I'll update more later. I got in at about 4:45 a.m. and woke up way too early. I'm going to try to go back to sleep for a while and then have dinner with friends. For now, I leave you with this:
Let me just tell you that television and pictures do this man no justice. It's stupid how beautiful he is in person. And? He's one of the sweetest and funniest people I've ever met. Leah took this picture of us after soundcheck. I said, "just so you know, we'll have to take another one later when I have makeup on." He laughed and said, "yeah me too."
Okay. So I picked Leah up at the airport. Her flight was due to come in at 9:09 on Friday morning but it was delayed. Originally I was planning to leave my house at 8 to pick her up (for 9) but Shawn told me that was too late and I needed to leave earlier. So I planned to leave at 7:45. She called me shortly before then and told me her flight was delayed and wasn't landing until 9:42. Good thing since I wasn't ready yet. I left my house at about 20 after 8 and ended up getting to the airport at 8:54. So I had some time to kill. I called Monsty to see if she drew the names yet for the t-shirt exchange. Because where better to buy a city's t-shirt than at the airport, right? I left her a message and then went to baggage claim to wait for Leah. I was talking to my sister on the phone and said I didn't see her yet. She said, "Do you know what she looks like?" I said, "I saw a couple pictures but I don't know if I could pick her out of a crowd." She laughed and said "How do you know you don't see her then?" Then Leah called and told me she was at baggage claim. We couldn't find each other and couldn't figure out why. It was because we were on opposite sides of the luggage chute. heh. After we got to the car, Monsty called me back. She was so cute. She said, "Who are you picking up at the airport." I said, "Leah. Luke's tour manager." She said, "Lukas? Your rockstar Lukas? Why do you sound so calm?" Good question. I have no idea. I was very calm and cool most of the day actually. I guess it was like gaining a bit of peace or something. I don't know. whatever. So we drove to Erie. She talked on the phone a lot. She was trying to figure out how to get work permits for her and Kendra for the trip to Canada. They were leaving after the show on Friday to drive up to Canada for five shows. When I had printed out directions, I printed them out for the venue. We decided to go that way and just find the hotel from there. Turns out it was the same exit. There was a big sign for the hotel. woo. She told me I got to be the assistant tour manager that day. She hadn't been with them for four days, she went home to Philly while they had a break. She had a lot of copying and accounting to do before they left for Canada and I didn't have anything else to do in Erie. We got to the hotel and hung out with Lou in the lobby while Lukas and Kendra slept. Soundcheck was at 3 and we were to wake them up at 2. Lou Dawson is so awesome. She wonderfully sweet and talented. Love her. We ended up not leaving for soundcheck until about 3:20 or so. (somebody couldn't seem to wake up) Lukas and Kendra came down to the lobby and shook my hand. Lukas and I walked to the door together and he was telling me about his day so far. They got in from Chicago late and then he had to get up early and go do a radio interview. I told them I'd just follow in my car so they could talk business or whatever. I called Nookie to scream because the moment I was by myself, my hands started shaking uncontrollably. Soundcheck took about an hour and a half.
I have some video but I have no idea how to upload it to blogger. Leah and I went to copy some receipts and get some money orders after soundcheck. Believe me that sounds like a much easier feat than it actually was. We had to drive across town to find a Kinkos and on the way back we got lost. twice. We had to go back to the venue, Coconut Joe's, before we picked up Lou and Lukas at the hotel (they left the navigator and uhaul at the venue). When we got there, Lou told Leah she was just going to walk and she thought Lukas and Kendra were walking too. So Leah and I sat back and chilled for a few minutes. Had drinks and she told them how to set up the food and whatnot in the VIP area to please Mrs. Rossi. Lukas was supposed to go on at 10 (I swear it was originally 9) but they said they wanted him to go on at midnight. That was too late because they were driving to Toronto that night. The owner said the opening act would play until he was ready to go on. Lukas decided he wanted to play a little later and asked if it was okay with everybody (including me). We said "of course. whatever you want." (oh you're asking me if I mind spending more quality time with you up here in the VIP lounge? ummm... no. I don't mind at all.)
Leah went down to count the merchandise in the uhaul. I spent most of the time talking to Lou while Lukas and Kendra discussed business and monkeys. After a while, Kendra went down to set up the merchandise tables.
At about 10:45, Lukas asked Lou if she was ready. I said I would go down to tell them to stop playing and set up the stage. I turned around, I think I was talking to the bartender and Lukas and Lou were waiting for me at the door. I said, "Are you going down now? I could just go and tell them you're ready." He said, "I want to check out the crowd." So we went down to the side door and Lukas told the bartender there they were ready. HA! cute story with that. He goes, "hey.... pssst... hey... we're ready so can you tell the other band to ftttt *makes cutting sign across his neck*" Then he walked back in the door and started up the steps. He turned to me and Lou and busted out laughing. He repeated what he said to the little blond bartender and said, "That made me sound like a bit of an asshole." Lou and I were already laughing at him and Lou said, "It did sound a little assholey but it was fucking funny." So we went back up to the lounge for a bit and sat at the bar. I went down to see if the stage was set up and Kendra asked me to wait at the merch table while she went to check on something or other. I was supposed to run back up and get Lou so she could check her keyboards but I couldn't so I sent a security guard up for her. Kendra came over to get me and I asked what we were supposed to do about the merch. She said, "He'll watch it," and sent a Security Guard over. She told him she'd be back she just wanted to get some pictures and video. We went over to the side of the stage and sat with Leah. So I had a view of the back of Luke's head for the show but really... I was okay with that.
After the show, I went over to the merch table to help Kendra but Lou was already there helping. Leah was packing up the stage so I just stood there and answered some crowd questions and helped Lou a bit. Some guy asked me if Lou was signing stuff and I said she would. He handed me his underwear and said Lukas already signed them. I took him over to Lou and told her he would like her to sign his boxers. heh. I took some pictures of people with Lou and found out that people seemed to be intimidated by her. Awesome. heh. Lukas was going upstairs and I said, "wait! I didn't buy my stuff yet." He said, "I know, sweety. We're going upstairs." So I bought my shirts and got my ep and went to help carry stuff to the uhaul. I had to go to my car (down the street. When Leah and I came back, there was nowhere to park. Apparently it was bike night. woo hoo.) When I came back, they were all out there. Leah said they needed me to come back to the hotel was that okay? uhhh... yes. I'm okay with spending more time with you. I got back to the hotel before they did. Lou came in with me while Leah, Lukas and Kendra had a discussion. Then Leah came in while Lukas and Kendra had a discussion. When they came in we went up to their room. They gave me some stuff that they didn't want to take across the border. (I'm not telling you but it's not as scandolous or exciting as it sounds.) Lukas and I discussed some message boards and I said I was one of the original Possi members on Rockband. He was all, "No way!" I said I way but I couldn't really take it anymore and he told me some stories. Then he asked me if I was coming to Toronto. I said I wasn't (I'd have to come back home and get my passport.) Then he gave me a hug. ~I just got chills remembering that one. yikes.~ The last hug of the day from Lukas... *sigh* Then I said, "oh shit." And he said, "Where's your stuff? I didn't sign it yet!" So I pulled it all out of my bag and he signed it. I said, "This one is my husband's." He said something really cute that I don't remember and signed it. I went over and gave Kendra a hug and hugged Lou again and then Leah came outside with me. She signed one of her cards for me and we hung out for a few minutes. She gave me a FedEx package to send Kendra's stuff back to her and gave me the stuff she needed to give me. I said I could ship it back to her but she said it was a gift. awwww. We took our picture
and I drove off... and got lost. I called Shawn and asked him where I was supposed to go. He was like, "You're just leaving now?" yes. "It's 2:30." yes. but where am I? I'm lost already. "I don't know. I went to college there. That was a long time ago." So I stopped at McDonalds. They were closed but the drivethru was open. I walked over to a car that was pulling out. There were two guys in there. I scared the bejeebus out of them when I said, "scuse me." He had me follow him to the 79 south exit and I was on my way home, high on pure adrenaline.
I'm sure I left tons of details out that I will add in as I remember them. I want to have record of this entire day for the rest of my life.
huh?
Ryan who?
I'm kidding!
7/6/07 -
ACK!!! I almost forgot one of the most important pieces of the day. This is another example of how awesome Lukas is.
We were up in the VIP lounge and Lukas went down to mingle with the people waiting in line. That alone is pretty awesome. But. He came back up and was all proud of himself. He goes down to say hey to the people waiting in line to get in and there was a group of kids there who drove from Pittsburgh ("Pittsburgh? Really?" "yeahhh Pittsburgh." "I'm from Pittsburgh." "yeah. I know, sweety.") and they were underage so they weren't going to let them in. Lukas was all, "No way, man. These guys drove here to see me. They're going to see me. I don't care what you have to do but I want them front row." So these kids spent the night surrounded by security guards but they were up front. I *heart* Lukas.
oh. And also. I told him that a certain someone wanted him to play "Creep" and he laughed and said no. :)
I'm a horrible slacker but they're coming.
