A student again!

Yesterday I registered to take two online classes at Framingham State College for the Fall semester. I will be a full-fee paying, registered (though non-matriculated) student again! It is too bad they don't accept online courses from other universities. I would like to take a heavier course load next year, but I guess I can only do what I can do.

In other exciting news, I made yogurt in my slow cooker for the first time. It was much easier than when we used to make it over the stove back in Chapel Hill, though not quite as easy as when we had the little yogurt machine in Canberra. Still, it turned out great and is very refreshing (if not a little garlicky flavored).

Here it is with some homemade blueberry sauce :o)

“Feelin’ good today!”

..is what I have been hearing the past three mornings while running in Prospect Hill, shouted to us by one of the park’s regulars. He is this older guy who bikes up to the lookout and stands with his shirt off in the sunshine of the early morning hours, and watches over the city. When Seth passes him he yells out “Beautiful Day! Feelin’ good today!” and gives two great big thumbs up. Seth had been seeing him nearly every day for the past two summers, but I had missed him since taking a little hiatus from running the past three weeks.

For a few months my knees had gradually become more and more clunky and achy, feeling as if they were grinding. Going down stairs was the worst, and at any point during the day my knees would even lock up, making them hard to bend. Grandma, Mom, and Andrew have knee issues, so I figured my time was up. I stopped running and did only light exercises and yoga for about two weeks, but with no improvement. I finally went to see an orthopedic surgeon last week, and he told me I have patello-femoral syndrome (the knee caps are sliding out of alignment) and said to seek physical therapy.

On Tuesday I made my first trip to PT. After many questions, the therapist said she was skeptical of patello-femoral syndrome and wanted to try spinal manipulation, despite having no pain in my back or hips. This would ‘reset’ the nerves in the lower back, the nerves responsible for sensations in the legs. (Basically there was pain without there being a real injury.) It sounded like it would hurt, but she made me do a fancy little twist and it was over before I knew she did anything. I didn’t feel any different but she told me to try running the next morning, which of course seemed almost as crazy as that whole ‘spinal manipulation’ thing. The next morning on my way out the door and down the stairs, I noticed there was no screaming pain in my knees. I was able to run without discomfort (though rather slowly), and the aches and grinding sensations didn’t redevelop during the day. I ran again yesterday and today and afterward I could even do certain stretches that I had to avoid the past few months.

Today I saw the therapist again and reported to her the good news. She helped me do the twist again and then showed me some hip-strengthening exercises, which will help stabilize my spine and prevent the build-up of pressure that caused the initial knee aches. Since everything is connected, stronger hips will also help support and align the knee caps. I am still afraid the pain will come back after we leave for Italy, but all I can do now is trust the therapist—at least she has been right so far!

To top things off, I had a really great visit to the dentist this morning. ‘Feelin’ good today’ for sure :o)

Baptism weekend

This weekend was busy yet predictably fun. Seth's parents came out with Tory and Melissa for Annika's Baptism--and Seth was the godfather. Friday afternoon we met with Tory and Melissa to visit the beautiful Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (an art museum we had been dying to see, which is modeled after a Renaissance Venetian Palace and is the site of the biggest property theft in history), then headed to Chinatown to give Tory and Melissa a somewhat more authentic Asian experience than what they would get at Ling Ling's in Geneva. To end the evening we walked around the Commons and inadvertently immersed ourselves in the local Pride parade.

Spotted on our way into town: a mobile Cous Cous Kitchen

Gourmet Dumpling House!

More interesting than Ben Franklin

Watching the Pride Parade in Boston Commons

Saturday was Annika's big day. During the time we were at St. Anthony's the church was lending its grounds to both an impressive group of Irish dancers rehearsing downstairs and a Brazilian festival in the parking lot. It was fun to see what was going on, though the three little Brazilian desserts we bought convinced us that there are cultures out there that love sugar more than Americans supposedly do.

Setting up for the Brazilian Festival in the church parking lot

Annika being Baptized

Group outing to Bertucci's

After the Baptism Chrissy and Jens treated everyone to dinner at Bertucci's. It was so nice to be dressed up and go to a nice restaurant with everyone, despite the distractions.

Of course, here are a few pictures of Lorenzo, too :o)

Sleeping in Seth's guitar, while it was being played. For some reason Lorenzo really likes this spot.

The sun-room is his oyster

New toys

We made a few fun online purchases lately!

A nice big selection of travel guides. Luckily, the two main books, the Lonely Planet and the Rick Steve's, were brand new editions for 2010, and the Little Black Book is 2009.

Also for the trip, a really nifty mini notebook computer (Samsung NB30, left). It has a 10.1" screen but is still pretty comfortable to use. And, through Brandeis, we get free programs like Microsoft Office, Endnote, Symantec, etc.

Not exactly travel-related, but Seth got himself some super nice recording equipment. Completely work related, of course! ;o)

Summer kick-off

This past week Seth and I initiated summer with a trip to his house in New York state. Though I didn't get nearly as much studying done as I had wanted (a true characteristic of summer), we did run a few errands and spent a good amount of time seeing family, practicing ping pong, reading at Starbucks, falling asleep at the Gorham Free Library, and staying up late playing Wise and Otherwise (a really fun game similar to Balderdash). Being 'that time of year', there were also adventures involving new baby birds and baby kittens. Here are some highlights from the trip:

I love Melissa's expression as the ball comes flying at her

Seth's Uncle Paul and Aunt Mare join us for wine and Scratch N' Win

Not sure what is going on here

The Gorham Memorial Day Parade!

A strong showing from the 4H Club

The star of the show: Chance!

The John Deere train, also very cool.

Looking up the parade route

Closing remarks

Friday Seth and I went to Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford (about 15min away) for Mark's retirement ceremony. We arrived right at 3:02, thinking we were early for a 3:15 start, not knowing they actually started at 3:00. We said hi to Mark as he was waiting in the back for his grand entrance and took our seats just as they were reading our names on the guest list. Typical for us, I suppose, even though we thought we were early, for once!

It was neat to see the base. It really does seem like its own little world, and I imagine it will be quite a transition for Mark once he begins working a civilian job. Lots of jokes were made that after 21 years in the military he will have to start thinking about what he will have to wear to work in the mornings.

Mark, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant colonel

An award for Gina, too

Mark's parents (Bud and Jean) and work friends were in attendance, as well as Gina's parents and sister, who came all the way from Florida. After the ceremony and reception we breezed over to their house where Gina had managed to prepare a massive surprise party where many more friends, neighbors, and family were waiting for him. Mark wasn't kidding when he said he had to marry an energetic woman!

The surprise party

Today was also Graduation at Brandeis. While I was at the annual Spring Fling luncheon at church, Seth zipped off to the see the last few minutes of the big graduation ceremony. He got to miss all that boring speechy stuff and see the finale, a performance by Paul Simon, who was accepting an honorary degree. (After a petition circulated on Facebook, he agreed to sing a song).

Paul Simon performs The Boxer at Brandeis

After lunch I ran over to campus and attended the mini graduation ceremony for the arts departments. Here, Paul Simon gave the main address--and Seth got to sit on stage with him :o)

Seth "sharing a stage" with Paul Simon!

Before walking onto stage at the start of the ceremony, Paul Simon hung out in the room with the others, so Seth got to chat with him a little and asked him to sign our Graceland CD. With the majority of our music burned, it is a good thing we had a real copy! (This is an indication of a REALLY good album).

New shoes

I went out on a limb and finally gave in to my several-year-long fascination with trail running shoes (though it helped that the ones I have had my eyes on were on sale and in 7.5 wide!). Seth and I have always bought Asics 2100-series running shoes (almost 5 years for me, about 13 years for Seth), so this time I tried their trail version (2140). This shoe basically seems more robust, with better traction, tighter mesh weave, and is supposedly water-resistant. After wearing it twice, it does seem slightly heavier, but the additional durability already proved its worth this morning when I caught a stick over the top of my foot and it really didn't hurt (this is normally a lot more painful). Since the snow melted in March I have settled on a standard morning route, about 6 miles long, almost completely trail, so it makes no sense ripping up road shoes anymore! Now if only my knees would cooperate... (I think they will appreciate a little rest next week when we are in New York).

New Asics 2140 trail shoes compared to Asics 2130 road shoes, now retired to only walking

**I swear Asics didn't pay me to write this, though I doubt anyone cares to have my opinion anyway!

***Also, in the lab yesterday, Yulia pointed out that perhaps the reason our flights on August 13th were so cheap may have something to do with that day being a Friday. :o(