Buffett --- Pittsburgh Style

You may not have noticed but I went on vacation Wednesday-Saturday to the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. Since 2003 we have traveled with a group of friends to various places around the Midwest to see Jimmy Buffett play. We fell in love with the tailgating and addicted to seeing him live in Tinley Park (now named Toyota Park) near Chicago, which now seems soo long ago and so small. We spent Labor Day weekend with him at Wrigley Field, we have partied our livers out in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. We traveled to Cincinnati to check out what all the fuss was and were only slighted disappointed. This past week we loaded up the truck and headed for Raccoon Creek State Park, PA. Where we would stay for three nights and spend one glorious day drinking up, eating cheeseburgers, watching girls spin the wheel and listening to the man himself play at First Niagara Pavilion.

This was my favorite concert of his. The tailgating was pretty tame. Alpine Valley has been by FAR my most favorite tailgating place for Buffett. But this concert was my favorite. It may have helped that I made sure I was coherent at showtime but regardless, he was awesome. He played so many of my favorites that I haven't heard in concert/or just didn't remember ever hearing live. He also played old favorites and as he always does Jimmy made me cry at least once. Yeah, I cry at Jimmy Buffett concerts. But I can't help it. Seriously, Jimmy Buffett once a year makes me happy. It's hard to describe it, but there are just sooo many songs with so many memories and so many songs that just 'take me back' as my other favorite musician Kenny Chesney likes to say. It is like my yearly church visit. Refreshing, comforting and a heck of a lot of fun.

the hubby and me tailgating pre-concert (we got to the pre-tailgate lot around noon and stayed there for about an hour and got in line to park here. while in line it started downpouring, like standing puddles and everyone soaking wet kind of rain. after we parked and got set up the sun came back, the humidity stayed and it was sunny all day!)

my fellow female friend in the Buffett craziness. this year we only traveled with one other couple and usually it is her, me and 4-6 guys!

a view of the people tailgating down by us

the other side of people tailgating by us.. these people were very nice and shared their food and bathroom with us all day!

my hubby

a view down towards the bus lots and a view of our neighbors bathroom. it was a bucket with a lid and baggies inside (made for hunters) and then the shelter that zipped up there. it was wonderful. lots better than standing in loooong lines!

Honestly, you need to go see Jimmy Buffett at least once in your life. The tailgating is ridiculous and sooo sooo much fun! Oh and if you only know Margaritaville, Cheeseburger in Paradise or Fins, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to other stuff. Oh you want me to suggest some Buffett for you to try? Why CERTAINLY!

A Pirate Looks at Forty "Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call,
Wanted to sail upon your waters
since I was three feet tall.
You've seen it all, you've seen it all. "

Lovely Cruise "Drink it up
This ones for you
It's been a lovely cruise
I'm sorry it's ended
It's sad but it's true
Honey it's been a lovely cruise "

Bama Breeze "AT THE BAMA BREEZE
YOU CAN SHOOT SOME POOL DOWN THERE
YOU CAN ACT THE FOOL DOWN THERE
YOU CAN PLAY IT COOL DOWN THERE
AT THE BAMA BREEZE
YOU CAN DRINK SOME BEER DOWN HERE
ARGUE, LAUGH, AND CHEER DOWN THERE
PASS ANOTHER YEAR DOWN THERE"

Changes in Latitude Changes in Attitude "It's those changes in latitudes,
changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same.
With all of our running and all of our cunning,
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane. "

And I could go on.. but just know there is more out there worth discovering!

Oh, and the camping was okay, but nothing to see again, but much better than the time we spent the night in a tent behind a random bar in Wisconsin! ;)