Saturday, July 11, 2009

YT Fan Vid

Celebrating Richie's 50th.




I don't have that kind of creativity :)

Mine's a different kind :)

~ Hath

Richie Sambora; YouTube Salute

MusicRadar has a great bunch of YTs under the heading "Best of YouTube: Richie Sambora". Here are a few of the ones they posted that I happen to agree with. Go to their site... Check it out...

Richie Sambora is famously the guitarist and co-songwriter in Bon Jovi, a talented player and an incurable guitar junkie… he owns over 130 guitars. He tours with millions of dollars' worth of guitars

But wait - he also plays mandolin, sitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, piano, drums, flute, trumpet, saxophone, accordion, bouzouki and mandocello.

So he loves music. But do you love his music?










What are your favorite Richie vids? I've talked about a couple of mine in the past... Share your links!

~ Hath

Other birthdays today...

Actor Tab Hunter is 78.

Actress Susan Seaforth Hayes is 66.

Singer Jeff Hanna (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 62.

Ventriloquist-actor Jay Johnson is 60.

Actor Bruce McGill is 59.

Singer Bonnie Pointer is 59.

Actor Stephen Lang is 57.

Actress Mindy Sterling is 56.

Actress Sela Ward is 53.

Reggae singer Michael Rose (Black Uhuru) is 52.

Singer Peter Murphy is 52.

Actor Mark Lester is 51.

Jazz musician Kirk Whalum is 51.

Singer Suzanne Vega is 50.

Actress Lisa Rinna is 46.

Rock musician Scott Shriner (Weezer) is 44.

Actress Debbe Dunning is 43.

Actor Gred Grunberg is 43.

Wildlife expert Jeff Corwin is 42.

Actor Justin Chambers is 39.

Actor Michael Rosenbaum is 37.

Pop-rock singer Andrew Bird is 36.

Country singer Scotty Emerick is 36.

Rapper Lil' Kim is 34.

Rock singer Ben Gibbard is 33.

Rapper Lil' Zane is 27.

Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley is 27.

Pop-jazz singer-musician Peter Cincotti is 26.

Actor David Henrie is 20.

~ Hath

Ticket Rant

OK, so I've been tweeting and emailing about being excited that Daughtry's gonna be in my neck of the woods on August 4th, and today tickets went on sale at 10:00 EDT.

Within 15 seconds (that's how long it took me to type in the two verification words and click "enter") all the tickets were gone.

10 seconds after that (that's as long as it took me to go to StubHub) there were hundreds of tickets on sale on that site, from $89 to $400!

The tickets on TicketMaster were $20.

I have to say I'm extremely disappointed. Pissed is more like it.

Why can't the artists control how their tickets are sold? If they can't maintain these controls through TicketMaster, why aren't they fighting it? No matter how they get their tickets out there, they'd sell!

I say go back to the days when you had to go to the venue and wait at the box office to get your tickets.

It would exclude the out-of-town fans from a lot of shows, but at least would be more fair. If you really wanted to go to the show, you'd find a way to get there or have a friend get tix.

I've sent messages to Chris Daughtry on his website and Tweeted them too.

This is crazy.

~ Hath

On this day...

Other famous things that happened on July 11:

In 1859, Big Ben, the great bell inside the famous London clock tower, chimed for the first time. (The clock itself had been keeping time since May 31.)

In 1767, John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, was born in Braintree, Mass.

In 1798, the U.S. Marine Corps was formally re-established by a congressional act that also created the U.S. Marine Band.

In 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounded former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton during a pistol duel in Weehawken, N.J.

In 1864, Confederate forces led by Gen. Jubal Early began an abortive invasion of Washington, turning back the next day.

In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first incumbent chief executive to travel through the Panama Canal.

In 1952, the Republican national convention, meeting in Chicago, nominated Dwight D. Eisenhower for president and Richard M. Nixon for vice president.

In 1955, the U.S. Air Force Academy swore in its first class of cadets at its temporary quarters, Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado.

In 1978, 216 people were immediately killed when a tanker truck overfilled with propylene gas exploded on a coastal highway south of Tarragona, Spain.

In 1979, the abandoned U.S. space station Skylab made a spectacular return to Earth, burning up in the atmosphere and showering debris over the Indian Ocean and Australia.

In 1989, actor and director Laurence Olivier died in Steyning, West Sussex, England, at age 82.

Ten years ago: A U.S. Air Force cargo jet, braving Antarctic winter, swept down over the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Research Center to drop off emergency medical supplies for Dr. Jerri Nielsen, a physician at the center who had discovered a lump in her breast.

Five years ago: Japan's largest opposition party experienced strong gains in upper house elections, while Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling bloc held on to a majority. The International AIDS Conference opened in Bangkok, with U.N. chief Kofi Annan challenging world leaders to do more to combat the raging global epidemic. Joe Gold, the founder of the original Gold's Gym in 1965, died in Los Angeles at age 82.

One year ago: Oil prices reached a record high of $147.27 a barrel. IndyMac Bank's assets were seized by federal regulators. A North Korean soldier fatally shot a South Korean tourist at a northern mountain resort, further straining relations between the two Koreas. Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, the cardiovascular surgeon who pioneered such procedures as bypass surgery, died in Houston at 99.

~ Hath

Happy Birthday, Richie!

One of the sites I belong to, Samboraly Yours, collected letters and greetings from the fandom to send to Richie. They had a contact who was able to make it happen. This is the letter I sent along.

Greetings from Boston!

Shoot – that makes me sound like an alien. I mean, I suppose if you're not from here, we Bostonians can seem a bit foreign, what with our thick Cliff Claven accents and our missing R's and all. But seeing as how you're from Jersey, and your state has its own little quirks and accents that convince me that perhaps its inhabitants are not entirely human, I guess you'll understand where I was coming from with that opener.

I'm pretty sure this tome you received is hefty, and I imagine you’ve spent a little time flipping idly through the pages, wondering if it’s worth the effort. I'm glad you decided it was, and even happier that you skipped someone else and stopped on my message and are giving it a read. Yes, I readily admit I'm a selfish woman. So sue me. I have your attention, and don’t intend to lose it.

Alright, so here's the thing.

I was trying to think of a way to write you a ‘happy birthday’ letter without sounding all familiar with you, but I simply couldn't do it. You know why. You’ve heard it from millions of fans over the years. You’ve talked about it in interviews. We fans feel we know you through your music; that which you created with the band and without. You pour your soul into your songs, and we recognize that, react and respond to that, and frankly greatly appreciate that. At this stage in your career, you could churn out cookie-cutter rock songs, and you’d still book the arenas. That you take the time to make the music resonate and MEAN something before letting us hear it makes it that much better.

I'm sure you must find all this liberty-taking and familiarity a wee bit horrifying, and I certainly don't blame you for that, but I can’t help it. I promise, should we ever have the good fortune to meet, I’ll be appropriately stunned by your presence (in fact, since you’ve had me mesmerized since sometime during puberty, I can pretty much guarantee THAT – a girl never quite gets over her first crush, you know). But ask anyone, I'm pretty harmless. And this is just a letter after all; it’s not like I'm in the room with you, right?

Did you just look over your shoulder? Sheesh.

But given that I couldn't write something sterile and utterly respectful, unless, say I was to send birthday greetings to the Queen of England, I'm writing this from the heart, from one friend to another, and I hope you don't mind too much.

So. Fifty. The big FIVE-OH (sorry, but I can't help but flash on Jack Lord there....). Where’d the years go? Wasn’t it just last month that you were on MTV with your long hair and that Stetson, talking to Martha about Stranger? And a few months before that you and Jon were doing perhaps my all-time favorite performance of Wanted, acoustic on MTV? No? It was HOW long ago?

Well, regardless of how long ago that was, you have more energy and enthusiasm than half the people I know. I don't know how you do it, how you manage to stay so positive and so positively YOUNG given all that you do and all you’ve been through, but man, keep doing it. You're obviously doing something right, and believe-you-me, there are plenty of us out here in the anonymous hoards who greatly appreciate that.

I truly hope that this year has found you so far doing what you love and loving what you do. From the bottom of my soul, I hope that by the time you get this, the new Jovi record is in the can and you're working on the solo record you taunted us fans with last year. (Not nice, by the way, you big tease).

And I hope you’re thinking about putting together a tour. A solo tour.

That starts in Boston.

Did I mention I'm selfish?

Anyway, I just wanted to add my "Happy Birthday, darlin’" to the chorus. I'm sure you can hear me, I'm the one in the back there, third from the left – that’s stage left, dear -- with the singing voice that makes fingernails on a chalkboard sound good.

Happy Birthday, Richie. I wish you all the best.

Sending Love from Boston,
Hath

P.S.: Next time you're in Boston, if you're feeling a hankerin' for local blues and great BBQ in an out-of-the-way place, look me up. Obie can find me.

P.P.S.: I feel I should mention that I'm happily married with a nearly-9-year old son, so there is no nefarious purpose behind my invitation. Don’t be surprised if I swoon for a minute or six, though – after being properly stunned, of course.


If he ever takes me up on my offer, I'll be sure to let you know.

Happy Birthday, Richie. I truly wish you all the best.

~ Hath

Richie's Birthday

... and a pressie for us.

Last year, I had the pleasure of singing Happy Birthday to the man along with 30,000 of my closest friends :)

AND then we got Acoustic Wanted (yes, the capital letters are correct).

On Richie's actual birthday last year, Willow, FM, BAJG, and I were in NYC in this fab Italian having drinks, dinner, and singing Happy Birthday to Richie again.

This year? Well, I raised a glass and sang HB again.

Didja hear me darlin'?

Happy birthday, baby.



~ Hath

The Birthday Boy



Happy 50th, Swingman.

Love ya, darlin'

~ Hath

Thursday, July 09, 2009

JB Backs New Homeless Shelter

Yeah, I know this is old news; you gotta cut me a little slack, I worked 40 of the last 48 hours. *yawn*

Rock legend and homeless advocate Jon Bon Jovi is participating in a venture to build an eight-story facility to provide affordable single-unit housing for 79 men and women who want to transition from homelessness to independence:

"I understand to address homelessness and poverty we must come together and look for meaningful solutions. Improving the lives of Philadelphia's most vulnerable citizens improves the lives of all of its citizens."

The facility will be built on the site of an unused building of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, near 13th and Market Streets.

The new building will be environmentally friendly, including a "green" roof, highly insulated walls, and a rainwater collection system. And seventy-five percent of the demolition materials will be recycled.

The shelter is set to open by the end of next year.

Judith and Rike sent me a pile of pics (Thanks, girls!)
Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket


~ Hath

It Seems Like Yesterday...

Yes, it was one year ago today that my "Bon Jovi Weekend" started. Two shows in Boston, then a weekend trip to NYC for Central Park. By far the most fun I've ever had with a group of girls, hands down.

I've got a bunch of pictures down below, pictures that make me smile and laugh, a few that make me cry with longing.

"Below what?" you ask.

Below the song.

Yeah, so one of the things I can apparently do is write lyrics for a melody.

So hear that JB and Rich? Next time you're ready to toss the notepad out the window, give me a call. Jon, you do the title. Richie, you supply the notes. Me? I'll supply a little bit of purple prose to get things going. You don't even have to pay me or give me credit on the sleeve. Just a hug and a "Thanks, darlin'" is all I need.

So, without further ado, and with my sincere apologies to Mr. Bob Seger, here's my song.

Until the End (sung to the tune of "Against the Wind")

It seems like yesterday
But it was long ago
Richie was lovely, he was the king of my night
There in the darkness with his six-string, hat pulled low.

And the music that we shared
The love that freely flowed
Flowed like a river in the midst of a storm
It was the sweetest, sweetest thing, that I ever will know.

And I remember what he sang to me
The desire to be my Valentine
I remember how he held the mic so tight
Oh how I wish those words were legitimately mine

Until the end
We denied it would ever end
We were singing, dancing, and happy
Until the end

And the hours rolled slowly past
And Friday came around
I was surrounded bv strangers who now were my friends
Some came so far, so far away from home

And we waited for our band
There were oh so many songs
I was living to sing and singing to live
Never worried about how they wouldn't be playing for long

Moving me with their music, their words, and their smiles
Even Hugh showed off a secret grin
There's just something 'bout Boston, I guess
Brings to mind lust, and passion and sin

Until the end
We denied it would ever end
We were singing, dancing, and happy
Until the end

Well those girls are my sisters now
And I find myself inspired
Stories and fantasies
What to leave in
What to leave out

Until the end
We denied it would ever end
We were singing, dancing, and happy
Until the end

We were singing, dancing, and happy
Until the end





God I had such a great time that weekend. Flirted with David, had some excellent Italian in NYC, spent a lot of time laughing with good friends.

Boys, before I start crying, please announce the next tour...

~ Hath

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Toxie Takes Toronto

The Toxic Avenger, the new Off-Broadway musical from Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, will make its Canadian premiere at Toronto's Music Hall on Halloween. Fitting, no?

Tickets for the Toronto premiere will begin sale Aug. 7. For tickets, visit Dancaptickets.

Now, if they'd just come to Boston...

~ Hath

Monday, July 06, 2009

Stories Updated

I've been a busy beagle :)

There are new chapters up of the following stories:

Online
Joker
Believe

Terri and I have NOT connected on Rings in a long time -- mostly my fault for being out of touch. REALLY out of touch. 60+ hour work weeks are busting my butt. But, we're due for a good talk; we haven't been on the phone to each other in a while.

Soon, my pretties, soon.

Hope you enjoy what's been posted!

~ Hath

Hello Gorgeous!



A friend sent this to me because I had a rough day. I know I told you already, Mys, but I love ya!

God I could get lost in those eyes....

~ Hath

Blue Parrot "Video"



This guy's vid is mostly stills overlayed onto the vid. At one point, he flases up "never leave home without a real camera again". lol

*note to self: take the good camera to LI this weekend*

Here are some of the stills from the vid (thanks, Rike!)

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket


~ Hath