Back in Durham...Thanksgiving teased me

It took me all week, but I got my mini tree for my room up and running.

Monday was my mother's birthday and we celebrated at Babe's Chicken.

It was decorated like a little Christmas village.

My dad finished putting up the Christmas lights on the bushes and I "helped" by taking cute pictures of Hal.

My Mom and I had hit Bath and Body works a couple of days before and bought some new candles. I am in love with this scent.

After our food settled from our enormous lunch, we dug into some cake!

mmmmm

all of my Mom's cards

 I hope you had a wonderful birthday Mommy! I love you!

Unfortunately, I had to get up the next morning and pack up.

Alley practically slept on my head all night. 

I hated to part with her.

My parents and I ate Which Wich for lunch and then we headed for the airport.

I was flying American Airlines the day AMR (their parent company) filed a chapter 11 bankruptcy. I don't really know all the details on what that means, but they have reassured people that their miles are safe. The employees didn't seem bothered and they were joking around behind the counter. One was showing off her pantyhose to one of her coworkers...

The airport was decorated for the holidays...something that was not done when I flew into DFW a week before.

Stesha's flight from LA landed the same time mine did. We met while waiting for my luggage. I gave her a ride home and then grabbed my hungry belly some food.

I jumped into bed and talked to Lance for 3 hours. We talked while watching the VS fashion show together haha.

My alarm went off yesterday morning and I was out the door for class.

We learned about infertility and discussed artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. 

I skipped my first class of the semester to go home and write my research proposal. I thought I would get a bit of it done before I tired out.

I worked for 2 hours and then took a break to go run. At that point, I had only picked my topic and written an introduction to my paper.

They have completely ripped out all of the trees in that "tree protection" zone that I posted about weeks ago. Someone didn't do their job and protect the trees...they are all gone. It looks so different running down that street now.

I found a pretty wreath at one of the apartment complexes I run by.

I ran 2 miles and walked 1. I was worn out.

I started back up on my paper and actually FINISHED it!

15 pages in 5 hours.

I was so relieved to have finished it.

Today is World AIDS day and I found it fitting that we had our lecture on HIV today in Community Health. 

In Peds we had a guest speaker talk to us about Sickle Cell Anemia. Then 4 people with sickle cell joined our class to tell us their stories and let us ask them questions. I loved hearing their stories and cannot believe what they have gone through and are still going through.

The DUSON is all done up for Christmas and we couldn't pass up a chance for a picture with Santa!

I came home after class and attempted a nap. I only got about 30 minutes in and relaxed for a bit. I did end up getting out and running. I walked half of the time. I am really sore from yesterday's run.

I plan on relaxing the rest of the evening.