{Inspired}

Have you ever heard of Iron Girl? Well we had our first of three Iron Girl Triathlons in Syracuse this weekend and it was AMAZING. I cried throughout the event because it was just beautiful to see all of these women, of all ages (14-70), sizes, abilities; unite and take on a triathlon. I wish I did it, but I was so glad that I was there to just support my co-workers/friends who did it and help with the media. It was a 800 meter swim in open water, 18 miles bike ride, and a 5 k run. So it was a triathlon sprint. There were cancer survivors, sisters, friends, daughters - you name it. It was just awesome. There are Iron Girl events around the country - so if you can do one - do it. http://www.irongirl.com/ has all the info. So it will be coming back to our city for the next two years and I plan on doing it next time! Here are some pictures from the event.

The swim.

Running with her kids to the finish line. So touching. Again, I cried. :o)

My co-workers! Woo Woo! That's my roomie on far left.

So Iron Girl started at 7 a.m. yesterday morning so I was up early yesterday and afterwards was my annual family reunion. That was a good time, too. The BF came with me and got to meet ever more of my family.

So, back to work, but I wanted to share what an Inspiration Iron Girl was this weekend!

-Dining Diva

Fantastic Friday

What the heck am I doing going on here and reading your blogs and blogging myself?! Work has and is crazy busy and to escape and hope to hurdle my brain fart, here I am. I'm looking for distraction from writing copy and more copy. I'm actually working on the Fall Visitor Guide and it kind of stinks that it's July and I'm thinking about cool crisp air and apple picking.

Don't get me wrong; I love all fall activities, but I would like to enjoy some summer lovin' first. And this summer is the worst weather, ever! It doesn't even feel like summer. Ugh! I wonder where I will be next year? If still here, or in another city. I know that I really don't want to go through another winter here in Central New York, but I will be. But maybe it will be my last.

I don't really know what will happen with the BF but I really love him so I hope that our relationship just moves along and everything stays as fabulous as it has been. But he is pretty much planning on leaving the area eventually, or at least his current place of work. He is also interested in moving down south and being near the ocean and palm trees and all of those good things, too. So that is a plus. But I don't know. . .just thinking about the future makes me nervous. I am not usually one to think too much about the future and I'm not a great planner. I like to live my life day by day, but I kind of am curious to know what's going to happen. But all of this thinking came about because my current roomie (whom I love!) mentioned to me that she plans on moving out at the end of the year to move to a big city and be young and get a cool job. I was like, ahhh. I don't ever want to move out of our apartment because I love it so much. But she is like, "oh well I just assumed you'd be living with the BF" and I was like, huh? I wasn't thinking that. I really wasn't even thinking about it. But then I was thinking, "oh crap. where will the bf even be living?"
So I asked him and he told me not to worry about it and he's not going to just move and leave me.


















Ugh. I feel like a needy girl, which by the way, I am not. But I guess I must really love him if I'm concerned about this already. Well, he better get applying for jobs in fun locations and figure it out so I can figure it out. I think he wants to work in a practice at a VA hospital or on a military base at first to confirm that he likes the area, before he thinking about buying his own practice or whatever. That would be quite the investment to change your mind about. . .But then again, I don't want to plan my life around his life. That isn't really fair either. Hmm. . .so I don't really know what I'm saying. I think I'll just keeping it a day at a time and see what happens. I think I need a drink. Thank goodness it's the weekend!

-Dining Diva

Totally Tuesday

I don't have too much exciting to report, so I tried to use some alliteration in the title to spice up the post. :o) So, it's just a regular old Tuesday in the summer except it doesn't really feel like the summer! This has been the coldest weather - ever! I'm getting ready to move south - seriously.

I've been car-less since last night because my signal blinkers broke and I had to take my Jeep into the shop. The guy from there just called me to report that the problem is fixed - it just took a $2 light bulb - however, I owe them $130! As if. Would they make a guy pay that. He said it was a lot of work to put it in and take the dashboard apart. I'll just pay it I suppose- I need my car back! But this is a motivator to get a move on my car hunt. I want to sell my Jeep because it's rear wheel drive and that is unacceptable in the horrible winters that we have. I bought it in Florida and it just doesn't fly in New York. So I'm thinking about leasing the Nissan Rouge or the VW Jetta. I need to test drive them. Researching cars and getting a good deal is so not fun for me.

This weekend we have the Iron Girl Triathlon coming to our city. A couple of the girls that I work with are doing it (I should be too! but I am a slacker). So my roommate is one of those girls and I am so proud of them all! They are busy training this week. I don't know what I'll do for exercise tonight because I just quit my gym membership for the summer. Probably I"ll just run outside.

This is a boring post - I'm sorry.

Hopefully something exciting will happen and I can tell you about it.

-Dining Diva

Perfect Summer Escape

Who would have known how fabulous Cape May, NJ is?! I was totally blown away by how much I loved the cute Cape town. It was such a fun time with the BF. We did so much and also were able to just chill out, lay in the sun, swim, and relax! I also loved renting our beach cruizer bikes and riding around the Cape to explore. The roads are flat, so that made for fun bike riding. We rode to the Cape May Lighthouse and what a great view we had from the top of the lighthouse! The weather was perfect, too! 85 degrees and sunny! And the seafood was out of this world! I had so much delicious seafood including, grilled tuna steak, crab & artichoke dip, mahi mahi, sea bass, shrimp scampi, swordfish, mmm ...it was all so good! Here are some pics!

We saw probably over 100 dolphins on both our dolphin/whale watch, and just laying on the beach! I love the dolphin - but they are so fast - that by the time I took the picture - they were already under water.

That's the Cape May Lighthouse that we climbed - all 199 steps - and the view was spectacular!

-Dining Diva

{Hello Vacation!}

I've been a bad blogger lately! Sorry for my MIA. Did I mention that on my Ottawa media blitz I met with a few bloggers, and have actually invited them here to experience our city and blog about it. What a great way to have an all expense paid trip! I'd be happy to travel for free and write about it. :o)

Speaking of travelling, the BF and I are leaving for Cape May, NJ tomorrow morning for a mini-summer vacation. I'm excited! I've been looking at Cape May Web sites and the little town looks so cute and fun. Hopefully I'll have some great pics to share with you.

Last night, That's Sassy! met me for a walk at a park and then came over to my new apartment for the first time. I missed her (you)! We also exchanged long over-due birthday gifts with each other. She gave me the nicest gifts - a best friends book and a Darling Diva body lotion. I love both, but especially the book! That was so special. We have been friends since forever and will be.

What else. . .oh! The 4th of July was a great weekend. I had Friday off, so I ran some errands and then went home to the parent's house to spend the day at the lake. Then the BF came over after work (he had to work! that was crappy) and we spent the night at my parents. Then Saturday we went time on the lake and then went to his friend's 4th party at his house on another lake. It was really nice. Then we watch two sets of fireworks and came back to his place. Then! We went back to my parents for a gorgeous day on the boat on Sunday and then came home. It was a lot of water time, which I love. I must say though, this is the least amount of partying and bar time ever for a summer. I think since I've moved out of "the beach" I have had less desire to party it up. And maybe because I'm busy loving up the BF, I am no longer "on the prowl" which would typically describe my partying goals. :o) A girl's always got to look.

So tonight I'll got to Wegmans and get some groceries to bring on our vaca so we can make breakfast and lunch and bring to the beach and then have fabulous dinners out. Apparently, many of the restaurants in Cape May are BYOB, so I have to bring some alcohol and wine, too. I actually bought a bottle of Sangria yesterday...Who knew you could buy bottled sangria?

Wishing everyone a fantastic Thursday and weekend!

Dining Diva

P.S. If anyone would like to stay at at downtown Pittsburgh hotel tomorrow night, I have one for you! I used Priceline.com and bid on the wrong dates for a hotel room (I'm an idiot, I Know. . .) and once your bid is accepted, you can't get out of it! So if you want to take a random trip to the 'Burgh, let me know!

{Hello, Holiday Weekend!}

I feel like I have been on a whirlwind lately. I left early Monday morning for my Kingston/Ottawa media blitz for work and got back late Tuesday night. Then I was pooped last night (no gym) and got home from work, put on some lazy clothes, and went over to the BF's for dinner. He made grilled chicken salads with watermelon and Wegman's amazing garlic bread. It was tasty. Then I had to get blood work this morning, so I had to pass on the ice cream sundaes later on, due to fasting. I should think about fasting for a week. That would slim me down. Anyways, my media blitz was pretty stressful, but it all went well. I actually had three tv interviews, one taped and two live. The first one I was terrified for. I just don't like too much attention, and having the video camera on me freaks me out. This doesn't make sense, as I went to school for broadcast journalism. Anyways, then my Tuesday morning interview was really fun. It was on the morning news program and I can't wait to see it. I did enjoy exploring Ottawa - it really is a fantastic city! I also had some gelato while there. It was AMAZING.

Now at work, we just had my belated birthday celebration. It was nice. We all had ice cream cups.

I met my mom at the mall for lunch today. We went to Ruby Tuesdays. I like the salad bar there. And for just $1 more, you can get two mini sliders and french fries! Mmm!!

So we have tomorrow off - thank goodness! Then I can't wait to relax this weekend. The BF and I have three July 4th options at this point. All, fortunately, include boating and water. So I'm not sure where we'll end up, but I'm looking forward to our first fourth of July together. Should be fun! Also, I have been on some antibiotics lately and haven't been able to drink. but I'm good to go starting tomorrow - so I'm looking forward to some festive drinks this weekend!

Ok - well back to work. But wanted to catch up and say hello!

-Dining Diva

Hello, Weekend!

Greetings!

I love Fridays. And not working. Good thing the weekend is almost here!

So I'm going back to my hometown tonight to support my dad. He's the high school principal and tonight will be his last graduation ceremony. He recently was hired as the Superintendent, so after nearly 15 years at the high school, tonight he will say goodbye. So, I wanted to be there.

Then tomorrow is the BF's mom's birthday. So . . .I still am figuring out what I can do special for her. I was thinking about making strawberry shortcake, but I would have to make the biscuits tonight. I might just do that. Then we have Jazz Fest to go to...Kenny G will be here! I actually have two VIP tickets and am bringing the BF. I am looking forward to it! I hope the weather cooperates!

That's really all of my plans at this point. I would like to get some sun and exercise, too.

***
Then on Monday, I have to pick up a rental car and drive to Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario for work. I actually have three live TV interviews scheduled at this point. I'm nervous. I don't mind being interviewed, I just get scared and my mind goes blank and I'm afraid I won't have all of the answers. I'm basically just promoting a destination - so I should chill out. But they always ask questions about international travel and currency exchange rates - and I never know what to say. I'll keep my fingers crossed that I don't do badly!

Then I'll be back to work on Wed. and we have Friday off for July 4th! So it really is summertime! Then the BF and I will soon be leaving for Cape May, NJ. Lots to look forward to.

Alrighty, well wishing everyone a wonderful weekend and TGIF!

-Dining Diva