Update on 2009: So Far So Good.

Well, I made it to Chicago without a hitch. Ride from ORD, and dinner with my sis-in-law. The next morning (up WAY too early) she drove me into town. I had a room at the Hard Rock Hotel. Now, I have never even been to a HR Café, but this hotel had the best location and the best room rate. I was on the Rolling Stones floor with Bono etched on my mirror.

I stopped to ask the concierge about train info. He was rather snooty to me when I could not remember the name of the venue! I did have the address so I asked him to google it…please. He asked who I was seeing there. I grinned…AFI. He paused and then said…”Oh that man is SO nice, such a sweet guy. They stayed here last time they were in town.” WHAT!!!!????? And not THIS time!!?? He was much nicer to me after that, even taking me to the room before I left when I thought I had left something behind.

The train was a block and a half for the hotel, and a block and a half from the venue. Got there early and met some nice people in line. The show was sold out and the DF line was long. I got a good spot on the second rail. Some guy right below me did a double take on me and said “Hi mom”.

I replied. “I am not mom today.”

“Don’t you have kids here?”

“Nope. I am here for the show. I am a huge fan.”

Seems he did not believe I was a true fan. So I showed him my latest ink. He asked if I had seen him today before the show. Nope. Got that in PIT. He still didn’t understand. I explained that Jade signed my shoulder in PIT and I had permanently inked it upon my body with the Crash Heart around it. Then I showed him my Sing the Sorrow band and only then did he believe! LOL

Then we waited outside. Two hours later a club security guy said the band had gone out the front door. Some left but several still waited. Smith came out and told us he was the “consolation prize”. He’s so nice. I told him he was Saint Smith for all he did.d He said, “Awww I’m not a saint.” I asked for a pix with him. But the pix was blurred and I said I had no idea how to work the camera. He took it and bingbingbing he had it in the correct mode and gave it back to me. I asked him to sign my wristband and he drew a little pix with hat and beard. Told him he looked amish. LOL Yeah… he really is a saint. At 1:30 am I finally gave up, heading off for the train and hotel.

There were only two others waiting for the train. I felt a bit unsettled but these two guys didn't seem to be interested in bothering me! Then I discovered the HEAT BOX! OMG it radiated warmth as I stood there in my T-shirt. Why does NYC not have these? I could have used them when I commuted. But... by the time the train arrived the platform was filled with people and I never felt a moment of alarm.

Back in the RW after spending the whole day trying to get on a flight out of ORD. Ahh the perks of my job. But I am happy I got to see the boys one more time. Next week HOUSTON!