work on a full post and update. As usual, there is a lot going on.

More pictures of our trip here.

Clownfish at Lady Musgrave Island - diving the Outer Wall

DOH! Pizza!

Jay got to hold the koala at Currumbin this time

Mark feeding a joey at Currumbin

More updates this weekend. I have a ton of things that I need to do that will also tie in to my 101 list.

Some places/things I am planning to review for TripAdvisor: Kirra Dive, Bundaberg Cane Railway/Botanical Gardens, Bargara Beach, Beach at Your Feet, Lady Musgrave Experience, Ocean Plaza Resort, Paradise Island Resort (probably my first bad review of anywhere I've stayed).

Weekend goal: update this blog and my 101 list blog, write 3 reviews from Australia.

First Markface-Free Trip

Here are some photo highlights from our trip to the Yucatan. I still have to download the pics I took at Chichen Itza from my camera.

Highlights of the week were diving at MUSA, exploring Isla Mujeres, and another fantastic outing with Alberto from One Percent Travel. 

MUSA - Manchones Reef

Catfish at Cenote Oxman outside Valladolid

MUSA Manchones Reef

Cenote Oxman

Pequeno Manchones Reef

El Castillo, Chichen Itza

Corn Ice Cream in Valladolid Square

Proof that I was in Cenote Oxman

"Usie" by ruins in Isla Mujeres

Time Bomb - MUSA 

The Silent Evolution, MUSA

The Silent Evolution, MUSA

Cenote Oxman

Full post coming soon... I have to fully review visiting Chichen Itza (I liked Coba better - less touristy), as that is one of my five UNESCO for 46 and 47 of my 101 list.

#9 Go on vacation somewhere new.

I'll be completing #9 from my 25 things list this weekend!

Despite my considerable travel experiences, I have never been to Maine. I thought that "visit Maine" was on my 101 list, but apparently it didn't make it on the list.

So we'll be traveling to Ogunquit, Maine this weekend. Since I'm pregnant, we want to stay somewhat close to home. We did think of going to Florida or doing an all-inclusive, but it's better for me to go somewhere cooler where my ankles don't swell as much.

Our trip has already had some hiccups... we booked a rental property from Saturday-Saturday, but then found out that Jay's best friend Brian is getting married in New York on Sunday. Rather last minute! So we are having to delay our plans, including having to rearrange a longer visit with my cousin in Boston, which I'm bummed about. We're now spending the weekend in Long Island and will spend the following Saturday afternoon with my cousin and her family in Boston. But we will still have five full days in Ogunquit, so that is good!

I'm planning to take a lot of photos, since my poor camera hasn't seen the light of day for a while.

Other plans: eat plenty of lobster, go on walks, read books, and enjoy some quiet time with the husband before we welcome our screaming blobfish of joy into our lives around August 28th.

Speaking of vacation, we are planning our next big trip - and the first one with the baby. One of these days we will actually use our timeshare, and I'm hoping that by contacting them now for next June that we can actually land a decent place in Hawaii. The plan is in the early stages, but my Australian Auntie thinks that she may be able to meet us out there next year. It's kind of halfway between OZ and the US. And this way she'll be able to see us and her great-nephew and we will be able to do some diving. I don't think we'll be taking the trip back to OZ until our kid is old enough to remember the trip and appreciate it just a little - i.e. think that lorikeets, koalas and roos are the coolest thing ever - maybe when he's 4 or 5? And then hopefully he'll fall in love with diving like mom and dad, and then we could take him again when he's older and a certified diver. Or maybe he won't love diving and will find something else fun to do. It's Australia after all.

Of course going back to OZ will be out the window if we have a second kid. I'm pretty sure that we can swing these kinds of epic trips once every five years or so if we just have one child, but the second kid would wipe out that kind of discretionary spending. And honestly, I really don't enjoy being pregnant!

So three posts in three days... not too bad. Glad that I could put in some time over the weekend blogging! I do miss it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I posted this photo from the Pub the night before Thanksgiving. I honestly don't even remember doing it.

On Wednesday night I checked off an item from an earlier 101 list item - #78 - Sing karaoke with a local celebrity. I got to sing Bohemian Rhapsody with Niki Barr. I of course wanted to sing my go-to, I touch myself, but she wanted to sing that awesome monstrosity.  

Check out her new band, The Last Year... and their new single, Sugar. I can't get enough of it!

Actually, while you're at it, go buy the album. It's awesome.

I still haven't seen the new band live, but I'm hoping to check them out soon. 

25 Things - Fall Bucket List

I have finally come up with 25 things that I would like to accomplish for the fall season... I will keep the list updated here. 

I've already accomplished #3, #4, #7, and #11. I am in the process of completing #8, #10, #12, #16, #17, and #20.

Fall 2013 Bucket List:

1. Make pumpkin pie crunch and post it on the blog
2. Host a fall party
3. Complete my PADI Open Water Certification
4. Run 1 mile without stopping
5. Swim 1000 yards 
6. Send out holiday cards
7. Narrow down new car choices to 2 vehicles
8. Make a batch of wine
9. Make mulled cider 
10. Complete my PADI Advanced Open Water Certification
11. Attend a Literary Supper
12. Make at least one clothing donation to Purple Heart
13. Mark all diving equipment
14. Start brushing the cats regularly
15. Buy new litterboxes & find a new place for them
16. Agree on weekly housecleaning list & laminate it for fridge
17. Make photobook from OZ & NZ trip
18. Peruse Black Friday ad and possibly purchase desktop computer
19. Make brownies from scratch
20. Give away 3 hens
21. Shop at Bead Soup for Christmas gifts
22. Actually start this oil pulling nonsense
23. Get a gait analysis done & buy new running shoes
24. Make Jay a kick-ass birthday dinner
25. Attend Punkin Chunkin

Weekend fun

So I finally broke open the winemaking kit that Jay got me for Christmas last year! It's much easier than I realized. Kinda makes me want to grow my own grapes.

At the very least, the first stage was pretty easy. After a few more days, we'll read the specific gravity of the mixture to make sure that the fermenting is ready to move on to the next stage. The wine will go into the carbiner and get some stuff added to it next. It should be ready to bottle for aging in early December. It will make over two cases!

This morning I ran the SeaWitch 5k. It was lots of fun... very low-key and a great course. Nice scenery and most importantly, it was flat. I felt that I was much faster than last time but not according to my running app. Then again, I was running in costume and had to stop or slow down to nearly stopped a few times to put my dagger back in the holder or fix my skirt. 

The exciting news is that I ran for the entire first mile, which I don't think I've ever done before. I ran the first mile in 12:41 according to my app. I wish that I had paced myself a little better, but overall I'm proud of how I did. I haven't seen the official results yet, but I'm expecting to be around 40 minutes again.

                            

We're badass pirates. 

                           

This was post-race... look, we don't even look winded. We could just keep on running... HA!

There are a few more runs in my future... I'm definitely planning on the Turkey Trot next month. After all, it's only two miles. Hell, I might even be able to run the entire time. The week after the Turkey Trot is the run for hospice in Easton. Of course, that's assuming that I'm off work on that day. We'll see I guess.

An update to my 101 list

I'm making progress on my 101 list. Go see what I've been up to!

Update to my 101 list

I ran my first 5k over the weekend!

I've also checked a few other things off of my 101 list. Check out the details here.

On a side note, I have been watching Fringe on Netflix. I am HOOKED. I just started the 3rd season and I don't know how I survived without it for so long. Because of the show, I have developed an insane crush on Peter Bishop. No, not Joshua Jackson. The actual character Peter Bishop. I'm sure that Joshua Jackson is a great guy, but unless he has all the geeky adorableness of Peter Bishop, I don't want him. 

That's all for now. Lots of busy happenings.

Wordless Wednesday

Six items checked off

I've checked six items off of my 101 list in the past week.

Go see my update here.