We arrived in Holmdel with plenty of time to check into our hotel, unwind, relax, and just take it easy. That was so
much better than the travel to Albany. After we did some relaxing, it was time to get ready for the show. We had big
plans for tailgating for this show. Since my trips to the malls and stores looking for a cordless blender were
unsuccessful, I had to make our drinks in the hotel with my electric blender. I think I made 7-8 batches of Strawberry
Margaritas, using the ice from the hotel’s ice machine. I dumped each batch into a big jug that I brought along for
that purpose. As soon as the bartending was done, we got back in my car and drove to the venue. We were quite a few
hours early, but that was okay. After all, we had a jug of Margaritas to keep us occupied and entertained.
As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, we met up with some other friends that we knew would be there. We were just
missing one person. Who for some reason, had to drive home that morning from Albany before heading to Holmdel. So,
we were just hanging out and getting caught up, and drinking those margaritas. They were a hit. Didn’t realize how
much of a hit until later.
So, we were just hanging out, when we noticed someone coming from the bus area. They were going for a jog. No, it
wasn’t Kenny. It was someone that works for him. It was funny, though, since a friend had put me on a mission to
take pictures of this person. Plus, I had a question for him besides getting some pictures. When he was coming back, I
had a chance to stop him, and I did just that. He was very nice to us even though we interrupted his workout and for that
I apologize. I asked my question, and I have to say this, whoever started the rumor that the “good stuff� thongs
came with a pass to the vibe room, you are totally wrong. The $15 is just for the underwear. As far as the pictures went, I
told him I would take them later, after he showered. He appreciated that and said that he would find me.
Well, unfortunately we were having such a good time with that jug of margaritas, that we lost track of the time. We saw
Les from GM going by in a golf cart. One of my friends stopped him and asked about the meet and greet passes for the
evening. He said that Carolyn had already picked the winners. The show hadn’t even started yet, we were having
fun, and we already knew that we wouldn’t be meeting Kenny backstage again, so we finished the jug while Carolyn
Dawn Johnson did her set. At least this night we could hear her. This venue was an outside one, and the Albany show
was held indoors. When we could hear that Carolyn was done with her set, we started to make our way in. I didn’t
want to miss Phil or Jeff.
For this show, Jen and I were sitting in the fourth row, left center. Those seats were good also. No sooner did we get to
our seats, then Phil and his band took the stage. Jen and I never sat in our seat. Unfortunately, the people behind us
weren’t happy with that fact. I had someone tap me on my shoulder and tell me to sit. I very nicely declined. Then
someone else did the same thing. I wasn’t as nice this time as I told them that I paid to be here, and I will stand if
that’s what I want to do. So, I did. Apparently, the people in front of me had been intimidated by the rude idiots
behind me, and were very happy that Jen and I kept standing. So, they got up, and at the same time Phil was right in
front of us motioning to everyone to get up on their feet. So, that stopped the annoying idiots behind me. I find out later,
after the show is over, that Jen had someone hit her with her sweatshirt that she had over her chair, and when she turned
around, they told her the same thing. Why do people get great seats like the ones we had and insist on sitting at a show
like that? All while that was happening, those people telling us to sit and all, we had friends in the section next to us.
Most of the people over there were sitting also. Our friends noticed the problem we were having and stood up. We were
waving at each other and taking pictures of each other. It was funny. One of those you had to be there moments.
Nothing too eventful happened at this show between Phil and Kenny’s set. Maybe, things are just a little too fuzzy.
Wait, just remembered. Jen got snagged for having a detachable lens on her camera. Security took her away during
Phil’s set. They wanted her to check her camera in. So, she left me there at our seats, while she went away with
security. I didn’t see her again until just before Kenny came on, but she brought me a beer to make up for leaving
me alone.
I really enjoyed Kenny’s show this night. I didn’t take too many pictures, just mostly sang and danced.
Everyone on stage seemed to have a really good time at this show. They all had their grove on. After the initial problem
with some people telling us to sit, we really had a good time with the people by our seats. We just really enjoyed
ourselves. Towards the end of Kenny’s set, we waited for the right moment and made our break for the front of the
stage. Something that we’ve learned throughout the year, and I think we may have finally mastered.
Kenny didn’t sign any autographs from the stage at the Albany show, he must have been a bit tired from working out
with the New York Giants earlier in the day. We were glad that he signed autographs at this show. We could just about
guess that he wouldn’t be signing any autographs after the Syracuse show. They would need to leave right after that
show to make it to New York City for the 5 am soundcheck. As usual, I had a few things packed for the weekend that I
wanted Kenny to sign. One was the picture of him and my husband from the fan club party. The other was a picture of
me and Kenny at the meet and greet from the Scranton show that I had gone to in June. Now, when I left my house on
Wednesday, I told Steve, my husband, that I would get an autograph just for him, meaning the picture of him and Kenny.
Well, out of those two pictures that I had with me, which one do you think I had Kenny sign from the stage? You got it,
the one of me and Kenny from Scranton. Why? I don’t know. It just seemed right at the time. Now I absolutely had
to win the GM thing in Syracuse.
Well, the show was over. Two shows done, just like that. There was still so much more fun to have. The jug of
Margaritas might have been empty, but we were still prepared. First, we had to actually leave the venue. Security was
trying to clear the place out, but we didn’t want to leave. It was then that I had found the jogger from earlier in the
day. He cleaned up really nicely, and I was able to get some pictures. He was very nice about it. Everyone got a picture
with him. Eventually, security did succeed in getting us to leave, but that’s only because I was thirsty.
So we headed out to our cars. Like we really needed anything else to drink, but this party was just starting. So, we were
just hanging out having fun. There were all kinds of people going by. We would talk to whoever would stop by . Then
someone mentioned the song by the Weathergirls, It’s Raining Men, and I realized that I had my scratchy 45 tape
that I had made for Naenae. It’s Raining Men is the first song on that tape I made. So we popped it in the cassette
player. We were all dancing. Didn’t care who was there. We were having lots of fun. Some of us were dancing by
ourselves, with other people, and then there was Jen who felt it necessary to dance with a road cone. Why? Because it
was there. If that wasn’t bad enough, she felt compelled to put in my car when she was done. She didn’t want to
leave it all alone in the parking lot.
So, there we are, some 70’s, 80’s music blasting from the car, most of us are dancing and still drinking, Kennyâ
€™s trucks are starting to pull out. That’s how long we were there. They had all the equipment loaded and ready to
head to it’s next destination, and we’re still having a party. Shortly after the trucks were gone, the buses started
pulling out also. We had gotten a honk from just about all the trucks as they drove by. When the band bus passed us, I
remembered that there was a full moon that night, but the one in the dark August sky wasn’t the only moon around.
What a bad time to be without my camera. I just want to know which band member was so moved by our good time.
Three members of our group felt it necessary to head to Syracuse that night, but the rest of us just wanted to go back to
the hotel to get some sleep. The road would still be there in the morning. So, we got some sleep and started our trip to
the next venue city, Syracuse, the next morning.
The drive to Syracuse seemed never ending. Although, somehow we managed to have a good time doing that,, too. We
were in two separate cars. Jen and I were in mine, and my other friend was in hers. She was leading the way. It’s
amazing how you can keep yourself occupied when you are stuck in a traffic jam. One of the members in our group
called a radio station that we were receiving while driving through the Poconos. She told the DJ that we were at the
show in Holmdel last night and that we were on our way to Syracuse for the show tonight. He offered to play us a Kenny
song, and that’s exactly what he did, the very next song was the Tractor song. He said this song is for the girls
driving from Holmdel to Syracuse.
I’m not quite sure how it happened, but we beat our friends, who were in such a rush the night before, to the venue
at Syracuse. There wasn’t much going on there. We spent some time walking around the New York State Fair. We
had to check out the butter sculpture. In the Dairy Exhibition House, they do a sculpture made out of butter every year.
You might not think so, but it was very cool.
There wasn’t anything too eventful going on at this venue, besides the fair. One good thing was that the GM booth
was set up outside the venue. So, I was able to fill out my survey nice and early. I would be so bummed if I went to four
shows in a row without getting a chance to talk to Kenny. I’ve gotten so spoiled, but you can blame GM for that.