I wanted to send you, as people we wouldn’t mind spending 9 days on a cruise ship, some info regarding a cruise in April 2009 (yes, that’s right…start the penny jar now to save up).  Some highlights:

1) We’ve confirmed this aligns with April  2009 School Vacation for us.  We would leave on Friday (yes, they’d miss school) April 17th and Return on Sunday April 26th.

2) The boat leaves from Cape Liberty NJ and returns on Sunday at 8am.  Plenty of time to get home and rest up for the next day

3) No Flights needed for the New Englanders

4) I have connected with a travel agent that helped us book a cruise on Royal Caribbean with my mom in April 2007.  We sailed on the same ship.  She’s willing to help any of you, answer any questions and she DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE.  She was unbelievable and a tremendous help.

5) Booking early saves money.  Booking as a group of at least 8 cabins, saves money.   We can hold cabins with the Groups Department for about 30-60 days (depending on cabin type).  This allows people a little more time to decide if they’re not sure.  At the moment, early booking savings apply to the rates.  Another BIG reason to book early is for better choice of cabin location and more availability of cabins that may hold more than 2 people.

6) Sharing rooms.  Vicki can help coordinate families since most cabins will only hold 4 people at a time.  There’s no “sneaking” someone in because everyone needs a passport.  They can even be near each other.

6) This has become a VERY Popular sail for New Englanders.  It will sell out early

7) Sea Sickness. The itinerary is attached.  There are 4 days at Sea but all other days, the boat moves at night.  We used the SeaBands with James, me and my mom.  They are a simply bracelet you wear.  No medication.  We were fine with them.

Passports – everyone will need them.  You can apply at the town hall or post office.  You should do it in the next few months if you plan to go.

Our two cents.  We had ages 3 to 13 and all the kids had a blast.  Licensed children’s program and all of them are Free.  However, there’s lots to do as a family.  This boat has rock climbing, basketball, volleyball, In line skate track, miniature golf, ice skating rink etc.  There is also a great fitness center, SPA etc.  You never have to leave the boat if you don’t want to.  We enjoyed the nice mix of spending time with the kids, spending time alone as a couple and spending time together with Family.

See below for a basic flyer she put together and you can also go online to see information.

Please get back to me if you are interested as if we have at least 8 rooms.

Our kids can’t wait to go again….here’s the link to Royal Caribbean http://www.royalcaribbean.com/home.do

Cruise Flyer April 2009

That’s right – on select Webkinz pets, when you buy one, you get one free!

Only at Limited Too… follow the link below to take advantage of this offer:

If you have kids like me, you wind up with a lot of these little critters.  We must have at least two dozen of these furry little creatures.  The kids love them and the hook, in case you don’t already know, is that you can use the unique code found on your Webkinz pet to go on to the Webkinz interactive website and there is tons of games and fun up there.

Send this to your friends!

My friend (and former bandmate) Dave has been going to Bonnaroo for years, and no doubt, will be going again this year.  Perhaps, I’ll be making the trip as well?  This is a very compelling reason to go, for sure!  The thought of “camping” for four or five? days isn’t very appealing, but with the list of bands, including Led Zeppelin, how the heck can I NOT go?

I haven’t looked at the calendar yet, but I can all but guarantee that something that is a FAMILY, can’t miss gotta do it will be that week and/or weekend.  Better yet, Eileen will have to travel for business and the GIG will be up.

Here’s a bit of info:

NEW YORK (AP) — The reunited Led Zeppelin will headline the 2008 Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival, concert organizers announced Wednesday.

Led Zeppelin, who reconvened for a single December concert in London, had for months been rumored to be heading to Bonnaroo, which will be held Jun 13-15 on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn.

Confirmation of Led Zeppelin’s Bonnaroo performance was sure to stoke further speculation on a possible reunion tour. Last week, guitarist Jimmy Page said he was eager to tour with singer Robert Plant and bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones. (Jason Bonham, son of late drummer John Bonham, has joined on drums.)

Plant will also perform at Bonnaroo with bluegrass star Alison Krauss, with whom he made the hit duet album, “Raising Sand.” Led Zeppelin recently released “Mothership,” a two-disc compilation.

Also scheduled to perform are Metallica, Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, Kanye West, My Morning Jacket, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Phil Lesh and Friends, Sigur Ros, the Raconteurs, Against Me! and Death Cab for Cutie.

A lineup of comedians performing in the festival’s “Comedy Tent” will include Zach Galifianakis, David Cross, Janeane Garofalo, Jim Norton, Mike Birbiglia and Brian Posehn.

Tickets to the seventh annual festival go on sale Feb. 16. More acts will be announced later, with an expected total of over 100 bands.

The company that controls a huge share of the rough diamond market has agreed to pay nearly $300 million in a price-fixing dispute.

Customers who bought finished diamonds might be able to get hundreds of dollars back.

De Beers, one of the largest diamond suppliers in the world, has agreed to give Americans money back as a result from a class action lawsuit against the company alleging antitrust violations.

John Maher, the plaintiffs’ attorney, said the diamond leader violated the law.

“They controlled and monopolized the sale of rough diamonds and as a result merchants paid more than they should have for those stones,” he said.

De Beers has not admitted to doing anything wrong in the $295 million settlement. An earmark of $135.4 million has been made for consumers who file a claim.

Consumers can download information online at the settlement Web site.

The diamonds could have been purchased from any jewelry store in the country between Jan. 1, 1994, and March 31, 2006.

According to the claims administrator, a consumer who purchased a $2,000 engagement ring would be entitled to a maximum of $640 back. However, consumers are warned not to count that money yet as the formula only takes into account the value of what a consumer purchased and how many people file claims.

For those eligible, the filing deadline is May 19.

Here is the link to file a claim online. https://diamondsclassaction.com/index.htm

Here is what’s new for October:

Oct 18th-Oct 25th: Autum in the city – Get 20% off 3 & 7 Day Passes

Oct 24th -Nov 2nd: 20% off 3 & 7 day passes

Oct 26th -Nov 6th: “Spook”tacular Halloween Savings

Admission to over 40 of New York City’s best attractions click here-> New York Pass

I haven’t played in Hartford in years and am looking forward to it big time. We’re looking for a good turn out, like we always do, so why not come out for a drink or two, a laugh or two and a dance or two??

Sweet Jane’s is a cool place to come out and party – they have a nice big bar and plenty of room to get out and shake.

Hartford has sure changed since the days when I’d go bar hopping to the Russian Lady, Scarlett O’Hare’s, BT’s and Chuck’s Cellar. If you remember any of those places – admit it: YOUR GETTING OLD.

On a side note, the following night (5/26) my buddy Joey Joe Joe’s band Wicked Garden is playing Sweet Jane’s! Looks like if he shows up at my gig I’ll have to reciprocate. If so, and you can’t make it on the 25th, drop me a note and I’ll go with you Saturday night!

dada
Park West, Chicago

Friday, April 6, 2007

Hundreds of bands have soared to rarely seen heights only to be rebuffed just as quickly, but few did quite as exceptionally as dada. Nearly unavoidable when “Dizz Knee Land” hit the airwaves in the early ’90s, they found the industry and public less receptive to their ensuing ideas.

Seeing how now is as good a time as any to reach out again, dada have released the A Friend Of Pat Robertson EP by themselves. Any band who can fill the Park West has a decent chance at rekindling, and Pat Robertson isn’t shy on potential hits. The lush harmonies that are their — and many California bands’ — trademark rush straight to the top of the mix on the title cut, which opens the EP and sets the pace. “72 Hours” sounds uncannily like it could have come from 1992’s Puzzle, remastered to bring its jingle-jangle morning up to date.

From there, perhaps it’s aggression or frustration, Pat Robertson goes on the attack. “7 Dot 1″ takes an effects-laden classic rock riff to attack consumerism, and the opening storm of “Emily Sang To Me” tries to conjure the devil before breaking into a molten, post-grunge stomp. “If Tears Were Balloons” closes the shop in typical, sweet-voiced dada style but by then the point has been made: What’s past is prologue and not much more.

– Kevin Keegan

Click here to download a sample of “7 Dot 1.”

The 2007, 16th Annual Denny’s Country Scramble:
Course……….Twin Peaks/Hills, Coventry CT
Date…………Saturday, May 19th – rain or shine
Starting Times..8:30+
Web Site……dennyscountryscramble.com
Cost…………$300 per foursome which includes…
-greens fees
-2 fabulous golf carts
-4 official Denny-wear hats
-beer (midway and after your round)
-burgers and other stuff to eat (midway/after)
-verbal abuse (after)
-manure smell (before, during and after)
-net prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, (4th?) and last
-individual prizes for longest drive,
closest to the pin,
most strokes and fewest strokes.

In case you forgot…
Denny’s Country Scramble is a handicapped
four-person scramble. Take the best drive of the
four and move the remaining 3 balls to that point.
All players then take their second shot from that
spot…an so on…until the ball is in the hole.

Also, the Denny’s Country Scramble does not
contribute anything to any good, bad or indifferent
charities; all the money goes back to the
participants.

For registration information and other stuff of
intrigue about the DCS2007, please go to
dennyscountryscramble.com.

Also, feel free to forward this to anyone that I
may have missed or might be interested in playing
this year.

Thanks,
Larry (filling in again for Denny)