Good Morning Again!
WARNING!This is going to be a mightly long post!!!!
Just got in from my walk/jog. I have a
NEW, UNBELIEVALBE, BEST TIME!!!!I did my 4.5 miles in 44:20!!! 
This is
almost 2 minutes faster than my previous best time. I couldn't believe it and wonder if somehow I didn't do my timer right, but all seems perfectly okay with it and I had checked it as I went along the way. This weekend really psyched me up, it seems!!!!
THE WEEKEND
There has
NEVER been any doubt in my mind what a wonderful group of women we have on this board, and this weekend just confirmed this fact that much more-it was wonderful and I truly wish you could of all been there to enjoy it with us.
Eli, I and the kids did get a late start Saturday morning (
BOB, you do know me well!). With Eli coming home at 2am and getting only a half-hour sleep and me getting about 3 1/2 hours sleep, trying to get the kids ready to go, packing a few items, baking the quiche and making the hummus, we didn't get out of the house until 6am, instead of 5am. We made pretty good time once we got on the turnpike, but getting off and having to go through Kissimmee slows you down. Dropped the kids off at my cousins and we headed to SOLSHINES house, got there about 10:45am, I believe. Her directions were great!
We were greeted by SOL, her DH VINCE, FROG & DH BILL. FROG & DH had gotten there about 15 minutes before we did. We walked in and I felt like we were old friends who hadn't seen each other in a while, not people who were meeting for the first time! SOL is absolutely the sweetest person-fun to be with, feel like you can talk about anything with her, a person you KNOW that if you lived closer to you'd know you'd love to hang around with and do stuff with her. VINCE is a doll. I didn't know what to expect as SOL had never posted a picture of him. Under that definite "I can be stern if I have to" look, there's a great person, easy to talk to and very personable. You can tell the two of them are DEFINITELY in love!!!!
They make a great couple and I truly wish we lived closer!!!!
What can I say about FROG!?! She is just as outgoing in person as she is on the board, moreso even. You can see where she too would be a blast to be around, it would never be a dull moment hanging with her.
I, as many of you, have seen pictures of her on the board-trust me, she's more beautiful in person! DH BILL is a dear too. A definite carrot-top. He and FROG compliment each other so nicely and make a great looking couple.
So, in we brought all the stuff we had in the car. I felt like I was moving in! Besides the food, I had the shirts FRED had sent me, brought my Powerbelt to show the others, pictures, cookbooks, Starbucks Espresso machine, a hostess gift, tahini and falafel mixes for SOL, pita bread for SOL & CHRIS, just a bunch of stuff!
SOL had her dining room table set up and already ready with some food, so we added our stuff to it. (I'm sure I'll be reiterating some of what others have already said, so please, bear with me). I brought
HUMMUS & PITA BREAD (of course), the
CRUSTLESS SPINACH QUICHE that I had popped in the oven at 4am,
2 ZUCCHINI LOAF CAKES as I didn't know if the first one was going to be good, so wanted to have a back-up, and the
CRUSTLESS CHEESECAKE which I was hoping would come out as good as the first one, and it did! SOL had made a dip made with cheese and Rotel tomatoes, I believe, served with Triscuits, a roast (sorry SOL, forgot what it was called exactly) in the crock pot, had SB LEGAL BREADS and she too made a CHEESECAKE (can you tell we weren't laking dessert!). She had the table nicely made with all the fixins, drinks, etc.
GATOR arrived next and adorned the table with the most interesting dish I had ever seen, a
VEGETABLE TUREEN It looked wonderful! It tasted even better! Eli loved it too and was wondering how the heck she was able to keep it all together. She also made a bean dish that was interesting. It was nice to see her as well. I've met GATOR about a year ago at our first SB get together.
Last to arrives was BIGK & ZSU who drove together. Both of them are fairly new on the board, and they fit right on in with us "oldies". I can see where the two of them working together and being on SB together can provide not only a great friendship, but wonderful support. Being able to have the opportunity to get to know them better in person made me feel like they too had been around the board longer than they have. Both brought pictures of the family. BIGK'S son, well, if you saw his pic, you'd know why she has that screen name, he is a big boy, that's for sure! Her daughter is a blond cutie! ZSU also brought a couple pics of her and DH-what a difference in her since she took those pictures and lost so much weight. They both were such dolls!
Back to the food...BIGK brought a great veggie arrangement with a dip, and some delicious strawberries-she sure picked some winners, they were wonderful! ZSU made a really great dish with WW pasta, sausage and lots of other goodies in it. She'll have to post the recipe for you all.
Well, as SOL had mentioned, the table could easily of been a advertisement for our WOE. It looked great, and everything looked and WAS delicious (yes, I took pictures of the food! I know you would be asking this). We all dug in and everthing was fabulous. I personally ate way too much. We definitely could of fed an Army it seemed, lots of leftovers-SOL & VINCE won't have to cook for a few days, at least. Afterwards, Eli went to work and made cappucino's for all-not to mention, washing dishes-what a guy!!!!
We sat and talked while we ate and afterwards. FROG was a such a sweetie and brought us all insulated water bottle holders-I guess all this talk of late of us not drinking enough water maybe enticed her to make this selection??
After lunch and clean up we all headed over to WDW to the EXPO and to p/u FROG & BILLS racing stuff. We caravaned down the interestate and luckily, no one got lost. The EXPO wasn't as big as I thought, but that was fine, it was still nice. While FROG & BILL went to get their things, the rest of us walked around. We found FRED at his booth and thanked him for the wonderful shirts he sent us. He said he was having a good show, which made me feel good. Next to him was a
"GOT MILK" booth and they were making milk shakes and having everyone take pictures with the classic
GOT MILK MUSTACHE They could only get in 6 people at a time, so we 6 that were together at the time got the pics done, and FROG & BILL went on later and did theres. We all got a copy. Needless to say, I tried to make sure no one swallowed the shake and spit it out!
There was also a booth from TANITA who makes the body fat scales. Never before would of I thought, in a public place, that I'd be getting on any type of scale! But I wanted to know what my BF was, so I hopped on. I must of broken the darn scale because it said my BF was 14.2%. Not knowing anything about BF and what numbers are good/bad, I asked the gal if that was good-and I got a YES! Seems for my age, a healthy range is 10.2-22.9. She put me as being athletic, I think better would be moderately active, so maybe the number would be up a bit more, but probably still within a good range. Anyhow, that was a real surprise. It also gave the BMI which was 23.3, It also did say my BRM would be 1302 calories, so without exercise, that's the caloric intake I would need to keep at my current weight. Since I do exercise, it's usually around 1400 (but lately, it's been up, up and away!).
After we got through there we went on to have an early dinner, as FROG & BILL had to get up and be at the race site at 4am
We hit OUTBACK and thank goodness, with GATORS brains, she had called ahead to reserve seating for us, so we didn't even have to wait 2 minutes for a table. GATORS DH joined us for dinner, so we had a table of 10. Of course, we all know dinner at Outback is always good, but being with such wonderful company made it even better!!!
After dinner, we all disbursed and went our seperate ways. BIGK & ZSU headed back home, so we said our goodbyes in the parking lot. SOL & I planned to meet at 4am the next morning to head to the race site. Our hotel was great, very nice. Luckily, our hotel was just 5 minutes from Outback, so we had the least amont to drive after dinner.
I was worried and didn't think I was going to be able to go with SOL so early to the race site as at the time we got back to the hotel it seemed we'd have to go get the kids stuff in the morning so my cousins wouldn't have to cut their vacation day short (I don't like putting people out). Anyhow, I told SOL I'd plan to see her a bit later, but if anything changed, I'd let her know. Cousins called at almost midnight and though I don't remember much of anything, I did remember them saying if we could come get the kids later than what I had wanted that they would just come back at that time, which was great (and I prayed I wasn't dreaming this, cause I had been in a deep sleep). Luckily, I didn't sleep too soundly afterwards and 4:15am, I found myself grogy but up and called SOL on her cell phone asking her "where are you????" Luckily, she was just getting on the highway and was about 20 minutes away-enough time for me to hit the shower and throw on clothes and get down stairs, which is what I did. There wasn't enough time for Eli and I both to get ready, so I told him what I was doing and let him go back to sleep, he sure did need it anyhow.
SOL picked me up and off we went to the race site. We got there a couple minutes after 5am. There were so many people there! Runners were getting ready and there were so many spectators lining the route. We were lucky to get a great spot to view and cheer. At 6am the fireworks went off and a portion of the race began. First they had the wheelchair bound racers start-it brought tears to my eyes to see people who could easily let a disability like this ruin their lives if they wanted, but instead seem to turn negatives into positives! Then the half-marathon people started. Then the full. It was SO inspiring! You see so many different kinds of people, it's unbelievable! Old, fat, skinny, young, you name it! There was a man on crutches! There were people with funny hats, people dressed up as Minnie, Goofy, fairies, guy running with an American flag atop a fishing pole-it was just amazing!!!!!!! Got that camera ready, took a couple candid shots to finnish the role so if we were lucky to find FROG & BILL among the masses, I'd have some new film. Go in my purse to get the film and uh oh, no film!
I had grabbed the film container with my Stevia in it instead of film!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's a guy staning behind SOL & I that says " you need some feel, here!" I said, "how much?" He tells me nothing, I'm a photographer, I have extra! What a guy!!!!! Anyhow, previously, FROG had given SOL some of those GLOW STICKS for us to wave so she could see us easier, so we're standing there waving these glow sticks and getting our arm exercises while cheering on the runners and looking for FROG & BILL and WE SEE THEM!!! Take a quick pic, wish them luck and off they go. The next viewing wasn't for quite a while, so SOL & I went back to the car, told ELI to get ready and we headed back to the hotel, had some breakfast, packed up and checked out and headed back to WDW to the site that FROG had told us was the hardest for them, which was mile 20, where it looped and came back to hit mile 21 (so we would get to see them twice after they looped). We got there around 9am and it started to pour. I felt so bad for the runners, it's cold and now raining! Not good. ELI ran back to the car for the umbrella and a rain poncho, he stayed for a bit then went back to the car to change his wet shirt and put on a sweater, and SOL & I kept looking for FROG & BILL while cheering on the runners (they really appreciate it). We finally got to see them around 10:45am, and they were looking good, but drenched. After they faded away into the distance we hopped in the car, we knew we had at least an hour before they would hit the finish line, so we headed to Starbucks which is fairly close. On the way back we went to EPCOT where the finish line was and a security guy was at the exit to get in,turning cars away, saying there was no room
We didn't know what to do, so headed to WDW, we figured we'd have to take the monorail over to EPCOT and then see the finish of the race. Luckily, the guy didn't charge us the usual $6 to park there, but by the time we got the tram to the WDW gates, waited for the monorail, took it over to Epcot, so on and so forth, FROG & BILL were already done and gone
We didn't know that and looked all over the REUNION AREA for them, until they called from the hotel to tell us they were there. I felt awful! If the guy had let us in we would of been there in more than enough time (like at least 20 minutes to spare). When we got to Epcot, it wasn't packed like he said-and we were not only disappointed, but pissed off as well. Anyhow, can't cry over spilled milk, doesn't help the situation, she knew we were there in spirit! Even GATOR tried to come and cheer her on, but my cell phone died and they couldn't reach us, and it was raining, so they left-can't blame them.
Anyhow, from there, SOL, ELI & I went out to lunch-to Italianni's. We use to have one close to home, but they closed it about a year ago, and I really miss it! I think the Orlando location is the only one open anymore, not that they had that many to start with. So we went there and I got what I usually get which is EGGPLANT PARM, so the breading was about the only no-no on the dish, but it was oh, so good! SOL had the same and enjoyed it. ANYHOW, I was going to do a major, horrific cheat-at least I thought so. I had told ELI, should we ever get to Italianni's, I wanted a piece of their TIRAMISU, which, the one down here had the best I could ever find. SO, here we are, in Italianni's and I've got the good/bad conscience going back and forth on whether to get this Tiramisu and finally decide to get it and have just a little. They bring it and right away, I knew it wasn't the same, looked different. Stuck my fork in it, put it on my tongue, did it again, knew it wasn't the same and said "forget it". So I guess, not even a tsp. going in my mouth would constitute it to be a cheat. I guess G-D was trying to keep me legal!!! LOL!!!
We took SOL back to our hotel where we had left her car and said our goodbyes as she needed to get home and get some rest, it had been a long weekend for her as well. After she left ELI & I went to FROG & BILLS hotel to see them before we left. SOL & I, when we went to STARBUCKS had seen a pair of
FROG SLIIPERS at the store next to it and bought them for FROG. Our intentions to give them to her at the finnish line were thwarted, so I presented them to her at the hotel-I hope she found some comfort in them because her and BILL'S feet were killing them. Her poor tootsies are really bad! Both her and BILL were limping! They looked good and were enjoying some R&R in the lobby in front of the big screen tv with some wine and beer. We got to congratulate them for doing a great job in the race and FROG showed off her beautiful MM MEDAL that she so rightfully earned! We sat and chatted for a while before taking a few pictures and having to leave.
Off to get the kids, later than I had wanted, got them, had to stop and get them some food for dinner and started to head home. Made it in the door at 11pm, very tired. Didn't sleep well for some reason, so a bit pooped today, esp. after the run.
So there you have it, my best recollection of this weekend! It was truly wonderful and I wish it didn't have to end so quickly. Again, I wish you would of all been able to join us. SOL & I decided that
NEXT YEAR, WE TOO ARE GOING TO BE IN THE WDW MARATHON WITH FROG and we want as many of you on the board to either join us in the race, or at least come and cheer us on!!
ALSO, we want you all to
SERIOUSLY think about joining us for a big
SB GET TOGETHER in
OCTOBER 2002 in
NORTH CAROLINA at the beachfront property that FROG can get us for dirt cheap! Don't miss out on this opportunity-we are giving you more than enough notice to make plans. We don't have an exact date yet, but just tell your bosses and DH's that you know you'll need a day or two off in early October and will let them know the exact dates in the next couple months. Probably Thursday-Sunday, as Friday-Sunday just seems too short-even Thursday-Sunday is short, but more is hard for many. KEEP IT IN MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyhow, I'm going to work on
PART 2 of my post now...
A couple of the weight moves use machines, so I had to search out moves that worked the same muscle groups using dumbbells. It's only for 12 weeks and would finish up right around my birthday, so good health and fitness would be a great present to myself. I will still do SB WOE.
with such kind words. As important as I must seem to you and the rest of the board, you are ten fold more important to me!!! Your ears burning this weekend too-we talked about the time you got to meet SOL & GATOR! Choc. Cheesecake, tell me more!! I know the feeling about the scale and the yo-yo, but it happens and it's been happening to me as well, so just know, you aren't alone!
, too much sugar in it. Hope you got rid of the berrie pits, they can hurt if you get stuck in a gum!!! I read most of the BFL book, but knew it wasn't something I would commit myself to doing. Would love to see your pics that you DH took of you before!! HINT, HINT! Good luck with BFL! The recipes, the ones I made are on the board, well, all except the cheesecake one, which I'll get on this week.