In the Presence of Greatness...

I have been a fan of Elton John and Billy Joel for almost as long as I can remember. To see them in concert this past weekend was nothing short of a dream come true. And with 2 full months from the time of the purchase of the tickets to the time of the concert to anticipate, I was a little worried they wouldn't live up to my expectations. I was right. They exceeded my expectations. Four hours straight of their biggest hits mixed in with some very impressive improvisation, and a few witty remarks on the part of Billy Joel makes for a VERY entertaining evening!! (And I think the 25000 or so other people there that night would agree!)

One of the friends I went with put it like this: Everyone knows they're famous. Everyone can hum along with a few of their songs. And they're good songs. But then you see them perform live and you realize WHY they're so famous. It's because they're geniuses. I sat listening, soaking it in, and trying to absorb the fact that it was all really happening. That I really was lucky enough to be there. And that they've been playing some of these songs for longer than I've been alive!!

Here are a few samples of what we heard - the light show was the same, so I'm thinking this was just elsewhere on the same tour.

Pianoman (the finale to the 9-song encore)... Sorry - the videographer insisted on singing along... :-(



My Life - approximately the same distance from the stage that we were.

New Life

There's nothing worth celebrating more than a healthy baby being born to a family that is excited to welcome it, and fully equipped to care for it.... That said, I'd like to take a moment to welcome two little ones to the world, and to my "extended family" of friends....

Welcome Elijah (born March 7, 2008), son of Larissa and Blair
and,
Welcome Kai (Born March 10, 2008), son of Edie and Ricardo, and little brother to RJ!

You are both very very lucky babies, and we will be much blessed by your presence in our lives too, I am sure. I can't wait to meet you in person!!! (Congratulations families!!)