Cruisin' - Onboard Carnival Ecstasy

 (Off topic note first - My super cool man friend commented on my blog!  Now I can die happy.  hehe!)

We made it to Galveston with no mishaps.  It was a pleasant drive.  Coming from the desert, driving along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico left me breathless.  All that endless water.   It was fantastic.

We made our way to WalMart so we could pick up the last few essential items that were needed.  We bought wine.  That is an essential, right? 

As we try to pull in to the parking facility, we are turned away.  They tell us that our ship had just docked and it would be another hour or two until we could park.  I guess they needed the people who were on the ship to come and retrieve their cars before they could park more.  Hmpf.  So we toured Galveston some and had a light lunch then we got in the growing line of cars that were waiting to park.  And there we sat.  We were a wee bit irritated that our vacation would now be shorter by about 4 hours or so.  But there was really nothing we could do about it, so we waited and when our turn finally came, we parked and hopped on the shuttle that would take us to the pier.

This is where the line to stand in line to stand in line to stand in yet another line began.  Because everyone was coming in at one time instead of dribbling in over the course of the morning, it was a bit of a long wait.  We just kept our smiles plastered to our faces, we joked with others in line and really just tried to be patient.  We knew there was a light up ahead.  Its name was alcohol.

The time came and we boarded the ship.  We made our way to our stateroom in order to put our carry-on luggage down and as we are approaching our door, here comes our checked luggage from the other direction.  Woohoo!  No waiting!  We were in our room long enough to drop everything and then we set out on a mission for our first Drink of the Day.  We found it on the Lido Deck.  It was tall, and red and had an umbrella and fruit in it.  Heaven!  We were finally "On Vacation" and it felt good.

We turned off the phones after posting a couple of pictures on facebook, we explored the ship, we waved goodbye to Galveston as we pulled away from the dock and then we headed back to the room to unpack, unwind, and get ready for dinner.

We were scheduled for the late seating of dinner.  Around 8:00 pm we moseyed our way around until we found the dining room.   Once we were seated I started to feel weird.  I had not been feeling the movement of the ship at all but now, sitting down and being still, it was very pronounced.  I worried that I would not be able to make it through dinner but I did fine.  It was nice to meet our table-mates and get to know them a little.  I will say this once and then it will be dropped as I do not want to dwell on negativity.  The food was horribly sub par.  Cafeteria food in school was better.  We have both cruised before, with different lines, and the food is normally to die for.  I did not gain a single pound on this cruise.  That is all I will say.  I promise.

I am kind of hazy as to what we did after dinner.  But I do know we ended up in our room at a reasonable hour, we turned on an audio book and let the sea rock us to sleep.

Cruisin' - Day 1 and 2 - San Antonio

Best. Vacation. EVAH!  Just gotta get that right the hell out there.

We left the house, Saturday morning, at 4:20 am.  Then giggled for an hour every time we said 4:20.  Cuz we are crazy like that.

I had totally checked the map. (days and days ago)  I knew where I was going.  I had it DOWN!  We were on the road baby.

Hours and hours later...I realize that I have totally just added three whole hours to our trip.  THREE!  I went to Ruidoso, Alamogordo, and then to El Paso to reach I10.  Oh yeah.  All unnecessary.  Mental note for the ride home...go through Carlsbad, ya moron.

Twelve hours after we left home, we arrived in San Antonio.  (Little side note here.  I went on 5 car trips in the last relationship.  Every single one was chock full of tears, screaming, threats, and a whole mega ton load of more drama than you can imagine)  Present day...I just spent 12 hours in the car with my super cool man friend and his super cool dog.  12 hours that should have been 8 hours.  12 hours of the most pleasant conversation and book listening and sight seeing that any person could imagine.  This man is a saint.  He really really is.

So we make it to his parents home.  We are literally there like 4 minutes.  We drop off the dog, we look up where we need to be and we head out to my nail appointment.  I have been reading about a Shellac manicure for about a year now.  No one does them around here so I made an appointment in San Antonio to have a manicure and pedicure done.  Let me tell you.  It is worth it.  Today, 9 days later, my nails look like I just walked out of the salon.  There are no chips, no smudges, no cracks, nada.  These are my real nails people, not an acrylic manicure.  IT is awesome.  Even my toes look perfect.

We get back to the 'Rents home and it is visiting time.  The super cool man friends brother comes over and we all get to hang out.  We stayed up late playing cards and enjoying some family time.

Sunday morning we head out to do some shopping.  Five stores later, we come home with only Krispy Kreme donuts.  Oh yeah.  Our priorities are straight.  Brother comes over again and we rope Dad into playing some games.  We played Farkle.  Dad kicked the butt off of us.  He even left at one point to take a shower and we kept going...Dad still won.  I believe there were some shenanigans going on here.

Mom and Dad took us all out dinner.  Even the Brothers wife and kids came.  We went to Olive Garden and hey, when you are at Olive Garden, you are family, right?  Yeah, not so much.  They told us that pants were NOT optional at the dinner table.  Hypocrites.

After dinner, back at the Casa, we got everyone involved in the game playing.  Dad pulled out a game called Apples to Apples.  Funnest game in the world if you have a lot of people.  We played for hours.  I laughed so hard.  Everything that I love about the super cool man friend, came from his parents.  This entire family is just a complete joy to be around.  It was the perfect start to our vacation.

We woke early Monday morning as we needed to get on the road to Galveston.  We packed up, said our goodbyes and headed out for the next leg of our journey.  I totally used the GPS this time.

Shhhhh...I am huntin' wabbits!

The past few nights have been weird.  I wake up, a lot.  All night long.  But, in the mornings, I still feel rested and refreshed.  I am not groggy or tired throughout the day.  But still, it is not normal to wake up that much. Right?

I know what my problem is while I am trying to *fall* asleep.  My brain is still on hyper-drive.  I have so many lists running through my head of what needs to be accomplished and what needs to be packed and what needs to go where and to who...yeah.  Who could fall asleep with that nonsense going on? 

But to wake up over and over and over again once I finally *do* fall asleep?  Screw that.  I will cut you.  Seriously.

I had to go bra shopping last night.  I am so sure you wanted to know this.  Right?  You see, I am wearing a really low cut dress for formal night and I want the girls to be all **PA-PAOW!** and up there and even and shit.  So, yeah.  Needed a new bra.  And of course I had to buy the matching panties as well!  I mean, they were calling my name...I never have matching ANYTHING, especially undies.  Now I do.  So there.  Nanner Nanner.

If only they had a 24hr Tattoo Removal Magic Pill I could take, I would be totally set.  (why oh why did I choose to put it on my BOOB?? Stupid Stupid Stupid!)

Humpday Update

We have been taking the Jadera pills for a week now.  I am down 3 lbs, super cool man friend is down 5.  (Shoots evil glare at super cool man friend)  I can feel them working.  For Real, yo.  I am not hungry, I am not craving the sugary sweetness (case in point - we have cake at the house, CAKE PEOPLE!  I did not touch the cake last night.  Not one little morsel.  I am thinking it will be thrown out.)  I am drinking water like I have been lost in the desert for weeks!  Four Liters yesterday.  So we will call this week a success.  Woohoo!

I have even been taking vitamins!  Me!  Everyday.  I am a superstar.

Last night I challenged myself to go a little further and a little longer on the treadmill.  I made it to 44 minutes (3.4 miles) before I had to stop.  The night before I tried to run.  I thought I was ready.  I was not.  Ten minutes was all I got until I thought I was gonna throw up.  So we will stick to fast walking for now.  Build up to the jogging and the running bits.  Maybe tonight I can make it to 4 miles.

The super cool man friend and I discussed our strategy for eating on the cruise ship.  We both have cruised before and we both WAY OVER INDULGED.  This time, we are going to focus on having fun and not focus on the food or the 24 hour ice cream dispenser.  Plus we will be on our pills so it should help.

Two more days until we leave.  Woohoo!  I have been active on a message board at www.cruisecritic.com with other people who will be on our cruise.  I am leading a Meet and Greet on the cruise ship so we can all see who we have been chatting with.  One of the ladies is going to be teaching ballroom dancing lessons and we are gonna jump all over those.  The super cool man friend and I have never danced together.  It will be a hoot!

I found a birthday card that Zach made me.  He has it hidden in his backpack so he can give it to me on my birthday.  Well, he says he will give it to me on Friday since I will be gone on my actual birthday.  I will post a pic when I can.  He is such an awesome son.  I am so lucky. 

Countdown Begins!

The weekend sped by in a blur of activity!  Friday night found us spending time at the BFF's house while she prepared us a veritable feast!  Chicken, roasted potatoes, spinach salad, YUM!  She put all this together with just the items she had in her freezer, pantry and fridge.  How cool is she? 

Saturday was filled with packing for the cruise (I am almost done!), cleaning out the car (I had no idea I had a trunk!), shopping for last minute items that were needed, and raiding my mom's closet for cruise wear which then turned into a fashion show for the super cool man friend who said yea or nay on whether said items made it into the suitcase.  We had pretty much decided to catch a movie and were heading out to grab a quick bite to eat before we changed our minds and had a lovely dinner at our favorite Asian restaurant instead and went home to view another of the Harry Potter movies.  Good Times!

Sunday morning rolls around and as I am laying in bed contemplating all that needs to be done, the super cool man friend offers to rub my feet.  Now how could I say no?  Half hour of pure bliss.  Once we finally got up and around, I was bound and determined to get the house in order.  I started on the huge piles of junk that were littering my kitchen (all the stuff that I brought into the house from cleaning out the car).  As I am doing this, I notice that the super cool man friend is cleaning the living room!  Without being asked!  That is Teamwork baby!  I get the kitchen ready for breakfast, cook said breakfast and then moved the furniture out so mopping could commence.

Long story short, all the laundry got washed, dried AND PUT AWAY!!  The kitchen is clean, the living room is clean, I baked some pineapple upside down cakes (one failed...LOL, it overflowed, but it tasted good!) and we spent some quality time doing things that each of us likes (super cool man friend worked on a craft project, the boy played Legos and his DSI, and I played on the Ipad).

It was a wonderful weekend.

5 days until we leave!  Woohoo!  Now, if only I could get the rest of my list completed!

Friday! Finally!

We had pizza last night.  Go ahead, ask me what kind.  We had Bacon pizza.  Oh yeah.  Three different types of bacon smothered in gooey cheese.  I know you are jealous.  It was Faboo.

I cannot believe this is the last weekend before we leave on our cruise.  I have done NOTHING to get ready.  I am out of time.  There is packing that needs to be done, the car needs an oil change, I need to get the formal wear to the dry cleaners and I need to clean out my car!  Oh yeah.  This is gonna be one busy weekend.

I am really excited to meet the super cool man friends parents.  We are going to be staying with them for two days on our way to Galveston to hop on the ship.  I am excited and NERVOUS.  I have never even spoken to them.  The super cool man friend has been around my parents plenty of times and so I just have to suck it up and hope they like me.  Plus, I have never been to San Antonio before so that will be a treat in itself.  I have set up an appointment to have one of those SHELLAC mani/pedi's.  They don't have them in a 300 mile radius around here so I figured I would treat myself while I am in the "Big City".

My boss and about 15 people in his circle of family and friends have been taking this diet pill called Jadera.  Every single one of them have lost weight without changing their eating habits or exercising.  One lady has lost almost 75 lbs in four months.  Granted, she had A LOT to lose, but still.  So I started them two days ago.  I am going to give it a try.  Along with changing my eating habits and exercising.  Cross you fingers that I have the same success as they have. 

OMG! I have Comments!

Did you see?  I have comments!  And not just from my friends!  Woohooo!  Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my friends...but my friends are kinda OBLIGATED to comment somewhat.  These are NEW PEOPLE who don't KNOW ME!  WOOHOO!

Okay.  So enough jubilation for the moment.

I had a perfectly awesome weekend.  The super cool man friend took me out to dinner Friday night and then we hung out at the Elk's Lodge for the New Year's Eve celebration.  I totally missed my BFF and it made me reminiscent of the NYE party a few years back where we totally hit it off and became awesome friends.  Plus we had a bazillion shots that night. Good Times.

Saturday I woke up at 6:00 AM!  But I talked myself into going back to sleep.  Got up around 11:00 and hit the treadmill.  Hungover and all.  Totally kicked butt with a 30 minute workout.  Once we were up and dressed, we went shopping.  (The Ex came Friday at noon and took his kitchen table.  Perfect excuse to get a new one right?)  We started out at Big Lots and though they had some awesome table options, they were all a bit out of our price range.  Then we were going to hit the second hand shop but it was closed due to the holiday.  So, we went with our first choice and got the one at WalMart we have been drooling over for weeks now.   

It went from this to.....

 

 

THIS!

 

 

We also found a bottle of Cotton Candy Flavored Vodka while we were out and totally had to get some.  I mean, it is COTTON CANDY FLAVORED people!  So Saturday evening we drank some vodka and watched some South Park.  Awesome combination.  Especially mixed with Pineapple Juice.

Sunday morning we headed to the mountains to pick up my boy from his Dad.  On the way back, we stopped in Ruidoso, NM and had some lunch/dinner at my favorite Italian Restaurant, Michelinas.  Then we headed back home.  I had to get the laundry done or we were going to be in big trouble.  Once the laundry was vanquished, we played a board game that my son had received for Christmas.  Gosh, then it was bedtime.  "Time goes by so fast" (Bangles)

I was not ready to head back to reality this morning.  We have been off schedule for two weeks and it is gonna be crazy trying to get back.  But we will make it happen.  Oh yes, we Will!  Just Watch!