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So Cal, 29-30 June and 1 July 2006...

Where to begin...?

Sucks being back to reality after having the BESTEST time in Southern California !  I am going to try my darnest to make this sound coherent and not let it get too long, but I have to apologize in advance, because I already know both are rather impossible :-) 

For starters... I just can't get over the beautiful people I've met (in no particular order):

Intermission - Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi! 

Oops, sorry... just had to do that... moving on... :-)

Intermission - I would love to meet that pregnant beauty who keeps following Melissa wherever she goes... maybe some day... :-) 

And of course there are all my other buddies... like...

I'm always amazed at the way Melissa brings people together without even knowing it...  

True magic.

29 June 2006
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The weekend started on Thursday, when my travel package angel, Frank, and I arrived into Long Beach and went to the reception.  It was there that it became obvious it would be all about giving... :-)  Jo Jo, the Canadian, won the car visor... she gave it to the Aussies... I won an autographed t-shirt... I gave it to the Canadian... next thing I know, here comes Eileen with the autographed t-shirt she won and gave it to the Aussies... needless to say... we could all feel the looooove! :-) 

Later on, Jo Jo gave me the "City Of Hope" mug set... which I'd once thought of getting on eBay, but didn't... COOL! :-) 

Sometime before the show, I heard bunny beanie lady call my name... she said "Kelly wants to meet you"... So off I went to meet Kelly!  She's Philip's wife and one of those people who simply irradiates beauty from the inside out... She's absolutely adorable! :-) 

I could write a review of the show that night, but I'll just wait for Camille's because... really... :-)  

Plus... there's so much information in my brain, that I'm not sure what is what.  She takes notes, so she'll have it all just right... :-)  I'll say this.  Frank and I had 5th row seats which were not bad at all... great view of the stage and Melissa... the only thing is that she couldn't quite read my signs, so I didn't make many 'cause I don't want the poor woman to strain her eyes... :-)  I stayed in my seat during that concert.  I have to say, I love "Giant"... but I LOVE it when she starts off with "Come On Out Tonight"... it totally pumps everybody up (I know it does me!)

There was a lady in front of us and it was her first show.  So I made a sign that said "Melissa Virgin" with an arrow pointing down and put it over her.  Melissa saw it and acknowledged her... put her hands together and did a little bow to her... 

I mean... how sweet is this woman???  I love love LOVE the fact that she totally gets how it's the little things that matter so much.  She has this beautiful gift... she can create unforgettable memories for her fans...  I love "taking advantage" of it, because it's the coolest thing to see someone's smile when Melissa acknowledges them... it happened again the next night... and again the night after... read on... ;-)  Oh, it happened in Vegas too!  When she was singing ITOO there, I switched places with my GF.  She had been standing behind me all along, and I put her in front in front of me for that song, because it is her favorite.  So I made a sign that said "Her Favorite" with an arrow pointing down.  So, Melissa stopped and sang a part of it just for my baby... Awwwww... see what I mean? 

When she sang "Lucky" I held up my sign saying "Who's lucky?  We are!" :-) 

At one point Frank held up a sign offering himself as the Godfather for the twins... funny! :-) 

I did ask for "How Would I Know?"  For those who don't know (and really, how WOULD you know?  Get it?... tee hee...) that is my absolute favorite song of hers and even moreso live on the piano.  So, I asked for it and alas!  She said yes!  YESSSSSS!!!  I could just "die, die, die!" (borrowed from Will & Grace's Jack ;-) when I hear Melissa singing that song on the piano... 

During ITOO, I called my GF (yes, she wasn't in So Cal with me... it's the only part I did not like -at all!  I missed her a lot!) and got her voicemail, so I held up the phone... not sure if Melissa thought it had a camera (which it doesn't) or she just wanted to sing to whoever was on the other end of the line :-)  But she stood and sang directly to my phone for a little bit... so cool! 

I made a sign telling Melissa that Frank wanted to hear "Resist"... she totally gave me a "YEAH RIGHT!" face... it was funny (well, I guess not for Frank)... Then I said "And I want Ain't It Heavy"... Not sure what face she made then... it was not easy to read.  So I'm still hoping... I mean... that is such a great song!!! 

I have one complaint - I'm not happy about the whole idea of Ticketmaster auctioning off the front row seats... and the only reason is... it is obvious that most folks on the front row are not... like... fans!  Ack!  Picture this:  Melissa has finished the song before the piano moment... she takes her guitar off and has her guitar pick in her hand... and is looking for someone to give it to!  And nobody's getting up to get it!!!  Whaaaaaat???  

30 June 2006
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On Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting Melissa again.  Although I'd seen her and talked (just a word or two) with her a few times in Europe, I had my first real meet and greet with her in Las Vegas (yes, my travel package angel, Frank, seems to think that when it comes to travel packages, it's just "Never Enough" ;-), but I've decided that was my dry run... I was better prepared this time, and not as anxious, so I was able to say exactly what I wanted to say and not just half of it, as I'd done before.  Also, the first time I almost didn't make it into the group photo... so if you see it, it looks like I'm just some outsider/intruder that happened to stand there beside a group of people :-)  This time, I made sure I stood beside Melissa for the picture... I just hope I also smiled well :-)

My wonderful buddy Dunie had made some t-shirts for me... I'd thought up a t-shirt that says "I need to wake up" in the front and has some of the lyrics on the back.  Well, the t-shirts turned out EXACTLY as I'd envisioned them and they look great!... SO SO COOL!!!  THANK YOU AGAIN DUNIE!!!  I gave one to Frank, which he was wearing during the day, and he asked me if he should wear it to the meet and greet/concert... I thought that was just perfect!  I had two t-shirts (for Melissa and Tammy), so I told him yes... that way I could see Melissa's reaction (hopefully favorable) and based on that, decide if I should/shouldn't give her the t-shirts.  Oh, I didn't have time to go to the gift shop to get a nice gift bag, so they were in the Bath and Body Works baggie Dunie had brought them in.  Classy, I know... :-)

Jim (from MEIN) went around inspecting gifts... when he asked me what I'd brought, I pointed to Frank... I was showing Jim the t-shirt... but of course Frank thought I was going to give HIM to Melissa... Yeah Yeah Yeah... ;-) 

When Melissa saw Frank, she pointed to his t-shirt.  She obviously liked it and asked Frank if he'd made it... cool! :-)  Frank gave Melissa these BEAUTIFUL earrings... since there are three girls (and one on the way) in the household, he hopes one of them will like them and wear them ;-) 

It was then my turn, and Melissa said "I remember you"... I am sure she did!  In Vegas, with it being my first time, I sorta overdid it (in true Angie fashion, actually...) and gave her about 5+ pounds worth of stuff... mostly books... I think she said "Oh my!" when I gave her the two bags (one for her and the kids, the other for Tammy)... Whew... Oh well!  That's a way to make an impression, eh?  LOL!  They were great books, IMHO... so I hope they actually checked them out... but I'll never know :-)

By the way... it's kinda cool when Melissa tells you "I remember you"... tee hee...

Anyway, I digress... I told Melissa that I'd come up with the t-shirt design and my friend made the t-shirts, and I was glad she liked them because I'd brought one for her and one for Tammy.  She said something like "how thoughtful" or "how creative"... or both... One tends to block some parts of the meeting due to, I believe, a semi-state of shock...? ;-)  I did get to hug her again and this time I tried to concentrate on how it feels to hug THE Melissa... I have a little better recollection of this one than I do the Vegas hug (which I can't remember at all... I mean, I know there was a hug, but that's about it)... :-)

Frank and I left the room after meeting Melissa, because I was supposed to hook up with Philip to say hello.  After I became Philip's "human GPS" and finally got him to where I was waiting for him, I finally got to meet him in person and give him a big ole hug! :-)  Just as I've heard from everybody who's met him before, Philip is the sweetest, loveliest dude!!!  I got a couple of pictures taken with him (which nobody will see, 'cause I made some weird yucky faces... what the freak!!!???) and a couple of people from the meet and greet came out and said hello.  He was gracious, nice, and... just plain wonderful! :-)  I also gave him two "I need to wake up" t-shirts... one for him and one for Kelly :-)

Five words:  I love me some Philip! (BTW, if you haven't done so, check out Philip's Fan Club site and his official website! Some of you may not know this, but he has a (GREAT!) CD out, and will be touring after Melissa's tour is done!)

The show rocked!!!  I don't know if there were more people there than the night before or what, but it seemed there was even more energy... you could feel the electricity in the air... or maybe it was all those cell phones (at one point the place lit up with cell phones and Melissa said "it used to be lighters, now it's cell phones" :-)  No, seriously... it was intense!!!  My seat was not too shabby... OK, it was a great seat - second row center.  I overheard the guy in front telling someone it was her friend's birthday... bingo!  My first sign was, of course about it being that lady's birthday.  So, after the first song, Melissa said "Happy Birthday" to her.  The lady was thrilled!

Ahhh... That Melissa... she's just something else, I tell ya! :-)

I wasn't feeling very creative for some reason... so I didn't write too many signs.  I did write one telling her "How do you keep getting better?" which she appreciated... :-)

At the end of Tuesday Morning, as they were bringing out the piano, Melissa walked down the line with her pick and said "who should I give this to"- Looked at Bitey who was on the front row and said - "YOU" ;-)  So goodie!  The pick went to a good home :-)

This time I did rush the stage.  Right before the rush, the same guy (in front of me) went to sit down but the seat was up and he almost fell, so that slowed me a bit... I jumped over the seat and he and Frank helped me... I ended up behind Bitey who was leaning on a speaker.  Cool! :-)  I looked to the right and saw Camille and Rhondda ... I wish I knew how they do this... it's like they fly or something! :-)

Fast forward to the encore... Here comes Melissa with her guitar... and on it are two red beanies... one says "Melissa", the other one says "Tammy"... I'm thinking "What's that about?"... then Mark and Philip come out... and they have red beanies on their heads with their names on them too.  And then it hits me!  OMG, this is for Camille!!!  I remembered someone mentioning earlier something about something that was going to take place... Aha!  Apparently Bitey had forgotten her beanie, so she traded with Fritz... she wore Fritz's and Fritz wore the one that had Kenny's name on it.  Cute! :-)

Rhondda had her hat... and Camille now had one with her name on it too... I saw some other peeps on the left with theirs on as well.  It was so so so so so so incredibly cool, that I said the "f" word (which Bitey got a kick out of!)  You see... I don't really curse... and well, I just screamed... "This is f-ing awesome!!!"  Because it was... it really really was!  I can't wait to read it from Camille's perspective!  Apparently, this stunt was 2 years in the making... Outstanding!!!

At the end, people were asking... "What were those hats about?"... So I was on a mission to explain to anyone who asked all about the red beanie fan... and how they could listen to the commentary on the Lucky DVD and hear Melissa and the band mention the red beanie fan :-)

1 July 2006
Sorry, no photos

Before leaving the hotel to go check out some sights, we gathered in Jo Jo's room... The tall pretty Aussie sisters came by to say buh bye... they were heading to Vegas... then I saw that Jo Jo gave her travel package t-shirt to one of them... which was way cool because it was a great memento of the great time they had in Southern California... but wait!  What about the other sister, I thought?  I can't let her go without a t-shirt as well... so I went and got mine and gave it to her (told ya... it was all about giving! :-)... they wanted us all to sign their t-shirts, so we did... then it was picture time and off they went... they are total sweeties! :-)

So... after a day of fun with the other two Aussies, the Canadian, the Chicagoan and the Scottish from New Zealand ... we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the bus ride to L.A. .. we got our tickets and I had second row aisle in the pit... Cool!  I thought... I'll be rushing the stage! :-)  The bus ride was, of course, fun! 

We got there and took a peek at the seating map.  OK, the second row looked very close to the stage!  Wow and Yay! :-) 

It was time to get into the venue... I was standing there in line and there were two ladies in front of me.  I heard one of them asking where the meet and greet was.  The lady behind me said something about "I wish I knew that" or "I wish I could do that" or something... so I (JOKINGLY!) said... "we can steal their backstage passes"... I saw that the one lady had the LOVE'S ARMY bracelet (if you don't have one... what are you waiting for? Go get it at http://www.susanlovemd.com/)...

I looked up and recognized her... it was Dr. Love!  Wow!  I said "Dr. Love?" And she turned around and said "Yes"... and I said "Oh, it is wonderful to meet you!"... and she hugged me... and I hugged her... and we hugged... awwwwww... I told her something about having her bracelet but I wasn't wearing it... In my mind I'd formulated what I wanted to tell her... I wanted to say "THANK YOU Dr. Love for everything you're doing.  I admire you SO MUCH!"  What actually came out of my mouth was... again... "Oh, it is wonderful to meet you!"... Grrrrrrr.

Anyway... It was wonderful to meet her! :-) 

After that, I went around telling everybody I saw how I'd just met Dr. Love... it was such a thrill!

When I got to the seat, I couldn't believe it.  You could almost touch the stage from the second row... way awesome! 

If I love one thing, I love how Melissa sends everyone home feeling they have connected with her.  Some more than others, but normally, just about everybody takes home a special moment, a great memory... and often it's more than just one! :-) 

At the Greek Theatre in L.A. , I basically held a conversation with Melissa throughout the night... it was oh so so cool! :-)  I worked that white board, I tell ya! :-) 

The show started early.  I was surprised, but found out later there was an 11:00 pm curfew. Ah! :-)  I already had my first sign ready for Melissa... I'd tried to get a pick the night before by writing "PICK?" on my hand, to no avail... so I figured, "if I can't get a pick here, I can't get one anywhere!" :-)  So I had my sign saying "Will you PLEASE pick me tonight?" :-)  She saw it and made one of her faces and said... "mmm maybe"... :-)  Cute! 

I saw someone on the other end of the stage with a neon pink sign that was asking "Pick me, Melissa"... :-)  I figured we both had a good chance :-) 

I then made another sign that said "Pick me, Philip" and he said yes... :-) 

The Scottish from New Zealand was not part of the travel package, so her seats were somewhere (far) behind us.  She'd mentioned I should tell Melissa that she was out there... :-)  So, I once again fulfilled my MLE Fan Liaison duties and wrote a sign that said "There's a fan who came from New Zealand to see you.  Say hello?"  She looked at it, and I pointed to the middle seating area... but I wasn't 100% sure that she'd read it or read it completely... so a little later I wrote "Yell for the New Zealand fan" or something like that... she didn't really react, so I figured either she read it or didn't... and she'd say something... or wouldn't... :-) 

A bit later, she was talking and mentioned the international fans, she said from Australia , Canada , New Zealand (Yes!).  Everybody was making noise, but I KNEW that girl had screamed big time! (which she later confirmed!) :-)  She also said "England... representing... England's in da house!" or something like that... cute! :-)

I wrote to Melissa "Thank you.  You made her night!" :-) 

I noticed that there was a space on the stage... so I asked a lady if she'd mind if I stood there.  She didn't.  I didn't leave that spot until the show was over :-)  Once again, I found myself as I did in Berlin in '04.  So close to her I could have untied her shoes :-)  Which of course I didn't do... tee hee... Seriously though, I would never touch her.  That's why she comes so close to us, because she expects (as she should!) that we respect her personal space. 

The Aussies gave Melissa a little koala bear to clip on her guitar (I think), but she didn't... She did hold it and said "Crazy Aussies"... later I learned that they had lined up a few koalas on the speaker (I think)... so I'm sure Melissa thought that was funny... Crazy Aussies indeed! :-) 

As I have said before, I think of Melissa as someone who I'd love to sit down and chat with over cappuccinos... you know... Melissa, Tammy, my babe and I kind of thing... But then there are certain moments when I see her in a whole different light... :-)  Like when she danced very VERY suggestively with her guitar... I think my mouth was open the whole time.  All I could think was "HOLY MOLY!"... and of course, that is exactly what I put on my white board... a big "HOLY MOLY!" :-)  I know that if she was there, somewhere behind the curtains... there was a pregnant beauty who had to be going "HOLY MOLY!" as well... :-)  I wonder if there's video of that somewhere out there, 'cause if you saw it, you'd be going "HOLY MOLY!" too!!! :-) 

Melissa talked about seeing different artists at the venue.  She talked about seeing Culture Club and being so close to Boy George that she could have touched him, but of course she didn't, or something to that effect... (thinking back, I think she was making a point there... hmmmmm)... so I wrote on my white board "kharma khameleon?" (actually, I now realize I didn't spell it right, but it was close enough)... when she saw that she laughed... :-)  Oh well, I tried... :-) 

At one point I wrote a sign saying "Could you tour like... forever?".  She laughed and then made a motion like she was slumping... as if to say "I'd be waaaay exhausted if I did that!" :-) 

Laurie came over and stood by me while the ladies who were there went (maybe to the bathroom?).  She told me to tell Melissa to come to this side 'cause she kept going to the other side more... a little later, after Laurie had gone back to her seat, I wrote "They say you're neglecting this side" and pointed to where Laurie and them were seating... Melissa kept doing her thing and I wasn't sure she even read it, when suddenly she came to our side and sang right to them... I'm smiling big time typing this part... they loved it!  I loved it! :-) 

When they were bringing out the piano, I held up my request for "How Would I Know"... Since she had played it when I asked for it in Long Beach , I thought she might not do it here, but then again... it was a different city... so I took my chances.  And then she said yes... YEAH! 

The piano was coming out... Melissa took her guitar off... and then she walked to me and gave me the pick... Yay!!! :-) 

Everyone sat down.  I did not move.  I was hoping people wouldn't be upset, but really... I just wasn't going to move.  How could I!? 

I haven't been to too many concerts... this was only my 14th... but I've been blessed with some great... no... some SUPERB moments and memories.  However... nothing compares... NOTHING comes anywhere close to this... 

It was dark except for a blue light that seemed to cover both of us... Everyone else in that theatre suddenly vanished and it was just Melissa and I...

Melissa... on the piano... singing my favorite song... for me. 

Absolutely surreal.

WOW. 

I wish I had better words to express the feeling... I'd made a sign for Frank earlier, telling him "This Is Heaven"... Well, standing there watching Melissa on the piano singing my song... with that blue light on us... THAT was heaven.

I held up my sign saying "THANK YOU!!!" and she said "Thank you" to me... "Thank you" to the fans... whaaaaat??? :-)

I don't remember exactly when, but the lady on my left wanted to let Melissa know that she is a 5 year cancer survivor, so we wrote that on there and she showed it to Melissa.  Also another girl on my right wanted to tell Melissa about her partner's birthday, so I wrote "This concert is my partner's birthday present" and gave it to her to show Melissa... :-)

I asked this English lady on my right if she wanted to write something and she said "I'm shy"... I said "we can write that!  'I'm shy'"... but she didn't seem to think that was such a great idea for a sign ;-)

I made another sign that said "Like I said... you just keep getting better and better"... got a big smile with that one!  Ahhhh... there's nothing like that Melissa smile! :-)

I got another pretty smile during "Angels Would Fall"... when I wrote "I see angels falling right now"... :-)

When Philip started his guitar solo (as Melissa is introducing the band before BMSW), he started out with some notes from "O Canada".  I looked at Forrest Gump Canadian and she was going nuts :-)  It was Canada Day, you see... (like our 4th of July)... She was beaming!  I LOVED IT!  She'd made this very nice sign that said " Canada loves Melissa" with the heart in red and a big nice red maple leaf... really really nice! :-)

After the solo, Frank held up a sign saying "Eric Clapton, eat your heart out!"... Melissa saw it first and went "Awwwww"... :-)  Then Philip saw it and liked it a lot! (Frank had told him that the night before when we met him - Something about Harry Chapin saying it...)

At some point, Kathy was behind me and showed Melissa her sign (it was a good one!) and I saw that Melissa was digging it :-)  When Melissa started singing Kiss Me, I held up the one saying "There's nothing like a good scream and shout!" and I think Kathy may have held up hers that said "Kiss Me (the song)"... :-)  So when it was time, she came right to us and screamed "Nothing like a good scream and shout!  OOOOOOOOOHHHH..." Awesome!

During ITOO, Forrest Gump Canadian held up the other sign she'd made that said "MELISSA, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE!!!"... :-)

When she was done with her last song, she walked over to neon pink sign person and gave them the pick... I knew it :-)

After LTWID, Melissa talked to us one last time before singing the last song... She talked about taking this feeling with us... she said "This Is Heaven"... And of course I couldn't agree more... maybe she read the sign I'd shown to Frank much earlier... no... maybe she just read my mind... but actually, I know it was all the love that filled the theatre... *sigh*... :-)  She then sang the last song... and that is exactly where she took us on 1 July 2006... All The Way To Heaven...

I held up a sign saying "Have a great time in Alaska and see you in Texas !" :-)  I forgot to remind her to go whale watching... :-)

She came to shake hands and put the pick on someone's hand... I guess they didn't realize it because she gently closed their hand around it so they wouldn't lose it... she's just something else... that's all I gotta say! (before this page was posted, I found out the rest of the story - Check it out! :-)

We all shook her hands and she left... Mark and Philip remained playing for a little bit and I wrote to Philip "See you in Texas " and then they were done.  Philip came over and gave me his pick.  Yay again! :-) 

There were big screens, so sometimes I'd look up to see her in a different angle... I'm assuming they were recording the concert as well... I wonder who I can bribe to get that video.... hmmmmm....  I was talking with someone about it and thinking... what if they are recording footage for the next DVD... and what if they put that incredible piano moment on there... what if.............  :-) 

Back to reality... :-)  Seriously though... that is one concert which, in my opinion, would make an excellent DVD!!! 

Anyway!  To summarize this extremely long (and hopefully not too boring) story in one word - WOW! 

I can't end this without saying THANK YOU again and again to Frank without whom I would not have been able to be sitting here... still feeling this wonderful Melissa high... :-)  In this world, there aren't too many people who will do things for others without expecting something in return... with no strings attached. 

Frank is one of those people.  He just plain wants to share his admiration and love for Melissa with others... he experiences joy through other people's joy.  

THANK YOU Frank.  You have a heart of platinum.  You are truly one of a kind.

 

           



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