Joyce's blog.... welcome!

Time to write about my exciting adventure to see Paul McCartney! I hope you have a few minutes.

(Callie's Picture)

First of all...this was such an epic event!!! History! There has never been a concert at Safeco Field (Seattle Mariner's Baseball Field) ever! So Paul was the first. Secondly, it was my first time at Safeco. Third, it was the only concert on his tour where the remaining members of Nirvana performed with him!!!

Everyone who knows me knows the love of my life is Paul McCartney (sorry, honey). He was my first crush as a little girl. No one could top him...not Davy Jones or Bobby Sherman! It's always been Paul. So for my 57th birthday my kids Karla and Kevon bought me tickets to go see him!!! Karla isn't a Beatles fan like Kevon and I so we went together. It was so much fun. I tossed and turned if I really wanted to go. A hundred excuses not to go...my back, my feet, he is 71, he can't sound as good, our seats are so far what will I see, etc.. worried mostly about the walk and the seats. It was so worth every ache and pain and worry.

For those that don't know we park the car on Bainbridge Island and walk on the ferry (about a 1 mile hike from the car to the seat on the boat). Then you ride it 30 minutes to Seattle. Get off in Seattle and walk over to Ivar's where we had dinner (best Seafood in Seattle). We couldn't get a table but Kevon got us this shared mini bar table with another couple that were in their 60's and heading to the concert too. Nice people. Then we leave and we pretty much knew my back wasn't going to hold up 15 blocks. And Kevon didn't want me to slow him down. He walks so fast weaving in and out of people. If he wasn't 6 foot 3 I would have lost him hundreds of time during the night. Anyway... we walked back to the ferry and he started looking for a cab. Yep, that is Kevon in the middle of the road.

Couldn't find one so he put me on one of these pedicabs and paid the driver extra $ to take good care of his mom. Everything is so fast paced in Seattle!

This was my view....

He was going SO fast and was weaving between people and cars, up on sidewalks, across roads, and I was holding on with both hands! It was SO fun and SO scary and a first for me! I think I loved it! Got me to the field within minutes! Kevon didn't ride with us. He met us up there. Wanted to walk.

I had to wait about 5 minutes or so for Kevon. Watched a guy holding a sign yelling for repentance. Reminded me of John's preaching. But I think he turned more people away than bringing them to Jesus by telling them they were filled with demons. Not a great way to witness...in my opinion.

Anyway, Kevon told me to meet him at the big glove. I couldn't see it. The place was packed outside. Once I met up with Kevon we had to climb a bunch of stairs. He couldn't believe all the people.

After those steps we saw Jessica and Alyssa!!! We didn't think we would see them with 49,000 people there. Said hi and bolted. Kevon got a beer and we bobbed in between people for about a mile til we got to an 3 story escalator. It took 59 seconds to ride it up. Then we had to walk to find our tunnel to find our seats. Finally got to it and and had to climb up to the 20th row. Now, mind you, there are 25 rows in the section. The 25th row is at the very top of Safeco field as far and as high as you can possible go without climbing on the roof. And, if you know me at all, you know I am so afraid of heights!!!! So it took me awhile to get oriented. Kevon left to get another beer and I thought I was going to have a panic attack being surrounded by all these people in a cramped location. A bit claustrophobic. I was better with Kev next to me.

Here was our views. We actually had one of the best seats! The sound (acoustics) where we were...perfect! We could see everything! And we had a view of Seattle and the freeway. I was wondering what people could hear outside of the stadium.

Ryan and Callie were somewhere on the floor. And Ted was by those sani-cans on the left.
Jessie and Alyssa were somewhere this direction.

I think Craig and Cindy were somewhere this direction!

It was such a perfect night!!! The sun is going down and it is blue sky in Seattle! They kept the roof off for the concert and it was like being at an outdoor concert.

Sitting while waiting you could feel the excitement!!!

For all my anxiety before the concert....when Paul started to sing it was all washed away! My goodness the man still has it. And he still has my heart! He doesn't even look 40 years old! He sings and dances around the stage like he is still in his 20's. He puts on the best concert...my favorite of all time. He performed over 3 hours!

Here is the list of songs with my comments:

1. Eight Days a Week (Beatles)

2. Junior’s Farm (not a favorite... Wings)

3. All My Loving (Beatles)

4. Listen to What the Man Said (Wings)

5. Let Me Roll It (Kevon loved this one and you could tell Wings)

6. Paperback Writer (Beatles)

7. My Valentine (for his wife Nancy)

8. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five (Wings, not a favorite)

9. The Long and Winding Road (Beatles)

10. Maybe I’m Amazed (Kevon and I ...and you can see our deadbeat neighbors. Family of 4. Not one sang, no smile, one person clapped, they never stood. I don't know if they even enjoyed it! They had earplugs. It was like they were aliens dropped down to observe a concert. So weird)

11. I’ve Just Seen a Face (Beatles)(It is dark but Kevon was getting into it)

12. We Can Work It Out (Beatles)

13. Another Day (Paul on 12 string accoustic)

14. And I Love Her (Paul sang this for me Beatles)

15. Blackbird (It was so amazing) (Beatles)

16. Here Today (A song Paul wrote for John...very touching)

17. Your Mother Should Know (Kev loved to sing this to me "she was born a long, long, time ago..your mother should know" (Beatles)

18. Lady Madonna (Beatles)

19. All Together Now (We had fun singing this! My hands hurt from clapping with it and it went faster and faster!) (Beatles)

20. Lovely Rita (Beatles)

21. Mrs. Vandebilt (Wings: What's the use of worrying, Whats the use of anything...Hey, hey ho...we clapped faster and faster on this one too)

22. Eleanor Rigby (Beatles)

23. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (Beatles..John Lennon song)

24. Something (Paul on ukelele was so cool...his tribute to George Harrison who wrote the song (Beatles)

25. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Beatles)

26. Band on the Run (Wings)

27. Back in the USSR (Beatles)

28. Let It Be (Beatles)

29. Live and Let Die (one of the best with fireworks etc...You will hear someone singing...it is NOT Kevon. I got this video off YouTube. My memory was full by then. lol) (Wings)

30. Hey Jude (Of course we sang Na, na, na, nananana, nananana, Hey Jude) (Beatles)

1st Encore:
31. Day Tripper (Beatles)

32. Cut Me Some Slack (with Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear)

33. Get Back (with Nivana) (Beatles)

Encore 2:
34. Yesterday (I cried when he started to sing this song. Just taking in where I was, the song, Paul, with Kev, and just to be singing along with a Beatle...my favorite Beatle in person, hearing everyone else singing..the whole experience...amazing! A moment I will always cherish and never experience again.) (Beatles)

35. Long Tall Sally (with Nirvana - Dave Grohl on drums)(Beatles)

36. Helter Skelter (with Nirvana)(Beatles)

37. Golden Slumbers (Nirvana)(Beatles)

38. Carry That Weight (with Nirvana (Beatles)

39. The End (with Nirvana)(Beatles)

When the concert ended we got outside and saw Aly and Jessie again! I was hoping they would go with me because I hate Seattle but they were waiting for a friend. Kevon got a cab and we took it 1/2 way down. Still had to walk about 8 blocks. Argued the whole way. Took the elevator up to the ferry terminal and the line was ridiculous! Kevon disappeared. I sat at a table. Talked to Craig and Cindy for a minute. Rested my back and went looking for him. He was waving to me to follow...he got our ferry tickets somehow. Long story short he got us to the front of the line and we got on the boat. Kev was worried about Jessie and Aly so he text Jessie and they missed the boat. He told her to let him know if they need him for anything. He meant ever. So, then Kev and I argued on the boat about my health, we argued about his language that night, and talked about God the rest of the way home in the van. Oh, I must tell you Kevon and I never really argue...we disagree and work on making the other agree with us. lol! We never raise our voice but both think we are right. I know I am. I drove.. which was a good thing since Kevon had a few drinks.We sure had fun! We danced and sang and rocked out like I was 18 again!!! Amazing night. My calves are still aching so much!

Callie got picture of Danny Bonoducci...they sat right behind him. If you remember he is from the Partridge Family. Now he's a disc jockey here in Seattle.

A few more pictures I took and I am done....

You can see Seahawks stadium. And that tallest billing is where Karla used to work.

It was really a once in a lifetime opportunity!!!! He gave us what we came for!

The story of Toby....

Toby was born in Puerto Rico around July 14, 2002. He was rescued from the beaches, neutered, given vaccinatiions, and flown to the United States to be adopted.

We came into the picture when I found this picture on line.

He was described as part whippet. I fell in love with those big ears and german shepherd look to him. So cute! I replied to Ramona and she suggested we meet him at Pet Smart. So Dylan and I went and met him. They opened the cage and he started licking Dylan's ear. Dylan loved him! I loved him! It was a done deal. We needed a fenced yard...check. We needed $100.00...check. She needed to do a home check...check. Then he was ours!!!

Ramona brought him over and Andrew and Papa went out to the car to get Toby. He was already named so we kept it. Here is the picture of Papa introducing himself to Toby when we got him inside. Papa's first words to Toby were, "How are you doing, kid?"

The second day....

And day 3.....

Within a few weeks he knew he was home!!!!

He grew and grew...babies were born and he is so gentle and loving to them.

And they watch over him too....

They walk him....

Parker and Maddie

Papa...even during his heart attack!

Lauren

Andrew

Riley

Makoa

Maddie

Dylan

They play with him....

Andrew

Dylan

Andrew

Dylan

Lauren

Toby trying to save Andrew! lol

Andrew racing Toby and Sandy

Makoa

Dylan

Maddie

And he is always on duty and takes his job of protecting his family seriously...

Lauren

And mostly they always love him....and he gives us loves too!!!!

These are the pictures of his past 11 years! I wish we had 11 more years, but I don't think that is possible. So I just pray for a good 5 years or more left.

We all love this dog so much!

Happy birthday, Toby!