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Labor Day Parade and the Charlotte Airport

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:02 AM PDT

This morning I took a nice lil' four mile walk to start the day. I wanted to run, but knew I should give my legs a rest since I did 13 and 12 the previous two days.

I was tempted to hit up Dunkin Donuts for an Apple Orchard Donut (saw the sign when we went yesterday), but I ~~ran~~ walked out of time. If anyone has tried these please tell me they're gross and I didn't miss out on anything. Thanks.

I didn't have time because we were headed to the local Labor Day Parade! It was a fun little parade, but standing outside in the sun was HOT. Next time we need an umbrella.

After the parade we headed back home to enjoy the last few moments of burgers in the pool. Ben played with our nephews who are growing like weeds in between our visits!

Lunch was another mish mash of leftovers – a veggie base with macaroni salad and a crumbled burger.

Ben's mom made his favorite chocolate chip cookies so he could take home a batch. I couldn't resist the delicious smells coming from the kitchen and grabbed one fresh from the oven.

Sadly, our time in Florida was coming to an end and we had to head to the airport. I snacked on blueberries during the drive.

We got through security and boarded the plane in no time. Well, it took some time, but not a lot.

For some mysterious reason our flight circled the airport for 30 minutes before landing in layover land = Charlotte.

Luckily, we had a 3 hour layover so we weren't in a rush AND Charlotte is the best airport so I didn't even despise this layover like I normally do.

Why Charlotte is the best airport:

1. FREE WiFi.

2. Jamba Juice

3. Southern restaurant with corn bread and fried okra, which I have no idea how to make myself. (I stole a few bites of the corn bread and okra from Ben's plate…)

4. Big so you can walk around

5. FREE WiFi

Oh, did I already say that?

6. Rocking chairs with outlets near them

7. Water fountains made to fill up water bottles so you don't have to tilt your bottle and actually spill half the water out as you attempt to fill it. <- This made my day!

8. Piano player

This guy is super sad about leaving Florida and his fam, but I told him there is no demand for Mechanical Engineers in Florida and he'd have to become an alligator wrestler if he wanted to move there…

I had Ben watched my stuff while I walked to the next terminal for a refreshment. I got a Starbucks hot chai tea and grabbed a sample of their chocolate chip cookie. Eh. It's not even in the top 50 list in my search for the World's Best Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Fun fact, kinda: I spent all day at the Charlotte airport in October '09 when my flight was delayed.

And some answers to your questions from Silent Saturday…

We were on Boca Grande, someone (who knows more about FL than I do) called it Gasparilla Island too. My in-laws live in a small town about 1.5 hours south of Tampa not too far from Boca. Coming to visit them really feels like a vacation.

The beach was pretty empty partly because we went late, partly because this is the low season for the area. Seasonal residents and snow birds will be flying down for the winter soon Smile

I am about to kiss a fish in this picture, but I backed out. However, I did kiss a fish at the Foodbuzz Festival two years back…

Yes, Ben is running a baby fever of 104. I wish the drug companies would get on this illness asap!

I did my hair in a high bun for the BBQ. I haven't done the sock bun thing yet, but I have a lot of hair so I just wrap is loosely and it works fine.

We are on our flight to Los Angeles as I type this and should arrive after 10:30pm. My mom is picking us up and we have to drive home to get our car and then drive to our home to sleep and get to work tomorrow. It's going to be a long night…

And I think I need another cookie.

Sunday Funday in Florida

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:26 PM PDT

Hello from the sky! I'm on a plane headed back to CA, but we have a lot to catch up on!

Let's go back to Sunday…

I planned to do two moderate length runs in Florida because I knew time wise and weather wise doing a 16+ miler would not be very realistic. So, I woke up early again on Sunday morning and busted out 12 miles. I felt surprisingly good considering I did 13 the day before.

I did feel oddly drained though – like almost emotionally exhausted from it? I think it was just that I lost so much liquid from my body these last 2 days. I can't really explain it.

Side note: I'm still not super sold on the two back to back runs. I know I'm not going as far as I should with each LR, but I don't feel nearly as challenged as one mega miler, you know? (Coach Steve feel free to call me out on being dumb.)

After the run I tried to take an ice bath, but the bath water melted this ice immediately and it was luke warm at best. Oh well. "E" for effort.

I felt dehydrated when I was done and not super hungry, but I knew I had to refuel. I had yogurt and fruit while Ben's mom cooked us up some pancakes.

I had one of her super fluffy pancakes with syrup. I don't know how she gets them so fluffy!!

Then, we went to church. I guess God's in Florida too. Weird.

After church and the all important Dunkin Donuts run we had a mish mash of leftovers for lunch. I made a salad and ate the rest of my Public sub.

After lunch my mother in law and I hit up Publix again. If you're keeping count we went 3 times this weekend and she does this all the time. All the employees know her there, it's super cute.

I picked out this ice cream and enjoyed some right when we got back. It's hot. Ice cream helps.

Finally it was time for Ben's birthday party BBQ! That's why we are visiting!! Ben's birthday is Friday and he really wanted to visit his fam.

We swam in the pool, ate good food and enjoyed some quality time with everyone.

Vodka and Fresca really made my night Winking smile

Burgers were on the menu and since I'm trying to decrease my soy intake I decided to have a 'real' burger instead of a veggie one like a I normally do. I picked a small-ish one, but I have never had any stomach problems going from veggie to meat eating. (I was full on vegan for about 8 months and then ate a fast food hamburger out of the blue and it was nothing.)

Since it was a birthday party we had decorations and favors. The baby and I fought over the mustaches…

After dinner we sang Happy Birthday. Is it sad he had to light his own candles?

We had marble cake with chocolate chips and more of that amazing mint ice cream.

When it got dark we moved the party inside to play Cranium. I had never played before and really liked it!Mid-game someone brought over a pizza from a local place with the best pie around. I don't think anyone was even hungry, but it smelled amazing and everyone said it's the best so ended up splitting a piece with Ben when everyone was digging in.

It was some of the best pizza I've ever had. The crust was perfection – that's what really 'makes' it. But yeah, there was A LOT of good food around this weekend. A LOT – including handfuls of chips and almond M&M's not documented here. I enjoyed it, but it's time to get back on track now!

At the end of the night it was finally time for the main event of the evening = the season finale of Breaking Bad. We stopped the game just in time to watch it. Wow. Now I'm nervous.

Monday fun coming soon!

Question: What did you do this weekend? Any fun Labor Day festivities??