Buffett 2007

Jimmy during our show.... He knew we were there....

OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH MMMMYYYYYYYYYYY!!! It was 8 years since our last Buffett concert experience. We certainly made up for it in short order. Fun trip out sans the first two miles. Easy check-in at the hotel. Good rendezvous for all to go together. And getting into the parking lot an hour before the posted time - it was all good (as Michelle K. would say).


The concert itself - so-so. Gillette stadium leaves a lot to be desired for sound. And Jimmy - well he wasn't really into it as in previous shows. Jen and I listened to his follow-up show at Gillette this past Saturday and it was much better (especially the song selection ). None the less, a great day to forget about life for awhile. Here's the proof:

(Notice the "subtle" changes in personalities as the afternoon progresses)








She still likes me, I know it....




















At first I thought this was Mark....


























Jen H. looks confused here... somebody please explain this body part to her

















The ladies taking in the early afternoon

Mark getting "concert primed" with a Landshark Lager?

Karen (Sunshine Flower Child) and Patty catching up on Cape May



Watch out for the Parrot Patty!!!!



















The Captain gots to pee......






















Now we're feel'n good
























Phil, Jen and the Captain waiting for Tennille.....


















Jen and her new friend Lenetta making Mojito's....



















Heather look'n happy and feeling gooooood

























"Okay, now I really have to go. And no-one had even better think about tipping the porto over. Got it?? And Eric, stop taking shots out of the squirt guns. For all you know it could be rat poison in there."

As the day progresses, Lenetta likes Jen more and more..... Oh boy.......this is getting interesting... "Shake your Mojito's Jen baby"

We're good!!!!

Our own personal band... wish we could understand what songs they were playing

Buffett virgins enjoying their first time....

I love you Honey.....smoooch!

"I'm telling you - I have no idea where I got this blue stuff. It's good! Has anyone seen my sun glasses? I don't know where I got this blue stuff. All I know is it's good. I don't know where I got it. It's good though. Good! Good blue stuff! No, I don't know where I got it or who gave it to me. Good stuff though..."

Mark assisting Jen H. with Margarita's.... So this is what happened!!!!

Black Haus for everyone!! Prime yourself for the two mile walk to the stadium!



















Primed and ready! Oh hell, let's do one more.....














Why we do this: http://www.paratoga.com/escapeism.htm



Plans are already in the works for next year. Hope to have several more people join us. Too much fun not to do it again! As you can imagine - lots of stories and memories that won't soon be forgotten. Will you join us next year???? We hope so!



The set list:

Bama Breeze Tour
Gillette Stadium - Foxboro MA
Sunday September 2nd, 2007



Hot Hot Hot

1 On The Road Again
2 Only Time Will Tell
3 License To Chill
4 Weather With You
5 Son Of A Son Of A Sailor
6 Come Monday (with the beach band)
7 Elvis Presley Blues
8 Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes
9 Bama Breeze
10 Cheeseburger In Paradise
11 Reggabilly Hill
12 Fins
13 Brown Eyed Girl (joined by Bankie Banx)
14 Boat Drinks (acoustic solo)
15 It's My Job (with Mac McAnally)
16 Waiting In Vain (with Peter Mayer on vocals)
17 Scarlet Begonias
18 It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
19 Volcano
20 A Pirate Looks At Forty (with Redemption Song)
21 One Particular Harbour
22 Margaritaville

First Encore
23 Everybody's on the Phone

Band Introductions
Tina Gullickson, Nadirah Shakoor, Ralph MacDonald, Peter Mayer, Sonny Landreth,
Mac McAnally, Roger Guth, Jim Mayer, Doyle Grisham from (Millinocket Maine),
Robert Greenidge, Johnny Lovell, Michael Utley, Bill Payne

24 Southern Cross
25 Glory Days

Second Encore
26 Lovely Cruise (acoustic solo)

Caroline and Blake

While Grace was at school....

Check out my boots...

American Girls

Daddy goes to Chicago on business.


Daddy surprises the kids with something they've wanted for awhile:

Daddy should have gotten these when mommy was with him last time in Chicago. Daddy wasn't thinking that he'd be dealing with these as his carry-on. Imagine the comments if you will as I am carrying these with me in Midway for 4 hours and then getting on the plane with them.




It was worth it....

Cape May 2007

Pictures from our annual trip to Cape May:



The Beach

The House




























































































Out and Around....

In Today's Paper

And they're off ... almost

Saratoga Race Course holds family friendly open house at track

By Thomas Dimopoulos tdimopoulos@poststar.com
Monday, July 23, 2007 1:52 AM EDT

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- In two days' time, the field will be crowded with the winners and losers, the oddsmakers and the horsemen with names like Frankel and Zito, Pletcher, Contessa and Tagg.

But like a scene pulled from a modern-day version of Alice in Wonderland, Sunday belonged to the baby cougars, the racing coffee cups and a community of more than 20,000 people who descended upon the Saratoga Race Course for the 27th annual gathering of the open house at the track.

Kevin Sablich, his wife and their three children were attending Sunday's event for the first time, since their recent relocation to the area from Binghamton.The $2 pony rides topped the list for the Sablich children, despite the long lines that snaked around the paddock area for the popular ride.

"The wait was worth it," said Sablich, as the upbeat swamp-rock boogie of Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers filled the air with music on an afternoon bathed in sunny skies.

For Len Armer and his young daughter Kaitlyn, the presentation by "celebrity naturalist" Andrew Simmons got high marks for the live presentation of animals that included a cougar cub, a snapping turtle, a golden eagle and a Burmese python.For others, the day was about pure sport.Mike Murnan and his 11-year-old son, Will, came to watch the races the horses in the steeplechase races and the costumed humans in mascot races, as well.The latter pitted iced-coffee cups against area sports teams' mascots in what was billed as the first-ever "Running of the Cups."As the giant cups battled their way down the track, regular coffee beat the flavored versions, while decaf brought up the rear.In the battle between the mascots, the Albany Conquest's "Kid Quest" bested the Albany River Rats' "Rowdy," the Siena Saints' "St. Bernard" and the Tri-City Valley Cats' "Southpaw.""Kid Quest" then went on to take the championship by beating the iced-regular-coffee-cup champion in a final showdown.The cup race was part of a promotion for Dunkin' Donuts new line of fresh-brewed iced tea. Samples of the product were for sale during the day to benefit local Saratoga charities.

New York Racing Association Chief Executive Officer Charlie Hayward took in the afternoon activities on a day that marked the return to Saratoga Springs by Gavin Landry.After 12 years as president of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, Landry recently left that position to become NYRA's senior vice president for sales and marketing."I've been on the job for three weeks now. For me, it's great to be back in Saratoga," said Landry, who made the trip north from Belmont Park."If today is any indication of how the summer will be, it's going to be a tremendous meet," said Landry, watching the crowd as people ventured between the backyard circus and performances by the Islip Horsemen's Association Drill Team.

The afternoon also featured guided tours of the backstretch, handicappingseminars, line dancing with Crackers the dancing horse and a Special Olympics equestrian demonstration."I've been getting a real feel for the type of commitment this organization has," said Landry, on the final day of the meet at Belmont Park, before everything moves north to Saratoga. "We have some tremendous people working at NYRA."As far as thoroughbreds are concerned, Landry said he was looking forward to the arrivals of Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, two of the more notable horses in the racing world right now.

"The horses," he said, "are coming in from all over the world."NYRA is one of four groups vying for the contract to run Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga after the current contract expires at the end of this year.On Friday, Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced his intention of making a recommendation to the Legislature regarding disposition of the franchise no later than Sept. 4.Wednesday is opening day of the 139th season at Saratoga Race Course. The 36-day meet will run until Sept. 3.

Back soon......

Yes I've been too busy as of late to update this blog - but more frequent updates will be coming. I've back dated a number of posts so that the blog follows the seasons. Updates are from January 2007 forward...

Caroline and her buddy Anna on a field trip...














































Hershey Park 2007