Thanksgiving, Homesickness, and Cartwheels

It is a rainy day here on Maui, and I have a cold. There are two (possibly inebriated) older women in the grassy common area of the condo. One is doing cartwheels and handstands across the grass while the other one rates the performance Olympic style.

That was a 3.0!!! Claps hands. Laughs.

(I thought about taking a picture, but I fully respect their cartwheel activities and decided against it. Besides, the scene probably wouldn't translate well....visually).

I hope to turn cartwheels with my friends someday.

Thanksgiving was nice. It was our first big holiday away from family and we survived! I was bummed I hadn't signed up for a Turkey Trot, so I ran my own Thanksgiving morning. Then we made pie, potatoes, and salad and took it to a friends house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a sunny, beautiful day.

See? Sunny.

Brant got Thursday and Friday off, so with our 4 day weekend we took off to the condo. I love coming to the condo on weekends - it feels like we are on vacation.

Oh, the vanity.

This holiday week started out kind of melancholy, but has officially turned into a lovely, relaxing time. It was melancholy because I am officially homesick. I don't miss Boise, but I miss my family and friends.

I miss Black Friday shopping with my mother in law.
I miss walks and talks with my girlfriends.
I miss stuffing the turkey with my mama and eating all of her holiday baking.
I miss my niece and nephews.
I just miss being around everyone for the holidays.

Earlier this week it just felt hard to be a festive, one-woman show 2500 miles away from family.

Boo hoo for me.

All perfectly normal, I know.

I am thankful that I have people to miss.

And I'm thankful for our new friends here who checked in on us and made sure we had people to spend Thanksgiving with.

I'm thankful for family calling. For funny voice-mail messages.

I'm thankful to still be on this new adventure.

And I'm thankful for papayas.

The end.

How do you spell Kumbaya?

O.M.G FINE, I will update my blog. Jeez. I think we've all figured out that I suck when it comes to regular updates. But thanks to certain individuals who excel at facebook guilt trips.....here I am. So yay! What should we talk about? How bout I talk and you listen?

I am at Starbucks, finally, after spending all afternoon in job hunting. Job hunting is no fun. But there are so many things that Brant and I would like to save up for (namely a SUP board and a motorcycle), so I spent all afternoon walking into restaurants (some fancy pants, some not so) and dropping off my resume. Uber lame, but hopefully fruitful in the near future. I had a 2nd interview at one restaurant, so there's that. I'm trying to get a job waiting tables because it just makes sense with my school schedule right now. Serving = less time, more $$.

Speaking of school, it is going well. There are only 2 tests left this semester, including the final. And although I've done great on the other tests, I am needing some serious motivation to finish strong. Did you know the surface area of all the alveoli in your lungs is estimated to be as large as a tennis court? Alveoli are all the little tiny sacs in your lungs at the ends of the bronchioles, where the gas exchange takes place. We have a ton of alveoli. But DUDES? Seriously, think about it.........the estimated surface area of one persons alveoli would COVER A TENNIS COURT.

source is here

If I ever go on Jeapordy! I hope there's a question about alveoli surface area.  What is a TENNIS COURT, Alex!?


Beyond school and looking for a job so I can buy a stand-up paddle board, things are pretty much the same around here. Of course, no post would be complete without a running update, so here it is:

(Rob, skip this part. Go ice your knees or avoid carbs or something)

After going momentarily nuts after the Maui Marathon and trying to run too much too soon (and consequently hurting my IT band. Idiot!), I had to scale it back for 3-4 weeks. But the IT band is feeling better and seems to be manageble - thanks to rest, ice & stretching, so I'm back training for the Oceanfront Marathon in January. I am crazy exited about this race for several reasons:

• My mom and step-dad are going to be here for the race. Boring for them, but yay for me.
• The temps should be slightly cooler in January = less dehydration = less cramping (hopefully)
• It is part of helping me complete my goal of running every marathon on Maui while we live here. 
• It is one more chance to punch muscle cramps in the face.
• It is a beautiful course, during whale season. Yay for whales.

Did I mention I hope to avoid cramping?  

source is here

Last few things -

I'm really looking forward to the holidays. Granted, I got rid of all of my Christmas decorations when we moved, but I am determined to at least buy a tree this year. (Side note: after visiting a friends house the other day, I realized how ridiculously bare our house is. We have no decor. No style. We've been here for going on 9 months and still look like we are living out of suitcases. That framed picture I bought at Savers 6 months ago? Still haven't hung it. But I figure Christmas decorations should help, right?)

Brant won't stop growing his beard and hair. Pretty soon he is going to look like a muppet. Send help.

This feels like a pretty one sided conversation. I mean, here I am talking all about me, and then when you guys comment, I can't even tell if the blog notifies you when I comment back. Does it? We need a blog mediator. Or at least a blogger who knows what they are doing. Just know that I do value you, and dang it, I guess I'll try to update more. :)

So what is up with you guys anyway?