HI, HI HI...Got back yesterday and finally got a chance to catch up on my emails and computer friends - I missed you all so much and happy to see you have all been keeping busy as usual!
Congrats to all the losers!
...and I am happy to reclaim the rolling pin
with special thanks to Kathy - looks like she did a great job keeping everyone in line! ha ha ha
I had FABULOUS TIME - Negril Jamaica is gorgeous, the weather was amazing - too hot in fact. Over 90 degrees most days with very high humidity. On some days there would be these scary looking clouds coming in (which was great cuz it blocked out some of that very hot scorching sun), but then they would just blow away again....and that was that!
The property (Riu Negril) was fabulous - quite new, very well designed. We were in bldg 1 (2 doors down from my gf and her family), which was the closest bldg to the main public areas, pools, restaurants, lobby, etc. Two wonderful pools - the "waterfall" pool (where I swam around and did water aerobics at noon every day w/Hot Dog - yes the animation staff all had silly names)..and the swimup bar pool w/integrated hot tub area - which was a much busier pool and where I learned to enjoy those AMAZING mango daiquiris.
Loved lounging by the pool, but also enjoyed the beach - long walks, very calm - barely any wave action (except one afternoon when it was slightly windy), so more like a lake - with a soft sand bottom, and clear turquoise green water where you could look down and see your feet!....so lovely. Also did ocean aerobics at 10 am if I was up and about!
Food was GREAT - too good I"m afraid as I must have REALLY ENJOYED myself. Remember those 6 lbs I lost before I left for Jamaica? Well I found them - they were waiting for me at the buffet, and swim up bar, and steakhouse and gourmet restaurant (where we ate 2 nights in a row - absolutely a 5 star dining experience). Yes I overindulged....I found I was eating more out of habit and convenience rather than hunger!..which I know is a bad thing. I did want to try the "drink of the day" on a regular basis, and I did sample the desserts. Breakfast was pretty good tho as I either had smoked salmon
w/cream cheese (I'm sure not lf) and veggies or cooked hot oatmeal w/fresh fruit for "dessert". I did try some of the desserts which were pretty fattening I'm sure - but the server said I had to try the pineapple and apple fritters (they were awesome) and another night the deep fried ice cream (I did not like it so only ate 2 bites
).....but the stewed fruit dish was really good (sliced fresh fruits in a GIANT frying pan, with rum, brandy, orange juice and sugar which was cooked til fruit soft and syrup was caramelized - so delish - esp over rum and raisin ice cream).
Okay I'm sorry to focus on the food so much - but the bottom line is it would be possible to stay somewhat core - as there were always core options, the problem would be the amount of fat - esp since most meals are buffet style so you can't really control how they are cooked. My work is now cut out for me as I try to get back to more controlled core eating - AND I AM LOOKING FOR SUPREME SUPPORT from my friends here as I again kick the non-core bad eating habits.
Kids had a blast as well -18 yr old went kayaking, jetskiing, swimming....and took the little one pedal boating (he was begging every day). Did a tour with major sights and shopping as well...spent a lot of $$ and brought back some yummy jamaican rum creme (think Bailey's). Entertainment every night at the hotel with steel bands, reggae night, audience participation games, dancing, etc. Was hard to stay up late tho (shows ended around 11 pm)...as I was up fairly early with the little guy for breakfast the next day (while the teenager did not emerge till after 12 noon!).
Have some nice "color" and a lovely bronze glow - sunburned my arms a couple days ago (think I forgot to put sunblock on them??)...and heat rash as well (just from the hotness and humidity) ....oh ya and 3 humongous mosquito bites on my right leg (had it out one night cuz I was warm and the lone mosquite in my room had a feast - he's gone to a better place now!
)
Trip back was quite eventful with my gf's 12 yr old getting sick on the bus to the airport!!!!! My little guy was also complaining of a tummy ache - gave him some gravol and he seemed okay, but shortly after takeoff he also started throwing up - about 4 times - boy was I lucky I had that ziplock bag handy! Poor thing - he would sleep for a bit, then wake up suddenly and throw up. I was quite frazzled - 4 hour trip seemed much longer as I was so tense watching him. I dared run to the washroom a couple of times to wash my hands, pee and get more airsickness bags. Was VERY happy when I landed (he was throwing up as we hit the ground!!!). Much better today so I guess it was probably something he ate - no one else sick thank god. I have had a headache all day, finally figured out it was CAFFEINE WITHDRAWAL! I am usually decaffeinated, but no such animal in jamaica - enjoyed the coffee all week and now paying for it. Dh gave me a diet pepsi a while ago (with caffeine of course) and now I am feeling a bit better!
Had mounds of laundry to do today - still not done and had to wash everything even if not worn to get rid of the jamaica beach smell! ha ha ha Also had to get groceries as poor dh and dd were living on tv dinners and pizza and chocolate it seems - he was very happy to see me come home as he was quite helpless it seems (altho he insists if I were to be gone longer he would have gone shopping and actually cooked!). Sounds like the 2 of them got along okay while I was gone with lots of compromise on both parts.
I am only kinda glad to be home - as we were so sad to leave jamaica - it's so nice to be spoiled and pampered! Back to reality and so far I feel like having a meltdown as I am overwhelmed with the regular household stuff, and slightly depressed about the weight gain.
I am NOT looking forward to work tomorrow as I will need to wade thru voicemails and emails and hopefully my colleagues have not booby trapped my cubicle (as they have been known to do when someone travels).
Will try to catch up and read the posts I have missed!
Suntanned Froufie
P.S. Decided to change my ticker as I can't BEAR seeing those numbers which are not even close to reality right now!
Back From Paradise - And Wishing I Was Still There!!!
Hopefully, the patio door folks will show up as promised and do what they have to do and get out of your hair so that you can take it easy! Don't fret too much about the scales right now ... remember those inexplicable daily fluctuations, drink lots of water, and keep on doing what you're doing.
