Angie and I took a mid-day flight from Seattle and ended up there a couple of hours before Cami and Stephanie, who'd left Olympia a couple hours before us due to airplane trouble. We got checked in and walked to Sea Port Village until Cami and Stephanie got in. We rode the trolley back to the hotel which was great. We joined Nancy and others for dinner at McCormick and Schmicks in the hotel lobby. After dinner, Angie and I checked out a bar across the street. It was a very nice place even though it is called a Saloon. Before heading back to the room, we checked out a roof-top bar we'd been told about (I was planning to walk all the way across town to show everyone the roof-top bar at the W when we found out there was one right across the street at the Hard Rock Hotel.) It had a lot of comfy seating and several fire pits. We decided to come back the next night for drinks and dancing!Cami and I planned to go running on Friday morning and Stephanie said she'd come along also. We were able to talk Angie into going with us so Steph and Angie walked while Cami and I ran most of the time. It was so wonderful to be out in the sunshine and fresh air! San Diego has a lot of paths set up for walking and running with beautiful trees, water features and flowers everywhere. Angie and I couldn't get over how many flowers were blooming - in January! :)
Jen had arrived, so we waited for her to check in and then went to lunch. We found a fabulous place not far from the hotel with outdoor seating called Rock Bottom Lobster. Most of us had a bowl with steak, chicken and shrimp. The shrimp especially were just amazing and there was enough left over from all of us to feed Toni when she got in. We then all walked to the mall and ended up at Macy's. I tried on some cute clothes and then Cami and I saw it... a beautiful sage green dress with spaghetti straps, beaded bodice, lace at the bottom with more beads, and a lace and beaded back. It was so gorgeous, but looked half our size - and it was the only one. I just couldn't put it back on the rack and decided to look at the tag to see if there was any way of fitting into it. It is actually my current size, so I tried it on. I found my Convention dress for July! I fits now and we all laughed at how many times before July I'll have to take it in. I plan to wait so I only have to take it in once. ;)
Just before the convention started, everyone on Tami's team (a fourth of the attendees) posed for a photo. Notice the Omni Dome and palm trees behind us. :)Ryan and I texted back and forth on Thursday, but I didn't get to see him and Michael until Friday when the convention started. I decided to wear my 'hair' and got so many compliments I wore it all weekend.
Friday night a few of us went out to the roof-top bar. Thankfully my dance partner, Cindy, came with us. :) We see each other about twice a year and try to go dancing together at least once each time. My new rep and friend Kim from Oregon joined in the fun, too.After this weekend, I realized how much personal growth I've experienced in the last few months - really the last three and a half years. I am learning to like myself, be as tolerant of myself as I am my friends and feel so much more present. Others commented how much more comfortable I seem being open emotionally. What is now clear to me is there are still some areas of my life where I am emotionally shut down. That and my fitness will be the focus of my 'work' this year...
