Some Got Wet ~ Some got Inked

Fortunately, our final full day in San Antonio was a GREAT one! We started off at Sea World where the kids participated in a Sea Lion Interaction Program. This really is a neat experience. The kids actually suit up just like the trainers, then go to the stage where the sea lion show is done. They get in the water, feed the sea lions and actually have hands-on time with them.

Here is Tyler (step-son) swimming with the Sea Lion ...

His girlfriend Sara ...

Delaney (step-daughter) ...

And Cam ...

They all had a wonderful time! In fact, two years ago they did a Sea World Beluga Whale Interaction and said they enjoyed the sea lion version much more as they got a lot more hands-on time with the sea lions.

Then, since I hadn't done much for myself this vacation, I decided a little Dana time was in order. Y'all have seen the ink on my back from my Baby's Got Back HNT, but here is a cropped version.


I've been wanting to get some additional work done on it - make the two tats look like one - maybe add another to the mix. Well, I jumped in with both feet last night and went to Platinum Tattoos & Body Piercing ... and look what they did!


I am absolutely thrilled! Not only did they fix the Iris, but they connected all the work making it look like one large piece. The orange flowers? Orange is Cam's favorite color and I decided it was time to give him a place of honor.

Today we head back to the home front - actually in about 3 hours. We'll be making a stop at Cheesy Jane's for a One Pounder challenge, then heading to the airport to (hopefully) make it home by 9PM!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

HNT - Sea World

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“When you can't make them see the light,
make them feel the heat.”
~ Ronald Reagan

*click*

This is probably the most difficult (and least creative) HNT I've done yet. I didn't have the privacy that I normally do - "vacationing" in a house full of 20+ people is a bit of a logistical nightmare - but I was able to steal a few moments without anyone even noticing. This first pic was actually taken at Sea World, while I was photographing some of the landscape shots. The second one? Clearly I found a bit of privacy for that one! Notice the special "girly" manicure my sister-in-law insisted I have. My toes even match - you'll have to trust me because I couldn't manage to get my toes into the picture!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sea World & Brisket

9:30AM - 83 degrees - 65% humidity. UGH!!

Oh the joys of being young! This was after our visit to Six Flags on Monday. The kids had been in the car talking about their next quest - the community swimming pool. They decided to just sit down for a few minutes to rest before making the 1 mile trek. Let's just say that they never made it!


Tuesday was a trip to Sea World. We got up early as we were going to spend most of our day in Lost Lagoon - the water park portion of Sea World. My sister-in-law has been working for Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks for 28 years and currently holds a VP position. Let's just say we get a bit spoiled when we visit Sea World.

Here is Cam, floating down the Lazy River. He spent most of his time in either the Lazy River or the wave pool.


The bald guy in the back of this photo is my brother-in-law, the guy with the farmer's tan? Yeah ... that would be the other grown-up who threw a little tantrum in the airport.


The rest of the kids (from left to right), Tyler (step-son), Paige (niece), Dakota (second cousin), Sara (Step-son's girlfriend), Delaney (step-daughter) and Kirk (nephew).


This is my sister-in-law (hub's sister) that has the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks connection. She really is the reason I am able to stay relatively sane on this trip. She and I have become the Margarita Queens. Wait ... does that mean it's really the tequila that is keeping me relatively sane??


Of course, the kids are most concerned about getting a tan. Those of us old folks over 30 know the consequences of such frivolous conquests!



Oh, I did get a bit artsy at Sea World. They really have some beautiful landscaping that is definitely photo worthy. Here are two of my favorite shots.




Having spent some time in San Antonio in the past, there are a few things that are "must do" - one of those is Rudy's Bar-B-Q - self proclaimed "Worst Bar-B-Q in Texas." I have to say that if there was one thing that would get me to move to Texas, it would be the Rudy's brisket (fatty side, of course)


We purchase it by the pound and always order a side of coleslaw (creamy). They serve it with a loaf of white bread, the kind that is so gooey it sticks to the back of your teeth when you bite into it! There is nothing better than throwing a few slabs of the brisket onto the white bread, adding a spoon full of slaw, dousing it with Rudy's Sause (yes, that's how they spell it) and then stuffing the succulent, artery clogging concoction into your mouth! This was dinner last night - YUMMMMMMM!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you can't take the heat, don't tickle the dragon

Someone tickled the dragon here in San Antonio - current temp at 5:30 PM? 97 degrees!! Thank goodness for water rides at Six Flags Fiesta Texas!! I got a little wet today. I'd have taken some pics, but I didn't wear the white tank-top!

Trip out here was interesting. We got to the airport only to find that our flight from Chicago to Memphis had been delayed long enough that we were not going to be able to catch our connecting flight to San Antonio. See this storm? It wrecked havoc on flights in and out of Chicago. Solution? Rebook.

We were able to bitch loud enough politely ask that we be rebooked on another airline rather than wait until the following day to complete the trip. We got to the airport at 3:30 and were finally able to start boarding the plane to head to San Antonio at 9:20PM, arriving just after midnight. I'll admit, the kids were amazing - rarely complaining and genrally being troopers! Too bad the other adult on this trip wasn't as well behaved.

When we finally got into San Antonio, we grabbed our bags, picked up a rental car, and finally arrived at our destination just before 2AM. Ten hours later we were waiting in line for water rides at Six Flags!

Tomorrow? Sea World! I'll see if I can't get a lovely shot with Shamu! If not, I bet I can get a pic or two of penguin poop!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~