Good Monday Morning Everyone!
I've been having trouble getting on the site and was happy after shuting the computer down twice that I somehow was able to get on here.
I'M BAAAACK!! What a weekend! I've said it before and I'll say it again, we have a wonderful bunch of women on this board. I so enjoy each time we get together, whether it be a one-on-one meeting, a small group or a bigger gathering, it's always surrounded by a positive feeling during and after the time we spend together.
I'm sure I will reiterate much of what was said, so bear with me through this. BOB and I met up at our hotel around 4pm, we arrived within minutes of each other-good timing. Anyone who's met BOB in the past can tell you she's a HOOT and just fun to be around!! It was just the beginning of enjoying the weekend together! Never a dull moment when BOB'S around.
After getting settled in we scooted over to ITALIANNI'S to meet SOL & VES, who were already there hitting the booze, I mean the wine
Dinner was delicious, though the service sorta sucked, the waiter we had was not good and I think he knew afterwards that we didn't think that much of his waitering skills.
SOL looked like her radiant fun self. For those of you who've met SOL, you will understand when I tell others that she has an infectious smile that lights up an entire room, a great voice that holds so much enthusiasim when she speaks and just a great all around person to be around.
VES, oh my, this girl is a doll! I so enjoyed finally meeting her. She's so cute! When you meet her you feel like you've known her forever, just like the rest of the group. Of course, my first impression of her was that she was very pretty, second was, what weight is she wanting to lose, she looks great! Nice and tall, lucky booger!
BOB intruduced us to what the DIRTY MARTINI was. I'm not a drinker at all, so I didn't try it, but it had green olives stuffed with feta or blue cheese and THOSE were delicious! So when SOL decided to order one, we asked for extra olives-YUMMY!!
After dinner, VES and SOL went their seperate ways to prepare for our get together on Saturday morning. BOB dragged me shopping, her favorite past time. She was so thrilled with some new sneakers she found at the REEBOK OUTLET STORE, she was floating on air. After the outlet mall we strolled around DISNEY MARKETPLACE until about 11pm when I started to feel the fatigue hitting me from being up since 5:30am and having run that day as well, so we headed back to the hotel to try and get some rest.
I had to thank BOB'S Mom out loud for having her make sure that BOB packed her FART SPRAY as BOB NEEDED IT!!! Sure wasn't me this weekend that was blowing in the wind. Luckily, the ear plugs I brought didn't have to be converted to nose plugs, though I didn't think up until now, I could of used them as butt plugs for her!
BOB & I figured we can easily travel together, as long as she carries her fart spray and I my ear plugs. I didn't even miss Eli, I thought he was snoring in the next bed!
Next morning we went to check out the breakfast buffet that came with our room. Boy, what a spread. Not your typical Breakfast Buffet! I wasn't going to eat anything but ended up having some bacon, a tiny piece of fish and tea-did I forget anything BOB?
We headed off to go pick up ROSALIE at her hotel. She was waiting outside with her daughter who wanted to make sure we weren't serial killers or some oddities. ROSALIE is a doll, and once again I'm here thinking, how can this woman weigh nearly 200lbs! She doesn't look it at all and carries her weight wonderfully! She has such a nice British accent, though I have to admit sometimes I had a hard time understanding what she would say, so I had to listen carefully to make sure I didn't miss a word.
So, off to SOL'S we headed, and we headed right into bumper-to-bumper traffic!
Here it is, Saturday morning and there's traffic?!? After 45 minutes of not going all that far, the gals can tell you I was getting really pissed. We called SOL and VINCE gave us alternate directions to get to their house. Felt like it took forever, well, it did, almost 2 hours! I was ready to bite someone's head off. I don't like being late anywhere and we were late. Luckily, only VES had showed up thus far.
Our HOST & HOSTESS had everything set up and ready to go-gosh how I wish they'd come my way so I had a good reason to clean up my house-theirs looks immaculate! Shortly afterwards BIGK arrived along with the family who were dropping her off for the day. As it's been mentioned, her son is definitely a BIG BOY and she's mentioned him and posted pictures of him in the past-but not until you get to meet him in person do you see the magnitude of his size. He had to bend his head down to get into SOL'S doorway. He's definitely a gentle giant though, you can see that. SARAH is a cutie too, a very sweet littl girl. We got to meet BIGK'S hubby too-the entire family!!!! HAPPY & her friend Anita arrived last and it was nice to finally be able to put a face to her name. I didn't know what to expect, so of course, when the two of them walked in I didn't know who was who. It was nice to meet them both, definitely partners in crime
Hopefully meeting the rest of us, ANITA will take some time and join us on the board.
All the foods looked wonderful-of course, there was just way too much food! SOL & VINCE must be in heaven not having to cook for a while-no wonder she loves having it at her house-look at all the wonderful SB BENEFITS she gets!!
The table looked like a feast ready for a King & Queen. The foods were delicious and I made sure to try each and every dish. Of course, you all know that DESSERT is my favorite, so I made SURE to leave room for that. Actually, being the glutton I am, I took one of VES'S chocolate almond candys and ate that before anything else. She made them with bakers chocolate and agave for the sweetener-she'll have to post a recipe, very yummy!!!
Anyhow, I think I was the first to dive into dessert. I'm surprised that no one already said what a pig I made of myself with the cheesecake I brought! You are all too kind! It may of not looked pretty with the cracks, but damn, it was GOOD! I ate more than anyone else, that's a given! The zuchinni loaf cake that BIGK made minus the oil was delicious and ANITA made a apple crisp type of dish that was very good as well. I don't know about everyone else, but I ate waaaay too much, but yes, it was all SB LEGAL
Oh, I think it was BIGK (if not, it was HAPPY) that brought some of these new SNYDER brand OAT BRAN PRETZELS as I had. When I stopped in Port St. Lucie looking for a urination stations I went to Publix and found them there (mine doesn't carry them), so I brought some-they are delicious ladies!!!!! They taste a little like graham crackers-will make a GREAT CRUST!!!!
We went for the boat ride, which I think we all enjoyed-I surely did, very relaxing and nice to see homes I can only dream about living in! As you all heard, VES sure can whistle and those peacocks would of loved getting a hold of her if they could of!!!
Shopping in Winter Park was nice-VES pulled me into an ice cream shop where they make their own without presevatives. Of course, after making a huge pig of myself at SOL'S one would think I wouldn't have room for ice cream! LOL, yeah, right! I got a coffee ice cream. I haven't bought real ice cream anywhere while being out since starting SB-it did feel odd, but tasted great! Wish we had more time to spend down there, it was just pleasurable to be walking with friends and shopping.
A trip to WHOLE FOODS was next and as it was mentioned, we scattered in all different directions. Of course, I was sniffing out the chocolate that no one else noticed in the corner of the store, some CHOCOLOVE 77%. There were others, good prices, even better than my WHOLE FOODS down here, so of course, I made some purchases!
Dinner was at OUTBACK, it's just a good place that pleases everyone. VES & I split the salmon plate-yummy!
We all disbursed and went our seperate ways from there. We took ROSALIE back to the hotel, but making some stops along the way.
Sunday morning BOB & I got our crap together, headed to the breakfast buffet where I had taken my cottage cheese and raspberries down with me and had some bacon again-delicious!
We met up with VES at a flea market a bit north of where we were staying. Of course, stopping at STARBUCKS along the way and passing the FRESH MARKET that was not yet open for the day. Strolled around with VES as well as her boyfriend TOM who we got to meet. Yes, the place was enormous and we didn't have enough time to get through even a small portion of it. We all made a purchase or two.
As the day was getting on we finally had to go. We said our goodbyes to VES & TOM and BOB & I heade back over to the FRESH MARKET and then off to lunch-back to ITALIANNI'S before we left-it's that good! I spoke to the Mgr. just to express my disappointment of our service, not the actual meal, on Friday evening. She said the food was on her-boy, BOB & I sure were happy! We left the gal a really nice tip and I'm sure we were all happy afterwards.
BOB & I parted ways, hmmm, around 5ish or so, BOB, can't remember! Anyhow, I took a roundabout way home instead of spending $10 on the turnpike. I went through towns that are so small they aren't even listed on a map. At one point I see a man in the road and cars stopped, two-lane road in the middle of nowhere a car much of flipped and landed upside down in the middle of the two lanes-luckily no one was hurt and there was enough of a shoulder that we could go around them. As I continued on I see a police car coming, mind you, that was abouat 15 minutes away from the scene-I think the closest town was about 40 miles away from there. Boring drive, but I made it how, a little after 9pm.
The weekend was wonderful and I loved getting to see everyone and having the opportunity to meet VES< ROSALIE & HAPPY in person after all this time. You guys CAN NOT MISS THE NORTH CAROLINA TRIP, you just have no clue how much fun it is to meet others, and this is going to be the best get together we will ever have!!!
So, that's my take on this past weekend. I'm sure I've forgotten things I want to tell you that I will hopefully remember later. Of course, lots of pictures were taken and I have my roll almost done, maybe 4 pics to go, and I'll get those posted once I have them processed.
I don't have time to address all the old posts, heck, I don't even have time to answer all the e-mails in my mailbox!! Please bear with me while I get back into the groove again.
I was able to get in my walk this morning, not sure how, feeling as pooped as I am, but I did get in my 4.5 miles in 44:50 and jogging almost the entire length at that! I figured with all I ate this past weekend, I really NEEDED to get back on track. Oh, I'm at 122 today, so up from the other day, not surprisingly.
SEMMENS, good luck with BFL. I'm sure MEL & FROG will be good role models to look at and get info on it!!!
GATOR, sorry you weren't able to make it this past Saturay, it was fun and you would of loved meeting the new gals and seeing the old ones. I can't tell you about the trouble with the fonts, but you could e-mail SUZANNE if you continue to have trouble.
TRISH, glad to see you are right back on track after the weekend, like myself. I have a friend that lives in what I think it considered SE TEXAS, a tiny town called ZAVALLA, about 30 minutes from LUFKIN I believe. Do you know of it??
DARAMUS, congrats on meeting your mini goal!! Glad to see you are going to work on the water, it definitely helps!!!
SHEANN, sorry to hear you are still feeling under the weather-hope you feel better soon!!!
FILLISE, trying to get a little rest after I post. I will definitely check out your recipe later, I do like black beans!!
Okay, this is it for me, for now. Going to go lie down for a little bit, I'm just wiped out!
Oops, forgot to mention, Saturday marked 9 months since I met my goal weight
I'll check in with you all later.
Toodles
Debbie
194/122/129
SB since 3/22/00
Reached goal 6/10/01