"Every Rose Has Its Thorns"

As per usual, there is both good news and bad news -

GOOD NEWS:
1. I do not have a stress fracture. I went to the see my cousin, the orthopedic surgeon, on Friday, and, after a lovely battery of tests, he determined that I do not have a stress fracture in my femur.
2. The Illini are 5-0 for the first time since forever! I guess I may actually have to develop more than a passive interest in my school's team.
3. My brother is officially back in Chicago. I spent a portion of the morning helping him move into his new apartment. I am very excited for him in both his new job and being in the city he's always truly called home.


Now...
BAD NEWS:
1. I have a severe tear of soft muscle tissue. This will necessitate anti-inflammatories on a regular basis as well as physical therapy 2-3 times a week for four weeks. The worst part of this diagnosis is that it makes it extremely unlikely that I will be able to run in the Hot Chocolate 15K that I signed up for this summer, as it will happen on November 5. Of course, since optimistic little me continued to believe that it might be possible, I didn't sign up for the MPRE and will have to take it still in March. :( I guess, of course, the counters to this are that: 1) my cousin told me that I should be okay to swim (after which I went and purchased a bathing suit that fit me); and 2) I will hopefully be well enough after the therapy to be able to start running again.
2. I miss the city a ton. I went to dinner with my brother and a few of his friends last night, and I kept thinking..."Wow, I wish I lived here still." I know it's silly to complain, but I really do miss Chicago and being closer to my family. Although Champaign isn't that far away, it still is far enough away to notice a difference and to yearn for the things that are here when I'm down at school. The truly strange thing, however, is that I also love the times I have had with my friends recently. Although my first semester of 3L year hasn't been as relaxing as I would have hoped, I have enjoyed the opportunity to kick back and relax with everyone. I'm sad that I won't be at school for the next two weekends, making it three weekends in a row away from school, but I'm looking forward to Halloween and eventually celebrating my birthday--seeing as I will be a quarter-century old.

That's really all for now.


Besito,
A