Hello my friend, We meet again...

Review by Do:

Event: Creed Concert (w/Theft and Red)
Venue: Darien Lake PAC
Date: July 31, 2010
Concert goers: Me, My husband, and another couple
Ticket cost: $35

I've been a fan of the band Creed since 1997 when they released their first album, My Own Prison. I was quick to snatch up their most recent album, Full Circle, last October; and so it's of no real surprise that when my husband asked if I wanted to see them in concert, I jumped at the chance. Our friend secured us tickets in an advance sale posting in March and we were set!

Our friends, Kelly and Matt..............................My husband Steve & Kelly

The concert was at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center and so we planned to drive out that day and stay overnight with our friends at their campsite. Perfect idea because who really wants to drive 2 hours to get home after a concert?

[a bit of history: For those of you who don't know, Creed release 3 very popular albums in 1997, 1999, and 2001 and then broke up in 2004. Lead singer Scott Stapp tried a solo career and the remaining members of the band formed Alter Bridge. Neither were able to duplicate the popularity and sound of the original band. So true Creed fans were uber-excited to hear that they had reunited and were releasing a new album.]

We arrived in Darien Lake around 4:00pm, and by 5:00pm we were parked and in tailgating mode! Much better planning for this concert than the last (see previous Down in Sugarland blog for details). This was our view from the parking lot...not what you would expect to see at a concert venue, but then again, we are in Upstate New York.

Around 6:30pm the gates opened and we ventured on in. As usual the beer selection was limited and pricey. They were selling Budweiser and Michelob; a 24 ounce can was $11. I don't mind an ice cold Michelob Ultra but good lord - 24 oz.?? That's a double beer! I could barely hold the thing, it was so big. Not to mention you can not possibly drink the whole thing before half gets warm (I did give it my best shot though). I would have rather seen normal sized beer, and a beer man walking around with cans on ice...but that was not the case. They also had food and wine selections but I wasn't buying. The bathrooms were clean enough - crowded but tolerable.

The stage is set up in front of a covered seating area; then set behind was open lawn seating. Our seats were great. We were in the covered seating area, set fairly close, but to the left of the stage. We were in short walking distance from all the amenities too.

The two opening acts I have never heard of before. The first, named Theft, was a bit more appealing than the second, named Red. They weren't as head bashing as Red seemed to be. I actually can't accurately review either of those bands because I was so excited to see Creed that I would have wished anyone off the stage.

Creed was awesome! From their opening song to the end of their 3-song encore. Scott Stapp is a phenomenal singer - his vocals are as strong as ever. Their mix of songs was well played. What's This Life For (my personal fave), One, My Sacrifice, Suddenly, Overcome, Faceless Man, One last Breath, and of course Arms Wide Open and Higher, just to name a few. I love them all.

Scott made full use of the stage and the concert light show was amazing. Very colorful, very energetic, and even some pyrotechnics. You could tell that the band is back, bigger and better than before. I think the crowd could tell too because everyone was so into the whole show and singing right along as loud as possible. I am so happy I finally got to see them in concert and I will never forget how powerful it was.

The Darien Lake venue gets a 4 (out of 6) on my concert meter. The bathrooms and overall cleanliness of the place were tolerable (1/2 points each), parking was good (1 point), stage setting and sound/graphics were great (1 each), but the amenities get a zippo in my book.

I would definitely see Creed again and I would also return to the Darien Lake venue for another concert. All in all, we had a really fun and memorable weekend. Hopefully the members of Creed will remain friends this time, and we will be hearing/seeing more of them in the future.

My Sacrifice...
Hello my friend, We meet again
It's been a while, Where should we begin
Feels like forever
Within my heart, Of memories
A perfect love, That you gave to me
Oh I remember

Saucy!

So I'm walking through Publix, my favorite local grocery store, doing a bit of shopping. I was in the pasta aisle contemplating making something with red sauce and cheese. And what catches my eye but price tag, not a sauce. A price tag. $5.99 for freaking jar of sauce? You've GOT to be kidding me.

Oh, Mario Batali. That explains it.

But what makes a jar of tomato sauce worth of that kind of price? I'm not a big jarred tomato sauce person, preferring to make my own. But I'm willing to try this stuff to see if it's any good.

The jar claims the following -- no preservatives, no sugar, fresh ingredients, "imported San Marzano tomatoes and slivers of fresh garlic", and "produced in a green facility." Does it taste good?

When I opened the jar it smelled like SpaghettiOs. Um...ew. I hate SpaghettiOs. They really quite gross. Not a good sign.

I boiled some Barilla mini-farfalle pasta in one pan and dump some MB marinara into another pan. Taste. Blah. Yes, blah...as in bland. Add some kosher salt, a little basil and a pinch of Italian seasoning. Better. Acceptable. Poured on the pasta.


I added some grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Helped. I started eating. As far as store bought tomato sauce goes, it's okay. It's not a thick sauce, it's kind of watery. And then, what I feel, the cardinal sin of red sauce has happened -- there are tomato seeds in the sauce! Gross. I hate, hate, hate that! Who wants to bite into a bitter, nasty tomato seed? Fate sealed.

MB, I don't care HOW many television shows you have...your sauce sucks and it's seriously unworthy of any money, let alone $6! You can put all the buzz words on the label but if your product is bland, watery and annoying, no one will buy it.

Paul Newman's sauce is MUCH better. Hell, even my red sauce is better than that.

The Bone Garden

Review by Do:

I read my first book by the well known author, Tess Gerritsen, and I must say that I really enjoyed it.

The Bone Garden is a great mystery (possibly romantic mystery) that weaves a tale from 1830 in with the present day life of Julia Hamill. Having just gone through a divorce, Julia embarks on a new life for herself in an old rundown house. While digging up the flower garden, Julia finds a skeleton buried on her property, and soon learns that the person was most likely murdered. She feels drawn to finding out who the person was, and why they were buried there in such a manner.

The storyline from the 1830's follows (4) Boston Medical students and the conditions they faced in learning how to become a doctor. One student is accused of crimes he did not commit and must prove himself innocent.

How these two very different sets of circumstances become entwined is very cleverly done. One minute you think you know who the killer is, but really, you have no idea. Although this may be a tale of murder, it is also an unexpected love story that, in the end, inspires Julia to think that she could actually love again.

Tess Gerritsen has written numerous books dating back to 1985. I am very happy that I chose this to be my first book by her. I love mysteries so I cruised through this book in just a couple weeks. The medical circumstances were very interesting and very well researched, and yet not too disturbing. I borrowed this from my mom not knowing that, coincidentally, this is the same author of the new Rizzoli and Isles TV series that debuted on TNT this summer. Since I am also enjoying that show, it is a definite possibility that I may embark on a new Tess Gerritsen novel in the near future.