Day 474 - Fasting with Food & JULIA!

Today was our fasting day. But Chandler & I wanted to visit the Raw Kitchen at some point in the week. We decided that since tomorrow is Greek day (hummus!) and Friday is pizza, we ought to go tonight. Additionally, it’s fasting day, so if we went tonight, we wouldn’t miss out on a (paid) meal. Yes, we would sabotage our fast slightly, but we’ll still be doing our bodies a favour by having a raw meal.

To top off tonight’s adventure to the Raw Kitchen, my friend, Julia, was coming to see me! Yay! I worked with Julia on the Star in the Med. We fell in love with footwear together! She lives several hours north of West Palm Beach & was up for a culinary adventure, so she met Chandler & I at HHI & we drove in her car to the Raw Kitchen.

It was absolutely WONDERFUL to see her! Poor Chandler didn’t really get many words in, as we were reminiscing about the ‘good ol’ days’ & talking travel like there’s no tomorrow! How I’ve missed her!

Of course, we had some delicious food while we conversed… Julia enjoyed the house salad, Chandler had Nori Rolls & I had the Mac Daddy. (see photos below) And we enjoyed dessert. Raw dessert! Whoo hoo! We visited for about 3.5 hours & then it was time to go. I knew that she still had a long drive to get home, but I certainly didn’t want to say goodbye!

I know we’ll keep in touch via Facebook & Skype, but it’s just not the same as a face-to-face chat… Big hugs Miss Julia! Miss you already!

xxxxMaria

I love this frame hanging in the sunshine.

Nori rolls

The spread

Mac Daddy (oooh with eggplant pancetta!)

House salad

Mac Daddy from above

Chandler & the Nori Rolls

Julia & the house salad

Yours truly & the Mac Daddy

The three of us!

Day 118 - Update Coming!

Exhausted. Not Packed. Sick as a dog. Will write more. Off to Mexico. xxxx Maria & Valentina


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Today was packing day. I didn't know if I'd ever see the end! I woke up to a Winter Wonderland & was instantly grateful that I'd been to town the day before. I had a brief Skype chat with Talia, Nico's girlfriend, who is now lonely & stuck on the ship without her boyfriend. Nico was sent home to South Africa to heal & their future lies slightly uncertain, with regards to what will happen when Nico is fit to work again. Same ship, different ships, Manager position or back to Assistant. Nico has been Assistant Manager for 5 years now. More than long enough to justify a Manager position! 


Anyhow, to the packing slog it is... I wanted to use my carry-on & my smaller bag. Right. Valentina's stuff alone filled the bigger bag! Such a tiny creature & so much stuff! Mom later rummaged through it & eliminated a few toys. I went through it again & managed to put her stuff into the carry-on bag. 


My stuff, on the other hand, was another story. It was difficult to pick out clothing. Nothing fits, as I'm still 'Little Miss Pudge'. Surprisingly, I didn't pack that much clothing. (Yes, it's true!) Once I started adding toiletries, hair dryer, flat iron, & the supplements. Oh the supplements! That is pretty much a bag in itself! I asked Mom if she'd be willing to take a 2nd bag for me, but no was the answer. Whatever shall I do? Hmm... I know! I will put the carry on bag inside the other BIGGER bag! Ha! Problem solved! Now I have space around the edges for all my supplements & as I use them up, I'll have room for the new ones I'll get while I'm down there! Genius! Well, almost. Now both bags are huge & heavy! Oh well... I'll worry about it when I'm at the airport!


Exhausted from a day of packing & organizing & sorting & shuffling, I crashed about 2330. Tomorrow is a big day. Doctor's appointments & acupuncture & another Yuen treatment, prayers & then the night at Lawrence's so he could take us to the airport in the morning.


Wish me luck, I'm sure I'll need it. Sleep well & see you soon!!! 
Maria & Valentina
xxxxx

Ol' Man Winter ain't gone yet!

It's so pretty! (from inside the house!)