Intrepid possibilities and what’s been on my calendar in July
“I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.”
~Simone Biles
As you may recall, I chose INTREPID and POSSIBILITIES as my 2025 Words of the Year. These two words together describe my intention for the year.
One way of putting that intention into action are my Possibilities Lists. With that in mind, I’d like to share an update on my Summer Possibilities list.
Summer Possibilities list
1. Girls trip at Bryce Canyon. Mission accomplished! For a full description, including photos, see this post.
2. Have my annual exam. Set new health goals as appropriate. Mission accomplished. While my cholesterol has come down considerably…50 points!…my A1c continues to increase, and my iron is quite low. So here are my new health goals:
- Meet with a dietician. While my doctor agreed that my diet and activity levels are quite healthy already, she thought that a dietician may have some more specific recommendations that could help keep my blood sugar in check. I have already had this dietician appointment and will write a future post on what I learned.
- Begin taking an iron supplement (ferrous sulfate) three times a week and refrain from donating blood until I have my levels rechecked in three months. I was hesitant on this one, because I have heard that iron supplements can be hard on your stomach and also they may interfere with the effectiveness of my thyroid medication. The answer to the latter concern is to take the two medications at least 4 hours apart. As for side effects, I am happy to report that after three weeks of taking the supplement, I have not had any problems with my stomach…or any other noticeable side effects. I do hope I can get back to regular blood donation soon.
3. Have my DEXA Bone Scan. Not yet. I have an appointment scheduled in August.
4. Complete Orangetheory PUSH 30 Challenge. Mission accomplished! In addition to completing 12 Orangetheory workouts between June 16 and July 15, non-gym challenges included nutrition, outdoor activities, sleep/recovery, and gratitude.
5. Finalize fall Mazatlàn travel plans. In progress. We’ve been watching airfare and made tentative arrangements for a dog sitter.
6. Research the best time to start collecting Social Security. Not yet started.
7. Learn more video-making skills. In progress. I’ve got a lot to learn, but here are a couple of YouTube shorts I put together.
The dog video was a big hit!
8. Visits with various family members. Mission accomplished! During July, we had back-to-back-to-back visits with 1) one of my sisters, 2) three granddaughters and a daughter-in-law, and 3) one daughter, son-in-law, and great granddaughter!
I failed to take a single photo this time around.
9. See Wizard of Oz at Tuacahn Amphitheater. Not yet started. It has been way too hot to enjoy the outdoor theater, so this will likely be pushed to fall.
10. Check out Dixie Meats. Mission accomplished! Everyone there was very nice and helpful. We purchased steak, pork chops, and stuffed bell peppers…all of which were delicious!
I had to laugh at the window display. Double-entendre much? (Please excuse the glare and reflections.)
11. Hike to Lion’s Mouth Cave. Not yet started. Again, the hot weather has been a deterrent.
12. Hike to Elephant Arch. Not yet started. Again, the hot weather has been a deterrent.
13. Take a golf lesson. Not yet started. Again, the hot weather has been a deterrent.
14. Visit St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site. Not yet started, but on my radar for August.
15. Maximize pool time. In progress. While the hot weather has hampered some of my other possibilities, it has made this one even more enticing. If it wasn’t for the pool, I would never get outdoors, so I am deeply grateful to have it. This item also combined nicely with the family visits mentioned above.
16. Visit YouTuber, Matt’s Off-road Recovery. This is a newly-added item, and I can report “mission accomplished!” My husband and I regularly watch this local YouTuber. Our son-in-law, who was visiting, also really likes the channel and wanted to see the yard and buy a hat, so off we went.
It turned out to be a lot of fun. We even got to see the real stars of the show, Peanut and Lady.
17. Complete the Orangetheory Fitness Marathon Month challenge. This also is a newly added item…a challenge my gym recently announced. Each participant selects a distance (half, full, or ultra marathon) to complete on the treadmill during the month of August and then chips away at that total one class at a time. I selected a half-marathon (13.1 miles) for my first attempt at this challenge.
Bonus
And finally, just because it’s been so long since we’ve seen rain around here, and even longer since I shared a cloud photo, here’s a photo from our most recent summer storm.
Your turn
- What is one thing you did in July that made you happy or that you are particularly proud of?
- Do you have any fun plans for August?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
Hi Christie – a very full month indeed for you – and I loved all the family photos – and the sunshine. It’s winter here and very chilly + my husband managed to share his man flu with me, so I’m feeling a little frowsy to say the least. Still, onward and upward – I’ll be back on deck firing on all cylinders in a week or so I’m sure. The joys from July are in my latest blog post. x
I hope you are feeling better soon, Leanne. That’s no fun at all. I’ll definitely check out your joys from July.
You have really made a dent in your list! Good for you on all those things. I had low iron once which resulted in restless leg syndrome. Luckily, one round of prescribed iron fixed that. But, every time I give blood, I’m a little nervous. One of the phlebotomists told me to use a cast iron skillet whenever possible. I don’t fry things so the poor thing is very neglected. The one thing I like to make in it is cornbread! No advice on the A1C…sorry.
In July, I gave my graduation docent tour and am now a full-fledged docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. In August, I will give two public tours! One of them will be works I used for my graduation tour, but I’m hoping to develop a completely new one for the other tour.
We have those dreaded heat advisories so I feel your pain. Have a wonderful end of July and start to August!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thanks, Marsha. July has been a good month around here. That’s interesting about low iron and restless leg syndrome. I have had restless legs some nights, but didn’t tie it to the low iron. Congratulations again on becoming a docent and good luck with your tours. I have a feeling you are going to do great!
Hi Christie, what a fun month you’ve had. I love all the family photos with all the happy smiling faces. You’re doing such a great job of ticking activities you’d like to do off your list! The thing that made me happy in July was a recent two night getaway to Mooloolaba for my brother-in-law’s 70th which is what my blog post is about this week. At the end of August I have another getaway to look forward to. I’ll be going away with all of the Tennis Player’s family for two nights at Bunya Mountains. We’ve booked a huge big 5 bedroom house up there. I love it up there so it should be fun. To top things off though – in early September we’re visiting my daughter in Melbourne and that trip will include a little side trip for a couple of nights to the Mornington Peninsula! Nice to have things to look forward to isn’t it? Thanks for linking up with us at #WWWhimsy & enjoy ticking more activities off your list! xo
We have had a good July, Min. Gotta love time with family, especially the little ones! I’m off to check out your trip to Mooloolaba (just typing that word is fun). It sounds like you have a lot to look forward to in the next couple of months. And yes, it does make life a little more enjoyable when you have something to look forward to.
Hi Christie, your July was fun-filled with lots going on. I love your list and you’re working through it well. July’s highlight for me was a visit to my daughter and family in Queensland which although technically winter, the difference between her temperature and ours is about 20 degrees!! I loved the warmth and now home I’m enjoying the snow topped mountains and the last of the cold before we leave on holidays to England and Canada!
Have a great August, I’ll be offline for a few months.
Enjoy your travels Deb! Can’t wait to hear all about it.
That was such a great catch up Christie and I like “not yet” as a response.
Hope your health keeps tracking well.
Loved the pics..happy snaps and more
Denyse x
“Not yet” is such a lovely phrase, isn’t it Denyse? Sometimes if I catch myself thinking I can’t do something, I’ll tack on the word “yet.”
I LOVE your pool rules sign! I wish we had a pool (yes we live on the lake but I don’t swim in it since it is very weedy). But I love cooling off in a pool! I don’t even think I’ve put on a bathing suit this year. You are doing great checking things off your list. We had a lovely July and while I don’t have any real plans for August I do hope to make the most of the 3 weeks we have left before Alec goes back to college.
Thanks, Joanne. I smile every time I look at that pool sign. I understand about not swimming in the lake, but a lake house still sounds quite lovely. Enjoy your time with Alec! They grow up so fast, don’t they?
Love the baby with the devil-may-care hairstyle while looking cool with his pinkie! He’s perfectly in tune with his own vibe. We all should be so lucky.
Sounds and looks like you did a lot in July. Good for you. Best of luck with the dietician. My experience years ago with one was, shall we say, less than helpful. Kind of put me off the whole idea.
BINKIE, not pinkie. Spellcheck is stupid.
I knew what you meant…and yes, spellcheck is often stupid. I think I could do a whole post on funny texts I have received courtesy of spellcheck (or misheard voice texting).
Isn’t that such a great photo of the little one, Ally? That binkie goes everywhere with her…as you can see. And when her hair is dry is curly on the top. So cute.
I’m sorry your experience with a dietician was not great. The lady I went to was good, and I knew exactly what I was looking for…and had been tracking my food for a while going in…so I think that contributed to the success of the appointment. I don’t feel the need to continue going. Now it’s just a matter of putting into practice what she shared with me.
Those little ones in the pool are always my fav. My babies learnt from birth (common here) so I loved spending time with them. THat photo made me smile at my own memories. Lovely!!
#WWWhimsy
That’s the best time to teach them to swim, Lydia. They aren’t afraid, and much of it comes naturally to them. I’m glad my new memories brought back some happy memories of your own.
Nice job on accomplishing so many summer possibilities so far! I loved my trip to see you in July and look forward to our next visit in September! I also had a fun day in Bear Lake with some of my kids and grandkids. My summer break ends in 13 days and I’m not ready!
Thanks Cindy. We had so much fun with you too. Your Bear Lake trip looked lovely. I cannot believe your summer break is almost over already. It seems like it just started.
Wonderful pics, Christie. I especially like ‘The Hawkes Pool Rules!’ 😀 Wishing you a wonderful August ahead!
Thank you, Donna. Those are the kind of rules I can live by. Happy August to you as well!
Hi Christie I’ve been enjoying your Youtube posts as I’m a subscriber now! You have certainly packed a lot into your month and living your ‘intrepid possibilities’ theme from your WOTY. Mike and I attended a Christmas in July lunch which was so much fun and I also saw the production of JC Superstar. Both brought joy to me in July. Thanks for sharing your month with us at #WBOYC? and have a beautiful August. I hope you book in for your bone density test as it is very important. Sue L xx
Thanks Sue. I did find and subscribe to your YouTube channel. It sounds as if you had a fun-filled July as well. I have the bone density scan scheduled for later this month. I’ll be curious to see the results. Thanks, as always, for your encouragement and for hosting #WBOYC?.
Plenty of missions accomplished in this list. We tend to do less in summer than in winter – the heat is a deterrent – so walk more in winter (the best time of the year here) than summer. Blood sugar is so difficult to get down – it took me a few years to get it to the right levels and now we’re doing the same with Grant’s.
Winter in northern Utah is not great walking weather, but in southern Utah it is lovely. Summer is too warm even in the wee hours. Good luck with Grant’s blood sugar levels…and mine! Thanks.