Bye Bye 2010!

So, here it is, the end of 2010. It's been a really interesting and important year. Instead of going into detail, here's a list of 20 note-worthy things that happened:

1. Had what I suppose should count as my first really serious relationship


2. Started and completed Couch to 5k and thus began running


3. Ran my first real 5k


4. Finished and turned in my undergrad thesis that was years in the making


5. Graduated from college


6. Spent a month in Paris


7. Went to an Auburn football game (and realized I like football!)


8. Learned how to shoot a gun (and realized I like that too!)


9. Lost... 4 pounds? and feel really good


10. Ran my first trail run and regular 10k


11. Learned how to build a fence and other house-related things thanks to Jon


12. Applied to graduate school


13. Moved to France


14. Started teaching elementary school in a foreign country


15. Ended aforementioned relationship
16. Cooked my first Thanksgiving Turkey


17. Started the new WW plan (even though I haven't been good about it yet)


18. Bought size 8 jeans. I've had a pair of ON's Sweetheart jeans at every size I've been along this journey.


19. Went on a date and had fun :)


20. Stayed positive and made it through December with fabulous friends, a stateside Christmas visit, and delicious red wine


I know I had my ups and downs, especially this past month, but looking at this list, I really think that 2010 did hold more good than bad. My family is all in good health, my friends are all doing fabulous things and the future is bright. This year also means that in 12 months I didn't GAIN any of the weight back (don't they say that the longer you keep it off, the more likely you are to do so long term?).

All things considered, I think I got a lot out of 2010 and am really looking forward to 2011, a lot of exciting things are in the works and it should be a great year! More on that tomorrow though! For now, I'm off to order a bridemaid dress (for 2011) and then up to Columbus to ring in the New Year the right way: with good friends and good wine. :)

See you next year!

Home for the Holidays (Part 1)

I know I've been totally MIA while I've been back here in the States... To make it up to you, here are a few photos from the beginning of my visit. I went to Athens for a few days to see friends and to get stuff back/give stuff to Jon post-breakup.

Seeing my friends and visiting my local favorites was amazing and exactly what I needed. I needed to see Jon too and I'm glad that we did, though I have to admit that it's a lot harder being in the same state/country as him and not being together than it was missing him from France. While my trip here has been amazing and I'm so glad I've had the chance to see everyone I have and visit, it has been hard knowing that I originally bought this ticket to see him and spend the holidays with him, but hey, I'm doing the best I can.

Met Alicia and her boyfriend at Jackie O's, a local brew pub for fried pickles and some local delicious beer

Bad for the waistline, but I'd been looking forward to fried pickles from Niffer's (down in Auburn) since we left AU this summer, so at least I got in a good substitute!
Then met Em and Jesse for dinner at LuiLui's (no photos) and after dinner drinks at Casa. These two margaritas represent Em's and my senior year. Every Thursday, we'd go to Casa and get margaritas and catch up. Mine with, hers without salt.


Graffiti on the way to the parking garage... I've wanted a photo of this for years.
I stayed with my pseudo big sis Bethany and her hubs Steve, aren't they fabulous? Steve even wrote me a song about Jon's and my breakup in an attempt to make me smile. He's a sweetie.


On my way out of town, we grabbed breakfast at Casa. This coffee gets it's own picture when you realize how much I'd missed normal American coffee!
Half order of huevos rancheros with homefries
Biscuit with apple butter
Adorably goofing around.

I wish I could have stayed a few more days, but I did get a lot done while I was there AND spent a lot of quality time with B and Steve. It's amazing how large a role food plays in coming home. I don't know about you all, but I came home from France with a list of places I had to eat while I was home.

That said, I'm now trying to get back on the tracking bandwagon since the past few weeks have brought me up to 166, as I found out at WW on Friday. I don't know if I was misreading my scale in France or if my clothing makes that much of a difference or if I really have overindulged that much lately, but it was disappointing, so now that xmas is over, I'm back into tracking and am slowly weaning myself off holiday sugar and chocolate!

More later!

I'm still here.

Ack. It's been a busy week and a half ish. That said, I'm currently posting stateside after a delayed voyage from Paris in this airplane:


It's been an interesting past few days. Went to Athens (where I went to college) to see some old friends and professors and to see/get stuff back/give stuff to Jon, which was heartbreaking and yet really great to see him again. He was my person and I really miss(ed) him and talking to him. Not going to lie, talking to him on the phone for the first time since the break-up was like being punched in the gut or pummeled with a stack of bricks. Not the best feeling. Part of me wishes I didn't have to go back to France so we could maybe, possibly, somehow work things out, but I know even then the chances would be slim. Ulgh. Furthermore, I was really looking forward to spending the holidays with him and his family, so I'm really working hard to quell up some Christmas cheer.

On a positive note, my dad has a treadmill at his apartment complex, so I'm going to go run for the first time in what feels like eons. I'm a wimp, I know... :-/

Then... off to acquire last minute Christmas things. Mad dash.

Earring Day

I didn't have time this morning, but here are a few photos from earring day. I got some compliments on them (which was fun since I got to explain why they're awesome).

They, in addition to a lovely meal at our favorite tartine place, helped make today not terrible. I am strangely really excited that we go there enough that the main waiter knows us and he and I had a nice chat tonight talking about how all of us were going home for the holidays. Regardless, finding out your ex has already found his "rebound" person less than 2 weeks later makes for a relatively irredeemable day, despite cheeky tartines, new earrings, and red wine. Ulgh. Trying to find some positivity in here somewhere.






More later and hopefully some exercise tomorrow (I'm so bad with this wind...) and home to the states in 6 days. Gotta get some running in since that dinner ate up the last of my weekly points! Whew! It's only Monday! Can't wait to get home!.

Judith's Visit (keeping busy)

Judith's visit was exactly what I needed this weekend. Not that I feel particularly better, but it was really good to be with someone who know's me well, can give good advice, keep me busy, have a good time, and, bonus, kind of explain to me what I'm supposed to be reading for Emory. I started reading it and, after reading the introduction, understood less than when I started (seems to be a theme with me this week).

Her visit was also good since she got me to eat regularly for the first time all week. I took her to Ginette and Marcel's for tartines when she first got in and the back the next day for a dessert and tea/coffee. Seriously, if any of you visit me, Ginette and Marcel's is the first place we will go. We also checked out Avignon's Christmas market, drank vin chaud, talked a lot, and took a few walks around the city. She even treated me to dinner at Chez Ripert, a really typical French restaurant in town. Like I said, exactly what I needed.

Avignon's Christmas market is now in full swing.
Sadly I'm a) poor and b) done with most of my xmas shopping!
Judith checking out some "Santons" de provence. People here in the South of France collect them much in the way Americans make Dickens Christmas villages.



Yummy vin chaud and a treat (a small piece of pistachio bark from a nearby artisan's booth)

And, since I blog, photos of my dinner at Chez Ripert. Let's just say I got some odd looks while making these photos happen!

Entrée (which in France means 'appetizer'):
Foie Gras with spiced bread and fig chutney
Plat (main dish):
Magret de canard (duck) with mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans and mushrooms
Me, wearing a new dress J convinced me to buy that day, with my delish food
Dessert:
Poached pear with chocolate sauce and whipped cream
Obligatory after dinner (decaf) coffee
A shared bottle of delicious local wine and a funky water carafe
A photo of a drawing in the menu. For such a traditional restaurant with delicious food, I always find it funny that their menus are handwritten in the little notebooks my French kids use in class. Apparently other French people think the same thing, since (in this photo) someone has taken to writing lines in the back of the menu (the most typical punishment for French primary students)
Dinner was perfect and we spent a few hours just eating and listening to that evening's musician singing French standards (and on breaks random American songs over the radio). Like with my 36 points of beer, I tracked this whole meal too (as best as I could). I used most of my weekly points, but it was so worth it.



We also checked out Ginette and Marcel's for an afternoon "goûter" i.e. snack. I got a yummy raspberry tarte and a tea (also tracked) and Judith and I chatted a bit about everything. It's kind of embarrassing to cry (lightly) in a restaurant, but it's getting better. Plus, at least I looked good, right? I may or may not have bought the same sweater dress in tan as well...





Sadly, we both had to get back on our way Monday AM and she left to go spend the rest of the week up in Paris with the snow and ice. :( I wish she could have stayed longer, but I hope to see her when I'm home in less than TWO weeks and again when she's back in Paris in June. Again, the goal for the moment is just to stay busy!

Last night one of my British friends hosted a Mince Pie/Mulled Wine Christmas Party at her flat, so that was fabulous. More on that and today's run later! :)