seattle run

there are so many things that i haven't been able to post about lately!  but i'm determined to catch up - although i'm also well aware this catch-up might take me quite a while.  see, i don't exactly have the internet in my seattle apartment.  yet.  monday should be the day when all that is taken care of, but until then i'm trying to sneak onto other people's unsecured networks {which has only been successful once}, and i'm parking myself in the flourishing families office where the internet is free for our use.  the problem: i don't have a key to the office yet.  those are still coming and eventually i'll have one.  but for now, snagging some internet time is a little tricky.

even though i know there's a lot of catch-up for doing, i'm going to save that for when i can be cozied-up on my queen-sized bed with a large mug of tea.  that's when i'll write about graduation, my last days in provo, the road trip to the seattle, and the first stages of work and project move-in.  with a few pictures. . .a few.  my camera always dies as the most inconveniet time possible - which is now.

this morning, i went on my first run in the city, and oh it was so needed!  for some reason, running in a new city always makes it easier to love a new city.  it lets you get to know the city on a level you don't get from the driver's seat of a car.  my run was just a half hour, and i only ran up the main road that my apartment complex is conveniently located on.  but that was enough - enough to have me sighing at the old moss-covered bricks that surround all the trees and how everything here can stay so surprisingly moist even when it's not raining.  running is different here.  we're surrounded by slight incline in every direction which is very different from provo running.  the sidewalks are wide, for the most part, but usually also covered in mud.  i've heard there's a great running trail not too far from here.  it circles a small lake and is suposedly one of the prettiest places in the world {according to one of the project professors}.  i can't wait to find it and make it my own.  although i'm surrounded by many more people than ever before, it seems easier to run by that peace that running brings me.  the rain and clouds seem to mute most noise and the moss and trees make me feel like i'm in a forest - an illusion i'm happy about.

i've been running alone for most of my running existence.  but seattle is a little too big and too foreign for me to just take a run on my own.  luckily, my work partner {rebekah} feels the same way.  she's positive and sweet and we seem to run really well together.  eventually, we'll be joined by brooke - the work partner of my roommate.  we seem to all be at about the same pace and all want to step things up a notch and find a race or two this summer to run.  i'm more than thrilled to have some running support!  it was one thing i was most nervous about - finding a consistent schedule that would work for other girls as well, finding other girls that seemed about on-pace with me, finding places to run without getting lost.

the latter is still a concern, but i think it'll come eventually.  i have a pretty good layout of the surrounded two or three miles. . .which i understand isn't much, but it's a start!  especially for someone as directionally challenged as i am.  i know where the nearest grocery store, mall, and target are.  which is a big, big step!  it does help tremendously that we are only minutes away from all.  and while i'm still definitely working on the layout of the apartment complex {it's massive}, i do know where the flourishing families office is, the guys' apartment with a television and massive movie collection, and my own apartment are located.  and at the moment, that's proabably all i need!

later today, i can't wait to go exploring a little.  i'm going to make a list of all the things i want to see and do in seattle this summer - probably not exhaustive, but massive, for sure.  i'm open to suggestions!  in fact, i WANT suggestions.  please.  because i'm starting at nothing.  ooookay, not really nothing.  i want to find that running trail, and i want to go to an ethiopian restaurant, and find the city gum wall.  more to come on that!

and now, it's time to really start my day.  i've had my chocolate peanutbutter oatmeal, showered and now to do some unpacking before my meetings!

it's cloudy, with the ever-present mist heavy in the air this morning.  really, the weather is absolutely fascinating to me, to be honest.

{ps. this was written this morning at 7:30 on a word processor while sitting at the kitchen table watching the beautiful seattle morning rain shower and watching the squirrels scamper away for cover.  now, while i'm posting i'm sitting in the flourishing families office watching the afternoon rain shower.  rain, rain, rain.  it's so much more beautiful than i thought it would be!}