You Give Love a Bad Name Mr. Piano Man

The past two weeks I have had the chance to see and experience some of the best music New Jersey and Long Island has to offer. Bon Jovi and Billy Joel!!!!!

Bon Jovi had a free show in Central Park's Great Lawn. Ayla and I decided to go. Little did we know we still needed tickets. We didn't let that hinder us so through the trails in the woods we managed to get in. They reported about 60,000 people there. We got as close as we could but still couldn't get close enough to see heart throb Mr. Jon Bon Jovi. Thank goodness they had jumbo-trons for us. Singing "I'll be there for you " at the top of my lungs. I love that song!!The next week I went to Billy Joel at Shea Stadium. I was there with Bethany, her new fiance Miguel, and her daughter Logan. We were 26 rows from the stage and basically standing in Center Field. I could not believe I was there. Billy Joel is such a legend and I know all his songs. Also being there at Shea Stadium with EVERY seat full and standing in Center Field looking up at all the fans blew me away. I can't imagine being in his position and having all those people there to hear me sing. so weird.

He started playing "New York State of Mind" and guess who walked out to sing it with him???? Mr. Tony Bennett!!!! Can you believe it??? I was shocked and in awe.
The fun wasn't over. Up next. Mr. Don Henley!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thinks it's done?? No. Next, Mr. Jon Cougar Melencamp!!!!!!!!!!!!! After him Jon Mayer came out and played with him. It was a great night of music. But there was one more person there...... RICHARD SIMMONS was there in the crowd with his work out outfit on. He was ready to sweat to the oldies!!
It was a wonderful night of great music.

No Fireworks of Fun for the 4th

This 4th of July was going to be a blast. It was going to be the Best!! We were told that we were going to go to a friend of Ayla's "beach house" on the Jersey shore. We were so excited about being able to grill out, eat watermelon on the deck, lay in the sun, and enjoy a relaxing weekend out of the hot city.

After an hour and a half train ride and a $7 cab ride we arrive to our spot. hmmmmm, there was no beach house. Instead it was a gross run down apartment building that was muggy and had no TV. There was no deck, no TV, no A/C, no bedrooms, and No SUN!!! I almost went back to the train station immediately but thought, I should suck it up and rough it. After all, we were going to be on the beach the whole time, right? Wrong.

We tried to lay out the day we got there but there was no sun and it was freezing. The water was ice cold and the sand was rough. I think we were out there for only 30 minutes or so.Our crew, Meredith, Ayla, Matt, Matt's 3 year old daughter Maison, and Ayla's dog Zoe.

Everyone was exhausted except me. I probably should have slept, that was the only thing to do.

We sat out on the pier waiting and waiting for the fireworks. We were out there so long that we started playing kiddy games like Chinese freeze tag and I taught the girls how to do cartwheels.


Finally the fireworks started. They were nice, and sort of loud.The next day it was still cloudy, cold and rainy out so we had brunch and then sat inside a pub all day watching the Yankee game, sipping Champagne and trying to solve all life's problems. Just what Independence Day is all about.

The lovebirds, Matt and Ayla

The Crazies Ayla and Meredith
The only sane person on the trip.
My little buddy.
We decided to try to make the most of it. Sure it was rainy, cloudy and cold. But we were on the beach. Let's pretend we had a blast.

There was nothing healthy to eat where we were staying. So fried food was the only way to go. We were very excited about eating wings and onion rings.This is how i felt after eating that. Or maybe this is my mugshot after a domestic dispute of someone from Mississippi. Can't really tell the difference.Back on the train going home. We all felt so so gross. No showers, no make-up, no sleep and no healthy food. We were all wrecks.The bigger the glasses the more of the face it covers and the less everyone can see how rough we looked.

We Are Family....

A couple of months ago I went home for my Grandmother's funeral (thanks to all for leaving such sweet and caring comments on my blog for that). I was able to stay home for about 2 weeks. It was much needed and I am happy that I was able to be there so long.
Here are a few photos from that trip home. And by the word "few" I mean a ton:

This is my Uncle Jerry, Aunt Joy and my mom. They all look alike and all are the nicest, sweetest people you will ever meet. Because of this, they have a hard time making decisions like who will take all the plants. It took 2 hours for them to decide that because they wanted to make sure that everyone was happy and getting the ones that they wanted. It was kinda funny.
Mr. T and Me. Sweet Elisabeth getting ready. Mom and her grand kids at my Grandmothers House. We have so many family pictures on that couch. Why we chose that couch to be the backdrop of some family photos I will never know. Elisabeth giving Poppie a big goodbye hug.She has her own unique style that will set her apart from the rest when she gets older. I will encourage it. All his ideas I think they look alike.My cousin Cary getting married. I can't believe he is old enough to get married. I guess he is too old to make him play with my Cabbage Patch Kids now.Elisabeth and Jacquelin. She thought she was Cinderella. They entire wedding she kept calling for "Relle". Rick and his kids. My best friend since Kindergarten, Danielle. We haven't changed since then.