Since HE came along...

Dear Plants,
I am very sorry that since HE came along I haven't been a very good caretaker. I forget to water you and cut off your dead leaves. I forget to feed you, wipe of dust and tell you how my day was. I forget to check you for pests and give you my love. I'm sorry. Yet you still show me your beauty. You show me your new leaves and fronds. Sometimes you flower and reach for the sun. For that I am thankful.

Love, Nico



Dear Lily,
I am very sorry that since HE came along I haven't been a very good master. I don't walk you as much, I just throw you outside. I forget to pick up your poop in the yard. I sometimes don't give you breakfast until lunch. I am a horrible fetch partner and I barely brush you. I know you still love me because you follow me everywhere, and I just get mad and yell that you're in my way. I'm sorry. Yet you still kiss me and worship the ground I walk on. You give me your undivided attention, watch out for HIM and protect our house. You still look at me with pure love and loyalty. For that I am thankful.

Love, Nico

Dear Matt,
I am very sorry that since HE came along, I haven't been a very good partner. I don't kiss and hug you as much, I barely snuggle and the end of the day, and I yell at you all the time. I forget to tell you that I love you and I get mad at you over the dumbest things. I order you around with chores and complain that you don't treat me like a queen. I'm sorry. You still love me unconditionally. You still take care of HIM and I. You wake up every morning at 5:20 am to earn our income. You listen to my whining, you follow my demands and you brush off my attitude. You still want to share your life with me. For that I am thankful.

Love, Nico

Me and DMB.

Since I was about 13, I have been pretty much obsessed with Dave Matthews Band, as most of you probably know. I don't know what it is but it has been a huge part of my life, especially since I got Matt just as involved. It makes it very easy to go to as many shows as possible when your significant other enjoys them too. He's now very find of collecting show posters off eBay.

Here are some interesting facts about me and DMB:

My first show was 06/10/1997. I only got to go because my cousin Liam bought tickets when he wasn't supposed to, so my Mom took my friend Jason Pizzarello and I. Coincidentally this was Matt's first show too. John Popper and Bela Fleck were guests so it was super awesome. Some people say that it is one of the best "Seek Up"s ever. Damn, I wish I had that recording.

I have seen DMB anywhere from 65-85 times. Unfortunately I lost count, the number is probably around the 75 mark.

I got the chance to meet Dave Matthews himself at a show in Hartford CT. I was on the bathroom line and threw my name and my friend Dana's name in a raffle and her name came out. One of the greatest moments of my entire life. While we were in the Meet & Greet, I met a girl who sold me 2 tickets for the next night 13th row. (way on the side though, bummer)

The closest I ever got to the stage was at CitiField this past summer. It was VERY hot. We had GA tickets and I squeezed my butt up the left side where I was so close I could have thrown my phone and hit Boyd. It was another amazing moment of my life.

For many, many years I wrote the setlist on my arm. This was before the internet was so reliable.

When I met Dave he drew a little dude on my arm. Unfortunately I never got a picture of it. I relied on someone else's camera. If I had a picture of it, today it would be a permanent tattoo.

The farthest I have travelled for a show was when Matt and I drove to Chicago to see what we thought was the last show until 2012. We learned on the way that there would be a small fall tour in NY after. We also accidentally bought 2 sets of the same night of tickets so night two we spent dancing in the streets outside Wrigley Field. This was equally as fun and memorable.

When LeRoi Moore passed away on 09/19/08, I broke down and sobbed as if he were family or a close friend. The band is still great but he was a tremendous loss, and his sound is greatly missed.

I attended a show pregnant with Jed, I am convinced that is why he is very fond of their music.

This is a pic of me watching a recording of them playing on SNL in 1995. This pic was taken a few weeks ago, yet I look like I am 13:

Be careful! Your face might get stuck like that!