Sarasota Weekend

I was so excited to be getting out of town for the weekend. It's the only good thing about living here in Florida. There is so much to do and see. I started my adventure in Tampa, at the Taco Bus. I heard about it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. It's a neat little place that serves Mexican food out of a school bus ala food truck style. I had checked the menu ahead of time and had my heart set on the fish tacos but alas they were no longer on the menu. So I ordered up some spicy shrimp and was amazed at the portion size. These seasoned shelled shrimp were mighty! And the green salsa on the side was a spice doosey. It took me about 4 mintues to eat about 4-5 good sized shrimp. And the next 40 minutes were spent heaving out my guts in various parking lots all over Tampa. I threw up in the parking lot, Wendy's parking lot, a gas station parking lot, and some printing company parking lot. I felt completely miserable and I'm pretty convinced it was the spices that did me in.


I was surprised at how difficult it was to eat on this trip. So many wonderful seafood restuarants on the Gulf coast and I couldn't enjoy any of it. At the motel I was all psyched for room service, only they didn't have it when I got there. So I went down to the pool area in my swimsuit and coverup. All 297.8 pounds of me in my black and white polka dot swimsuit. I had a ceasar salad at the tiki bar. Then I sat by the pool - too ashamed of myself to get in the pool. You see, there was a teen's birthday party going on. About 20 teenagers in the area and various parents and other patrons. I was the biggest one at the pool. I wanted to hide. So I did - I sat in a corner under an umbrella and waited for the area to clear. I really think I'm more conscious of my weight now that I was 45 pounds ago. I let it get to me, and I left the pool without ever getting in depite it be in the 90s. And on the way back to my room, feeling lonely and dejected, what did I want? To eat. I ordered delivery from some Italian place and had 2 side salads and a handful of yummy pasta tortellini with marinara sauce. It tasted good and was hot. I wanted more than I could actually eat. And then the last bite came up.
The next day brought the beach. That was very very nice and relaxing. Watching the sand crabs really freak me out though. Too much like spiders running around silently. For lunch I hit up Sweet Tomatoes. I love that place. But the $10 price tag was too much for what I ate. I had some various salads, a taste of the chowder, and 1/2 a bowl of the chili. I was done eating before the guy ahead on me in line even sat down.

After some more beach time in Longboat Key, I made it to Cortez. I had to pee at a McDonalds. I went in and ended up ordering a diet coke (small) and a McFishwich. It tasted so good but I only ate 1/2 as I didn't want to throw up. The rest I threw out the window and watched the seagulls fight over it. I kind of wish we had seagulls in Orlando. They are entertaining. But my favorite is watching the pelicans dive for fish. I don't know how they don't get hurt. Ohh I also saw 2 dolphins off the Venice pier. They were very close to the pier. At first I thought the fin I saw was a shark.

On the way back from Tampa I stopped and got a Subway tuna sandwich. I ate about 1/3 in the truck on the way home and then when home, peeled off 1/2 the bread and ate the rest. Not a bad weekend food wise but I was disappointed by my loneliness and the weight issues that kept me from doing things I wanted to do (get in the pool, get in the surf, walk on the beach, eat in a Gulf restuarant. But I did get some new duds at a Lane Bryant outlet and I can't wait to wear them. Teal and Yellow skirts that are super cute (size 26). Now if I can just get the scale moving again in the right direction. Today still at 297.8 - stalled again.