Spring is in the air here in Charlotte, and on Monday I put on some coconut body butter and sat down to drink a cup of coffee with the windows open. The combination of coconut and coffee always immediately make me think of being on vacation. I think it's because one spring, years ago, my family and I went to Atlantis and every morning my mom and I would walk to the resort Starbucks for iced coffees with almond and coconut syrup in them.

I started going to Pure Barre last week and I'm kind of hooked! I got a one-month unlimited membership so I'm trying to make the most of the classes they offer until April 1st. Today will be my 8th class. I'm still figuring out a lot of the movements, but I'm already seeing some results, which is encouraging. I think I'm going to write a blog post about my experience and general thoughts about barre after this month is over.

I've been eating a lot of peanut butter recently and man, is it better than almond butter.

Yesterday while we were on a walk, the buckle on Ender's puppy collar busted open and he got away from me and even managed to run into the street for a moment. It was one of the most terrifying things I've experienced and after I finally got him to come back to me I carried him home, shaking and on the verge of tears. He fell asleep and I just watched him, thinking how strange it is that just over a month ago he was a homeless dog in a rescue who needed to be adopted. It's bizarre and even heartbreaking to think that he could be anywhere else right now. He's changed our lives so much already and I'm so happy he's ours.

“so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.”

— William Carlos Williams, Spring and All

Yesterday, on the first of December, Charlotte reached 70 degrees. I lit an apple spice candle and moped around our apartment all day. Today it's chilly and grey and I'm in a coffee shop feeling more alive than ever. I always feel like yeah, weather affects me a lot; but the truth is that yeah, weather really affects me a lot. With the exception of maybe our wedding weekend, I don't think I've ever wished for a sunny day. Sometimes I think Seattle is where I'm supposed to be.

Rob and I bought a dog collar at Hampden-Sydney last month.

I've been listening to podcasts non-stop over the past few weeks. I go for long runs and the time just flies by. My favorites are This American Life, The Dinner Party Download, The Thomas Jefferson Hour, Stuff You Missed in History Class, and Spilled Milk.

I'm looking forward to a new year. I love this time of year--everything seems magical and hope is everywhere. Sitting down to a list of goals is one of my favorite ways to start a new month, and that's just completely magnified at the start of a new year. There is so much to look forward to.

"I wish the world was flat like the old days / Then I could travel just by folding a map / No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways / There'd be no distance that could hold us back"

--Death Cab for Cutie, The New Year

I went to bed with a headache on Monday night and woke up yesterday with a migraine, which always makes me super nauseated. I haven't had one in a long time, though, so it kind of took me by surprise. I choked down a couple Advil and half a glass of water and fell back asleep until early afternoon. I decided to take it pretty easy the rest of they day and stayed in bed, just answering some emails, sipping on coffee, and watching episodes of Gilmore Girls. I didn't feel guilty about it once, which is sometimes just the best feeling.

Rob and I have started running regularly this week in preparation for our annual Thanksgiving 5K race in Roanoke. I get a little slower every year and my goal is to just finish under 30 minutes and the ever-cliche just have fun. I was on the phone with my friend Shawna the other day while she was taking a break from a long run and we talked about how hard it is to run more than three or four miles anymore. We still love it, though, so we keep doing it. I hope I continue to run forever.

I said "I love Charlotte" for the first time this week. And I think I meant it.

Six months and two wonderful days ago I married Rob, and I'm wondering where time is going in such a hurry. We're headed to Roanoke this weekend to celebrate our godson's first birthday and I have a feeling the holidays will be here before we know it. I'm trying to hard to just live in the moment, but it's much easier said than done. There's a lot going on in my life right now and it can really be a challenge to take it one day at a time. But I do my best.

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

--F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby