[This gal came over to say hi to me and Rob when we were on a run over the weekend. 

Nothing like a surprise horse cuddle to make your day.]

Reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. I had ordered it for myself on Amazon but was too impatient and ended up having my brother check it out for me from Longwood's library. Libraries! I need to visit mine soon. I'm four chapters in and it is gorgeous already. She pretty much had me at page two:
"I close my eyes and lean into Ernest, smelling bourbon and soap, tobacco and damp cotton--and everything about this moment is so sharp and lovely, I do something completely out of character and just let myself have it."

Drinking a billion glasses of water a day. Well, okay, not a billion, but a lot (especially considering I used to go all day without so much as one sip). I try to drink a big mug of hot water with lemon while I'm getting ready in the morning, and then after I finish my coffee, I get started on glasses of cold water. I drink all day now and I feel awesome! My secret is to use a straw--it's all about the straw!

Listening to Mumford & Sons' Babel (still). I took a break for a few weeks and now I'm back. I can't get over it.

Thinking about the future a lot. I don't know what it holds. Sometimes it's really hard to just let go and embrace each day--it's hard to be away from Rob, and it's hard to not really have a definite idea of where he's going to be after his training stint in Northern Virginia is done. But it helps to have such a strong foundation underneath us, and I feel blessed to have him in my life. I know things will eventually work themselves out. And we'll look back and find a way to be grateful for the time we spent apart.

Loving Body Pump at the Y in the morning. I haven't lifted any weight since I quit CrossFit and I've really been missing it. It's hard to drag myself out of bed at 5:00 AM when it's cold out and my bed is so cozy, but it's totally worth it to get so much done before 6:30! And I actually really hate getting ready in a gym locker room, but at least I have it as an option, and then I go take myself out for coffee before work. You can't have it all, right?

Looking forward to a few things. First, I'm working with a really beautiful online magazine on a couple of pieces, and I can't wait to share details with you! Second, my brother broke Longwood University's 10K record last week (he ran it in 33 minutes...no big deal, right?) and qualified for a race in New York this weekend. We planned to go, and then it got called off, and now it's on again, so we're going! I'm picking Rob up in Northern Virginia and then we're driving up the rest of the way on Friday night. This is Sean's last race and I pretty much can't put into words how proud I am of him without tearing up. He's pretty awesome. So I'll take pictures and cry about it on Saturday.

Making me happy that I have wonderful parents, a close relationship with my brother, a sweet and amazing boyfriend, the cutest dog, a great job, a roof over my head, more than enough food to eat, and good health. Sometimes I forget to really take in the everyday things that I should be so grateful for.

What are you up to currently? Thanks, Dani, for providing the inspiration for these posts!

[Autumn in Montana.]

Reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I'm only a few pages in, but I really like it already. This is really the first time that I can remember having time to read whatever I want, and I love it. I miss being in school and really miss going to class, but it's nice to just pick something and not necessarily have to write a paper once I'm done.

Watching the new season of Boardwalk Empire. I forgot how much I love this show. Anyone else? I love Jimmy's little son, want to punch his mother in the face, and think Margaret should just run away somewhere with that Irish guy!

Listening to lots of my Bon Iver station on Pandora. I "add variety" with Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Ros, and it's seriously the best station in the world. It's the perfect chilly weather music! Holocene will always be one of my favorites.

Thinking about how much I love running. I quit going to CrossFit when I started my job, telling myself that I'd give myself a chance to rekindle my relationship with running, and as of this week I've finally stopped making excuses and have started using my lunch hour to go on a run. Today was a little warm for my taste, but in general it's been beautiful out and it feels so good to go to bed at night feeling like I used my body.

Loving how much it feels like fall. My scarves are out and I actually need my morning coffee on my drive in to the office in the mornings. I don't use the AC anymore! My mom made chicken soup! Soon it will be time for stockings! I wore my trench coat and everything on Tuesday. But more than the clothes and the food, I just love the way fall makes me feel. It's hard to explain--it's like I get a chance to be exactly who I'm supposed to be when autumn comes.

Looking forward to seeing Rob this weekend! Being away from each other all week is hard, but missing a weekend together is ridiculous! I have so much respect for people whose partners are in the military or travel constantly for work--it's rough being away from the one you love, and Rob and I are lucky that we get to see each other every weekend.

Making me happy that I'm starting to pay my grad school loans back. It feels so good to be making enough money that I feel excited about making payments every month. And it doesn't hurt that the fact that I'm even making payments in the first place means that I have a master's degree and a job! "Real life," you might not be so bad after all.

What about you guys? Thanks, Dani, for always inspiring me with these posts!

[Rainbow flatties on a road trip.]

Loving my job. Never did I think there'd be a time in my life where I'd wake up and go to an office where I would sit in front of a Mac with a pencil and a sketchbook to design mobile apps. But that's what I'm doing, and I couldn't be happier or feel more proud. I wear heels every day and I have a few really cool bosses and some awesome new friends, too. That's like the cherry on top of an awesome professional ice cream sundae.

Reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Still. It's really long. But it's beautiful and I intend to stick with it. I took a break to read Megan Mayhew Bergman's collection of stories, Birds of a Lesser Paradise, recently, and I'll be writing a review of it for Drawl Magazine really soon.

Watching nothing, really. I recently caught up with Game of Thrones, and I was watching a lot of the Olympics, but that's all over now. I have quite a few episodes of True Blood to catch up on and I hope to do that soon.

Thinking about how bizarre it is to be done with my thesis. And still thinking about how awesome you all were when I wrote about it here. Love and support is awesome, especially when you've spent a year pouring your heart and mind into something that matters so much to you.

Anticipating Rob's move to Northern Virginia this weekend. I know it sounds weird, but I kind of want to just get it over with already so that we can figure out what our routine is going to be. I don't know when we're going to talk on the phone or what time he's going to wake up, and it makes me kind of anxious. We've been two hours apart for a year before, but this is four hours and we're both going to be busy. I think I'll feel better once we've just jumped into it and can start planning fun weekends together.

Wishing that my best friend Emma were currently living in Roanoke. She's in town for a few days and she came over last night to do a CrossFit WOD with me and it was so wonderful. I miss being in the same city! She's wonderful and I love the way we just pick back up as if there's been no time lost between us. It's a blessing to have a friend like that.

Making me happy that another dear friend of mine, Amanda, had a sweet baby boy over the weekend, and while he initially had some complications, he seems to be doing just fine now and will hopefully be going home soon! Amanda and I were best friends in high school and somehow lost touch with each other over the years. I feel so honored to be part of her life again and have the opportunity to watch her beautiful little family grow. She's a wonderful woman and mother and she and her husband give me so much hope.

So what about you? What are you up to currently?

--Thanks to Danielle for the post inspiration.--