"Something To Believe In" And One Fun Night!!

This post is mostly, well okay, about 90% dedicated to the Bret Michaels concert Ry, I and a friend of ours went to the other night, but first I just wanted to share just a little bit of my Christmas with you guys.

Phew...it's been a crazy busy last few days. Christmas was so, so good this year. Totally different than any other Christmas I have ever had before, but different in such a great way. It's really different seeing Christmas from the eyes of children. Kind of melts your heart just a bit. Obviously, this was the first Christmas that either myself or my family has had a Christmas with kids around. I have to say having Ry and his two kids there for Christmas was a great addition to our family. Ry the kids and I spent Christmas Eve at Ry's parents house, and then Christmas day we spent the whole day with my family. It was great! There were a few times over the two days when I was kind of left "breathless" with how good the day was. It was a totally different kind of "breathless" that I have had the last two Christmas's. It was so amazing to have a Christmas filled with love again. Ry and I set a limit for our little gift exchange and I have to say he did a great job. He got me, a medicine ball (we are going to start working out together), a jewelry box, hats and gloves, UofM slippers, Bath and Body works shower gel, a UofM sweat shirt, and a paper shredder. (I know boring, but I wanted one). I think he did amazingly well in the gift department if you ask me. Our first Christmas was truly great! You want to know another wonderful thing Ry did with me on Christmas day? Well for the last two Christmas's I have gone to Shawn's grave. I knew I wanted and needed to go again this year but was trying to figure out a good time to go with all of the running we were doing. I asked Ry if he wanted and would go out with me and he did. So the two of us went out there, it was the first time Ry had gone to the cemetery with me, so it was kind of a big deal. We went out, Ry wiped the snow off of Shawn's head stone and the two of us just stood there for a few minutes. Then Ry asked me if I wanted a few minutes alone and gave me a quick hug. I could not have asked for Ry to respond in a better way. I was also so happy that I got to go and spend a few moments with Shawn. This Christmas was really one to remember and I'm glad that it was not as sad as the last few have been.

Here is a picture of the four of us plus Bo. As you can see by the picture none of us, including Bo could get our act together and take a decent picture. As bad as this one is, it's the best one that we all took. Yes, that is my mom's hand holding up the tennis ball for Bo to look at. He will do anything for a tennis ball.

Okay...now onto Bret Michaels!!!! Holy cow I was so excited on Monday I just about could not even stand myself. For those of you who don't know I LOVE Bret Michaels. Poison was one of the first tapes that I ever bought and I listened to it over and over again. Something to Believe in is probably one of my favorite songs of all time. Well that and Ever Rose Has It's Thorn. I'm not lying when I say that I wore out my tape. I'm not usually attracted to guys with long blond hair, or guys who wear eye liner, and skin tight jeans, but I'm sorry Bret Michaels is just plain smokin hot!!! I have always wanted to see Poison, and Bon Jovi in concert but have never been able too. Well, a few months ago it was announced that Bret Michaels would be coming to our local casino with two great other 80's hair bands, Firehouse and Warrant. I read it on the casino's web page and about jumped right out of my chair. I called Ry immediately and told him we were going. The day they went on sale I bought our tickets and have been looking forward to the night ever since.

Well, this past Monday the night finally arrived!!! Ry and I went with a friend of ours. Funny side story...we went with our friend Mary. Who I actually went to school with, her and I went to prom with the same group of people, although the two of us were never really friends. Anyways, Mary and Ry met about three years ago and have been great friends ever since. So when I met Ry I was re-introduced to Mary. Mary and I hit it off instantly and now the three of us do stuff together. So Mary went to the concert with us. Alrighty, back to the concert.....We left for the show at 7:00 because the show started at 8:00. On the way the three of us talked and listed to a Poison. We had to get ready for the concert!

We got to the casino and went to the concert hall to find our seats. For $65, I was shocked as to how good our seats were. We had GREAT seats. We were in the second big section back from the stage and we had just about center stage seats. Not to mention the huge jumbo tron screens that were also right in front of us.

The first bad to play was Firehouse and they were super great and totally full of energy. For those of you who don't know some of their famous 80's songs are "Don't Treat Me Bad", "Don't Walk Away", and perhaps their most famous "Love of a Lifetime" They played all of those plus more and put on a great show.


"Love of A Lifetime!"

Mary, Ry and I in between bands.

After Firehouse was Warrant. They were also really really good and totally rocked the house. Their all time famous song is "Cherry Pie" I'm almost sure if you like 80's music you remember that song.


"She's my cherry pie...."

One of Ry and I. Good picture besides the fact you can totally see up my nose! Ha!

After both Firehouse and Warrant, there was about a 20 minute break and Bret (yeah, I just call him Bret) finally took the stage. I was so dang excited!!! I was a little nervous because I had heard from people that when he tours without Poison he mainly plays his new stuff. However, much to my surprise he played only a few new songs and totally rocked out on old Poison. I was as giddy as a school girl. He sang, "Talk Dirty to Me," "Look What the Cat Dragged In", "Nothing But a Good Time", "Fallen Angel", and thank you God he sang my two favorites, "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" and "Something To Believe In" I tell you when he played those songs I got total goose bumps. It was AWESOME!!
Bret taking the stage for the first time.
Bret singing away....
Ya see that...Bret is pointing to me. (NOT! but I can pretend he is)
A half way decent close up
The hat comes off and the famous bandanna goes on. He can totally rock that!
Telling us the next song he is going to sing is "Something To Believe In"

Amazing!!!!!

Bret coming back out on stage for his encore!!

Ry, Marry and I had such a great night!! We all were so happy we went to the concert. However, we all wished we could go back in time and live in the 80's. I think we all decided we could rock it 80's style for a while. I was singing the songs I heard that night for the whole next day. Who am I kidding...I'm still singing them in my head!

Okay, am I the only crazy one or do some of you happen to thing Bret is darn sexy and secretly in love with him. I know I'm not the only one...tell me I'm not!