Come Monday

I want a do over. A do over for June, July and August. The summer has gone too fast. Faster than usual. Yes, it was a scorcher, and the autumn lovers are clamoring for cooler weather. The evenings are already starting to change here, and the daylight sunshine has a slightly different cast if you look closely. Summer is almost over, and I can't believe it's gone.

No matter how hard I try to slow things down, the days are just spinning too fast right now. I know that one day soon I will look up and Teen Angel will be away at college, and Mama J. and Papa T. will be gone and our days will be slower. But right now the days are slipping by at a pace that's faster than I like. If I can't get a do over, I shall simply hang on and savor the moments as best I can.

I hope your last summer holiday is a good one. That it's filled with great fun, good friends and family and whatever music pleases your ears. This summer ode will be on my playlist this weekend, and I shall toast the sunshine and another summer well lived.

She Shoots, She Scores!

Despite TicketMaster's wonky credit card approval system which caused me about five minutes of panic this morning, I got 'em-two tickets to the Nashville show May 1st. Kiss my arse Old Man Winter!

Let the Sunshine In

Mr. Sunshine came out today, for the first time since 1922. Well, for the first time in a couple of weeks, anyway. He went into hiding a while back and stayed gone a little too long. While we have more cruddy weather in this weekend’s forecast, it was nice to see him for a full day. It got all the way up to forty degrees, brothers and sisters. Forty degrees! We haven’t seen forty in a long time. I actually ran outside for the first time in a couple of weeks. I have been sticking to the treadmill ‘cause I can stand the cold but I can’t stand a broken ankle. The sidewalks have been a bit treacherous, and I simply don’t have time for crutches. Hello, taking care of old people over here! It felt good to raise my face to the sun and trot down the street wearing sunglasses. I had almost forgotten what it was like to wear them. Sniff. I got a little emotional just looking at the dried sweat on them.

People seemed a little friendlier today, so I’m guessing I wasn’t the only one who needed a break in the weather. This winter has been especially tiresome. Frankly, I can’t imagine what it must be like to live on the east coast these days, with all that snow. We can’t begin to compare our weather to theirs, but things have certainly been more wet and cold and snowy than usual around here. It has us summer babies screaming for some warmth. If it weren’t for Girl Scout cookies, I don’t know how I’d get through February. These days, I grab onto any sign of spring I can and hang onto it for dear life.

There are signs that spring isn’t far away. The clerk in CVS last night was stocking Easter candy and shoving the forlorn leftover Valentines to a corner shelf. (How sad is a leftover Valentine?) The consignment store up the street put spring clothing in their display window and Great Gertie! They announced the dates for the Jimmy Buffet tour this week! I have three options this year: St. Louis, Cincinnati and Nashville. Nashville! He hasn’t been to Nashville in years. Tickets go on sale Saturday, so I’ll be poised by the computer Saturday morning, right after I drop Mama J. off at the beauty shop for her wash and set, hoping to be one of the folks who land tickets during that ten minute window of opportunity before Ticketmaster slaps you with that Sold Out message. Those tickets would help me to make it through March. If I don’t get any, I’ll just have to resort to more Thin Mints and pictures of last year’s buds and blossoms.

Pray for me brothers and sisters. I need a little Margaritaville.

Freeze Frames

Parrot Heads come in all shapes and sizes and in all ages. I’ve seen people in their 70’s at a Jimmy Buffet concert and kids as young as four. (I would never bring a child. There’s just a little too much flashing and partying going on.) There are bankers, lawyers, nurses and laborers. You name it, it’s there. One thing’s for sure. It’s a people watchin’, picture takin’ paradise, and Parrot Heads don’t mind having their picture taken. All you have to do is say, “Freeze”, and they will stop and pose. See?

They don’t mind to dance for you either.
This is actually a hat.
So is this.
If you look closely enough you’ll see the volcano beginning to blow.
Ever seen a land shark?
I have.

And in this internet picture posting world where things are cached forever I’ve decided it’s good to be the one BEHIND the camera.

Buffett 101

Before I show you the pictures from our trip to the Jimmy Buffett show in Cincinnati I feel like I should explain a few things to those of you who are not fans or not familiar with the Parrot Head philosophy. (Those of you who are can simply skip down to the photos and nod knowingly.) It can be a little bewildering if you haven’t been exposed to it yet. But it’s oh so much fun.

A Buffett concert is an event. It’s a happening that involves a lot of tailgating prior to the show. As in hours of tailgating by thousands of people. In a lot of crazy island themed outfits. And I do mean crazy. Playing all sorts of games like limbo and cornhole. It all culminates at the end of the day with some 22,000 (depending on the venue) people pouring into an amphitheater to dance and sing along with Jimmy to songs they know by heart. Trust me, we know them by heart. Word for word. It’s pretty cool to hear thousands of people singing Come Monday all at the same time under the stars of a summer sky and the feel of a slight breeze. There is a lot of audience participation with chants such as, “Salt, salt, salt” during the chorus of Margaritaville and the waving of arms to the left and right in unison during Fins. The costumes carry themes from Jimmy’s songs such as boats, pirates, volcanoes and sharks. It’s one big celebration of relaxation and the need for vacation. Everyone is there to have a good time, and a good time is had by all.

Cincinnati is where the term Parrot Head was coined 22 years ago, so it is Parrot Head Central. Jimmy seems to have a fondness for Cincinnati and his fans there. He shows them a lot of love during his Cincy concerts and they reciprocate. He ALWAYS plays some fan favorites like Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise, but he changes up his playlist for each show and tries to throw in some old stuff that people love, too. My favorite moments come when he plays acoustic guitar on stage alone singing a slow hit. You can literally hear a pin drop when he does that. His last encore this year was acoustic and solo. He sang Tin Cup Chalice which is my very favorite Buffett song and is one song I’d like played at my funeral. It’s the first time I’d heard it live. Fabulous.

Is there a lot of drinking there? Yes. There are copious amounts of alcohol consumed, mostly at the tailgating prior to the show. There are some folks smokin’ a little weed, too. For the record, Hubby and I are not those people. The rowdiest folks seem to be the young college kids. However, the majority of people has a drink or two, shakes their coconuts to some music, meets some new friends and enjoys the people watching. Hubby and I are those people. It’s simply one day of the year where folks cut loose, act like fools and have a large time before they go back to the daily grind of work and bills. Care to take a peek?

The tailgating literally stretched for acres.

And people come from near and far.

Some come in style.

Others come in old stuff that has a style all its own.

My favorites are the ones with coconut bras and grass skirts.

The men, too.

They bring boats, sort of.

And pools.

And grills. I mean big grills. Yes, those are bras hanging on the line. Don’t ask.

Some bring their recliners.

A few are even smart enough to bring their own bathrooms.

Because the potty line looks like this.

They set up tents.

And tiki bars.

And more tiki bars.

Even saloons.

Don’t forget the limbo stick.

And never, ever go anywhere without your cooler...on wheels.

Of course if you forget it, the drinks will come to you. In a wagon with a fin.

The roadies visit the tailgating prior to each show, tape some of the hijinks and play the video at some point during the show. It’s always a hit, and some folks work really hard at trying to make it into the video. You have to stand out among the crowd to make it into the video. Imagine how hard it is to get noticed at these gatherings.

Tomorrow? A look at a few of them and some of the friendly folks we met along the way.

Back from the Beach

We're back!!! We made it home safe and sound and in one piece. We had a grand time, and I have plenty of pictures to share. No time to post them all today because we had to hit the ground running when we arrived yesterday afternoon. The contractor needs item numbers for counter tops and tile and 1600 other things, and Mama J. is on the pot trying to pass a kidney stone. (Don't tell you I told you though. She'd have a conniption fit.)

There was dancing and singing (at Cincy, not in Mama J.'s bathroom-although that will likely come when the darn thing passes) and plenty of Parrot Head antics that made us laugh until our sides hurt. I'll leave you with a wee sample of the pictures to come. Suffice to say, Parrot Heads know how to have a good time. Proof We are the People our Parents Warned us About.

Still in Margaritaville

Will be back when the music runs out.

Off to see the Lizard

We’re headed to Margaritaville tomorrow! Never mind that it’s Teen Angel’s first day of school. Are you banned from the Parents Hall of Fame if you miss your daughter’s first day of eleventh grade in order to go to a Jimmy Buffett concert? Once we drop her off for school we will head to Cincinnati where we will join 22,500 other people at Riverbend for a little tailgating and a whole lot of music and dancing. It’s the one time of year when we cut loose and really live it up. Since the tailgating starts about 24 hours before the show, by the time we get there things should be good and wound up as Daddy says.

The Cincinnati Parrot Heads are a lively group. They come from all over the country. They bring grills.And portable beaches. And RV’s with grass skirts and coconut bras. And lots and lots of portable blenders. There are slip ‘n slides, cornhole games and local bands. It’s the show before the show.

We’ve always gone to Buffett concerts in Cincinnati. We tried the show in St. Louis last year because it was closer, but the Parrot Heads there were just a little too….um…reserved. They just weren’t as fun. Although, I did meet a nice pirate. So it’s back to Cincinnati for us where the lawn should fill up by 7pm.By 8pm we’ll be swaying our grass skirts along the banks of the Ohio River, escaping the chaos and stress of our lives for just a few hours to the tunes of Jimmy and the Coral Reefers. It’s a show that never gets old for me.

The first time I saw Jimmy, we had sixth row seats.And Sissy was with us. (The vanity in me wants you to know that the grass skirt makes me look unusually hippy.) We’re not that close to the stage this time, but we’re still in the pavilion so we have seats if our knees give out. I’ve packed my parrot flip flops. And my flamingo headband and grass skirt and beads and all of the other silly stuff that makes Hubby a wee bit embarrassed to get into a cab with me. I’m looking forward to this little break. We need it..badly. Some of you who stop by here regularly have some big stresses in your lives right now, too, so tomorrow I will raise a toast to you my friends and dance a little dance for you, hoping you find a little Margaritaville in your lives soon. Click your heels together three times and repeat after me: Phins up!!

It Simply Cannot be August Already

Whew! Is it nap time yet? No? Shoot. I was so looking forward to it. I figure you know you’re finally an adult when you WANT to take naps again. If I don’t get a nap soon somebody’s going to have to shove a cart under my butt and push it around ‘cause the cheeks are draggin’ baby. They’re draggin’ so low, they’re chapped. It’s been another whirlwind week around here, and it’s a good thing I don’t have to work tomorrow because I’m in desperate need of a day off. Some highlights:

-It’s been so crazy lately, I did not realize until Monday that the Buffett concert is almost here. One week from today, friends and countrymen, I will be swingin’ my grass skirt on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati to the tunes of Jimmy with about 22,000 other Parrot Heads phlocking together for phabulous phun. The tailgating party on Kellogg Avenue will be large and loud and is sure to produce some interesting pictures. It always does. After all, Cincinnati is Parrot Head Central. Also, we are staying at a hotel where hundreds of Parrot Heads have been known to tailgate. I’m in desperate need of some Margaritaville, so this little retreat comes at a welcome time.

I have a new addition to my costume this year. Aren’t these darling dahling?I bought them last Halloween and tucked them away for our annual Buffett road trip. How blessed we are to live in a country where they sell sunglasses shaped like martini glasses and no one arrests you for wearing them.

-Teen Angel has logged the required driving time in order to take her driver’s license test. She is scheduled to take is August 12th. That’s the day I’ve scheduled my nervous breakdown. I am so not ready for this.
-I put my underwear on wrong side out yesterday. AGAIN! That’s the fourth time in about a year. The really bad part is that it took me half the day to discover I’d done it. By the time I’m eighty, I’ll be forgetting to put my clothes on before I walk out the door.
-The dog and cat have reached somewhat of an uneasy truce. Sabrina doesn’t hit Jack in the nose if Jack doesn’t try to eat her food. They are now able to sit within three feet of each other. They still give each other the stink eye, but at least they’re not chewing on each other.
-Hubby and I are going to have to emotionally detach from our home during this selling process. The first lookers came over last night to check it out, and I felt so sensitive about it. After they left, I was all, “How could they not like the dressing room?” They were very kind, but I can tell this is not going to be easy.
-Remember when I told you about the overweight man I’ve seen jogging for months and how he started out walking and progressively got faster and skinnier? I said I’d like to stop him and congratulate him one day even though I don’t know him. Well, I got my chance. Hubby and I sat down at a restaurant the other night, and lo and behold, he was at the table next to us with his family. We introduced ourselves and had a nice little chat. He’s lost fifty pounds and runs seven miles day, four days a week. He, his wife and son were lovely people and we had a great time meeting them. I’m so glad I finally got to meet him, and it happened by accident. How cool is that?
-And somebody stand by with the paddles. Any moment now I should get a call from the flooring guy with an estimate on the cost of the hardwood for the new house. It should be good for a class A coronary or at least a few gray hairs. I’m gonna need some hair dye before this is all over.