Concert Road Trip!!

It seems like Tony and I are always at a concert. But of course we are always working! It had been awhile since we had been to a show where we were actual ticket holders. So when our friend Blair texted me and said she was getting ready to buy tickets to the Tedesuchi Trucks Band/The Black Crowes and wanted to know if we were in, there was no hesitation...YES!

The venue, Lifestyles Pavilion,  where we would be watching the show had a little history for us. Several years back, our friend Brett called us up and asked if we wanted to go see Government Mule in Columbus, OH. Not only would it be a great show, but it would give us a chance to meet and get to know his then girlfriend (now wife) Blair. That weekend ended up the beginning of a friendship that feels more like family than friends. So we knew that there would be a lot reminiscing on this trip. This venue also started another important relationship. This is the venue that Tony first heard Umphrees McGhee, where he bought the cd and brought home to Tabor. I think anyone who knows Tony and Tabor, knows how strong those feelings are.

So this past Wednesday morning we packed up the Jag, picked up the Bentley's, and hit the road to Columbus.

The Crew.

We had reservations at the Hyatt. We got there in time to get settled in and changed for dinner. Tony and I had stayed at this hotel before and I really liked it. The beds were comfy and I loved all the new retro furniture they had.

Another feature about this room I liked was that the door had a little entrance way that blocked of the room from the door.

This little alcove not only blocked off the rest of the room, but it had a little mirrored area that was great to do hair and makeup without needing to be in the bath area. Unfortunately I failed to
get a picture of that.

So it was off to dinner! All four of us had just snacked that day so we were STARVING. We decided on Ted's Montana grill, where we ended up totally pigging out. Normally when I do reviews I like to review the food, but I completely failed at taking food pics. So all I am going to say about the meal is that everything tasted great and we ate too much of it.

It was now CONCERT time!  The Lifestyles Pavilion was only a couple of blocks from the restaurant. So we headed there where we were to meet up with Brett's brother Kristofer. Which was fitting because he was part of  the history of this venue too! The first time Kris, being just a young pup, rode in the back seat of Brett's Xterra smooshed between Tony and I. In which Tony kept telling him to quit rubbing his hairy man leg against him...lol.

Here he is looming over Blair and I during the show.

We were excited about this show because one, we love love love Derek Trucks and two, Tony and I  had never seen the Black Crowes  live. We had tried. We actually drove to Cleveland once with the plans on seeing the Crowes one night and Government Mule the next. But we ended up getting to Cleveland late and decided to crash at the hotel where we scarfed down way too much Chinese food.

Ok,,,back to this concert. How was it you ask? It was Epic. Derek's playing was mind blowing as usual, and the rest of the band was phenomenal. Then the Black Crowes came on and did all the songs you know and love......and did them unbelievably good!!!  And just when you thought "This show can not get any better." The entire Tedeschi Trucks band joined the Black Crowes on stage and THREW DOWN!. Best encore ever!

Tedeschi Trucks

The Black Crowes

Here is a link to some video of the Crowes

The show was over and Tony turns, looks at me, and says, "Well, we  have seen The Black Crowes" I think he was in shock.....lol.  So on a music high, we decided to go the bar next door and watch the band playing there and they were awesome. We listened to them until there set was over. So it was a very successful night of music. And if I had to describe it in one sentence, I would use the wise words of the drunk guy dancing in front of us....NAILED IT!

At this point we were hungry again..lol. So we headed to the room and ordered pizza. The perfect after concert meal. Welll...actually Tony wanted eggs and toast, which made us all want breakfast but we couldn't find anyone serving breakfast within walking distance so we went with pizza.

Here we are waiting for our grub.

The drive home was fantastic. The weather was great so we rolled the windows down and just enjoyed the drive.

And it was on the drive home we discovered one more musical gem of the this trip. We had only caught the very end of one of the songs of the opening band, London Souls. Tony liked just that little bit and bought their cd. He was not let down.  So with the wind in our hair and the London Souls singing us home, we headed back to Pikeville.

It was a perfect road trip and I can't wait til we head out with our best buds on another adventure. And again thanks for coming along on another one of my adventures.

                                                                                                 The Boss Lady

Another birthday? Already?

The older we get the faster the birthdays appear. It just happens.

I turned 42 yesterday. I do struggle sometimes with my age. Because honestly in my mind I am the same person I was when I was 25. Of course my body likes to remind me that I am not. My hair gets more grey every year, even tho no one will ever know that because I am adamant about covering it up. (which I have an appt. today at 1 to do just that.)  But there is way more joints that crack and pop in the mornings when I get out of bed.

But I think the key to being "OK" with your age is that you're happy where you are at in life once you get to that age. We will all have regrets. And I am not talking about the kind of regrets like, "Why did I eat all of that cake last night?" I have that regret more times than I like to admit. I mean life altering decisions. We ALL have them. I wish I hadn't dated that person, or married that one. I wish I hadn't went to that school. etc...

 But I have come to the realization if we had not made those choices in the past, we would not be where we are here in the future. The key to those past regrets is how long did it take to move on from bad decisions and make your life right and happy. But everything from that experience made you who you are today. Its your decision what you want to make your life now from it. Make it a good one!


So another birthday was celebrated, which means another year has passed us by. Which means what is really celebrated is all the laughter, heartaches, anger, and love the year held.  And I can honestly say I cant wait to see what all I will be celebrating next year!

                                                                                                              The Boss Lady

NAMM...minus me.

Every year Tony and I attend NAMM in Nashville. Its a time of year vendors set up on a large showroom floor and try to sell us the newest and greatest things in the music industry. Its like a large candy store for musicians. It's a time to try out instruments, check out the new products, and see some talented people perform.


Plus you are in Nashville. One of my favorite cities of all time.

But this year we decided last minute not to go. BOOOOOO!!  But we have several projects going on, one being a pretty large paint job on our house. So it just didnt make sense to go.


So in honor of NAMM's gone by, I decided to show a few photos from previous trips.

This is Tabor at one of his first NAMM's

Tony walking through the showroom taking it all in.

And at any given time someone famous (or semi-famous) will be performing or just shopping. In the early 90's during my college years I was in love with the band Nelson. So when I found out Gunnar Nelson was going to be there one year, I ended up stalking him.

And then getting my pic taken with him.

I have to admit this was an awkward moment for me. Because in my business it is a big deal to ask artists to have your pic taken with them. If you are any kind of sound professional, you just don't do it. And if you are working for me and ask someone for a pic you will be sent home. Backstage is off limits to cameras!!

So it took me a long time to convince myself that I was there as a spectator, a fan, not staff. And of course he was happy to oblige.

So its with a sad heart I remember NAMM's past and wish I was in the Music City this weekend. But next year things will be better planned and maybe, just maybe I might talk Tony into attending the one in California in January.


                                                                                                     The Boss Lady

My Life Changing Week in Honduras

I have been home for two days. My body's core temperature hasn't gotten use to the change yet. I'm freezing in 80 degree weather..lol. The suitcases are unpacked and the laundry done. So now its time to tell my story.

I headed out on a Saturday with a group of ten from Allen Baptist Church. We would be meeting up with four other team members from Allen Baptist and one from South Carolina that had already spent a week there. We would also be joined by three other women from Arkansas.

This is the team.

We arrived at Faith Home to this welcome.

The kids won our hearts immediately.

Faith Home is a Christian based center for children. It's basically an orphanage with some really good people who love these kids, taking care of them. This was our home for the week. Not only did we work with the kids at Faith Home but we would travel to neighboring villages.

Here we are having carnival type games with the children from one of the villages.

I loved the village experiences. I loved meeting the people and hearing their stories. I loved playing with the kids and seeing their faces light up with every piece of candy I gave them. And I hope that everyone walked away knowing a little bit of God's love.

But, my biggest love was being with the kids of Faith Home. Working and playing with the kids everyday changed my life. I only hope that I showed as much love to them as they showed to me. These kids were funny, smart, and very patient with my horrible Spanish speaking abilities.

Here I am with Elly and Ivan.

On Friday we visited a government ran orphanage. This is where my heart was shattered. I am a woman who has never been able to conceive. I thank God daily for giving me Tabor and letting me be a mother. But Tony and I always wanted more children and would have loved to have had a house full. So to see these children without a home, knowing the life I could give them was hard to deal with. I held a baby girl while watching the others interact with the other children, all the while my heart broke for them. And my heart broke for myself.

This trip was a trip of a lifetime, it was life changing. I can never look at my home and complain about closet space again. I can't look into a child's face and not think about all the children in Honduras who were thankful for just a small piece of candy. I sit on my back porch and thank God for blessing me with everything he has because I have never had to live like a lot of these people have. The things that are most important in my life are my Husband, my son, and the rest of my family, good friends and meals on the table. All the rest is just a bonus and I realize if they were all gone tomorrow I have been truly blessed with Love.

Honduras changed me, and I hope I changed it a little. I can't wait to return and be reunited with the children who kept a little bit of my heat with them when I left.

                                                                                           The Boss Lady

I will have other blogs about this trip. I will be back with different experiences as I relive them in my mind.