The Tastes of Success :)

Taste of Success 1: We had somewhere between 60-70 people at our BBQ (depending on what time it was) which was a wonderful number. All of the meat came out great...best ribs I've ever eaten, tenderest brisket, and our turkey legs were awesome!

Taste of Success 2: All that tanning DID help because, despite all of the time I spent in the sun yesterday and today, I'm not burned. Normally, had I spent that many hours in the sun, I'd have been fried to the point of calling in sick from the pain - and I actually have had to do that once, about a year ago (hm...maybe that was last year's BBQ, I don't remember). So, I'm very pleased about that. We had the best of intentions of wearing SPF45 sun block all weekend to prevent burn and to protect our existing tans and not get lines, but it just didn't happen. There was too much going on at all times to even think about it.

Taste of Success 3: Almost all of the people that haven't seen me since I started my diet commented and told me how great I looked and I just ate it up. Although I find out that Scott has been bragging to everyone about how much I lose here and there, so it wasn't really a surprise to anyone like I had hoped. Still, it was soooooooo good to hear the compliments. I ran around very comfortably in short shorts and a halter top yesterday, and wore shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top today. I only recall being self-conscious about my body once, when I realized I was sitting hunched over and my stomach looked huge. Needless to say, I sat straight up immediately, and made a point to be aware of my posture after that. Six months ago, I would have first of all NOT dressed like that, and secondly, wouldn't have had the confidence that goes along with it.

Taste of Success 4: I discovered that my body really, really can't handle that kind of food anymore. The only greens I saw the whole weekend were the trees and the grass, and the closest I came to a fruit was drinking Peach Absolut and banana wine. I paid dearly. My body rejected all that greasy meat just as rapidly as it could manage....which was pretty quick, let me tell ya. I look forward to starting fresh tomorrow, and I'm actually craving a salad.

(I'm afraid to get on the scale after all that, but I know it's only temporary.)

Taste of Success 5: Between my divorce and subsequent marriage, I've always spent holidays with my ex's family (It drives my ex's girlfriend crazy, but oh well). These people have been my family for 20 years...in a real, healthy world, relationships of that long should not be severed, just because you divorce. After Scott and I met, the family and I didn't see any reason for the relationship to change. Scott and my son-in-law both didn't get it at first, because they came from homes where when you divorce, you hate each other and fight over the kids and property and God forbid you actually have to see them in public. Ick...not what I wanted for my kids, thank you very much. Occasionally, especially on Christmas and July 4th - the two big days in the family - we are all together. Scott now gets it, and has come to appreciate it for what it is.

This weekend, my ex-father-in-law and my ex-brother-in-law and his wife all came to the BBQ. More importantly, my ex-father-law came over to the site and spent the entire day with us, helping and talking and enjoying himself. He lives just 5 minutes from the campground, so if we needed anything, he went and got it. The BBQ would have been a much more difficult thing without him, and I thank you Jeff, should you ever make it to this site and read this entry. I love you and appreciate the love and support that I've received from you and Betty over the years, thank you for making my life a better place to be ;)

Ah...life in Texas - it's a good thang.