Seeing Paul..My Dream Comes True..Part 2

After seeing Paul up close and personal Kerry and I had to run back to the Walmart to get the car. I was worried that it had been towed and I was really thrilled to see it in the parking lot when we got there. We went back into Walmart to get something to drink and I told everyone I saw that I had seen Paul. I told the people on line with us, I told the cashier, I told the air. All I could say was "I just saw Paul". It was hard to come down from the rush of the Paul encounter.

We grabbed the car and drove over to the stadium to listen to the sound check. It was so cool to be able to hear Paul playing with his band from outside the venue. I would have rather been inside but I didn't have the $2500 that I would have had to pay to get in. I was totally happy to sit in my car and hear him play. It was like getting two concerts for the price of one.

Now, a Paul McCartney concert is not complete without a trip to the tour merchandise stand. I'm fairly well known for spending up to $500 on shirts and other tour stuff but I had decided that I was only going to get one shirt for me and one shirt for Kerry. They had this really cute black tank with a flower and Paul's autograph that I had to have for yoga. It was the perfect item that joins my two obsessions. Paul and yoga. Then I saw this really cool yellow shirt that I also had to have along with the matching tote bag. Kerry picked out a really nice blue t-shirt. Although it was more than I wanted to spend it wasn't as bad as it has been at other shows. I got off under $150 which for me at a Paul concert is a pittance. We changed into our new Paul shirts in the car and waited to get in to check out the seats.

The gates into the stadium opened at 6:00 and after getting our field level wristbands we found our seats. Now I am a total Paul seat snot and if I'm not in the first 10 rows I'm unhappy. We were in the 27th row so I was not thrilled with my seats but they weren't really all that bad. We sat around and waited for the show to start.

At 8:30 the band came on stage and there he was. My Paul looking as fantastic as ever. He opened with Venus and Mars/Rockshow which was a fantastic way to start the show. Even though I have seen him 10 times it was the first time I heard him do that song. The set list went as follows:
1.Venus And Mars / Rock Show
2.Jet
3.All My Loving
4.Letting Go
5.Got To Get You Into My Life
6.Highway
7.Let Me Roll It / Foxey Lady
8.The Long And Winding Road
9.Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five
10.(I Want To) Come Home
11.My Love
12.I’m Looking Through You
13.Two Of Us
14.Blackbird
15.Here Today
16.Dance Tonight
17.Mrs Vandebilt
18.Eleanor Rigby
19.Something
20.Sing The Changes
21.Band On The Run
22.Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
23.Back In The USSR
24.I’ve Got A Feeling
25.Paperback Writer
26.A Day In The Life / Give Peace A Chance
27.Let It Be
28.Live And Let Die
29.Hey Jude

Encore:
30.Day Tripper
31.Lady Madonna
32.Get Back

Second Encore:
33.Yesterday
34.Helter Skelter
35.Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End

This was a dream set list for me because there were quite a few songs that I hadn't heard him perform like Highway, Foxy Lady, Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five, Two Of Us, Dance Tonight, Mrs Vanderbuilt, Sing The Changes, Oh-Bla-Di Oh-Bla-Da (this was a total fan favorite), I Got A Feeling and A Day In The Life. Most of the other songs I've heard every time I've seen Paul. He feels that songs like The Long and Winding Road, Yesterday and Hey Jude are must perform songs and he always plays them. When I heard the beginning of Live and Let Die I turned to Kerry and said "Oh no, not again". OMG!! I was so wrong. It was beyond words. There were huge explosions and because it was an outside stadium they had the most fabulous fireworks I've ever seen at a show. It was amazing. I've added a youtube video of it below.

Kerry and I stood up for the entire concert which was 3 hours long and after standing up all day looking for Paul when the concert was over we were whipped. Totally and completely whipped but the best kind of whipped there is. Paul concert whipped. At the end of the show Paul stood at the mike and said his usual "see you next time". I hope there is a next time. Thanks Paul. I love you forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are a few of the youtube videos of the show for your enjoyment.

Seeing Paul...My Dream Comes True....Part One

I want to get all this down before I forget it. Yesterday was a most amazing day spent with the Kid and it never would have happened without her. That's for sure.

We left to get to Sun Life Stadium early. Really early. We were on the road by 2:00 knowing that the concert was scheduled to start at 8:00 with parking opening at 5:00. We got there at about 2:30 and were promptly sent away by the stadium staff. They told us to go and find something else to do for 2 1/2 hours. NOT!!!!

We had noticed that there was a Wal-Mart across the street from the stadium so we decided to go over there and dump off the car. There were threatening signs all over the parking lot saying that any stadium cars would be towed. Kerry said that we should park in the busy part of the lot, go into the store, buy something and them hike over to the stadium. I thought it was a great plan so that's what we did.

We had to slip into the stadium though a break in the fence and just started scoping out the place. There were some people there milling around all wearing VIP necklaces. I wanted to see Paul up close, arriving to the show. It's a dream of mine that has alluded me up to this point. Kerry decided that we were going to make that dream come true so that I wouldn't be "that guy from The Alchemist" always dreaming and never doing.

We came upon some people waiting at an area that looked really good for a Paul entry point. We hung around for a while talking to the people one of who was also named Claudia. She was from Brazil and seemed kind of young to be hanging around waiting for Paul but she seemed to be determined to see him and we thought that maybe she knew what she was doing.

As we were waiting we saw a cop who was just standing around. Kerry told me that she was not afraid to go up to people and talk to them so I sent her over to talk to the cop. I heard her say that it was her mom's dream to see Paul and was this the place that he was going to arrive. I walked up and pleaded with him for any info that he would give us. He smiled and told us that he was sure that Paul was NOT going to arrive at this spot. He said he thought that the spot to check out was between gates A and B. We thanked him and I told him that I hoped something really great would happen to him for helping us. Kerry told the other people what the cop had said but they said not to believe him and they were going to say where they were. Kerry and I looked at each other and decided that we liked the cop and we believed him so we took off to scope out gates A and B.

When we got there we met up with Kelley from the Macca-L list and some other people. One of the women named Joanne said that her friends had seen Paul enter at that very spot the day before so we were feeling pretty good about where we were. We noticed cop cars parked around and lots of event staff hanging around as well. These were signs that we were in the right spot.

Then this really cute young guy came out with a video camera. I sent Kerry on over to see if she could pump him for info. She did an excellent job. She said that he was Paul's video guy and he was 100 percent sure that Paul was coming in this way. I was ready. I actually offered Kerry to the guy for the weekend for an invite to the after party but I was only kidding ( I think). He video taped all of the fans that were standing there with special interest in me and Kerry. I wouldn't be surprised if I see her in the video that will be released.

All of a sudden we saw flashing lights and black SUVs coming our way. The cop car that had been parked blocking the area moved out of the way and the cars started down the street right in front of us. The window on our side rolled down and there was Paul hanging out of the window, waving and pointing. He looked right at me and pointed at me. They slowed the car down to a slow roll so I got to see him for about a full minute. He looked great wearing a blue stripped shirt. I finally had my wish come true. I got to see Paul up close and personal in a non concert setting and Kerry got a great picture of the whole thing. When it was over I grabbed her, hugged her and started crying. She said to me "you see Mom? You're not that guy anymore". That guy was the guy from the book The Alchemist who owned the crystal shop, had big dreams that never came true because he never did anything to make them come true. She was right. I was no longer that guy and it was all because of her.

We were actually closer that this picture indicates. My dream come true!

Part 2 next time.......

Paul's Coming-AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Here we go again. Paul's coming to Miami on April 3 and I have to be there. There is no way that I am not going to be there. Yeah, ticket prices are loony but over the last few tours I got used to paying gobs of money for decent seats. Now there's the operative word. Decent. Let the mania begin.

Paul playing Jet

Tickets go on sale on Sunday and because I'm a member of the fan club I get in on the presale. In the old days the fan club seats were fantastic. Sixth row center would be the usual and 20th row would have been considered crappy seats. Now I'm fighting with everyone on the internet. It's hard to get good seats these days.

I love the blue backdrop

Now I absolutely must keep my head about me. It's easy to accept lousy seats just to be there and pay hugs prices for them. If I had $1500 I would go for the VIP tickets where you get to get into the sound check but alas I don't have that much. Money is tight these days so that option is out. I must remember that when I log onto Ticketmaster that the first seats that are offered are not necessarily the best ones. I want floor seats and if I have to opt to wait until something goes on Ebay then that's what I must do. The last time I saw Paul, which was in Tampa, I got my seats on Ebay and they were GREAT. I had to pay $100 more than face value but the location was totally worth it. I must remember that when I am trying to score tickets on Sunday. Yeah, right. LOL

Paul from behind 1993

Now here is my other problem. When I found out Paul was coming I was so excited that I told Michele. She is my usual partner for these concerts with me paying for both seats but when I told Kerry about it she said that she would come home for the concert and wanted to go. I remember the last time I took Kerry to see Paul. We had floor seats and she had such a great time. It did my Beatlefan Mom's heart good to see her singing along to every word of every song. She even knew the words to C-Moon which a lot of fans don't know. I was proud. Of course, I'm going to take Kerry but I need a way to tell Michele. I guess I'll just tell her Kerry wants to go. She knows Kerry trumps her.

Paul on a cherry picker going over the audience

Paul and Robbie in 1993

The concert is going to be at Dolphin Stadium. I really wish Paul would go back to the smaller venues like Bank Atlantic Center where I saw him in 2002. I hate these huge stadium concerts. It's really hard to get close and you end up watching on the video screens which is like watching it on TV. However, it's better to do that then not be there. I am going to be there. It will be the 10th time I've seen Paul and may very well be the last. He is, after all, 67 years old and how much longer is he going to be touring. Knowing Paul, his roadies will have to wheel him out in a wheelchair when he's 90. I can only hope. I'm coming, Paulie.

Happy Paul McCartney's Birthday

Today is my Pauly's birthday. Yeah that's what we call him...us fans. We call him Pauly. Well, today is Pauly's 66th birthday. It is a day for celebration and music. I have a busy day today but I will make time between yoga class and the closing to stop listen to Pauly and be happy that I was born at the same time as him. Well, 9 years, 7 months and 11 days after him.

Paul from the White Album

I have so many wonderful memories of Pauly. I remember Shea Stadium in the 60's and flying to NY to see him open at Madison Square Garden in 1989 but my favorite would have to be the last time I saw him which was in 2005. My friend Michele got her husband to fly us up to Tampa. I had really great seats at this concert and I was able to sneak my way up to the third row. I stood there and cried. It was amazing to be so close to my Paul. The security guy kept tapping me on the shoulder and making me go back. After about 10 times Michele stepped in front of him and said "Do you know what dream smasher is? Just leave her alone. She's not hurting anyone". Well, the security guy felt bad for me, listened to Michele and left me alone. There I was. 3 row away. I saw him and he saw me...OMG!! There are no words.

Happy Paul McCartney's birthday to everyone.