*insert creative title here*

Today was a wonderful day. I actually enjoyed running group! Of course, we didn’t do as big a route as we did last time but I think I was more focused for my bonus day off as soon as we finished. So I was hauling A to get to the end. I’ve also noticed that even though we’ve only been doing “real PT” for a little over a week now I’m so much more flexible than I was when I got here. We start of PT by doing stretches, 15 counts each of both sides: neck, shoulders, arms, quads, calves, hamstrings, back, and glutes. I remember when I was in dance at Westwood, I could cross one leg in front of the other and bend at the waist and lay both hands flat on the floor. A couple weeks ago I was lucky if I could make it past mid-calf. Now my fingertips almost touch the ground. I’m getting closer to my goal! And my jeans are starting to fit looser. I’m having to wear my AmeriBelt even in off hours to keep from mooning everyone. J

Had a great breakfast of a banana and toaster waffles but discovered we had no syrup. So what did I put on them? NUTELLA! My team is making fun of me for my new obsession. It’s their fault for introducing me to it! I love the breakfast time. One of these days I’ll remember to take my camera with me so y’all can see what my kitchen is like and the hilarity that ensues as we all try to make breakfast, pack lunches, clean up after ourselves, try not to be in someone’s way too much, and crack jokes. It’s quite a morning ritual.

After I was done with breakfast, I was done for the day! TL Abby had a grocery shopping trip planned to go to WinCo (like CostCo or Sam’s Club) so teammate MaryBeth and I went along to help. Oh. My. Gosh. Shopping for 12 people for breakfast, lunch, snacks, plus dinners where we take turns cooking for us and the other 12 people who share our kitchen was rough. Luckily, Abby’s been through this before and knows how much is enough and had a very long, organized grocery list and she would send MaryBeth or me to fetch certain items. I felt like we were the Dugger Family- we went in the 15 passenger van and we had two shopping carts and they were full! Imagine the looks we would have gotten if we’d been in full uniform- steel toed boots and all! I’m also fairly certain the people who constructed my dorm building put our kitchen on the 3^rd floor through careful and malicious planning.

Tonight my team/roommate, Dominique, is making stuffed bell peppers (we bought 24 each of red and green) for us and our kitchen mates. MaryBeth and I have volunteered to be pepper stuffers.

ALSO the boys and Shea come back from Mendocino in a few hours!!! Not that I’ll get to see them very much tonight because tomorrow is Make a Difference Day and I’ll probably want a lot of sleep. It’s a national community service day and all the teams are going to projects. Kind of like more mini- preparation for SPIKEs. I think Abby said we’ll be going to help construct a community garden and we’ll be working on it from 8-5. I’m very excited for it except for one thing- it’s supposed to rain tomorrow and we haven’t been issued rain jackets.

I got some other important AmeriErrands accomplished today, aside from the grocery shopping. I discovered that one of my loans has in fact accepted my forbearance request and the other one (stupid Wells Fargo) requires more paperwork and it can’t be done online. So I have to print it off, fill it out, and mail it in. Blah! What is this? The 1800s?!? I’m also looking into airfares to get home for Christmas. Our break is December 18-January 2 so we’ll see if I can find something affordable to get back to Texas.