Back from Florida, w/pictures!

. . [No response/replies needed, just wanted to share the photos with any that are interested in seeing them] Hello friends, I'm back from Florida after spending 5 fun filled action packed days with Lynda M. Not to mention, more walking then I ever thought was humanly possible. That lady has one speed and it's TURBO-mode, just ask my poor feet. We musta' broken a record of some sort? 6 major Theme Parks in 3 days? Surely, just based on my age, that comes with some sorta' award? We traveled through Universal Studios, Island of Adventure, 3 of the Disney Parks: Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and our final day was spent at Busch Gardens in Tampa. We pretty much OWNED Busch Gardens, there were no lines... literally NONE. We walked on EVERY single ride we wanted, (some several times) and never had to wait. Sat in the front, the back, the middle, wherever the heck we wanted. My favorite ride there was the SheiKra ....a HUGE rollercoaster, that suspended you over it's highest point, over the edge, for about 5 seconds, then dropped you into the start of a very exhilarating ride. I rode that one FOUR times. I'm SURE Lynda arranged a "private showing" of this park, just for ME, dontcha' think? My girlfriend also created the BEST "Caramel Chocolate Martini" in our room. I had to try them several times, just to make sure it was "the best" and it was. Oh, and the 'Almond Joy Martini' we had at the "Blue Martini" was a very close second, yum. The ONLY downside to that place? We couldn't detach the 27 year old man that glued himself to our 'space' the rest of the night!! Amazingly enough, even telling him that he was my SON's age, did not deter him or slow him down. Oh, and guess who we ran into at Universal??? It's a small world, that's for sure. We got to meet TEK!!!! Er, well, at least he looked just like TEK, surely there aren't 2 of 'em in the world, right? Here's the proof. http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b6cf38b3127cce98548513659a00000027108AcNWjdq5cNl http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b6cf38b3127cce98548512e4ab00000027108AcNWjdq5cNl My hubby and I are MAJOR "Shrek" movie fans and yes, we own both. Don't even have any little ones to use as an excuse for ownership. There's a story behind "why" it's our favorite that I shared with Lynda, but I won't bore all of you with it. If you're interested the complete photo album is here: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcNWjdq5cNmcV Lynda, I had a WONDERFUL time with you, girlfriend. Our final night and dinner with your son was a wonderful way to end a fantastic week. Hey, guess what? True to my word, I did NOT weigh in till this morning and "we" worked/walked 3 pounds OFF my backside!!!!! Of course, the 5 hours and 42 Hefty bags of leaves later that I raked just from the FRONT yard yesterday, mighta helped. [I'm too old for this ****! ...and will be taking a match to the back yard] Hope the photo links work, if not, I'll be back to edit this thread. .

Hi Lei, great pictures!! I was hoping you would post them. Sounds like you and Lynda had an absolutely fantastic time. You guys looked cute in your pitures, I liked the matching outfits that one day (white pants blue top!). I'm glad you're doing so much Lei, while Paul is gone, -- sort of keeps you occupied and out of trouble, right!! Thanks again for sharing, and I'm glad you had so much fun. I thought of you this week wondering how you were doing. love donna

Hello girlfriend!!!!! You're one of the FEW to catch the "twinkie" outfits from our day at Universal. Trust me, it was NOT planned, although I have to wonder if maybe Lynda was sneaking a peek at the clothes I'd pulled out and immediately ran to change her's to match? Yah yah, that's prolly what happened. It's funny, the rest of the week, we pretty much warned each other what we'd planned on wearing - just in case. LOL, figure we'd more then outgrown the days of trying to wear what your sister or best friend was wearing, right? You're pretty perceptive, my friend. I'm thinkin' your kids got away with NOTHING when they were younger? lol Speaking of staying busy and out of trouble (lol, boy do I have you fooled, hehehe) ...we still need to plan for a good weekend/day that I can come out that way and crash your private world for a bit. We owe Sharon a trip out to "Frednecksville" too, figured we could try and do both trips at the same time? How far are you from Fredricksburg? Maybe after we get through the Holidays - although I have nothing "super" planned, I suspect Wendy prolly needs to stay local to be near her sons and hubby. How are you doing? How's the recovery coming along? I'm hoping 7 weeks into it, that you're starting to find your energy again, minus all the discomfort and pain. Love you bunches - Lei

Thanks for sharing Lei -- I am so mad that the timing didn't work out that I could of joined you and Lynda for this adventure. I absolutely love Universals Islands of Adventure, and have never been to Busch Gardens! Next time give me more notice, and I'm there with you girls!!!! That having been said, it turned out to be a pretty special weekend for Gene and I after all. With his birthday being on Friday, and mine being tommorrow, he planned a romantic weekend for us to celebrate. We rented a cabin on a lake in the Poconos with a roaring fireplace, and proceeded to have a lovely time! Read between the lines. Even the neighboring ducks were laughing with us! See you guys in January. Hugs, Nannette

G'morning Nannette!! Im sorry we couldn't work out the schedules too, the more the merrier, although trust me, Lynda truly is a "turbo mode" kinda chicklet. Of course the upside to having BOTH of you there, you could have switched out pushing the wheelbarrow that my lazy butt (and blistering feet) woulda slumped into. I swear, my son had a new level of "respect" for his momma when I told him we'd gone through 6 HUGE parks in 3 days - especially when I put it into perspective for him and told him that OUR Busch Gardens here was about half the size of the Busch Gardens out in FL. Gave "big" a whole new scope/meaning to him, which just elevated his momma to "Triathlon" like status. I'm so glad that you and Gene had such a special weekend together - although you woulda' had a blast with Lynda and I, we couldn't have given you quite the same memories, lol. (specially since I DID "read between the lines"). See you in January, it's a for sure, our room is already booked (Wendy, Susan E and I are going to be room-mates ...lol, I bet David's going to want a big "security deposit" on our room, huh? Hugs - Lei

You guys look really cute!

Suzy!?!?!?!?!? How the hell are you??? We (Lynda and I) actually brought your name up while I was in FL, both of us MISSING you and wondering how you were doing! Hey? I'm going to make this real SHORT, cause I havent a clue if you'll even get it or read it, but PLEASE write to me and let me know how you're doing? I sent several emails to you at the "junque" account (over the last year or so) but NEVER heard back from you. Didn't know if the email had changed or you'd never gotten them (cause I know you would NOT purposely ignore sweet lil ol me, right?). Anyway - I miss you, worry about you, and want to hear from you - so WRITE me!!!!!! *** pretty please) lol Oh, and YES, I still have the same gazillion email addresses, pick one, anyone and it'll make it over to me - including the one 'tabbed' on this post with OH.

Suzy--wow, great to "see" you! How the heck are you? I have thought about you often. I sent an email a while ago--but never heard from you, so I figured your e-mail must have changed. As Lei said we were talking about you during our trip--only good things of course. I hope things are okay with you. Please just send an update at least to let us know how you are. I thought I would let you know--your chocolate addiction--I have discovered chocolate martinis. Bad, bad, bad! Honestly--they have become my hot button. I have found something that does help with the chocolate thing though--Blue bunny healthy smart fudgcicles. They are big and only 50 calories--and creamy. The key (for me at least)is to only have one per day! Take care and really good to see that you still are around and checking in occasionally.