Borias and Tam’s (mostly) Excellent Adventure
It’s been a month of concert adventures for us, that’s for sure. This last week was time to see U2, my favorite band. I had purchased tickets way back several months ago, and traded one for Phoenix. Realizing that drive was going to be a killer, I thought maybe I shouldn’t go, but too late to really get rid of the ticket. So. We went!
Yep. Loooooong drive! We left at the buttcrack of dawn, and it took a good six plus hours. Just outside of Phoenix at a huge stadium at a University. My first glimpse of the stage showed just how humongous that “space station” of U2′s is. Huge! And there’s 3 of them! I had GA tickets, which meant I had a chance to be up front against the rail. It’s always nerve wracking, because I end up having to plead and beg to get let in a tad early, as to not be trampled. Things went smoothly at this show, and I did get up there, right in front of Bono! Even got a little eye contact and recognition, which is very cool. Great show. Black Eyed Peas opened, and they are one fun band to watch.
Next show was in Las Vegas, but with two days between, we went home to sleep. Then another early morning expedition. I’m not a huge fan of Vegas. it’s just…too much. The show was out at the University of Nevada, and I had wheelchair seats for this one. I was promised they were great, very close to the stage. Uhh, nope. Too late to get up front, but I went down on the floor, to try and look around people. I got to meet a couple of guys from SNL, Jason Sedakis and Will Forte. Very sweet guys! And at least Borias didn’t have to wait in the car quite as long as when I get in to be up front.
We spent the night in my folk’s house in Henderson, then spent all day Saturday on the Strip. Almost November, and it was still bloody hot in Vegas! Sheesh! I tried to not wear my poor boy out too badly, but it’s so difficult there, where you even have to go up elevators and across a bridge, and back down again, simply to cross the street. Then the casinos are so huge, and there’s having to dodge drunk people everywhere. It’s exhausting.
I took Borias to the Mirage, to see the Secret Garden, with the dolphin pools, and white lions and tigers. He was fascinated by the dolphins, and intrigued with the tigers as usual. I thought it was really interesting that these adolescent males were rushing back and forth, leaping against the mesh, and he didn’t react…yet this older male came rushing towards him, with that predatory glare, and he erupted in a few barks. Whoops. Well, I guess that “I want to eat you” look wigs him out.
We watched the Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles Love that evening, which was very, very cool. Then completely drained and pooped, I started heading towards LA for U2 show 3. Uh, not too smart of me. Middle of the night driving in the desert while tired. To top it off, I somehow got on the wrong freeway, and before I figured it out, an hour later, I was heading right back into Vegas!! UGH! Like some bad Groundhog Day episode or something. I can’t count how many times I nodded off, until I pulled over to sleep for an hour. We finally got into LA just in time for the gates to open at the Rose Bowl, at 8 am.
The Rose Bowl was kind of a fiasco. They had me park in a few places, then go to another lot to pay, then back to a different lot that wasn’t even handicapped. I got out, and realized just how far it was from the venue, and complained. Found out where to move, and realized I had lost my keys in the restroom a few minutes previously. Rushed back, and they were already gone. Not a good way to start the day. Nobody was turning them in anywhere, either. Luckily I had another clicker to my car in my backpack, and opened it up. Then found a master key in the glove compartment. And luckily, I had taken off a key to the house and hidden it back home. So all was not lost.
Next glitch happened when my tire started to go flat. Jeeeez! A roadie had me wait while he went to get a pump…then I heard a cop yell “NO!!!” and suddenly a lab was rushing towards Borias!! He got to him, and was posturing in an aggressive way, tail up and wagging tightly. I tried to stay calm, but was shaking inside. The cop got to him, and lifted him off the ground, choking the poor dog. Well, I guess he deserved to get in trouble, but I hate to see rough treatment. Then he gave him several extremely harsh corrections, making him do obedience. Heh, Borias just is always the pillar of mellowness in such situations. Wish I could! He wouldn’t have been had the dog attacked, however. So glad it turned out ok.
The Rose Bowl is so huge, and the security handled things really badly. The GA line was way around the other side, through grass and dirt and people. So Borias and I must’ve gone around the whole thing several times, between trying to see the band arrive, and talk to someone about getting in early. They were rather insensitive to that, I must say. I don’t think they realized just how dangerous a stampede of crazed U2 fans can be. And this night turned out really badly for some…
I met a gal in Phoenix, who went in early with me. But they had us wait at the bottom of the ramp. Until we saw the herd and noise, and made a mad dash. I’m too old for that type of adrenaline I swear! That was freaking scary!! It was a long way to go, and I had to hop over obstacles in my chair, trying not to eat it. We made it to the rail just in time, hearts thumping. We found out later, that someone was trampled, and stepped on even. Apparently they let the fans in before they were supposed to, and everyone abandoned all their lawn chairs, blankets, and belongings to stampede.
The show was amazing, though! They were filming it for a DVD, and it was also broadcast live on YouTube, all over the world! So exciting. The energy was palpable. There were a ton of celebrities in attendance, too. Even Barbara Streisand! Too cool!
I should have slept for awhile, with little more than an hour’s sleep in over two days. But I wanted to get home to my cat, and my bed so badly. But I was so tired, that it was more than nodding at this point. My brain was shutting off completely. I think angels must’ve been looking out for us on this, because I don’t know how we made it home in once piece. Very scary. I don’t think I’ll be doing that again anytime soon….
Hit the pillow at 5:30 am, just before dawn. Borias and I slept the entire Monday. And I still felt like I was hit by a Mack truck! Yep, definitely getting too old for that kind of shennanigans! But it was sure fun : )
