we had a rather large houseguest this week: Action Jackson, 1/2 pit bull & 1/2 boxer. sweetest, most docile, greatest dog. taking him out on walks was a great way to break up my work week. my practicum is really coming to a head, and the next few weeks are going to be a big push. i met with the new program director a few days ago, which was a really exciting opportunity for me to be able to share my insights into the program and the work i'm doing. i'm hoping i'll be mostly done before i get home!

let's see, what else is new... i got a gnarly flat tire this week, which is a rite of passage for anyone driving these crazy NOLA streets. i finally was able to take advantage of my AAA membership, thanks to Aunt A!

i've also been spending lots of time with my lulu coworkers, mostly workouts and coffee dates. that's been really great. i tried out something called "Dirty South yoga" this week, it was yoga with a little bounce / hip-hop mixed in. super fun, different, and definitely out of my comfort zone! i'm also starting to plan the store's run club, which is my baby and will be launching the week after Labor Day. i've got lots of ideas for it, and i'm excited to own it!

Running of the Bulls

Went to a great event on Saturday morning! Running of the Bulls, New Orleans-style.

I joined thousands of people wearing white outfits & red bandanas gathered near the convention center. We lined up & at 8 AM, the bulls started running.

Did I mention that the bulls were roller derby girls? Oh yeah. Derby girls armed with baseball bats.

The course was just under a mile, which was plenty, because it was 90+ degrees, so sweaty & hot!

great people watching, great morning. (this guy had had quite enough... at 8:30 AM).

July 4th weekend

I got dressed up for work on the 4th. I mean, why not? (Also, looking extra Tweety Bird here). Sarah came into town for the holiday weekend, and we watched the fireworks downtown. It's Essence Fest this weekend too so there were eleventy million people in the French Quarter.

Working out with friends! Very happy, very sweaty. 

One more of those, just for bonus sweaty cuteness.

Also spent some time this weekend at the Farmer's Market & eating the best pho I've had in a long time, in a weird strip mall on the West Bank.

Counting down the days till I come home!

time for a mid-week update!

first meeting of the lululemon book club. that's Ele in the front, her boyfriend was just named the #1 cheesemonger in America. that's a very good connection to have for a bookclub.

class photo from last week's session of one of my favorite things right now, my Make it Reyn weekly dance class. can you spot me?

and this is what i've been doing. all day, every day. my practicum! it's really been keeping me busy, and i've been hanging around coffee shops all over town to give me a change of scenery and help keep me focused. i've gotten a lot done, and i have a lot more to do over the next few weeks-- most of the work will be wrapped up before i come home in mid-august.

other than that stuff, i've mostly been keeping busy with work, yoga & spin classes (which i really love). it's been unseasonably cool here: 88 the last few days. it's glorious! i'm taking advantage of the very cool weather by wearing long pants, keeping my hair down and trying to spend as much time outside as possible. even if that just means carting my computer outdoors.

An overnight in Thibodeaux!

After a short week of long days, I packed a bag late Thursday afternoon & headed an hour and a half West to visit Sarah in rural Louisiana. It's so gorgeous out in the bayou... And so flat. Lots of fields of sugarcane.

Thibodeaux is a pretty tiny town, but we had a fun little overnight, including a great  Mexican dinner. We got into a long discussion with the owner about their burrito challenge; to succeed, one has to consume a 5"x10" burrito in less than 30 minute. the record is 12 minutes. Needless to say, we did not partake.

We got up early on Friday and headed into downtown Thibs. This photo somehow vaguely reminds me of a southern Whidbey. I think it's the red building against the big blue sky.

Had to have bloody marys & donuts for breakfast.

We spent most of the rest of Friday at the public pool, reading and people-watching. (That's my book group book.)

Great day, sooo hot.

What better way to end a summer day than with fries & milkshakes.

Great summer day, I have the best souvenir: tan knees!

Highlights of the past week: A karaoke & sushi going-away party for a coworker & friend.

My favorite new co-worker, even though she's pretty lazy. 

I spent some time last weekend at Morning Call at City Park. You can see from the light that it was really early-- 6:30 AM, to be exact. I took some friends to do the Zombie 5K (it's a race where people dressed up as zombies try to "kill you" during the race).

I feel like I've had a lot of people give me rides to races & cheer me on. It felt great to give a little of that back.

Spent some quality time at the Tulane library, doing practicum work. Particularly liked this section.

Still trying to get in some hot & sticky runs! I'm pretty happy when they're over.

i got to live out a longtime dream last week: paddleboarding! i met up with a few work friends on Friday morning at Bayou St. John for a quick paddleboarding lesson and then we were off! we paddled  through the neighborhood for about an hour and a half. i didn't see any alligators, but i did see some big swimming turtles.

i absolutely loved this, and can't wait to do it again. someday, i hope i can live on the Bayou and do this regularly.

it's so rare to get the opportunity to be on / near water here, and it's so precious. once again, Lululemon is making good things happen!