Bon Jovi: Some Orlando and other Atlanta Bits

Ok so back to Atlanta.

Prior to the show we met up with a bunch of fans from ATL at the Hard Rock Cafe, Lauri & I were staying at the Beautiful Omni hotel (the band stayed at the Ritz Carlton, thanks for letting the world know Phil X).  Anyway the Omni is connected to CNN Center and therefore connected to Phillips Arena.  So Lauri and I walked to the HRC and figured we'd leave around 6:30 go back to the hotel freshen up and change into Slutty concert clothes.  I kid we weren't slutty.  We weren't even cougar-ish.  So we had appetizers (and drinks) at the HRC and the server comes out and brings out the lettuce wraps with the soy dressing and the oil dressing and in his excitement spills the oil dressing all over my jeans.  I am now the gulf of Mexico, thanks BP.

The Manager comes out a few minutes later and I tell him it's one thing if I spill it on myself but quite another to get it spilled on me, and I'm pissed off.  I tell him I would be more pissed off if I wasn't going back to my hotel to change, he fakes some empathy and buys me a drink (not the kind I was drinking, I was drinking top shelf mai tai's I got crappy bottom shelf mai tai).  If only mother nature could have been so easily appeased.

So as we're leaving he comes back out and tells us about how Bon Jovi the whole band ate at this very HRC in 2008 on the LH tour.  We nod, Lauri tells him she was here the next night, and he tells us, they were all nice and down to Earth, but Jon Bon Jovi drank WHITE ZINFANDEL ON ICE all night.  He couldn't believe it, he was like no one ever asks for wine on ice but Jon Bon Jovi.  I said, I thought he drank Pinot Grigot, that (IMO) crappy Santa Margherita.

There's a bunch of video's with BOR where you can CLEARLY see Jon touch my hand.  The one video I screen capped and now am using as my FB profile picture.  (hey after 25 years I was excited, if you're not that fine I am).

During WSYCGH I was counting the number of "It's Alright's" just to get through the song and David sees me and gives me this WTF? kind of look.  Which I quickly recognize because I see that look often. 

My friend Lauri the next morning as we're in the car says 'It was weird, during WSYCGH Dave looked at me and I swear he mouthed, 'How Many?''

I start cracking up, and explain to her that he saw me counting.

Some of our Atlanta Bon Jovi friends come up to our room and check out our KICK ASS view of Centennial Park.

So we headed back down I-75 at around 8:15 ish in the morning.  It's about an 8 hour drive to Orlando.  My GPS decides we're walking there (in 6 freaking days) and we end up in neighborhoods in Atlanta we shouldn't be in (but some cute bungalow houses).  Finally I fix the GPS (while driving, dumb ass me) and we find ourselves on 675 south.  YES we want to go South.  South is good.

On the road Lauri was driving and I took a little bit of a break so I decided to do dramatic readings of Star Man by Bon Jovi's former security guy.  One thing I noticed is everytime Richie laughed he "cackled".  Is the man a witch (or is it warlock?  He doesn't have Tiger's Blood he has Moose Blood). 

We get there around 4:30 and in the lobby we meet, @LisaLisaM18 & @Gutter_Babe.  I have been texting @blazeofglory2 letting her know where Lauri & I were on the road.  She comes to our room and we chat for a few minutes.

Soon we are on our way to the arena.  We find out seats 1 row off the floor and circle side what would have been Richie's side now Phil X's side (with Hugh don't forget Hugh).

Next to us is the Family section, Jon's parents were there, Matt was there, assorted cousins, etc.  Jon said coming to Florida is like New Jersey but south (no kidding!).  I saw and waved at Obie he gave me that Yeah I'm pretending to know who the fuck you are look.  LMAO.  I know that look cause I do it all the time.  Saw Mike Rew walk by twice he looked pissed both times.

Show was good, not as good as Atlanta, I heard Jon wasn't feeling well Sunday night, and with the families there it put extra pressure on you.  Jon did see Lauri & I doing our Whoa Whoa Whoa wave during I'll Be There For You (we also got a nod of approval from Phil X).

One thing we did see Dave get the stink eye during KTF, I can hear him miss a note on video now, but then all I could do was scream in Lauri's ear HOLY FUCKING STINK EYE.

I took 2 videos, I sing, I paid money for these seats if you want me to video without singing you can buy my ticket otherwise I'm going to sing and dance my fat ass off, and if you don't like it HAVE A NICE DAY.





Prayer was probably the loudest I have ever heard it sung by the crowd.  Jon looked like he was going to cry.  I felt so bad for him.  If you don't think he's hurting....

I also just about wept during Wanted....  God I love that song.  It means so much to me.

These are my pictures.  I'm nice enough to put the pictures un-watermarked and full sized.  Please do not use them without permission, that means you can download them , etc but if you use them on your website don't be an asshole, give me credit for my pictures.  (Does that satisfy you French Bitches and your message board.  Google Translate works both ways honey!)

After the concert we met @kauffrey and chatted outside the arena until traffic broke up.  Lauri and I walked back to the hotel and had some drinks in the bar (blue cheese stuffed olives in a vodka martini for me).

We got up the next morning and it really hit me.  This was it.

(start sarcasm font) I look outside there are people on rooftops in buildings in downtown Orlando, I think awww the world feels sympathy for me and is going to jump off the top of these buildings in a suicidal solidarity with me for no more Bon Jovi shows.  Yet I am slightly creeped out by this and think there must be a better explaination.  (end sarcasm font)

And there is.

Thanks Space Shuttle Endeavor.

Lauri & I drive back to Tampa, we stop at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, Casino and brand spanking new Hard Rock Cafe.  BUT wait, before you say I want to see the Bon Jovi merchandise there, I will save you a trip THEY DON'T HAVE ANY.  I would have even liked the mis-spelt "Ritchie" Sambora guitar like in Atlanta.  BUT NO.  Nothing, Jack, Squat, Zilcho, Zero.

So ends another fun filled, drama/Imitrex free Bon Jovi road trip.