Ahhhh! Zach's napping and I've got my cup of coffee.  Let's see if I can get this review typed up before the lil' guy wakes up!  So if there's typos (aren’t there always?! LOL…) it's Zach's fault!  LOL

This one isn't *quite* as long as my usual reviews, but do feel free to cut to the chase, if you like.

Not too long after the first show, Robin came out and worked the crowd – signing stuff and posing for pictures. It was very sweet of him to give some time to us fans. Thanks, Robin! He had state trouper *and* Matt for crowd control. <g>

Between shows, BEC came out with Matt to adjust some stuff on his kit. During the afternoon show I remember Matt scrambling out with a replacement cymbal. Much to my surprise, no one harassed him for an autograph, screamed at him, etc.

All of us took turns watching our seats. Junko and I had seen some Krispy Kreme boxes around the Fair so we went on a quest for one of those fabulous doughnuts. By the time we found the dang stand though, we didn’t have time to wait the 40+ minutes to get to the front of the line. DOH!!!!!

Too bad, so sad. We consoled ourselves with a slushy wine in one of those goofy cup and straw monstrosities. LOL…

POP QUIZ FOR JUNKO

Define the following:

White Trash
TP-ing (as in toilet papering a house)
Funnel Cake
Buffalo wings
Turkey sausage
Toll road (as Junko pointed out - a freeway that's not free!  LOL!)
Corn dog
Pop tart

Extra credit :

#1 - Explain the difference between major and minor league baseball
#2 - Correct the spelling of "Krispy Kreme" donuts.

God, I'm easily amused.

After our failed attempt to get a Krispy Kreme, we met Teri Ferris by the merch table. She didn’t wanna sell me a shirt. LOL! Carla came out and chatted to us a bit later. I couldn’t help but notice the Powerpuff Girl on her lanyard. She told me it was a gift from John Candas. Shoulda known she’d be a Buttercup fan. ;)

Side note: PPG may be a guilty pleasure of mine, but they *do* have a CT reference: it’s the episode entitled "Uh Oh Dynamo." And I’m sorry, they’re send up of the Beatles in "Meet the Beat-Alls" is classic!

Apparently CT will be second on the bill at those upcoming Aerosmith dates. Run DMC for 25 minutes, CT for an hour then Aerosmith. Damnit! I wish I still lived in Columbus. I would so love to see that triple bill. Lord O and I both confessed a love for Run DMC. Hey – you gotta love any band that uses Penn and Teller in their videos!

THE SHOW

By the time CT game out, it had cooled off a bit, thankfully. Dave Ruhl took the introduction honors again.

FR

SET LIST

RN SEZ

Rick used his Alicia Keyes line again. LOL – works for me!

After mentioning that they’d be in California for a show next week, he added, "Nice routing."

Junko got a nod for her 98^th show (we had to help out a bit with the count, LOL), then he pointed out the rest of us in the front again. Woo hoo! :)

As he gathered chillun for the Kiddie Parade, he noticed he had all girls. "We need a boy!" Of course Lord O waved his arms until he caught Rick’s eye. I think Adam was a little surprised when Rick actually picked him. Once it sank in, he didn’t waste any time getting over the barrier – LOL!

After the usual schtick with the 3 girls (the first 2 "didn’t know" so Rick pretended he was gonna backhand them) he talked to Adam. Lord O was happy as a pig in shit, lemme tell ya! Then it only got better - instead of the kids going back into the crowd, Rick told them to watch the rest of the show from backstage. Adding that they’d get picks and drumsticks, etc.

Lucky bastards! LOL

As it turns out, Adam got dissed on that front. Tom handed him a pick then took it away! I guess Robin smirked at him and said, "Get the hell outta here, Adam!" LMAO…

MISC.

Although the guys made up for it with their energy, this was another short set. I’m not sure if there was some sort of time limit. Rick kind of alluded to one before the encores. Oh well…

Like I said, the guys were very energetic and really seemed to be having fun. The sound was great (in my completely un-techno-savy opinion) and the crowd loved them.

The most interesting aspect of the show was the sign language interpreter who stood on Rick’s side. Of course Rick messed with him quite a bit. A couple times he put his arm around him and grinned while the guy was signing away. Maybe Miss Rhonda can confirm this, but it seems to me that the guy really knew his CT lyrics. I was impressed. I love watched folks who use ASL. It’s really cool. So expressive.

So between him, the kids and the state troupers, Rick had a lot of people in the crowd to play with. LOL… Several times he’d hold his guitar low enough for kids who wanted to touch it (especially the 5 neck). He also pretended he was gonna hit some of those troupers with the headstock. LOL

POST SHOW

It was hard to believe that it was over! Afterwards we basked in Adam’s "I was onstage with Cheap Trick" glow before heading out. Junko and I had a 2 hour drive ahead of us (plus an early morning- doh! Who booked these flights? LOL), so we said our goodbyes and headed back to Buffalo.

Before getting on I-90, I made the desperate search for some gas for the car. We were running on fumes when we’d pulled into the fair parking lot that monring. Thankfully Missy and her friend pointed us in the right direction. :)

I should’ve used the pay at the pump option.

The cashier was a sweet enough woman, but she immediately turned me off when she didn’t know who CT was. LOL then she added insult to injury when she told me she really likes Journey and Styx.

DOH!

At that point I just wanted to take my Cheetos and leave but she just wouldn’t stop talking!!! She elaborated, "My favorite song these days is called ‘Come Sail Away.’ I can’t get it out of my head."

I dove into the bathroom before she started singing.

I thought it was over, but when I came out she was talking to Junko. She informed my buddy that she had some of that "weird writing" at home. "You know, Chinese, Japanese.."

I swear to god, if that had been followed by "whatever" I was going over the counter to cram a beef jerky stick down her throat.

Once again, Junko, I’M SO SORRY!!!! :P

Anyway, we made it back, safe and sound. And very tired. :)

POST POST SHOW

Fortunately Junko’s flight left shortly after mine, so we had a little more time together at the airport. In the gift shop, neither of us could resist buying a little stuffed bison. Mine was for Zach. I’m a bad mom and hadn’t bought him a present yet.

Neither of us wanted to say goodbye, but my plane awaitied. Junko stood at the top of the jet way and right before I got on I turned around and yelled, "CHEAP TRICK!" I got some strange looks from the suits already on board. LOL…

Junko got a Krispy Kreme after all! I guess the pilot on her flight had bought several dozen to share with all the passenger. How cool is that? *I* didn’t get a Krispe Kreme! LOL. I still like Continental though. At the counter in Buffalo they were kind enough to finesse some seating arrangements so I could get a bulkhead seat on the flight from Cleveland to Houston. Woo hoo!

All my flights were early again! And when I walked down the stairs to baggage claim, my suitcase was already on the carousel. (Eat your heart out, Kim! LOL)

Tim was there to pick me up – he, Zach and Adelaide had had a great weekend, much to my relief. And then as if things couldn’t get better, Tim had a surprise for me… over the weekend he made a tire cover for the back of my RAV 4 with the CT logo.

How $#&^@% cute is that?! My mom car just got a whole lot cooler. LOL

THANKS

The usual thanks are definitely in order…

To all the guys in CT – thanks for 3 more wonderful shows. It’s always a pleasure.

To Junko – thanks for being a fabulous travel partner. I hope we get to do it again some day.

To Tim and Zach – thanks for letting me out of the house to recharge my batteries! I had a blast, but it’s so fabulous to have 2 wonderful guys to come home to. ;)

Thanks for reading.

Hey! Zach’s still napping! Woo hoo! Maybe I’ve got time for another cup of coffee. :)

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© 2002, Lisa Jebsen