Total Delirium

Saturday was one of the greatest days that I’ve experienced in a long time!!! One of the high moments of my life. It started early…at 6:00am, after a late night of preparing ourselves for what lay ahead. We listened to music and prepped Vincent for what he was about to encounter.

We left the house at 6:30am and proceeded to the Bell Centre, arriving at 8:00am. We were one of many lining up to get prime spots in the general admission. For the first 40minutes we were lined up in the wrong line. We had forgotten that there were two different lines…one for the general public, and one for the U2 fan club members, us being in the latter category. The line was much smaller, much warmer and much more active. Everyone in line quickly became friends, and began referring to each other as “family”…we would stick together through it all. Through the blistering cold winds, through the 10-hour wait, through the loss of feeling in all our limbs, through the piercing hunger, and through the line jumpers that always seemed to be milling about. We were united! One guy even brought a guitar to boost morale, and for hours we bounced around him, huddled in a circle belting out U2 songs.

“Oh-oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh! The final bars of U2’s Pride (In the Name of Love) could be heard blaring half a block away from the downtown Bell Centre yesterday afternoon as a light snow fell. But it wasn’t Bono warming up for the last night’s concert. Rather it was a bunch of diehard fans trying to stay warm as they lined up hours in advance to score the best floor seats-…they bundled against the cold yesterday, many belting out the group’s hits and dancing as a lone guitarist strummed away.” –the Montreal Gazette

About 15minutes before we were to go in, we handed off our coats to Vincent (so that we didn’t have a load to hold on to during the show) and we bared the cold while “the family” gathered around us trying to block the wind. Only a few from our group got into the Ellipse (the inner circle), one directly before us, and one directly after us, but we got amazing spots nonetheless. We were front row on the left side of the outer circle, surrounded by our friends from the line, and it turns out that’s where Bono sang his opening song, and where they performed many others!!!! At one point the Edge was literally within reach, and he looked down and gave me a quick little wink!!!!

Needless to say, it was THE most amazing show I have ever been to, and just an overall fantastic experience. I may have lowered my immunity to the cold but I loved every minute of that day.

How do you say...?

We are in Montreal…we arrived yesterday afternoon, with our stomachs incredibly empty and growling to be filled (thanks Air Canada for removing the complimentary meal from the flights), and not really knowing if our friend was going to be there to pick us up. Now, I have to admit, I was pretty nervous upon arrival. It wasn’t just that I don’t speak the language, but it’s that I’ve heard stories about a general animosity towards Anglophones. Our friend did happen to be there to get us (thank God, because we didn’t bring his number), and our first adventure took place in the A&W. Vincent walked up to the counter and announced in French that we weren’t from here and didn’t speak the language and that we were now going to order. At that moment, every single person in the kitchen (roughly about 10-12 people) came out and stared at us while I feebly attempted to ask for a teen burger combo. I had never been so uncomfortable! Then, as we were leaving some of the people inside came to the window to watch us go. I couldn’t believe it!!!

Then last night I thought I would be a bit braver and order completely in French. I confidently asked for “Chocolate Chaud” in my best French accent (that I had asked Vince how to say beforehand). The girl surprisingly knew what I was asking for and proceeded to ask me if it was to stay. I replied, “Oui” (that’s yes for all you non-French speaking people). Then, to my dismay, she rattled off a long string of what I believe to be words, and then expected some kind of response from me. Shoot! I stared blankly at her. My cover was blown! Next thing I know, she asks “English?”…after the nod of my head, she then begins to speak fluently to me in my mother tongue. I couldn’t believe it!!! We all had a good laugh, and I think at the end of the day she appreciated my lame attempt, and my butchering of her beautiful language.

Anyway, we have seen some of the sights…we went to Old Montreal last night, which was incredibly beautiful, and then went to the underground mall today. It’s bleeding cold here, and it snowed about a foot this morning. Only one more day until U2, and I really think that’s all that Carmen can think about.

The Boost

The day has finally come...tomorrow Carmen and I will be leaving for the land of Poutine and where they don't pronounce the last few letters of every word. MONTREAL!!!! I can't wait! In just a few days time we will be Asian shuffling through a crowd of sweaty people, to get closer to an even sweatier person (Bono), to see if I can boost my little friend on to the stage so she can get her long awaited 'kiss' by the big B himself. And in the meantime, I'll moonwalk my way over to where The Edge is to see if I can draw his attention my way, and maybe sneak a little peck as well. Not likely, but here's to dreaming.

In other news, we have procured a little bundle of joy that likes to sleep on my face, steal my breath (as Lynnette would say), and bite on a regular basis. Yup, we have a kitten!!! A little fur ball of energy. His name is Jersey...not because he looks like a cow, because I don't think he does, but I do live with a bunch of farm girls and I suppose it just seemed fitting. Are Jersey cows the ones that give milk? Because our cat doesn't. I just keep thinking of chocolate...you know, Jersey Milk...anyway, here's a picture...

Anyway, watch this space. I'll try to update while I'm over in Montreal...fotos, fun and the like...

Here Comes the Sun

Thanks to all who left me encouragement and those who let me know they identify with me. I really appreciate it. It's strange how you can feel so alone in your lonliness. It seems that we all, in one way or another, put on a front that everything is alright when it really isn't, because that's how we were trained to be.

*Don't let anyone know that there's something wrong...it's a sign of weakness*

I'm sorry, but that seems like a load of crap to me. If we actually let people know how we were feeling and let them in on some of our uglier selves, what we might experience is true friendship. Granted, that comes with pain. But it also comes with beauty.

Anyway, I'm doing a whole lot better. As the Beatles said, "Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright". The sun has finally broke through the clouds and the fog (literally and figuratively) and I'm doing a whole lot better. Seriously guys, the whole kickin the caffiene thing is AWESOME! I feel so much more awake and a whole lot less dependant. I think my glands are still seriously swollen (like little goiters coming out of my neck), but they're longer as sore as they used to be.

Also I have a little journey ahead of me to look forward to. I know you are all thinking I'm likely speaking of Thailand (which I am equally, if not more excited about), but I'm not. In roughly 2 weeks time I will be boarding the plane with Patty (of Patty and Selma...see my first entry), to head to Montreal to see..........U2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If that's not something to look forward to then what is?

Overcast

I've been feeling a little 'overcast' as of late. Finding coping with life a little difficult. Sure, it's nothing that I won't get through, but at the moment I feel as if I'm trudging. Kind of like Atrayu (sp?) in The Neverending Story, when he's going through the bogs of sadness and everything feels grim. All you can see is the bog, and all you can feel is the sadness.

I guess there are number of different things contributing to these emotions...business, lack of alone time, or down time, the weather (cursed cold and snow!!!), too much caffiene (which I have recently cut out of my diet), problems in relationships (resulting in lonliness), and just the normal trials of day to day life. I know that at the end of the day Jesus can be to me all that I need, but at the moment I am trudging through the bogs. This may be also why I have neglected to write in my blog. I feel that there is nothing all too valuable to write about, and I struggled with the idea of being vulnerable on the world wide web...no faces, no emotions, no contact...just words.

And yet here I am.