you had to be there - jb '09x

okay quick post b/c i'm running around like a mad man (woman?) trying to get organized.

'you had to be there' is the name of jimmy buffett's first live album, recorded in 1978. while he's done millions of live albums since then, i think this one is my favorite. the commentary is priceless, and it's really jimmy back when his career was just starting, pre-parrotthead phenomenon and all that. plus - 'you had to be there' reminds me of the quote, 'there are some things you don't know unless you've been there'. and i think jb falls in that category.

had a successful bolt bus trip down to dc on friday night. both vin and i made friends with the attractive boys sitting next to us, though we did not know their names until maryland and dc (vin and me respectively). i suppose that's better than waking up the next morning not knowing someone's name, but i digress.

in what can only be described as a death wish, vin and christine, when she arrived from boston, wanted to go out with lingley, so we headed out to a bar in dupont circle to have some beers and talk some kids into joining us for the event the next day. due to 6 days in a row of heavy drinking (at that point) i had to retire early, but was in fine form for saturday.

sat morning most of the prep work was done, but we ran some rite aid errands for seasonal items (a golf set which i believe i later used to pound on things with a plastic 4 iron) and the grocery store and liquor store. managed to haul all our gear over to the bus meeting place and meet up with the kids.

we had several buffett virgins (vin included) and some familiar faces from last year's boston show and a strong dartmouth contingent. we took a pic for the alumni magazine, only i don't know whose camera it's on. loaded up the bus with a ton of coolers, put on 'jimmy buffett live in hawaii' (concert day is the only day you get to publicly listen to as much jimmy buffett as you can handle) and off we went.

made it to the concert venue with a brief stop to load up on ice. had about a million jello shots on the way - sae's special recipe - so we all were feeling good on arrival. we were parked right next to two huge dumpsters, which at first seemed kind of trashy (no pun intended), but later added a certain je nais se pas to the camp, a suitable back drop for pictures, and a convenient place to both pop a squat and fling trash at the end of the night.

things got pretty hazy, as they usually do, but my main recollections are of eating the vodka watermelon - 'i can't taste the alcohol where's the alcohol? oh. there's the alcohol' and sitting in a kiddie pool with ray for 15 minutes. he had lenny our inflatable shark that christine toted down on his back - lenny likes the pool. lingley had traded her bra for a chance to go in the pool (which she did several times) but i just flashed them and gave them my lei.

there was ridiculous amounts of making out - both in front of and behind the dumpsters. in fact linsalata's pick-up line was 'do you want to go make out behind the trailer'. and it was effective. have rarely been in such a sex crazed environment. but to be fair, the whole experience was much like a formal, and that's just par for the formal course.

it was a beautiful day and a gorgeous warm night - with the moon coming up over the lawn. it did take us about 30 minutes to get in - which sucked - but what are you going to do. i'm sure i would have been even more pissed if i was sober. managed to herd everyone in to the same place on the lawn - though we lost vin and ray on several occassions. it was the last show of the tour, so he went all out, and played many of the favorites that aren't on the usual rotation. went back to tailgate for another hour or so after the concert and then headed out, sucessfully making it back to dupont without losing anyone or causing the driver to crash. i am putting this on my resume; demonstrated initiative, responsibility, planning, and navigation skills. planning my wedding will be a breeze after this.

linsalata and i were exhausted, but ray, vin and lingley went out and closed down a bar (crazy kids!) fully completing an amazing day of hedonism, mortal sin, and debauchery. but like the title says, you pretty much had to be there to appreciate.

sunday we had delicious bloody mary's at brunch, and then vin and i went to the national portrait gallery, which was quite cool, and the american history museum, where we appreciated the uniqueness that is our nation's capital. then we went and ate at national food chains. we were pleased with ourselves for going to dc and actually doing something cultural, as opposed to just drinking and being hungover. this ought to cover us for at least two trips to dc in the future.

been a busy week; tonight i'm off to connecticut with charlo for kit's rehersal dinner, and then back to the city for half a day tomorrow before we head back out to ct for the wedding tomorrow afternoon. looking forward to the festivites and copious time on the metro north.

it's cooled off in nyc substantially; i put my comforter back on my bed. haven't closed my windows yet, but fall is def here.

that's it friends! i did my part. have a good wknd and may the spirit of jimmy buffett be with you always.

a pirate's life for me!

ahoy matey! it's 'talk like a pirate' day! do your part to celebrate!

on my part, some of my favorite pirate-related material:

dave barry column about 'talk like a pirate day'

pick-up lines: 'shiver me timbers! you are giving me the desire to haul some keel'

i want to wear the shirt that boxa gave me that says 'pirates arrrr cool' to work but i think i have a client meeting and might have to pass

quotes:

it's funny that pirates were always going around searching for buried treasure and they never realize that the real treasure was the memories they were creating - deep thoughts by jack handy

there was a single blue line of crayon drawn at eye level on every wall of the house. what does it mean i said? a pirate needs the sight of the sea he said & he pulled down his eye patch & turned & sailed away - 'crayon pirate' storypeople

if they ever had a swashbuckling school i think one of the classes should be laughing and jumping off something - deep thoughts

yes i am a pirate a few hundred years too late. the cannons don't thunder, there's nothing to plunder, i'm an over forty victim of fate - jb, 'a pirate looks at 40'

an educated pirate is rare but also the most deadly kind. they are smarter than you. and crazier. - not sure where this came from but i reallly like it

i come with baggage. and my baggage comes with sex and the city dvds, pirate swords and tequila - me on how i roll in relationships. ie - the usual suspects are coming along for the ride

pretty eyes, pirate smile- elton john 'tiny dancer'

you get the idea. have fun!