On the up side, the Plunge had so many donors that they could not finish counting the contributions before the end of the After Plunge Party. As such, the announced the funds tallied as of 4:00 P.M. As of that time they had counted over Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars. All that money goes directly to Delaware Special Olympics. Pretty impressive for a bunch of Slower Lower Delaware redencks.

Finzup!

"Also, make sure you have your dues in to Sylvia by March 1st or you will be dropped from active status, lose your seniority, and lose your ticket (if you qualified for one)!!!! (Whoa! that's a lot to lose!!)"
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Here is some info on The Mardi Gras Carnival sponsored by the Ocean City Parrothead Club on 3/28. You can also go to: http://www.ocphc.com

Just wanted to mentioned that I have a room block at the Carousel for $69/Atrium and $99/Oceanfront for our Mardi Gras Carnival. The Room Block is under "Parrothead Mardi Gras".
New for the Mardi Gras: We will be auctioning off a Brand New Suburban! So for all of you who need new wheels for the Tiki Tour ... here is your chance!
2003 Mardi Gras Carnival
Ocean City Parrothead Club's masked celebration to benefit
The Atlantic General Hospital's Building Fund.
You are invited to Ocean City's Mardi Gras Carnival on March 28, 2003, at the Carousel Hotel on 117th Street from 8:00pm until 1:00am. Come and enjoy the finest cuisine prepared by the Delmarva Cooks and Chefs Association. Sounds of New Orleans will fill the air with the stylish sounds from the Craw Daddies and the Barrelhouse Brawl. Street entertainers, Belly Dancers, Jugglers and Mimes will captivate you with their exhilarating and unique performances. Fortune tellers and magicians will amaze you with their extraordinary talents. Indulge in the finest wines, liquors and ales and of course, the traditional drink of Mardi Gras, the Hurricane. Try your luck in our infamous Live auction featuring a 2003 Suburban, luxurious getaways, golf excursions and priceless jewelry worth over $50,000. Take a chance at our Silent Auction featuring a dinner for 10 prepared by Shawn Harman, Owner of Fish Tales, Gary Beach, Owner of Marlin Moon and Rod Rippin, Owner of Iguana Surf and your bartender for the evening will be Buxy from Buxy's Salty Dog. Tons of other wonderful items including jewelry, OC Vacations and Parrothead Package.
Come and see who will be crowned King and Queen of Ocean City!
Inclusive tickets including the 2003 Ocean City PHC Mardi Gras Beads are $75.00 each or reserve a table up to 10 guests for $100 per seat. Guests with Reserved Seating will have recognition in the program and will be members of a legendary New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewe for the evening. Their table will be specially decorated to reflect their Krewe.
Call 410-524-1000 for room block at the Carousel Hotel and for Mardi Gras tickets.
$69 (Atrium) and $99 (Oceanfront) per room, plus taxes.
Questions on the event, please call India at 410-520-2100 or email: ocphclub@aol.com
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The Metro North Parrot Heads are very excited to be hosting Jim
Morris & the Big Bamboo Band at Captain's Cove Seaport in
Bridgeport, Ct. on May 10, 2003 from 12:00 to 5:00. This will be
the band's New England CD Release Party and also it will be the
first time the entire band has performed this far up North! Tickets
are $20.00 payable to:
Carol Pohorylo
35 Boot Shop Lane
Monroe, Ct 06468
(please send S. A. S. E)
carpoh@aol.com
Complete details can be located at the following website:
www.newenglandshipping.com/ph1.htm
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Dear Denise,
Hello there, I notice you folks are new on the ring. I'm Jim Gordon the author of a little parrothead friendly novel titled Island Bound. I was wondering if you folks could pass a little note to your reading members about my novel. Here's where one could check it out if interested
http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/8993
The sequel is due to be out sometime this summer. I also have a web site if you wanted to trade links - www.islandtraderbooks.com
Thanks much
Jimmy Gordon

Dear Denise:
I would appreciate your getting this info to your club's members and web
site. Thank you.

NEWS RELEASE: February 18, 2003
Jimmy Buffett said:
“Tom Corcoran served me my first beer in Key West at the Chart Room Bar
over thirty years ago. Now he has put his ‘time on the water’ to great
use and has produced books that reconnect my heart and brain to the Key
West that I knew as an unknown bar singer. Was it a kinder and gentler
place? Hell, no, and that was the best thing about it. [These books are]
about as accurate a description ... as there is around today.”
Tom Corcoran’s fourth Key West-based Alex Rutledge novel, “Octopus
Alibi,” has reached bookstores nationwide. His previous books are “The
Mango Opera,” “Gumbo Limbo,” and “Bone Island Mambo.”
Visit www.tomcorcoran.net for details on Tom’s 25 scheduled appearances.
As Jimmy’s photographer for many years, Corcoran contributed to the
album covers for “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “Son of a
Son of a Sailor,” “Volcano,” “You Had to Be There,” “Coconut Telegraph,”
and “Boats, Beaches, Bars, and Ballads.” Tom also co-wrote “Fins” and
“Cuban Crime of Passion,” and recently completed the package notes for
Jimmy’s upcoming 2-CD release, “Buffett Buffet.”
Tom Corcoran’s “Octopus Alibi No-Alibi Tour” will run from February 15
to March 29, primarily in Florida with side stops in New York City and
Fairhope, Alabama. His only other scheduled appearance for 2003 will be
at MOTM in late October.

Jim Mayer has been a member of the Coral Reefer Band since 1989.
He joined the band back then with his older brother Peter (guitar) and
drummer Roger Guth. The three have been an integral part of the Buffett
sound since that time.

It sure looks as if 2003 will be a big year for "Uncle" Jim. Besides
touring with the band as usual, he will release a children's book sometime later this year. In addition, he has just released his first CD, a children's release called "Funky As A Diaper" (good title -- having changed my share of diapers in my time, "Funky" is a damn good description).

The CD, which includes the talents of most of the Coral Reefers, is wacky, to say the least. As an adult, you find yourself interested in the wonderfully strange directions the lyrics and the music take you. Hell, even my 13 year old son was intrigued (although he will never admit it). Now with the great children's writer Shel Silverstein deceased, it looks like someone like Jim perhaps can step in and fill in at least part of the void. To hear some of the CD including "Funky" in its entirety, please go to:

<http://www.jimmayer.com> .

Jim was nice enough to converse in cyberspace for a little Q and A
about his work with Jimmy Buffett and his own projects for the
coming year. He kindly answered the questions without telling
me, "I don't know and I don't care!" The interview follows:
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How does the youngest son of Lutheran missionaries wind up in "The Coral
Reefer Band"? Isn't there a disconnect in there somewhere?

I guess I'm supposed to be here. Peter, Roger and I had a band on
Warner Bros. records called "PM". After Jimmy's "Hot Water" release, MCA called our producer Elliott Scheiner to work with Jimmy on "Off to See the Lizard". Elliott recommended us. Jimmy was ready for a change. Voila! It was definitely a right time/right place thing.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Why have you and your brother stayed in the band so long?

Interesting question. Jimmy's REAL easy to work with. The band is like a family now. The musicianship is high. Lots of time off on the road to relax and work on other projects. The fans are incredible and it's a hell of a lot of fun. There may be dreams of other lives but I believe for now this is the best path.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Are you any relation to John Mayer, who is not a hit-making, pop sensation?

No, but we enjoy his music.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Are the rest of your siblings into music like you and Peter? Any
childhood rivalry between you and Peter? Any good Mayer childhood stories?

They're all into music, but not like us. My sister wanted to be a concert pianist but that's a brutal life, so she teaches piano. My father played organ and conducted choirs. All the siblings can play piano, that's part of our schooling in India, where we lived in part of our childhood.

There was a lot of childhood rivalry between Peter and I. We'd go up to
Perkins Pancake House when we were in high school and drink 7 cups of
coffee. Whoever fell asleep first, lost. Peter would listen for me to
stop practicing in the other room, then he'd know it was time to stop.

When we were little kids, we slept in bunk beds. One night I peed in my
sleep, but I was on the top bunk and the pee went out my pajamas and
ricochet of the wall onto him. He woke up to a spray, I didn't have a
drop on me.

Mealtimes were always fun. Peter would eat about 8 pieces of bread. He's always been the starch king. Somehow I always got oatmeal on my forehead. He'd yell, "Mom, Jim's got oatmeal on his forehead again." On Saturday's he'd make a huge breakfast for the family; coffee cake, eggs, oatmeal, the whole deal.

When he was about 10 he'd play Beatles songs upstairs. Half the time
walking up the stairs I'd swear it was the record. We always wanted to
play in a band together.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of my latter-day favorite Buffett songs is "I Don't Know & I Don't
Care" which you co-wrote with Jimmy. Anything you can tell us about that
song as well as the other collaborative efforts you've been involved in that wound up on Buffett releases?

Not knowing is a big theme of mine. In my children's album it ends with
"Then it hit me, I realized, it's okay not to know..." "I Don't Care"
came out of listening to an NPR radio broadcast where they were getting a little too interested in the minutia of some obscure issue. I thought, "Why doesn't any one ever say, "I don't know and I don't care?" At least it would be honest. A good example would be if you're sitting on the pier in Key West watching the sunset and someone says, "Hey, did you know it's raining back home?" You'd probably say, "I don't know and I don't care."

We were down in Key West recording. I hadn't heard anything and the day before the end, Jimmy's assistant called me and asked for a lyric sheet for the song.

That night Jimmy tweaked the lyrics. He was very cool about the
collaboration. He sang me all his changes and then said "What do you
think?" His manager and producer were there too, waiting for my answer. No pressure... There was one line I wanted to change but he explained why he liked it that way. I agreed of course. That one really felt like a 50/50. Other projects with Jimmy ("Banana Wind", etc.) have been group writing which is really fun. Just a bunch of us in a room kicking around ideas. Jimmy's amazing to watch write. He comes up with the ideas as fast as we play our musical ideas. After 10 minutes, he says "Dig this," we'll play the music, he sings the lyrics. On that album, he really was putting them out fast. Some of them we'll all throw out ideas too. Each time it's a little different.
----------------------------------------------------------------
You have a children's CD out called "Funky As A Diaper". What was the
inspiration to do this? Is this your first CD? How did you write the
songs for it? Do you plan to perform these songs live at some point?

I have 26 nieces and nephews. Often I'd make up a song on the spot.
They'd return 3 months later singing it to me. Of course, I had no memory of it. I thought, "Maybe I ought to release an album." It is my first CD. Writing children's music is really easy for me, which is why I think I'm meant to do it. It's almost like having a radio in your head, the ideas keep persistently showing up. The point of this CD is really to be a family comedy CD. I can't listen to most children's music, it's not interesting to me. The big response I've gotten from this album is that adults like it too and buy it for their own listening enjoyment. I definitely plan on performing live. I'm starting to book dates for this year. The website is
<http://www.jimmayer.com> .
There is booking info and contact info there.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your website says you are now writing a children's book. What can you
tell us about that?

It's a fairy tale/fantasy called "The Boy & The Bear". I started it in
the early 90's. I was sitting on the plane and had a sensation that
something was being dictated to me. I pulled out my laptop and started firing down the ideas. It has become a gargantuan project; 24 chapters with illustrations and 2 accompanying CD's. It's 90% written. What's taking so long is the process of producing the narration and music. I'm doing most of the voices, it has songs with squirrels and bears singing. A friend who's a Hollywood screenwriter loved it but had suggestions for a couple more chapters so I'm tweaking the text once more. I had been promising spring 2003 as the release time but now with "Funky as a Diaper" out , I'm saying, "It'll be out when it's done." The illustrator of the project is from New Zealand, Sandy Collins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are also a member of Club Trini, correct? Any Club Trini CD's, gigs, or happenings that you know of in the near future?

Club Trini has kind of been in a holding pattern for a while now. That is one fun group to play with! That's the one comment I've heard most from fans; they miss Club Trini. We do shows here and there but it's really Mike Utley's and Robert Greenrich's baby. Whenever they call, I'm ready.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your favorite Buffett song(s)?

"He Went to Paris" or "Changing Channels".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What song(s)do you like to perform the most?

"Gravity Storm", "That's My Story", "Far Side", "I Will Play for Gumbo".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any good road stories or two?

Once in Key West we were staying at Jimmy's guest house. There were
always funny sounds in the night. I could swear that there was someone
outside my window rustling in the weeds. There may have been some alcohol involved. In any case, I crept to the phone and called JL Jamison, Jimmy's local Key West manager. In a whisper I said, "JL, there's someone out there, send help." Within 10 minutes the place was surrounded by the Key West Swatteam. JL also came over to check things out, he rounded a corner and found the barrel of a rifle pressed into his face. I heard him yell "It's JL!" Well, it turned out they didn't find anything. It must have been a raccoon. Jimmy was out of town that time, Thank God!

Another time, we were in Portland, Oregon eating at a fancy seafood
place. There had been much wine passed around and it was time for dessert. Everyone ordered dessert. The waiter mistakenly brought Mike Utley the display model which, of course, was made of Crisco. He ate it for a while, then decided to share it, and he passed it around the table until someone said "Hey Mike, this is Crisco!" I'm not sure what wine they were drinking but it must have been good!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Jim! Good luck with the CD and the book! Let us know when the
book comes out! And finally, watch out for those damn raccoons -- they can be downright dangerous!
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As most of the Midwest and east coast are blanketed in snow, it's always
helps to adjust your attitude by thinking of the tropics...
Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Rob Taylor and I am honored
to serve as the 2003 Director of Conventions for Parrotheads In Paradise,
Inc. (www.phip.com)
Meeting of the Minds is the annual Parrothead convention. The twelfth annual
convention will be held October 28-November 2, 2003 in Key West, FL. The
theme for MOTM XII is "One Particular Harbour" to commemorate the 20th
anniversary of that Jimmy Buffett release and as a tribute to our wonderful
host city. The host hotel will be the Wyndham Casa Marina Resort.
Most of the committee chairpersons and volunteers have graciously agreed to
reprise their roles from last year to make this year's convention another
huge success. We're planning a full slate of entertainment featuring
Parrothead favorites from around the country.
Registration is now open at www.phip.com/motm Registration will close at
3000 and we encourage everyone to register and volunteer early as space is
always limited.
I will be sending out reminders and update throughout the year. If you have
any questions, feel free to drop me a line.

Rob Taylor
Parrotheads in Paradise, Inc.
2003 Director of Conventions
"One Particular Harbour"
Key West, FL
Thursday, October 30 - Sunday, November 2, 2003
www.phip.com/motm
robtaylor@phip.com
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Some more information on the new album: It will be in stores on April 15th and the full title is "Meet Me In Margaritaville: Jimmy Buffett, The Ultimate Collection".
Below is some information that was provided by the label.
New versions of classic tracks:
IN THE SHELTER
SON OF A SON OF A SAILOR
SAXOPHONES
HE WENT TO PARIS
KNEES OF MY HEART
CAPTAIN AND THE KID
New songs (cover songs):
EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' (a Fred Neil song)
SAIL ON SAILOR (a Beach Boys song)
New live recordings:
DESPERATION SAMBA
A PIRATE LOOKS AT 40
HOLIDAY
PASCOUGLA RUN

From the MGM Grand press release for the April 26 show . . .

Buffett's new record, Meet Me In Margaritaville, is set to be released April 15 on MCA Universal Records. The upcoming record will be a two-CD release featuring a collection of his greatest hits. Additionally, Buffett has recorded more than 30 records, most of which have gone gold, platinum or multi-platinum. His recording, Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads, is one of the biggest selling box sets in MCA Records history and was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

As an author, Buffett has written three best sellers: Tales from Margaritaville, Where is Joe Merchant? and A Pirate Looks at Fifty. He is one of only six authors in the history of the New York Times Bestseller List to have reached No. 1 on both their fiction and non-fiction lists. The other authors include Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, William Styron, Irving Wallace and Dr. Seuss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The biggest news is that we are postponing the new CD until April 27. It was originally scheduled for release on March 29. Here is a little background: The studio where I have recorded all my CDs except "Laid Back and Key Wasted" closed last month. I was faced with finding a new place to record. After looking around a bit, I decided to do it myself in my own studio. The new house will have a studio, but it won't be finished until late summer/early fall. So I rented office/warehouse space, bought a bunch of gear and set up a temporary studio. After I assembled the gear, I discovered that, since I was near the local airport and right next to FedEx, I needed to build a sound booth and do some serious soundproofing. The construction, buying and assembling gear, and learning how to use the gear took more time than I thought. Plus, and a more serious problem, I had to write some songs. To give us a little more breathing room and to insure that we get it right, I need more time. The next available date that suited both the country club and I was April 27.
The biggest fallout from the rescheduling is that we have to cancel the Mid Atlantic CD Release party scheduled for April 5. I was hoping to reschedule the party on May 4 following the Delaware Seashore Boatdrinks Bacchanal (which occurs on May 3), but I have not been able to put anything together. I will keep plugging away at it. The New England Release Party is still on for May 10, and a Pittsburgh party for May 5 is in the works.
The new CD will be called "Freaky Tiki Faces." The title track is about a guy who goes to party at the beach and wakes up with the remnants of an evening gone awry.
Tomorrow, we are in the studio for our third session and should complete all of the rhythm tracks this week. I will keep you posted on the progress.
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