Sunday Routine

Over the past year, Matt and I have realized how much we like to get up early on the weekends. He has, of course, been getting up early to go for group rides for years, but it is a new concept for me. I love it because it makes the weekend days so much longer. I feel more refreshed and as though I've spent a significant amount of time away from work when I return on Mondays. When we lived in DC, I hated my job and would always begin to panic about having to return by about 2 on Sundays. I really do like the current job, but I still like to have a long, full weekend.

On Sunday mornings, we take Toby and go for a walk up to Spruce Street Espresso. And this is so nerdy, we get to walk down Clinton Street which we do as much as possible these days for luck. There are a really huge number of coffee shops in our neighborhood and I don't know why SSE became our Sunday morning destination. It is delicious, the baristas are friendly, and it is the perfect distance from the house for a nice little dog walk. They also have a poster on the wall from some sort of barista convention that was sponsored by Murky Coffee. And 1369 Coffee House is on the poster, too. I love the idea that the little coffee shops of my life are related somehow.

We are now back at the house, watching the Tour de France online. Today is the final, 21st, stage into Paris. I am sad that it is over, it's such a fun and motivating time of year. I hope that Internet connectivity (or cable teevee access) precedes us around the world so we can watch this amazing feat of strength, endurance and team work during future summers.

For the rest of the day we have planned a pedicure, an OA prep session via Skype and packing for our summer vacation. We wanted to go for a bike ride, but I just did something nasty to my back. I feel like a bit of an old lady and have actually been totally judging certain overweight coworkers who were recently telling me about lower back problems. I am confident that I am in the best shape of my life right now, but the fact remains, by back is officially thrown out. Hopefully the massage chair at the nail place will fix it up and I'll be posting photos of an afternoon ride through Fairmount Park to Ann & Walt's house this evening.