Legends in concert

I know I'm a stereotype when it comes to certain recording artists.  I'll freely admit it.
On that list of artists I'll just about jump through fire to see is Ms. Diana Ross. 
Her career began back in the 1960's with a group called the Supremes, later changed to Diana Ross and the Supremes, and then she had an extensive solo career through the '70's and into the 80's, however by the late '80's her star was descending.
I've never been fortunate enough to see her in concert, although I did come close one time in the late '80's while on a trip to Las Vegas with Faye and Sam.
Seems that Ms. Ross had been booked into Ceasar's Palace for a week - it wasn't hyped, and the only way I'd found out about it was on the cab ride from the airport to the hotel, reading the local visitors guide I picked up at the airport. 
It was a relatively small ad for what I felt was an artiste of her stature, and given that during her height she sold out stadiums, this would have been something rather "intimate" - ie at most a 500 - 750 seat venue. 
So I was literally beside myself at the thought of seeing her in such a setting.
There was only one catch, however...at the same time, the Las Vegas Musicians Union was threatening a strike to protest the use of "canned" (recorded) music instead of using live musicians for shows.
Well, they ended up going on strike.
No biggie I thought, Ms. Ross was a Diva of the first order (ie she was a legendary Bitch) so I figured that she'd have no problem crossing a picket line.
Until the actual day of the show's start, there was still no word about whether she was going to perform or not - rumor went both ways - that she was going to do the show and at the other end of the spectrum, that she wouldn't do the show because she wouldn't cross the picket line.
Noone knew anything. Tickets however, didn't go on sale because she hadn't decided yet.
Personally, I was hoping that her Divaness would hold true and she'd cross the picket line and do the show - unfortunately, she decided to honor the Musicians Union picket and wouldn't cross the picket line.
So I didn't get to see her.
Well, fast forward to this year, 2011 ... Diana Ross hasn't toured in decades - and suddenly, the announcement came that she was going to do a "small" tour - about 9 cities.
Of course, not one stop in Atlanta. 
The nearest city to Atlanta she would be appearing in ?
Durham, NC. 
Honestly, not that far away, and doable by car. 
So I got my hopes up, only to have them dashed by the ticket prices and the fact that the Durham venue was sold out.
My other choices were Texas and New York / New Jersey. 
That won't happen - I'd have to fly up, get a car and a hotel, pushing the entire trip into the $1000+ range just for me.
What were the ticket prices?
On average, about $125 if I had managed to get them via TicketMaster - of course, now that the shows are sold out, the only recourse now is a ticket broker, meaning that the cheapest I can get away with would be about $250, but more likely $350 and above for anything not a nosebleed seat.
So, I lose again, at least for the time being.  
Maybe one day - but honestly, if I'm shelling out $1000 or more, it's not going to be for one night in a hotel and a concert.
I'm doing Disney for that kind of money, and you, Aiden, your Mom and Dad will be along.

Half century mark - I'm 50 years old today

I'm 50 years old today.
Grandpa Don remarked that my age must be some sort of record.
He's actually right. Of all my friends and associates, I have lived the longest, and I'm the oldest.
Wow.
That's all I got right now.
Wow.

Early morning shocker part 3

I haven't posted prior to today because I needed to get my thoughts in order.
It's been a few days since Delene's "memorial".
You'll note I now put it in quotes - because it wasn't a memorial, it was an Intercessory Mass.
Talk about blindsiding - first I find out after 10 years of knowing someone that they were Catholic. Then, I arrive at what is ostensibly a memorial service to find out that it's a full blown Mass.
For someone who in all reality, wasn't Catholic, was certainly not religious, and conducted only because of familial guilt.
I arrived late because I had issues finding the church where the service was being held, and signed the guest book. I took a program and a prayer card without looking at them and entered the chapel, taking a seat in the rear pew.
At that point, I began to take stock of my surroundings - and realized I was in the middle of a Mass, not a memorial service.
I looked at the program, and then at the prayer card, and promptly folded them up and put them in my pocket, thought another second about the hypocrisy involved, and left.
I am a lot of things, however I avoid hypocrisy whenever possible.
Hypocrisy? Oh yeah. That service wasn't about Delene - it was her estranged family working through the guilt of her suicide by conducting an Intercessory Mass.
And don't hand me that tripe about "funerals are for the living".
Further hypocrisy - Delene wasn't a practicing anything. She probably considered herself Christian, but certainly not Catholic.
Catholicism teaches that suicide is a Mortal Sin - it ranks up there with murder as one of the Big Sins - for which you are condemned to Hell, no redemption.
What an Intercessory Mass is supposed to do is enlist the aid of a Saint in getting you out of Hell.
In Delene's case, because of her love of animals, they chose St. Francis of Assisi.

Delene, I hope that where ever you are you know the peace that eluded you in life.
I personally believe you've found that you've already been reincarnated because of your actions, however those beliefs are mine and mine alone.
Regardless, I wish you only peace.

Early morning shocker part 2

Delene's memorial is today. This is decidedly not how I would choose to spend a Saturday, believe me. I'm not sure what to expect other than I'll be seeing a number of people I haven't seen in years however who have been integral in my life. 
The big controversy remains in how the blame game is going to be played. 
When I say the blame game, I'm talking about who's guilt is going to make them lash out at whoever they perceive as the 'reason' Delene took her own life. 
Honestly, the blame, if there is any, is Delene's and Delene's alone. She was on major meds for depression and possibly sleep disorder, and those meds had recently been changed. 
She was familiar with the reactions of alcohol with her previous meds, however apparently the new meds didn't quite mix the same way.
I'm sounding like I'm blaming Delene, and I guess in a way I am.
Don't get me wrong, I loved her.
However, no one forced her to drink - she made that choice and unfortunately paid the price.
The most horrible thing about all this is the mess that's left for the survivors to deal with.