Philadelphia, March 7th, 2018

So…if my last blog sounded a bit off from my usual happy and excited self, sorry. But as it turned out, the fiasco of travel didn’t end when I went to bed Monday night. Though gotta say, my mentality was better yesturday. I actually got a bit slap happy at one point. I tend to do that. When things get SO crazy, I go from being frazzled and upset to “WHATEVER” or slap happy. I was a bit of both which was good. 😉 Basically, I got up after barely 4 hours of sleep so I could get down and to lobby and check out for my 5:30 cab to Megabus stop. I needed to go print off my voucher so hopped on the hotel computer which was hooked to a printer…only to see I had an email saying my Megabus was CANCELLED! 😮 I literally shook my head and laughed saying “OMG are you KIDDING me?” But then I had a brief moment of panic as I realized I had NO mode of transport to Phily and with all the cancellations, what if there were no seats left anywhere else? 🙁 So I ran out to tell the cab driver what happened, apologized, and then went back in to call Amtrak. Surprisingly the automated system kicked in right away (then again, how many people would be calling at 5:30am? 😀 ) Found they had some seats on the early train so hung up and got online as I wanted to SEE what I was doing and buying. Got one for the 7:25am train though had to pay more but OK, I was set! Then realized I needed to go back upstairs to get the map I had tossed out showing how to take metro to the station. Didn’t need it since I was supposed to switch to early cab ride and bus. No one was at hotel desk so my cards were still sitting there but once up…neither worked. NO idea why as it wasn’t like check out time was 5:30am but again, I just laughed and thought “OK..I will just go print it off again on the hotel computer/printer. I got this.”

I have to say, the weather was lovely walking to the metro station. No wind, not too cold, and with it being so early, it was still dark and hardly anyone out yet so quite peaceful really. 🙂 However, partway on my journey I realized I had forgetten all my food in the frig back in my hotel room. UGH! I had bought groceries the night I arrived as my hotel was actually like a little suite with stove, frig, microwave etc. I had even hard boiled some eggs and when home from venue, had spent time peeling and wrapping them up for my trip. Made a protein drink, had a yogurt etc. OK, THAT didn’t make me laugh. 🙁 But then I thought “whatever, I’m sure there will be SOMETHING to buy at the station. It is what it is…” I wasn’t happy having to spend extra money on train tickert and now food lost and food needed but nothing I could do. Started messaging a friend and eventually got into my slap happy mood again. It just really was a big mess so all I could do was shake my head and chuckle at this point!

Well funny enough, Maria was on my train and though there were probably a dozen cars on the train, she ended up on mine right by me. We laughed and she said “this is the second time we have bumped into each other randomly” (it happened first time last year in Sheffield). So a nice chat for a bit before I started the last blog. The ride was only 2 hours so it went fast. Once we arrived, I was debating on walking to the hotel or maybe taking the local subway. It was 1.5 miles but I had plans to go out to NJ for something (yes, I like to bob from state to state 😀 😀 😀 But seriously, I’ve never been to NJ so figured why not? And ESPECIALLY since now I was in at 9:20am vs. 11:30. Had the time. 😉 ) Anyways, as it turned out, the subway wasn’t going to work so looking out and seeing the snow had stopped I decided to be brave and just walk it. Sloshed around a bit as the snow that had come down was the wet and heavy bit and as soon as I got out of the station, it was snow globe weather. My poor maps were sticking to each other from all the snow coming down. But I made it! 😀 And lucky me, since my room was “a single”, there was one ready. Whoo hoo! 😀

Since the snow had been on again/off again the entire walk to my hotel and it wasn’t sticking TOO much yet, I didn’t think much of it when I set off to walk to the bus stop to get on and head to NJ. I collect Build a Bears so wanted to go see the mall with one in case they had anything special for the area. By the time I got on though, the snow was really coming down! 😮 The bus driver was a sweetie and we started talking as I was literally the ONLY one on the bus and it stayed that way until we were out of PA and into NJ LOL. She asked what my plans were and I told her. She then said “well, don’t stay TOO long because if it gets bad, they’ll cancel the buses and you’ll be stuck out there.” 😮 OK then, store and food on the bus it is then! I basically grabbed lunch to go but then was so nervous to miss the bus I just decided to eat once on it. A lot of people were waiting for buses and getting nervous as it was really getting bad out there. Snow was sticking! When we finally got on our bus, the driver teased us that it was $5 to get him to start it (he had come but went out of service for a break). As it turned out, I offered him $5 in the end (which he refused but still…) because OMG what a ride! We kept getting STUCK! 🙁 Every time he’d have to stop for a light or to pick up/drop off a passenger we would get stuck and he’d have to rock the bus back and forth and back and forth until he got it loose. A couple times it looked like we weren’t going to make it. First time it took him at least 6 or 7 minutes to get the bus loose and then the light had changed once he was moving but he waved to everyone and yelled “I can’t stop” so everyone figured it out and let us go thru. The other big stuck found another bus going in the opposite direction having to stop, driver get out along with a guy who had wanted to get on, and they both helped direct and even pushed the bus a bit. That was the worst. But the whole time, our driver was so good! He wasn’t stressed, was joking around a bit.. “next stop…Atlantic City! Let’s go gamblin’ ” 😀 😀 (for those of you who don’t know, that’s one of the main areas and attractions of NJ). And on my trip, we went thru Camden “Voted the WORST city in America. Lots of crime”. I laughed and said “well, now I can say I’ve been to CAMDEN too”. 😀 Two hours later and then MORE sloshy walking and I finally arrived in the hotel.

BUT…within an hour or so, it all stopped and my walk to the venue was lovely. OK, the streets were either sloshy or a bit slippery so I had to watch my step but again, no wind, not too cold…really lovely. Sadly though, with all the craziness Mother Nature threw us, John wasn’t able to make it. He lived 2 or so hours away in GOOD weather and no traffic so… 🙁 I met up with Steve, Sally and Maria and was greeted with a lovely surprise (#1 of 3 as it turned out). Maria had been sweet and bought a Bday card, then asked the guys to sign it for me in her M&G. She also told them how the previous show had been my #100 and they signed the signature ticket for that. And signed the set list…all for me. 😮 I was shocked and really moved! 😀 ♥

We all wondered if the crowd would be lighter today due to the weather. So sad as I’m sure John wasn’t the only one who had to cancel. 🙁 But in chatting with Ed, we figured the ones who were there would be so into it that the show was sure to still be a good one. And it was! 🙂 Front and center tonight and ready again! 😀 GGOOLLDD came out and the singer had a different outfit though still the fun lit up shoes. I seriously need to go look online for those. LOVE them! Steve had said he heard they were going to not allow pics and videos so I didn’t want to take a chance getting busted on them but I promise I will get some in Boston (baring those guards ban it). I also promised more detail on them…well, I would say they are “alternative.” They are a 5 piece…female singer and 4 guys playing drums, guitar, bass and keyboards. The set was shorter tonight…35 vs. 45 minutes so a couple of the songs that started out sounding more electro were cut but tbh, none are actually electro. Just a few STARTED like that. Then the guitar and bass would kick in and that would all change. They are a bit loud but it seemed not so much last night. Maybe due to the shortened set list also. Still not a huge fan sadly but their singer is fun to watch bop around and they all look like they are having fun. And though she wasn’t wearing the lit up peacock like cape, she had it on her mic stand and brought it out for the one song she turned it on for the night before. Will try to get pics of that too…hard to explain.

On my trip to the ladies room, I ran into friends I had looked for in DC but didn’t see. Mark C. and J.F. had come over from the UK and Belgium. Great to see them and we had a bit of a chat…a lot about THEIR mess of a time getting here too. Poor guys ended up on 3 buses to make it to the gig bless their hearts! 🙁 When it came time for the show to start, the crowd let out a loud cheer and there was a guy behind us a few rows who kept making us laugh at how he was cheering. It was just the way he kept going WHOOOOEEEW every few seconds. But we laughed in a good way, not annoyed. It was cute and funny. 🙂 I told Sally at times it sounded like he was on a rollercoaster the way he was whooing. 😀 Someone yelled “turn around!” at the start of Ghost Star and I thought “be patient…he will.” Everyone seemed to really enjoy it because there was a large cheer when done. Mr. M. said hello and thanked us all for coming out in this weather. When Isotype started, I had a hard time bouncing because something was off with the drums. We had heard it during Ghost Star too…not quite sure what it was but it was like there was an echo or something so making the drums sound like they were fast. They weren’t, it seemed Stuart was playing fine, it was just coming out weird. Hard to explain but I laughed and told Sally “I don’t know which to bounce too.” (after a few songs though, whatever it was got fixed and all was well. Hats off to the guys for staying on track though as I’m sure it was even harder and more weird sounding to them! 🙁 )

When Mr. M. brought out the bass and told us it was time for some old songs, the Whoooeew guy actually did a “who eh who eh”. 😮 😀 😀 😀 After Messages when everyone was cheering, I jokingly turned to Maria and went “who eh who eh” so then we both did it…ONCE. Stopped but next thing we heard was the Woooeew guy do it! 😮 😳 Maria was like “we’re not doing that again!” 😀 When it came time for HoM, Mr. M. said that it was a song about the end of the universe. “But if you came out in this snow, you must be people who know how to party. So you can party to this song.” Everyone cheered and he jokingly called us “Dumb F*ckers” as he laughed and prompted us to all bounce. (I should stress it was all in good fun, not said condecendingly or anything! Anyone who has seen them knows he jokes around a lot and will kid about themselves too 😉 ) Good crowd as I saw a lot of people moving. 🙂

It was time for “the keyboard Maestro” to come out and I heard a lot of singing along to FLaD. 🙂 That was followed up with a lot more cheers and singing to IYL. It makes me chuckle when I’m in the states and hear the reaction to that song. Part humor as it’s not really a fav of mine and I know how it’s not big in the UK but also part common understanding and appreciation to how it feels when a band plays one of the main songs you are waiting to hear. 🙂 Massive cheers when it was over and it was apparent that this was indeed a really good and excited crowd. The Whoooeew guy was at a peak at this point. 🙂 What followed was surprise #2. One More Time started and Mr. M. came over to stand right in front of me and proceeded to start singing it to me. I initially just sang along looking at him until I realized he was continuing to sing to me. 😮 Then I stopped and got a bit shy and bashful and had to look down for a second. 😳 But THEN he said “Happy Birthday Lori…yesturday”. Awww… So I mouthed a big Thank you! 😀 And between next line he said “and gig 100? This is gig #101”. Hahaha, YUP! 😀 He then reached out for my hand to match the lyrics and held it, then let go as he finished singing the chorus to me. 😳 It was so sweet! 😀 Maria, Steve and Sally were all smiles too. What a great moment! 😀

So I had asked John if there was anything he wanted me to record for him and he said he had been surprised how much he loved MoA so I whipped out my camera to record the dynamic duo of songs. I was worried the guard would say something though he hadn’t stopped me from taking a couple quick pictures for the blog earlier on. I leaned back a bit the whole time so I’d be covered by the rest of the front row and…success! 😀 Since it wasn’t packed, Maria, Steve and Sally had room to do their own windmilling and I did it mentally LOL. Will NEVER get tired of seeing those songs and the crowd really ate it up. Big smiles all around on all 4 of the guys faces! 😀 Everyone kept cheering with excitement as the guys got ready for OAtTWM and even when it was done. That song is so awesome live! 🙂 And…surprise #3 was Stuart handing me his drumstick and wishing me Happy Birthday. Funny enough, Steve had asked for one the night before and then gave it to me as a memento. “you have to have something for your Bday and #100 gig”. So when Stuart gave me one, I then turned to Steve and said “well, you can have yours back then since I have one too now. 🙂 “but he was like “no, now you have a set.” I was like “oh..yeah, but” but he and Maria were both like “yeah, you have a set!” so…I guess I have a set then. 😀

Someone yelled out “Talking Loud and Clear!” The band all laughed and Mr. M. said “nah nah, it’s not WARM enough to do THAT song.” 😀 We also have now figured out what our ‘thing’ is going to be this tour…after So In Love in DC, not only was the band bowing to Mr. C. but so were we. We did it again and I turned to Maria and said “I think THIS is our ‘thing’ for this tour” and she laughed and nodded. Gets a cute smile from Mr. C. for sure. 😀 For Locomotion, unlike in DC, there was no balcony so it was kind of funny to see Mr. M. point to the back when the room wasn’t too big but hey, back is still back eh? 😉 And lots of “hey, hey, hey” from the crowd during TPoL. That’s such a great song! 🙂 After Mr. C.’s keyboard solo, Mr. M. came over and shook his hand, eliciting yet another cute smile from Mr. C. and then it was time for Enola Gay. Mr. M. asked us if we were ready and believe me, we all were! 😀 More bouncing around from a lot of the people around me and when it was done, similar reactions from the guys as in DC because the crowd just cheered and cheered. Lots of waves and thank yous for coming, intros and more thank yous and waves, then they left.

When they returned, and the crowd went crazy again (and Whooeeew guy yelled out OMD!) Mr. M. joked and said “I guess we should do some more music then?” Big cheers so he said “The next three songs are old, older and really old.” Mr. H. laughed and said “sounds like describing the band” and Mr. M. heard so laughed and said “and that’s just me talking about the 3 guys back here behind me.” Everyone laughed and he said “Curly, Curly and Curly.” Awww… 🙂 I heard singing along to Dreaming and Secret got a loud scream from one apparently very happy lady getting to hear that song! 😀

Before Electricity Mr. M. thanked us again for making it out and said “we promise to come back again. Next time hopefully when it’s more SUNNY out.” He then said it was the last song and he and Mr. H. had written it when they were 16. Mr. H. shook his head with a “yeah, we WERE only 16” kind of look and then we had our one final bouncing moment before it was over. Mr. H. told everyone to PLEASE get home safely and final waves and thank yous before it was all over.

The venue asked people to start moving back quite quickly so we didn’t chit chat too long. All of us were within a mile of our hotel but I was going one way, the others in the other so goodbye hugs and then we were off. The sidewalks were a little bit better at this point. Gotta say, I was quite impressed with how Phily got on things and many were out there shoveling right away. We all made it back safely and though Amtrak was showing some train cancellations again due to NYC having a big storm reported coming in, my train was showing first one NOT cancelled so…I set my alarm to get up early and check again JUST in case things changed but…I actually was set to get more than 4 hours of sleep this time LOL. 😀

So…highlight of the night. Well it’s an easy and obvious one tonight. My 3 surprises as all were lovely, sweet, and wonderful! 😀 ♥