Day one-Evening

Wow! We actually did almost everything we wanted to do in San Antonio the very first day out!  Why not push it to the limit?  We went back to the hotel to swim!

First we took advantage of the Drury's popcorn and soda fountain.  Natalie and Harrison ran up to the balcony and got the supplies while Mike and I lounged in the leather furniture in the lobby in the cool air conditioning.  Have I mentioned that I really love that place?

Then we went up to our room to change for a swim.  I wasn't crazy about swimming before dinner because I didn't want to redo my hair for dinner, but I hardly felt anyone else in the family would see my logic as they all have easy care hair!

The pool area was fabulous on top of the roof.  There was a great view too.  But....it was way crowded.  Bummer.  The sun is so intense, I was worried that our tender white skin might be frying despite the sunblock.  I tried to skirt the splashing kids, trying to keep my brown football helmet of a hairdo from getting wet.  I did not score any points in this department.  However, people watching was a fun game.  I rarely get tired of people watching.  There were four middle aged women (Now that I am 40, I consider 50 to be middle aged!) lounging by the pool putting on airs.  So I played my "Make up a story" about them.  They were all trying to "outdo" each other in how cool they could be despite their age.  They were drinking cocktails, sporting flashy swimsuit cover-ups ( I noticed that everyone in Texas was wearing sequins and glitter clothes!), and big hair. 

I tolerated all the little ankle biters splashing around for a half an hour then coaxed my family out of the water.  We dried, changed, and headed out for dinner at the Drury. 

I made a dinner of lettuce, ranch, and chicken fingers.  Not a bad dinner out when dieting......but I won't tell you that I also ate a smidgen of mac and cheese, baked potato with toppings, and cream of broccoli soup.  I won't mention several Cokes....... The kids loaded up on mac and cheese and hot dogs, since I had hardly fed them that poison for over 4 months, since I was dieting.

The highlight of Mike's meals at the Drury were how many cocktails he could score.  The Drury gives you a complimentary card for 3 drinks for each adult each night.  So Mike was creatively bringing a selection of different drinks back to the table to sample, things we had never tried before.  I have never been someone who ever thought alcohol was a good idea, but in the past couple of years, we have been trying different wines and studying the process that makes each wine unique.  So sampling the cocktails was a sort of extension of wine tasting.  :)  I wish I had photos of the cocktails, but alas, I never remember to take food photos until the food has been partially drunk and eaten.  I think I am too eager to eat!

Back to the comfy room, we watched some new dramas on TV.  While most people wouldn't find this much of a vacation, for people who don't have cable, this is a high time!  Mike and I left the kids to watch a show, while we went to the exercise room and did a few miles on the treadmill.  This was essential to my diet as I had really blown it at dinner. 

For a family who never cuts corners, we rarely eat out, I do my own laundry and cleaning, don't have T.V. cable or fancy exercise equipment, staying in a nice hotel is a fabulous vacation in its own right!