The Big Chill

The Florida Great Escape was held on Sunday, March 9, in Clermont, FL which is just outside of Orlando. It was probably one of the coldest weekends of the year. We drove over the day before and got a room for the night. I rode the bike course with Curt on Saturday and had to pedal going downhill. Swear. That's how windy it was. The temperature on Sunday was predicted to be high 30s and the swim started at 8am in Lake Louisa. How cold was it, you ask? Well, take a look at Lady Di. It was SO cold she wouldn't share her blankie. Now that's cold. I mean literally. I mean figuratively.

Here's Bigun and Curt before the swim. It's not until you take a look at Curt coming out of the water do you notice how warmly all the onlookers are dressed. Hoods up over their heads. Some have gloves on. More blankets. I don't know how these guys did it. And the guy next to Curt didn't even have a wet suit. OMG.

And check out the "Bathing Area Closed" sign. It's not too far from the "Beware of Alligators" sign. Seriously.

Lady Di got the action shots so I have to give credit where credit is due. Looks like someone knows he's getting his picture taken, doesn't he? Actually, I think it's something she just said to him like...umm...nice disk wheel! ;)

And then the run. How does he do it? How does she do it? Lady Di always seems to catch Curt floating on air. Nice.

The sole reason for entering the Florida Great Escape was so that Curt could qualify for the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in June. In order to qualify he needed to finish first or second in his age group which he didn't do BUT there were 27 lottery slots available and Curt was lucky enough to get one of them. San Francisco, here we come. Woohoo!!!

Always wait for the fat lady...

Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing. Know who said that? Vince Lombardi. Here is my friend, Ben. The first time we played Scrabble he brought over his degree in Scrabble to try to intimidate me. It's in Arabic so I'm not really sure he has a degree in Scrabble. Anyway, it didn't work. Here's one of our latest games. Ben was ahead the entire game. I was resigned to losing. This game was played online but it was such a great game that I went to the trouble to recreate it on ONE of my boards. Sweet, huh? So check it out:

Ben opens with extant for a whopping 42 pts. All I can counter with is argue for 7 pts. He comes back with qaid for 54! This guy is on fire. I've got so many vowels right now that I'm going to exchange on the next turn but I'm able to play queue for 42. The score is now 96-49 in Ben's favor. His next play is a beautiful parallel play - he puts down dial for 30. All I have is amia for 13. Next he plays an el in front of amia for lamia adding a cee to form talc. He gets 19 pts for this play BUT it's worth so much more because I challenge lamia and lose. :( What the heck is a lamia? Now it's 145 to 62. Ben isn't just ahead - he's way ahead. He exchanges on his next turn and I play etic for 18 pts. Ben comes back with ye for 32. Nice. I can only get 10 for pleat and Ben plays lorn for 8. Vino only gets me 7 and now the score is 185 to 97 Ben (still). I usually get more out of my wine. :)

Okay, he can have this one. He deserves it. He's a good sport, after all. I keep winning and winning and he doesn't get discouraged. I like this guy. So it's his turn to win, right? He comes back with rove for 16 and then I play jot for 36 - caught a break. Ben plays vein for 14 and I get 27 for heh. He's still ahead at 215 to 160. Then he attacks me with nabs for 47. Wow. I play zed for 26. He wants some of the zee action and plays zip for 20. I get another chance to get back in the game with flows for 48. Not enough. Ben is still ahead 282 to 234.

Next he plays gamest for 34 which adds an es to zed. He's working that zee more than some girls work a corner. Geez. But I reply with stingy for 35. He's still got me though. The score is now 316 to 269. Ahead of me the whole game, I tell ya. Ben's next play is gun for 12 and I play kir for 20. He comes back with ef for 20 making the score now 348 to 289. What are the chances? Wonder Woman swoops in for the save and plays BREWINGS for 64 points and to win the game 348-367. Woohoo!!!!!!!