well, hey, Carrie. Right there in the prayer room with ya. Been there since the night I saw Billie Jean, had the namaste thing going right away for DC. (truly, most appropriate response for someone old enough to be boy's mother.) How crazy is that? It's all good however.

can't wait to meet all the nerds on the 19th.

So you must be an old soul too!!

This is for SOCKMONKEY...

maybe you could mention something like this to your mom? I too agree that we should not
place too much emphasis on worshipping celebs, athletes, etc. in the common way that
has gripped modern culture...HOWEVER, when someone is humble, generous and
following their heart leading them to do great things and have mass appeal and bring
people together in joy and good works such as David has (some of us are volunteering
Cook Fans Conquering Cancer-Sport Your Support), then
we are simply honoring Godde in them and working thru them? No?
Just a thought...if you feel she might be open to listening to it.
Good Luck if you decide to take a chance and engage her in the conversation.

If it doesnt work out, then we'll see you later before the show!

I'm not 100% sure since I've not waited outside, but when driving past on 90 it looked as if they were maybe a foot over waist high? I was far away (I-90!!) so my perception might be off.



I'd never forget Chikezie (or Archie or Syesha, who I also didn't mention)! I'm with Nicole, this is the best line-up ever. It's going to be a great show!

Woah GYPSY Gold Dust Woman! I'm sure they're having a blast!

LOL, I don't think I'll get any performance anxiety.

As someone below this says, I'd agree that I think it's crazier AFTER than before..so I think in the afternoon we might be good. I WILL get my pic with Cookie..whatever it takes!



I've only done it last year where I went in the afternoon, but I honestly don't remember any security. Granted, no Idols came out..but yeah, we just stood by the barracade (which is NOT that tall ) and waited..and waited.



Me toooo!!



Yay! That's awesome, even if it isn't official. We definitely behave orderly, hehe.

OMG that barricade is NOT high at all. Stop freakin out everyone..



Let's just say that you can lean on them comfortably..and you can probably lean ACROSS them comfortably to take pictures.

To clear up the baracade issue, here is a picture of my friend Donna and Gina's mom from last year.. hopefully she won't mind me posting it here. Just don't share.

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-...190939_4151.jpg

Stacey,

I know how to use an SLR, i'm bringing mine, so I can take the pic (and I can pretend, if you'll do the same for me)and also show you some basics on how to use it. Having it outside while we're meeting him, shouldn't be an issue, it's just inside Rosemont they won't allow it.


I need everyone's input on this one..I had an idea...

Since we'll all be taking photos when we meet him and some of us will be getting them developed before the show, that it would be cool to have the ones of us with him developed and put into a small photo album to give to him after the show. I was thinking we could all sign our picture page, and then put in the album cover something like "AI TOUR, July 19, 2008 Rosemont, Illinois"

Just like a little reminder for him of the fans in Chicago that he met on his first tour.
Of course this will all come down to meeting him and seeing him after the show. But I thought it was a cute idea.

All of your thoughts?

Woohoo, someone else who actually knows how to use that camera. Now I won't feel as pressured.

Jul, our blends are amazing!

I absolutely love this idea! Just to see the look on Cookies face when he would get it... priceless!

Yup they're pretty awesome!!

I'm getting excited now This is going to be a blast!! I won't remember anyone's name come the day of... but who cares - we're all dc fans, so we'll all get along. LOL

O that gate looks to be short enough for hugs!!!

Juls, thats exactly what I said to my mom. Even though its not technically my car, I drive it the most (its my dad's car). That might be the only minor detail that doesn't exactly match your statement And how cool is it that we're both 23?

And I got a little bit more excited today... I got my shirt in the mail today! Did yours and Nicole's come yet?

Definitely short enough for hugs.



Yep, I'm glad we have the same mentality.

Ugh, no. We're thinking that it probably won't come in time..and I'm sad. I called the place today and they said production had stopped until a week from today, and there's no way they could ship in two days. The guy said to call back Monday and if production was up, then they'd upgrade our shipping for free and get it here in time. If we don't have them, we can get the designs and iron on.

What a bummer Hope everything works out

As Mr. Burns would say..."Excellent Smithers, excellent"!
It is an awesome idea
I'm trying to find out if any one from his DCFanTeam site got him copies
of the freakin hilarious newsletters that they were putting up all season.
If you guys havent been to that site (which is pretty much inactive now)
you should check it out. You can read them if youve got Adobe.

www.davidcooktheamericanidol.com


Also, they are the ones that started the whole 301 quotes/reasons to vote
for David. Too funny! Last time I counted a few weeks ago, there were like 1200
I think!

If he hasnt seen them, or there were no hard copies, I am printing them
& the quotes to go in a binder for him. He'll get a good laugh for sure.

HELLO SINGLE DIGITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought the same thing when I woke up this morning lol

I got my shirt day before yesterday. This one..with my WN# add

http://www.cafepress.com/gritfx.279029598

Awesome shirt! I almost got that one until one of my friends made a few designs for us.

Awesome! We'll take each other's pictures and Jul won't have to stress about performance anxiety.




I think this is a cute idea! David with our autographs... how hilarious?!



I'm officially NOT freaking out anymore!

Good, I'm glad I've calmed you Stacey.

SINGLE DIGITS!!!!

Why not? Dont you think I wont jump that gate if Im feelin it!!!!!
Psych (old term I know, but whadda ya want--Im getting a psych BA
finally. lol

BTW, does anybody watch "Psych" on USA? I could totally see goofy
David doing a show like that!

I will go find a small photo album this weekend. I also have a bunch of different color sharpies that I'll bring so everyone can sign their page...

ONLY 9 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE COUNT IS FOR IHOP? IS THERE ROOM FOR MORE? EITHER JUST ME OR ME AND TWO OTHERS. LET ME KNOW..AND DID ANYONE MAKE A RESERVATION YET?

Jul is handling the "reservations." I'm sure there's plenty of room. WE ARE TAKING OVER IHOP!!!

10 AM RIGHT? AND YOU NEED A COUNT FROM ME,RIGHT?

Of course there's room for more!! With your three, I think our count will be up to 17. Later today, I'll post a list..becasue so many people have told me yes that I want to make sure I'm not forgetting anyone.

And yes, it'll be at 10am!

Thanks for doing this, Jul! You're the best!


I'm going to buy my camera (a p&s that I can bring into the show w/me) tonight. Does anyone have any idea on what the best ones are for concerts? I feel like my seats might be semi-okay and I'd like to take some video!

YOU ROCK JUL! I'M GONNA BE OFF THE PUTER FOR THE DAY BUT I'LL CHECK BACK LATER OR TOMORROW THANK YOU SO MUCH!
OH LORDY I CAN'T WAIT! HAVEN'T HAD THIS MUCH FUN ANTICIPATING SOMETHING SINCE MY LAST TRIP TO DISNEY! HUGS!

Thank you
I'll be in Section 209, by the stage...I think it's row N or something like that. Lemme run upstairs and get my tickets and see..
...
Yup, Row N, seat 28 and my best friend will sit next to me in 29. EEK! I'm getting too excited by just reading everyone's comments! How will I survive this week??


Oh man, how I long for those days!



Okay, I think I'll try it! You have solid and valid reasoning and lucky for me, my mom (if in a good mood, haha) is persuadable if I can pull some logic and emotion into a discussion. cross your fingers and wish me luck

Aww, I don't mind doing this at all. I'm really excited for everything!! Last year it seems nobody from these boards was going to this show, and now there's SO many of us.

Here is everyone I have so far - I'm missing some names, so I put usernames insstead. Feel free to tell your actual name...or if I left you off the list! (I'm also including some people from IdolForums)

Julie
Nicole
Annie
Stacey
Melissa
Donna
Joy
Laura
Laura's sister
Jenna
Heather
Davidcooksfan.com
Davidcooksfan.com's friend
mysonsasoldier
mysonsasoldier's friend
mysonsasoldier's friend

Please lemme know if you're not on there and you're coming!

I'm adding 2 people, Carrie (aka CareBear) and a friend of hers (sorry Carrie, i forgot her name )

I am riding/driving with them so I know they will be there.

wow - you can add urghiggi (my name's julie also) and her two daughters - not for breakfast but i'll see you at the allstate. y'all shd be aware that there are prob about 10 to 15 nerds from the AI Forums coming also. i think they're meeting at target first.

Okay, sounds good. The bigger the group gets, the more exciting it is..but I'm just afraid that IHOP isn't going to accomidate all of us.

Uh oh! I hope they can! I'm sure it'll be fine. We worry too much!

This is going to be really fun when it comes time to split the check!

I do not get a chance to post over here much since I am usually in the Shackette's thread at AI.Com but I was going to tell all of you that us word nerds from AI.com & thewordnerdhome.com will be meeting @ Target at 11:00 I think the count is about 20 (word nerds) or so now & some are bringing Daughters & friends. Would love to all hang out together.
Unfortunantly I can't make it to Ihop,
I am coming from Iowa & can't get there that early.

Anyway, Look for us I am making a sign that says
David You Make Or Break The Word Nerds Day!! AI.Com Chicago Word Nerds!!

We are really a nice, crazy group! The more the better.
I want David to see how much his word nerds love him in Chicago because "CHICAGO WORD NERDS ROCK!!!!!!!!
BTW- Since David seems to like to shop before the shows Target sounds like the perfect place!!!
9 Days People!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like there is going to be a large group waiting for the buses...

Kind of makes me nervous....

Wow, there's a huge group of us going, but I'm so excited! I'm sure they'll accommodate us. Jul, maybe you should call and let them know we have a big group of people next Saturday and see if they can reserve a table for us at 10 because we have to be somewhere at 11-11:30.

It's gonna be a big group, no way around it. I think you can probably count on at least 50 DC fans (counting the friends and daughters and what have you). Dreadheads known to be pretty passionate, Archies also -- no idea what they're planning but -- there could end up being a couple hundred folks out there i the afternoon, I'm thinking. Or maybe not, who knows.

But you just can't stop the DC love train, I guess :-)

Just pray for nice weather. At least we won't be penned behind bars like those poor folks in San Jose. If I had unlimited moola I'd be heading to someplace like Columbus or Ft. Wayne, where for sure the meet/greet crowd would be smaller, more opportunity for face time. Chicago's a big metro so -- it is what it is. At least he'll know we love him out here in the heartland.

Pray for good weather, and that they roll in from St. Louis in plenty of time to see us all.

Just breathe! We're all gonna meet them. It'll be okay.



I found REALLY great seats (2nd and 4th row) that aren't too terribly expensive (by that I mean they were around $300 each) in Evansville, IN and Ft. Wayne. We should go! Haha! I'll split the cost of gas/rental car with whoever wants to go!!!!!!!!!!!

Stacey, I'm seriously considering maybe going to Fort Wayne, but I really want to go to Cleveland as well because I know a lot of people who are going to that show. Would you want to meet me in Cleveland instead? I don't know if I can afford to go to both. That'd be 6 shows total!

Oh god..can you picture the look on the waitress's face if you asked for 20 seperate checks?



I'm nervous, but I think we'll be okay. I have a good feeling that David is going to make sure he gets to everyone.


How would you guys feel about moving the breakfast to 9:30 since there's so many of us?

I'm fine with 9:30 instead of 10. If they don't take reservations, maybe we should get there by 9 so they can seat us by 9:30 if they're busy.

I'm fine with meeting earlier, i think the earlier the better since it's such a large crowd.

Carrie, are you up for going earlier to make sure we get seated for breakfast??

Aww, Nicole! I'd love to go to Cleveland w/ you. But I can't afford to drive all the way there on my own. Plus, good seats are significantly more expensive there!

The earlier, the better for me. The sooner we can get lined up on the fences, the happier I'll be (nerves man!). So I'm fine with 9/9:30.

I completely understand. Both Cleveland and Fort Wayne are both equal distance from me. I'd go to Fort Wayne, but I already promised a few friends that I'd go to Cleveland with them, so I can't back out. Oh well, I'm just excited we get to go to this show together!

So if we make it for 9:30, we can meet you at 9:15 in the parking lot?

I don't know if it's all IHOPs, but the one by me doesn't do separate/split checks. Make sure someone brings a calculator lol

We'll probably run into you guys at the arena, but I don't know if we'll make IHOP..I'll have to ask the other 2 if they want to go

See you at 9:15!




We'll definitely need a calculator! And everyone needs to remember to bring cash: $10s, $5s and $1s! I especially need to remember this since I rarely have cash!

Hey Jul! Any chance you'll drive to Ft. Wayne w/ me?

I'm probably gonna call IHOP tomorrow, actually..just to warn them that we're coming, since it's such a large group.. so if everyone could try and tell me by then, that'd be great!

Staci, I'd love to drive to Ft. Wayne with you..but with the 4 shows already, plus Daughtry and BSB in August..I don't think I could afford it. I'm sorry!!

Hi Everyone! I've been lurking on this site since the Finale, but I've finally joined specifically because of this thread. I'm going to the Rosemont show on the 19th and convinced one of my friends to go with me (we'll be in different sections during the show...another story!). She has no interest in trying to meet any of the Idols, but I can't pass up the chance to meet DC! So, if it's not too late, I'd love to meet up with you all at IHOP. Btw, I'm much too old for this (I'm 42!) and I have never been this fangirly about anyone, but David has some sort of magic spell over me...and at least 10,000+ others based on this forum!

I'm thinking it's going to be a long morning/afternoon for all of us, so I have a cooler on wheels to bring water and snacks. Also, I can only stay 'til 4, then have to head back to the city to pick up my friend to drive to the concert together...yeah, I'm a little nuts to be driving from the city to Rosemont twice, but I think it's worth it!

Looking forward to meeting everyone...only 9 more days!

*Maria*

Hey Maria, nice to see you here! I'll add you to the list. Nobody is too old for this!

That cooler thing would be a good idea.