Alright. First things first. I'm going to be posting pictures. PLEASE, feel free to snag them, but don't take credit for them.
OH MY GOD! My feet are killing me, my arms are tired from being up in the air for the last four hours, and I don't think I have even my sexy voice left. I have not had so much fun since, well, last time I saw the boys.
Bear with me here; I just got back to the hotel, and if I don't have something to drink soon, I'm going to dry up and blow away.
OK, I upgraded my ticket. I was on Hughie's side like 40 rows from the stage, but when I went to will-call to pick up my ticket, I asked if there was a better seat, and there was. 20 rows from the stage directly in front of Jon's mic stand. OMG!! I forked over the $300, ate the $140 my original ticket cost, but damn it was worth it!
Next, Mary (the woman I met on the train) and I headed out and took a few pictures of the Pru and the banners around the area. 
Then we made friends with a pair of DJs that were playing all Jovi all the time while we waited outside in a queue to get in. Mary had them turn the speakers so we could hear better, and bless their 20-something hearts, they agreed. 
We waited in line for aobut 45 minutes, then got into the arena. We headed straight for the t-shirt tables and got our souvenirs. We had a little nosh (crappy hotdogs, but hey, it was fuel) and went to find our seats. We chatted for a while, then Gretchen came on. When she was done, Mary and I hooked up again and chatted while we waited for the lights to go down again. Then, I didn't sit again until I came back here. That's why my feet are killing me. I couldn't get over how small the arena was. 
Maybe it looked small b/c the set was small, but really, I didn't have to look at the video screen at all. I could see everyone's faces, could watch Richie work the talkbox (I need a shower after watching that) and could see Jon's smile light up the place. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Gretchen Wilson ROCKED! 
I felt bad, weren't too many people up and dancing, but I was, dammit. I wasn't going to miss a second of fun!! Her playlist was short, but included (in no particular order; I'll reorder when I get through the recording I made):
Here for the Party
One Bud Wiser
California Girls (dedicated to Paris Hilton ha ha)
There's a Place in the Whiskey
You Don't Have To Go Home
All Jacked Up
Politically Uncorrect
Star Spangled Banner (Instrumental)
Barracuda (cover)
Redneck Woman
I danced my ass off. Literally. There are little bits of it scattered around the Pru (but I don't want them back, thank you very much. I still have plenty of ass left).
OK, I don't know if I got the set list in the right order, because I was too busy keeping my eyes on Richie, and singing. I was so proud of myself, I knew all the words to all the songs.
Intro
Lost Highway
Bad Name
Raise Your Hands
Runaway
Story of my Life
I Love This Town
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Memory
Bounce
Born To Be My Baby
We Got It Goin' On
It's My Life
Captain Crash
These Days (Richie -- siiiigh)
Joey
Last Man Standing
Lay Your Hands On Me
Have A Nice Day
Bad Medicine w/Shout
Prayer
Encore:
Wanted
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Tomorrow on the train I am going to attempt to parse out the recording I made at the show. I hope it came out OK.
Definitely the highlight of the evening was Richie doing These Days.
Alright kidlets, I'm exhausted., It's going on 1:14 now; it's taken me a while to get things uploaded and stuff; I'm gonna hit the sack. I will provide a few more pics from the night, though, just because I care. 
11:46 pm
4:52 pm
OK, I'm ready in record time. I've got snug blue jeans, my Sambora shirt (black T w/SAMBORA spelled across it in gothic letters) which, on the back, I added iron-on letters to spell "Goddess Hathor" just in case someone who "knows" me is there.
I've got a couple of silver bling necklaces on leather cords (no, no skull thank, you very much) giant silver loop earrings, a full inch of silver bangles, my black boots, and a black cowboy hat with a silver scarf tied around it. The scarf ends hang half-way down my back. My hair came out freaking great, and my makeup flawless.
I am so ready.
* hears knock on the door *
MARY'S HERE! Time to go!
I'll check in after the show, I promise!
3:28 pm
I found Mary, and we found our way to the Hilton. I'm so glad I have a buddy to hang with. I'm going to try to hang with her at the show too, see if I can get any closer than I am now.
The Hilton had a room available on the same floor as Mary, and we're meeting up at 5 to go have dinner and to go to the show, which means I have about 15 minutes before I need to get into the shower and wash the travel off of me LOL.
We met a bunch of other ladies who are going to the show, too, and GOD, I'm so excited, I can hardly type. I keep making mistakes and having to backspace and retype. Oops, just did it again.
The room is nice, and only a couple of blocks away from the venue, which is good, because that means we can walk; save ourselves cab fare.
I brought my dock and speakers, so I've got the iPod going; I just can't get enough. I'm listening to Gretchen now; All Jacked Up. Pretty much describes my state of mind right now. Lordie, I am so happy right now!
Alright; time for this dirty birdy to hit the shower and get Jove-tastic for the show. I'll check in later, and will post pictures when I get back.
2:15 pm
They just announced Newark is next, so I’ve gotta run. I’ll check in later, and post this stuff on my non-fic blogsite. EEEEEEEEEEE! Off to find Mary!
1:57 pm
Oh! We’re at Penn Station, NYC now! I think the next stop is Penn Station, Newark! OMG I am so excited I can’t contain the smile. I think I’m going to be grinning until I go to bed tonight. Eh, I probably will grin all the way until I get home. Hell, I’ll be grinning for weeks!
I’m partway through the 2007 CMT Unplugged concert. Hearing Richie play in this set, and getting the opportunity to hear some of the O2 show, and selected songs from the Pru show, you can tell that June was not a good time for the man. He sounds and looks so much better now. AH! I can’t wait to see him sing These Days. I’ve heard it, and seen it on YouTube, but seeing it live is gonna be the bomb. (Yeah, I just said that).
BTW, I’m listening to It’s My Life (the version they did w/AAR) from Unplugged
1:29 pm
One more hour, then I’ll meet up with Mary again (assuming neither of us forget in all our excitement). I hope there’s a room available at the Hilton. It’ll be fun to have a Jovi buddy, and I keep hearing that the other place isn’t in that safe an area. Great.
“Put The Boy Back In Cowboy” is on now. Yee-HAH!
The train is in New Rochelle – it won’t be long now!
12:39 pm
With every station stop, I’m getting more and more excited. We’re in Bridgeport, CT now. Only a few more stops to go!!
12:03 pm
Who was I kidding? There’s no way I was going to sleep. We’re in New Haven now; about half an hour from where my grandmother lives, actually. There are lots of people getting off here. I’ve dug into my stash of granola I had tucked into my laptop bag, and have studiously been ignoring my blackberry. I actually call it my “crackberry” because the damned thing is so addictive!
I’ve got lots of people who I offered to call during the show tonight; I want to share this experience with my friends, even if they can’t be here with me! Some of them are local, so we’ll go together to see them in the Boston area (or Giants’ Stadium if the Jovi machine doesn’t come to Boston). Other friends are not so much local. Through our shared love of this band, I’ve made friends in New York, Michigan, Illinois, Arkansas, California, the UK, all over the place. I can’t say this enough – bonding over this band is instant and gratifying.
I think this is where we switch engines from electric to diesel or something – we’ve been here for a while, and I remember that when I took the train to DC several years ago, we had to stop to switch engines. Of course, things may have advanced since then, but since there are still issues with switches freezing in the winter (and as far as I can tell, as long as there have been railroad track switches in Massachusetts, there has been snow and freezing temperatures) I’m not taking any bets on that.
“These Open Arms” (bonus track from HAND) is on the iPod now. I love this song. I still have no seatmate, so I’m happily dancing and swaying in my chair and not bothering anyone. We’ve been in New Haven for 15 minutes now, and are finally starting up again. I’m up to Lost Highway on the iPod. Sigh. Only a few more station stops and a matter of mere hours until the show now!!! (hey, hey!)
11:15 am
Here we are in New London. This is where I come when I go to the Hamptons. The ferry terminal is across the street from the train station. In fact, a ferry is leaving now. It’s the really small one, where the cars have to back on. Lots of business class passengers getting on here. There are still no takers for the seat next to me. I’m glad. More writing for me! We’re off to the next station! I started the discography yesterday at work, and I’m up to HAND. Welcome to Wherever You Are. Quite apropos, I think.
I love traveling by rail. I wish we (as a society) still did this more often. I enjoy the speed and convenience of flying (although, having a pathological fear of falling, flying isn’t as fun for me as it is for many people). The gentle sway of the cars as the glide across the tracks is very relaxing. The clackety-clack of the tracks is hypnotic. Hmmm, maybe I’ll take a nap.
11:04 am
Stephanie, you'll appreciate this. I'm tweaking again. I so can't wait to "publish" this collaboration. For everyone else who’s going “huh?” check my main page every once in a while. There'll be a new section called "Collaborations" under which I'm moving the QPF links and will put the link to this mystery collaboration. Still no seatmate, Marcus or otherwise (you'll see) so I'm writing away.
I have on glow-in-the-dark nail polish left over from last night, and every once in a while, the car goes dark, and they start to glow. It’s pretty funny, actually.
OK, what part of “I am going to be out of the office for two days on vacation” is hard to understand? I’ve had two calls already from work. I can guaran-damn-tee that once I’m at the hotel (whichever one that happens to be) I’m going to start screening my calls! I’ll also post this, and update periodically, and definitely after the show!
Well, we’re in Mystic, Connecticut now. Nobody appears to be getting on in Business class. Boy did I choose wisely there! It was only twenty dollars more than coach – totally worth it.
10:21 am
OK, my stomach is growling now, so excited or not, I'm off to get something for breakfast LOL.
10:01 am
So, I'm on the way to Newark for one of the Prudential shows. I am RIGHT NOW on the train, in business class, barreling southward down the tracks. At the train station, I met a woman named Mary who is also traveling by herself to the show. She's about my age (no older than 40) with a heart-and-dagger tat on her lower abdomen. She's not in business class, but we're going to hook up when we disembark in Newark. She's staying at the Hilton, about 3 blocks from the venue. I'm at the Ramada in East Orange. I've heard that the area where the Ramada is located isn't the best area, so I'm going to see if I can get a room at the Hilton. I'm so excited to have met a fellow solo traveler! Mary seems so nice, which just goes to show that this band attracts a good class of people. We’re both just so excited to be going, and in our short chat, found that we were at the same Foxboro show last year, though she was in the general admission seats. If the Boys come back to Gillette Stadium, we are SO going for GA seats. Being able to get that close; I'm shivering just thinking about it.
Mary's seat is in the 10th row. She was in the back corner originally, but tried for a better seat and got it. I'm in the second section back from the stage, on Hugh's side. My ticket is waiting for me at will-call, and I'm going to see if I can upgrade. I'd love to be closer. We'll see. The conductor just came through letting us know the club car is open; I think I'm too excited to eat. I'm on the way to see Bon Jovi. God, I can hardly wait.
We're pulling into Providence now; I wonder if I'm going to get a seatmate or not. If I do, that may seriously cut into my writing time. I don't mind having a reading audience, but I don't like having someone read over my shoulder when I'm writing. Most people just don't understand why I write what I do. You see, I write what is called "fan fiction". This is basically fiction stories about famous people, in my case, Bon Jovi. I have written a story featuring the whole band, but mostly Jon and Richie stories, and mostly dirty, sexy stories. Hey, if I'm going to write FF, it's going to be a good fantasy. I've got to take my jollies where I can.
The only downside of the trip so far is that there is no internet connection on the train. I'd love to be posting this as I write it, so you can read along if you care, but I'm going to have to wait until I hit the hotel to do that.
Alright; I'm off to do a little work now. Connecticut will be here before I know it!
5:30 am
OK, so yeah, I couldn't sleep. I'm already up and showered, and waiting to go to the train station. I've got a big duffel bag packed with the essentials, my purse, and the laptop – can't forget the laptop. I've got four and a half hours of uninterrupted writing time. I'm going to be jotting in this journal of course, and I have some work (ugh) I need to get done, but after that, it is free writing time. It's very dark here in Beantown, and the sun hasn't even thought about turning the sky a rosy orange yet. I'm so ready for this, I can hardly stand it. The laptop and iPod are all charged and ready to go, and I'm just waiting. My train leaves at 9:51; a little over four hours to go.
