Reba Lives: Happy 4th Y'all!!

Hello! I'm excited to bring you a post on this, the day of our country's independence!! I'll start by telling you that I've been awake since 4:30 my time because I ran in my first Italian race this morning which began at 5:30, along a mountain trail in Susegana. It was spectacular. I tried to get pictures, but most are hard to see because they were taken in the dark and...while I was running. So, what you'll get are some dark and blurry highlights! I was proud of myself. The trail was pretty much 6K up a mountainside, I finished strong! The cool part about running with a bunch of Italians at 5:30 in the morning is that right after the race, you walk to the cafe and order a cappuccino and a croissant!! Fun times.

I'll also be bringing you highlights from yesterday's 3rd of July Beach-tacular Celebration. We wanted to do something special for the 4th, but it didn't quite work into our schedule as Italians have life plans on the 4th of July because it's not their country's national holiday... So, we celebrated in style on the 3rd. A great day was had by all!! Especially the American!!

I would also just like to take a moment and grieve the loss of my second absence (in a row) from U.S. soil during this, the sanctimonious celebration of our freedom as a country. Last year I was in Beaune, France the wine capitol of Burgundy in the Cote d'Or (that did not suck...) and after having a seriously French dinner with some SERIOUS French wine I went, with my tour mates and lit sparklers in the town square and sang a heart wrenching rendition of our country's national anthem. Click here if you'd like more information on that little adventure. That was one of the best moments of my life. But, this year, to miss out on all of my Friendswood parade and Tiki Island golf cart decorating, and Houston fireworks splendor is almost too much to endure. Next year, I swear I'll be so patriotically frustrated that I'll build my own damn float and ride in the parade. Sweet Teas, 2014 is our year. Get the husbands ready to build.

I hope y'all have a glorious time in whatever you're planning on doing. Know that I miss you on this, the day of my country's birth. SHOOT SOME FIREWORKS FOR ME!!!

Peace, Love and Travel,

Reba

Ugh. AM.

Pre-race.

Foot pic. Ready, set,

GO!!!

Interesting bottleneck through the locked gate... shady, much...?

Nature run!

This view was not bad.

Neither was this one.

Post race. I think we look even better! Must be all those endorphins.

Post run cafe meeting.

Delicious.

Foot pic. Beach!

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeee's baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!

This is how boys play at the beach. Step 1: make a sand ball and place on top of pole. Step 2: make faces at said sand ball. Step 3: prep for the attack. Step 4: ATTACK!!

This is how girls play at the beach.

Again, boys...

Girls...

One of the moms brought a bottle from her family's prosecco label. That's her relative, an Italian Olympian!

How crazy is this!?! In Italy we don't do PB&J for our beach time lunch...no, no!! We put two lounge chairs together, cover them with clean towels and serve up a variable feast of veggie rice pilaf, pizza, fresh bruscetta, fruit, sparkling water, and prosecco! WHAT!?! Best beach lunch ever. Family style.