Monday, October 15, 2012

Sundowners with the Sundowners

Sausage bread and Arancini- not burned and therefore worthy of documentation
I write this blog really just to document this time in our lives so I A: don't forget how hard we worked to get here and B: remind myself why I have vowed never to refit another boat ever again. A side benefit of writing this is that our little blog has given us the opportunity to meet some really incredible people and to develop some great friendships. Without this blog, I would never have met my now good friends Cindy and Laureen. Friends that I know have my back should I ever decide that this was all a really stupid idea and will listen for hours if I have a mental breakdown and weep uncontrollably over our exploding holding tank. This alone makes keeping the blog worthwhile.

We had the good fortune to get to have a meet and greet with Tate and Danielle from Sundowner Sails Again. They were in Kemah for a Westsail owners Rendezous. We were on the boat working on the never ending refit once again. We invited Tate and Dani over for snacks and cocktails, followed by a tour of our boat and a rare dinner out.

We just loved meeting Tate and Dani. I think perhaps Tate was born about 100 years too late. He just has the heart of a Victorian era explorer with the can do attitude and aptitude for picking up and excelling at whatever he puts his hand to. Like a modern Dr. David Livingstone. He just exudes capability as well as having a really wicked sense of humor. He could wear a pith helmet and a monocle and you would not raise an eyebrow because he could totally make it work.

Mark is smiling because he finally met someone who understands his Captain Perfecto tendencies
Dani is just grace itself. Impossibly lovely, gracious and with a keen intellect and that same inherent capability that Tate has. We all loved hanging with Dani but Maura was absolutely starstruck. If we all think Dani is the bees knees, Maura thinks she is a rockstar- smart, beautiful, fearless AND capable? I think Maura will be heading up her fan club. The only one of us disappointed was Kitty and that is only because we told her all week were going to meet Tate and Dani but she thought we were going to see Dani who would bring her CAKE. When she figured out Tate was a person and not a confectionary she just sighed.

Bonding over a shared dismay of the state of our galleys...
We ate too much, drank enough, laughed a lot and stayed up waayy too late. We had a blast. The next morning, it was up with the sun and back to chasing down a leak on the boat. Such is life during a refit but man oh man was it fun to put down the tools for a bit and have a good time with peeps who are simpatico.


21 comments:

  1. LOL, you are so funny! Funny you mentioned a pith helmet because Tate wore one to Burning Man 2009 http://sundownersailsagain.com/burning-man-2009-part-iv-burning-man-alive/

    You are too kind with your words about us:D. It was delightful to meet your family and I really do hope one day we see you again. In the tropics perhaps.

    Tell Maura I am no one special, I was once a girl her age with the whole world ahead of me.

    Your boat is AMAZING. Your family is awesome. Here's to you leaving the dock come next November.

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    1. I will do no such thing as to lie to my girl. I can think of no better person for her to elevate to rockstar status than you. ;)

      Oh and the photo of Tate is AWESOME. I KNEW he could make it work!

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  2. Oooh I love reading about boat people meet ups. And Cindy you look stunning in that photo! (Dani too!)

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  3. Cindy is sooo pretty! I told her we need to see more of her bright and smiling face online:D.

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  4. Cindy is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful- and in Annapolis and not pictured here. ;) Cidnie looks like a troll but a decidedly friendly one. :-D

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  5. Aww I love meeting boat peoplez. And yes, a primary reason why I love blogging is meeting the people. It brings me back to my quest of meeting everyone on earth. Someday....
    Cid you are a stunner and if that's what trolls look like in your world, sign me up.
    xo

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    1. Amanda, you are kind. You are also my favorite. ;)

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  6. I knew I had Tate and Dani pegged! I'm so envious, but pleased for you that you 4 got a chance to hook up! Poor Kitty. No cake. But Maura has chosen an awesome role model (aside from her mom. Isn't adolescence a blast?)in Dani. I'll bet she has that whole southern charm thing totally covered. I would never be able to pull that off in a million years.

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    1. She is indeed charming but you have your own charm yourself Melissa and I look forward to seeing it in person some day.

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  7. I feel like such a let down. I should have brought some cake, but no, the cake was just a lie.

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    1. I tell the kids life is just a series of disappointments. The trick is learning to be happy anyway.

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  8. It is cool to see you guys meet and share some time together. I like reading about your girls as mine are both grown and out of the house. Gotta run....time for Tate Cake! (Is that like a King cake?)

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    1. The thing is, kids are either growing up too fast or in some instances, not fast enough (hello potty training). Have some cake for us!

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  9. I'm so jealous that you got to sup with the Sundowners before we did. Ah well.... Couldn't happen to nicer folks. One day we''ll meet up with all y'all and then I expect to be put into a food coma by all the good Texas and Louisiana cooking. In the meanwhile I guess we'll just have to tuck into these big beautiful shrimp that Alejandro brought us. -Steve

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  10. Weep uncontrollably? Nah, let's drink uncontrollably. Ok actually we're getting too old for that. Shop uncontrollably? Or just schmooze. We seem to excel at that.

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  11. Oh that is TOO funny about the cake! Reminds me of one year teaching preschool when I told the kids we were going to meet "Mat Man" (part of the handwriting curriculum). I couldn't figure out why they were so excited (I made it sound enticing, but not THAT enticing!). Well, it turns out they all thought they were going to meet BATMAN! :-) It sounds like a great time with good friends!

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  12. You and Dani look gorgeous! I just wish the Westsail Rendezvous had happened when we were still in Kemah.

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