Bon Jovi - The Concerts for the Coast Happened, and I was there. Part 1

So this is my weekend Friday and Saturday.

Went to work Friday, left early, hitched a flight to Pensacola on Continental thanks to their Fantastic One Pass program that I hope doesn't go away due to the merger with United and their sucky Mileage Plus program. Arrived on one of those Flintstones jets where you actually go up stairs to get on the plane and then you self propel the plane with your feet. I thought I was going to die.
Met Stacy & her husband Mike (who is a Cowboy's fan but otherwise a very cool person) and Lauri. We end up cramming ourselves and our luggage into Stacy & Mike's car as they drove 14 hours from West Texas. Stopped along the way and bought some essentials. Then headed for Gulf Shores for Condo of Sin Gutter Girls weekend. We have rented this 3 bedroom condo right on the beach in Gulf Shores. I've never been to this part of the gulf coast its really nice. The waves are breaking right under the balcony.

We were all tired by the time we settled in for the night.

Friday morning we got up and planned to be at the venue around 1 because allegedly fan club could get the VIP tickets at 2 PM. We got there and couldn't find the Fan Club tent. Some nice guy who worked for the City of Gulf Shores escorted us to the tent. We got our wristbands and were told we could go into the venue & get in line with all the other VIP's and Fan Club peeps.

We went in and there were so MANY restrictions on what you could bring into the venue. They were not going to let Stacy (aka gutter_bitch on twitter) because she brought in her perscription medication. A few minutes chat with the local authorities (and a quick run of their ID's through the outstanding warrants system) they were allowed in with her medication. But it was a tense few minutes.

So we get in line. WHAT???

Wait a minute.

So people got there early and were given a number up to 180, and those people were allowed in with their number. BUT all these people then brought the 10 people they had with them because you know they were hung over back at their condo or hotel. By the time we were allowed to enter there was like 300+ people in front of us.

And by the way all those people in line who wouldn't listen to Mike Rew when he asked you to move back, you're idiots. If I ended up in the back of the line because you can't do as someone asks you at a free show.... but I digress.

So we get in an you have a choice, the VIP fenced in area on the right hand side of the stage or General Admission. Yeah everyone ran for GA.

We ended up about 7-9 rows back.

The closest I've ever been!!! AHHHHHHH I was standing right in front of Richie, and therefore just to Jon's right.

So we dropped our blankets and gave ourselves a little space to sit and lay down. This was at 4 PM. so we're been standing now since 1 PM in line, and now the opening act won't come on until after 6 PM.

Ok, another issue, Gulf Shores wanted to enforce a zero tolerance on drugs but they had no problem serving lots and lots of beer and drinks. So many people by the time they got on the beach we drunk.

Even though it was my birthday, I was stone cold sober. Concerts are not fun when you're drunk.

I did have a birthday babe sash that lit up. Thanks to my Gutter Girl friends, and a Penis crown which I did not even attempt to wear to the venue. (if they weren't letting prescriptions in, I know they weren't going to let that in.)

we sat walked around a bit used the port a potties (do port a potties only smell really bad in New Jersey??? cause they weren't smelly here. And please don't make a joke about everything smells bad in New Jersey unless you're from NJ ok?)

Went back to the seats and Green River Ordinance took the stage, they were pretty good.

Then it was time for Bon Jovi. I will end this portion of my review here....