(Monday, 7/21/03 & Friday, 7/25/03)
Let's start with Monday, July 21st, 2003, shall we? This was the taping of the Goo Goo Dolls
Oxygen Network concert that will air on September 7th. Well, on this particular Monday, I left work at 3PM and drove
into the city, parked my car in a parking garage that was RIGHT NEXT TO
The Grand Ballroom, where the taping was to take place. Well, when I got there a SLEW
of Goo fans were already there...lines all over the place...Lines for VIP's, lines for WPLJ contest winners....just a mass
of humanity with all one common goal --- to see the Goo Goo Dolls!
Well, thank the heavens Kim and Melissa (my Goo partners-in-crime) saved a spot for me, as
well, as my OTHER partner-in-crime, Debbie! I got there first and ANXIOUSLY awaited Deb's arrival which was about an hour or so later.
The heat was RELENTLESS! There was no
point in putting on makeup, but nevertheless, you saw mirrors out, lipsticks out, combs and brushes out. Hey, you can NEVER look too good for the boys --- whether they actually SEE
you, or not!
Anyway, from 3PM to 6:30PM we waited outside being led from one position on line to another.
But, once we were inside, then it was an elevator ride up and a mad dash for the stage! Unfortunately, we didn't
get the IDEAL spot, (to be right in front of John's mic!), because that
was, apparently, reserved for the contest winners, but we DID manage
John's SIDE of the stage and, after ANOTHER
torturous amount of time waiting, some woman dressed in her best "rocker outfit" came out and introduced the band!
That's when I was transported from one song to another just never leaving site of John and
all his gyrations! He's an AMAZING performer and of course, that goes
without saying for Robby! Mike was hidden behind the drums, as usual, and where we were standing we couldn't see him at all.
The television concert lasted, I'd say, about 90 minutes, tops...but due to it being for
TV, there were some technical problems --- much to our advantage! The guys had to come back out and perform two songs (I'm
sorry, I forget which ones), over again, because the floor was vibrating from everyone's jumping around and it affected the
television recording. So, like pros, the guys came out, (with John joking around with the crowd), and they went at the two
songs all over again as if they were doing it for the first time!
It was an amazing night and by the time I got home, my feet were in AGONY
from all that standing, but it's ALWAYS worth it for some GOO!
NOW FOR FRIDAY'S STORY!
Friday morning's wake up call for me was 3AM! I was headed off to the city to see the Goos
perform for the Today Show. They were featured for the Toyota Concert Series that The Today Show puts on every summer! (Last
year's appearance was a wash-out, but we won't discuss that! LOL!) This year was TOTALLY
different!
I got there at 5AM and the place was ALREADY
packed! Where I was situated I could BARELY see the guys but could hear
them going through soundcheck! I knew that if I stayed where I was, I was going to be miserable, but at the time there was
nothing I could do. So, I enjoyed listening to them go over "Slide", "Sympathy" and "What A Scene".
Well, listening to them, and also watching the sky turn from dark blue to a lighter, brighter sunnier blue, I remained
at the very spot that soon became quite fortunate for me! Soon, a security guard opened up the barracade and told us that
we could run over to the side of the stage, there was room over there! Well, leaving a lot of the teeny-boppers in the dust,
I made my way to Robby's side of the stage with SUCH a better view that
I couldn't believe it! Robby even spotted me and waved hello!!!! John came over from time to time and waved and smiled!
Needless to say, they totally rocked and were interviewed by Matt Lauer. We even got to see,
during a commercial break, the makeup and hair person for John and Robby do their thing----one woman powdered John's face
while another tousled Robby's hair! Ahhh, the life of a rock star....LOL!
At 10AM the show was over and after maneuvering my way from the crowd, I spotted Kim and Debbie
across the street at the Deli. We were soon joined by Erin, Shannon and Melissa. They all convinced me to go to the autograph
signing at Best Buy on Lexington Avenue and without twisting my arm TOO much,
I agreed to go! (I was originally just going to see the Today Show and then head back to work). Good thing I DIDN'T!
The SIX of us PILED
into a taxi cab --- if you can believe that one! Kim, the SMARTEST one,
sat in the front with the driver as Erin sat on Shannon's lap, me in the middle (DESTROYING
Shannon's leg!), Debbie, with Melissa sitting on top of HER giving her
boobs a run for THEIR money! LMAO! Oh, and how can we forget Melissa
wanting to break out in song....oh boy! Can we say candidate for American Idol Rejects....ROFLMAO! (Y'know I love
you, girl! Don't go givin' me that face!) Now, this poor cab driver REALLY
thought he was going to be caught by the cops, but after I figured out he was Haitian, (which worked in our favor), I told
him everything would be just fine.
When we got to the Best Buy, only about 20 or so people were ahead of us and we just KNEW we were going to go in with no problems!
Once again, the heat did a JOB on us
and by the time 12:00 rolled around, we were sufficiently colored by the sun (as if I NEED
a tan----PLEASE!)
Anyway, once the line began to move, that's when EVERYONE'S
nerves began playing on them. "What am I gonna say?" "How am I gonna look at John in the eyes?" "I can't DO this!" "I'm SHAKING already!" I
mean, we ran the GAMMOT of emotions! But, then, the moment was upon us
and Debbie got to see them first! I was right behind her....I had my picture ready for them to sign, and while Robby was signing
it, he looked up at me and asked, "Where was this taken?" "At Roseland last year." I replied. I then told him he rocked earlier
that day and then I moved over to John. "Hey, how ya doin'?" Is how he greeted me as he signed my picture. "Y'know, Marc and
Michelle are waiting for a phone call from you." I proceeded. (See, to make a long story short, John and I know are "connected"
by a friend of his and her husband)...anyway, he say's, all embarrassed, "Yeah, I know...I've gotta call 'em." I continue
on with, "And, Darcy's a year old, already." He starts turning red a little bit and replies with, "Yeah, I've REALLY gotta call 'em now!" And, then the moment passed. I thanked him and Mike for signing
the picture and out the door I went! I just couldn't believe John was conversing with me as if we'd been old pals! REMARKABLE!
I met up with a SHAKIER Kim, Melissa,
Debbie, Erin and Shannon! We all started babbling at the same time trying desperately not to let the "moment" pass us by!
Kim and I even positioned ourselves outside the exit door where we could see Mike's, John's and Robby's back as they continued
signing autographs! Just the back of John's head was enough to keep us in heaven for awhile! LOL! Eventually, we were
brushed away by a guard who stated we were blocking the exit!
After that, we decided NOT to repeat
the cab ride by shoving all of us in ONE---we opted for TWO cabs, on our way back. Kim, Melissa, and Debbie took one cab, while I shared one with
Erin and Shannon! We babbled all the way back to Rockefeller Plaza where I had to give them HUGE
hugs and head on back to work! I don't even know how I DROVE back because
I was on cloud 9 the rest of the day! It didn't even bother me that my desk was PILED
with work waiting for me!
Girls, if you're reading this, you KNOW
how much you all mean to me! You all rock SO much and I love you all
to DEATH! Can't wait to do it again!
