I didn't want to post in one of the other threads because I didn't want to do 3 separate posts. The whole 3 days have turned into a blur anyway. One big adventure.

First things first....all of the fans from here that I met up with....YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! Loved every one of you! Whether it was roasting in the sun, or standing in the pouring rain, we all persevered.

I wasn't able to go to Bridgeport to wait for the buses, but I stopped by briefly to say hello to those who were there. I can't believe how small that areas was. I think they were asking for trouble. I'm so happy that the JerseyGirls were able to get a moment with David. Annette, you especially deserved this moment.

I came back to the arena some time around 5:30, shortly after I heard that my afterparty passes were now a reality (when I got the message, I cried in my car LOL). I ran through the rain from the parking garage, cutting through the REALLY LONG lines of people waiting to get inside and out of the pouring rain. I had an umbrella but it really didn't do that much good. I got to will call, and gave them my ID....and there they were. In my hand. 2 passes that said "aftershow". I go back to the other side of the building where I met up with CDHero. I handed her the pass and we were both just a LITTLE excited.

We waited forever to get into the arena, while a bunch of grumpy people complained to the security guys about not being let in out of the rain, and not being let in a door that wasn't meant for us to enter through. We waited patiently and joked with the security guard about the ridiculousness of the whole thing. We get inside and our seats are 4 rows apart, both aisle seats! Too cool. Not the best seats I've had, but they are decent! I'm actually a bit glad I wasn't in the next section over where the catwalk was because they had it blocked off so the fans couldn't get near the idols to touch them. I'd have been very pissed off.

The show, as we all know, is awesome, especially the end! I videotaped banter only, then the end of Billie Jean, just in case we got a backbend, which we didn't, but I have him jumping off and going through the crowd. We go out into the lobby area wondering where we are supposed to go, and there are a ton of people with passes. They tell us to go sit in a section of the arena and wait for further instructions. We are sitting there and wondering if David will even be at the AP. I looked up into the club suite that we were going into and I saw David and Michael already in the room. THIS was a good sign! Michael and David saw me pointing and waved (or heck, they could have been waving at anyone, but I was the first to see them and point and wave so I'll pretend it was for me. LOL)

They take us through a section of seats and up into the room. People were stopping to talk to the other idols. I said "Find the red hat". LOL We went right to the other end of the room where we found David, with only a few people in front of him so far. Serendipity! We wait our turn, all the while taking pictures. CDHero talks to David for a moment and she held his hands. He listened so intently. She got a hug, and I took a picture of them together on her camera. I walk up to him and give him a message to him from the person who got me the passes. He laughed. I had him sign the picture of him biting the teddy bear. He laughed when I pulled it out, and I said "I'm having you sign this because I am the one who gave you the bear" He looked at me and said "oh yes, you did!" (Don't worry David, I don't really believe that you remember that I gave it to you since you were so rushed, but it was a nice fake!) I had him do a personalized autograph for someone else after asking him if he'd seen her youtube video (he had!). I turned around for a photo and put my arm around him, he put his around my shoulder and CDHero accidentally pushed the power button and turned the camera off. LOL We tried one more time with my camera, and gave up and used hers. That picture came out okay. I got a hug and stepped to the side. WE figured out what the camera issue was so I asked if we could do it again with my camera. So I put my arm around him again, and smiled. I didn't know what he did, but I turned around and saw his fist in the air. I asked "ya gonna punch me?" He said no and laughed.

We watched him interact with other people and he was just amazing. Paying so much attention to everyone. Getting down on his knees to take pictures with kids. Making funny faces, sticking the marker up his nose. You just never know what you are gonna get when you take a photo with him. We went over and got pictures with Michael, Jason, and Carly, then got back in the David line. The photo that we got on my camera was blurry and you couldn't see his fist. He was making a really funny face though.

We get up to him again (after the "bromance" guy) and I said "I'm sorry to be a pain, but the picture didn't come out. Can we do one more, and can you kiss my cheek. So he puckered up next to my cheek (he didn't actually kiss my cheek, I think he's learning that there should be boundaries). She snapped the pic just as I turned around to say something so it looks like I'm about to kiss him because he's still puckered. LOL After that, we packed up our stuff and were on our way out. David and "Security" Dave walked by us and got in to the elevator right in front of us. "Security" Dave says "I'll be right back" as a polite way of saying "sorry, you are not getting the elevator with cookie" LOL Not that we tried!

So we left on a complete Cookie high! Got rained on some more on the way back to the cars. What an awesome night! Then I had to drive 2 hours in horrible rain to get to my hotel in Providence. That was BAD

Providence: I went to meet the buses only because I had to check out of the hotel by noon anyway and had nowhere else to go. MAN it was hot and sunny! People were disappointed that he didn't come out, and I understand. I went to cool off in my car for a bit and walked back over to the arena. I went to the barricade and met Sharon! David was out by the bus shooting what I think was a marshmallow gun. I took some pics of him out there, and one of him waving as he left. My seat was great and I sat next to another awesome person. (I had great luck with seatmates!) We enjoyed the show, and I turned on my video the second before David drops to his knees in Billie Jean. I almost missed it. Then I got him going through the crowd. I taped Mavid and went right out to my car to get on the road. I had a 5 hour drive home. I got home about 3:30, processed a couple videos (it's a sickness!) and slept for a few hours to get on the road again for Wilkes Barre.

I left a little late for WB so knew I had to get there quickly. I live 2 hours away. I talk to cookfan_NY on the way and we figure we are both about 45 minutes away. Then it all came to a screeching halt. The traffic, that is. Tractor Trailer accident on the highway, blocking both lanes. Traffic didn't move AT ALL for an hour. She got there and called me and said "I'm really sorry, but they are out now". I could hear David talking in the background. I was ready to cry sitting in my car, helpless. This was my LAST chance to see him up close and personal! Sharon cell stalked him so I could at least hear him interacting with people. She asked him to say hi to Kathy who was stuck in traffic and I heard him say "Hi Kathy!" Sharon, you are the best!!! Finally the traffic started moving. I talked to Sharon and she said he was still out and moving slowly, there was hope. She told me where to park to be close to where they were. I got to the venue, grabbed my camera and ran for the barricades. I met up with Sharon and she was like "Go!". I got there just in time. He got to the end of the line signing autographs and came back quickly for pictures. He got to me and I said "I don't need a picture, but I need a hug. I was the one sitting in traffic for an hour trying to get here." So he gave me a hug. I tried to get a pic of her with him, but I couldn't make her be pushy enough to get in there! LOL She is in a photo WITH him though so that will have to count.

We went to Circuit City and asked them to turn on Oprah for us. We had a full wall of big screen TVs all to ourselves. We watched David perform then went and got a quick bite. We walked into the arena, down to the floor. I look at the markings on the floor for the rows and I see that my tickets are front row, right in front of the barrier. We are both stoked. The show was awesome, we both cellcasted and I was right up at the barrier for all of David's set. Some butthead reached for something he threw and knocked my camera out of my hand. There he was, right in front of me, and I had no camera to take any pictures. I also wanted video in case there was another backbend. We tried to get the attention of security, but to no avail. So I watched him perform instead of snapping pictures. Probably a good thing. Ray came running out from the stage area, right to my camera, picks it up and hands it to me. I turn it on, and it is still working. YAY, Mavid Video! Taped that and let out a sigh. The experience is over. We say goodbye and I go to my car. I open the camera and it's WAY broken. I now owe my friend a new $500 camera. I have no idea why it let me videotape PDSTM as it wouldn't even open when I got it to my car. A blessing from above I guess.

I have over 400 photos to sift through and videos of banter from each show. I will eventually get it all posted. Right now, I think I need to sleep for 2 days straight.

Price of concert tickets for 3 shows over 3 days: $ 420
Gas for the trip: $200
Miles put on my car: 750
Getting to meet David Cook backstage after the show and have front row for my last concert....PRICELESS

I'm not sure if any of you read this much as I've written a book. If you did, I thank you for hearing me out. LOL

Corny to say but this was surely....the time of my life.

KATHY - WHAT AN AWESOME THREE DAYS.

Did you actually read all of that? LOL

I DID....WONDERFUL RECAP...

I read it all too! Congrats on your aftershow experience and I'm glad that you were able to make it and get a hug in WB. I remember reading your post about how you were stuck in traffic for such a long time.

I also remember your post about being stuck in traffic. SO glad to hear you still got to meet David and have such a wonderful encounter with him. I just love that he really cares about his fans and he really gives all of us as much individual attention as possible. He is a prince!!!

CONGRATS! Eager to see your pics...

I bet you did!

And I read every word! Thanks for the awesome recap!

Great recap Kathy and what an experience! Can't wait to see your pics and vids

I read every word too! Can't seem to get enough of these vicarious experiences! I'm so happy for you, you'll have some wonderful memories to look back on.... so sweet of him to give you the last hug of the afternoon when you waited so long in traffic...

~laura

It actually wasn't the last hug of the day, but he was just getting to the end of the line for autographs and was going back quickly for photos. I caught him in his drive by photo rush. LOL

What a lucky girl you are! I remember replying to your post about being stuck in traffic, I'm so very glad you made it to the venue at WB and got a hug! I'm such a sap for these meetin' Dave stories. I read each and every word too. Now I'm waiting for your pics!

Love how you commandeered Circuit City and watched Oprah! That was genius.

Neither rain, or sun will keep DC fans away!

Oh my gosh, I just got to read this now! What a great write up!

First things first, I love you too! You are an awesome person, so giving and kind, you remind me of David a bit.

Second, when you handed me my afterpass I couldn't speak and was crying a bit too but no one noticed because of the rain. It was funny because I had been chatting away with the people all around me and suddenly I just clammed up and stared endlessly at the pass.

OK, I was there, and he WAS waving at you. I took your cue to wave and he waved at me too. How nice!

I have to admit that I had to cry when I read your version of my experience with him. Was it only a moment? It seemed like a longer time. I almost lost it when I looked up from his hands into his eyes which were all big and green and looking at me so closely. Thanks a million times over for getting those great pictures.

So sorry again for screwing up the camera on you. I have to say, it looked like he was going to make out with you at that moment! You didn't mention when you said something like 'can I have some more'? And he said, 'not for free'! And then you offered him cash. HA! Quick thinking! Also, a good fake is better than nothing with the bear right?
Lastly, when the elevator came back up from Cookie (who had the Jersey girl red bandana hanging from his back pocket when he left) we were the next ones in, and (admit it) we were inhaling the 'cookieness' in the elevator the whole way down! This was the night of a lifetime, hope we get to do it all again on the solo tour!

Actually, when you went to snap the pic, he was puckered up next to my cheek and I turned and said "Wait, that's not REALLY a kiss on the cheek" and he said "that's all you get for free! Any touching, you'd have to pay for." So I quickly said "I have some money in my pocket..." and he laughed and said "Quit it!" So I even ruined THAT pic, though the resulting pic IS very funny.

Well you knew that I would read every word of it! It was the weekend of a lifetime. Thank you for spending some of it with me.

I still love the story that ends with "Quit it." LOL. So totally Dave.

This was an experience never to be forgotten. And oh by the way, I'm sitting on pins and needles waiting for your amazing pics. I've seen the teaser. Thud!

Yes, so how about some more pictures???


OK I am replying to myself to say xtremelycookified, check out my Avi!!

Wow. Ok I don't know why I didn't read this thread sooner. You're recap is awesome! 3 days of concerts? Lucky girl!

Thanks so much for sharing!

I promise to get pics up soon.

And I noticed your avi on another thread post you made! Woohoo!

What a great post! I lived it with you!!
So glad you got your HUG, you deserve it, so sorry about the camera, was it the one you had in RI Oh no!
Thanks for the nice complement about me being nice to sit next too and thanks for letting me sit there, my heart sank when that woman turned up late, hey she caught the bunny you know, if Emily has still been sitting there she would have, but she got to touch him so that was better than a bunny apparently!!

Hey Kathy, it's Jenny from Providence! I just now noticed this thread. I can't wait to see your pictures. It was so good hanging out/baking in the sun with you!

I guess sometimes positive things come from seats you pay for and don't use. LOL! You were great! I always ended up next to Cook fans! I wonder why that is?? And yes, it WAS that camera. At this point, I'm more upset that I was standing, front row, on the barricade, and I couldn't get pictures during Billie Jean when he was RIGHT THERE for so long! I was excited that I'd have a different angle and lighting for that since my previous seats were all on the left side of the stage and I got NOTHING as the camera got knocked out before he started the song.

Ok, here is a link to my Bridgeport photos. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Jus...k%20Bridgeport/