Ya know.... times were different this past weekend... i was a happy girl! What could be better than getting off my plane to find two lovely ladies waiting for me, one sporting a Ben Folds mask? How could I miss them!? The first thing Leia said: "You're real!" Hugs ensued. We then found "the ben fan mobile" and me Annie and Leia piled in to head to the venue. Lots of comments about being real were made. In awe of the city, i took everything in, amazed, and happy. We arrived at union square and drove around tyring to find a place to park the van, and finally found a place not too far from the venue. However, Annie got lost on the way back to the van and temporarily couldn't find it. :) As we walked closer to teh venue, we met up with Chris, and had our "how do you do's" and then we continued on to find mrsbenfolds and the crew. We caught site, did the slow-mo running to meet up with each other joke, and had hugs and more talk of being real. So at this point, it was me, Kelly, Garrett, Leia, Chris, Greg, and Annie. All sitting around by a tree in front of the crazy horse (a strip club). Supposedly we were harming their business, so before we got there, they had to move to the tree. It was a little circle of fans of sorts. Good times. Bums strolled by constantly, as did the annoying sidewalk washer that wasn't really washing the sidewalk. It kept getting closer and closer to us and then kinda went in a circle around us. He was relentless... he kept coming back.

Alright.  So were chatting, live, in San Francisco, in the ghetto, in front of a strip club.  We got to meet Gregs hetero-life partner pig from Target which was cool.  Later, Ben signed his ass.  Annie, Garrett and Chris decided to go back to the car for the sandwiches.  They were gone quite awhile, cuz Annie temporarily forgot where the van was.  While the were gone, Kelly and I watched Leias road trip video, complete with footage of her pee wee bobble head, dashboard alligator, and their trip the Virginia visitors shack for Virginia is for lovers stickers.  Exchanges between street dwellers occurred, and we all just hung out.  Annie gave a good account of this in her report at www.livejournal.com/users/greyseal.  So after Annie, Garrett and Kelly left to shower, we hung out, and Leia and Chris left to find Joe.

So, Im standing in line, with Pokey and her husband.were thinking man theyve been gone quite a while.  Husband of Pokey told us we could go back there and hed hold the spot, but I felt bad leaving him there.  So we stayed, and soon after, Leia comes jogging around the corner yelling, Barb!  Cmere!  and waving me over.  So were running.  I guess she told Joe that I was there, and I had something for him.  I got pretty giddy.  She then told me that when she said Barb is here he wasnt quite sure who I was, and then after explaining where I was from, he was all, oh yeah, ok!  Me = more giddy.

          So we get back there, Im smiling like a fool, and Joe looks like hes in a great mood.  So we say hellos, and tell him about how my joe came about.  He didnt know my dog but I told him he would have to go download my song from annies site.  So he read it over, This is cute!. laughing.. wow, yeah, Ill definitely check this out  I tell him that its on Annies Joe Fan Site that she would tell him about later.  He folds it up, it goes into his pocket.  Then there was words about the fact that I had a spare for Ben if I felt so inclined.  I said it was my spare. And Joe said Spare for a spare!

          So then I sweetly asked to have a picture, gave Leia the camera, and posed.  The camera wasnt flashing, and Leia didnt know if it took, so we ended up taking 3.  3^rd time was the charm.  So then we looked at them, and noticed that we got Jerry Garcia in there with us, and had a jolly laugh about that.  Then I told him that he was missed in St. Louis, yada yada yada, showed him some of my pictures from there of everyone, and everyone got a laugh out of Zach and his Mohawk.

          Other discussion back there with Joe included talk of how Doug is doing, Robert having dinner with Doug, Joe having a few days off before the san Fran show and getting to go see Blondie with some friends, that Jim Bogios was supposed to be coming that night, the packed guest list of Chicago, etc.  Joe also mentioned that after the Providence show, he gets 6 weeks off.  We asked if Ben will be taking time off, he was all, no, Ben will be busy. But he didnt tell us how or what Ben will be busy with. (could this possibly be the producing of the Shatner album??)  And then was talked about Japan, and what if we showed up there.Joe told us not to. J  And then Chris brought up the time in LA with Shatner and Hanson.  And how someone threw a Hanson shirt, that Joe kept.  Cuz we all know Ben cannot keep everything. Joe explained how Ben often leaves stuff in the dressing room, and that he has left important stuff before But assured Chris that his tape would not get left, because it was in Joes supervision. J  Leia got the scoop from Richard during some of this time.  I was just smiling like a fool for most of it.  So Joe had to go, and we shuffled back to the line.  I was sad that Annie, Kelly and Garrett had to miss Joe.

          So then its back to waiting.  Before the doors opened, Leia and I ventured to the hotel to freshen up, and I had to get my Video/Uncle Walter poster.  We made it back were squished up behind the gates, and finally let into the venue.  We all were lucky enough to sneak in our cameras, and Annie had rather stealthily hidden all her recording equipment.  She was like a secret agent, darting behind columns and under tables ok.. so she just walked casually, but picture her darting its more fun.

          So we secure our spots, and begin the waiting.  We meet all the hardcores around us except the two dorks that only knew the RTS songs and could even sing.  Well ok, the guy could sing one note.  But it all was that same note, just louder and softer.  SO glad we got that on mini disc, yeah.  Oh, and they butted in line anyway, so was mad at them.  Before Duncan came out, we had to configure Annies mics to capture the best sound we disguised them as hair clips.  They got efficiently tangled, and then she just clipped them onto her shirt.  So Duncan came out. It was good times.  Mostly what I remember from that is Kelly and Leia saying (not yelling, just saying) Half Life.. please??? To no avail.  He did not play it.  So then, Joe came out, unveiled the piano. Set things  up, etc.  Ben comes out.

          He started with Dont Change Your Plans, and this immediately made me happy.  More fun ensued.  See the setlist.  I rather enjoyed singing the harmonies in Say Yes, and watching Ben talk to us with his GQ stance (see Annies pictures).  Another big highlight for me, was the drum solo on SLNIT.  I hadnt seen this phenomena in St. Louis, and I was thoroughly enthralled.  However, during the drum solo, a venue guy came up and bitched us out about flash photography, but then he left.  At one point, I remember it was after the 3^rd time I showed Ben my poster I leaned over to Annie and said He SO denying me!  (see Annies recording) hee hee.  I wish he had played video.  But afterward, he did apologize. J

          So it was almost over, and during SFTD, he told us to sing the first Fuck you too with lots of heart, and to really get all the anger out during that one.  And then for the second one, we were to be completely silent to let the namesake of the song be known.  This as we all know was Summer, who was there.  Drunken people in the balcony decided to not shut the fuck up, and so Ben said he could do this all night, and kept starting over, til finally , it worked, and we all heard summer scream fuck you too.  Then of course it was the normal.. sing-dream on-while Ben exits.  Clean up began.  Annie got a water bottle from Richard, we all ceremoniously drank from it, and were changed.  Changed in the way that we werent thirsty anymore.  And changed in the way that we had all just drank off Bens water bottle.  Some of us bought shirts, I took a pic of Annie and the janeane garafalo picture, and we headed outside to sit on the curb and wait for Ben.

          Dot Org pictures were taken, (eric?) just about got run over while being the cameraman.  So Ben came out, and almost left.  But he came back, and signed stuff, and Richard took pictures for everyone.  Ben signed my poster, and apologized for not playing, it.  I took the pic of him and I, myself.  And Ben was allhey, nice camera, I have one just like it.  Awesome!  So I was all smiles and I looked at Joe with this grin of utter happiness on my face, and he just smiled back and gave me a loving pat on the back.  I realized later how much that meant to me.  Joe was happy to see me so happy.  It was really nice.  So then before we left, we made Annie go talk to Joe about her site, and he gave her hugs! J  He was like, Awe.cmere!  I was so happy for her.

          So it was over. Well the concert anyway!  We walked around, got some water at Walgreens, and then found a diner.  We were all pretty much out of it.  Kelly doesnt even remember me taking pictures there.  At the diner, is where we began to eat fries lots of them It seemed like that was the staple of the trip.

          We eventually said goodbye to Pokey and Husband, and wandered back to our hotel.  We chilled out, listened to bits of the recording and amused ourselves with the fact that you can hear us.  Bed arrangements were made, but sadly, Kelly had to shimmy to the floor at one point in the night.

DAY TWO

          We got up the next day, showered up, and I realized that my flight didnt leave at 12:30am on Sunday, it left on 12:30pm on Sunday.  I was happy cuz I got to stay longer.  As we got ready, we had Interview with the Vampire on tv.  The line times were different then, I was a young man graced our presence and has stuck with us since.  Chris, Sergio, and their posse met up with us at the hotel.  Chris was sporting his expensive, but very cool red pants.  According to him, the most expensive article of clothing he owns.  On the other hand, Leia was sporting her equally awesome red cords, from Walmart, $10.  And while Im on the topic of outfits. Annie decided to be that guy and wear a Ben shirt, but she really wasnt being that guy but she felt dumb.  I thought it was cool.  Chris was wearing the shirt he just bought at the concert, so it was all good.  So enough about outfits.

          We headed out, and grabbed some grub before really going on our whirlwind tour of San Francisco.  Kelly and I had cheeseburgers, with the oddest special sauce ever.  It was like, pale green.  While we ate, Garrett called his girlfriend and looked very san Franciscan out on the phone.  Chris and Leia went to find somewhere to pawn some ice skates so Chris could have some money.  They didnt find a place.  So when we left, Chris just set the skates on the sidewalk and we left them.  Annie bought another disk for her digital camera, and we continued on to China Town.

          On our way there, we walked up about 3 mountains.  The smokers in the group, (just Chris I believe) about died before we got to the top.  But we made it, and then continued DOWN the hill to China Town.  We went into some shops.  Leia bought a dress for Katy, and we just kinda milled around China Town.  We started walking back, and Kelly stopped to call her friend that lived nearby.  This is when we took the infamous tattoo picture where we put Bens face over mine and I pointed to Leia and Chris tattoos.  Great picture.  Then we walked back to Union Square and went to the FAO Shwartz to play brick or evaporated on the big piano.  Turns out, it was too small, but we took pictures.  Then it was time for Chris, Sergio and their posse to go.  So we parted ways.  Hugs were had, goodbyes were said, and Kelly, Garrett, Annie, Leia and I headed to the bus stop to go to Height and Ashbury.

          We caught our bus, and luckily got seats.  We talked to a couple locals about any karaoke bars that might be nearby, and enjoyed the ride.  Id say, (and I think everyone would agree with me here) that the highlight of the bus ride, was stopping near the Fuket Thai restaurant.  Fuket jokes ensued for the rest of the trip.  We made it to Height and Ashbury.  Annie bought a bag, with a perfect MD pocket.  We stopped at a wannabe army surplus store that kinda sucked, and also at aaardvarks thrift shop.  It was expensive thrift stuff.  But we did find Roberts blue shirt there.  We also stopped to appreciate their window display that sported Elton glasses just like the ones Leia gave to Ben.  Then we headed to Amoeba Music.  We were going to meet up with Kellys friend here, and just basically look around the place.  As I walked in, it was like I heard a choir of angels singing from the heavens.  There were people busily walking about, and all that lay before me was the vast sea of great music just waiting to be shuffled through.  We were there a long time, and I spent too much money. My cds had a running theme though.  Coincidentally (I didnt plan this) they were all artists that have opened for Ben.  Divine Comedy, Duncan Shiek, Clemsnide, and the Citizen Cope cd that was only $1.  I also bought the still fighting it single.  Kellys friend wasnt showing up, and by this time it was dark outside, so we made our purchases and waited outside.  Shortly, Michael showed up, and we headed back to the bus stop to head back to the van.

          On the way back, we had another laugh when we passed the Fuket Thai place again.  So we hopped off the bus, and reminisced as we walked down the very sidewalk that we had met Ben on, mere hours before.  We all hopped in the Ben Fan Van and headed to find a place to eat.  After parking the van, we found a place just around the corner.  It was called Larrys Bohemian Grill or something.   They had good food.  And Leia picked some songs on the jukebox, but as it turned out, some MORONS picked like 30 songs before us, so we never got to hear Leias.

          We headed back to the van, and went on a little tour of san Fran.  We hit the Golden Gate Bridge, went over it, and the back over it again.  And went down the curviest road.  That was kinda scary in the van, but fun.  We incidentally drove by the karaoke bar that was suggested to us, and then headed for the Bay Bridge to take Michael home.  Michael was going to let us crash outside his house in the van, we were grateful.  So you can imagine our elation when Michaels parents let us stay inside on their couches and spare beds!  So we all came in, and situated ourselves.  Annie brushed her teeth and turned a little crazy for awhile, and fun pictures were taken.  We were hanging out in the den, (just the one den, during the tour Leia thought there were two dens and she was in awe of this , but there was really just the one) and as I was sitting on the couch, I looked over to my right, and saw, sitting there on the arm of the couch, a beanie lobster.  I grabbed it.  I immediately was laughing so hard I was crying.  Then I showed everyone.  We all cracked up, and decided to do our own lobster magnet video.  Soon after, we all fell asleep.

          In the morning, we were greeted by Michaels mom who gave us bagels, apples and oreos!  It was so nice!  We had to hurry off to the airport.  First we dropped off Leia.  We were all pretty sad.  Leia walked away, and then it was my turn.  Hugs, pictures, goodbyes.  Then I was by myself again.  A weary traveler.  I was able to catch an earlier flight out of San Francisco, and had a smooth flights back to KC.  It was a long day though.  I looked through my pictures several times, missing everyone.   And I listened to all my new cds.  It was a trip I will not forget.  It was the coolest thing to meet up with Ben fans at a concert, and then to spend 2 wholes days together was just a phenomena. Im sure I left things out.  Ive thought a lot about the trip, so hopefully I got everything!