Julie: I'm so glad you had a fun time in Puerto Rico. It sounds like you came back rested, relaxed, and with a new career as a cabana-boy inspector. Time well spent!

It sounds like you had a great time in PR enjoying some R & R, despite the sunburn. Did you and DH take pictures to share?
I think you're right--chasing a cabana boy is probably the incentive I need to stick with speedwork. For now, though, I'm going to take some easy runs in the heat & then get back to incorporating speedwork into my runs on a more limited schedule. Not as much fun, and the results probably won't be as exciting, but those cabana boys are probably pretty expensive in terms of upkeep.
Congratulations on signing up for a fall half!

And the BAA sounds like a lot of fun, especially the route going by Fenway, Emerald Necklace, and the zoo. Very scenic, which is especially nice for your first-ever race. And a big wow for that! You're going to do fabulous! What's the weather like in Boston in October
Maria: Oh, I like Keifer Sutherland's voice, too. His looks--well, he looks like he's been living a full life. But I don't know if I've ever forgiven him for being engaged to America's sweetheart, Julia Roberts. (She's one of the few actors I can't stand--her, Kevin Costner, maybe that's about it.) How did your WI go?? Remember, this is just a baseline and it's all downhill from here (esp. on the scale). I've been very bad--have gained weight since we moved closer to the coffee shops and baked goodies--and will be stepping back on the bandwagon on Monday. I'll have to confess to the Lean Meaners then, when I have the scale information and a plan. At least DOOD's gained, too, so I don't feel it's just me. It's the change in eating habits.
And I refuse to take all the blame for the cougar raunchiness. You noted Jeanne's post very well, and we all know Jeanne has this tendency to go naked.... Then there are the wild nights of Jeanne and Nancy, including multiple bottles of wine. So I'd say it's the effect of Ohana's leader on all us us!

I also feel compelled to note, though, that YOU'RE the one describing the cookies as soft and gooey. Very sensual descriptions, hmmmm.
Jeanne: I've not read Anne Rice's erotica series, nor really any of her vampire books. Lame, I know. We've not decided about EE yet, although DOOD is very excited about the possibility. Inaugural is such an incentive for him. But he's got to apply for promotion this year, and he's not quite sure when his portfolio materials are due. We think it's at the end of the fall semester and, if so, that's really going to interfere with weekends. He'd already have tenure if we hadn't relocated to Pittsburgh, but now his tenure & promotion clock have been reset and he's anxious about his status at his new university. Anyway, if the work schedules and budget permits, we're going to try and do both EE and ToT--which pretty much guarantees offsite stays. A small sacrifice for Disney and partying with WISHers, IMO!
And you know you have your very own "to do" list, because you're a cougar too. You're the Big Kahuna cougar, as a matter of fact! Dark and swarthy sounds a lot like Johnny Depp at his bad-boy best. He's just the way I like them, just about my size! (That way, I can take him down if I have to--very much like my female detective heroes!) For you, I would choose a cabana boy that not only knows his wine list but can match you drink for drink! And he's so strong he can uncork a bottle with his teeth! Talk about unnecessary but worthy-of-conversation job skills... but I'm thinking Julie, with her recent experience, is a much better judge at auditioning cabana boys. Or maybe Mel, as our newest cougar!
Robert: A shout-out to you. I noticed your mileage has been increasing quite nicely over the past week or so. How are you feeling, in general and with regards to the DL 1/2?
Shell: And here's a question for you, too. How's your surgery/rehab plans coming along?
Mel: Have a great vacation!
Jen, Denny, Richard, Christa, Corrina, Nancy, Morgan, Johanna, Kayci, JenB, Ruth, Aimee and Angelmamma: 
Come join the fun!
Janet Evanovich & Questions:I finished
One for the Money yesterday--and now DOOD's reading it.
Nancy, you're right--it's a very quick read. And DOOD will be doing his reading on the elliptical during his XT days. I'm not sure how to answer Maria's question about preferring Morelli or Ranger, because the book pretty much seemed to be the Morelli show. I assume there's some vying for Stephanie's attention as the series progresses? If I have to choose a favorite male character, though, I choose Eddie, Stephanie's cousin-in-law and friend. He likes donuts and pizza and treats Plum seriously. Morelli's a little too suave in a predictable way, and Ranger's too cool for school. (Although I do love the Henry Higgins comparison.) I'm more fascinated by the development of the female hard-boiled character, whether detective, cop, bounty hunter, or executioner. It seems that so many of them talk about their appearance (esp. with regards to heterosexual romance), their eating habits, their clothing, and running! Is this common to the genre? I did like how Evanovich sets the reader up for Plum's development as a bounty hunter and how family is so central to the novel and to the character's success. I'll be reading
Two for the Dough when it comes in to the library on ILL.
As for me: I actually think the possibility of a family vacay at Disney in January might work out, even if my ILs want to come to Disney for the full week. Apparently, I wore them out so much on the last trip (and believe me, I took it really easy on them!) that they have no interest in touring the parks with me.

I still would prefer they pop in only for marathon weekend, but I can deal with meeting up for dinner every night, too. Keep your fingers crossed for me that all our planned Disney travel will pan out.
Next up on the reading list?
Night by Elie Wiesel. I've been remiss in not reading this book earlier. I guess I'm too old for it to have been assigned to me on a high-school summer reading list.

And tonight we see
The Dark Knight! DOOD chose that over seeing Wall-E (I've already seen it) or
Mongol, even though the IMAX screenings are sold out. He and I are such comic-book fangeeks that it's not even fun. What can I say--I love a man in latex.

And somewhere this weekend there will be running--not long, not fast, but with much effort in the heat. I'm so glad most of my marathon training is in cool weather.