Wrapping Up the Year

Hey y'all. How is the weather back home? We had a bunch of rain lately but today was a beautiful 70 and sunny. I'm not kidding :)  Also, I got that symposium out of the way, had a few meetings with my committee and advisors, and have been climbing until my fingertips are so raw it hurts to type!

Raindrops make me think of fall when the leaves are changing color and is a different kind of spring. The world awakens with colors so vivid and tempts us outside to cherish those last few beautiful warm days. Raindrops that are warm and make you want to play in the puddles like children. Raindrops that are rejuvenating and make you want to sing out loud.

So I thought I had something cool and brilliant to say, but I really don't. OH WAIT! YES I DO. I forgot there was a holiday called Thanksgiving and I went to Vale, NC to visit the Galloways. I got there Wednesday evening (traffic wasn't too terrible) and hung out with the boys. Myles came home from Savanna, GA for the holiday. I haven't seen Myles or his family for over 5 years so it was really nice to have friendly familiar faces surrounding me for Thanksgiving instead of spending it alone :)  Also, they have a black lab named Maybelle. Let me tell you this: I miss having a dog around and Dad won't let me have Tank down in Raleigh!! Anyways, it was a really good few days at the Galloways and I am very thankful they let me stay with them and cooked me delicious food!!

Besides that, I have been scouring for jobs in Seattle, looking at places to live, searching for sublettors, and trying to finish the school year in stride. I also bought all my christmas gifts already (even beat G-ma Meyers!) and even bought myself a little gift - AKA global vegetarian cookbook. I have yet to try it but I promise I will soon and I will report back.

There is just something about this photo that makes my heart long for Seattle. Yeah, so it rains a lot in winter but it rains pretty much everywhere. Yeah, so it's far from Wisconsin but so are a lot of other places. Yeah, so there are a lot of people that live there but that's probably because it is a really cool place to live. So yes, I am very excited to move out to Seattle.

Today, I went down to Fayetteville, NC to check out the newest TRC with my friends Peter, Alex, and Andrew. I had a lot of fun, tried a bunch of routes, fell quite a lot, lost a bunch of skin, and sent a really powerful V4. I felt very accomplished on that one mainly because my lats and delts are telling me they worked hard today. All in all, it was a good time with good friends. Now I just owe Peter a beer or two for driving me!!

Fayetteville, NC

Anyways, gonna go skype the man. I hope y'all have a lovely last few hours of November and a great start to December!

I never thought I'd say these words but I miss the snow. Look at how beautiful it is. Everybody in North Carolina complains how cold it is and how they could never live in Wisconsin. But they have never seen the beauty of a light snow fall reflecting a morning sunrise or how fairy lights twinkle against the icicles hanging from the roof. Yes, it is cold but I think the beauty of the world surrounding me as I'm curled up next to the fireplace with the ones I love in the room with a cup of hot apple cider totally makes the winter a spectacular season.