Biff's Toys for Pinellas Kids

My foray into fundraising is over for this year. I spent nearly every Friday and Saturday evenings (along with one Wednesday evening and a Sunday) for the last seven weeks sitting at Biff Burger's selling stuffed white tigers. This was a solo effort. Me, a table and 75 stuffed white tigers. It is now finished.

Last night was the finale and I was at Biff's from 1 pm until nearly 11 pm, my friend, Cindy came to join me around 3ish and helped me with the sales.

So....after all was said and done, I sold 75 white tigers, gave $552 to Biff's Toys for Pinellas Kids and around half of those tigers were donated. They had a match it bucket and my check(s)....the first for $200 and the one last night for $352 both went into the bucket and the gold sponsors for the event matched everything in the bucket up to $3,000. My $552 became $1,104 instantly and that's a whole lot of kids that are going to have a better Christmas from my efforts and all of those that helped with the effort.

Now it's time to concentrate on getting everything done for Christmas for my friends and family......so for now,

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!! May all of your Christmas dreams and wishes come true.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope one and all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your friends and family. I know that I'm thankful for all of those friends that I've gotten to know over the years and my family that's put up with me all of my life.

Meanwhile, I've been quietly doing a little fundraiser in conjunction with the local Biff Burger (practically an institution in St. Petersburg). Every year they do a toy drive to help the needy kids. For the last three years in a row they've been the number 1 independent contributor to Toys for Tots in the COUNTRY! Last year they raised $33,000 and donated 10,000 toys. JUST last year.

This year, they've started something new and formed an alliance with the local firefighters in three districts (Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg and Lealman), to keep every dime of it local and every toy in Pinellas County.

For the last 15 years I've donated a few toys to help out. I've never had much, but I help the best way that I can.

This year is different.

This year I decided to do something to give back to my community in a bigger way than handing over a couple of toys. I made the committment to Biff's through the Avon Fundraising Division to sell Willie the White Tiger. For every tiger I sell (they're $20 each), I give $6 to Biff's Toys for Pinellas Kids. If the person purchasing the toy wants to donate it, then both the toy and the $6 goes to the kids.

I started the fundraising effort the first weekend of November when they kicked off their drive. I've now worked five events over the course of the last three and a half weeks and tonight at their big Thanksgiving event where they gave 101 meals to needy families, I handed them the first of the two checks they'll receive from me. The amount?

TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!

It felt really good to be able to help in that way and on top of that, 15 tigers were donated to the kids!!!! I'm looking forward to doing even more before the big finale on December 18th. I'm so proud that I could help by donating my time and my profits to help the less fortunate and especially the kids!!!!

Like I've said before, I suck at this. Probably more because my life is so busy these days than a lack of desire to actually update.

I'd promised a review of my two shows back in April. You're all better off that I didn't do so, being that I had some issues with the setlists (vanilla, vanilla, vanilla) and wasn't very complimentary of the band because of it. And Jon's to blame for that, Jon's ALWAYS to blame. LOL When someone says that they're going to drag out the deeper cuts, you actually expect them to do that. You don't expect to see virtually the very same setlist two nights running when the band HAS to know that a good number of those that attended the Tampa show would be at the Miami show. Regardless, I DID have a good time. I DID enjoy hanging with my friends and I DID have decent seats (not excellent as I had in previous tours when Mrs. B ran the fan club, which I've now quit).

My life has been forced to move its focus from my serious lust of the band, and especially Jon/Richie, to the more mundane, but important efforts of keeping my head above water. The economy sucks. My job, that I still enjoy, is stressful and I spend far too much time (and gas money) commuting. It's the way of things these days for far too many of us.

On the lighter side, I did manage to get to the Goo Goo Dolls concert and had a really good time a few weeks back. If you haven't heard it, their new CD is awesome. They played three or maybe it was four songs from it and I really do need to go buy it.

As always, baseball is my saving grace. Thanks to the fact I can buy a $10-20 ticket and walk into the ball field and enjoy a game whenever my TB Rays are in town. Because of them I've seen a number of good bands playing after the games. Although I did miss the game with the Train concert afterwards.

The Rays. Gotta love em. They've either been 1st or 2nd in ALL of baseball this season. The post season is looming and we're currently a game back from the NYY (or as I call them 'the evil empire') and seven up on the Red Sox. Toughest division in all of baseball and my boys are in the thick of the hunt for October and the World Series.

Maybe I'll start blogging more. Maybe I'll learn that procrastination isn't something to embrace and maybe I'll win the lottery.

Long Time No Blog

I guess it’s true. I suck at blogging. Royally suck. Last blog was in December. I wonder if you get kicked out of blogger if you don’t update after so long? Anyway, I figured it was time.

Snapshot of the last four months. Illness, car repairs, more illness, car accident, allergies, cold, conjunctivitis and more illness.

And baseball. Always baseball. I love my Rays. FanFest back in February was awesome. It would have been MORE awesome if the idiot that I am could have taken some better pictures of Matt Garza. LOVE me some Matt Garza. He’s our #2 starting pitcher in our rotation. Easy on the eyes and is TALL. WAY TALL, 6’4” tall. I’ve already been to two games this season and must say, I can’t wait to get back to the ballpark again for even more games.

Oh and then there’s the little rat snake that got into our office. Never saw grown women act like that (well, I have but it’s still funny). They came to get ME. ME!?! I asked what they were waving their hands wildly and mincing around on their toes about. A snake. A little baby rat snake slithered into the office through the crack at the bottom of the back security door. I was the one delegated to remove said snake from the office. Not one of the men. Me. Half of the women wanted the poor little thing dead. I’m the type that catches bugs and returns them outside, so I figured if the snake was going to live it was up to me. It wasn’t nearly as entertaining as Hath’s chipmunk tale, but me and the snake were doing fine until one of the women decided to ‘help’. When she crossed in front of the little guy he made a left. That Left was most definitely NOT Right. It led to the room where we keep our computer servers. And I knew what would happen if the computer geeks got a hold of him. We’d have one dead snake.

Sooooo, I went in search of a way to catch him without getting bit again. Oh, did I leave that out? Yeah, baby snake was faster than me. I identified what kind of snake he was before I even attempted to pick him up. Still, tried to grab him behind the head so little snaky teeth wouldn’t find fleshy skin and missed. Badly. He hauled off and sank his little teeth into my thumb. They were such little teeth though they barely broke the skin and I did wash it thoroughly, used hydrogen peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment AFTER I was done with my rescue mission.

One plastic drink cup, a flyer, a tile floor that he was having trouble slithering on and some determination got one little snake into the cup and then outside where he belonged. On grass. On the other side of the wall. Where he’d have a devil of a time finding his way back into our office and another rescue mission. And wouldn’t you know it? My boss (female) was worried I’d been poisoned by the snake. Another told me that their mouths were septic and I’d get this horrible infection. Instead my allergies and the pollen have been worse on me than any little snake. Did I mention I used to have a pet rat snake years ago? Yeah. Well, they were about the same size, but mine was a red rat snake.

Anyway, that’s about it. Oh yeah and there’s this little thing coming up this weekend. Bon Jovi. Uh huh. Two shows. Two nights in a row. I. Cannot. Wait!!!! No following the band around this tour. I just don’t have the spare cash. But two shows. Two nights in a row. THAT I can manage, even if one of them I’m sitting in the nosebleeds. I can deal. And I'll review both shows once I've come down from the Jovi high.

Happy Holidays....

It's been a very long time. I'd apologize for my absense, but I've been too busy with life to really have time for my blog. Not that it's nearly as popular and so many others that my online and real life friends maintain. Regardless, it's been a very busy three months.

I became gainfully employed again at the end of September. It was an unexpected surprise in my life and I'm so very grateful to them for having faith in my ability and experience to hire me. Almost to the end of my probation period and I have been assured I have nothing to fear. That by itself is a relief.

I've been kayaking, a nightstand for Halloween (get it, a night stand.....one night stand) and went to Gaylord Palms Resort for their ICE! spectacular and it is spectacular. I've never seen two million pounds of ice looks so beautiful......and it reminded me what 9 degrees feels like. It's COLD.

I was able to Christmas shop this year and the first packages are in the mail. One more package and I'm done with shipping. Now Christmas cards are another story entirely. A Christmas party, a Holiday party and Biff Burger's Toys for Tots Bike Show are past me and now it's on to my birthday and Christmas. Both will be over soon enough.

Oh and when I say Happy Holidays it's not to lessen the spirit of the season, on the contrary. It's to celebrate all holidays this time of year. My new company celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas, so holiday wishes to everyone that does the same.

I can't say I've been this anxious to have a year over with in a long time, but this year, I'm looking hopefully forward towards 2010 and hope that it brings better things to each and every one of you, yours and the world in general. It's been a tough couple years for all of us and I believe that it will improve slowly over the course of the next twelve months.

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Happy Hanukkah!!!

And best of all......Have a happy, healthy, wonderful New Year.






PS.......if Amber's muse ever returns, you'll be the first ones to know.

Richie Sambora: new Bon Jovi album The Circle "rocks hard"

Found this on the net......from musicradar.com

Bon Jovi went to Nashville for 2007's country-tinged Lost Highway album and the result was mega-platinum: the record debuted at number one in the US - a first for the band. But on their upcoming release, The Circle (due out 10 November), the Jersey hitmakers are "back to rocking," says Richie Sambora.

"It was great dipping our toes in different waters," says the guitarist. "Jon [Bon Jovi] and I loved working with all these Nashville cats on Lost Highway, and that music definitely came through us in a natural way. We went down there with a couple of notepads and some guitars and magic just happened.

"But the last thing we want to do is try to Xerox something till it becomes a pale imitation of the original. So when Jon called me up last year and said it was time to start writing, the first thing we asked ourselves was, 'What do we feel like doing? And rocking was the answer."

Fruitful writing sessions

Sambora describes the writing sessions between Bon Jovi and himself as "extremely easy, prolific and probably the most fun we've ever had creatively. I went to Jon's house with nothing and before you knew it we had something like 28 songs. Hey, when you're on a roll, you're on a roll. You don't question it, you just keep going till you're done."

Describing their demoing process, Sambora says bluntly, "We don't. Meaning, we don't do these elaborate sketches of songs with this part and that part. It's a time-waster." Instead, the duo "just grab two acoustic guitars, sit down in front of our old-school cassette record or an iPhone and we play the songs.

"We're of the belief that you can't polish bullshit," he says. "You have to remember, Jon and I have been doing this for 25 years. We know when we have something great and when we have something sub-par.

"To us, when we write a song, we knock it out and then we bring it to the band. When you go into a studio and you press 'Record,' that's a different story. That's when you start sprinkling all the fairy dust on the tracks. But that should come only after you have something that's unbreakable."
Guitars, guitars, guitars!

To record The Circle, Bon Jovi reunited with producer-songwriter John Shanks, who the band worked with on Have A Nice Day and half of Lost Highway. "John's an amazing producer, writer, you name it," Sambora enthuses. "I can't say enough good things about him. And he knows his guitars, too - that always helps."

Sambora admits he can't remember all the guitars he used on the new album, but a few come to mind. "I got a '58 Explorer which sounds excellent. Then I also used a Duesenberg, a Les Paul Jr with P-90s, a '59 and a '68 Les Paul. Plus, there were a couple of my old Teles and some of John Shanks's Strats. All good stuff."

The first single from The Circle, We Weren't Born To Follow, has been blowing up at radio, but Sambora reveals that the version currently being spun will ultimately differ from what fans can expect to hear on the album.

"When I recorded the solo to that song, I played a very melodic, kind of Beatles-esque break. That was the mood I was in. As soon as the song got leaked to radio, people went crazy, sending e-mails and Twittering and everything: 'We love the song, but what's with that solo? We want a rippin', burnin' Richie Sambora solo.

"So I said to Jon, 'Hey, do you want me to change it? We got time. And Jon was like, 'Sure. Go lay down another solo and we'll drop it in the song on the album.' So that's what I did - I cut it yesterday, in fact. It's a monster."

But does the guitarist mind having fans, in effect, 'produce' part of a song? "Nah!" he says, with a laugh. "When I played sessions, it was all about serving the song. Sometimes you have to test things out and see what works. I'm totally cool about the whole thing. And I guarantee that when people hear the new solo, they'll be stoked. Ask and you shall receive."

R.I.P. Patrick Swayze

Today seems to be about twenty. This time it is twenty months. That's how long Patrick Swayze knew he had pancreatic cancer. That's nineteen months longer than my husband knew before he too succumbed to that awful disease.

Many people will be mourning the passing of Patrick and I will be one of them, some of his movies are classics. The line "nobody ever puts Baby in a corner" is one that pretty much everyone knows. I loved his movies from Red Dawn that his co-star was his wife Lisa Niemi to Road House, Ghost, which was a special favorite of mine and my husband's, and everything inbetween. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar was a great movie that was so very funny and then there was North and South, the mini-series on television. All of them showed his versatility and talent.

Not one of them showed the strength and grit that he must have had as a person to withstand that disease as long as he did. I know from close personal experience it is horribly painful. Having seen what this disease does to a loved one, my heart goes out to Lisa and to their friends and family. It's not pretty, it doesn't discriminate and there is currently no cure.

Quoting the National Cancer Institute:

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose for the following reasons:

There aren’t any noticeable signs or symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer.

The signs of pancreatic cancer, when present, are like the signs of many other illnesses.

The pancreas is hidden behind other organs such as the stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and bile ducts.

I don't know what symptoms led to Patrick's diagnosis that gave him 20 months, but for my husband we had no idea until they did surgery for what the doctors believed was operable, curable liver cancer. Once they opened him up, that's when they discovered pancreatic cancer and less than a month later he lost the battle. A battle that I have to say in all honesty was very difficult to watch as that horrible, deadly disease caused him untold pain and discomfort for those short weeks. It was a blessing that he went so quickly.

My heart bleeds for the Swazye family and any others facing this deadly killer. My only wish is that because of what Mr. Swazye, Michael Landon, Luciano Pavarotti, Gene Upshaw, Jack Benny (also had lung cance) and my husband faced, that the National Cancer Society and those others researching cures for cancer will find one for this monster.

R.I.P Patrick Swayze.

Musings caused by Jon and Dorothea strolling in NYC

I got this picture in my Google alerts and had to comment on it. First, I don't know how any one man can look that good with a scruffy face, but he pulls it off beautifully. And those of you that know me, know I'm sitting here with drool running down my chin at the whole scruff thing......

Secondly, the caption with the picture set my brain into musing mode ... "Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi strolls in New York City with his wife of twenty years Dorothea Hurley. The couple have four children -- Stephanie Rose, 16, Jesse James, 14, Jacob Hurley, 7, and Romeo Jon, 5. "

Twenty years. They've been married 20 years. Now that was no surprise to me back in April when they celebrated their 20th, but today it hit me that 20 years ago I was already a fan and had been for a couple years (I didn't discover them until LOAP was on MTV and I got a good look at the lead guitarist, which later gave way to those blue eyes and the charisma that is Jon and is probably the basis of why I sway between them). At that point in my life I'd already graduated college, moved to Florida and was a married woman myself.

Sixteen years ago. They had Stephanie Rose on May 31st and a friend of mine at the time was pregnant with her first child, with a due date within days of Stephanie's. It was also 16 years ago that I finally saw Bon Jovi live for the first time in Tampa on my mother's birthday (she did forgive me for that, eventually). Keep the Faith tour. There's something about that band live that hooks you for good and insinuates itself into the fabric of your being.

Fourteen years ago. Jesse James was born on February 19th, same day as my late brother's birthday. These Days came out in the stores and it is in the top three of my favorite records the guys ever released. The best review I've ever read of that album came from Anthony Kuzminski, it's well worth the read. He puts into words all of the feelings I've had about that particular work of art and would never be able to manage.

Seven years ago. Jacob Hurley was born on May 7th. Jon did a stint on Ally McBeal. My husband passed away and Bounce brought me out of my stupor. I joined the Street Team, Backstage and met a lot of awesome women that have since become some of my closest friends. The words "count me out, count me in, I'll be bouncing back again" were my mantra during that time and my cat Bounce came into my life via friends that knew I needed something to remind me to keep bouncing. She does, everyday.

Five years ago. Romeo Jon joined the world on March 29th. By that time I was bouncing with vigor. I'd attended a small number of concerts, no where near the number some of my friends have seen and I'll never approach that number. Still five years ago, was when HAND was released, during which tour I met some of those friends in person at Giants Stadium. One of which moved to Florida from Scotland recently, married and on Saturday is having the ceremony for friends and family that didn't attend the quicky, spur of the moment wedding on July 4th.

Today. We're all waiting for The Circle to come out, tour dates to be announced and looking forward to what the next twenty years brings with it. I wouldn't change one moment of it (except losing my best friend and husband) and Jon Bon Jovi still looks as handsome and sexy as he did back in the late 80s when I first fell in lust with him. As for Dorothea, she's probably the luckiest woman alive, although, I don't think I'd want to deal with her husband's legendary temper.

We Weren't Born to Follow

Yeah, I know it's posted elsewhere, but hey, I'm pumped that we're getting the first new single off the new CD already..... The Circle comes out November 10th. And I know y'all already know that too.......




I'm ready for it..... the CD that is. I really do need a job now so I can afford a tour!

Misc. Musings again.

Wow, didn't realize I'd ignored my blog so long. It's been a crazy month. So here I go.

RIP to Les Paul. When I was in NYC I didn't have the time or money to see him at the Iridium, but had wanted to and now I'll never get that opportunity. To the father of the electric guitar and so much more that he meant to the music community, my deepest sympathies as well as to his family.

The Circle, huh? Guess they're eluding to the idea that Bon Jovi started out as a big, loud rock band and they've gone back full circle to a big, loud rock record again. I'm anxious to hear it although I adored Lost Highway. Then again, I loved HAND, TLFR, Bounce, Crush, These Days, KTF, New Jersey, Slippery and Bon Jovi before it. I wasn't all that keen on 7800, but then again, I didn't fall flat on my face in love with the band's music till Slippery either. So cannot wait to hear it and am praying someone will hear it beforehand and we'll find out more before that November 10th date. Although, Obie has really been saying really positive things about how loud and rock it is. Guess we can take his word for it.

On a more personal note, poor Amber has been suffering because I've been so deeply involved in my other writing. My apologies to Amber's followers. I should be able to get to her and finish that chapter that's been half done for a month.

Baseball and a visit to my sister also figured in me vanishing. I do love my baseball games and wish my guys would get a fire going under them like last year, I fear it won't happen or won't happen soon enough to make a difference. My sister sent me a ticket, so I ended up there for a bit and continued my job hunt online from there. I should be deep raspberry red for all the berries I ate while visiting. Why is it that a 1/2 pint, which isn't nearly really a half pint of raspberries costs $4 and I bought pints that were overflowing for $2???? It's one of the reasons that I've considered moving back to Michigan....but then I'd have to deal with cold, snow, sleet and the lack of a decent airport (or rather decent airfares) which would seriously curtail my travels come tour time.

In any case, I'm home, doubling my job hunting efforts so I have some way to pay for concert tickets...my homeowners insurance, real estate taxes and the rest of my monthly bills.

AFL and Philly Soul

I saw this in my Google alerts and was saddened by the news. I'd hoped Jon's 50/50 pronouncement was positive. Guess not and for those still thinking he isn't computer savvy....guess again. (Besides the fact that in the old days of the FC he used to participate in chats...and Matt wasn't typing for him.)

Return not on radar for Soul, AFL

The 1-year anniversary of the Soul's ArenaBowl championship is days away and rather than celebrate, fans, players and even coaches continue to sit in limbo.

Since suspending the 2009 season 7 months ago, the AFL has sat in purgatory while some owners try to salvage the league and others have thrown up a white flag.

Even Soul co-owner Jon Bon Jovi is struggling to grasp optimism. When asked by the Daily News whether the league would play in 2010, Bon Jovi replied by e-mail, "Do you believe in miracles? Are you a betting man? I said it all in the [New York] Times article. We are trying . . . hard. Every day."

The league, awash in red ink, got the players union's approval in March on a new collective bargaining agreement that basically slashed salaries in half. Still, the franchises in Los Angeles and New Orleans have folded, and others are on the ropes.

"But here's the truth," Bon Jovi told the New York Times 2 weeks ago. "If we come back, we will set a new benchmark for what is sports ownership. This is more than a lockout. We're on the brink of the abyss."

Even if everything came together tomorrow, it's still difficult to imagine a 2010 season beginning in March. Many players have gotten on with their lives and won't be able to resume their football careers at half the pay. There will always be younger players looking for an opportunity, but will the quality of play (and name recognition) be enough to draw crowds at venues such as the Wachovia Center?

Chicago Rush co-owner Mike Ditka earlier this month told the Chicago Sun-Times bluntly: "I would love to see the AFL come back. But if you ain't heard anything by now saying they will, I don't see them coming back because there were too many weak sisters. If the league does [return], it will probably have to scale itself down and make sure it has more solid ownership and much better team management."

At last year's championship parade, Philadelphia coach Bret Munsey sent the City Hall Plaza crowd into a frenzy when he proclaimed that the Soul would repeat. Today, he doesn't even live in the area.

Munsey is the director of player personnel for Orlando, of the fledgling United Football League, where Jim Haslett is the head coach. Munsey moved his family to Florida in June.

"I've had zero communication with ownership and have been in the dark [regarding the return] of Philadelphia and the Arena Football League," he said. "I couldn't sit around and wait. I waited long enough."

Small World - Big Message

Back a couple weeks ago, or was it a month ago already, Jon and Richie lent a hand to record Stand By Me for the Iranian People. I just saw this interview with Don Was at Metro Times and was blown away by the following quote:


MT: The video you recently made with Iranian pop star Andy Madadian doing "Stand By Me" to show solidarity with the Iranian people was incredible as well as very moving. What was the genesis of that? It was similar to the project you did last summer in Detroit with the Middle Eastern musicians. Do you believe that music can still bring people together and even change the world? And how did the Bon Jovi guys get involved?

Was: I was driving around, listening to Democracy Now on the local lefty station. Amy Goodman was talking about how the movement in Iran is not about overthrowing the government — it's a civil rights movement and a youth movement. Being a musician, my first thought was that these kids need a marching song! Anyone who was around in the '60s remembers the impact of songs like "We Shall Overcome," "Blowin' in the Wind" or "Give Peace a Chance." Music really can change the world; it has tremendous healing powers and a magical way of transcending the issues that drive people apart. So I called up Andy — who is, arguably, the most popular Iranian pop singer in the world — and asked if he'd be interested in recording such a track. We met at the studio later that day and, as fate would have it, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and their producer, John Shanks, were working next door. They're old friends of mine and, when we explained what we were gonna do, they volunteered to help out.

Three hours later, we had a finished record. The next night, we posted the video on my site at mydamnchannel.com and on YouTube. Eight hours later, it was on CNN; a few hours after that, the BBC Persian language television and Voice of America started broadcasting it into Iran. We've had over a million hits for the video online. Three days after recording the song, our mission was accomplished and, based on the response we've gotten, the message of solidarity was profoundly appreciated. That's it — we're not selling or promoting anything. We didn't press any CDs. It blows me away that you can get a message out to the whole world with such immediacy.

Y'know, I produced a Richie Sambora album about 10 years ago and even went on tour with him playing bass for a while. He's my brother! There's a bond between people from Detroit and people from Jersey. The first time I met those guys, I felt like we'd all gone to high school together. And participating in that "Stand by Me" recording was a pure act of altruism on their part. I've got tremendous respect for those cats.


It just goes to show how very small this planet is when something important in the struggle against tyranny is created. I commend the guys of Bon Jovi for having participated and for the inspiration of Don Was and Andy Madadain in creating it. As someone that recalls news traveling days or hours before it reached us and now it's a matter of minutes, I never cease to be amazed at technology and how it can be used for good.

Bon Jovi and Joan Baez Post Videos in Support of Iranian Protest

Singer-activists Joan Baez and Bon Jovi have each recorded viral videos in support of the Iranian protest. Both present solidarity with the freedom movement of Iranians now.

Neither Joan Baez or Jon Bon Jovi could perform their music in Iran, but they are now singing in Farsi lines that call for peace. Bon Jovi sings "Stand By Me" with words in Farsi along with Andy Madadian, an Armenian-Iranian pop star. Folk singer and activist Joan Baez takes "We Shall Overcome" and performs a portion in Farsi.

Joan Baez was well-known in the 1960's for her support of the civil rights movement and in support of women's rights. Much of her music became emblematic of the era, including her opposition to the War in Vietnam. Her peace protests and music has put her on the steps of the nation's capitol, as she sang in support of Martin Luther King Sr. and opposed the war with songs of peace. She met Martin Luther King during a three-day American Friends conference for peace and maintains ongoing support for social causes and in support of Quaker events.

Bon Jovi has been an advocate for social causes as well. For example, he has touted low income housing in Newark.

This is not the first time these two singers have been paired in a cause. Both sought to perform for U.S. soldiers who returned from service in Iraq. Baez was barred from performing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, along with Dan Rather, who sought to visit and speak with the troops in 2007.

Ayatollah Khamenei revealed his displeasure with Bon Jovi and declares he is deleting Bon Jovi's songs from his Ipod forever.

The Huffington Post quoted him as saying, "This is an irrevocable decision." I did not merely uncheck the tracks, I deleted them permanently."

The Ayatollah went on to say he had thought about making "Livin' on a Prayer" the Iranian national anthem, "but no more."

A whole month? Really?

Wow, I didn't even realize I'd neglected my blog this long. Ah well, life's been in the way. That and baseball. LOVE baseball. You might have noticed.

During the summer the Rays have a Summer Concert Series. So far I've been to two of the concerts. The first one of the summer, these are all on Saturday nights, was Three Doors Down and it was awesome. For the price of a baseball game, I got to see the Rays win and then enjoy one of my favorite bands play. Mind you it wasn't a long show, maybe an hour, but so worth it.

Second show I saw was a fluke. A friend and I got a mini-package of tickets and we chose this particular Saturday game because of who the Rays were playing. We didn't pay attention to who was playing AFTER the game. Sheesh. Ludicris. In the first place, I can't even spell his name right. In the second place, his music is usually rather raunchy and he cleaned it up for the 'family audience' that was there. And finally, they turned up the bass so loud that you couldn't hear him sing/rap/whatever it is he does and it made your chest pound instead of enjoying the music. We left after five minutes of that crap. It was not enjoyable.

This Saturday coming is Pat Benatar. I've seen her in concert a number of times and enjoy her shows. This time I'm sitting up in 'the party zone' with a bunch of people from the Pinellas County Schools. Never sat there before and I'm looking forward to finding out what that vantage point is like.

Tropicana Field, I've discovered over the years really has few bad seats. I've never sat in any of them. Even the nosebleeds (where our mini-package is) have good views and with the big screen directly across from us it's easy to watch everything. That and binoculars.

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In just a week one of my very closest Jovi friends is moving to Florida from Scotland. Two years ago, in October 2006 I introduced her to a guy that she took a liking to. It was another year before they even really got to know one another and went out on their first date. From there it was emailing and TMing and IMing. She came back in March of this year and they've really cemented their relationship. So she's quit her job and is going to come over and give it a try. I wish her and him the best of luck. AND best part for me is I get to have her around.... when she's not with her boyfriend. I can't wait to see her!!!

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Oh and Amber WILL be back after a short hiatus. I need to get some chapters written and ready for posting before she and Jon come back. It won't be too long.

Tampa Bay Rays and Bon Jovi

Last night I finally made it to my first Rays game of the season. Bout time!!! I was truly hoping they'd win for me. Watched and listened as they introduced the starting lineup for the Oakland A's. I was chatting with my friend about how once, long ago when Catfish Hunter was an A, that I was a fan of theirs (and as always my Detroit Tigers). She just laughed at me and told me that was a looooooong time ago. I snorted at that, it was a long time ago. The 60's. Yes, I was into baseball when I was a kid. Loved the game, still do. Anyway, they started with this cool video before introducing the Rays. Next thing I know the music kicks up a notch and I'm sitting there grinning, singing and dancing in my seat to We Got It Going On. How cool was that? MY Rays using my favorite band's music in their intro.

Game started, the A's scored and we were getting very discouraged. So we left to get food. We'd eaten before we got to the ballfield, but I was hungry. Turns out that a) I wasn't nearly as hungry as I thought and b) their nachos sucked. On the way back Carlos Pena hit a two run homer, bringing us to within two of the lead. Okay, we were just two runs down, sue me for being optomistic.

We sat back down in our nosebleed seats, but hey, we were at the game and she's as crazy about baseball as I am (and NASCAR). The Rays started to do better and the game was getting more interesting. I don't recall the reason behind it but then during another play break (might have been a call to the bullpen) I started grinning again. It's My Life came on. By now I'm enjoying the heck out of the music even though we were still losing.

Eight inning. Rays came up to bat. But before that, while the A's were taking the field and the Rays were getting ready to bat a video came on. It was of Raymond. Our mascot and I had to laugh. HARD. It's an entire video of Raymond singing....with crowd scenes mixed in. Raymond, the big blue dustmop of a mascot in leather jacket..... singing..... Livin' on a Prayer. OMFG, I roared.... and sang.... at the top of my lungs. OMFG it was FUNNY!!! I videoed it with my phone. Don't know if it came out though, if it did, I'll post it in a bit.

Outcome of the game? Even with our serious rally in the 8th, we lost by one point. 7-6. We play them again this afternoon.

JazzFest review...and then some.

What a trip!!! I don’t know quite where to start. Guess the beginning?

My neighbor that lives behind me, Joy – the Jovi virgin, and I left St. Pete at 8:15 am. Well, that was the first time. When we really got underway it was 8:30. Okay, so I forgot to pack a second pair of shoes. The ride up was uneventful and fast. Ten and a half hours later we were at the hotel we were sharing with my friend Laura from Brandon and the Fiction Mistress. FM’s plans had changed, we were short a fourth for our room, so the four of us joined forces. And what fun we had!!!

Once we’d showered and had some adult beverages, appetizers from the club level lounge and relaxed, we met two more Jovi friends at Luke. What an experience that was. Thanks to FM knowing the chef, we were treated very, very well. The food was incredible and the service was top notch! Another bottle of wine and more adult beverages were on tap there along with amazing food, desserts and oh my god, the sheer SIZE of the burgers was mind-boggling....not that I ate one. I had some kind of fabulous stuffed shrimp. Although, I digress. We all had a wonderful dinner and when the bill came, they’d removed the adult beverages from the bill...and if I’m not mistaken, the desserts as well.

Since we were getting up before the crack of dawn to get ready to spend out day at JazzFest, rather than going out and painting the town, we all trudged back to our hotels with full stomachs and the excitement for the morning.

Saturday morning we arrived at JazzFest at 8 am, thinking that because it was Jovi and general admission that the place would be packed. It wasn’t. There were a handful of Jovi fans and another handful of JazzFest regulars there waiting to get in. One lady that was a JF regular served mimosas to everyone in line, saying it was a JF tradition for the second Saturday of every JazzFest and she’d been doing it for THIRTY years! They were delicious, but I quit at one knowing I’d be in the sun all day.

The first two acts were forgettable. Ouco(?) and I can’t even tell you the name of the second guy, although he had quite the following. Then it was Buckwheat Zydeco and they were great. I loved listening to their music and watching them play....well, in between sitting in the meager shade of the barricade. Oh yeah, after RUNNING towards the stage and setting up chairs and our blanket in the area reserved for them, Donna and I joined our new friends, the other Laura and the other Joy at the barricade. Our Joy and Laura opted for the chairs....and our other two, Gina and Barb were also at the barricade, but further down from us.

The sun was scorching, the sunscreen was SPF 50 or above and the bottles of water at $3 a crack were being consumed faster than they were coming out.....in fact, there was little need for bathrooms. Anyway, next to last was Dr. John and he was very, very good. Although by then the crowd had gotten seriously thick and getting out to get more water or food or even that rare bathroom break was difficult to say the least. At some point I had to get out of there, I think it was during Buckwheat. I found shade, water, food, bathroom, a misting tent and a big fan. Once I was cooled, fed and feeling better, I dove back in.

Fiction Mistress never left. She held her spot and even though we had formed a little ‘family’ around us, she wasn’t moving. I fetched water and brought her this mango freeze thing, but that’s it.

Then Bon Jovi hit the stage....well, after the New Orleans brass band came out and played ‘When the Saints Go Marching In”. I wasn’t in Vegas, so I didn’t know till afterwards they’d started that set with Livin’ on a Prayer too. Lost Highway followed that and then Born to Be My Baby. LOVED the break in BTBMB (see video). The guys looked rested and it was obvious from the gitgo that they were having a blast. It wasn’t long before Jon was wiping the sweat from his face and Richie’s pants were soaked in sweat. It was HOT! We’d talked before they took the stage about what songs they’d play. One of our girls said she wanted to hear In These Arms and we told her they didn’t play it that often. She was THRILLED when it came on. She wasn’t alone. Even though the set was vanilla, Richie’s solos were anything but standard. He WAILED on them and I was blown away.....although, he could .... never mind..... won’t go there.

The banter between Jon and Richie was funny. When Jon made the quip about the family, friends and people that had sex with various members of the band being in attendance and how now he knew what it took to get a backstage pass. Richie’s reply of “blow me” was priceless. I’ve heard the two of them exchange a lot of comments, but that one was new and FUNNY. They were both laughing.

Did I mention Jon got a haircut from Vegas to NOLA? It’s SHORT. Looks great and he looks younger because of it. Richie had a haircut too. I just wonder if David ever cuts his, never can tell.

Anyway, one hour and forty five minutes later they were done. Raise Your Hands, Shout AND Twist and Shout were all played. There wasn’t a slow song in the bunch and that includes ITA. They ROCKED the place.

Then we had to find a way back to the hotel. We’d cabbed it there, figuring that we could take the shuttle back to the hotel. Nearly an hour after Jovi was done, we got in line, waited a while and ten discovered we couldn’t buy the one way tickets back. So we walked towards the taxi stands and found another set of shuttles and caught a ride with them without waiting at all. Air conditioned school bus with Creedence Clearwater Revival piped through it was pure heaven after 12 hours of heat, dirt and sweat.

After showers and another cab ride, we ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner and then it was back to the hotel and bed. We were exhausted. Here we were in the Big Easy, a twenty four hour party surrounding us and we went to bed. Next morning was a trip to Cafe Du Monde, beingets and chocolate milk and a carriage ride around the French Quarter. From there it was drop off the girls at the airport and start the drive home.

Fourteen and a half hours later, and several stops along the way for touristy visits, we were home. Tired, smiling and delighted that neither of us were working on Monday. Now it’s Wednesday night and I’m finally starting to feel semi-human again.

Life is good. Well, as good as it gets in my life. Today, I was puttering around the house, not really accomplishing anything when my phone rang. It was my female neighbor’s gay boyfriend. He invited me over to join them in the pool.

So I’ve spent the last couple hours floating around in the pool in a tube, drinking sinfully sweet and lethal drinks and watching both the NASCAR race and the Rays game. Neither team that I was cheering in either sport was winning (or had won) when I left. But Carl Edwards' race ending flip was spectacularly frightening. HOLY CRAP. Okay, I know a lot of you laugh at anyone watching NASCAR, but let me tell you once you’ve been to a race and seen the cars flying by you at 200 mph and two inches apart it changes your whole opinion about the abilities of those drivers. Today though, when Carl caught air and flipped in the air, hitting the fence between the track and the spectators and the fence held and he ended up on the infield instead of in someone’s lap, it was one of those breath holding kind of events that hits home how dangerous that sport is.

Never used to like racing, thought it was boring. Nothing but a bunch of sissies riding around in circles. Then I saw a race. It takes skill and conditioning to drive those things at those speeds and not wreck every time you make a turn and to do it with just a few inches between you and the guy next to you? Yeah, right. Boring and sissies. Anyone that says that needs to either attend a race or try driving like that. Nuff said.

And my Rays. I love my American League Champion Rays that are playing like the bottom dwelling Rays that I’ve known and loved for the last 11 years. Their pitching is horrible and their batting isn’t much better. I don’t know what’s wrong, but hey, it needs to change. These are not my Rays of last summer and they need to get their act together.

Perhaps, they need a new coach like the Penguins. WOW, how amazing are they this season? They were able to turn it around under interim head coach Dan Bylsma and go 18-3-4 in the last 25 games, going from 10th place (out of the playoffs) to 4th place. Now there’s a team that’s unified and dedicated to a single goal.....winning. The Rays need to take lessons from those guys.

Oh and did I mention? FOUR days and I head out for New Orleans and JazzFest. WOO HOO!!! I’m so freakin’ excited. We’re staying with a friend at a five star hotel on the concierge floor (never done either of those things before) AND we’re eating at Luke. John Besh, celebrity chef, owns this place and the menu looks amazing. An entire weekend of Cajun food, Jazz music and BON FREAKING JOVI! How much better could it be? ...other than having Jon or Richie in some kind of compromising position that is. ;) Whatever the case, I’m looking to have a great time. It’s one of those times that I don’t really have the money to do this trip, but as I’ve said so often since my husband’s death, “you have to live your life every day”......hmmm that sounds like a song lyric. Seriously, you do have to live today because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

PS. Amber's updated.

Misc. Musings

It's been a while. RL is still kicking my tail, but hey, at least I know I'm alive. Still working at the job that I'm too tired most nights to have an opinion about any more. Mentally tired that is.

Had a rash of bad luck, you know how everything supposedly happens in threes? Well.... yeah. Back on Good Friday I woke to a pain in my left side. BAD pain. Figured, holiday weekend, just call the doc and she'd call in something figuring it was a kidney or bladder infection. A bunch of tests later including a CAT scan (and not the kind my kitties do every day to me), we have no clue what it was, but fortunately anti-inflammatories have gotten it under control and now it seems to be gone. The silver lining to that is that my hands that hurt constantly because of arthritis, haven't hurt since I started taking the meds.

Sooooo, that was out of the way and Easter Sunday comes along. Went to dad's, had a nice day, a good dinner and watched Marley and Me with him and his wife. That movie's commercials are soooooo misleading. It is NOT a comedy. I expected to laugh. I did and then cried BUCKETS. I hate when that happens.

Anyway, back to my story. Got home, saw wetness coming from my garage. Now the girls (cats) are allowed in the garage sometimes and I was hoping that one of them had skipped the litter box out there..... No. Such. Luck. Deep Freezer .... D.O.A. FULL of meat, prepared meals that I'd made and other misc. food items. All of them, trash. I was devastated. I'd just bought food the day before and stuck it in there. Never noticed that the thing wasn't cold at all. Fan was running, I figured it was fine. Nope. Done.

That's two. The third? My sister has been suffering from OA/RA and some form of inflammatory disease for quite a while now. She went to her new doctor this week and he ordered a lot of tests. She just called. Now they think on top of the rest of it, she's bleeding internally.

The other stuff? It's minor when it's compared to her life. I just want her better. Makes me remember what's really important in life, as if I should need reminding after 3/1/02. Apparently, I did. So my thoughts are with her and the minor pain (compared to what she's been experiencing since last year), inconvenience and lost groceries are just another speed bump on the road of life as compared to what could be another round of surgery for her.

Oh and on a brighter note? Driving home the other day I had the rare opportunity of watching my windshield wiper fly across the bridge. Guess it wasn't on tightly enough. Oh well.

And even brigher???? NINE DAYS till I leave for JAZZ FEST!!!! WOO HOO!!! There is something to look forward to.

HAPPY EASTER!

Between my new job (that I alternately detest and barely tolerate) and trying to keep up with my RL, I haven't been online much. Well, at least not to post anything.

I have been busy writing, not on my FF, but at least I'm writing. And according to my accountant (yes, I have one of those only because of the Avon business) I'm getting a tax refund. I suspect it's miniscule, but hey, it's a refund.

Other than that, there hasn't been much to report.

Three weeks from RIGHT NOW I'll be in NOLA staking out our spots for JazzFest and seeing Bon Jovi live and in the flesh for the cheapest ticket I've ever bought to see them! Forty bucks. Can't beat it. Although, once you add in the hotel, the parking fee for our car, the car rental and the money I'll spend once I'm there......this trip won't be cheap. Partying in the French Quarter..... I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!

Oh and Amber's been updated again.

Los Angeles Times - Toxic Avenger Review

According to the review, the show's official opening is April 6th. In the interview part of it David's quoted as saying that both Jon and Richie are slated to be in attendance for it. So all you NYers, you have homework....BE THERE! LOL

The review gave the show glowing marks and the best part, there was a video clip from the play! It looks amazing.

You can watch it here.