Early this morning, much earlier than anyone on vacation should get up, Shane and I went for a run.  Shane didn’t want to run.  He slowed us down.  We were suppose to do 40 minutes ending with 6 strides.  We ended up doing 30 minutes with 6 strides for a total of 4.2 miles. 

We had to go for an early run because we were leaving for the airport at 6:30 am.   Ted was hopping a plane to Florida to visit with his daughter Pam.  He’ll be back on Sunday when I pick him up and we head back to New York.  In the meantime, I will spend quality time with my parents.  

Today’s plans are to play with Shane, make some hot cross buns for Sunday’s Taste of Utica recipe, maybe a swim, maybe some cycling. No pressure. This is vacation, right?!

Yesterday, while doing our work business at Litchfield and enjoying a Starbuck’s Grande, I suggested we go on a Banana Boat ride.  Ted said, “I could do a banana boat”. 

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An hour and a half later, we were getting on our ride.

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We went through Murrell’s Inlet and out into the ocean for a little bit.

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What a ride.  It was so much fun.  Because it was windy, the sun wasn’t out in full force, we were the only two riders.  That made it easy to stay on.  We had to stop twice.  The first time for me since my goggles completely fogged up then let water in.  That stung – salt in the eye.  The second time for Ted, the same reason we stopped for me the first time.

I was laughing so hard and got so much salt water in my mouth, I started wondering if it would have the same effects as it does on Shane.  I didn’t want to toss my cookies.  But WHAT A BLAST!

After the banana boat, we went into Drunken Jack’s for lunch but it was 2:50 pm and lunch ended at 2:30.  We had to settle for the appetizer menu.

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We started with a Cab. and a Bass and a big bowl of popcorn. Like we both needed more salt!

It was a nice view.  We sat watching the birds interact with the goats on Goat Island.

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The food finally came.  We shared fried calamari with marinara sauce.  I usually don’t eat fried food but this, I practically inhaled.  I ate WAY too much and ended up not being able to eat dinner later. My stomach was voicing it’s criticism of eating fried food.

I had the seared tuna served medium – rare (they refused to cook it) with a seaweed salad, ginger-lime sauce and sliced fresh ginger.  The tuna was ok.  I prefer it cooked medium.  The seaweed salad was especially good. Sometimes it can taste a bit “fishy” and I don’t like that. This salad was fresh and smooth tasting. No big flavor but good.

Ted had the Drunken Jack’s Seafood Platter with was bacon wrapped shrimp and scallops, beef cubes, and crab cake balls.

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LOVE fresh ginger!

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Drunken Jack’s is one of many restaurant-lounges that hook up to each other along the water front.  It’s a fun strip with good food and live music.

Dinner was Apple Waldorf Chicken Salad – serves 4.

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  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breast:  season with salt and pepper and 1 tsp each lemon juice – both sides.  Heat a sauté pan with olive oil and sauté 3 min. per side over medium high heat. Finish in the oven on 375 F for 20 minutes or until no longer pink in the middle.
  • 2 red apples – chopped
  • 4 TBS lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup plain non-fat Greek style yogurt
  • 1 TBSN Lite Mayonnaise
  • 4 celery stalks, sliced thin
  • 3 large scallions, sliced thin (white AND green parts)
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 head green leaf lettuce

In a large bowl, mix the chopped apples with the yogurt and lemon juice.  Let sit in the refrigerator for 45 minutes. 

Add the celery, scallions, garlic and nuts to the apples.  When cooled, chop your chicken breasts and add them to the apple mixture.  Add the 1 TBS mayonnaise and mix. 

On a serving platter, put the torn pieces of green leaf lettuce.  Place the Waldorf mix on top and enjoy.

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A little work, a few groceries, and lots of relaxing.  It’s Thursday, aka “Pseudo Friday”.  Enjoy.

Joanne

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