Well the weather was perfect, so not an issue. I ran the road race and did surprisingly well. We went to the parade and had our strawberry shortcake 'second breakfast.'
Then, because running 5k wasn't enough for me, we biked 13 mikes along the Canal. After a great lobster dinner (actually never really have any other adjectives for a lobster dinner, come to think of it!) we seperated, some to the pond for some live music.
All in all a great day, what more could you ask for?
I am trying to blog from my I-Phone, so bear with me.
Experimentation is something I always am open to, also I have 2+ hours to sit in the car, so I thought I'd try it
Summer is always such a wonderful time, the kids are out of school, the beach calls to you, the mint is ready for mojitos.
Except when summer is not summer. The sun has shown it's face five times in a month and we've had more than our yearly rainfall in that
same month.
When the sun HAS shown it's face, people have been rushing outside to see it.
Seriously.
The sun is out now and we are headed to the Cape for 4th of July. It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend.
Hopefully I will have beautiful sunny pictures along with some food to post next week.
Or maybe just food
(Or, what to do in St. Maarten for an afternoon when it's raining.)
This post WAS going to be called Vacation, Part Two.
But really, besides going snorkeling in the rain (which was really cool, by the way) and going on some Rhino Riders, the Food Snob pretty much drank.
Don't think badly of me, it was totally unplanned!
Besides, again, we had gone and done activities, and we had done some shopping.The shopping included some Guavaberry Rum which we first had when friends brought some over for Game Night.
In retrospect, the Guavaberry store might not have been the best spot to stop first.
We happened to get hungry just as we were finishing our Guavaberry Coolatas and found The Wet Bar.
Warning: Do not come here if you do not like fun, laid-back people from all over the world.
We had some lunch and stayed the rest of the day.
Hey, it may not seem like it from this picture but it was raining (why else would the chairs all be empty?)
And, ahem, the beers were $2.00.
I think the $2.00 beers helped me have a conversation with the guy from Edinburgh about the truth behind going commando in a kilt.
Just saying.
We also found an Irish bar where they served us Guinness, to go, on our way back to the ship. Wonder why they wanted us to go?
.
.
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Oh, yeah, here's some random goat I saw on a hill.
Speaking of fitness (which you know I like to do) how about those arms?
And why are her arms such a topic?
If I had arms like hers I'd be out in a snowstorm with no coat and a sleeveless top so I could show them off!
Here's a recent find of mine, one of my new favorite things:
Sweaty Bands. I bought this one first and just got my second one yesterday. There are tons of styles and widths of these headbands, which also serve as sweatbands. They are super cute, stylish, and functional, what more could you ask for?
With so many people struggling financially, why not find a race or walk that benefits a soup kitchen or pantry? I am due to run a race with my friend on April 4, the entry fee is 25 pieces of non-perishable food. How great is that? You get some exercise and help people who need it . Running in the USA is a great site to find local races in the states.
And finally, I recently got this DVD after reading a good review in a magazine.
This DVD can be changed every time you use it to give you only the workouts you want. It's really a killer, and I noticed some small results almost immediately. The only issue I really have is that Tracey Mallett is almost insistant during the whole thing that 'you will be sexy.'
What about strong and healthy?! The real point to exercise.
AKA- Narrowly escaping a frozen tundra of hell covered with 14 inches of snow
Palm Beach, Aruba
Jan Thiel Beach, Curacao
Williemstad, Curacao
These were our first two days in port. We didn't eat much but lunch, and honestly the food was pretty good, though not authentic. In Aruba we ate at a restaurant on a pier (we went there last time.) We had grilled fish sandwiches which were very fresh (though served with frozen french fries.) As I remembered last time we ate there, very SLOW kitchen.
In Curacao we ate at Jan Thiel Beach which has a restaurant. The food was more European, though there were hamburgers on the menu. I had a wonderful fresh mozzarella and roasted red pepper panini.This is a Dutch beach, so though they take US dollars and Euros, they use Guilders (also called Florin, similar to Aruba.)
Répondez s'il vous plaît.
From Wikepedia: French phrase that translates to "please respond" and word for word translation is "respond if you please". It is with this meaning that invitation cards and similar documents are often marked with "R.S.V.P." It is standard practice to reply to an RSVP request whether confirming attendance or declining.
'Whether confirming or declining.'
There is usually a date near R.S.V.P.
This is not a random date, grabbed from the blue. This is usually a date a person who has thought enough of you (or your child) to invite you to something has to give a head count to a restaurant or other party venue.
Is this hard?
Is it hard to even call a day late and say you lost track of time?
Is it rude to not respond at all?
Yes, yes it is.
End of rant.
Scared myself today. Booked a night here for the day before the cruise.
The cruise that's in five weeks.
Holy *&^*&^*&!!!!!
I seriously have to be in a bathing suit in five weeks?!
Do my abs know this, because I'm going to have to rethink my last post.
Does my nose know this, because why does it keep catching a cold whenever I want to work out.
And most importantly.....
WHEN WILL IT EVER STOP SNOWING!!??
How am I supposed to go on a nice 'long' run with three inches of ice on the roads.
I'm sure I'll be thinking about that a lot in five weeks.
No, I'm not fat. But if you saw this movie you will know that the main character (played by Simon Pegg, shown here) is supposed to be.
?
Does he look fat to you? In fact, in the movie he doesn't look much different to me than the jerky American played by Hank Azaria (besides the enormous beer belly.)
I noticed that this Fun Monday's theme was diets you have been on. Would it be shocking to anyone that I've never been on a diet?
That's right, never.
Ok, stop swearing at me now. I am not saying I eat 'perfectly' or have a naturally high metabolic rate. I just don't believe in diets, unless it's a cut out the junk food and eat right diet.
I know, I know, there are many people who have lost tons of weight from South Beach, The Zone, Weight Watchers, etc. and I'm not disparaging them or the way they were able to lose it.
All I'm saying is that a calorie is a calorie.
500 calories of chocolate is equal to 500 calories of broccoli. Obviously the broccoli has more nutrients and is ultimately better for you (and it's loads more food than the chocolate.)
I know there are those who say that the % of carbs to fat to protein ratio and when you eat all make a difference.
Ok, good for them.
Anyway, my philosophy is that too much of anything is not good for you. The whole French Paradox theory is proof of that (if you believe it.) We also don't smoke as much as the French (which is an appetite suppressant.)
I just find it an odd coincidence that with all the 'diet' food out there we are getting fatter and fatter. All you need to do is turn on the tv (Biggest Loser, You Are What You Eat) or go to a place with a lot of people (Disneyland, AKA: The Fifth Circle of Hell) and you can see it.
I also find the excuse "I don't have time to exercise" pretty lame. If I can find time, anyone can (Full-time work, two classes at school, two kids and their activities, a husband, and a somewhat social life.) Again, I'm not perfect. I've just been doing it so long it's become a habit I make time for (even if I have to get up at 5:00) and truly I do miss it if I don't do it.
I use to think (BC- Before Kids) that if I didn't work out for 30-60 minutes it wasn't worth it. Wrong! If you can walk for 20 minutes, you did something. Something is better than nothing, and you might start adding time on, too.
You'll never be sorry you exercised, only sorry you didn't.
(By the way, I enjoyed the movie, it was cute. Definitely NOT Simon Pegg's usual, and I was disappointed at first, but it was good.)
Ok, so I have no idea what that means, I was just watching Harry Potter with Professor Trewlawney in it, so that's where it came from (I think.)
At some point one has to ask oneself: 'If you're not even blogging anymore, why are you paying for it?'
Hmm. Well, I'm on break from school, so I have had time to visit some of my favorites. I nabbed this from Beccy, and maybe I'll keep blogging a little, too, but no promises:
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped- not yet
11. Visited Paris
12.Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
5. Gone to a huge sports game- Yankees vs. Red Sox, Fourth of July
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa (now closed to the public)
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s nappy
21. Taken a trip on a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Got drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland- Not yet-September 2011
52. Been heartbroken for longer than when you were in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your cds
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84 Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas- does it count if I was 20 miles away and CHOSE not to go?
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship-March
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children- Am raising...
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102.Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane- (Steered the ferry to Martha's Vineyard close enough?)
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon- and back out!
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- fish, caught it, too
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146: Dyed your hair
147: Been a DJ
148: Shaved your head
149: Caused a car accident
150: Saved someone’s life
The highlighted one's are mine, enjoy!
This has nothing whatsoever to do with food, but after reading AFF's post from yesterday, and Marmite and Tea's post from September 11, I became a bit reflective.
Each year I try not to notice too much when it's September 11 (which to me will always be different than 9/11.)
Living here you either knew someone or know someone who knew someone that was in New York.
My husband had worked with a guy who was in one of the towers.
My office-mate had gone to school with a girl who had luckily been out drinking the night before, and was late to work only to find a plane in her building.
Our friend was in Manhatten that day and it took until he got home at 9 P.M. for his wife to know he was safe because his cell phone hadn't worked all day.
Reading AFF's and Marmite and Tea's posts makes me realize how lucky I am, also how flawed.
Why is it that human nature is such that we read things like this, and we hug our children tighter, we're kinder to our spouses for a while, and then go back to normal?
Why can't we be the people we want to be all of the time?
Lest you all think I am just having a relaxing summer, I have some photographic evidence to the contrary!
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Tilapia with Potato Crust
Roasted Scallops and Nectarines with fresh corn
Avacado Soup w/Fresh Corn Salad
Mystic, Connecticut
Gratuitous Sydney picture
I have pictures from two more trips (and more food,) and there's almost a month left to summer.
Hopefully I'll post more soon,but no promises!
Enjoy the rest of your summer, too.
