In very succinct form, here are some highlight of the past few weeks:

• Coffee with Sandra and conversation about our upcoming year abroad.
• Planning winter vacation with Mark
• Having dinner with my cousin Andy (all the way from Texas!), Aunt Pat , Grandma and my mom
• My cousin Elizabeth's 16th birthday party
• Spending the night at my sister's new apartment
• Running 80 miles last week, including a fairly comfortable 20-miler
• Seeing Coldplay at Pine Knob with Mark, his brother and his brother's girlfriend. They really put on an amazing live show and manage to make it feel personal despite the site of the venue.

And the lowlight:

• Cutting my fingers on broken glass and getting eight stitches.

The good things clearly outweigh the bad, but so as not to end on such a low note, I have to add also that Sandra is now in Belfast. I am so proud of her and excited for her to have such a unique and challenging opportunity working there.