Eagles at The Rock

Not only was the sound system at the new Prudential Center (the Rock) the best I've ever heard, the facility was so clean and neat we forgot we were at a rock concert. (OK so maybe the average age was 40...)

Con and I enjoyed pre-show martinis (his, grey goose, slightly dirty, mine, stolio cosmo) at the Ice Bar before settling down to the best evening of live music I have heard. The bar man mistook him for a celebrity, but before I could capitalize on his mistake, Con came clean and admitted he was indeed infamous for certain acts in his youth, however not a celebrity by today's standards.

*Set 1: How Long, Too Busy Being Fabulous, I Don't Want To Hear Anymore, Guilt of the Crime, Hotel California, Peaceful Easy Feeling, I Can't Tell You Why, Witchy Woman, Lyin Eyes, Boys of Summer, In The City, Long Run.
*Intermission again at the Ice bar, this time less packed than pre-show as it was restricted to club seats only.
*Set 2: No More Walks In the Woods, Waiting in the Weeds, No More Cloudy Days, Love Will Keep Us Alive, Take It To the Limit, Long Road Out of Eden, Somebody Walk Away, One of These Nights, Life's Been Good, Dirty Laundry, Funk 49, Heartache Tonight, Life in the Fast Lane.
*1st encore: Rocky Mountain Way, All She Wants to Do is Dance
*2nd encore: Take It Easy, Desperado

Boys, you still have it!

Watchung Spring horse Show

Each Memorial Day weekend, swarms of parents, grandparents, and spectators come to Watchung Stables in Mountainside NJ for the annual Spring Troop Show. Youngsters and adults put their mounts through their paces - walking, trotting, cantering and, occasionally, galloping.

This was Chrissy's favorite show, where she earned her AA status as the pairs champion in 2003. I'll never forget thier victory gallop around the ring, gaits perfectly synchronized as if they were one horse, not two. Check out the stable's web page. That's her winning the blue in the Jr. Hunt Club show!

What few people know, though, is the Watchung Stables property was once a Nike Missile site. From 1958 until fall of 1962, the Nike Site 73 was an active defense base during the Cold War.
For the next 20 years, the site was inactive until government gave the land to Union County in the 80's to recloate Watchung Stables from it's original site to allow for completion of Route 78.

Sybase Classic

Thru the generosity of my friend Kathleen, who's company sponsors the event, Con and I received complimentary tickets to the Sybase Classic at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, NJ. As in previous years, the tickets came with access to the Shoprite Hospitality tent on the 18th green.

Our tickets were originally for Friday's play, however due to rain Friday's second round was combined with Saturday's third round for a total of 27 holes. We followed our favorites Ochoa & Sorenstam who teed off consecutively. Of course Con's attention was also on the beautiful Natalie Grublis who, in her short red gingham mini, caught the eyes of men and women both.

Kentucky Derby 134

Dubbed the most exciting two minutes in sports, I am as much a fan of the pre-race activities as the race itself. The Kentucky Derby is my excuse to throw a southern style affair, and much to Con's chagrin, hang my derby flag.

This year, we planned a southern barbecue with ribs, biscuits, corn on the cob, and course, Mint Juleps. Though I quite detest bourbon, somehow it is quite palatable mixed with home made simple syrup and a sprig of mint. Julep in hand, we watched highlights of the hat parade, interviews with celebrities, royalty and politicians on millionaires row, and croned a post-time rendition of "My Old Kentucky Home".

This year's overwhelming victory by Big Brown was unfortunately over shadowed by an injury to the runner-up, Eight Belles, the sole filly in the race, who collapsed with two broken front ankles and was immediately euthanized after the race. Which leads to the age old question, should girls really be playing against the boys?