How are you celebraing Columbus Day?

I’ve ridden on the stationary bike a couple of times, and tonight I went swimming. While it felt nice to just be swimming (I don’t remember the last time I did that), and I hope to build that into my regular routine (when I have one of those again), I did feel the movement in my ankle more so than on the bike or just when walking. It’s being iced as I type this, as I still do almost every day and definitely after any kind of exercise. We’ll see how it is tomorrow. Sarah was here briefly this evening, prior to my swim, and she said the swelling looks really good.

Speaking of Sarah, tonight is her last night in Portland. This makes me sad! It was really lots of fun having her as my “honorary” roommate this summer and I'm going to miss my new friend. She’s going to be in L.A. for hopefully several months and it would be great if I can get down there to see her while she’s there. If not, hopefully she’ll make it back to Portland to visit on occasion.

And speaking of roommates, there must be something in the air. Awesome and I are both having weird dreams a lot lately. I haven’t been able to remember most of mine, but I do remember that last night I dreamed he wanted to have 4 more people move into our apartment with us. I don’t know who those people were, but I was very against the idea, even if I really like the people. In the dream we were in our actual apartment but we had some kind of basement, and I guess that’s where we were going to put these extra roommates?

Since I finished “Mockingbird,” I haven’t been able to get in to any other books. I’ve started and quit 3 in the last week. I guess my mind just needed some kind of break, but I’d really like to be reading something else.

I’m headed to Phoenix very early Saturday morning. I’m very much looking forward to spending a couple of days there, seeing it again now that it’s really David’s city, meeting his friends and experiencing his favorite places. Monday morning we’re headed to Vegas for a couple of days. I’m also excited to experience Vegas for the first time! I’ll get back to Portland Wednesday afternoon and return to work on Thursday, most likely wishing I had the rest of the week to recover from my vacation. David said people come to the dessert for healing. I hope it speeds the healing of my ankle.

Right after I get back, the apple festival will be occurring. Remember how I bought 40 pounds of apples and pears last year? I probably won’t buy that much this year, but I still plan to get some and make at least a batch or two of apple butter.

Nicole (Chattanooga) is coming for a visit the weekend of my birthday. I’m really glad she’s able to come, as we never get enough time together the once a year I make it home. She was here once before, Feb of 2010 I think, but I’m excited for her to come back and experience Portland again. She needs a break from her life there too, so it will be good for her.

It is very much fall right now. Actually it might be winter. It seems like we skipped fall. The windows are closed, extra blankets are being pulled out, jackets are being worn daily (rain jackets), it’s too chilly for sandals, we really just went right into winter. I don’t know what this means for actual winter. Is it going to be longer and wetter than normal? I need to get my mind prepared.

I have a list of things I want to write about soon, but it will all be after my trip. This little check in will have to suffice for now. I hope you all have a nice Columbus Day weekend!