The Friday Five - Five Things I'm Loving

It's a nice, rainy (monsoonish) day where I am...one of those days where it'd be great to 

just nap and watch Lifetime movies all day!

I liked up with the DC trifecta again for the Friday Five - the things I'm loving right now (besides the givens: my family, pets and friends!).

1.  Ultramarathoning/Trail Running

Having come from Minnesota, where my outdoor quality of life was pretty much a 10 out of 10, Texas always seemed very low in that area.  Having discovered that there are some really amazing trails, hidden gems really, has increased my outdoor quality of life in Texas quotient A LOT.

One of my favorite trails, pretty much right outside my door!

This is in Texas!

I can't seem to get enough of trail running/races right now.  I've spent the last two months dreaming about all of the trail races I'd like to do someday.  The Rough Creek race gave me the added confidence boost I needed to consider some significantly more challenging races.  I can't wait to see what pans out.

Someday!

2. Fridays Off (for now)

I magically worked out a schedule with UHC that allows me to work 10 hour days, 4 days a week.  I kept that schedule this summer (except with no days off really), but was fortunate enough to continue it so I could catch up on some things before I start my clinical rotation again in December.  It's a day off to do all of the things that I won't have time to do for the next 9 months.

3. 34 days until Thanksgiving

ok...maybe not quite yet, but SOON!

I adore the fall holidays, but the one that takes that cake (or turkey!) is Thanksgiving. I love me some Christmas, but I love that Thanksgiving is, for the most part, stress free.  There are no presents, no elf on the shelf antics, no over the top lights to put on the tree (guilty)...just really amazing food and family.  It's no secret in my circle that I LOVE cooking Thanksgiving dinner.  It's the best meal I make all year and I am very proud of that.  My mom taught me how to make my turkey extra tasty and I can give Martha Stewart a run for her money with my pie making skills.

Pumpkin Pie - for reals.

4. Audio Books and Podcast

Once someone who only listened to music while I was working out/running, I have become a big fan of someone else doing the talking.  I've been listening to audio books during my ultras and I love that I can actually finish the entire book at one time.  So far my favorites have been A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson - I wanted to "read" the book before I saw the movie) and Mindy Kaling's Why Not Me.  I LOVE 'Another Mother Runner' podcast.

At this point, I have listened to them ALL and have to wait each week for the new one to come out.  I feel like I'm having a chat with my girlfriends.  There is a lot of random laughing!

5. Cats

I guess the cat (pun intended) is pretty much getting out of the bag.  We are officially crazy cat people.  What started out as getting a pal for Khleo (our girl cat) led to the tragedy this summer, then to us collecting cats.  Apparently, it took many cats to fill Tyrion's place.  We started with Batman (aka Fatman, Bear) who we got after we got back from Mexico this summer and added Charlie Brown to the mix in early September.  Historically a "dog" person, I never thought I could be swayed to have cats.  Especially a small herd of them, but here we are!  Four cats later...

Kitties in a basket!

Charlie to the left, Batman to the right.  These two are rarely far from each other.

What are you loving right now?

Thanks to Courtney @Eat, Pray, Run DC, Mar @ Mar on the Run and Cynthia @You Signed Up For What? for the Friday Five Link-Up!