TerriDoodle

Good Morning Vi's!! I just recently subscribed to this daily motivational email from M.J. Ryan who is one of my favorite authors, esp. regarding making positive changes.... This is today's email and is basically a short synopsis of her book, "This Year I Will..." and there's a huge message here. Ever find yourself thinking one thing and doing something altogether contradictory? Like "I should work on my project" and then turn the TV on? We're all a mass of contradictions, particularly when it comes to the things we think we "should" do. It's because we really have two brains. One is our emotional brain, which we share will all mammals. It only understands "pleasant" or "painful," and "safe" or "danger," the patterns for which were created when we were very young. The other is our thinking brain, where we decide that we want to do something different. But depending on what it is, how it's presented, and what we've done in the past, our emotional brain may not cooperate. That's why we so often "sabotage" ourselves—our emotional brain overrides what our thinking brain has decided in favor of immediate pleasure or perceived safety. That's why, to truly change, you've got to get your emotions on your side. We change not because it makes sense (I should go to the gym to be healthy), but by engaging our feelings (It's going to feel fabulous to be thinner.) If the change seems too scary, too hard, or no fun, your emotional brain is going to work against it. So how can you make this more fun? Engage your wanting self more? That's a key to success. -- MJ Ryan (Author of "This Year I Will...")

OK!! Obviously there is a story HERE!!! Spill it.

Well, they're NOT Violets, are they?! How could they possibly understand? My husband is amazed that there are girls coming from all over the country!!

Pamela - Can't you just drive to Ontario airport then fly into SA? I found this on www.orbitz.com $313 + $41 taxes & fees = $354 per person Depart Fri may 16 American Airlines 1264 7:40a from ONT Arrive Dallas 12:30 (no change of planes) Depart Dallas 1:15 Arrive San Antonio 2:20p Total duration: 4hr 40min ------------------------------------------ Return Mon, May 19 US Air #73 Departs SAT 3:25p, Arrive Phoenix 3:53p change planes (time between flights 55 mins) US Air 644 Departs Phoenix 4:48p Arrive Ontario 6:05p Total duration: 4hr 40min

Well the 1 mile walk to Gruene is not a 'good' walk...it's on a narrow, dusty road,in hot weather, with no sidewalk. We'll be taking the easy way! None of the rooms allow smoking, so that's not an issue. You can smoke outside on the porch and we'll be spending 90% of our time outdoors anyway! Kat - You're gonna LOVE the shopping in Gruene!! Right up your alley.

((((Tracy)))) Poor sweet baby!! She must feel terrible! ....but sooooo much better now that Mommy is here! When I'm sick...to this day...I still want my Mommy!!! DENISE!!! Woman, you look HOT!! Congrats on getting in the groove at the gym! I'm proud of you!! You definitely need to post that in the B&A thread! I decided just to take out my ticker....since I never have the pleasure of changing it!! Grrrrrr.

Speaking of shopping.... I forgot to mention (crazy ME) that there is a fantabulous outlet mall 20 miles away, just about a 30 minute drive. The website says that it was voted the 3rd best place to shop in the WORLD!! It really is excellent. I forget that not everyone has access to great shopping like I do here in Houston, so I take it for granted!! But if anyone would prefer to do that instead of toobin or moseying around in Gruene, I'm sure we could arrange that shopping trip on Saturday morning, too. I'd probably just let ya'll borrow my car and head up there. It's an easy drive, right up Hwy 35 to San Marcos....can't miss it. Here's a link Prime Outlets

For those of you craving warm weather, print out this picture and just hang on 'til May!!! This is the beautiful Guadalupe River....and some folks having a grand time...

Mazie?? how does it look for you?

If you have a pink cowgirl hat, by all means you should bring it...but only if you have pink boots & belt to match! LOL I just realized that the pics of the B&B don't look all that great....the landscape looks so blah. This complex is actually about 1 mile down the road from Gruene, and within a mix of oak trees and pasture land. Very Texas-like! As you approach the town of Gruene, it gets greener (no pun intended) because you approach the river, obviously. We'll have to drive down there when we're ready to go, but there's plenty of parking and we should only have to make that little trek a couple of times. Oh, and the real beauty of this whole thing is that it's completely, massively casual....T-shirts and capris or shorts and flip flops. If you dress any fancier you'll look like a tourist!! LOL Can't have that! Jenn - I can't imagine that you'd spend that much in cash unless you're gonna buy a boatload of T-shirts!! But I hear what you're saying...better too much than not enough.

Yes, that is your estimate total lodging cost, including Sun night in SA.

Pamela - I don't have any objection to Susanne coming along! Does anyone else?...or does that just open a whole 'nother can of worms?? By the way....believe it or not, the Gruene Mansion Inn is totally booked up that weekend. But they recommended Gruene Homestead Inn very highly...the one where they're already holding our rooms! We'd have the Rose Cottage and The Country House . They have a wonderful pool (pic below) and a tavern too! To give you a rough idea: lodging - $260-300 (total, taxes included) toobin - not sure...about $25 Gruene Hall (depends on who's playing) $10-30 Ghost Tour in S.A. (? LOL) - $15 Dinner/Drinks/Misc. - Anyone's guess! How's it looking so far??? I'll continue to chisel these numbers.... stay tuned

Yes, it's cute....but these pics do NOT do the place justice at all!! It's awesome! And right next door to the dance hall....you can sit on your porch and listen to the music! Way cool.

Judy, what airport? Detroit? Of course, you do what you need/want to do, but if it were me i would plan on going...and just watch the fares. Most likely they will go down 3-4 weeks before. It's a crap shoot, but that's one way you might be able to afford it....just wait it out. As far as losing deposits on hotels or whatever, that shouldn't be TOO much of a risk...maybe $100-150? Just sit tight for now. LAURA - Are you in, or still thinking about it (waiting for #'s)? I am getting REALLY excited planning this trip for you guys. I'll get to see parts of San Antonio that I've never seen before either.... Stay Tuned!!

I will call the Gruene Mansion Inn and get a firm handle on the rooming cost. Keep in mind that Haydee, TracyK (?) and I will be pitching in extra for the rooms since we aren't flying...so I'll figure out how that will work, too (somehow!). I did a quick look at hotels on the river in San Antonio and we have some choices to make. If we stay at a hotel like the Hyatt or the Hilton right ON the river, it'll be like 200 for Sunday night. If we stay a few blocks off, like at a 2-3 star hotel, it'll be like $140. I would say we go cheap, but it's ya'll's (yes, that's a word) vacation! Give me some time today and I will give you some firm numbers.

Hell Yeah!! Ya'll come on!!! We're ready for ya!

I'll be happy to be cruise director! I'll get a better handle on costs tomorrow and pass that along as I get the info. I'm working under the assumption that we're ok with 2 girls sharing a room as long as they don't have to share a bed, right? Of course, if you just want a private room that's no problem either...but you're looking at probably $175/night. Just keep that in mind. Oh, ya'll don't know how proud I would be to have ya'll come to Texas!! I think you'd have a great time!

OMG Tracy!!!! That is WONDERFUL!!!! You're coming!?!?! Michelle -- Glad to hear from you!!! Yea!!! Laura - I've never launched from this area of the river, so I'm not sure about the river-side bars...but there very well may be! We definitely will be taking an ice chest float with us...and if we run out of drinks, people bum from each other on the river. All you gotta do is show 'em some titties! LOL! I've got one B&B holding rooms for us for a few days, but there's a better one that I'm waiting to hear back from. Ideally we should stay at the Gruene Mansion Inn because that is smack dab middle of all the action and very cute. I'll talk to them tomorrow. Ya'll think I could get a headcount by early next week? Now that the holidays are over, the Hill Country will start to book up quick!

yeah, it's the same river...it just flows right through Gruene, so it makes it very convenient! You just walk down the road about 3 blocks, rent your toob and plop your butt in the river....away you go.

There is always the chance of some whitewater, but it's usually pretty gentle. It just depends on the condition of the river and previous week's weather and all that. In general I'd say you have to be a decent swimmer, but not strong. There are always people around to help you out if you get into trouble and wearing a life vest or a ring around your waist is an option....just not a comfortable one. In all the years I've been toobing, I've never, not once, been dumped out. If I have been, it's been in water that is ankle deep!

Oh, and yes, it's a lazy float down a slow-moving river (usually)

Laura...you haven't been reading, have you??! LOL Yes, temps are in the mid-upper 80's and you'd fly into San Antonio.

Haydee - Have you ever been to Gruene? How familiar with San Antonio are you? Do ya'll usually go toobin' in New Braunfels or where?

I'm NOT pushing for any one thing over another, so i want to make that clear! This is just an idea. I know Texas pretty darn well...lived here all my life...and Gruene is one of my favorite places to go. I realize Texas has a certain romantic appeal to some people and I just wanted to offer to 'host' this trip if it is something ya'll would like to do. I'm game for anything....really!!

Ok, this is my 'vision' of how this would go... First of all, I like San Antonio, but not for a whole weekend....there's just not that much to do there UNLESS you want to go to the Amusement Parks (Fiesta Texas and/or Sea World). I have friends that live there and am sure i could get the home-guided tour ideas of where to take you guys and what to do, but beyond the Riverwalk and the Alamo (which are in close proximity to each other) it's much like any other town. I am proposing that we go to Gruene, TX (pronounced "green"), but you'd fly into San Antonio. Haydee, Tracyk and I could each drive to San Antonio....giving us 3 cars! (Maybe since we don't have to pay airfare, we could pay more for the rooms?) We could all go to the San Antonio airport and wait for you guys to come in....maybe there'd be 2-3 shifts.... then we'd drive the 45 minutes or so to Gruene. Check into a bed and breakfast, hang out in Gruene for the night and get the lay of the land. Have a nice dinner, then relax on the porch. Saturday morning we'd get up, have breakfast and go toobin' on the river for 2-3 hours. We'd beat the college crowds and it would be very refreshing and relaxing. It's a hoot if you've never done it! Go back to the rooms, get cleaned up and have a late lunch. Then go shopping around Gruene and at the Market Days artisan fair...all of this is in short walking distance. Saturday night we could go to the Gruene Dance Hall....and if not there, then someplace in New Braunfels for some local 'color' (read: cowboys in tight jeans doin' some boot scootin') or whatever ya'll want to do. Sunday morning we get our act together, check out at noon then head over to the Riverwalk in San Antonio. We hopefully can get a hotel on the River and check in or at least store our bags. Head over to Market Square for some lunch in one of the oldest and most famous Tex-Mex restaurants in Texas. Then head over to the Alamo for a tour (you HAVE to do that, but it doesn't take long), then we could head down to the River Walk. You stop anywhere along the way for snacks, margaritas, listen to music, shop, etc. Cinco de Mayo celebrations may be going on, too...like all month?....that would be great timing! Colorful dancers and singers all up and down the river. Sunday night...uh...not sure what the best option would be. But we'd be in good shape to head out for the airports again on Monday morning or afternoon as needed for flight departures. Again, we'd have 3 cars so leaving in shifts if we needed to. Haydee, Tracy and I are only 3-4 hours away from home. If ya'll want to spend the whole weekend in San Antonio, we'd probably end up doing a lot more driving around going to the various attractions....but it's doable! We could also squeeze in a road trip to Luckenbach and Blanco. But road trips don't appeal to everyone.