He Loves Me!

This totally made my day! A marriage proposal on the wharf in New York on the way out to the Statue of Liberty!!!!

NZ Tour dates announced!

Woohoo, okay, now I am going to have to start a new counter! The downunder tour starts in New Zealand on December 4th.

Wellington
December 4
Westpac Trust Stadium
Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKET or www.ticketek.co.nz

Auckland
December 5
Mt Smart Stadium
Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKET or www.ticketek.co.nz

and the Australian dates are:



Dec 8th Subiaco Oval Perth
Dec 11th Edihad Stadium Melbourne
Dec 14th Suncorp Brisbane
Dec 17th Football stadium Sydney..

Now the crazyness starts again with organising flights and hotels etc. So please they have done two cities in New Zealand, they needed to after the last tour and only doing one city for the whole country. The whole country travelled and came to them so that showed them they have such a following here.

http://www.theedge.co.nz/whatson/ConcertsGigs/tabid/525/articleID/7352/Default.aspx

Mx

Fun, fun, fun..... "rewind please!"

Hi everyone! Thank goodness for the multitude of pictures and videos to look at over and over! But the best memories will be in my heart forever! To say this was a trip of a lifetime, is an understatement! From the minute Maxine, Janina, Nat, and Robyn came up that escalator at 30th Street Station in Philly, the fun began! (and our biggest fear of not being able to fit all the luggage in my minivan was put to rest!).... I know you've read a few things so far about the trip -- but there are no words to truly describe the magic we shared! People thought I was "crazy" -- meeting up with friends I met on the internet -- but then a few of the "skeptics" had the chance to meet them, too, and totally understood from that point on! It really was like we had been old friends! Hershey was amazing... my friend Kristen is the unfamiliar face in those pictures who went with me on this part of the journey. She has already asked me when we are going to take our trip to Australia/New Zealand for round 2! The best part was introducing "tailgating" to this crazy group! There are two very special people that we parked next too in the lot that will never be the same I think! LOL! The concert was great... fireworks not only at the end -- but throughout with our great pit seats and unobstructed views!!!! Aaaaah! Got to see other Jovi friends at the show, too, that I met for the first time at the Philly shows a few months before -- and met someone that I tried to meet in Philly (PSU Greg) but missed then, and a fan from Backstage that lives down the road from my mother (Marsha -- small world!) Chocolate Martini's at the Hershey Hotel capped off the evening. A tour of Hershey Chocolate World the next day where I learned that our chocolate tastes like "vomit" to some (lol!).... Next stop was Audubon, Pennsylvania and my house. Figured the girls needed a home cooked meal and I know they appreciated the washer & dryer and internet, too! We had a nice dinner, drinks, dessert, laughs, and they got a hockey lesson from my son as the Flyer's were playing that night! A break in the action the next day for me, as I headed to Wilkes Barre, PA for my oldest son's college graduation.... I loved surprising the girls with a limo to take them to their hotel in Philly.... only disappointment was that Richie and Jon were not hiding in the back like I requested! Somehow the city of Philadelphia survived this wild bunch -- although I don't think Chickie & Petes will ever be the same again! As the first four of this "tour" took a train to Atlantic City, NJ I headed back to Philly to pick up the next two in the crew! They affectionately referred to me as their "USA Mom" -- and with perfect timing, I got Kate & Kelly into my van while parked on the Ben Franklin Parkway at the foot of the Art Musuem steps... You did a great job Kate, running up those steps! Kelly will just have to come back and do it after her knee heals! Crazy weather (rain, heavy rain, mist, sun, rain, torrential rain, sun) and we ended up at the Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, where the girl's main purpose was to get me drunk! I tell them they succeeded... but they really didn't (hiccup!).... Lots of laughs, drinks, laughs, drinks, pancakes, and off again the next day to begin our "tour" of the infamous Jersey sites! With Kate safely behind the wheel of a rental car (and I must say -- did an amazing job for driving on the "wrong" side of the road! We won't discuss that attempted "left turn") we began the journey stopping at the Jovi Jersey sites like Asbury Park, Stone Pony, did our best to recreate the SWW car shot..., Fast Lane -- lunch at a real mom and pop pizza joint, too! Of course, no tour of Jovi Jersey would be complete without the stops at Navesink River Road (can't believe they didn't open the gates for us when we rang the bell --- "can Jonny come out and play?" only kidding! but I did wave the New Zealand flag up to the security camera!), Rumson house, and the bosses house, too! Then Max, Janina, and I made a mad dash to our hotel, literally ran across the railroad tracks while the train was blowing it's whistle in the distance, and it was off to NYC for the show at the Living Room in SoHo, where Lorenza Ponce was having her CD launch party. What a talented musician! The best part of that night, though, was that I got to meet my "soul sister" -- Tamara (Canada/the other +2) as both she and Jo met us there! We parted the curtain that separated the bar area from the stage area, and there they were! We all screamed, hugged, and were pretty much a show in itself! Afterward we got to take pictures with Lorenza during a meet & greet upstairs! Then, it was an all too quick goodbye to the last two members of the tour (until the next day, of course, where we met up again at the NYC hotel!) Maxine survived her first NYC cab ride... and we took the train back to Rumson. We had two cars, and two agendas so we left separately the next morning to do the Woodbridge leg of the journey... and miraculously ended up together at the Richie Sambora Way sign anyway! Couldn't have planned it better if we tried! Kate braved it and drove the rental car to the return in NYC.... and I drove my van to Staten Island where my father-in-law bravely met my new Kiwi friends! (He loved them!) Staten Island Ferry over to NYC and then the fanclub trip was in full swing! Lots of laughs, pictures, walking, drinking, oh, and some amazing concerts.... did you hear we got to see the sound check??? Oh, I'm sure you did! WOW! Sight seeing, cocktail parties, our little Irish Pub.... our little margarita place.... our little margarita place.... Oh, yeah, we went back two times that day! LOL! Cheesecake at Lindy's, Ray's pizza, Little Italy.... and so on, and so on! A very tired group at breakfast the last day we were all together -- and a very tearful goodbye! By far, without any hesitation, the best part of the trip was meeting such wonderful friends! We came from all different walks of life.... different ages.... different backgrounds.... but you would never know it! It was a dream come true for me -- and I can't wait for the reunion tour of the "Girls from Down Under +2". Love you lots.... miss you lots.... Thanks for the best time of my life!!!

Leaving Las Vegas!

Just in the Las Vegas airport, on our way to LAX and then the very long long flight home and a five hour wait in LA.

So much to update when we get home. Lots of videos and photos. So make sure you check here over the next week.

Mxx

Vegas Baby!!!!

We are in Las Vegas!!! Left New York late yesterday afternoon and got here last night. Slot machines the minute you walk off the plane, sooo funny.

New York was incredible but made more so because of the wonderful time we had with out wonderful friends. So much more to tell you all, the after party, the concerts, the sights, the soooooooo funny things that happened.

When I get home I will update this blog with lots of video and photos etc.

At the moment we are sitting in McDonalds using their free wi fi. The Paris Hotel is lovely, the rooms are massive and the best one so far on the holiday and its the cheapest.

We are just about to go off to the Outlet Malls and then might relax by the pool this afternoon. Supposed to be 34degC today, but a bit windy. And then will hit the town tonight, and see all the sights and the lights!!

Mxx

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