The Rundown

To fill you in on our past week…

Run, paint, yoga, cook.  That about sums it up.

Good news people…I completed the longest run of my life today!  14K (8.7 mi) behind me.  For some, this distance is just a wednesday afternoon jog.  For me, this marked a breakthrough of something I thought "wasn't cut out for me".  I even completed the race under my goal time!  City2Surf is the largest timed running race in the world, with more than 80,000 participants.  So, you can imagine what a sight it was!  I was in "awe" all day.  There was a such a sense of community, with bystanders singing, dancing, and cheering us all along the way.  And the views…wow.  I am certainly not used to running alongside hilltop views of the ocean and the big city in the distance!  Sign me up for next year. 

1. Signing my name on the "C2S" board the day before

2. Our friends were gracious enough to prepare a "pre-race" dinner the night before, complete with carb loading homemade whole wheat pasta and pesto sauce. Perfecto! 

3. Ready!

4. Finished!  Ronnie surprised me with a celebratory picnic afterwards and a stroll through the neighborhood market.  

Finish line at Bondi Beach.  Masses of people down below, while waiting on the buses back into the city.

On to this painting thing.  Remember how complicated my story about getting the paint home was?! I thought that would be the end of it. Well, turns out that after liking the freshly coated walls in the living room and hallway so much, we decided to go on with the bedroom and kitchen.  This time I went to the local hardware store (much closer) to stock up on more paint. I couldn't believe it, but the owners wife offered me a ride home after realizing that I had walked there!  Still amazed at how friendly and accommodating everyone is..and the fact that I feel completely safe and normal accepting a ride from a "stranger".  Bedroom is complete and now just have one more coat in the kitchen to finish the project!  

R has been helping me with the hard to reach ceiling (as you can see, I can barely touch even on my toes).  

  

I made it through my third yoga class…and I am LOVING it!  Who knew?!  I have always been so timid and terrified at the thought of going to a yoga class.  Maybe it's because I thought everyone was going to judge me?  Or that I knew I would be bad at it?  Or probably because my muscles are so darn tight that I would embarrass myself?  Anyways, all of those pre notions were wrong! I am still a beginner though..so maybe a little bad at it, but at least no one cares!  Blake (a coworkers husband and new friend) and I joined a studio that is only a few train stops away from home..geared up with fancy yoga mats (which we got  for free at lululemon, mind you!) and hit the ground running!  We are going to try and practice 3 to 4 times a week!  Hold me to it.  I am starting to understand the importance in breathing, stretching, and strengthening your core.  I will try to share my experiences with you along the way.

Speaking of trying things that I'm not good at…cooking!  Not for long, though.  I am determined to come back to the States and be comfortable in the kitchen.  Only with a little help from my friend, Blake, of course.  He is currently in Le Cordon Bleu school here and has offered to help me find my way!  Turns out, he has been doing a "thought for food" program every Friday at Ronnie's office where he selects a dish that staff can chose to pay and join in on…and now I have been "hired" as the sous chef.  This is a great way for me to be immersed in complicated dishes..starting with the basics of cutting and chopping to more advanced techniques and skills. On the menu this Friday was a seared tuna nicoise salad. Refreshing! We couldn't convince Ronnie of this one…maybe next time!

The rest of our weekend was another great one.  On Friday night, we were treated to a company team welcome dinner at a mexican restaurant for margs and fajitas!  Not the same as Texas, but it will do for now.  Then, I went out with the girls for a late night movie complete with cupcakes, champagne and oversized reclining lounge chairs!  Worth the splurge for sure.

 Saturday was complete with blueberry pancakes, shopping, and deep cleaning our place.  The pictures on the right show our daily commute via our local train stop and daily walk towards the water. 

Admiring from afar this week...

1. My sister finished her anatomy and physiology class this summer (and passed with flying colors!)..and now on to work week and recruitment for her sorority.  So proud of her.  I can't believe she is going to be a senior in college.  Wow.  I still see her as a freshman in high school…but then again, she sure has become a strong young woman through the years.  Lucky to have a little sis that I can look up to...who inspires me to be a better person.  

2. The first baby in the family between my cousins was born Tuesday. Welcome to the world, Molly Kate!  Definitely another event that was hard to miss out on, but so excited to all be together again as a growing family!

3. My sisters boyfriend, Junior, celebrated his 21st birthday this week…and we were able to FaceTime before the night was over!  We always give him such a hard time for being "the baby"…not anymore.

4. Most of my closest friends from college have recently made advancements in their careers…raises, promotions, new jobs that make them happier, and grad school beginnings and endings!  It is really neat to see everyones lives develop from a distance.  Even though we graduated college a little over two years ago, I am amazed to think how much has happened in the time in between.  Never in my wildest dream would I have imagined living in Australia, much less another state other than Texas! And I think it is very safe to say that my friends never thought we would actually follow through with the move!  Haha thanks for having faith in us, guys!  

Missing Teddy!  It helps to have sweet pictures like this sent to us every so often to know he is being taken care of, though.  Don't think he is too phased by all of this by the looks of things hehe.

Hopefully the next time you hear from me, we will be with our belongings!  I've never obsessed so much over our "stuff"!  67 days and counting…

Kels