What Were We Thinking?!!?

Here it is!!! It seems like we have been waiting for this day forever! I know I’m exaggerating here but it does feel that way. Our summer 2012 tour is here! We have been preparing since those very first shows were announced. When we saw the Durham show announced in like April, I knew we had to go. It was summer, after all, and my sister lives in a nearby city. It was perfect. Without too much thought about the overall tour, I went and purchased those VIP tickets when the presale took place. Since then, of course, we have built around that show. We added Biloxi, Atlanta and Portsmouth. Four shows seem to really work for us, at least that number served us well in the UK. After adding other shows, we booked flights, reserved hotel rooms and a rental car and organized meet ups. Now, after all the preparing, organizing and getting those details set, it is here!

Today started super ridiculously early for me as my first flight was at 6 am. This doesn’t sound too bad but then you remember that you cannot just arrive at the airport at five minutes to 6. Yet, I reminded myself of a little phrase that Rhonda and I like to utter at times. “All things Duran are worth it,” or so we say. Thus, an early morning flight is worth it, right? Of course, this phrase will really be tested tomorrow. Why? What is tomorrow you all might ask? Well, it is the day of the Biloxi show. Yeah, and? What is the big deal there? Obviously, we have done many shows before this. This one, though, is GA. I’m so NOT a fan of GA, or general admission. I have friends who love GA. It seems that they love the atmosphere of getting there early, waiting in line, not knowing where you will end up. Perhaps, they have ended up with good seats, which, I suppose could make them worthwhile. So, why the big deal for us? Let me explain.

 First, Rhonda and I are not big fans of weather. Really, I am not a big fan of any weather except for weather that I can enjoy from the comfort of the climate controlled indoors. More specifically, Rhonda and I don’t enjoy heat and humidity. While the Midwest, where I live, has experienced a horribly hot summer, I doubt that I’m anywhere near prepared to deal. I don’t go outside much. Speaking of that, who’s brilliant idea is it of Hard Rock there to have the GA line outside?! Is this some sick way of torturing fans? Do fans lining up look badly to other customers there? I don’t think so. In fact, it could be a sign that they are able to bring highly demanded bands and performers there. What do I know, though? I’m not a business owner. Okay, so Rhonda and I are going to sweat and sweat a lot. I’m willing to bet that it won’t be our best looks ever, either. Then, there is our new fear that it will rain. It is a humid enough place that rain is always possible. What do we do then? Bring an umbrella? Wear a garbage bag as a raincoat? Really, why did we think this would be a good idea? Shouldn’t we be paid to deal with this instead of us paying for the tickets?

Second, after dealing with the heat, humidity and possible rain, we have to deal with everything else related to being outside. What kind of bugs are there in Mississippi? I can’t say that I’m a fan of bugs. Of any kind. What about sun? I’m fair. I’m extremely fair. I burn easily. In fact, I burn within an hour of being outside. So, I’m picturing myself now…sweating sunscreen, which I’ll be applying every hour, droopy hair, and avoiding raindrops and enormous bugs. Again, I gotta ask. What in the heck were we thinking? I know…we were thinking that “All things Duran are worth it”. We were thinking that maybe, just maybe, we would be lucky enough to get in front. Then, I wonder about the details about waiting. We don’t plan to stand all the time but we will be standing once the show time gets closer. How long will that be? Yes, we have brought comfortable shoes but still…will that save our feet? Beyond any physical discomfort, we will have to deal with bathrooms, food, and water. While Rhonda and I have gone all day sitting, not eating, not drinking, not going to the bathroom, we aren’t prepared to do that now. We have to draw the line somewhere, right? Are there places to go to the bathroom? What about food?

It is too late to turn around now, right? We really will once again test one of our favorite phrases tomorrow. Will all things Duran be worth it or will we have barely survived? Only time will tell! If no blog after a couple of days, someone better start calling hospitals in Biloxi…

 -A