week 1 back in ithaca

Today marks a week since I've returned to Ithaca, with renewed energy and determination.

Continuous yays go to Mayo Clinic for being uber-helpful and efficient.

I've bought a new mattress, and now a new mattress topper for it, since the mattress is way firmer than it was in the store. I will proudly own my $870 version of the $1700 bed that I liked way more. Plus, when it comes time to move, I won't have a 100lb + bed to move. Go me.

I've done a whole lot of running around town, sending emails, and meeting with people to make this the most effective and healthy transition semester I could manage. I feel awesomely productive.

It's going to be a challenge, fitting exercise in at least 5 days a week, with no more than 1 day off at a time, but I'm armed with a plan.

The sun was out today, and even though it was in the 20s, I took a walk in the sunshine.

Sadly, DDR is too painful for me to use as exercise. Silly knees and feet. But I don't want them to become like some people's battles with them.

I'm finding new books to read, which are a lot of fun and completely silly.

I have delved into the world of music for 15 year olds and I'm ok with it. In fact, it's very happy and upbeat, and at times sufficiently cheesy and sappy for my life right now.

I'm addicted to chocolate chex, as in I have to keep myself to less than 3 bowls a day. It's ridiculous how much I love this cereal.

Fame was a good movie for the artistic aspect, but I wasn't thrilled with the plot line or dialogue. Post Grad was not very great, though had its moments.

before i forget

Things from the past few days:

- awesome breakfast at cafe streudal in columbia with my Baha'i family - including several small ones (3 year old, 1 year old, 4 month old, 1 month old) - cuteness and love overflowed.

- wonderful times at home with the family, too many to name or count

- a fun road trip Tuesday, via Durham, to the DC area

- great times with a 4 year old and a 21 month old, and my Baha'i big sis and bro

- one of the best games of Taboo ever played ("scampering animal problem" = mousetrap)

- one of the sweetest breakfast table moments with a child copying me

- an easy drive back home in the sunshine

- a beautiful, soul stirring sunset as I drove through the snow-covered hills and farmland of upstate NY. Honestly, I wanted to stop in the middle of the 2 lane highway and take a picture. If I were an artist, I would paint this memory... criss-crossing rolling hills covered in snow, tinted orange and pink by the sun setting directly above them, while the clouds and sky are every shade of orange, pink, purple, yellow, and blue.

- expanses of untouched snow that made me say, "Wow," out loud many times. Along with, "What a beautiful world God has created for us!!!!!!" It was one of the most overwhelmingly wonderful and inspiring and beautiful 20 minutes.

- unpacking almost everything from being away for a month and a half this evening.

Now, just to get back into the swing of things without losing all this energy that I'm discovering now that I sleep at night.