I Had a Mid-life Crisis and Brought the Kids!

[luddite lady]

I don't think I'd have ever started if I had had any idea this thing would reach flippin' Part 40, and I'd still not be done.

Part 40

I was very pleased to find that my seat was next to Hannah’s. Before the sc.net ticket giveaway, she and I were to sit together along with Betsy and Gina way up in the high heavens of MSG. To still be sitting together was a lovely coincidence. I glanced about and waved to those I knew. Lil’rock was on the other side of Hannah while E and Chatchka were a few rows above.
I didn’t socialize too long because I had to get down to handing out my flags before the B52’s came out. The mission was simple enough -- give flags to Nutters who didn’t have one yet. But the execution of this seat-to-seat flag campaign was not all that easy. Although I’m a big loud mouth here, I’m actually very quiet and non-assertive in real life. My section had a lot of recognizable Nutters in it, but they had already received their flags at Fat Annie’s. I was aware that there could be some spectators in my section that were not associated with sc.net. At first, I planned to open by asking people, “Are you a Nutter?” Fortunately, I nixed that idea before I had a chance to speak aloud. So, I asked people, “How did you get your ticket? Did you get it from Stewart’s contest?” If the answer was yes, I’d whip a flag out of the envelop and offer it along with a quick explanation. My first “customer” turned out not to be a Nutter. He seemed very suspicious of me and didn’t answer about how he obtained his ticket at first. I thought that perhaps he didn’t speak English, but I got a nod out of him when I mentioned the Internet. So, relying on my skills as a language teacher, I gestured, spoke slowly and simply, and eventually offered a flag.
He replied in perfect English, “I don’t want to buy your flag, lady”
“Oh, it’s free,” I sputtered, “but I guess you don’t…”
“Yeah, I don’t want it.”
I was off to a flying start! Things got much better though after that. I met zilboy next and during a little chat with him, I regained my confidence. I went on to hand out about a dozen or so flags. I met a young couple from South America who had won their tickets from sc.net. They spoke very little English, but got across the idea that they had been long time lurkers and had read all our stories from Tourzilla. They were so grateful to Stewart for the tickets and were thrilled to have their own little flags to wave.
When I returned to my seat Hannah was gone. She returned moments later and was very apologetic. She explained that somebody connected with the concert invited her down to the pit because they needed a few more people to fill the space. I was very happy for her. After all, her request to have Kellie’s flag mailed to England was the catalyst of the whole Flag tour. She deserved to be down there. This freed up a seat for Mrs. Adams who wanted to sit next to her friend, Lil’rock. I offered to switch seats with E, but both she and her mother were content with the present arrangements.
“I see plenty of her other times,” explained E, “This is my chance to hang out with Chatchka.”
As we waited for the B52’s, a little game of flag flashing began among us. A group down in the pit would all wave their flags up towards us in Section 119. We’d wave ours back and then they would turn to Section 111 and do the same thing. Sometimes we’d flash our flags to the Nutter section across the arena or target a couple of Nutters on the floor. There was also a lot of pointing going on. Due to the seat switching to accommodate Mrs. Adams, the seat to my immediate right was now occupied by the non-Nutter who wouldn’t “buy” one of my flags. I glanced furtively at him several times during the flag flashing. It was clear from his expression that he thought we were all idiots. Personally, I think he was suffering from flag envy. To any other observer, it was obvious that we were all having the time of our lives.

[BongoBoy]

Awesome.

Thanks for keeping these memories alive and so vivid !

It really does bring it all back....wierd to get a "flush" of happiness at work ! That never happens.

Cheers n Thanks for this.


BongoMemoryIsTheFirstThingToGo O !

[Charliearnoid]

Seriously, I don't understand how someone could be a fan of Stewarts, enough so that he would ask for (and receive) free tickets, and not want to participate in a little group acknowledgement of The Man who got him there.

I guess if you looked up "asshat" in the dictionary you'd see a picture of LL's seatmate!!

[nancyrose]

YAY! Two new installments in my favorite series...the ongoing saga of LL in NY!!!

<off to make popcorn before settling in for a good read!>




OT to Charliearnold: La Jolla!! You know you want to! (Please???)

[luddite lady]

[quote="Charliearnoid"]Seriously, I don't understand how someone could be a fan of Stewarts, enough so that he would ask for (and receive) free tickets, and not want to participate in a little group acknowledgement of The Man who got him there.

I guess if you looked up "asshat" in the dictionary you'd see a picture of LL's seatmate!![/quote]

I don't think that he got his ticket through the contest. I believe a few of the seats in my section had been bought through Ticketmaster. Or maybe he got the ticket through less legitimate means and that's why he didn't want to answer me about its origin. On the plus side, I felt no need to restrain my over-exuberance throughout the evening. I was not going to be hindered because the guy next to me didn't share our enthusiasm.

[English-lion]

I bet he felt like an asshat when "the flag" got on stage and he didn't have a flag to wave

you know you don't have much time August 7 is just around the corner

[Lilrock]

That guy sounds exactly like the woman in Atlanta who kept poking E in the back and telling her to sit down. Maybe they're related. One thing fer sure, they were outnumbered.

[E]

I offered to switch seats with E, but both she and her mother were content with the present arrangements.
“I see plenty of her other times,” explained E, “This is my chance to hang out with Chatchka.”

Wow, I had forgotten that mini conversation, thanks!

Me and Chatchka had fun, we danced, geeked out over drum stuff, and danced and yelled some mo, and had the greatest time ever!!! She's a great concert partner!

[luddite lady]

Part 41

It looked like the show was about to begin. I quickly assessed how dance friendly my seating space was. I was situated in the first row, which meant that directly in front of me was a low cement wall and a rail protecting me from a fair size drop to the section below. This made for a perfect view but possibly precarious dancing. I was in a similar situation at Jones Beach 2, but at least here the wall was a bit higher. That was a good thing. I remembered how Sporterella had helped to keep me from falling over the edge at Jones Beach. I didn’t think Lilrock had enough size to her to save me if I were to do a repeat performance at MSG. And the guy to my right would likely give me an extra push rather than come to my aid. I’d just have to monitor the exuberance of my pogoing to be on the safe side.
Just as the B52’s came on stage Lilrock reminded me that the band hails from Georgia. She was ready to support the home team. I like the B52’s; dancing to “Rock Lobster” was always a highlight for me at high school dances. However, I was not up and dancing for most of the songs. It had already been a long day, and although I did not feel tired at the moment, I decided to conserve my energy for The Police. Lilrock, on the other hand, was up and moving for the entire set. I felt like a bit of a wet blanket as I bopped to the music with my bum planted in the chair. But nothing I could have done would have matched Lilrock’s intensity anyway.
The band delivered an excellent set. While I enjoyed the music, I also enjoyed looking about the audience and seeing various people I knew having such fun. I was astounded when I later learned, via one of elle’s photos, that Stewart had been standing on the floor almost directly below me during at least part of the B52’s’ set. How had I missed that? (Man, B52’s’? Is that double apostrophe right? DM, Susan, Schmaffy? Feel free to geek in here. Oh, and by the way, Lilrock, sorry for the continual misspelling of your name. Now that I got it right, I’ll go back and fix them all, but after I finish the story.)
The band’s final song was “Rock Lobster”, and I realized there was no point in holding back any longer. I danced full out, transporting myself back to the high school gym of yore. The only time I recognized that I was in Madison Square Garden was at the moment in the song when they sang “down, down, down…” Back in the day, it was de rigueur to melt down to the ground, lie flat and wait for the musical cue to jump back up and dance again. There certainly wasn’t enough space at my seat for that. (And yup, I would have if I could have.) Instead, I crouched down between my chair and the wall like an expectant guest at a surprise party just before the lights go on. While I was down there I caught a glimpse of the guy to my right, who was sitting arms crossed and stony faced. I decided I wasn’t such a wet blanket after all and made a mental note not to look his way again for the rest of the night.
As the song ended, my mind returned to MSG. I was going to try to live in the moment for the remainder of the show. No past. No future. No photos for prosperity. (But great thanks to all of you who took and shared pictures. Looking at them helps to bring back so many of my mental images.) I overheard Lilrock talking on her cell phone to somebody back home. She yelled in her gorgeous Southern accent, “I’m in Madison Square Garden in New York City! And I’m about to see The Police!”
Yes, indeed.

[Lilrock]

Thanks for all the memories and wonderful compliments! It was a fabulous evening and your thread is the next best thing to going back in time! I can hear Conroy now......WOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!
I was talking/yelling to my brother on the phone that night. I managed to let him enjoy the concert in Orlando and MSG. He's also a diehard Police fan, a guitar teacher, and he uses Andy's instructional videos in his classes.
Thanks again Ludy girl, you're awesome....you gotta publish this mother!

[Charliearnoid]

Aaaah the B-52's. I wasn't very kind to them after the show. Ya see, I was soooo excited about The Police, that ANY opening band would have suffered my smiting. It's too bad. I really do like the B-52's.

I remember going to MSG"s underbelly for some commemorative swag including my beloved "Toast In The Machine" shirt, and meeting up with Jenny M and Takeshi for a quick-pic...


... and yes, that is James Gandolfini turning to walk down the aisle behind us. He sat about 4 rows in front of us.

Oooooooh I also spot Bella to the right of JennyM. She sat with Lynne, next to me and my wife. What a blast!! Thanks LL!

[Schmaffy]

[quote="luddite lady"]Man, B52’s’? Is that double apostrophe right? DM, Susan, Schmaffy? Feel free to geek in here.[/quote]

Well, the name of the group is "B-52s". Plural, not possessive. One B52, many B52s. So the first apostrophe is not needed. Since B52s ends in an "s", a possessive would necessitate the apostrophe being after the s. So it would be "The B52s' set." Oh, and thanks for asking.


[quote="luddite lady"]The only time I recognized that I was in Madison Square Garden was at the moment in the song when they sang “down, down, down…” ...I crouched down between my chair and the wall like an expectant guest at a surprise party just before the lights go on. [/quote]

Did you happen to spot Mini-flag while you were down there?

[DirtyMartini]

[quote="Schmaffy"][quote="luddite lady"]Man, B52’s’? Is that double apostrophe right? DM, Susan, Schmaffy? Feel free to geek in here.[/quote]

Well, the name of the group is "B-52s". Plural, not possessive. One B52, many B52s. So the first apostrophe is not needed. Since B52s ends in an "s", a possessive would necessitate the apostrophe being after the s. So it would be "The B52s' set." Oh, and thanks for asking. [/quote]

Schmaff is right, llady, but you have every right to be confused. For decades the band used the apostrophe-s (B-52's). Wikipedia:

[quote]The correct name for the band had long been "The B-52's", but in 2008 they dropped the apostrophe, with their official website and Funplex album and single covers reading "The B-52s". In a June 2009 interview with the Arizona Daily Star Schneider said that band will hereafter be known without its apostrophe.[/quote]

Someone somewhere in 2008 must have read a style manual or finally gave up trying to make the name possessive.

Also, I very much dislike your MSG seat neighbor.

[luddite lady]

[quote="DirtyMartini"][quote="Schmaffy"][quote="luddite lady"]Man, B52’s’? Is that double apostrophe right? DM, Susan, Schmaffy? Feel free to geek in here.[/quote]

Well, the name of the group is "B-52s". Plural, not possessive. One B52, many B52s. So the first apostrophe is not needed. Since B52s ends in an "s", a possessive would necessitate the apostrophe being after the s. So it would be "The B52s' set." Oh, and thanks for asking. [/quote]

Schmaff is right, llady, but you have every right to be confused. For decades the band used the apostrophe-s (B-52's). Wikipedia:

[quote]The correct name for the band had long been "The B-52's", but in 2008 they dropped the apostrophe, with their official website and Funplex album and single covers reading "The B-52s". In a June 2009 interview with the Arizona Daily Star Schneider said that band will hereafter be known without its apostrophe.[/quote]

Someone somewhere in 2008 must have read a style manual or finally gave up trying to make the name possessive.

Also, I very much dislike your MSG seat neighbor.[/quote]

Ha Ha! This is the kind of geeky dust up I love. First, thanks both of you for the hyphen. I totally forgot about that. Secondly, I can't be faulted too much for the apostrophe. I told you I was transported back to the eighties during their set. Leaving the apostrophe out would have been unauthentic. (Actually, I had no clue about the name change. Thanks for looking that one up.) But here's where the two of you are getting my pocket protector all twisted in a knot...I don't think the apostrophe is possessive. I think it is indicating a plural as it rightly does in words like TV's or VCR's. Doesn't the rule that applies to abbreviations also apply to numbers? For example, isn't it mp3's rather than mp3s? I'm more comfortable with the VCR example since I still have one of those but have remained mp3-free. And what if I was writing this before 2008? Would it be the B-52's' set, after all?

And Schmaffy, nope, I didn't see Mini-flag. I forgot about how that little guy disappeared during the show. Maybe it was less careful than I was and flipped over the rail while it was dancing.

[Schmaffy]

[quote="luddite lady"]But here's where the two of you are getting my pocket protector all twisted in a knot...[/quote]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.


[quote="luddite lady"]I don't think the apostrophe is possessive. I think it is indicating a plural as it rightly does in words like TV's or VCR's. Doesn't the rule that applies to abbreviations also apply to numbers? For example, isn't it mp3's rather than mp3s?[/quote]

I do not believe so. In fact, it's a pet peeve of mine. CDs, DVDs, VCRs, etc. NOT CD's, DVD's, VCR's. Plural=no apostrophe. Can those geekier than I confirm?

[quote="luddite lady"]And Schmaffy, nope, I didn't see Mini-flag. I forgot about how that little guy disappeared during the show. Maybe it was less careful than I was and flipped over the rail while it was dancing.[/quote]

Little fucker.

I still miss him.