emm's journal

"you sure picked a gig to come to," announces joe as we arrive at the outdoor def leppard concert in buffalo NY. journey is still playing as we arrive - reports are the drum tech is playing drums (pretty damn well!) and they are on their 3rd singer.

the rain has subsided but the parking lot is muddy and the wind is unseasonably cold. this of course, does not stop phil collen from going shirtless in 2-3 songs, as you don't drink vegan smoothies and work out to wear a JACKET on stage.

it is great to see the boys, and my favourite moment is when lylo shakes rick allen's hand. ahhh. like david bowie meeting ron sexsmith! or something. i am always so lucky to bear witness to these first-time meetings.

wake up 3 minutes after my train is to pull out of the station. fly out of bed, try to find some alternate route comprised of bus, train, etc...find there is nothing. i entertain racing my car, which is on the verge of exploding, at top speed to try to "chase the train" to the next town. flashbacks of holly palmer saying "i like that you'd run for a bus. i don't know many people who would." mental note to self follows: "i like that you'd sleep through your alarm and screw up your entire day. awesome."

in the course of driving to the next town i realize, i have not heard the train whistle. so...maybe like me, it is in a state of 'retard'. i pull into the station and the girl at the desk says, "it's 15 minutes late." so, there we are, i am - again - the lucky girl. i get on my train and the day begins.

fri at ovation festival. turn up, it is pitch black, cops are directing traffic with black gloves [bad idea guys], the only available light shoots down from the sky - brief flashes of lightning, and a harvest moon. we are not allowed to take anything into the grounds and it is my first reminder that this is not Reading. toad aka kev has invited us down to the show and homegirl nelly takes the stage, complete with semi-coordinated dancers including wunderFritz. stratford watches in awe, then everyone heads home, resembling a murder of zombies who didn't quite get to bust the move they secretly wanted to, but, maybe next year.