Mixing things up

So, this morning I am doing what I imagine 90% of all other Americans do when they get out of bed: I took a shower, I am having breakfast, and will soon go off to school/work. What is different for me is that I am NOT exercising, which is a nice change in some ways but also bumming me out. This is the first time in nearly a year and a half (since August 10th, 2010, to be exact) that I have not gone running.

Why this change? I didn't get some sudden injury or illness, thank goodness, and the weather is good, though a bit cold. Well, I went in for my annual checkup two days ago and my doctor asked if I exercise and if so, how much. When I told her I run about 6.5-7.5 miles a day, every day (about 45 miles a week), she seemed fairly disgusted, especially when I told her my shins are sensitive to the touch... and have been for the past 5 years. In my own defense, my shins have not been getting any worse in the past year an a half, though they also are not getting any better. I figure I can't keep up my consistent track record forever (though in comparison Seth seems to have done well for himself), and if I am to miss a day or two, I should do it on my own terms and not wait until my shins start getting really bad again. So, I figure it couldn't hurt to have a day off from trotting through the dark woods once a week, though I still do plan to hit the FSU gym after my morning class :o)

Long Holiday

Seth and I sure had a nice slow holiday--while I caught up on my reading of fun books and magazines, Seth pounded away at his course syllabi and worked his way back into the spotlight by playing guitar and singing at his favorite Chapel Hill haunt, The Cave.

Immediately after my finals, we drove to Geneva, NY, just in time to spend Christmas with Seth's family. A few days later we hit the road again to celebrate the new year Southern style in Raleigh. After a week and a half here we took off back up north to NY, with an overnight stop to visit Mark, Gina, Kate, and Adah at their new home in Fairfax, VA, not too far from their old home. We used to enjoy paying them a visit on our way between NC and NY, and it is nice to be able do that once again. Now that we are back in Waltham, it is time to start concentrating on the start of the semester...

On New Years Day I went with my family to Topsail Island for their annual Dolphin Dip. This started as a fundraiser a few years ago but now everyone in the community participates 'for fun'. Basically, it involves a mass of people jumping into the chilly ocean at the stroke of midday (ie. at noon there is a countdown and everyone rushes in, gets hit by a wave or two, then almost immediately rushes back out). After all the hype I was convinced the water would be deathly cold (my brother was dramatizing the urgency for medics to be on hand), but it was a warm day, about 70 degrees, and the water, though cold, was not 'bone-freezing cold'. In fact, there were a couple girls, about 7 or 8, splashing around in the waves even before the countdown began.

Dad, Andrew, and I did the Dip

Dinner at Stromboli's

Carter and I were both extremely impressed by the Krispy Kreme snowman doughnut.

Carter helping Mom pack away the Christmas decorations

Meeting up with Meghan in Chapel Hill before Seth's big gig. It was quite a plate of hummus, a nice change from eating meat twice a day for several weeks (I think I filled my yearly quota of Animal during the break).

Seth rocking out with John, old-school style, at the Cave.