Anyway, the free dinner was a $25 gift card to Applebee's--I didn't want to eat alone, so I invited Bethany and Daddy to an early dinner. Afterwards, I took them home and ran inside for several things I'd forgotten, and jumped on the road. Driving there wasn't too bad--there WAS a 25-30 minute delay on I-75, but it wasn't too bad, and I even found the place without a problem. A little mixed-up, since last time we got lost and the theater was on our right--and this time it was on my left...but I found a GREAT free parking lot right around the corner. WOO!
I grabbed all my things, locked up the car, and headed for the theater. It started raining as I got to the overhang, but I didn't mind. Until I realized my hair lost it's curl immediately. LOL There was only maybe 15 people in front of me in line. Glancing around, I saw Ellery, Ryan, and Tom go by a few times. Then Twigger...then Patrick and Stevie...I got to say hi to all of them except Patrick and Stevie. But it helped me get into the GS-groove!! Hehehe
We stood there for a few minutes, a lady asked me what time it was (my watch said 7), so we figured the doors would be opening at any moment. Then I saw a lady unlock a door, tape a sign on it that said, "Will Call Only", and she leaned out to say, "Anyone for will-call?" I piped up, "Yes!" and I got to be the first person let into the theater!
I went straight to the merchandise table to see if they had any of the Gaelic Storm temporary tattoos. They didn't, but I signed up for the drawing (for a free t-shirt or CD). I then went down and found a table for myself--I avoided the place I had sat with Sarah, because I was trying NOT to think about how Bob wouldn't be there.
My overall impression of the Piqua people was that they were nice and friendly, but SOMETHING was a little odd--they said they were such fans, but they SAT THROUGH THE CONCERT---except for one song. That's just not right. LOL Can you believe that actually BOTHERED me? LOL
Anyway, it turned out that the Piqua people knew Patrick a little because of spending a few hours with him at a lunch thing a couple of years ago. They email and talk often...So, they nabbed Patrick and brought him to our table--he WOULD have sat with us, but the only spot for a chair would have been in the aisle, and the security people were super Anal about it. Well, Don was making sure he knew everyone, and he said me last. Patrick took my hand, shook and squeezed it, and said, "Oooh, yes, I remember YOU!" So I laughed and said, "Hi darlin', I'm sorry I didn't bring my flask this time!" He replied with something like, "Aw, that's okay..."
I stood up and made sure he saw my shirt--and I made my offer--"Patrick, I am willing to give you this shirt--I have another shirt with me to change into, if you want it." He seemed to really think about it, and then he goes, "Ummm...*sigh* no, you hold onto it..." I think he didn't want the other guys to be all jealous! LOL I'm sticking to that theory, and not that he wouldn't want it since my boobs stretched it. LOL
I told him I had driven from Dayton, and he mentioned they would be there for the Festival again, and he hoped to see me there. He also told a funny story about flasks in Salt Lake City: the organizer of the event there told him it may not be a good idea to put any flasks out, since it was a Mormon town. Soooo, Stevie, while on stage, held one up and said, "Now, they don't want us to put these lovely flasks out...but we know that this town is a good town, and that you all would only put hot cocoa in them while skiing on the slopes..." Patrick then said that they usually sell 10 MAX at a show---and this time....they sold.......57!!!!!!!!
He also told us about the Chicago "House of Blues" show fiasco. They were orginally playing there without an Opening Act, since they were asked and they said they'd rather give a full 2 hour show. But suddenly, they found out a band was signed on!! So he called them and demanded to know what was going on, they apologized for the mix-up, but didn't cancel the other band. Instead, he explained, they jacked the prices WAY up! I know what he meant, since I had been planning on going to that show, and visiting my friend Nollie. But when I saw the prices were $38 a PIECE!!!! I changed my mind. LOL
So, during the intermission, I happened to be at the merchandise table when Patrick came up to get the bucket...and he always makes the joke that the drawing is actually for "a night with Ryan"!! LOL Okay, Patrick grabs the bucket and I said, "Now, Patrick, remember to draw my name...it's the first one in there, so dig deep!!" "For the night with Ryan?" he asked, winking. "Or you, whichever!" I replied.
SOOOOO, this leads up to: the second set begins, they played 2 songs, then said it was time for the drawings. Patrick stepped forward and held the bucket out, grinning at me, and nodding towards it. OH MY GOSH!!! He wanted me to draw the names!?!?!? I drew the first one, he took it, read it and said, "WHAT?! No email address?? This one isn't serious!" *crumbled it, tossed it over his shoulder* "Draw again, Sweetheart!"
While a part of me basked in being called "sweetheart" by Patrick, I drew another, suddenly thinking that Patrick had mention there was nearly 300 people there, and he read it----a MAN's name!!!
"Ooh, Ryan, I'm sorry, me lad...it's a MAN!!"
Ryan proceeds to look horrified, embarassed and saddened.
"Poor Ryan, he had quite a bad time in Texas when the men were drawn..."--Patrick
"Yeah, he sure was a sad buckaroo!!"--Stevie
So, he holds it out to me again---"Now, try to draw a woman's name, sweetheart...go on now..."
Once again, flustered by the "sweetheart", I drew.
"Oh my gawd, Bryan..."--Patrick (I startled, knowing that in my Novel, Ryan WAS Bryan LOL)
"BRYAN?!?!!?"--Ryan
"Sorry, sorry, it's just that it's the name on the ticket!!"--Patrick
"ANOTHER MAN?!?!!?"---audience
Now, after the show, I asked Patrick if I should offer myself to Ryan as a consolation prize (since I drew 2 men's names). He said, "Yeah, sure, go on backstage, he's right there!!" LOL So, I poked behind the curtain, and spoke to Ryan alone for like 10 minutes! I told him I was there to offer myself as a consolation prize, and he did his breathy, shy laugh (he's so cute humina humina)! We talked about drumming and I said I had played percussion in HS band, but everything BUT drums--and he GOT IT!!! I was so glad! LOL We also talked about how people never know what I mean by that...and we laughed about how different we both are now, compared to high school: he was a trouble maker, and was kicked out of the band and now he's Mr. Shy (except while playing the drums)!! I said that I was really shy in HS, and now, not so much. LOL
Somewhere in this conversation, I mentioned that he's not shy when he's playing the drums, and referred to the encore. While jamming, right after Patrick introduced everyone, suddenly Twigger and Ryan had a little showdown--playing faster and faster!!! It was SO COOL!!! When I mentioned it, Ryan grinned and said, "Yeah, we've never done that before..." WOO I got to see it first!! LOL
I told him a story about the trouble I caused in band
he was greatly amused---summed up, this one guy always bugged me so so so much, and the last day, I had the bass mallet in my purse, when it was REALLY quiet, I THREW the mallet, it bounced off of the bass drum and BOOOOOM!!!! The other guys got in trouble--and the teacher didn't believe them when they said I did it!! LOL I also told him how at the 7th grade concert, I had to have a stool, to hit the high level on the chimes, so on the video, I'm popping up and down to play them. LOL He said, "Aaaw, that must have been CUTE!" LMAO You know it baby!! LOL
Eventually, I said something like, "I suppose we should go out there, and you need a drink!" I quickly added, "Besides, people might think somethin's going on back here!!" We walked out from behind the curtains, and I started tugging on my shirt, and I said to him, "Hey, do you have my bra?" He blushed bright red and laaaauuuughed...he's so cute!! LOL
Okay, I waited patiently until Stevie was free to talk to me, and I said, "Stevie, darling, I have something that could be perverted to say to you..."
*eyes wide* "Ooookay...go right ahead!"--Stevie
"Can I see your didgeridoo?"--we both laughed, and I added, "And that's not a metaphor!"
"Ohhh, sure!! I...oh, shoot, I packed it...ah, H*ll, I'll go get it for you!" *grin*
So he went backstage, brought it out, and started telling me about it, while he put it back together. But then this girl said, "Stevie, you were going to show me some baby pictures, and I need to get going!" so, he HANDS THE DIDGE TO ME, and says "here, I'll be back in a minute..." It was like a magnet--he walked away, and 7 people surrounded me!! LMAO
Finally, Stevie comes back--sidenote, before he handed it to me, he made a point of rubbing whiskey on the mouthpiece to disinfect it & I didn't really think he meant for me to put it on my mouth or something!!! He looked at me and exclaimed, "What, are you going to just stand there and HOLD it, or are you going to PLAY?!"
I said, "Ummm....I've been stroking it!!!" I was, of course, referring to how I was PETTING IT LIKE A CAT!!! LMAO His eyes got HUGE and he kinda gave me a dirty look, and said, "Ooooooh...." Then he went into an explanation about how to play it, and all that so, he says "like this" and he makes the "WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW" sound, then says, "Now you try!" I put it up to my mouth and did what I THOUGHT he meant...and I got..."phheeettooootttt"!!! Yes, it sounded like a fart. LMAO Everyone laughed, and he took it back, explaining things, and pointing things out about his mouth, etc, and says to try again
he did a quick "WOWOWOW" again. (I love how he was explaining everything!!) I took it and I got "wwooooooooooooong"!!! LMAO
He declared, "Well, Helen, love, you just made some elephant in the Cincinnatti zoo VERY Horny!!!"
It was TERRIBLY embarassing, but so stinking funny, and he hugged me. LOL Well, he hugs me a lot.
Oh, a cute story from Stevie: his 16 month old daughter went to her first GS concert--she was so excited, she was yelling every word she knew (she can't form sentences), and she would point at him and holler, "Dada, ball, hat, turtle, cheerios!" *giggle*
Funny Stories:
Other highlights:
I waved to Ryan and Twigger, didn't see Tom, and then paused when I saw Ellery at the merchandise table, helping to clean up. I asked her if I could get a picture with her and we had the merch-girl take it.
This concert gave me mixed feelings. I was already a little sad because I was alone, and since this was the first time seeing them without Bob. But at the same time, it was fun, and I had some amazing moments with the guys. I'm still a fan, no worries there...I'll get used to it, I suppose. I do have to admit though...I can hardly wait to see them again in Chicago, with Nollie and Ina!! And in Dayton the next night, with Marilyn (my boss) and Robyn (coworker)!
