Reed Family Review: Marathon week-end Part 2

After I got cleaned up it was time for some lunch. I had been looking forward to eating a steak after my race for weeks. My nephew Mason said "Aunt Terra can we go to McDonalds for lunch?" I am NOT a McDonalds person. If I am going to eat fastfood, McDonalds is way way down on my list of places to stop. I realized going to a steak house was probably going to be pretty boring for the boys, so we compromised. While flipping through the restaurant binder in the hotel room I noticed an ad for the Rainforest Cafe. A fun place for the kids that was bound to have some steak for me. After making a mad dash for the cars in the torrential downpour, we were off. Jared accidently parked on the opposite side of a very long, very large, very long mall. My unstretched legs were protesting by the time we reached the Rainforest Cafe. The boys were excited to go in and were in love with the large fish tanks. The hostess escorted us to what I thought was the perfect table for the boys. Our table was in a little alcolve surrounded by 2 elephants.

Periodically these elephants would come alive and make whatever that noise is called elephants make and move around. Perfect for little boys right? Um, not so much. I thought Austin was going to pass out the first time the elephants moved. He looked petrified. Although he relaxed a little thoughout the meal, he would still tense everytime the elephants came alive. Half through my delicious steak and shrimp meal he said "Aunt Terra, will you hurry up so we can leave this place!" I took him on a walk to check out the rest of the Cafe and he did enjoy that, somewhat.

After I finished my meal, I got up to use the restroom. As I stood Tonya said "Do you really have to use the restroom now" and she did not use the nicest tone of voice. I replied "Yes, I've drank a ton today and I need to go" but inside I was thinking "what's her problem??? Geez, can't a girl use the restroom!!" Within seconds of my return to the table, the servers brought out a sparkling volcano for my b-day. Then I understood why she was so upset I decided to use the restroom when I did. We all had a good laugh over it.

After lunch we said goodbye to the Rays and their friends and returned back to the hotel. (On a side note, I have to thank Tonya's friend for coming. She doesn't like country music or athletics of any kind. Throw in the torrential rain and miles of walking she was subjected to, and you have a week-end she would never have picked on her own. She was a great friend to Tonya, and I appreciate her coming along.). After eating a yummy lunch, I was ready for a nice nap.

It was still raining pretty hard in the evening and we were trying to figure out what to do. Jared looked up some local movie listings but I wanted to do something "nashvilly". We ended up going to the race concert (once we were confident it was inside). It was fun and we really enjoyed ourselves. We parked right at the venue which we don't normally do. But being as it was only $5 more than the parking lots several blocks away, it was still pouring rain (and we didn't have an umbrella) and my legs were done for the day, it was a $5 well spent.

When we got home I was a little disappointed in my kids indifferent reaction. I expected them to be so happy I was back. But really, they didn't seem to care much. They had a BLAST with Lisa and were sad when she left. They had made me a Congratulations sign with her help.

I guess I can be lucky that the race wasn't a week later or I wouldn't have been able to run at all. Its crazy to see the pics of Nashville and see that places we ran are now several feet underwater. CRAZY!!!!