A Living Legend

Last night, we were able to attend a concert at Citi Field (the new Mets stadium) like no other. Sir Paul Mccartney gave 3 separate concerts at Citi Field to break in the new stadium. The last time he played at the last Mets stadium - Shea Stadium, was when he was still with the Beatles. Some how, miraculously, we managed to get tickets for the 3rd show and fulfill a lifetime dream of seeing Paul Mccartney in person.

We arrived at Citi Field at about 5:30, just in time for the gates to open, and joined the mass of people waiting in line. After a relatively short wait, we walked in, purchased some t-shirts, got some food, and found our seats by 6:30. Here's a shot of the stage from where we sat:

At about 7:30, the opening band finally began. The Script from Dublin, Ireland, played for about 30 or 40 minutes to get us warmed up. Another 30 or 40 minutes later, the sun had set, the lights had come on, and we were ready for him to come out. Then the lights went out in the stadium, except for the stage, and the band appeared on stage to the wild applause of everyone there. He opened up with Drive My Car. From the very first chord played you could tell Paul never lost a step, he sounds as good as he ever did, if not better. As awesome as Paul was, his backup band was just as good. Abe Laboriel, Jr. on the drums was amazing, Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray were awesome, Paul Wikckens on keys was just as good. He went straight into the next song - Jet, another one of my personal favorites.

Throughout the show, Paul would tell jokes and stories in between songs. At one point he pointed out a sign in the audience that said "Last Chance Marry Me Paul" - to which he gave a bewildered "No!". At one point, he decided he hadn't taken the chance to "drink it all in" so he stopped in just looked around the stadium for a minute while everyone cheered.

Paul switched instruments constantly throughout the show. Starting on his old Beatle bass, he moved on to electric guitar, back to the bass, on to piano, back to guitar, then acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukelele even. The ukelele was probably the most interesting part. He told a story about writing a song with a ukelele given to him by George Harrison, then bringing that song back to George to see what he thought, apparently he liked it. He started playing simple chords on the ukelele and began singing "Something in the way she moves..." The rest of the band kicked in around the 2nd verse.

I wondered the whole show exactly when it was coming though. When was he going to do my favorite song? Was he going to do it at all? He started heading in that direction with Paperback Writer, then A Day in the Life. After that, he made his way over to the piano and I knew it was coming. He played Let it Be, the backup vocals were awesome throughout the whole song. And then it finally came...

When you were young

and your heart was an open book

You used to say live and let live

(We all chimed in a) "You know you did, you know you did, you know you did"

But if this ever changing world in which we live in

Makes you give in and cry

Say Live and Let Die

Giant flames shot up from the stage when those chords were struck. Then the chaos began with fireworks shooting up out of the back of the stage.

The second chorus of the song started again with Rusty pretending to fall over and die. And more chaos ensued with flames and fireworks throughout the song. It was by far the best performance I've ever seen. I think Melissa would agree.

He followed that up with the first last song of the evening - Hey Jude. We of course sang along for the na na na Hey Judes. He then exited the stage, I stopped Melissa from leaving just yet. He then came out of course for an encore which included Day Tripper, Lady Madonna, and I Saw Her Standing There, then the concert ended.

But two people in front of us had inside information and stopped us for the 2nd encore - including Yesterday, Helter Skelter, Get Back, and Sgt. Pepper.

Then the concert actually ended. We got on the train and went home, barely able to sleep after what we had just seen. If we ever get a chance to attend to another concert like that, we will be sure to spare no expense to get floor tickets. All in all, it was without question the best concert experience of our lives.

Here's the entire setlist for the night...

Drive My Car
Jet
Only Mama Knows
Flaming Pie
Got To Get You Into My Life
Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady
Highway
The Long And Winding Road
My Love
Blackbird
Here Today
Dance Tonight
Calico Skies
Mrs Vanderbilt
Eleanor Rigby
Sing The Changes
Band On The Run
Back In The USSR
I’m Down
Something
I’ve Got A Feeling
Paperback Writer
A Day In The Life/Give Peace A Chance
Let It Be
Live And Let Die
Hey Jude
---
Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There
---
Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Get Back
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End

And some videos of one of the performances at Citi Field

Tomorrow our lives will change forever.

Two words: Paul McCartney.

Brooklyn Bridge.

Joey and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset today and got these fantastical pictures. :) Check them out yo.

American Legion.

I have realized that some of my favorite memories from New York have been in Harlem. The night Ian took us to American Legion went down in the book for sure. He has only taken two people to this place besides us, since it is really special to him....and for good reason!


I was expecting a normal Jazz Club in a commercial area where you pay a cover to get in and get your wrist stamped. Well, instead we walked down the stairs of a Brownstone into this hidden gem. You sign your name in a guest book instead of the usual hassle of other bars. The music was just unbelievable. The saxaphone player was a cool cat and there was this one girl who had the voice of Billie Holiday. The guitar player played like Joey plays the bass. Oh man....just awesome awesome talent!


The energy of this place was like a big happy family. It's a place where your race, age, or social status matters to no one. The only requirement is you must love and appreciate the art of jazz. Ian introduced us to his people and it was clear they think of him as a son. "Hey bayyba, how are ya? How's your momma doin'?" They cooked us fried chicken nonetheless and it beat out Popeye's.


Here is Yvonne from Texas, (like Richard from Texas in 'Eat,Pray,Love") and she was my favorite. The two of us clicked right away! We talked about our love for Nawlin's and how Tori and Ian are soul mates. Don, the gentleman next to her, was soooooo nice and cute. Anytime there was a deep connection while I was talking with him, he would grab my hand or arm.


They would pass around a tip jar for the musicians, and Ian twisted my arm into being the tip girl. So I walked around collecting money, and some of the old men were funny. One paid me twenty dollars and said he would either accept change or...me. Haha.



Here is the cool saxophone player. It's blurry, but oh well. He seems like he would hangout with Obama. Speaking of which, Obama said the next time him and Michelle come into NY for a date night, they will be making a visit to American Legion. That's so funny, because it's totally off the radar.


Here's a cute couple that started dancing. There was such a great energy in there. As you can see, all of the men dress to the nines. I felt like we were at a club in the 1940's.


One of my favorite nights ever. :)

California Dreamin'

California was beeeauutiful! We stayed at Hotel Del Coronado, which was gorgeous. Our room was right on the beach and enormous. We went to the Zoo, had a spa day, hung out in a cabana by the pool, and went shopping. I noticed that everyone in San Diego is in such good shape with the best tans....kinda crazy. (FYI, half of these pictures are from you Ms. Corene...so thanks again, and of course mucho gracias to Ms. Nancy for the trip)






San Diego Zoo was so much fun! Our favorites were all of the monkeys... I could watch them for hours!


Here is the fishing cat.





Tribute to Michael Jackson...


We went to the best brunch buffet I've ever been too. Joey and Justin were super exited because of the containers of candy, haha.


That Sunday, we stayed outside by the adult pool all day. Next year, we'll be splashing around with baby Harper in the kiddie pool. :)



Here is Megan and Harper. :) She is such a cute little pregnant person!


For the night of the 4th, the hotel put on an awesome firework show! My favorite was the smiley face. :)



Ms. Nancy had taken clients to this restaurant, Marine Room, a few years ago and fell in love with it. If you look out the window you'll see why...what a great view! In the past, their windows have shattered because of the strong tides slamming against them.



Joey went golfing with Justin and failed to wear sunscreen, so he was blessed with a sunburn that literally made him a redneck. I on the otherhand wound up overusing my spray sunscreen and felt like a Jersey girl when I got back...cause it took days to wash off.

Wish I was still there.....

Planning a Going Away Party and Packing.

Since the job market is terrible here in the city we are temporarily moving back to Louisiana until a job pops up. And because we don't know where that job will be (could be Louisiana, Jersey, DC, or freaking Flint, Michigan), we are leaving all of our stuff in a storage unit up here and flying back. I feel like everyone I talk to up here has been laid off and can't find a job, or just graduated and is frustrated with no call backs. This is just a road bump. I mean he just finished his Masters at NYU...which is still crazy to me.

We've been trying to hangout with all of our friends as much as we can before we leave. We went to our favorite Greek restaurant (Symposium) and neighborhood bar (Dive 75) with some friends. Ian took us to this fabulous jazz club in Harlem where we met some of the most amazing people in the city. We went to see Bruno and took up an entire row like a bunch of high schoolers that got dropped off by mom's carpool. Nadya then took us to Sahara, a cool hookah bar near Union Square.

Ian has planned a going away party for this upcoming Wednesday at a few placed in the Lower East Side. I hope we have a good time, and it doesn't turn into a sob fest. Although, Ian said he would cry in public for weeks if we ever "left him", so who knows- haha.

We've been picking up some boxes from our local grocery Pioneer and will officially begin our packing today. Our plan is to move all of stuff out on the 30th, stay at Ian's apartment for a night or two, and clean our place from top to bottom. A real estate agent brought over a couple to see our apartment the other day, and I told Joey the next time that happens he should say the cat comes with the apartment! What a deal...

After Joey did his daily "apply, apply, apply" online, we went for a really nice, long walk in the park. The weather is gorgeous today, and I want to enjoy our last two weekends here. Tonight we will walk across the Brooklyn Bridge....which is something I've always wanted to do. There is supposed to be an ice cream shop at the other end....like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

As I type this, we are watching the celebrity golf tournament....and it's awesome. Carlton from Fresh Prince just did his dance, and Kevin from the Office almost got a hole in one.

I'll post pictures from all of these escapades in a bit. My iphoto has been hating me and deleting all of my pictures...so it's been slowing me down.

-Ms

Tori's leavin' for Houston :(

Joey's band played at the Annex last night! We had all of our friends meet there for Tori's going away bash.

Beforehand we had a small dinner at the Clinton Street Bakery, where we gave Tori her official first cowboy hat :) Then we headed to Mason Dixon for a yeeehaw good ol' time.

Best picture ever...

Alli had some pretty funny tags for her suitcase...thought you guys could appreciate them too. :)

Tomorrow we leave to meet Joey's family in San Diego!!! It will be niiiice.

Happy 4th of July in advance :)