His Tractor Was Mighty Sexy!!!

Well, I'm back at work after what I can only describe as a very successful Memorial Day weekend. Mine was a bit longer then some because I didn't work on Friday. My husband and I had plans of painting our master bedroom this weekend so we figured we'd need the extra day to get it all done - plus we had tickets to see Kenny Chesney at the Wachovia Center in Philly Friday night and knew we'd have to leave early. As anyone whose ever driven around Philadelphia knows, traffic can be terrible when it isn't the Friday of a holiday weekend, or when there isn't a concert and a Phillies game. We were facing that traffic-snarling trifecta but the concert going God's smiled on us and we made the trip from our house to the center in an hour and a half. We were plenty early, and had time to get snacks and find our seats before the lights went out.

Promptly at 7:30pm Sugarland took the stage. Jennifer Nettles began by belting out "American Girl" which then turned into their hit "Something More." The rest of their set went like this...

• Fly Away
• Settle Down
• Down In Mississippi (And Up to No Good)
• Just Might Make Me Believe
• Baby Girl

Dierks Bentley was next up and to be honest he was the main reason I got tickets to the show. Having seen Kenny Chesney last year, I might have let the event pass if not for Dierks. He's tops on my list right now of favorite new country talent. He's got wonderfully curly hair and just enough scruff around the edges to make him quite sexy. He opened with one of my favorites "Lot of Leavin Left to Do" before running through "Cab of My Truck", "How Am I Doin", & "Domestic, Light & Cold". Then he sang another fav of mine, the current radio hit, "Settle for a Slow Down". "So, So Long", "My Last Name", "Come A Little Closer" and "What Was I Thinkin" rounded things out.

Having seen Mr. Kenny Chesney last year I knew his show was going to be loud and long. It seems when Kenny goes to concerts he likes to feel the music in his chest - so he makes sure his audiences have the same experience. He opened at our end of the arena with "Summertime", then rode a swing type thing to the stage where he continued with "Live Those Songs", "Big Star", "Beer In Mexico", "Keg In The Closet" & "No Shoes, No Shirts, No Problems". Slowing things down he sang the ever popular "There Goes My Life". Then it was back to "Living In Fast Forward", "Young", "Anything But Mine", "Old Blue Chair" & "I Go Back". What some people might not realize is that Kenny Chesney has been making albums since 1996 or earlier and that he has some great older stuff. So he did a medley of "I Drive On", "The Good Stuff" & "The Woman With You". Then it was "Back Where I Come From" & "Just Don't Happen Twice". Seeing the show last year I knew that Kenny likes "special guests" last year it was Uncle Kracker and Kid Rock. This year it was Uncle Kracker again, but no Kid Rock. Kracker and Kenny sang "When the Sun Goes Down", "Follow Me" & "Cowboy". Sugarland joined Kracker and Kenny on the remake of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away". Kenny brought the evening to a close with "How Forever Feels", "Who You'd Be Today" & "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy." Dierks Bentley joined him on stage for the grand tractor finally and then they signed autographs. The only weird thing was the tour was called "The Road and the Radio" but he didn't sing that song. It played as everyone left the arena. Once we got out of the parking lot after the show it only took us an hour to get home. My ears finally stopped ringing on Sunday morning. Next time I'll have to take ear plugs.

Now That's Fast...

Last night was the Second Annual Nextel Pit Crew Challenge, held at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, in Charlotte North Carolina. Martin Truex Jr's Bass Pro Shop Chevy pit crew got the job done in fine style and walked away with the championship and a check for $70,100.

Truex Jr's crew posted the fastest time in round one, a 25.29, putting them at the top of the 24 car field. They went on to beat Mark Martin's crew in the quarter-finals and Jeremy Mayfield's crew in the semi-finals. Defending champions, the crew of the #9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne, defeated Tony Stewart's crew in the quarter-finals and Carl Edward's crew in the semi-final.

Truex Jr's crew changed four tires, put in 18 gallons of gas and pushed the 3,700 pound car 40 yards all in 25.44 seconds. Well done gentlemen. Well Done!!!

Very Scary...Very Funny!!!

What more is there to say???

So True...

"I didn't say you wanted to go back, I just asked if you ever missed the fun." Lloyd hesitated. He didn't want to go back to the chaos and shame of those times, but Jay was right: there was something he missed. What was it? Youth, probably - that feeling that any second something extraordinary might happen to change your life." - excerpted from "Summer in the City" by Robyn Sisman

A "Developing Market"...

In emails back and forth with my friend Robin last week I was alerted to the arrival of a Sonic Drive-In in the Route 222/Brownstown area of Lancaster County. I've seen many commercials for this chain, which is odd because the closest ones seem to be in Virginia. But it seems that we will soon be able to partake of this cool food experience. In case you're doing any traveling this summer below is a map of all the states and how many Sonic's they have.

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!!!

What a great way to end a Saturday...with my boyfriend in victory lane at the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Speedway.

The day started with me meeting my dear friend Robin at a local Cracker Barrel for a huge Old Timer's breakfast. Having not been to the chain since a trip to Nashville in 1999, it was quite the treat devouring eggs, bacon, cheesy hashbrown casserole, grits and biscuits. Sufficiently stuffed we journeyed to the IKEA so I could visit the furniture I'm getting to re-furnish my guest room/den. After Robin and I said our goodbyes I headed to Kohl's to acquire the bedding for the new guestroom bed.

Right before the race was to begin I decided I wanted "special pizza" for dinner so the hubby and I drove to the Donato's for a large traditional crust pepperoni. It's kind of like Pizza Hut but better, tons better. Back at home on our couch we dug in and watched the green flag wave. Junior started 10th, which is better then he's done in a while. He pitted on an early caution and he seemed destined for the front of the field after that. Kevin Harvick, who's been on a hot streak lately, led 242 laps and did all he could not to let Junior by. Finally on lap 356 Junior's tenacity paid off and he made the pass and was able to run in the lead till the end of the race. A couple of late cautions made things kind of dicey because Denny Hamlin was knocking on the door a time or two, but Junior wasn't going to let him though.

Victory Lane was tricked out Crown Royal style, from the groovy purple pillow with a red crown that sat atop the Bud Chevy, to the beautiful minions holding that distinct purple bag aloft. As soon as Junior climbed from the car and got his Budweiser shower the Crown Royal minions moved in, practically standing on top of Junior as he gave his post race interview. Talk about distracting, all you could see were Crown Royal bags and heavily made-up spokesmodels staring vacuously into the camera while Junior talked. I suppose their instructions were to get on camera and show the Crown bottle, which they did, but my god, give the guy a little space huh? Though I suppose if I looked like these girls I might just squash myself as close to Junior as I could, sweat and beer be damned.