Set List from Buffett's 5/28/11 show

1 The Wino and I Know

2 Brown Eyed Girl

3 Off to See the Lizard

4 Havana Daydreamin’

5 It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere (w/Mac)

6 Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

7 Life is Just a Tire Swing

8 Come Monday (w/Kenny Chesney)

9 Why Don’t We Get Drunk

10 Son of a Son of a Sailor

11 Back Where I Come From (Mac and Kenny Chesney)

12 Cheeseburger in Paradise

13 One Particular Harbor

14 Use Me (Bill Withers Cover, Nadirah Sings, Jimmy takes a break)

15 Tryin’ to Reason with Hurricane Season (The Beach Band)

16 Presents to Send You (The Beach Band, for Buford Pusser)

17 Woman Goin’ Crazy on Caroline Street

18 Bama Breeze

19 Volcano

20 Margaritaville

21 A Pirate Looks at Forty (Acoustic w/Jimmy and Mac)

22 Southern Cross

23 School Boy Heart

24 Fins

First Encore:

25 The Great Filling Station Holdup

26 Midnight Rider (Allman Brothers Band Cover)

Second Encore:

27 Stories We Could Tell (Solo Acoustic)

I made it to Fin Land

As a self proclaimed "Parrothead", I feel bad that until last night, I've only seen Jimmy Buffett twice. I saw him for the first time at Starwood when I was in junior high. The next time I saw him, I think I was a sophomore in college.

Time & life got in the way, but his music always calmed my soul. Seeing another Buffett show made it's way to the top of my list. But after his fall in Australia this winter, I worried I would never get another chance. I figured he'd hang it up.

But it's hard to keep a pirate down. When I found out he was going to play in Nashville, I pulled the trigger on tickets.

The last time Buffett was in town, was the night the rains kept on coming, the next thing you knew, Nashville was under water. What a difference a year makes. It was a beautiful day for a show & the city even shut down a block on Broadway between 3rd & 4th Avenue for a little Parrothead tailgate. Who else can shut down a city block?

I'll say this, the man can still put on a show! There's nothing like a Buffett show. The people watching is half the fun!

After about 3 songs, I was already running through my list of "all time" favorite shows. I was trying to decide where to rank this one. Then out of no where I hear, "...and he's my good friend Kenny Chesney..." or something like that.

I was already on my feet, but I started jumping. Why? I have no idea, but I had to put my Landshark down quick, or else I would have dumped it on the kid in front of me. And just like that, little Kenny comes walking out on stage & they start singing "Come Monday". The entire arena went bonkers. It was awesome!!

You know Kenny can't stop by for just 1 song. Jimmy played about 2 more before I heard the opening notes of "Back Where I Come From". Everyone was on the edge of their seats. I was trying not to pee my pants. Right on cue, Kenny walks back on stage. The two of them, along with Matt McAnally sounded amazing. That's one of my favorite songs and it bugs me when Kenny doesn't play it at his shows.

But even if you take Kenny out of the picture, this was still one of the best concerts I've seen in ages. My favorite part would have to be when it was time for "Fins". They raised some of the lights and you could see everyone with their arms raised over their heads and swaying in unison.

That's what a Jimmy Buffett show is all about. Forgetting about reality for 2.5 hours and just having a good time.

Back Where I Come From

Come Monday

Glad someone got this on video, as I was too busy freaking out. I think this is when I lost my voice. Maybe next year they could go on tour together! Can you imagine the tailgating?

Fireball Classic 5K

I have no idea where all this "running" talk came from, but now I'm actually thinking about running in the Fireball Classic 5K. The race is on a Sunday. The Sunday before the 4th of July. It starts at 9PM and goes along Neyland Drive.

The stadium will look pretty all lit up. We'll see how I do in the 1 mile run before I commit to anything longer.

Wish me luck!!

Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes - Jimmy Buffett

T-minus 4 days till my fellow Parrotheads invade Music City! I hope we're louder than the cicada's.

Honestly, sometimes all it takes is a little change in latitude for a change of attitude. I wish I lived closer to the water. I'd drive till the map turned blue every weekend.

The End?

Apparently I've been living in a cave. I have not been paying any attention to all of this "Rapture" talk. I had no idea what it meant till about 8:30AM.

Someone has predicted the world will end tomorrow, 5/21/11. This confused be because the only date I was aware of, was 12/21/12, as predicted by the Myans. They even made a movie about it.

I hope the world doesn't end tomorrow. There are still so many things I want to see and do. There are also so many things I still have to get off my chest.

I hope this post doesn't come across as 'too snarky', but here's the bottom line. None of us know when the world will end. And that's just fine with me. I don't want to know when my time is up. When it's up, it's up. End of story.

I will say this, the last 18 months or so has been a real eye opener for me, really...it has. I have a better idea of who I am and what I will and will not put up with in my life. I've also learned to live by one of my favorite motto's: "live each day to the fullest, you never know when it will be your last".

Moral of the story. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Don't go to bed angry, don't take your loved ones for granted, don't be scared of the unknown. Take that leap of faith, you never know what could be waiting for you on the other side. Leave the past behind and make a better future.

But just in case all the "experts" are right...

Unplug...unwind...

My love of traveling has been well documented. Some would call it an art. I call it a "break from reality". I actually planned on getting on an airplane last week, but due to a few scheduling conflicts, it didn't happen.

All was not lost. I still took time off and spent the week with my family in Nashville. In years past, if one of my trips had to be canceled, I would cancel my PTO and just go into work. But this time, I still had 5 days to burn and being a bit older & wiser, I'd much rather take the time instead of seeing that time wasted on my next paycheck.

There were times when I dreaded taking time off, I was always worried about what would happen to my team when I wasn't in the office. Luckily, that didn't last long. It was not a healthy feeling. I have rule, I don't think about work until I actually walk back into the office. If my e-mail is full, oh well, I'll clean it out.

I think September and October are the only months that currently aren't booked with trips. There's a reason for that, a little thing called 'football season'.

But do you know what's even better? I get a fresh set of vacation days tomorrow. Once I factor out the rest of my trips, I'll have to find time for a quick getaway before football season...I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

May the Fourth Be With You

Mission Accomplished