Time gets away....

How did we arrive at the end of June so quickly? I didn't even finish posting about my New York trip.....

On Friday, June 13, I drove to Southampton to help prepare for Christopher's Memorial 5K. The support from family and friends was amazing. The walk was the morning of June 14th with almost 200 participants. I did the walk in my new high-heeled Crocs. Everyone laughed at me! =)


On Sunday, Marie and I went to Long Beach and walked on the boardwalk. It was an overcast day with bits of rain but it was warm and wonderful just to be by the ocean.


I flew home on Monday in a terrible storm. It was bumpy and rough, and I have never seen such thick, black clouds. Very scary. But it reminded me I need to make a will. If anything happens to me, I know no one will take my dogs aka the ELFs. lol!


The last two weeks have been consumed by work. I was supposed to get news about my job by the end of June but there is still no clarity. With great reluctance, I renewed my apartment lease. I didn't want to stay here but it was easier to stay put for now.

Friday night I had dinner with Tiffany at Carnivale. Woohoo! I love that place. Afterward we met up with Kari (who was visiting from Florida) to celebrate Lili's 35th birthday. I got home at 4:45 am. Wasn't feeling too well the next day - lol!


I saw a guy wearing this t-shirt - loved it, my sentiments exactly:

Series of Unfortunate Events

I was ready to leave for Manhattan at 11 am, but wanted to let my friends dogs out again. The landscaping crew was here earlier in the morning so to be safe, I went out to make sure the gate was closed. While I was outside, the dogs jumped on the door and locked me out of the house. No key, no phone, nothing. Thankfully it's not winter and thankfully I was not in my pajamas. 3 hours later, I finally got back in the house. (Won't even go into the logistics/shenanigans of how it was done).

I finally made it into Penn Station at 3:30. I took the E train uptown and went to the ABN office on 52nd Street. Most of the trading floor has moved to CT and the remaining crew is moving tomorrow. Two senior Compliance people resigned yesterday including a man who used to be my manager.

I walked down Park Avenue in the 5pm hustle to meet Marie.


We walked to Windfall where we met up with our former Kidder,Peabody colleagues. It was a wonderful turnout and we had a blast! I spread the word I am looking for a job. You never know what could happen.



After our extended happy hour, Kim, Marie and I ate dinner at Mustang Harry's which is just up the block from Mustang Sally's (near Penn Station).



I had a bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. It was delicious. After dinner we had work our way to Penn Station through the crowd of drunken Jimmy Buffet fans who were leaving Madison Square Garden.



Tomorrow I am driving out to Southampton to spend the day with Kendra. The Memorial Walk for her son Christopher is on Saturday morning. We will help assemble the runners packets this afternoon and then go out for dinner. It's another beautiful weather day in NY.

LongGuyLand (1 word emphasis on the G)

Day Two in New York. It was less hot today but still warm in a nice, tropical vacation way. I met Kendra for lunch at.....LaPiazza (no surprise - it's like my Long Island "Carnivale"). After lunch I went to Harmon's Drugstore and miraculously bought nothing. Not even a lipstick. Then I went for a spa pedicure which was fantastic. I chose "Wicked" for my nail color. The woman kept asking me "You LIKE this color?" as though it was a bad choice.

The rest of the afternoon I drove around on the north shore through Syosset, Oyster Bay, Laurel Hollow, Greenvale, Mill Neck (went past where I used to live), Locust Valley (stopped to see Kay at J_McLaughlin). The island is so lush and beautiful right now. The trees are thick and the air smells so good.


Marie and I drove to Freeport for dinner. We cruised down the "Nautical Mile". We called for directions but it was so easy to get there, she said, "You'd have to be a real "Doot-da-doo" not to figure it out". I love my Marie.


We had an excellent dinner at E.B. Elliot's (http://www.ebelliots.com/index.htm). We shared sweet potato fries, Crab Cakes and Kung Pao Calamari. Our Bloody Mary's were delicious. Our table was outside right on the water overlooking a gorgeous teak boat.


A Reggae band was playing by the bar and as we left they started the "Dollar" song. The singer picked me and two other girls to dance with her. It was fun! "Cent, Five Cent, Ten Cent, Dollar!" Good times.


The view from the parking as we were leaving to go home. I love the sparkling "palm" trees.

New York

I flew to New York early this morning. The pilot announced it would be a bumpy flight but it turned out to be smooth. Thank you God. I teared up when I saw Jones Beach on our approach. I remembered all the great concerts I've seen there. And many happy afternoons at the beach. It was 98*, too hot to go to the beach today. I stopped to buy sunblock and flipflops, picked up an antipasta salad from LaPiazza (my favorite), and layed out on the deck for an hour.

Marie and I went to Woodbury for dinner at Laguna Grill. It was delicious. Such a beautiful area. It was great to catch up and talk.

I don't want to overschedule my visit so tomorrow will be a mellow, relaxing day. I want to buy yarn for a baby blanket for Dawn who is due in November.

I have alot of soul-searching to do about my future. I didn't get the white picket fence and 3 children I hoped for. I want to have a purpose. Something other than just me. I don't think I am asking for too much.

Birthday FUN!

Today I am 44. I shook the dice of life and got a pair of fours. The day began with a call from my dad who song the entire birthday song followed by "I love you Tammy". (My mom never calls. I actually called her later in the day to ask if she forgot about me. I question if she really actually is my mother, she is so atypical). I went to work for a few hours - mainly to setup my out of office message in Lotus Notes. Had lunch with my regular crew (Renee treated me). Went home early to spend some time with the ELFs. We went for a nice walk in the blazing heat. Heidi had a "get out of jail card" from the kids and took me to Maggiano's where Liz met us and we all enjoyed Pomegranate Martinis. YUM! After that, Heidi and I met the kids at the Cheesecake Factory where they were having dinner with their dad. Tiffany, Mark and Julian stopped by with their new Doberman puppy Patron. What a cutie! It is after 11pm and I need to finish packing for my trip to NY in the morning. The dogs are following me from room to room, I think they know I am leaving. So far 44 isn't bad.

Southside Mini Drive

The Chicago Mini Motoring Club met this morning for a Southside drive through the Hyde Park area. 19 Minis drove through and around the University of Chicago campus. It was absolutely beautiful. After the drive we ate breakfast at Valois Restaurant on 53rd Street. Coincidently the Silver Minis parked together on one side of the lot forming a Trifecta. The driver of the car next to mine lives on my block. Sometimes we see each other in the morning on the way to work.


The rain didn't arrive until after I got home and had walked the dogs.

Lucky me!

Busy day.....

This morning I helped Heidi chaperone Asconio's 8th birthday party. His friends met us at Old Orchard Mall for the 10:15 am "Kung Fu Panda" movie - followed by lunch at Hot Dog Island and cake at Heidi's afterward. After the party I went home and took the dogs for a long walk in the ungodly hot weather.


In the evening, I was invited to see James Taylor at Ravinia. Poor Lynae went there at 4 pm to get a good spot on the lawn and setup "camp" for everyone. She was caught several times in torrential downpours. It was a nice evening complete with a lovely Candelabra. We endured a little bit of rain but the worst of it missed us. Lynae, you are my hero and the Queen of Ravinia! Thank you (and John too) for a nice evening out. Has anyone seen Frank? His wife is lost.

Jazz

Tonight I saw the Wayne Shorter quartet at the Chicago Symphony Center with friend Claire. What a treat! And we had box seats. After the performance, we had dinner at Carnivale. Just about my favorite thing.

2008 White Sox Dog Day

Rudy and I attended our 4th annual White Sox Dog Day event. Here we are in the car on the way to the ballpark. Rudy proudly wears his Sox jersey. I heard we were on TV somewhere in the 4th inning.

My Avatar

I went with short brown hair, green eyes and tortoise glasses. I liked that she is applying lipstick. And I put the Statue of Liberty behind me.

Cafe Bernard

Tonight I had an early birthday dinner at Cafe Bernard with my former mad hot crush (who I still like alot). He accepted a position on the East Coast and will be moving at the end of the summer. Supposedly he did not pursue me because of the possibility he would be moving. He didn't want us to get attached, only for it to end. I had a wonderful time, he is a very nice man. It's just kind of sad all around.