Happy Birthday JohnC!!!!!!!

A very happy belated birthday to you John C.

We did ,by the way, have a mini-blunder to celebrate Johns' birthday friday night.

We had a command performance at our coffeehouse staring John Flynn as the star and yours truely as the half-assed sound tech. Attended by John and Regina, Dan and Donna and the Mystical Judy.
There is photographic evidence someplace.

Aside from the good music and expert (and at one point quick fingered (unrehersed) sound guy) It was truly a blunder:

I had no plans for JC's b'day until Judy emailed about John Flynn's gig 2 days before. I looked up quite a few restaurants and passed them by JohnC for an OK. (who was putting shelves up in a closet, couldnt really hear me and wasn't very interested in the topic) I found one that we agreed was PERFECT.

I emailed a couple of people to meet us there; I followed up with time and address. In Judy's case - I provided her with excellent directions to the restaurant. (She was at Mom's with no computer). She promised to lead us to the gig from the restaurant.

Just a little late, but plenty of time we were off-It started to rain - could it be the Nor'Easter they'd predicted? Yup. Uh oh. Mapquest in hand - Up & down Main St., couldnt find the restaurant. Finally stopped a cop & said... "Where's Jimmy's steak house?" He pointed at a vacant lot and said - "Used to be right there!"



Tried calling Judy-couldnt get her. Found an Italian restaurant & left a message for Jude to meet us there. Didnt like it there, so we went down a side street (a hill like Everest) to an Irish pub. Called Judy - more directions. She got there in a flash, but there was NO parking. She had to park at the bottom, & hike up to the Pub. We had a very nice dinner, a bit rushed; no time for dessert...but fine.

We went over directions, & left the restaurant. John walked Judy to her car. Who decided to get to the gig on her own.

We found the gig - JC parked the car and I walked in alone. It was at that time that I realized I had not told Larry that we had changed restaurants. Ewe Luckily, he had never gotten any of my emails and didnt know about dinner. Phew!

We all sat in the lobby & caught up a little. I was glad we were there and nothing else could go wrong. Then Dan came over and said - "John (Flynn) is sick." ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I mean - Oh how dreadful, Will he be able to perform? Yes, but he changed with the opening act and will go on first. Fine, that's ok.

Where's JUDY? Judy's not here yet. We are herded into the gig. Saved her a seat. Tried to call her on the cell phone...didnt work in the auditorium. Waited, waited, waited. No Judy. Donna and I kept looking at eachother like - "Should we panic?" Judy had no idea John was going on first.

Just about to make a break for the lobby when John Flynn started a new song by saying - "I've spotted a friend in the audience tonight, someone I shared a great experience with" - and then described the CONO tour and shouted out a happy Birthday to JohnC. Did a great song about NO. Soon after tho, Judy flew in, hugging everyone in her path, clearly happy to be anywhere but on main street in Morristown.

We were sitting next to Larry and stayed for the other guy - Andy Dunn, who was good, until he brought up a lady from the audience who clearly didnt know how to use a mic so we watched Larry go nuts try to make her sound good while she bounced back and forth, in & out, near & far from the mic. Naturally, John & I were supportive (I still think pushing all the "yellow buttons" would have helped)

As far as John Flynn, he was wonderful, you would have never known on stage that he was sick. (Once he got off the stage for the meet & greet you cold see he was "uncomfortable").

All the way home I promised JC dessert at the local diner, but when we got home to let the dogs out, I fell asleep (in my clothes) and that was the end of the night. Didn't compare to last year, but I think JC had a good time.

End of Blunder (as far as I know).

I think its sounds like a perfectly blunderful birthday!!

Did you give him a "raincheck" for the diner??

Yup, but the next day we went into NYC and had a lovely dinner etc.
(and saw LION KING- my Christmas present from JC).

I was there in time to hear John's birthday wishes from the stage! That was so nice of John Flynn! Yes, I got lost driving from the restaurant to the gig. I saw a street sign for the street I was looking for, Madison, so I turned there. Well, it must have been Madison Drive or Boulevard or Street or something other than the Madison Avenue I needed. I soon realized it was the wrong street, but kept seeing other streets with familiar names and signs to the airport, which I knew was near the gig, so kept trying to find my way there. The problem is, when you're in downtown Morristown, no matter what lane you're driving in, it's always the wrong lane. Right lane must turn right. Left lane must turn left. Whether you want to or not. Then you have to find somewhere to turn around. And I hate driving in downtown traffic....almost as much as I hate getting lost. Then suddenly you're on a local highway, and there's no way to turn around for miles. But I found my way there! Woo-hoo!!! It was great to see everyone, and I was glad to help John C. celebrate his birthday!

Sounds like a fun night. Can't blame you for falling asleep in your cloth after all that excitement.

Thank for all the good wishes. Thanks to Reg it was grand as always. Good food, good music and best of all good friends, can't do better than that.

Belated happy birthday , John! I'm glad you got to spend it with friends and a concert! Best wishes for a terrific year! Sue

Happy Birthday John! Sounds like you had a good one. 57 was a good year! We'll see you soon.