Saturday, November 24

You've changed Ashley Simpson; you've changed

In honor of Christine having a ten day I will write this blog entry like her aka story-form. And for the record any day she deems a ten will be written as a story unless she adopts a new method of writing, regardless of if I'm with her or if we even like each other...

Woke up later than planned and had to rush around to pack. I know I know should have been done already but as we already established, I'm not the best of planners. Decided to just go buy an outfit for Sunday and pajamas because time was running out. Also ended up getting some snacks and what not.

Pick up Christine, get dropped off by Dad and head to A&W for food. Who knew it took 10 minutes to get shrimp poppers? Too bad my mom yells at me via telephone and scares me about getting sick from eating from there...I was legit hungry too. Decided we should get in line only to realize that line was for NYC and that our bus was boarding...oops. Have some issues with luggage and then was finally ready to ride.

Christine passed out instantaneously, I read my awesome book she gave me. Chatted with the lady next to me, Christine and I ended up sitting catty-corner, and finally fell asleep somewhere after the bridge but before the AC Expressway. Woke up to see one of my favorite cities. Feelings of excitement and happiness and joy flooded my body so I woke up Christine so she could look too!

Get off at the bus station and got directions from the cell then started to hike down the Monopoly streets. We were going down in retail... Find Howard Johnson and Christine reads the sign that says "I go HoJo", that becomes the new phrase of the day. Geoff Blake calls to see if I'm going to Recher, I remind him he sent me on a mission and suggest someone to take my spot. Head to the room, change clothes, watch Spiderman, I get info about what's going on in MD, Christine tries to get some info via Internet. Wi-Fi doesn't work when you're on the balcony side of a hotel...

Take a little walk down the street, the lights are finally shining and I'm all kinds of giddy. Kids really should wear jackets when its windy and they're on the water. Enter Showboat and I'm home! I feel so young compared to the people in the casino, that feeling goes away when I notice the homemade BLG shirts and 30 teenagers walking by. Jersey girls have big hair. I avoid temptation to gamble away my paycheck and we get food.

Valencia is on stage, but we don't watch the TV; instead, Christine calls Alex to come get his gift and I realized I could've gave him my camera to bring inside for me. Guess tonight will have to go photo less. Those boys are finally starting to remember me, oh yeah I saw them every month since July.

Get inside, figure out which table is who's and then I see DELICIOUS chillin on the end. Wait for some girls to buy a hoodie or whatever Valencia thing they wanted and make faces at D til his eye focuses and he sees that its, well me. His happiness was reason enough to come; technically that was the reason but whatever. He's all "I was having a bad day, so happy to see you" and that makes me and Christine glad we didn't call beforehand. So we let him do his job, kids go away and I tell him I have a message from Dan. He says "where's the phone?" Andelicious knows how I roll. Reads his message and proceeds to show it to the other merchies. Christine gives him magazines with his friends and tells him the message or lack there of from Danny.

Leave to go dance to theAudition cause they are one of the selling portions of this tour for me. Go back meet Yvonne, she starts telling us her life story; but it's cool cause I get sucked into the lives of people and also good stories. Wanted to fight some people during All Time Low. Also realized that I enjoy their introductions and breakdowns; there's hope for them afterall. Andelicious laughs at our craziness/dancing.

D is salty and we all half watch Boys Like Girls. "Buy you a Drank" is still the highlight of their set. And the whole no one is playing but I hear a guitar is still an issue. Also found out that there's a new band that ruins everything... Not cool bro.

Show is over and we're chatting slash selling to the stragglers and then I get hit with a fucking barricade. No legit the security guard picked up the barricade and started pushing people out the door with it, too bad I was standing where he started and Valencia/Audition were doing autographs so I couldn't move despite the pushes. I explain that I'm with the band and it's a whole new story...

Christine is laughing histerically and Andrew is smiling and I'm feeling all left out cause I was chatting with Tim and Ryan. Christine fills me in on the "dumbest question Delicious has ever heard". It's a good one. Then I start laughing profusely and fill in Timmy. Who then starts laughing. By this point, homegirl is gone the salt is diluted and we all have smiles, but still no sharpies. Just kidding Christine has "a 12 pack" in her purse.

Oh and then I saw Alex walk out one door and in another and back out. I thought I was going crazy. Dumb shit happens and then its time to go, finally pack up Valencia's stuff; even a few items that would've otherwise been forgotten. Suddenly everyone is rockin a sold out hoodie. Things get a little better when we find out we have an hour to play. In tour lingo 1 hour is at least 2.5.

Head to the van to pack up things and what not. Start chatting with D about life and the past month, Christine ran off with Alex. We notice the pack of kids, hi Alyson!!, and Delicious is like "oh do you think he's gonna play acoustic tonight? Watch this!!" Next thing I know he's running over and go figure Andelish has fans. He's the merchie I wanna be when I grow up. This one girl had a baby doll that everyone had signed and it looks sooooo sadistic, I had to walk away from that poor poor baby. See Jack and he remembered me, which never happens, and he's shocked to see us so far from home. Christine explains the D invite in October, I ask why didn't he know already since Christine gave treats. Apparently Alex didn't say who they were from...

Alex plays some old ATL song that everyone seems to think they know the words to Alex included and then I hear 11:11 wish coming true. Andrew says "let's eat!" Meet Brynn and Danielle and Danielle, don't think they like us much, whatevs foodio time. Go to the back back kitchen after getting lost for a second and first walking by The Foundation Room.

Buffet is the shit actually no correction Andelicious is the shit cause he takes care of us. Sitting by the door is and issue so Christine and I move along with Andrew. The other three stay, where D proceeds to crack jokes and make faces and call names and eventually cell them. They don't move. Start talking about past times, also 90s music, birthdays and whatever else you discuss with an old friend over dinner. =)

Next stop Foundation Room; just kidding the hallway. Talk with Maxim then meet with JD, Ian, Allie and Nicki. Me and Allie have the same phone, she's had some issues with hers. Suddenly my screen stops working. Get a text from Devin filling me in on Baltimore. Wow Recher... Oh amazing lounge/karaoke is being played. D goes off to find ATL, Matt shows up so we call D. No answer but things get taken care of anyway. I'm instructed to enter the room to let everyone know how it is. I go inside and the decor is Indian. Like I went to a temple India, Indian. Like there are beds everywhere and everything is dark wood and I see an elephant with many arms Indian. R Kelly video, Indian. Everyone kinda just looks at me, so I look back. Not a good song is playing so I come back out and explain.

Then its time to go back in, better music is playing this go around. I guess the DJ was taking a break and I start doing me, aka dancing and singing with Christine. Next thing I know Danny, Joe, and Delicious join in. Danny says we're moving and pulls me to the legit dance floor, everyone else comes with and it's time to break it down. Good times all I can say. Christine calls me and puts both hands in the air. I realized it was 10 fingers and she was saying today was a ten. I'm happy for her and smile back then proceed to dance the only way I can. Danny says something about Chicago and I'm like oh it's the same way in Baltimore. "OH SHIT! You're from Baltimore?! What's the dance you do?" For the record, never gotten that reaction before so I'm taken aback. Next thing I know I'm teaching cats how to crunk and the C walk. Danny and Joe ask for some dance tips for the show. But apparently all my dances won't do...

Delicious pops up and is talking about us to everyone. Then says he would hook us up but his boys are from Philly but we should ask theAudition. Christine comes over to us and asks Danny. He's all unsure about the list then remembers something says there's room and that one of us needs to tell Dwain our name plus one. One of us meant Christine. I said make sure Alexa and Mandy are on there cause I can't be taking people's spots. Take a sip of Joe's "The Drank", def need to get one of those. Back to dancing, no idea what's going on in the rest of this room cause I'm all about cutting a rug and breaking a sweat. Speaking of sweat....wow.

Then Christine pops back up and asks me to get her water. I'm super confused. She breaks it down and it all comes back to me. I attempt to get that drink I was supposed to have gotten 10 minutes prior. Bar is closed but I get water. All the lights get turned on but no one budges to leave. I run into Bryan who proceeds to introduce himself to me and I explain how we hung out in October, no of 07, yes on the Tourzilla tour.

The bartender/staff tell us to "Vamos" which reminds me and Joe simultaneously of "Bailamosssssss" we proceed to sing that song in some made up Spanish. No one pays us any mind. Then it's time to dip. Alex leads the way and we go back to the venue. It's a private show so we can't get in. No need for shanks bro... We are told to leave. No idea where we're going, I'm kinda just following the people I came with. Oh we're sneaking into the show? Really? No....oh, oh shit yeah we are.

I walk in and see 1000 Asian people watching this band? They preformed a song or two but there was talking in between, I don't know if it was back story or jokes or a magic show. No I'm being serious. I told Dwain I needed subtitles on the monitors. Christine was in awe by the number of minorities were in this one room. I tell Danny to take notes cause homeboy has some moves on stage. He laughs and we all sway back to forth during the slow song. Everyone kinda just looks and let us be. Security even comes by and I'm thinking we're getting thrown out, no they just don't want us to lean on a thing. Dwain says it's time to go, he's manager so we listen.

Walking back to the buses and everyone decides to start yelling and running and sliding down the longest railings I've seen. Dwain asks about other things we do. Xtine and I both say no. He thinks she's too young and I'm too good, quickly fix that cause we are neither for anything. Outside singing with Joe and I hear Christine say she's never kissed a black boy. HOLD THE PHONE! What?!?!?! Christine that is an issue, work on that, like yesterday. Danny starts singing and I start dancing then he stops but I don't; somehow that amuses him. I remembered he doesn't know any better.

DELICIOUS! He pops up to see what's popping. Nothing much. Some member of the BLG crew offered Joe his bunk to go with that backpack full of condoms. I drop my mouth in disbelief because that is a dumb figure. Christine says "I don't think I have that kind of time" Haha no. Hop on All Time Low's bus to say goodnight and cya in Philly. Delicious is gone before we say bye and it's time for more food.

Get ice cream while the boys load up like I would if I had been on tour for months. Talk to Dwain about his chances with Christine. It get interrupted like 3 times cause everyone wants to know what he's eating. It was a rope soft pretzel that wasn't so soft. Cleaning lady yells at me well says "Helllooooo" cause I left my plate on the counter. I left it to get a drink... Time to get out of here.

Get lost and finally make our way back to the van. Christine had to pull the mom card on Joe. Hop on the van, apparently I'm in Tim's spot so he decides to claim it. Then not so much when he realizes the whole seat is gonna be empty. More silly drama occurs and I end up telling the band minus Danny and Dwain what city they are sleeping in. Too bad I don't know the hotel name. Tim asks where are we going to sleep I said at HoJo. Then clarified that HoJo is Howard Johnson. That makes sense. Lady that works at Showboat comes out to give us a hard time so that it looks like she did her job. I liked her. Finally we leave.

Mike tells us about this video he's shooting soon, sounds exciting. Heading on the wrong way on the street, my bad, end up at the boardwalk and have to flip a bitch. No one trusts my directional skills anymore but I got this. Start talking nonsense in the cab. Drive past Carolina avenue, and I start "North CAROLINAAAAAAAAAA" Joe says "Raise up, take your shirt off" Christine "twist it around you head" Tim finishes "Spin it like a helicopter". Best part none of us are next to each other, well me and Christine but not really. We stop to figure out why did we do that, then I remembered we drove past Carolina Avenue. "North CAROLINAAAAAAAAAA" Joe says "Raise up, take your shirt off" Christine "twist it around you head" Tim finishes "Spin it like a helicopter". Seriously. Get dropped off 2 blocks down which is way closer than the 8 we had to walk, boys drive by after turning around and honk.

Get inside, realize we need a whole new gameplan cause getting home at 330 won't fly. Set the alarm for 5, it's currently 3. Pass out at 330 after watching A Shot at Love and discussing the 4 hours of ridiculousness that we just encountered. Too bad my phone sucks more and more as did the internet.

Memories

  • Making D's night
  • Seeing Atlantic City
  • Not gambling...
  • Dancing
  • Hearing more hip hop then pop punk/rock
  • Free food
  • Meeting new people
  • Chinese *Nsync
  • Joe's shank
  • the buffer with the guy 4 feet away
  • watching the corners for people following
  • my phone being dumb
  • Devin being on the same level 150 miles away
  • Finding out more about Andrew
  • Singing
  • We already learned weeks ago from Danny; you don't name drop that band or that tour
  • Christine's first 10
Places
  • Old Navy
  • Giant
  • Target
  • Bus Terminal
  • ATLANTIC CITY
  • HoJo
  • Showboat/House of Blues
  • Nathan's
  • House of Blues Venue
  • The Foundation Room
Faces
  • Dad
  • Christine
  • Tourzilla & Company
Conversations
  • Zack
  • Devin
  • Mom
  • Geoff
  • Still no logs
November 24, 2007 - Things are better when everyone is on the same vibe

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well written article.