A new chapter, a new adventure

Well, it's my last official weekend of summer! I have spent this past week moving into my new apartment. I love it! I have never lived on my own, and must admit that I feel quite adventurous and excited to be making this move. I am still in the process of unpacking boxes and am in extreme organization mode. I can't wait to post pictures once I get settled.

Monday morning I start my career as a PA-C and I could honestly not be more excited. I have truly enjoyed relaxing this summer- taking some "me" time to travel, play, rest and rejuvenate. It is with much anticipation, however, that I put on my (long!) white coat, exchange my Rainbows for my Danskos, and leap into the world of Infectious Diseases. I'm very curious to learn more about the swine flu, and can't wait to slowly build my patient base in the clinic. I am eager to learn and very excited to be working at a prestigious teaching intuition!

Marathon training update

In precisely 80 days, 19 hours, 56 minutes and 21 seconds I will be running the Richmond marathon with Andrea! It's hard to imagine being excited about running 26.2 miles, but there is an inexplicable energy that comes with long distance running.  I ran the Richmond marathon in 2003 and was excited when Andrea asked me to run with her this year. 

Training has been tough.  In fact, even as I blog, I am icing my hamstring after this morning's 13.1 mile run.  I  look forward to transitioning to autumn weather, and will appreciate the crisp cool air and the sound of leaves crunching under my Mizunos. Gotta run ;)

Birmingham = Inspiration

Every time I visit Birmingham, I am overcome with an incredible sense of energy and inspiration. Of course, I can largely attribute this spirited feeling to my cousin Ann Wade, whose energy and enthusiasm is contagious. For example, a trip to the Y began with a 45 minute spinning class, merely a warm-up to the hour long session with Ann Wade's ripped trainer. With fatigued glutes, achy shoulders, and a seemingly firm core, we cooled down with a 2 mile run. In a nutshell, my cousin's typical morning workout.

Along with the motivation to become a better runner and athlete, I also feel more spiritually challenged. With worship and praise music as the soundtrack to our comings and goings, I feel a heightened gratitude for God's blessings. In January, we decided to read the Bible in a year, and I am both excited by our progress and tickled by how utterly broken in our Bibles have become in the last 8 months.

My creative and artistic ambitions were expressed at an art studio that we went to the other night. I painted a canvas of an assortment of wine bottles, which will be the perfect addition to the kitchen of my new apartment. We enjoyed other expressions of creativity in the form of a comedy night, featuring Matt Mitchell, who literally had me in tears from the moment he walked on stage.

Running around Birmingham over the last couple of days has also resulted in a new found love for smoothies, a Lilly Pulitzer shopping spree, and smoother skin from using Arbonne products. My 4 day August getaway to Bham has left me feeling refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated, which is exactly what I need before starting my career in a few weeks!