Alright folks and faithful followers…. all three of you! 
I started writing ideas down about what I’m looking for and what I want Tonga Tam’s to be. I have a good head start from this past spring and got some great feedback on that. Now I need to refine, research and investigate! Ohhh.. sounds fun! Especially the researching part as there is no way I want to open TT’s in New England – sorry folks, its just not for me!
Which brings up the first big question.. WHERE?! I know most of you will say Key West off the bat and I’d agree with you. Except that the cost is more than I’d be able to hope to get and the competition there is crazy. Course, done right.. it could happen. I’m thinking of Key West as a second or third opening! (yes, already thinking multiples.. its how I roll!) So then New Smyrna Beach pops into mind as its basically one of my top five spots on the planet so far. its peaceful and laid back and I already found the perfect bar. But again, lots of initial money and the family isnt quite ready to sell. I’m not exactly ready to buy yet either.
The next logical location is the west coast. Tampa, Ft. Meyers and such. Theres a great parrothead population along with one of the largest parrothead clubs in the world. My kind of peeps! You’ve got classic stops like the Nav-a-gator which boasts a dive hang out with the best local music around! Love it! The beaches are amazing and the people are as carefree as you can get! Plus, the ferry to Key West is not far!
I know I only have one more winter in me here, and thats stretching it! I should have been in FL by now! But thats ok, life tends to throw you curve balls and the only way to come out on your feet is to meet those curve balls straight on. Yep, a bit of bending and twisting is involved but you get there. Can you tell I used to work at a sports company! So glad that part of my life is over.
So moving on… got myself an awesome financial advisor who is pointing me in the right direction – Thanks Rob! I know what I have to do and realize I’m a lucky gal to have so many amazing friends that will help me on this journey.
more soon!
xo ~ tonga tam
Know its been a while since I last posted… been a crazy few months. We’re in the final stretch before Buffett returns to Great Woods and preparations are underway! I stopped over my friend Tracy and Randys last night to peek on our project. Have to say, its coming along nicely! I’ll head back over tonight or tomorrow to start painting it. Good thing about being unemployed.. gives me extra time to do things like this! ahaha… I’ll post pics when I can, another sad story of how I lost my camera. And let me tell you, not having a camera is like not having a right hand. I’m going to have to dip into the non-existant savings to get a new one it seems!
So moving on, we have nine days till heading into the Great Woods parking lots. Seems that Comcast is being a major pain in the butt and has announced that gates will not open until 3 on Thursday and noon on Saturday. Apparently its ok to get drunk on the weekend, but not during the week. Seriously!?! We are professionals here, those of us die hards are planning on several days of this and have taken days off (or in my case, glad the boss knew to lay me off before summer!). Rumors are, the clubs will still get in early so we’re not really all that worried. And worse case scenario… we’ll find a place to chill till they let us in – the side of 140? Shaws parking lot?! ahahah…
Time to go work on the tan, then work on the ‘project’! Catch you all soon and a lot of you in 9 days!
xo ~ tam
Its that time of year when Jimmy announces some of his tour dates for the upcoming summer. BuffettNews.com is abuzz with whos going, hotel reservations and tailgate planning. Anything to distract us from the cold winter months!
So far we have confirmed Great Woods dates of June 17 and 19! Tickets already went on sale, but not to worry, there are still some left! Other dates include Tampa on April 24th, Camden on August 3rd and 7th, Jones Beach August 31 and The Lube in Virginia September 2nd and 4th!
Time to start making plans!
Well as this year rolls into the final couple of days, it has me thinking of new directions and new ideas. That and of course, reflecting on the past year and all that has come to pass and now is. Lots of ups and downs, and a heck of a lot of fun! I’m so grateful that I was able to travel quite a bit even with my work being cut for five months. Got to love friends, especially those in the parrothead community! Always looking out for you and offering a hand when needed. I honestly believe if not for them, I would have gone completely bonkers!
The ups of the past year? There are so many its hard to pin point. Of course all of the concerts and tailgate parties. Loved going to Nissan in Virginia this year. Great Woods is always the place to be, but Nissan definatley impressed me! Jones Beach was a blast.. even though I was bar-less! And Mohegan Sun was a fantastic surprise! Lots of familiar faces and new friends.
I only made it to two music festivals this year. Camp Creek was cancelled, however, rumors are saying it’ll be back in 2010! I do hope so! Thats such a great time. Got to go to Strange Creek for the first time over Memorial Day weekend and have to say that will be a new tradition. My Aunt Jeanne flew over from England to joins us camping for the first time as well! Nothing like introducing her to a hippy filled music festival! I do believe shes trying to return for next year! Wormtown lived up to its hype even though it was freezing cold out and we had to wait till 4am to catch Goosepimp play. We got to witness Zack Deputy’s amazing stage performance for the first time and I do believe Heather and I were simply swept away by him!
This may have been the year of music. I missed my boys of Flock of Assholes quite a bit, but have found some new loves including Ilo Ferreira! Ilo toured with Buffett this year and played one of two songs to us at each show. Hes got a calm and passion about him that is captivating. I’ve seen him play a couple small venues now and am just as impressed.
So whats next? More music, more friends, more fun! That and hoping that this will be the year of moving on! Sorry New England, its just too damn cold up here. In my travels this past year, my sister of another mother, Mary introduced me to New Smyrna Beach and I simply fell in love. Its small, but quaint. Just south of Daytona with pristine beaches and a lot less traffic. I may have found me a new home!
Happy New Years everyone! I hope that 2010 brings you all happiness and prosperity!
xo ~ tonga
Got to love the internet… you can create designs and have your own little clothing line in no time at all! I created some stuff for the upcoming Buffett shows and figured I’d share! Can’t wait till Thursday… with all the crap going on at work, I’m really looking forward to changing my latitude!
create & buy custom products at Zazzle
Yeah!! The pictures have been modged… modged podged.. whatever, they’re stuck to the surface. I’m picking up the bartop sealer today which will give me FOUR days for it to solidify. Yep, I’m quite the procrastinator! 
So I was chatting with my good friend Carrie recently, and we got to talking about how fun would it be to go on tour with Buffett. As in, jump in an RV and hit every show on the tour! I know people do this.. and its not something new… but its something we want to do. I’m doing a smaller version of that this year with 5 shows on the to-do list! Two shows at Great Woods, Jones Beach, Nissan in VA and Mohegan Sun! Not bad considering I thought I’d be lucky to make both the GW shows.
The whole ‘tour’ thing got me thinking about making up some t-shirts for Tonga Tam’s! Mary hooked me up with a cool new logo…
My new logo!
…so I got to scratching out some ideas on a pad of paper. The end result is a pretty cool t-shirt design! I still have some work to do on it.. its a bit rough for my tastes but I’m getting worried about how much time I have left till the shows! That and my bartop isnt done yet. EEEEKKK!!! I’m way too busy to have so many hobbies! hehe…
the t-shirt design!
Alright.. so I have all the pics cut up and set up on the bar! Theres a few more pics I’m trying to squeeze in there but space is very limited now! I had to cover up a lot of the artwork but do not fear… still looks pretty cool! Take a look!
Think I got about 100 new pics added so far!
think I can fit more?
The winter hit New England early this past year and with out much mercy. We had to endure an ice storm that crippled the area and we’re still dealing with the aftermath and destruction. I imagine a lot of the trees on my property will either have to be cut down or will die in the next few years. Pretty sad to see. Add to that eleven days of no electricity and bitter cold, I’m ready for a change in latitude.
Boston Globe Article
Wiki Info
I took off to Florida shortly after that for about two and a half weeks. Talk about a much needed break. It also got me seriously thinking about what I’m doing and where I’m going in life (I’m sure has ‘nothing’ to do with my 38th birthday!!). So what’s next for Tonga Tam? Good quesiton, but I know something has to change.
Not to worry, I’ll be back yearly for those tailgate gatherings and coventions. But for now.. my thoughts are shifting south of the border towards the Bahamas, Daytona, maybe even Key West. We shall see!
more soon!
this just isnt right!
So I have spent the last few weeks gathering photos, going through each one .. finding that little gem of a smile or expression and think I finally have plenty to redo the bar top! I’ve been wanting to do this for the last few years and just haven’t. Time, work, life.. yada yada… But I can not go one more concert season with that same bar top! Just isn’t going to happen!
For the most part, the new photos are from the last couple of Buffett shows and conventions (uh-oh!!). I’ve also thrown in some non-Buffett stuff, just great pics of my amazing friends! I have to say however, it became quite the ordeal to select photos over others and trying to keep some sort of balance of how many of Mac are on there or how many of Chris or Mary are plastered all across the thing. After a while I threw that whole concept out the window and decided screw it.. this is my bar top, it’ll have the faces of those I care about the most.. and the photos that just make me smile! Mac and her marshmellow gun! The BuffetNews crew, my flying asshole friends, and of course the doors! Got to have mine and Carries hotel bar door creations! And have to say I felt a bit on the famous side of things as I started to pull together my photographic evidence of some of the celebrities I’ve met such as Mike Utlely, Mac McAnally, Robert Greenidge, Hugo Durate, Jim Morris (had to censor those!!), and our local celebs of WZLX, Kenny Young and Chuck Nowlin. There are a few others, and no, I didn’t put the picture I have when I met Mr Simon Lebon. Even got a great shot of Myles from Margaritaville Radio interviewing me with a dildo on the bar top. He didn’t realize it was there till about half way through the interview. Classic.
Pictures have been printed and I’ve cut them out.. and here’s where yet another issue arose. The damn pictures are too big and take up the entire bar top. Which isn’t really what I was looking for. I have my artwork on there that I’d like to preserve, just wanted to add updated shots to whats there. I love it when someone comes up to the bar and sees their mug there! “Oh I remember that… “… simple things that make me happy!
So have resized all the images and am now waiting on them to be reprinted.
** sigh**
I was hoping to have the layout done this weekend but its going to be a bit longer. I have till June 25th so think I’m alright in the timeline. But anyone who knows me, understands that my time table and sense of time is just a tad skewed. I lost my watch in Key West in 2002 and took that as a sign that I was to never wear another one again. I am on my own watch! hehe..
Over the next couple of weeks I’ll try to add updates on my progress. Definatley a labor of love! Just wish I felt like this about my yard work! ahaha…
the 'pre' pictures
the left corner
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August 29, 2010 7:42 am | 
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