Holmeoween - 10/28/06

The Belmar Arts Council held their 2nd Annual Beaux Eaux (pronounced Bozo) Ball on my favorite night of the year – the night we turn the clocks back and gain an extra hour.  Like last year, it was held at D’Jais and Holme played. Tickets were $50.  There would be food, 1½ hrs open bar & prizes.  It was a costume party which I was not thrilled about. Tickets were ordered right away & rooms were booked at the BML.  It was going to be me, Sharon, Camille, Susan, Donna, Marian & my sister Kathy.  Kathy & Susan decided right away they would go in costume.  They independently choose to be members of Holme.  Kathy was going as Kip & Susan as Peter Schulle.  Sharon was also going in costume but could not decide on what to be.  Camille said she was dressing too – in her good dress-up clothes.  The rest of us were not going in costume or so I thought.  First, Susan changed her mind & decided she was going to be a bobblehead.  A Frank Sementa bobblehead!   Then Donna & Marian started costume shopping. Next Camille notified me her High School Reunion was going to be the same day as the Ball.  Luckily for all of us it was being held at the Oyster Point in Red Bank & earlier in the day.  Camille also changed her mind about her costume.  She was going as an Indian.  I succumbed to the peer pressure & started searching online for a commercial costume maker.  For over a year I had wanted to have the Holme logo made into a costume that I could wear incognito in the bars & onto the stage during “Boogie”.  I was unsuccessful in my search so I was left to my own devices to create one.  3 Trips to the foam/fabric store, 2 trips to Kinko’s, a couple of trips to the Rag Shop, 4 nights working until 3:00am, 1½ PTO days & $120 later and my costume was nearly complete.  I finished it at the BML when I glued the islands off the southern tip of NJ on.  Susan gave me a hard time about the islands.  She told me I didn’t need them but I knew the real Holme fans would notice them missing.  Just like last year it rained the day of but had cleared up by evening. Kathy, Susan & I got down to Belmar early & went to Mom’s Kitchen in Neptune for dinner.  Marian, Donna & Camille were meeting us at the BML later & Sharon was going to be a no-show.  Even though there was going to be food at the Ball, we thought it better not to have to hold food, drink & pocketbooks while wearing our costumes so we ate beforehand.  At the BML we all rushed to get ready.  Everyone giggled when we saw Kathy dressed as Kip.  We wanted to get to the Ball early so we could grab good seats.  A cab was called.  The girls left in costume, however, Susan took her bobble head in a plastic bag to the bar.   I stayed back with Camille.  We both needed a little extra time & she needed someone to part her hair so she could braid it.  I took my car so we would have a place to dump coats, umbrellas, costume parts, goodie bags & cameras during the night. It was a little windy & cool when we arrived at D’Jais.  If you arrived before 9:00 you entered the Ball by way of D’Jais patio.  After 9:00 admission was only $10 & you entered thru the front doors. On the patio artwork that was up for sale was displayed and musician & BAC member Tom Brennan played & sang.  There was no goodie bag this year.  Your door prize was just a D’Jais 2007 VIP Card – which was alright with us!  You were also given a ticket stub to use as an entry to a drawing for a prize of your choice. We ordered drinks as soon as we were able.  We all looked good.  Donna was a romantic, in-vogue buccaneer.  Camille was an Indian girl.  I was the Holme symbol.  Kathy was Kip.  She wore a Kip like boxy shirt, black jeans, black Converse sneakers & wig.  The piece de resistance was the chest hair that peeked through the top of her shirt.  She made a mask out of the best photo she could find of Kip’s face.  It might have been the “invitation to the Ball” she received from the BAC that inspired Marian to be Cinderella -before the ball.  She looked beautiful. Lastly, Susan wore Frank like clothes; baggy carpenter pants & a muted light pumpkin orange tee shirt. She kept her bobble head in the plastic bag on the seat next to her.  None of us had seen it yet.  Even though ticket prices were $15 less than last year, I think less people attended the BB2.  D’Jais was perfect empty for me but I felt bad there wasn’t a better turn out.  I can’t decide whether it was because of the weather report that day or because it was a costume party.  Maybe it was both.  D’Jais was decorated really nice.  The 1st thing I noticed was a pirate image shining thru the glass block windows on the sides of the stage.  It was neat (cool). Frank was walking thru the bar & stopped to say hello.  He was not in costume yet.  Susan was quick to point out to me that he was wearing just the type of clothes I had advised her against wearing (a sweater) & that he had his hair in (samurai) bun.  When he left Susan put on her bobble head.  It was the best!  We were all surprised it had come out so good. The head was made of Paper Mache.  She had used one of my photos of Frank & had purchased synthetic pieces of hair.  She had tried to curl the hair by wrapping it around golf clubs but the curl wouldnot hold.  We couldn’t stop laughing at her.  The funniest thing was everyone said the same thing when they saw her – that they couldn’t stop looking at it but found the head disturbing.  Susan kept the head on from that moment until the end of the night. She also held drum sticks in her hands. We listened to the music wafting thru the side door & took turns checking out the food and prizes. The food looked good, the prizes too!  I had forgotten there was a small coat room in the back of the bar (by the food).  I’m sorry I didn’t check to see if Susan’s umbrella was still there from last year. Very few people were not wearing costumes. Some of the attendees were angels, devils, pirates, fruit, army men, a cat & my most favorite, Austin Powers.  Lynn who I’ve mentioned before in this Blog is a Belmar Arts Council member.  She was kind enough to bring me a beautiful mask made of feathers in Holme colors green & yellow.  She did not want me to be totally costumeless. It was so very sweet of her.  She hadn’t known that I was coming in costume.  The first Holme member we spoke to in costume was Harry.  He was “Joliet” Jake Blues from The Blues Brothers.  He looked adorable.  Peter Schulle stood across the bar from us.  He was Superman!   Billy and his wife came as Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne.  Kip was a vampire in a cool red print smoking jacket.  Stanley was Keith Richards.  A really good Keith Richards.  He had Keith’s mannerisms down – guitar rifts & dangling cigarette included. Like always, Frank was the last to arrive & trust me he was worth the wait.  He was a pirate.  A rock star, Johnny Depp, Rod Stewart in 80’s type pirate.  He was the sexiest I’ve ever seen him.  We all thought he looked hot. When the BAC drew tickets for the prizes they offered, Camille was the 1st to win!  She won 4 tickets to see the Fantastiks on Broadway & Gift Certificates to a restaurant, a spa & a dry cleaner. Beautiful Barbara arrived around 9.  She looked great.  She was dressed as a cheerleader – a Holme cheerleader!  Her skirt, top & pom-poms all matched in Holme yellow & green.  And bless her heart she cheered for them the whole night! She was so into it.  Joe Lepis, Marvelous Marianne, Teresa Sementa & The Playright were there.  Teresa looked adorable in costume.  She loved the Sementa bobblehead. The Playright was dressed as a Groom & he came with a Bride.  Apparently he does not ask women out in bars - he just marries them there!  Joe Lepis took the stage & did his famous rendition of the Monster Mash.  I had forgotten he did it back in the day.  We all danced most of the night.  Pumpkin head buckets hung from the ceiling above the dance floor.  Susan stayed in character the whole night. Kathy led her around the bar because she could not see or hear with the bobblehead on.  Just prior to the end of a band break Kip called “the real Frank” to the stage.  Unbeknownst to anyone Kathy led Susan onto the stage & sat her down behind Frank’s drum set.  There was a lot of audience laughing & then the BAC announced the costume winners.  Susan won for Funniest Costume & I won, I think, for Most Artistic (it was hard to hear the announcer). Our prizes were the same:  Beach carry bag, BAC calendar, coffee mug, tee shirt & beach towel.  Kathy stayed in character too.  She carried a small spray bottle that she filled with water & throughout the night she sprayed her shirt, particularly under the arms to create a true wringing wet, sweaty Kip. Kathy had also made & brought a mask of Richard Gere’s face which she placed at Kip’s feet.  He cracked up. When Peter Schulle went to the microphone up front to sing he picked up the mask & teased Kip with it.   The entire ocean view bar was covered in rubber carved pumpkin heads & they were all lit up.  It was warm out & I was grateful that I had onelast hurrah at D’Jais as I had not been ready for summer to end.  Donna & Marian were tired & left the party earlier than us diehards. And no, Marian did not meet Prince Charming (it was a Bozo Ball after all).  At the end of the night I went out on the porch to call a cab to take us to the Princess Maria Diner in Wall.  Frank asked me what I was doing.  I told him & he asked me if Harry could share our cab as his car had a flat tire.  We said sure.  After a few taxi false alarms we were on our way to the diner.  We were dropped off & Harry continued on home.   We were almost through eating when one of the waitresses started yelling at everyone that it was 3:15 & the diner was closing.  Since the clocks were turned back it was really 2:15 but I guess she refused to acknowledge Daylight Savings Time.  We called a cab & it came right away.  It was another record day for Camille – 14 hrs of drinking (at her Reunion & BB2).  The next day Donna informed me that our favorite cab driver Bill no longer drove for the same cab company.  I guess we’ll try to track him down. We had breakfast at Perkins & then headed home.  Note:  No bagels on menu @ Perkins, Wall Township.   Hope to see you at BB3 in 2007! 

P.S.  Did you get it?  The title of my last entry plus the 1st photo posted with that entry (Charlie) = Frank went Manson on us!

P.S.S.   Thanks for reminding me Susan.  The BEST part of the night was when the band played their very last note and Kip said "And now we're all going to Camille's to watch An Officer & Gentlemen".   We all burst out laughing.  It was so Kip!  We kept cracking up over it the rest of our waking hours and into the next few days. 

HOLME FOR MY BIRTHDAY ! - 10/7/06

The following entry was written by guest Blogger, Beautiful Barbara*. I didn’t attend this night.  I was still reeling over Sementhead’s tirade. 

 

Another perfect party night !  It was my birthday..........I got there with bells on during the 2nd set and could not believe how jammed the place was.   Does food really have that effect on people?  I missed the buffet - but it must have been good!  Serve food and they will come !!  Everyone  looked so good too, including our cute bartender wearing a top that reminded my husband Bob to tell me to "pick up melons" this weekend.........ya think?? 
Anyway......almost all the usual suspects were there, MIA - Sharon and Michele, Marisa ................... And yes, another very familiar face in the shadows caught my attention and  I couldn't figure out who it was at first -- then it hit me!!  It was Karen Krauss -- she looked better than I remembered from over 20+ years ago !!!  You never  know who will show up at Planet Holme !
I meet alot of people and they tell me their names but I admit it -- I can't hear what they are saying sometimes, thus, I don't know your name !!   It's the loud music.  Do that for 25 years and you'll be doing sign language too !  I was having a great time.  We said hello to Teresa and Mrs. Conner.  Later Teresa brought me my birthday shot - watermelon -- yum !  She's adorable -- it was great.  Kip segwayed  to "Audience Participation" and we were treated with a song by The Big Bopper then DJ  Charlie sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"  -- he nailed it !!  The group  accompanied with many "a winga weta winga weta's" -- or whatever those wordsare........it sounded great !  A little later, it was Jersey  Central Bob's turn to sit in and play drums.  In my own little world,  history was being made -- my entire rock n roll life went totally full circle, seeing my husband play drums with HOLME !  Talk about a time warp !  A nice rockin' rendition of Stone's "Start Me Up".  My life was complete for the moment..........Oh, and MIA Peter Schulle arrived in time to sing that song  -- he had a Cats gig to do - but he came to D'Jais and Kip put him to work  STAT !  It all got better from there --- everyone was dancing and having a great time.  Kip was wringing wet - soaked hair and shirt.  He came back for the 3rd set all dry and wearing a new shirt.  Stan went totally rock and roll when he broke a guitar string..........and hewas looking quite "Puggylicious" in his tight black rock n roll leather pants and white shirt!  Holme really cranks it up with all those Rolling Stones  tunes --- it was intoxicating and all I had was that little shot..........later Bob told me that Frank plays drums with the "other end" of the sticks !  It's a choice, you know - that's what drummers do!   When he was getting ready to play -- he searched for sticks and found some that looked like beavers or termites got to.........then he found the "good ones".  He said "do you think Holme can get some more guitar players up there" !!  I had the best time -- I went Holme for my Birthday !

*Barbara worked for Frank & Kip personally back in the day.  I nicknamed her Beautiful because of her inner & outter beauty.   She is a quick wit and very creative.  I enjoy each & every one of her emails.   Thanks Barbara!

 

Squeaky Frholme- 9/4/06

It was the best of nights; it was the worst of nights.  This is the tale of 2 Franks.  It was the grand finale – the final Monday night of 2006 that Holme would be playing D’Jais (it was also Justin’s mom’s birthday).  The night started out fun enough but it got ugly fast.   In the beginning it was kind of magical.   As a result of the aftermath of Hurricane Ernesto, there was sand everywhere.   There was sand on the sidewalks and in the streets as far up as Avenue A.  It had even penetrated the exterior and interior doors of Dunkin Donuts on Ocean Ave.  Snowplows had created small mountains of sand against the boardwalk.   The street lights shining of them created an illusion of snow.   It was a weird feeling seeing “snow” in the summer.  Inside Holme was not doing it for Donna and Sharon was having Joel problems.  Sharon brought a bottle of Cabo Wabo tequila to our house and she & Donna left D’Jais for a nip.  When they returned it seemed the night began to go a little better for them.  Later they probably wished they’d finishedthe bottle.  During a band break Sharon, Kathy, Beautiful Barbara, Donna, Marian, Marissa and I were outside all talking.  Frank gathered us up and brought us into D’Jais office to give us Labor Day t-shirts.  After the t-shirts were distributed I asked Frank for a 2006 VIP card.  My 13 yr old niece Deanna collects them.  So do I.   Frank knows Deanna since birth and she’s a big fan of his, but I digress.  Frank was kind enough to cough one up.  As we were all walking out of the office onto the porch he told us that he was thinking of making next year’s card a camouflage design.  And this is how it all started.  I told him I do not like camouflage because I feel it promotes war.  Frank began to lecture me about our need for oil and its impact on the economy.  He went on such a tirade that all of the girls disbursed and slinked away but Sharon & I.  When we tried to talk energy alternatives and when Sharon cited Brazil’s non-dependency on oil it incited him further and he began to call us stupid.  His rant lasted for quite sometime – far into Holme playing time.  Quite a few heads turned toward the commotion.  I had not seen that side of Frank for more than a decade.  I bet less than 1% of you have ever experienced that side of Frank at all.  Sharon & I did not take his calling us stupid personally.  We don’t believe he really thinks we’re stupid.  I was a little angry nevertheless.  A short time later some of us girls stood outside D’Jais front door and began to discuss who slept with who in the band.  It was 6 degrees of separation Holme style and I was a little surprised to learn that some had “went with” more than one guy in the band.  When Frank passed us to go back into D’Jais to play I yelled to him “We’re sorry we ever slept with you”.  I made myself laugh and we went back inside to enjoy the rest of the night.  At one point Barbara got up on stage by Steverino and played the tambourine.  It was a dream come true for her to play with the band.  She likened it to being on stage with the Beatles.  We finished the night like most – at the snack bar.  Harry waited on us.  Joel was the topic du jour and Sharon, Barbara, Harry & Chard all partook in tête-à-tête.  At the end of the night Frank came out & stood inside the snack bar right next to us.  He was sharing a guy’s french fries and talking to him well knowing I was in earshot.   He was talking about taking ownership of his friend’s (oil guzzling) Hummer.  We did not speak.  It was not how I usually end my summers.

Love, M.