Wendy, I'm home

DavidMn · #1 07-29-2005, 09:29 PM

I thought that line from the shining would be appropriate to announce that I have returned to the lovely state of Minnesota from the best 2 week road trip of my life!!

I never thought even a month ago I would be able to do all this, but i guess you never know huh? Anyhoo, I'll go through each show in some detail as best as I can remember, so here goes.

Tampa,7-13, and Fort Lauderdale,7-14

I started out leaving Minneapolis on the 12th at about noon, and was planning to stya somewhere in Georgia that night. Well, when I got down there, it was already like 2 am on the 13th, so I said what the hell, I'm goin for it. And i made it all the way to Tampa at like noon. I was lucky that my hotel was like a 1/2 mile from the venue, cause after I went to get my ticket at will call, I went back to the hotel for a nap. I told the dude at the front desk I wanted a 645 pm wake up call. Well, I slept right thru that and when I woke up and looked at the time, it was 730!?!? I had to rush into the shower and got to the Ford Amphitheater with about 5 minutes to spare before Vanessa Carlton came on. I have to admit that i dont remember a whole lot about the show itself because I was so tired, but from what I do remember, it was very humid, and Stevie put on a great show. Well, after getting back to the room I had the guy gimme a 330 am wake up call for the next morning, cause I wanted to see the Florida Keys before going to the Fort Lauderdale show. I got up at 330 am, and had a wonderful time friving down through the keys till I got to Key West at about noon. Had lunch at Margaritaville, and walked around the town for about 2 hours till I had to leave. I made it to the Office Depot Center about 1/2 hour before the show started, and I was able to sneak down to the 3rd row right by the side of the stage. Afterwards, I had to drive back to Tampa to the hotel. Let me tell you, those 2 days really tested the limits of my endurance, but when it was over, wow, what a 2 days it was.

Houston, 7-16

After having driven on friday to Baton Rouge and staying overnight there, I got up and made it to the show in Houston at like 530. The C.W.Mitchell Pavilion was a very nice place right next to a large shopping mall. I talked to this couple from Dallas before the show, and they were interested in my story. So the one lady who writes for a motorcycle magizine called Rumble, took pictures of me and my tatoo and hopefully the article will be in the mag shortly. I wonder if I should feel like a star or not? The show itself was fantastic on another very humid night. Stevie really put out there

Dallas,7-17

This show was a very magical night for me. I was sitting up in the cheap seats, and Kept watching security all night for a sign that I could sneak up for the Edge walk. (I felt like a freakin terrorist doing that... ) Anyhow, right at the end of landslide I made my way down to where the pit started, and this lady is like "You cant stand there" and asked where my seat was. I told her 3rd row, and she waved me down . I made it down ther in time to be in the second wave of people, and since I'm 6'4 I was able to reach over people. When Stevie came to me, I took both of her hands in mine, and she LOOKED RIGHT AT ME!!

I'd shaken her hand 2 times before, but she had never looked right at me like that night. I told her that I'd been listening ot her for 28 years, and she nodded. Man, was that something!!!!! what a moment.

Denver,7-20

I remember getting the Red Rocks video when it came out and I was 15, and I swore if she ever played there again, I wasnt going to miss it. Well, this was the first time I actually had a chance to see her at Red Rocks, and it sure lived up to my expectations. I had a chance to share the day with Tiffany, Curtis, and Anita from the ledge, and they were nice enough to let me share their day with me. I had a great time hanging out with them just made the day that much more special. We got to Red Rocks at about 400 and hung out till the gates opened. BTW, It's not an easy place to gert up into, very hard on the legs. Oh well, I guess paradise shouldnt be easy to attain huh? The show was once again great, although I think Stevie might have been saving her voice just a little because of the altitude. I also wanted to mention 2 new friends of mine I met at the show, Christina from Tacoma, and Steven from Stockton. 19 and 18 respectively, these 2 fans sat on a Greyhound bus for over 24 hours to get to this show. It really made me feel good to see fans at that age have such passion for Stevie.

San Diego,7-23

After 2 days off in which I had a chance to se the 4 corners and the Grand Canyon, I made my way tp Lovely Chula Vista for the show on Saturday night. The Coors Amphitheater there is an absolutely faboulous venue to see a show, and Stevie really kicked it into hih gear starting here. It mustve been that fact that she was back in California. Wow what a performance. Beauty and the Beast really stood out here.

Anaheim,7-24

My only 2 problems of the tour occured on this part of the journey. I woke up and got ready to leave the hotel in San Diego and I got to my car to find ANTS in it!! I absolutely hate bugs, and I tried to clean them out but they wouldnt go away. In a near panic, I called my friend who knows something about cars, and told me not to worry once you get up to anaheim they'll all die cause theyre away from their nest. And thatsd exactly what happened, thank god. Also, I found my camera to be no longer usable when I went to get ready for the Anaheim show.

I know I shouldve had a digital camera, but oh well. The Anaheim show was even better than San Diego in my opinion, with Standback and HAEWAFY standing out. One more show to go in L.A, and what a show it was.....

L.A,7-26

In the day off, I had a chance to check out the Santa Monica pier, as well as West Hollywood, (Being the good gay boy that I am ). On the day of the show, I went to see the Chinese and Kodak theater, then made my way to Fleetwood Mac's star on the Hollywood walk of fame. I was getting ready to take some pictures when I noticed that something had been spilled on it. I couldnt let this stand of course, so I went into a store and got some paper towels and water and scrubbed it off. Someone noticed me doing this and tok my camera and took a picture of me cleaning the star. i just got my pictures back, and itsd quite hilarious seeing me cleanig away. As soon as I get a chance to, I'll post that picture online here. After doing that, i had one more stop to make, The Hollywood Bowl. Home to the final 2 shows of the Tusk Tour, this place was a must see for me. It was a little bigger than I imagined, but I closed my eyes as I sat in this big ampty place and transported myself back to August 31st and September 1st, 1980, the Tusk Shows, Even though I wasnt actually there. Well, onto the Universal Studios for my final show

. It was by far the best show I've ever seen her do in Person. Every song was like a Lightning bolt came out of the sky, she had that much energy

. There were numerous celebrities there as one might expect for an L.A show. I was able to sneak down to the second row behind the pit and I noticed David Spade sitting like 3 rows behind me. That was awesome. Here's a peon from Minnesota sitting nearer to Stevie that a big time star, what a trip!!!!

Well, that's it I guess. It was by far the best 2 week road trip anyone couldve asked for. I got a chance to see my girl for 8 shows, as well as see alot of this great country of ours. I am very humbled to have been able to do what I did. I know there are alor of fans out there that cant see all the shows theyd like to, but they are every bit as good of fans as I am, probably better. When people ask me how I can see all of the same shows over and over again, all I can say is that Stevie touched a little 6 year old boy from Minnesotas heart, and that spritual passion is still with me, 28 years later.

Stevie, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of my life for all these years. I wouldve never met all of the friends I have if it wasn't for you, and I wouldnt be here today if it wasnt for you and your music. The world is a better place becuase you decided to share your gift will all of us.

skcin · #2 07-29-2005, 09:34 PM

David,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. You will never forget this experience. Ever. Congrats & glad you had such a great time.

BTW - did you sit in 4 states at once & take a pic? That's what I did when I was there.

DavidMn · #3 07-29-2005, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

David,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. You will never forget this experience. Ever. Congrats & glad you had such a great time.

BTW - did you sit in 4 states at once & take a pic? That's what I did when I was there.

Hell yeah I did

LoL

amber · #4 07-29-2005, 09:38 PM

good story, thank you. And congratulations.

DavidMn · #5 07-29-2005, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

good story, thank you. And congratulations.

Thank you, that's very nice of you to say

DavidMn · #6 07-29-2005, 09:44 PM

P.S, I am so unbelievebaly broke after this, but I couldnt care less

Stevie makes me happy, that's what I care about

rbs3676 · #7 07-29-2005, 09:45 PM

Wonderful recap, David! I felt like I was there with you...
thanks for posting!!

rbs

DavidMn · #8 07-29-2005, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbs3676

Wonderful recap, David! I felt like I was there with you...
thanks for posting!!

rbs

One of the things I have enjoyed most about all this is meeting all the other fans out there and sharing stories

. It all really means alot to me

golden braid · #9 07-29-2005, 09:48 PM

David, I enjoyed reading your stories. I think a road trip like yours would be so much fun but I don't know if I could handle all that driving you did in the beginning. I would be so tired.

DavidMn · #10 07-29-2005, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden braid

David, I enjoyed reading your stories. I think a road trip like yours would be so much fun but I don't know if I could handle all that driving you did in the beginning. I would be so tired.

Trust me, it tested the limits of my endurance

David · #11 07-29-2005, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMn

In the day off, I had a chance to check out the Santa Monica pier, as well as West Hollywood, (Being the good gay boy that I am ). On the day of the show, I went to see the Chinese and Kodak theater, then made my way to Fleetwood Mac's star on the Hollywood walk of fame.

You rock, David.

For those of you out-of-town guys who go to Hollywood & see the star on the boulevard (& that's a lot of you over the years), I recommend checking out some of the rock memorabilia shops along Hollywood Boulevard. You can find amazing 8x10 photos of Stevie & Fleetwood Mac, plus great selections of old rock magazines from decades ago -- you can rummage through collections for sale, finding old Fleetwood Mac articles. If you do this, I recommend setting aside literally hours to shop for photos & magazines.

I used to go see Stevie or Fleetwood Mac shows years ago, & then I'd go the following week into some of these shops on Hollywood Boulevard, & I'd find live photos of the band at the show I just saw the week before! I remember specifically an Asian guy, a good photographer, who shot Fleetwood Mac & Stevie & then sold those photos in the shops on that street & at record swapmeets. I'd go see Stevie at the Forum -- like in 1986 -- & then BAM those photos would show up for sale on Hollywood Boulevard! It was like that for years. It might still be like that.