VEGAS

FRIDAY 10/23: We had to be up at 4am, pick up Brad at 5:15am, and wanted to be back in the line by 5:30am, a half hour earlier than we were expected. We had packed sleeping bags, a tent, and an air mattress, which we brought with us to the venue. While it was still dark, we gathered in the same area as yesterday, waiting for security to let us line up at the actual venue across the street. At about 6:30am we got the word, crossed the street with all our stuff, and lined up temporarily. Then we got word to go ahead and walk to gates 10 & 11. Several security guards smiled at us weirdly as 100+ fans dragged bedding in the dark. Brad walking around in a blanket acting and talking like Moses--too funny.

The sun quickly rose but it was still chilly in the early hours of the morning, but we were cozy with two sleeping bags and the air mattress Nick blew up, plus a fan loaned us their blanket. We didn't need the tent we brought. I read my new Half the Sky book and then we napped. This one gal who was separated from her friends in line and only had one blanket said, "I want to cuddle with them!"

Later Nick was checking out the line and spotted Christine and Spot, our Zoo Station fan friends from Petaluma. He took a picture and brought it to me. My reaction was, "Where is Bono!?" because Spot looks so much like Bono sometimes! So we decided to go find them again and take photos. Spot put in a vodka-and-beer order with Nick. Around 9am Nick and I left the line temporarily (leaving our stuff). We got lunch to go and then Nick dropped me off at the hotel so I could rest as I was feeling a garden variety upper respiratory infection (URI) coming on. Then he went to the airport to pick up Jovita. She had decided to come to the Vegas show last minute, got an earlier flight than expected, and needed to get to the venue to get a number and establish a place in line.

Right about 3pm we got a text from Jovita that security wanted fans to clear the line of stuff. But we didn't have to clear the area for awhile. So we visited with friends, using umbrellas for protection from the hot sun. At one point I was walking past Christine & Spot and noticed they were about to be interviewed for the news! So I got to watch that live.

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Once the line was let in, Nick ran ahead, as usual, thankfully, and saved me a spot inside the circle, front row Edge! Christine & Spot were in the second row right behind us at first, but then someone motioned for them to go a little further down but let Christine in the front row, so we were only a couple people away from each other. I cried during most of the show, just a personal thing from being in the moment.

U2 VEGAS (be sure to read about the famous people in attendance!)
(Brono #73, Nick #44)
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THURSDAY 10/22: It was 85 degrees as weather.com predicted. Just as we drove away from Bally's, we got a text from our U2 friend, Matilde. She had news that the General Admission line had started at Sam Boyd Stadium, so we decided to drive straight there. We saw our friends Joe and Vik (who were organizing the line) and others on this pseudo-sidewalk. So we got our numbers on our hands (27 & 28) and put our names on the General Admission list. We waited in line for awhile and then decided to drive down the street to check into the Siena Suites and get some lunch.

We went back to the line, met new friends, and awaited an announcement from security expected around 3pm. By 4pm, we found out that it was okay to leave the line, as long as we were all back by 6:00 the next morning for roll call. Roll call for a U2 line--as many U2 lines as I've been in, I just love those two words! So Nick and Joe and I took off for the New York New York Hotel where a U2 Interference party was starting at 5pm at the Nine Fine Irishmen pub. (Nick and I liked this pub when we saw The Police in Vegas in summer 2007.) We sat at this long bench table with other fans and had Guinnesses and a cheese dip with Irish country bread. A few hours later we drove Joe and his gal pal Anu to the airport so Joe could pick up a rental car along with some incoming friends.

We drove back to the line yet again and picked up our friend Brad and went back to the pub! Now they were charging a $5 cover. Argh. We went back outside to the same table and met our Facebook friend Elsha and her family who live in Utah. Elsha sold us handmade xmas cards. She is donating the proceeds to children in Africa. We left the pub by 11pm but didn't get to sleep until midnight.

WEDNESDAY 10/21: Nick and I flew to Las Vegas at 4:20pm (ha), got our rental car, and drove to Bally's. We were mad that neither of us thought to pack CDs for the rental car! When we checked in to Bally's, Nick told me the only room left in the hotel was the size of a broom closet. As I opened the door, I couldn't even see any beds...it was that BIG! We ended up getting a free upgrade to a suite...it was like 1930 Grand Hotel room meets Pretty Woman!!

Donny & Marie
We walked across the street and saw Donny & Marie Live at the Flamingo Hotel! Our seats were in the first row of booths, the booth furthest to stage left. At the beginning of the show, Nick wanted me to run up with him to the stage to greet Donny. I hesitated and hesitated but Nick waited for me and I finally followed. Donny did this fluttery-finger motion back and forth with me pretending to shake my hand but not. It was great! Nick and I ordered margaritas in these great hot pink keepsake glasses that are curvy and say "Donny & Marie Flamingo Las Vegas" on them. To think we used watch their TV show religiously 30+ years ago. We had a lady next to us take a great photo of us and Nick filmed parts of the show. Unfortunately at the end of the show, security confiscated the film card, even though it said nothing about photography rules on the tickets or anywhere in the venue. Luckily no U2 was on the film card!