Pre-Ragnar Florida Visiting
As I mentioned earlier, I headed to Florida for a few days before the Ragnar Relay Florida Keys event to visit family and friends, gain some quality "cat time,*" and shop for team supplies. On Tuesday, Chris dropped me at the airport on his way to a day of engineering interviews at ASU**. Since he had to be there at 7:30 and my plane didn't leave until 10:10, I had ample time to visit the new Four Peaks Brewpub in Terminal 4.
After boarding my flight, I had a good chunk of time to work on feedback for my current class, and I was able to accomplish all of it while aboard the plane. Add the wifi connection on my Southwest flight, and everything was published for Week 5 before I hit the east coast! Huzzah! I had an uneventful set of flights (connecting through Houston Hobby) and made it to Tampa around 5:30pm EST.
My brother Jim picked me up from the airport and graciously ferried me and my crap (seriously, my suitcase was bulging at the seams with safety vests, head lamps, nutrition, a fuzzy bear hoodie, and - oh yeah - just a few actual clothes. BUT I MADE IT ALL FIT) to Mom's house, despite feeling like death warmed over.
After a quick change at Mom's, she and I headed to dinner at the Cafe Carmel with one of my earliest*** friends, Sarah. I haven't seen her in far, far too long, so it was wonderful to catch up, reminisce, and laugh our collective butts off.
After dinner, it was back to Mom's house for a quick survey of her supply closet ("how many extra rolls of tp do you have? Can we have all of them?") then to bed.
We woke up on Wednesday and headed to the Dunedin Causeway for some morning fitness. One of the reasons I miss living in this area:
Back to Mom's to clean up, then time to shop! Although we pared back the grocery and supply list this year, we still had quite a few things to obtain, so we spent most of the day running between Sam's, WalMart, Walgreens, and Publix.
We did manage to stop at one of my favorite hometown spots, the Galley, for a most overdue Greek salad.
After the epic shopping trip, we headed back to Mom's house to start putting everything together. I made the traditional GORP/trail mix:
Jim and his printing shop came through big-time for us when it came to our van decals - they looked amazing!
After enjoying a nice, homemade pasta dinner with Mom, Jim, and Leigh (and my neph-dog Pavlov!), I headed to bed, knowing I needed to rest up for the travel day looming before us...
To be continued!
Later!
Amy
* Chris is really allergic to cats, hence the distinct lack of them at our house. I love my dogs, but I really enjoy visiting cats when I get a chance.
** OMG, I know. Can you even imagine?
*** I won't say oldest, because I don't want to comprehend the fact that we've now known each other longer than we haven't know each other. Yeesh.
Yes, it's before 8am.
No, I don't see a problem here.
After boarding my flight, I had a good chunk of time to work on feedback for my current class, and I was able to accomplish all of it while aboard the plane. Add the wifi connection on my Southwest flight, and everything was published for Week 5 before I hit the east coast! Huzzah! I had an uneventful set of flights (connecting through Houston Hobby) and made it to Tampa around 5:30pm EST.
My brother Jim picked me up from the airport and graciously ferried me and my crap (seriously, my suitcase was bulging at the seams with safety vests, head lamps, nutrition, a fuzzy bear hoodie, and - oh yeah - just a few actual clothes. BUT I MADE IT ALL FIT) to Mom's house, despite feeling like death warmed over.
And I thought I'd need the Airborne for the plane...
Plague monkey.
After a quick change at Mom's, she and I headed to dinner at the Cafe Carmel with one of my earliest*** friends, Sarah. I haven't seen her in far, far too long, so it was wonderful to catch up, reminisce, and laugh our collective butts off.
Sarah and I
Like a fine wine, only growing better with age
After dinner, it was back to Mom's house for a quick survey of her supply closet ("how many extra rolls of tp do you have? Can we have all of them?") then to bed.
We woke up on Wednesday and headed to the Dunedin Causeway for some morning fitness. One of the reasons I miss living in this area:
Cloudy, but still gorgeous
Back to Mom's to clean up, then time to shop! Although we pared back the grocery and supply list this year, we still had quite a few things to obtain, so we spent most of the day running between Sam's, WalMart, Walgreens, and Publix.
First Ragnar blood was drawn at Sam's
Hooray, supplies!
We did manage to stop at one of my favorite hometown spots, the Galley, for a most overdue Greek salad.
Nomnomnomnom
After the epic shopping trip, we headed back to Mom's house to start putting everything together. I made the traditional GORP/trail mix:
Woah! That's a lotta GORP!
Note Taira's alligator snacks in the back...
And Mom's cat Lily helped with the decorations
Jim and his printing shop came through big-time for us when it came to our van decals - they looked amazing!
EPIC.
After enjoying a nice, homemade pasta dinner with Mom, Jim, and Leigh (and my neph-dog Pavlov!), I headed to bed, knowing I needed to rest up for the travel day looming before us...
To be continued!
Later!
Amy
* Chris is really allergic to cats, hence the distinct lack of them at our house. I love my dogs, but I really enjoy visiting cats when I get a chance.
** OMG, I know. Can you even imagine?
*** I won't say oldest, because I don't want to comprehend the fact that we've now known each other longer than we haven't know each other. Yeesh.
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