Summer 2007

June 1 - August 14, 2007

The oh so fabulous life and times of Sundria, right?! LOL, yeah, I guess so. Have to say, starting off, that when I blog, I blog the interesting stuff, not the nights I sit at home watching TV and munching on sunflower seeds. I do that way more than you all think I do and I'm sure by my blogs it seems that I am out every night partying like a rock star, but trust me, that's not the case. But I do know that people don't want to read about the night I found the stamps I had purchased 4 months ago and couldn't locate. While exciting for me, I'm thinking you all wouldn't care about that. I had a friend recently, she knows who she is, say to me that my lifestyle was a bit out there. I was quite taken aback thinking that someone would think I had changed that much and that I'm not me anymore. I just have more opportunities to do way more stuff, just because of the nature of the city in which I live. Does that make sense? I am still the same Sundi that I have always been, but I have had more experiences since moving here. I've met tons more people of all different races and cultures and I'm just trying to take as much of it in and learn more about people and places and things that I never had exposure to before. I decided when I moved here I wasn't going to let opportunities pass me by. If I can go and do, then I will go and do. I know to some that makes me a party animal, but trust me, that makes me no more of a wild child or party girl that I was in Nashville, Jacksonville, yes, but Nashville, no! LOL ;-) So now in answer to your questions, no, I have not traded God in for a cult, I have not given up church and I have not turned my back on my core beliefs and thrown all that out the window. I am Christian now and forever and still believe 100% in that and share that as much as I can in all situations I can.

So, now onto the blog….

Had a promotion party to go to one night after work, at the Paris Café, what an awesome place. It's down at the Seaport and it's one of those place where the fishermen would go after their night shifts. They would have happy hour/food specials, like burgers and the like at 8am, because for the fisherman, that was/is their 5:00. They don't do as much now, because they've moved the fish market uptown, but it's still happening a little. So, it was a cool place to go and learn about.

We had book club at Fern's house and no, I didn't read the book! LOL It was Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, or something like that. They all loved the book and I loved the food Fern had. She made recipes from the book and it was awesome. We had nice discussions about how we live now, food wise, compared to back in the day. Very interesting how we have had changed as a country. No fruit is out of reach, really, no matter what time of year. One major question, should we limit ourselves to what's available here and now, rather than import. Support the local farmers by eating what they have for us. Interesting thoughts.

Movie night with the friends was great, we saw Waitress, cute movie and I just LOVED Andy Griffith in it. Very good movie and the crew had a blast. We had to sit in separate rows, so 4 in front, 4 in back and at some point there was popcorn and M&M's thrown from row to row! =) But no, we did not disturb the movie. =)

I have numerous dinners with my boys. The best ones lately have been when we all go to Daniel's and just cook out and sit around. It's so much better than a restaurant. You can talk to everyone and actually hear what the other is saying and the food is always better and it's WAY cheaper. So, for my birthday that's what we did. Grant it, it was the hottest day of the year, and we were in the backyard, but it was still way better than a crowded restaurant. I had a wonderful bday with the boys and my Gateway crew did a dinner at Paul and Teresa's for me too and it was awesome. I just love my peeps.

The Lake has become my weekend home! =) It's been so wonderful and I've spent so many weekends out there. It's been a quiet summer, as far as visitors go, so it's mainly been just me and P&B. My Gateway crew did come out one Saturday and we grilled and swam and just had the best time. The dogs had so much fun. Hunter is such a water dog! I'm hoping we can plan another weekend for that too, I think everyone had a great time.

Teresa had her friend Brent in town and the three of us hung out on a Saturday just tooling around the city. What a great day that was, but they walked my legs off! LOL, OK, they will say I did that to them, but really, who do you believe?! ;-) It was so great to finally get to hang out with Brent and get to know him. He's just the best and so awesome, I'm ready for him to move here!

I've done a little cooking at P&T's, but not as much as usual. It's just been crazy, all the stuff going on, but hopefully we can get back to that. I miss hanging with them as much. Now that summer is on the backside, maybe we can pick that up again. We have still been doing Sunday night bible study at their house, but I'm always just coming in from the lake or we have been out of town and all that jazz.

Oh, I went to this cool place called Camille Street Café with John and what a great place. Cool atmosphere. The food was good, not fabulous, but it was still cool to go. It was also in a great neighborhood.

Went to Carne Vale, a Brazilian restaurant. It was my Timmy's birthday, my other southern sister. Great food, but the service, sucky! I know it was probably one of those places that was all about the atmosphere, but I sure would have enjoyed that atmosphere way better had I not been starving! LOL

Oh, guess what? Yep, ended up in the ER one night. Not sure what happened, but I was there for about 6 hours. They did all kinds of tests and couldn't find anything, but they did give me pain meds which helped so much. It was what I call the sweet blanket of love, Morphine! LOL I told the doctor how much I loved him and would gladly marry him for what he did for me! ;-) What a night that was though, having never been in an ER as a patient or really with anyone else, that I can remember, it was a crazy night. When I heard the nurse telling one patient that the reason her legs looked like that was because she shot up in her legs rather than other places, I knew it was going to be crazy. It was like she was giving her tips on the best places on your body to shoot up, so it doesn't make you look bad! LOL There was also this guy who had been in an accident and he was telling everyone he was going to kick their arses and kill them and beat them up! LOL, needless to say, it didn't take long to see that yes, he was SO intoxicated and they gave him something to relax him and let him sleep. It was an interesting night and one I don't want to repeat anytime soon.

After recovering from all that mess, things were looking up, so I went to the lake that weekend and had some dinners with friends.

For 4th of July our Gateway crew had a party and invited lots of people from the building and some work friends. It was a GREAT party. It rained so we couldn't go out on the Esplanade like we wanted, but we moved it in to P&T's house and had a great time in spite of the rain. We ran down when they started the fireworks and they were so awesome, not the Macy's awesome, but awesome nonetheless! ;-) Go Jersey!

Laura Fulcher, still can't get used to her new name. ;-) Anyway, she came to town and met up with Bryon and me. We took her and showed her some of the "highlights" of the town and then went to dinner at Zen Palate. I think she had a great time. God knows Bryon and I loved seeing her.

I, of course, went to see the new Harry Potter movie with Bryon, Darlene and Jonathan. We had a blast and Bryon and I, with our accents, entertained the whole place. About a week later Darlene, Madeline, Jonathan and I went to the midnight sale of the new Harry Potter book. OMG, what a great book and we had a blast at the party. Acting like children, but it was so fun.

Debbie W, Mitzi and Corey came to town and we had such a nice time. I took them to Vynl, Angelo's and Calle Ocho for all our various food needs and I think they were very happy with my choices. We also saw Marry Poppins on Broadway, OMG, what a GREAT show! It was unbelievable they way they did the magic, different scenes and the dancing. I highly recommend this show, a MUST see!

My girls, Rachel and Alicia came over, it had been forever since we hung out, so we just ordered food and talked and watched some stuff Alicia had to view for work. One was really cool, it was about a boy becoming a girl and all he was going through, physically and emotionally. Very interesting. Teresa came up and watched that with us too.

We had book club again, this time at Teresa's house and no, I didn't read that book either, but it was interesting to hear about it. It was a classic Hemingway book and some liked it, some hated it, but either way, lots to talk about.

T and I went to Colony Music in Time's Square and I couldn't believe it, but it was T's first time there. She's such a music person, but never knew that was there, so that was a fun night watching her just go gaga over all the music.

I went home to FL for the church's and my daddy's 35th anniversary. It was a wonderful time. Daddy didn't know I was coming until I walked into church on Sunday. He was so excited and happy to see me, as I was him. I got to spend some quality time with the family and with Chris and Laila, oh my what a yummy baby! She's so cute and she loves me! ;-)
I came home for one day and then took off on a trip with some of my friends. We had a WONDERFUL time and it was just great to be with them.

I came back just in time for the birthday celebrating to begin. We all know how I love to celebrate for as long as I can! ;-) I had lunches, dinners, flowers, presents, cards, emails and tons of stuff. What a great birthday. My friends and family rock!

I went to my first Launch party. Sara works for a clothing company/designers and they launched their new line, Jax, and we got to go to the party. It was really cool. I loved it, seeing all the new clothes before they ever hit the stores. So, so, so cool.

Today I got a flower delivery for my birthday! LOL, yep, it was an order that went all wrong and they finally delivered it today! ;-) Totally makes me happy, I have flowers and more celebrating of my birthday, woo hoo!

Ta ta for now my friends…

Rambling...

Wow, my oh my, where has the time gone?! I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. I never ever intend to take so long, but as we all know, that's what happens. I've had a lot going on and then again, not so much. Such is life, right?!

Not really sure and too lazy to figure out, where I left off, so I'll just highlight for ya.

I've gone to the lake twice this season, so far. I will of course be going way more. I just love it out there and the time with my boys is always a blast. Last weekend was Memorial Day and it was a quiet, relaxing weekend. The wave runner ended up breaking, but it's all good, we still had a great time.

Went to a BBQ at Daniel's on a Thursday, it was kind of an last minute thing and it turned out oh so well.

Book Club, yep, I'm in one. Don't read the books, but I'm in it. But in my defense I told them ahead of time I wouldn't read the books, so they all knew going into it. This months book is all about healthy eating and all that jazz, so I think Fern and I might go to the Green Market tomorrow and get some good stuff for Tuesday's club.

Oh, don't know that you all have met Fern. She lives in our building and I've seen her over the years and chatted, but she finally started hanging with us and of course, fits right in. She's a great cook and baker, so we are so lucky to have her in our crew.

We did a few films with the Tribecca Film Festival. We saw She's Our Brother and Shame. Both were good, but Shame was beyond outstanding, in subject content, the technical stuff, not the best, but it's low budget and actually didn't need it. The film spoke all on it's own.

I took at boating class, 8 hours, but at least now I am legal to ride the waverunners by myself and can take others out too. The class was in Flatbush, Brooklyn, a new part of NYC for me.

The day we bought our film tickets a group of us went to Bubby's, awesome place for brunch. It was Fern, Sara, Teresa, Erika, Laci and me. Fun day!

Oh, check this, went to Cozumel for a long weekend. Spur of the moment thing, but had the most wonderful time. Also got to see New Orleans for the first time.

Went to Nashville for my friend Lara's wedding. What a fun time. The wedding was great, got to see old friends and spend 5 days with my mama. I lost my wallet and had to file a police report so I could fly. Guess what, yep, found it after all that mess.

Lisa and Michelle came back to NYC for Lisa's Schools Music Competition. They did very well and we had lots of fun. Small issue at the Empire State Building, but other than that, great time.

Had a spur of the moment visit from Jonathan W and Stephanie. Got to spend time with Stephanie while Jonathan went to the Yankees game. We had a good time. Teresa went with us and it was fun hanging out, just the girls.

Went to the Minetta Lane Theater to see Kim Zimmer in a reading. It was for the Parkinsons Dieseas Foundation and they had a dinner after. It was a blast. Got to hang with Kim for hours. Total blast.

Oh, sweet goodness, never going to believe I forgot about Bryon's bday dinner. Talked to him that day, wished him happy bday, went home, was chilling out, totally forgot. Had my phone on vibrate, something told me to check it, yep, 21 missed calls. I had all of them worried to death. If there is one thing they all know, when it comes to Bryon I am ALWAYS on time, usually the first there and I would NEVER miss. They all thought something had happened to me. I called Daniel and figured out what I had done. Jumped in a cab and was there just before the food was served. I felt horrible, but what's a girl to do?! Bad Hag I am, bad!

Went to see Martina McBride in concert at Radio City. She was AMAZING. Went by myself and had a wonderful time.

Had dinner with John and Marylou. So great to see her and spend time with the two of them.

Went to Bubba Gump with Darlene (Downey), Nitza and Nitza's husband Ben. Totally great to finally meet him. We had a great time.

I had lunch with Leslie at uno and then dinner with Mint and Rach, oh and Kevin came too.

Oh I also went to a food tasting for Zen Palate with the crew and after we went to dinner. Yeah, I know, you would think food tasting, but that's just what it was a taste. Anyway, we were on our way to Zen and passed Cipriani's on Wall Street and they were having some red carpet thing. We saw Fergie and Fergie, the Duchess of York and the singer. Pretty cool thing, they had opera singers outside on the terrace singing for the red carpet. Really neat, and they were very good too.

Went to the movies last night with Bryon to see Pirates #3, I loved it and thought it was really good. Orlando Bloom is a hottie, so what's not to like. We had to walk right passed the red carpet for the FiFi awards. Who knew there was such an award. Yep, happened last night in the World Financial Center. It was for the perfume/frangrance industry. They went all out too, there was booths for everyone you can imagine, a red carpet and of course, everyone was in black tie. Pretty cool.

I think for now, that kind of catches it all up. I'll be back, not sure when, but I'll be back! :-)