Just Sharing

Today is my little sister's birthday. I remember when my parents brought her home. She and I shared a room with matching beds for the first 5 or six years of her life. She used to sleep in my bed. Honestly, I was afraid of the monsters in the closet. I made everyone else think she was the one that was scared of the dark. It worked out well for both of us.
When she was little she did a couple things that made me crazy. She broke my "O Mickey" 45 doing a front flip in the living room, and my mother would not buy me another one. I was devastated. She cut all my barbie's hair off while I was in school one day. She ripped the eyelashes off of my baby doll Chelesea and drew all over her face. She also ruined a day trip to Chuckie Cheese for the entire family, all she had to do is make her bed!
But then there were the good times. I always had a little buddy. A partner to sled ride down the hill, (I would have to carry her back up). Someone to play house in the cabin, ride bikes, walk to the stadium or Vend IT. Someone to go to lake with me out at Tappan to swim. She used to let me fix her hair and play dress up. It was fun having a little sister to share my childhood.
It was also fun to have her live with me while she was a teenager. I can't think of anyone else that would play as much KLAX and TETRIS with me as she did. I loved taking care of her, although we did fight, we had a blast. Without her I would never know the experience of Brandywine, Leftover Salmon and Bill (SWEET). I would have never attended a Phish show, which in turn may have meant I never would have dated a certain person. I never would have listened to They Might Be Giants. Without her I would be missing my best friend.
Well now she is all grown up! I could not be more proud of my little sister. She is 28 years old. She has a wonderful family and two beautiful children. She is a great mother and wife. She is a beautiful woman. Happy Birthday Amanda Nicole! I love you!

Pittsburgh InspiRAINtion
Body: I'm just leaving Pittsburgh where our show was rained out!!! Rewind <<<<< Last night we played Kansas city and a great crowd came out in the hazy, hot and humid night for a killer show by all 3 bands. We had a beer after the show and hit the road for a 16 hour drive to Pittsburgh. When we arrived, the concert Promoter said that because of T-storms coming in we had to cancel the show. I felt terrible. There were about 100 or so people that had showed up early for the show in the pouring rain and they were already soaking wet. I talked to the crew and we decided we would do a small acoustic show for the peeps. So, with the help of my great crew, Jimmy Jazz and I rocked out a cool mini set for the gathered:

Booty Call
Rainbow
Hot Cooking
Milk and Cereal
Shooting Hoops
Beautiful
Cold Beverage

I busted a string, a freestyle on Cold Beverage and then we were out. I literally ran to the car and we hauled ass to the airport where I just made the plane to take me to Boston…what a day. I felt so bad that the show was rained out and hopefully they will rebook it for next year. I want to thank everyone for coming out today and hopefully the mini set eased the pain. It definitely made my day.

Thanks

G

No Special Sauce. I went to Carmela's to hang out and we went to G Love at Hartwood Acres. Can't beat FREE! First, we went to pick up their new pet. Her name is Princess Reecie....Cassidy named her. She is an eight week old Chocolate Lab. She is so cute and she cuddles. Then Carm and I were off to Hartwood.
We stopped by a deli and got some food and beverages. It poured down rain the entire time. At one point we were worried my car wouldn't make it out, but we stayed anyway.
It was fun. We got there pretty early, or so we thought. We just hung out mostly in the car. Giggled a lot and caught up where we last left off. All of a sudden this cop car went by and said G Love is coming on head down to the stage. Apparently there were thunderstorms coming and they were going to cancel it but G Love agreed to play a quick set.
We were pretty close. He came on stage and sat in a metal chair with his guitar and harmonicas sitting on an old wooden chair beside him. He started asking what everyone wanted to hear. He opened with Booty Call. He played Rainbow, Milk and Cereal, Baby's Got Sauce, Beautiful, Free styled a bit (my favorite part) and of course closed with Cold Beverage. At one point in the concert, I swear G Love was looking right at me. So I tell Carm, and she says, "Get over yourself Amanda!" My sister has a story where she swears Dave Matthews was talking to her. I lost it. I laughed so hard. At the end they started throwing T-shirts and the new CDS out. Carm and I were too short to get anything. But we got an up close G Love Acoustic, and that was enough.
We headed out. Carm orchestrated the get away. Everyone else was spinning tires in the mud and water. We zipped right up to the pavement, thanks to my co pilot. I felt bad for the people that were just getting there. They missed everything. All in all it was fun, then back to Carm's to play with the puppy. I ended up falling asleep to Cassidy talking my ear off. For seven, that little thing can talk none stop about anything. It was fun.
This morning Carm and I had coffee and got sucked into some Internet puzzle game for about 5 hours. Now I am home and my basement is filling with water. But I decided to blog instead of deal with it!

Every year my entire family goes to Florida the first week of December. I have only went once and that was last year. I was only able to go for three days because of work. I work in retail and we have a Holiday Blackout period. Well they just announced the new Blackout for this year. It only covers Thanksgiving week and then from the 8th through New Years. So, for the first time ever I will get to go and spend the entire week right outside Ft Lauderdale. I had so much fun last year, and I cried when I had to leave them. This is the BEST news I have had in a long time. I am soooooo looking forward to it! Yippeeeeeeee! Nothing like a week of sun, beach, family and relaxation during the winter months.

I had to work today. My friend Andy left this afternoon. I hate the Sunday after Dave Matthews Weekend. It just all seems done and over. I had a great time at the concert, but I wish it were two nights. I have that "what to do now" feeling. Too soon to start planning next year, so I believe I am planning to go see him again before this tour ends. He is at Blossom, though I swore I would never go back after last year. There are a couple other options.
I should be excited. Wednesday I get to go see Ratdog/Allman's with my sister. Sunday I get to see G Love outside in Pittsburgh. I just want one more Dave show this year. I bet he does a winter tour as well. Maybe even with just Tim. Anyways, I am just venting..... I feel much better now.
I am going to my sister's tonight. That will cheer me up!

It was great! We had so much fun. The weather was perfect. Lots of new stuff which is good. My favorite part was Sweet Up and Down. I also liked the new song Cornbread. Usually you get one Satelite or Rapunzel to go to the bathroom, but we didn't get any of that. Heather and I almost made it through to the end, but we broke down and went to the bathroom during Stay.

Well it was a blast. Despite the rain and more rain, and more rain. It is so nice to have everyone in one area. I feel bad though, because there were people that I didn't get to talk to at all. There are so many people to see and catch up with. I spent a lot of time with my cousin Tracey who I really do not talk to much. We went in the bathroom and filled water balloons and planned a sneak attack on my Uncle Dave. He got everyone last year so it has become a sort of tradition. Plus I spend most of my time goofing off and telling stories with my cousins Bobbie and Tammy. There is only seven months between the three of us. We were very close to my Mother's side of the family growing up, so the three of us were always together. Here's a picture of us now...all grown up....


This is my mother with her three sisters and brother David.


This is my Family. I can't believe that Kay and Mav are so big.


This is the Puskarich (Aunt Anna) side of the family....


This is my Uncle David's Family


My Brother's Family


And here are just some Random pictures from the day!

Mr Handsome...


Me and Mav


My Brother and Cousin Tracey


Sweet Pea and the Pinata


The Always Beautiful Kaylee


And me and AbbaDo


My Family is awesome, I love them. Both sides, DeCesare and Long. Family are the only people you will ever truly be able to count on. I am very fortunate to also have friends that I consider family so I am doubly blessed. I wish we got together more than just once a year for four hours. It goes so quickly.

Next year we pass the reunion to the Puskarich kids. Everyone kept telling me how nice it was this year. I can't take the credit. My mother worked very hard, my sister and I just helped out here and there. My Mother deserves all the kudos. I hope she got to sit back and enjoy herself today as well. I know her and My Aunt Bev had a water fight, they looked like they were having fun. Thanks Mom, Love ya!

My sister let me watch Sweet Pea the other day so we went to the park. She is a hoot! Here is a pic of her on the swings. She left those sunglasses on the entire time. She looked like Elton John walking down the road.
We had a very nice visit. I do not know who was more tired by the end, Pea or Aunt Jenn?
Last night I went to my sister's and we painted a bunch of pots and planted flowers for the tables at the reunion. It was fun, we felt like artists. Some turned out well, and others....well they just turned out. We can't wait to see who's pots go first. We have a feeling which one will be last to be picked, and we are not allowed to say who painted it. Right Amanda? Our Long Family reunion is today. It was so much fun last year, I can't wait. It looks like it may rain, I hope the sun comes out before 2pm. I'll have a ton of pics to post.

Just loaded some pics that were on my camera for a while.....These were at a party my friend had a couple week's back.