New York, Soho, Little Italy

Morning everyone!! Just a quick one. Heading downtown NY and going over to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Finally had some sleep, well six hours!!! Great day yesterday! We walked and walked and walked. Went to Ground Zero, WTC Memorial. We actually got very very upset there yesterday. Jo, Janina and I went off on our own and met up with Karen and Tamara aftewards for dinner. The WTC as I said was very emotional. I think it was because we saw it all happen those many years ago, and felt the emotion then, but to actually go there, see the streets and the gap and the memorial and rebuilding, it really really hit home. A few tears were shed for sure. Went to Century21, man, that was mad, went in and pretty well out - us girls not used to that madness. Did all the streets of Soho and went right down to Brooklyn Bridge, lol, turned a corner down near Brooklyn Bridge and whaaala, theres a New Zealand Bar and Grill and all kiwiana and food. Couldn't stop tho. Took some amazing pics of the bridge and risked our lives crossing the roads. Oh and Deb! Went into 42nd subway last night to go to Times Square and what was the first thing we saw, and couldn't miss. Advertising for 42below - Only from New Zealand. The whole station must have been sponsored by that!

Ohhhh and I think we girls like men in uniform!! lol. We have had a few pictures with the NYPD, and the Marines, hey, they love it too. Its Fleet Week here, being Memorial Day here in the States on Monday, and they are all in town. Times Square last night was buzzing. We also met the girls in Litle Italy and they had a few streets of parades etc.

Ohhh the concert!!! Thats right, went to that too. The rain and lightning started just after the first band came on. Luckily we got inside before it came down real hard, had no poncho, left that back a the hotel. The evacuated the stadium and got everyone to move under the stadium because of lightning, but it stopped just before the show came on and was just about perfect. The band was in good form. Had great seats again and this time, our row was able to just go straight to the circle railing. Amazing. So could see everything perfectly and took some good vidoeo! Always!!!! Got that!

Tonight we are in Section 3 right in front of the middle of the outer circle so looking forward to that when they come out on that part for Jons few songs and the bands acoustic, will be right in front of that!

Better go, got to go catch the subway and get downtown before the crowds make it there too.

Will update the blog too and then put on some pics and video hopefully later this afternoon if we get back in time before the concert.

Mxx

Hershey Intro and Blood on Blood

Edit! (June 10th 2009) - This just goes to show that I was sooo tired at times I didn't know if I was "Arthur or Martha". I have just watched this video for the first time since I uploaded it and its not the video I thought I was uploading. LOL, and its not 12mins long! I must have done that other long video at one of the other shows as I have the video but can't remember which one it was right now, how bad is that!!? So ignore what I say below, I bet some of you wondered where my head was back then! Frazzled!!! Mx


Warning! This is about 12 mins long but I got it from the start and it will give you a good idea of what its like and the excitment leading up to when the band comes on stage. Blood on Blood, one of my favourites!!

Hope its all okay, having gone thru it all yet.

Mxx

new yorksoundcheck 072.AVI

Here you go girls!!!  This is Jo's video of Dry County at Soundcheck.  Bit better quality than mine.  Sad face, I was not able to use my HD video camera boohoo.  Now I know how to embed into the blog I will do this as well and upload more and more videos!!  Just need the time!!!

PS! Remember this is the soundcheck/rehersal!!!!!!!!!!!! We certainly didn't see the showman in this one, it was pure business!! Very interesting. Will upload the one too when he has a quick chat with us.


Anyway enjoy!!!!

Mxxxxxxx

Hey ya from New York City

Hello from New York!! We have just got home from going to the soundcheck rehearsal. It was amazing. We certainly got a close up look at soundcheck and a behind the scenes. They sang about 7 songs as well. So far everything here has worked out to a "T"! Everything going to plan and just falling into place.

Yesterday was a big day! We drove from Atlantic City, and headed up the New Jersey coast and stopped at all the sights of interest. Saw the Stone Pony were Jovi and Springsteen etc played many years ago down in Asbury Park. Really good to see all the things you have been seeing for years and years. After a long day we took the train into NY from Redbank New Jersey and went to Lorenzas show which was wonderful and met Lorenza afterwards etc. Lovely lady and she has such a fantastic voice and is there any instrument that girl can't play!

Im actually going to have to go to bed. Too tired, but have internet access and will try uploading a video from tonight tomorrow.

Here's a couple of pics from the soundcheck, nothing spectacular, but will keep you going till tomorrow.

Nite NIte


Love to you all!

Atlantic City - Hard Rock Cafe

Hey ya all! Shessh, this is really good, im blogging and its only been a few hours since I last put a post in! Deb, Sue, you will be proud of me!!!! That reminds me, I must go in and edit my post from last night, i was so tired i know there are a few spelling errors. My mind was toooo tired to stop the fingers from typing their when it should have been there etc. Ohh the English language!!!

Today!!! We went down to the Broadwalk and had a good walk around. Natalie being the professional photographer that she is took her SLR camera and took some great shots no doubt, we even went down on the sand and under one of those piers! We got told to never leave the Broadwalk but it was pretty safe there. Can't wait to see her pics, she takes some amazing photo's!!!

Had a good wander around the broadwalk and bought a few tshirts. Then headed to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. Hows this???? The restuarant is pretty big and was pretty full and they took us to a table in the corner that was ........ Jersey Corner!!! Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi! How could it get better than that. We had the famous Bon Jovi - New Jersey guitar above our heads signed by JBJ and Richies Jacket he wore in the 80's. I love Springsteen too so was in my element. Heres some pics.......





















Ohhh and before I forget! Get this! Last night we had chinese down in the Borgata Food Hall and Janina and I got two fortune cookies. This is sooooooo amazing, take a look at mine.........



















Wow, isn't that sooo true? And then Janina opened hers...................



















Okay, i had better go. The girls just knocked at the door and told us we are going out in an hour so better go doll myself up. We found a place in Balleys on the Broadwalk that has Happy Hour for 24hours and the shots are $2, beer $3 and cocktails $3. So guess were we are going!!!!!!! Better than paying US$10 for a beer like we had to last night.

Off to drive up the Jersey coast tomorrow and doing some 'sight seeing'. Hopefully I will be able to post but I don't think I will get a chance until we are actually in New York. Tomorrow will be busy and tomorrow night we are going over to NY from Redbank to go to Lorenza Ponze's show and after party. Its her offical release of her new album, Soul Shifter, which is awesome by the way, that girl can sing and very musical!! Then on Tuesday catching the ferry from Staten Island and going over to NY and checking in at the NY Hilton. And then in the afternoon, oh my, gosh thats coming around so quick, we hope to go to the Bon Jovi rehearsal. This all seems so surreal, so much planning and counting down the days and sleeps and now its all here.

Next post will be whenever I can!!!!

Love to you all, talk to ya from New York.

Mxx

Philadeliphia and Atlantic City

Where to begin???? Im sitting in our hotel room in the Borgata Hotel, feeling a little bit tired, well, extremely tired and ready to hit the sack but had to come and tell you all about our brilliant day we had yesterday……

Karens wonderful hubby George cooked all us girls up a pile of pancakes and maple syrup and then risked his life by taken me out for a drive, well, me taking him out for a drive. I just had to try driving on the wrong side of the road, at least once!!! Don’t think I will get another chance to do it here, unless we go crazy and hire my dream car, a mustang, in Vegas but don’t think so somehow.

Anyway, George was fantastic and actually, I managed it really well. Was quite easy once you remembered to keep yourself in the middle of the road and not turn direct to your left when turning left. Turning right was funny too, but you soon get used to it. It’s the intersections and multiple lanes that would be scary. So that was another thing ticked off my list of what to do over here.

We packed up our bags and got ready to leave and then a ‘limousine’ turned up!!!! Karen had hired this limo to take us to Philadelphia. About a hour or so’s drive from her house. How wonderful was that??? We certainly went in style. She is soooo lovely!!! Hopefully one day we can return the favour to her and her family when they hopefully can make it down to our part of the world.






(This is the limo outside Karens House)


(Nat, Karen, Scruffy, Maxine, Robyn and Janina)

Woohoo, on our way.


Janina travelling in style.


The trip was wonderful, and we got their about midday. We decided to take a double deck open bus tour all around the streets of Philadelphia as we only had one day and that was a great decision. We saw everything we wanted to see and ran up the Rocky stairs etc. Seeing the Liberty Bell was great and I really really loved Philly. The city was completely different to what I had imagined.



Here comes to the part why im soooooooo tired.



We decided that we would like to go to a baseball game and as the Phillies were playing the Boston Red Sox we just had to go, but all tickets were of course sold out. Never mind, us girls can do anything, lol, and we got some tickets, but before that, we went to Chickie and Petes!!! All you Jovi girls will know about Chickie and Petes. Jon Bon Jovi made it pretty famous when he was on the Oprah show as it is his favourite bar and place to eat before a game, especially when the Philly Soul AFL Arena Football was still going. Anyway, had a quick meal there and then walked along to the arena. We got there in the second innings. It was worth paying the money just to go in and see the stadium full and take in the whole atmosphere. Now, another thing was ticked of the things to do…… I took some video and we got some great pictures and again had some great chats with the locals and had a beer watching the ‘ball game’.







Ohhh and by the way, the Phillies won, very easily too. I have always liked the Botson Red Sox but haha, the place was pakced with thousands of Philly fans so didn’t say that too loudly.

We then left and head back to Chickie and Petes. Well the night was just getting started! Nat, Robyn, Janina and I sat ourselves at the bar with the locals. Of course we got talking to all the bartenders and had such a lovely man who has been working their since C&P’s was established in 1977. We need one of these bars in New Zealand and Australia for that matter. Just amazing. The walls are covered with pics of lots of celebrities including JBJ and Richie of course. Lots of pics too of the Philly Soul, the Cup, and JBJ and the Soul etc.



(Our favourite Bartenders!)







The one on the left here, was very very good at making Martinis which I was drinking. I certainly have a taste for them now!!! Especially the white chocolate ones!!!



After a couple of beers beforehand, and then a few more, the girls were getting very happy!! And of course we were making lots of new friends who were all locals and found it fascinating that we have travelled so far.

We were having a great time and then “Pete” the owner of Chickies and Pete, heard that there were some girls from New Zealand and Australia and came and said hey. LOL. We had a great chat with him and told us lots of interesting stories and that JBJ is a great friend and a real nice guy (lol, did we know that?). He also said and I’m sure I can repeat it as it was said in the bar, that the Philadelphia Soul WILL be coming back very soon so that was a bit of interesting information. That will be great if that happens.

We had some photos with Pete and then he told the barman to give us all some shots on the house. Yeeha!!!!!!

We also met some great locals who were very generous and bought us a cocktail or two! Two nice locals, Jerry and Brad, if you find this blog, well done! LOL, im still gigglin that you knew what a kiwi looked like only because you use "Kiwi Shoe Polish". Thanks for the laugh!!

We decided to head home around midnight and then headed to see the neon lights on Broad Street, lots of gigglin going on and some very incrimating video that was shot. Even more funny the next day. But yes, we made it home, the streets of Philadelphia were very safe! Even at that time of the morning!!

I had better get to bed, i promised myself that tonight i will make it to bed before midnight as we havn't been to bed before then for over a week. I left the other girls down in the gypsy bar where a great band was playing and Janina has just come back in expecting to see me fast asleep. Im so tired I had better go. We came down here today on the local NJ Transit link, that was interesting, dozed most of the way.

I hope to post more tomorrow but am finding it hard to keep this up everyday and uploading the pics takes so long so might try and do some shorter posts from now on.

Karen is driving down tomorrow to meet up with us, she is picking up Kate and Kelly from OZ as well so its a big night tomorrow night in AC!!! Tomorrow we will head to the broadwalk and have a 'squizz' down there and then the girls should arrive in the afternoon and its party night tomorrow night, the girls are getting all dolled up and going out for our big night on the town.

Monday we are heading up to New Jersey, going up the East Coast and having a look at all the 'sights'! And Karen, Janina and I are heading over to NYC that night and going to Lorenza Ponze private show for her release of her CD and drinks afterwards, so looking forward to that.

Nite Nite all.

Mxx

New York Times

Ohhh I forgot to tell you this, crikey!! I got interviewed by a Journalist for the New York times and asked me lots of questions and took my name etc and where excatly I was from in NZ so if you all could keep an eye out for any articles in the NY Times that would be awesome. I have no idea if it was going to be a review about the Hershey concert or possibly it will be a big article about the Meadowlands one. Have no idea of where to look either.

Mx