- Camp ended well. Overall it was good to have that to start with rather than going straight into practice. I know it for sure helped my body and mind adjust from the jetlag and it also allowed us all, especially the new girls, to get to know each other a little better away from basketball. And even though I didn’t have internet and was basically cut off from my world back home for my first week, being back with team and all their families reminded me how much I love my “other” family here. :)
- Back to Kaunas…. I have a SWEET apartment here now! It’s a 3 bedroom that Courtnay and I will share. It’s entirely too big for what we need but we’re excited to have the upgrade, to live like college roomies and to use all our space to entertain. :) The only negative is that it doesn’t have very good internet yet so it’s hard to upload a lot pictures. So I'm only posting a few now but will hopefully get more on soon. :) I also got an upgraded car from last year. For the first time in my life I’m driving a car proportional to my size! Lol. It’s a Chevy SUV that was brand new when they gave it to me so that was pretty cool. However, I was told that they’d be trading it out for something not as new, but right now I’m enjoying driving it.
Living room downstairs
- Failed physical. Well, only part. It was the exact same stuff as last year (including the crazy alien abduction-like suction cups all over my body as the heart monitor). Overall I passed with flying colors, having the “heart of an athlete” and all that jazz. But I once again failed miserably at the Biodex knee strength test. It’s kind of funny because when I failed this same test at the beginning of last season they thought there was no way that I would be able to play the full season. And I did; and here I am back for more. So it’s kind of cool that (by the grace of God) I’m defying the odds. :) Lol.
Finally a big girl car!! Lol :)
- Real practices have started along with a few “friendly” games. (and again, “friendly games” is the term the use for scrimmages/exhibition games). We’re on a pretty grueling pre-season schedule right now of 2 practices every day of the week except only 1 on Wednesday and Sundays off. My body’s a little beaten down, but overall it’s just so nice to get back to playing for real. Summer pick up games are great but it’s nice now to be putting in work with a purpose, getting ready for the season.
- Fab….2? Yes, one of my Fab 5-ers has now joined me! Lina is now back with the team and it has been great having such a close friend here again. She actually surprised me at the physical and we had a big, public obnoxious reunion. :) It’s been great catching up with her again and we’ve picked up right where we’ve left off, already seeing 2 movies together and going out for countless dinners. I’m so happy to have her back and now we’re just waiting for Courtnay (who gets here officially on Oct 6)!!
A promotional friendly game we had against a men's team of our Vici sponsors
In related news….
There have also been exciting things happening back home that can’t go without mention!
1.) My cousin Andy and his wife Rhea welcomed a new addition to the family with the birth of their daughter Ella Lou on August 31. She is so adorable and I absolutely cannot wait to meet her when I get home for Christmas!!! So congrats to Andy and Rhea and all the Sax’s who have another little one to spoil along with Dalton! :)
2.) One of my all time favorite coaches (and people!), Stephanie Rich got married this past weekend! Steph was my assistant coach at SLU for my last 3 years and is one of those special people you meet in your life that leave an indelible impression. I could not be happier that she found Tony to spend the rest of her life with. (and here’s a cool video/song that their friend put together telling their own little love story :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0pcukTB7eo )
One of the negative aspects of my “career choice” is that I have to miss big events like this at home, but it doesn’t make me any less happier for my loved ones!! I just have to make sure to give them some extra hugs when I finally get home. :) So congrats to the Sax’s and Dacey’s!!
