VIP at DMB

Friday night Darrel and I drove to Pittsburgh to meet some friends, go camping, and see Dave Matthews!

I have seen the band and Dave over 30 times (some of you may think that's a little sad, I know) and it just never gets old. We go camping at Raccoon Creek State Park, just a few miles away from the amphitheater. The concert is literally out in the middle of nowhere, and 30 miles away from Pittsburgh, so it's our best option, considering the fact that Dave Matthews concert=drink beer. The park is great- we discovered it about six or seven years ago when we were looking for a place to stay during Farm Aide. I'm not really into the camping thing, but I survive. OH, and it rained. But anyway...

Darrel and I have a friend, Kevin, who is on tour with the band. He was nice enough to get us two pavilion seats, with a special sticker to go in a tent for friends of the band. They had a FREE bar! Considering the fact that a beer is like $8.00 at a concert, we were thrilled! He also got us passes to eat in the catering tent, but we just didn't get there early enough. One of the best things about a DMB show is tailgating, so we took our time with that!

Then, practically right before the concert, I got a call from a friend in Pittsburgh. Her dad actually built the amphitheatre, and when the sold it a few years ago, he was given the best box in the place, with a nice little gold plaque. And eight tickets for every concert for like the rest of his life. She had four tickets and VIP parking for me. I mean, really!?

So what this boils down to is that I had six amazing free tickets, two VIP parking passes, four VIP venue tent bracelets, and two VIP Dave Matthews tent stickers. Our little group was in heaven. Especially because we didn't expect any of it.

And did I mention that our friend Kevin came out to get us after four songs, brought us backstage, and Darrel and I were able to watch part of the show with the audio guys from the wings?!

Yep- amazing night.

The Last Few Weeks

The last few weeks have been a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. Being unemployed is not all it's cracked up to be, let me tell you! I know that everyone wishes they had more time free when they are working, but when you have ALL of your time free, it's a lot of time!

We met our old JCS driver Kevin one afternoon at a restaurant by the freeway- he was driving from dropping off CCR, to picking up the Dave crew, and had a few too many leftover beers on his bus. We helped him get them off his hand, no prob!

My grandfather has been playing the sax at a restaurant around the corner from our place on Wednesday nights- we have gone up there a few times to help him out and cheer him on! It is just so cool to see him, 85 and almost blind, up there playing the songs my memory with his friends, entertaining the place. It makes me smile. :) We have also been enjoying our memberships at the Eagle's Club. It's kind of like an Elk's for those of you more familiar. They have one of the best patios in town, and it's super affordable.

BA and I went up to the house in Canada with my Dad last week. We visited our new boat, and helped him out at the island. Well, she really helped him out more than I did. I've discovered that I'm not so great at doing things like replacing roofs and decks- I'm much better at cleaning up the messes they leave, and getting dinner ready! But we had a great week up there hanging out, working, playing games, eating, and riding on the newest edition to the fam (the Sea Ray)!

We have also been keeping busy going to Bocce games in Little Italy, going to Erie for weddings and showers, doing the birthday party thing, and this weekend..... Dave Matthews in Pittsburgh on Friday night, my Dad and Poppy's birthdays on Saturday (56 and 86), and Father's Day on Sunday!

Who has time to work!?

Maybe me- I have a job opportunity in the works. I'll keep ya'll posted!

A Weekend In St. Louis

This past weekend I went to my friend Katy's wedding shower in St. Louis! The great thing about this was it was a couple's shower on Saturday night. The whole "night shower" thing was really fun- everyone relaxed, chatted and enjoyed the great food and cocktails. Unfortunately, Darrel was not able to come with me because of work, so I was single at the couple's shower. But I still had a great weekend.

Katy and I were roommates for one year at Arizona State, when I was a sophomore. Ironically, our other roommate was also named Katy. The three of us have stayed in touch over the years, some years more than others. This was the FIRST time since we were at ASU that the three of us have actually been together! And that was a while ago, let me tell you. We have done things separately and visited, but never all three of us. It's funny how times change-Chicago Katy is now a mom of two beautiful little girls, St. Louis Katy is getting married and inheriting the cutest little five year old in the world, and then there's me.... still workin' on it! :) We are all in different places in life, but all that matters is that we have stayed good friends, and will continue to do so. Sometimes it takes something fun like a wedding to get old friends together!

I stayed at Katy's house with her fiance and his little boy on Friday night, and we just hung out and cooked out. Then we picked up Chicago Katy and her husband on Saturday afternoon, had lunch, and checked out where the wedding and reception is going to be. It's going to be awesome- can't wait! Then we were off to the amazing party her mom's friend threw at her beautiful home.

Check out how CUTE some of the decorations and ideas were at the shower!!

Memorial Day Parade

This is a little overdue, and really for no good reason. I have not been that busy!

Anyway, Sunday of Memorial Day is honestly my favorite day of the year. It might even be better than Christmas. The little town where I lived for a while and most of my family and friends live in, has this great parade from 2:00 until about 4:00. The kids love it, and the adults love it even more because they kind of turn a blind eye to open container for the afternoon! So everyone just hangs out, enjoys adult beverages, watches the parade, and laughs at the kids running after candy being thrown. One of the reasons this is my favorite day of the year is that everyone comes out of the woodwork for it. I know that if I have not seen someone in a year, that I will see them on Sunday. I love it!

After the parade, we walk down to the local funeral home (which totally sounds weird, I know) for a party. They have a huge parking lot and grass area, and throw a FREE party after the parade with a DJ, hot dogs, kegs, bagpipes, clowns... Heather's little boy Brendan loved getting his balloon animals from the clown! (He also loves Darrel).

After THAT, we went to a friends house who had a great party in her backyard, and then we walked to a local bar, which was of course jam packed because people literally fly into town for this.

All in all, a fun, almost free, day, and we didn't have to drive anywhere!