I DID IT!

I've been meaning to write this post for a few days now, but I am only getting to it now.

I DROVE TO MARYLAND AND BACK!

Now for most people, I do understand that this is no big deal. But for me- who never drives and has never driven off Long Island, or over a bridge, or in an unfamiliar place- this was a huge accomplishment. It's amazing how independent it makes you feel.

In addition, I even drove an SUV all the way there and back. My little car that could probably wasn't able to make the trip so I did all this new driving in a Ford Explorer I had never driven before (that happened to be my Dad's- which means even more pressure and nervousness).

On that note, vacation was absolutely fabulous. 6 days away from email, internet and work was a break I really needed. Between the pool, beach, boardwalk, bars, restaurants, outlets and my dad's super cool house, we couldn't have asked for more!

I'll post more about the vacation later. If anyone knows a quick and easy way to create a website for photos, please let me know. There are at least 10 rolls of pictures of Erin, Lisa, Tara and I that need to be shared with the world, lol.

Banana Pudding

Have I blogged about Banana Pudding yet?

Banana Pudding from the Buttercup Bake Shop on 2nd Avenue between 51st and 52nd is the most heavenly dessert ever. Most people rave about the cupcakes from Buttercup and they are okay too....but nothing compares to the fabulously yummy taste of the banana pudding.

Come visit me at work sometime and maybe I'll treat you ;-)

Email Survey

1. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR KITCHEN PLATES? My kitchen plates are in a box somewhere. They are solid grey or solid lime green

2.WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Nothing, just finished the Hookup Handbook

3. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Nothing, I have a laptop

4. FAVORITE BOARD GAME? Battle of the Sexes

5. LEAST FAVORITE SMELLS? garbage in NYC in the summer

6. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN
THE MORNING? Do I really need to go to work today?

7. FAVORITE COLOR? Black, grey, yellow, red

8. LEAST FAVORITE COLOR? Purple

9. HOW MANY RINGS UNTIL YOU ANSWER THE PHONE? Depends on how far into my purse my cell is

10. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? No children for me....but I like unusual names like TriBecca

11. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? CHOCOLATE

12. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST? Yes, when no one else is on the road

13. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Sometimes my Sam I Am doll

14. DO YOU LIKE THUNDERSTORMS? NO

15. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? Barbie, the plastic white Saturn that I still have today

16. WHAT IS YOUR SIGN? Aries, I am a true Ram

17. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI? No.... unless is Screaming Broccoli, lol

18. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB WHAT WOULD IT BE? First Lady, or an MBA grad who is CEO of a non-profit

19. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY COLOR HAIR, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Brown, with more golden highlights like I had when I was younger

20. IS THE GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? depends on my mood

21. FAVORITE MOVIE? Serendipity and since I am so into my softball these days, A League of Their Own

22. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS? Sometimes

23. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED? Containers with all the things that would be in a desk if I had one

24. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Tennis....how many days until the US Open.

25. KETCHUP OR MUSTARD? Ketchup more often than mustard

26. HAMBURGER OR HOT DOG? Burgers are my favorite

27. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON? spring

28. THE BEST PLACE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN? Hopefully I'll soon say Ocean City, MD....but until then, Miami was pretty hot

29. WHAT SCREEN SAVER IS ON YOUR COMPUTER RIGHT NOW? the Windows logo with a black background

30. FAVORITE FAST FOOD? Wendy's

31. WHAT IS YOUR BIRTH NAME? Samara Rose

Brooklyn Boys

I <3 Brooklyn Boys!

There. I said it.

I have been writing this blog in my head for awhile, but after tonight I have no other choice but to finally write this post.

There is just something so unique about Brooklyn Boys. I have such a weakness for them. I've met a ton and I am always immediately attracted to them. (Attracted to them in the sense that I just love hanging out with them...although I have to admit there are a few Brooklyn Boys that I really have hung out with and that wasn't bad either ;-)

There is something very chilvarous about Brooklyn Boys. They feel the need to take care of the women around them. On one hand, there is this rough and tough city side to them, but underneath it all there is a sweet, gentle homebody inside who loves his mama!

It's always the Brooklyn Boys who are holding doors, making sure you get home okay and paying for your dinner or drinks (no matter how many time you try to).

Brooklyn Boys are tons of fun. They are always willing to go anywhere and do anything. They all have great sense of humors too. Lots of sarcasm.

The only thing about Brooklyn Boys that I could really do without is their obsession with cars. Cars seem to be a very important part of their lives. But, of course, I can't complain. Especially if they are using those cars to drive me home or come out to Long Island for a good time.

Another Softball Loss

Thursday was hot. Worse than hot. Disgustingly humid is more like it. My bandaid on my knee wouldn't stay on. And the sweat from the catcher's mask was dripping down my face into my eyes (hot visual, right?)

The innings were pretty long. But as we recorded another loss in the books, we also recorded another great time with friends. We were missing many of our regular people and everyone was playing different positions than they are used to. However, with the small number of people, most of us were able to play the whole game which was nice.

I really don't want the season to end. I am definitely not a great athlete, but I see myself improving the more I play. Once the season ends, i'm going to be out of the softball habit and next summer will have to start back at the beginning again.

Very much like high school gym, I was never at the top of the class, but never at the bottom either. Aside from hockey. I kicked major ass in middle school floor hockey. Too bad they never let us play in high school because too many injuries happened.

One semester in gym class we played volleyball for months. In the beginning I sucked. I couldn't serve and the ball always hurt my wrists. But as time went on and I played more and more, I eventually got the hang of it. Just as I am with softball. My throwing and catching is improving and I think my batting is becoming a little more consistant as well.

After the game a bunch of us went to Lincoln Park for food and drinks. While we were there we watched the Yankees beat the Red Sox (woohoo!). It was fun spending time with some of my teammates that I don't know that well. I hope a lot of the same people will play again next year.

PS: You should come out to a game. We have a few more left. They are fun to watch and we could always use a few more cheerleaders.

Plus, watching me bat is quite a comical sight! I realized that I dance while at the plate. Well, not really dance, but I shake my butt. I get so nervous and have so much anxious energy when I am at bat that the only way I can focus and do my best to hit the ball is if I contain all the energy in one spot. That spot seems to be my butt. I just shake it back and forth until I make contact with the ball. :-) Everyone has their routine. Maybe this will be my signature stance.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I just wrote a whole post about Thursday's softball game and I lost it. BOOOOOOOO

I'll try and re-type it later. Not enough time now, bummer.

Lunch Today

I had a very interesting lunch today with the VP for Human Resources of my company. She was recently hired and I haven't had much interaction with her. I asked her for some job descriptions so I could complete my review and she asked me to lunch....so I said okay.

It was a great lunch. I figured she just wanted to get to know me and obviously pick my brain a little bit about work which she did. I think she wanted to make sure I was doing okay because she heard I work until 1 am (only twice!).

However, I did a good job explaining the situations in which I have to work a lot and made her understand a lot more about my personality and gave her examples of the work/life balance I do have.

Aside from the work-related questions, we also just got to know one another. Talking to her about work and my life in general, there was one very evident attribute: PASSION. I've always believed you shouldn't do anything if you aren't passionate about it. It's the way I live my life. My passions are obvious to those around me-- i'm passionate about life in general, including my career, family, alumni connection, community service, etc.

While this VP was getting to know me, I was getting to know myself again. Life gets crazy and stress can start to consume me, but being brought back down and reminded of the things that are most important in my life really made me feel positive about the future and excited to be alive! It was the exact pick-me-up I've been needing.

NHL Lockout Over

FOXSports.com

The NHL and the players' association reached an agreement in principle Wednesday on a six-year labor deal, ending a lockout that wiped out last season.

The sides met for 24 hours starting Tuesday afternoon to hammer out the collective bargaining agreement that will return the NHL to the ice on time in the fall. In February, commissioner Gary Bettman canceled the season, making the NHL the first North American sports league to lose a year because of a labor dispute.


YAHOO! CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT SEASON!

More Frosty Drinks

I love frosty drinks! Be it a 7 Eleven Slurpee, a movie theater Icee, a Dunkin’ Donuts Coolatta, the new Dippin’ Dots Slushee/Ice Cream concoction, a strawberry daiquiri at my favorite bar or an Italian ice from the vendor on the corner—they are my absolute favorite way to cool down all through the year.

My top recos right now are as follow:

· I’ve always loved Dunkin’ Donuts Coolattas. Ever since I had one with Oona when we went to visit her parents in Vermont together. Well now certain DnD’s have Tropicana Coolattas. The great Orange flavor is super refreshing in the morning or anytime throughout the day.

· I had tried Dippin Dots a few times and could never really get into them. They are a weird consistency and I decided I liked regular ice cream better. However, now they have slushee machines in their stores and can mix slushee with Dippin Dots. For instance, my current obsession is the orange slushee with vanilla Dippin’ Dots. Tastes like a creamsicle. It’s awesome.

7-Eleven's Slurpee turns 40

on July (7) 11th no less.

In honor of the occassion, participating 7-Eleven stores will be giving out free Slurpees in 7.11 ounce cups. How cute.

I'd also like to point out that today also marks 7-Eleven's return to Manhattan with it's first store on 23rd and Park (too bad that's so far away from where I work and live). I'll get there eventually, but not today when I could get my favorite treat for free!

Freak Accident With Waterproof Mascara

I had the most bizarre experience with a cosmetic product this week. I'm obsessive when it comes to mascara. I have tubes of every type from every brand in my make up case. I usually choose waterproof mascara so it it's hot out or I'm crying I don't start looking like a raccoon.

The other day I was putting on some mascara and I poked myself in the eye. It didn't hurt at all, but I wound up with a gob of mascara on my contact lens. And although I couldn't feel it, you could see it on my eye. So I took the contact out and tried cleaning with contact solution. The black spot wouldn't come off.

I was running late so I popped the lens back in my eye and hoped it wasn't noticeable and would go away as I wore it all day. To my dismay, a few people did notice the black spot on my eye and it didn't go away. I tried cleaning it again when I got home, but still no luck. My only choice was to chuck it and put in a new lens. The only thing that gets mascara out is make up remover which would have probably made me go blind.

I tend to accidentally poke myself in the eye while applying make up often, so I may have to return to non-waterproof mascara or attempt to do my make up without any contacts in!

New Music Update

My favorite band, Hootie & The Blowfish, are releasing their next album in a month. It's called "Looking for Lucky" and they are currently playing their first single "One Love" as the background music on their homepage www.hootie.com. I am anxiously awaiting the CD release, as well as seeing them once again live in late August with Lisa.

The single sounds great. It took a few times for me to listen to it before I decided whether or not I really liked it, but I do. And the lyrics are great too:

Sunshine, on the horizon
Over two young lovers, while it’s going down
Somewhere, the same sun rising
On another two lovers as the world goes around
Same scene, played over and over
Same sweet passion
Same warm blood
Softly speaking the universe language
So many lovers, one love

One love
Might make a difference
Might take the walls, and tear em down
One NIGHT might keep on shining
If we take one love and we spread it around


Hootie has a lot of great song lyrics. I'll try and post them periodically. It's a shame that this band gets this one album reputation. The songs they don't play on the radio are so much better than the songs that do make the station playlist. And they have a lot of albums that most people aren't even aware of-- "Cracked Rear View", "Fairweather Johnson", "Musical Chairs", and their self-titled "Hootie & the Blowfish". In addition, they have their CD of cover songs and never before released tunes "Scattered, Smothered & Covered" and a "Best of" album. It's great to see a band so true to their music and their fans. Go Hootie!

We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off

To Have A Good Time

This is actually a song I heard for the first time this weekend. It's a great little 80's dance tune that I wish I could blast from a portable CD player wherever I go. Maybe it's just my recent luck, but I feel like every guy I have gone out with or spent time with in the last year doesn't seem to understand this concept.

Don't get me wrong, taking off your clothes can equal a good time, even a very very very good time. But the problem is that many guys seem to think it's the only way to have fun. It's like they don't even know how to have a conversation or hang out with a member of the opposite sex without getting naked. It boggles my mind.

So if you haven't heard this Jermaine Stewart song, you should really use one of your free Slurpee iTunes downloads to pick it up :0)




Night is young, so are we.
Let's get to know each other better, slow & easily.
Take my hand, let's hit the floor.
Shake our bodies to the music.
Maybe then you'll score.

Chorus: So come on baby, won't you show some class
Why you want to move so fast.
We don't have to take our clothes off
To have a good time
Oh no
We could dance & party all night
And drink some cherry wine

New Jersey: Not as bad as you think

As a girl from Long Island, it's my job to make sure NJ never looks better than LI. But with all the outer NYC rivalry aside, NJ can be a pretty cool place with the right people.

For the first time in years, I didn't spend 4th of July at home. It's been a yearly tradition that all of my high school friends and I get together for the holiday. We barbecue, take out my friend's boat, play volleyball on the beach, watch fireworks, etc. Although the actual events vary from year to year, the people don't. For the last few years, the significant others have been a part of the festivities as well. Plus, a few college friends always seem to get added to the mix. Last year my roommate Cheryl even joined us.

This year, I was trying to plan out my summer trips/long weekends and I immediately put aside the 4th of July as a weekend I would be home. Unfortunately, when I spoke with Karen she said she wasn't coming home and had other plans. She was breaking the tradition and she was the reason I would typically come home. (Although I love my other high school friends, being forced to deal with the ex and people I haven't spoken with all year without Karen, just didn't seem to be an option....the last few times at home with my hs crowd were really difficult and I wasn't about to waste my long weekend being miserable.)

So I decided to make other plans and spend the weekend in NJ with the lovely Erin Potts. And a fantastic weekend we did have. Aside from the traffic, the weekend was perfect. We went to the beach, went in her pool, ate at my two favorite NJ places (Champps and Panera Bread), saw TWO great fireworks shows, watched Live 8 on tv, etc.

A weekend in NJ wouldn't be complete without an evening spent with Erin's family. Her mom barbecued and prepared a fantastic dinner on Sunday night. Erin, her sister, father and I all played badmitton before dinner. After the fireworks show we had dessert and played "Spoons". It's always great to enjoy a dose of suburban bliss every now and then.

Plus, did you know that southern Jersey radio stations really like to play Will Smith's "Getting Jiggy With It"? Erin and I perfected the car dance to this song this weekend.

But as with every vacation, "what happens in Jersey, stays in Jersey". So that's all I can share about my weekend away!

US Open Tennis Anyone?

I'm thinking about buying some tickets to the first three opening nights of the US Open at the end of August. I've been the last few years and it is awesome if you like watching tennis. Even though my dad should be coming through with a few pairs of tickets, I got a discount email through work and I really want to see Agassi who most likely will play at night on Day 1 or Day 2.

The seats may not be great, but are definitely inexpensive. Let me know if you are interested in purchasing with me.

PS Also, I was checking out the US Open site http://www.usopen.org/home/default.sps and learned there is Free Admission for a few events. I am even thinking of taking a day off to go watch a day of qualifying matches.

• FREE ADMISSION! US Open Qualifying Tournament

Tuesday, August 23 - Friday, August 26

Gates Open at 10:00

Come see tomorrow’s stars today at one of the largest tennis tournaments in the U.S. The qualifying tournament takes place at the USTA National Tennis Center. Admission to all US Open qualifying matches is FREE!

• FREE ADMISSION! Open Practice Day

Sunday, August 28

Gates Open at 11:00 am

Come see your favorite tennis stars up close and personal as they practice for the US Open.

Falling Down Sucks

Since I've posted many of my klutzy encounters on my blog, here's another one for the books. Skinning your knee is like the worst in the world. As an adult, you forget what it's like to have scabby knees. I'm here to remind everyone it totally bites.

On Saturday as I was leaving my apartment and getting ready for my 4th of July trip I completely wiped out on the curb outside my apartment. Now it wasn't totally my fault. The city of New York is accountable for some of the fault. The sidewalk/curb is totally busted and I guess I never noticed it before. But as I was going to hail a cab with Erin I totally wound up face down, ass up on the asphalt between two parked cars with all my bags crashing to the ground next to me. It was embarrassing too. The couple behind me were like "damn, are you okay?". And all I had to show for myself was a bloody two-cut knee. (And maybe a few dents my arms put in the cars I came crashing down near, lol).

I still managed to enjoy the sun and sand this weekend, but steps are still difficult. Last time I checked, a scabbed knee wasn't the accessory I was looking to add to my hottie dress for the wedding I am going to this weekend!