Rain

Looks like I don't have to go to the marina to go kayaking any more. I can just walk out the front door.



And yet, I somehow think this won't cancel our 5 mile run tomorrow...

New Apartment

Here is a first look of our new apartment. Aaron has been getting everything put away the past couple of days. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms, so feel free to come and visit. I can't wait to see the place in person-just six weeks away!




Living Room. Loving the 9 foot ceilings. Still not sure to do with the space above the mantel. Becks, any ideas? I'm thinking feminine. No doilies! Modern feminine. Classy.



Storage closet



Bathroom #2 (guest bathroom for all of you who plan to visit).



Hallway and Baci with the pull-up bar over the master bedroom door.



Laundry Room (closet). No complaints really, just glad to have my washer and dryer out of storage.



Bedroom. Ahhh... my purple body pillow! How I miss it.



More Bedroom. The name tag on the top right corner of the mirror is from my first week at work when they were having new employee orientation for the start of the school year. It stuck to the mirror a little better than I had expected...




Master Bathroom



Hallway view from master bedroom.



Dining Room


No pics of the kitchen or 2nd bedroom yet. I'll add more pictures as I get them. Aaron did a pretty good job picking this place out. :)

Kayaking

I live about an eighth of a mile away from a marina which rents kayaks, so today a couple of friends and I went out into the bay. I've only ever floated down the Illinois river in the great state of OK where you pretty much let the current take you downstream and then drag the craft until you hit water again. There were waves in the bay and I soon found myself capsized and at the bottom of the bay. I put my hand down and touched the bottom. I was literally in one foot of water. So, I stood up, got back in, and went about it again. The water is still very warm around here, so I hope I can keep kayaking and hitting the beach through the end of this course. Yes, I am lucky and definitely enjoying this. If anyone is headed out this way, let me know.

Rough Week

I've been hitting the gym and running about 8 times a week (twice a day M,W,F and once on Saturday and Sunday). Unfortunately, that's not enough. My CO singled me out while the class was on a run (never good) and gave me about a 15 minute chewing out about being a slow runner. My entire class witnessed it too. He told me I will be working out harder and had better drop my time by 2 minutes a mile by the end of this class which is 6 weeks away. Impossible? Probably... I'll give it my best shot. But, I've been giving my best the entire time. I work out more than anyone in my entire class. Still not good enough.

Moving

Thankfully, Hanna was a non-event last weekend. I was able to drive up to VA and help Aaron box up our old apartment. We were able to box everything up in about 6 hours. I guess we're becoming pros by moving once a year for the past 3 years. We also did well by breaking down and keeping all the boxes from our last move. Move-in day is tomorrow. I told Aaron he is taking pictures. I wish I could be there.

Hanna

Looks like I get to experience my first hurricane this weekend. Actually, Hanna is only "supposed" to hit as a category I hurricane, but there might be more excitement with Ike next week. I've done plenty of tornadoes, but this planning for a hurricane is a bit different. My building manager gave me a checklist, toilet paper and a flashlight to weather the storm. Apparently, the popular item Walmart stocks up on is strawberry pop-tarts.

I may miss out on all the festivities as I'm headed up to Virginia this weekend to finally move out of my apartment there. Aaron moved back to St. Louis Tuesday and just found us a new place. I'm excited to see it-in two months.