Harry Connick Jnr & Hooters

Where to start? its only been a few days since my last post but so much has happened in that time its quite hard to get it in order! My friends are now in their new home, I would like to say settled but you know what its like when you move with boxes everywhere even after you have filled the new cuboards to capacity you are left with a stack of boxes and wondering where you fitted it all in in the last house. I have to say the new place is impressive. These yanks do know about space! A map to get around in here would be an advantage compared to what most of us in the UK are used to but hey its their way and I for one can see why! On Sunday a perfectly good concert ticket was wasted upon me. Now this was a treat for which I am thankful but I had no clue who the chap on stage was. I am reliably informed it was Harry Connick Jnr who is a big music star who has done some acting as well. A local priest had convinced him to come to a small church (St Marks Catholic) in a small town (Richmond, Kentucky) which for a "big star" is something they rarely do...especially for free! It was a fundraiser for the church's school so a good cause and was full of the full range of suitably doe eyed women along wih boyfriends and husbands who would have rather been somewhere else. Now hang on I think I may be being a bit harsh there as most were having a really good time. In fact I only met 4 other people outside sneaking a smoke whilst the gig was on and out of a capacity crowd of 500 that really is impressive. In fact a capacity crowd of 500 hundred for this level of star in the US is unheard of as its so small so it shows the dedication and persuation of the priest. I was more inclined/amazed with the church itself. I dont think I have ever seen such dedication of religion within a church which is a poor reflection on the state of and lack of faith that now rests within our UK based society. Alot of those followers do pay for the priviledge I have since found out up to 10% of their wages monthly to the church so it does beg the thought of what reasons you may have to buy your way into the great beyound. BUT who am I to judge on what peoples faith is and what brings them comfort even if its at such a cost. The gig went well and I have to admit the band and the singer (The Harry chap) were very good and my friends enjoyed it immensley but the most positive point was $40,000 raised for the school!! Still dont have much of a clue who he was though! Now today was my friends youngest daughters 11th Birthday. How did she want to mark the passing of this day????????? A trip to eat at Hooters! Now of course neither myself or my male friend had no complaints of passing a few hours surrounded by 20 something busty women in tight clothing so off we went. My admition here is that I have never been to a Hooters before. Well the food was good (another american first of a steak Philly sandwich) and the view was most welcome, in a strictly male getting older sort of way remembering your youth whilst convincing yourself that the waitresses really like you even though they see you as their Dads but are being sooo nice because you WILL give them a good tip, and the waiting staff were all very good looking. Apart from ours.... who in all honesty looked like someone had locked her in a cuboard for three months without food and then had dragged her out and backed a pick up truck into her face for good measure! Now being the male Adonis that me and my mate are we were a little dissapointed in this situation but put up with it because A) The British would never like to cause a scene and B) she was very friendly just doing her job to earn a crust with her very big breasts. This paints us out to be letch's but we most definetly are not. We looked at all the breasts in the place and even compared notes so one poor waitress didnt have to put up with all of our attention. All jesting aside the service (food nothing naughty) was superb and the staff sang their version of Happy Birthday to my friends daughter which is a converted clean army song and we all had a very pleasent evening being served "Pitchers" of beer. Theres another American first "a pitcher". You want 3 beers? Have 5 in a pitcher instead!! Suprisingly it never went flat or got warm????????????? How I have no idea but it couyldnt be the rate at which we were drinking it surley ;) I had the pleasure of picking up a few DIY bits from the local store and can report that all DIY stores across the pond look like any DIY store back home. In fact I think they share floor plan designs because everything was also in the same place within the store as at home. Suprisingly the costs are about the same as well. Food update: I have had a Wendys, Starbucks, Subway, Mcplastic, Steak & Shake, Dominoes and a chinese in carboard square boxes. I have had waffles for breakfast which were not sweet like I expected. The full on takeaway menu is of course because of my friends move and the lack of a plumbed in cooker. We are all looking forward to some proper home cooked food now as no one can live on take out for long LOL. I have been to an American sports bar and these guys love their sport!! The atmosphere resembled that of a capacity crowd in a football stadium!! I wish I had their passion! So all in all having a great time with plenty of time left to go. Plans for the weekend are seeing my other friends upstate so I will see some more of this state and report accourdingly.