Began running and lifting weights consistently again at the end of May. I always do better with that during the summer.

Finished my first graduate level class with flying colors! I’ll be starting the Fall semester classes next week, and I’m looking forward to it. I think I’ve had the breather I needed this summer, and in talking with some of the current gals in the internship, I’m getting a good preview of just how intense the program is going to be.

We decided it was time to look for and purchase our first house. Our realtor showed us a house that was about to be on the market, and lo and behold, it was in Mark and Kayla’s neighborhood! We closed on it and are busily making this house our home. It’s cozy, and we find ourselves walking around smiling in satisfaction. I think Miss Kitty is delighted with all the space, and when she isn’t prowling about curiously, she’s lying in the hallway with one sleepy eye on us wherever we are in the house. We took Skittens in with us, but he’s still an outside kitty, faithfully showing up at dinnertime. And Angelbird probably doesn’t know the difference in location so long as he gets to hop out and explore. And we’re filling garage sale boxes with things we don’t need or haven’t laid eyes upon in years!

We bought 2 blueberry bushes (1 Powderblue variety and 1 Brightwell variety) at a Blueberry Festival in June, and I just planted those in our backyard. I tossed together some coffee grounds, grass clippings, dead leaves, and eggshells to mix in with the planting soil. I was delighted to find earthworms, because I know they’ll make a happy home aerating the soil. I poked a hole in the soil and helped one find it’s way back. I hope next year’s fruit brings so many blueberries that we have to give them away!

Ryan began a 6 week weight loss challenge among a few of us local peeps, with a $15 buy-in, and I was glad for the extra motivation. I ate cleanly, lifted weights, and ran, and it wasn’t a chore at all. It did and does feel good to sweat! I lost about 10 lbs over that challenge, but unfortunately, I don’t know how much muscle I gained. I know I built a good bit, but now in addition to pounds and percentage lost, I’ll use a tape measure and calipers for inches lost.

In July, I signed up for the October 30th Jazz Half Marathon in New Orleans, and I’ve been following a training guide that I tweaked a little. I’m planning on getting up to the half marathon distance of 13.1 miles two weeks before the big day. Then I’ll start weaning back the mileage as the schedule suggests. I just want to be in the best shape I can, and I’d feel better hitting the 13.1 mile mark before the half marathon. And it just feels good to run!

And we had the usual grillouts, swimming, and family and friends’ fun that we do every summer. Life is good.