Ok...maybe not OLD...just AGED. Hmm...not even sure I like how that sounds. But one thing is for sure. I definitely do not have the "people tolerance" I use to have! With the job I have, dealing with the public every day, you would think that I would have more tolerance for people then I do. Or maybe that's why I have so much less tolerance! Yeah! That's what I'm going with! Its my jobs fault!! Let me explain....
My sister in law called me Friday morning and asked the strangest question. Her question... "Can you leave your house tonight?" Really?? Where am I going...or do I even want to know. We haven't had the best relationship in the past year. But over the past 3 months or so it has gotten much better. At one time we were best friends. She lives across the street from me, we talked at least 4 times a day, either her kids were at my house or mine at hers all the time. Then something happened. I think it was a combination of a bad marriage (most definitely hers, not mine), a huge misunderstanding, and people running their damn mouths without knowing the whole story. So we stopped speaking....for about 7 months. I think during those 7 months we both realized to leave the petty shit behind and move on. But...I've gotten of track, so lets turn this back to the original title....
I THINK I'M GETTING OLD!
The question...."You wanna go to the Eli Young Band/Jarrod Neiman/Dierks Bentley concert tonight?" My answer..."Pick me up when you leave!" Ok...it wasn't quite that quick. I think it only fair to make sure when I go out of town to ask the hubby first. I know...I know... he always says he doesn't care but I think its only courteous to ask first. That's what I would want if the tables were turned. And that's exactly what he said!
The concert started at 7:30...doors open an hour before...the event center is a 2 1/2 hour drive from my house... so we leave at 3:00, knowing that will be plenty of time to get there and grab something to eat before the show. Little did we know the adventure we were about to get ourselves in to!!
First of all, she doesn't really like driving in big towns or on the interstate. And shes never really done much traveling where she would have to. So I'm the navigator. I did my navigation job ahead of time and printed directions (thank you mapquest) to the Palmer Arena in Danville, Illinois. Easy enough drive! Only a couple of turns and the arena is directly in our path! No driving around a city we don't know looking for a place we have never been to! SWEET! So we take off on our road trip, almost giddy with excitement.
About an hour into our trip we hit major road construction. Traffic was backed up ahead of us and behind us for as far as we could see! Apparently people don't believe those signs that say "left lane closed ahead". I'm thinkin' they should say something more like "Hey dumbass! Your lane stops! Get over now!" but that's just my opinion. Probably not the most politically correct thing to post on a state owned road sign. But after the road construction mess, we pretty much had smooth sailing the rest of the trip!
We finally arrived in Danville (which really didn't seem like all that far). As we come into town, we start looking for the arena....and drove right past it! Our first clue that something was going on there....the line of people on the sidewalk and the beer wagons parked out front! This was going to be a good night! As we drove past we did find a little shopping center with the best sub sandwiches I have ever had! Seriously...if you have run across Penn Station Subs you must stop! Fresh sweet bread, hand cut fries, the whole works! And...when they take your order they put your first name on your ticket, make your order fresh, and deliver it to your table. It was amazing!
So, after we eat, we head to the arena...having no idea where to park. Driving past the place, we decide to follow the people in front of us, who apparently didn't know where they were going either. We end up behind the building with the buses. Yes! The Buses!! Of course we were quickly stopped by a very attentive security guard who quickly tells us we can't park back here, but there is a parking deck across one street and a parking lot across the highway. Great! We won't have far to walk! We decided, after we drove past the parking lot without realizing it, that we would attempt to find the parking garage. We actually drove right to it! No, really! We did! And we thought we were in the wrong place because no one was parked there! So, thinking we might get towed if we parked there we decided to find somewhere else to park. Now...most parking garages I've been in you have to go clear to the top to come back down, so that's what we did. Except when we got to the top...it was a dead end! All we had to do was turn around! So feeling a little silly, we turn around and head back down. Right about the time we get back to the bottom, a car pulls through the parking deck, out the other side, and parks in a bank parking lot. Sweet!! Closer yet! Pulled in...parked...headed to the front door!! Its then that I realize neither one of us grabbed the tickets! We get half way to the front door without tickets in our hands! Back to the car...thank goodness we made sure we had them before we left the house!!
Finally get to the arena! The line is growing by the second. We really weren't that far from the doors. And we only had to stand outside for about 15 or 20 minutes before the doors opened. We quickly realized we didn't get the memo for the dress code. Neither of us had camouflage or flannel on! Risking getting escorted out for improper dress we pressed forward. Right before the doors opened we both realized we didn't bring out IDs! Well...looks like no beer for us. That's ok. We'll be able to enjoy it anyway! Wow...we so could have used those IDs!!
When we first get into the building we realize it really isn't that big. Much smaller then the civic center we are use to and we are both very glad we peed at the restaurant instead of waiting...the line was already forming! But that's ok! We were determined to have a great time! And the floor (which is where we are headed!) was already starting to fill up. We knew we wanted to be close to the stage so we head that way. People were already lining the stage so we couldn't get right up there but we could get pretty darn close! This is probably where I started to realize I may be getting old.
We get to the stage and look around for the best place to stand. There's still about an hour before it starts so there's time to move if we need to, but we find a spot that seems pretty good. And only about 2 people from the stage. Very Sweet! In front of us looks like a couple young kids who are pretty much keeping to themselves and enjoying each others company. Then...it started...
Keep in mind its only about 6:45 at this time. A good 45 minutes before the concert starts. I hear some commotion to my left and turn around just in time to see a very young looking girl run off the floor with her boyfriend left standing there looking at her like she has two heads. My sister in law, who happened to be stand right next to her, looks very angry. It is at this point that I realize what has just taken place. The young girl has just thrown up on the floor! Yeah!! Puking before the concert has even started! Later we find out that she was drinking Jeiger all day. Her boyfriend took her home, layed her on her front porch, and came back to the concert! Now...I can see both sides of this. Shes drunk and obviously not going to be able to enjoy the concert. Hes not and should get his monies worth out of at least his ticket! Good for him for coming back! But...leaving her on the front porch? In the cold? That's harsh!! So we keep an eye on the puke spot, just to make sure we don't step in it.
The concert is getting ready to start by this time. Sound checks are done, security is in place, the place is starting to fill up.
We quickly notice our small circle we had in front of us is getting smaller. The nice young couple in front of us has been replaced by 2 very small teenage girls and their very tall boyfriends! They also, apparently, think they are going to have all their friends (who arrived much later then we did) stand at the stage with them. Wrong!! We decided there was no room for anyone else and moved close enough to the back of them no one else was getting in there. Then I thought my sister in law was going to know some tall skinny kid on his ass!! He very causally moved from the other side of me, to standing right in front of her. I mean RIGHT in front of her! Should could have coped a feel without even moving!!! His excuse, after being questioned quite loudly if he was really going to f*&(ing stand there was...get this....he was being courteous and letting the girls stand at the stage! Now I'm all about being courteous, but this kid was just being a dick. The concert was very close to getting started so we decided to just tough it out and stay put.
Eli Young Band played first. Totally awesome!! Could not have asked for a better set! I would definitely consider seeing them as a headliner. Sounded great and pretty energetic. I'm not sure the lead singer stood still for an entire song. I realize they only played 30 minutes, but you try singing your guts out and dancing around on stage. Heck I challenge you to sing and walk! That's a workout in itself!
Next up was Jarrod Neiman. Again, totally awesome! He sang his heart out and I'm pretty sure most of his songs were written for my husband! :-)
Up to this point there were a few little mishaps, but nothing to terribly bad. For the most part we were able to just stay still and it worked itself out. We're getting a little tired of the drunks and wishing Dierks Bentley would start singing. And then...he does!!
Dierks Bentley looks slimmer, more muscular, and maybe even a littler hotter in person! He is so energetic and sounds amazing! Unfortunately we didn't get to stay past his 3rd song. My drunk-o-meter and hit its tolerance level and was about to explode. These two larger young ladies decided they wanted to be at the stage. So they pushed their way through the crowd, past my sister in law, and parked their asses right in front of me!! And proceeded to spill their drinks all over each other! All I could say was "Are you f$(*ing serious?! Are you seriously going to stand RIGHT there??" Her response..."Oh I'm sorry. Did you want to stand in front of us?" "F(#k no! I don't want to wear your drinks!!" So...we decided we had enough of the drunks and teenage "courtesy"...it was time for us to leave.
The drive home was pretty uneventful. And even after the bs and drunks we did meet some really great people and had an amazing time. This was one road trip for the record books!! Hey...who knows...we may do it again!!! :-)
