Rugby Training

I was really worried that I would be totally out of shape for this season, but things are looking good. There are always over-achieving backs, but for the most part I'm on par with my teammates. Colin is determined to kill us, but it's fun. We start every practice with a lap around the field, and then do dynamic stretches, grids, and then more laps. We have been adding another lap every day, so today we'll be up to seven. I don't know how far he's going to take this, we'll be running dozens of laps by the end of the season, but practice is only two hours long. After laps we do suicides, and then rucking and tackling drills. It's hard, but I love it. I love limping around campus because my quads are shot, I love going to dinner soaked in sweat, I love dropping into bed every night, totally exhausted, I love rugby. The only drawback is I never see my non-rugby friends. I kind of miss them. They'll keep though, and for now I'm happy to be in training.

Frozen Plums

It's a million degrees in my dorm room, but that's ok, because I have discovered the best summer cool-down treat ever. Frozen plums. Tangy, crisp, they make your teeth tingle, it's amazing. Frozen plums, they're going to be big, tell your friends.
Classes and practice start tomorrow. I somehow arranged my schedule so that I never have class before 9:30, and I'll still be out with plenty of time to get to practice. I'm pretty excited, although I'm extra nervous about stats since I don't have a calculator. I'll work something out, maybe some kind soul could find mine in the house and mail it to me? (please?)
I had dinner with my friends last night and then went to a very chill rugby party. Girls only, there were never more than twenty people in the apartment, and we watched the Olympics and talked about books. Not everyone is ready to go pro, so I'm less freaked out about this season, although practices are going to be intense.
I'm happy. I'm working on my papers. F. is fine, and seems to be settling in ok.

Where To Start?

It's been so long, and so much has happened. Paris alone...I don't think I'll be able to recount all of my adventures in a single blog post. I probably won't even be able to remember them when I get home, and will just casually mention in converstion "Oh when I was in Amsterdam we did so and so".
This weekend positively shot by. I just came back from a walk. It's been a wet sort of day, but don't want to look back on this trip and regret not taking a walk in the rain, so I went out. I explored the other side of the canal. It's nice, a lot of small shops and houses. Because I am a creeper, I love looking in windows, but seeing other people's houses all lit up and homey made me sad. I could hear people talking (in Dutch), and clattering dishes, and there were cooking smells, the whole thing made me feel like the little match girl, and the rain didn't help.
It seems like every shop in Amsterdam has a cat. It's nice, if slightly gross, to see the bakery cat, or the cheese shop cat, sitting in the window, sometimes on top of a wheel of cheese.
My friend Holdsworth turned me onto this, and it's like my new favorite thing. I want to tell everyone I know about it, it's just so good. Joss Whedon is amazing.
More later I guess. I thought I wanted to post, but I don't have much to say. Click that link and watch Dr. Horrible, it's totally worth it.