Andye and Carri’s Travel Fan Experience

While in transit to Sunset Station where the next set of meetups and show were to be  (Carri and the team headed on over to the SF show) I got a distressed phone call. It was Carri…in transit to San Francisco. She explained that she couldn’t find her show tickets. I had feared this being the case since the day she got the tickets. We bought several sets for the team and now ours were in jeopardy. I had extra tickets but I knew others wanted to buy some of them and I knew our show experience should match that of Orange County…and that meant we needed her particular seats. I told her she would most likely have to fly back to LA and help Kai search her home for the tickets. We hung up the phone. I felt sick.

Then I remembered Curt sending me a message that I left my tickets with them. I told him those were just receipts and I was so sorry that such debris was left in the box (good heavens, what else had I left behind? A tear soaked tissue? I dreaded to think). But at that moment, I realised he was talking about Carri’s tickets. I began to shake and tremble dialing Carri’s number…I’d have to explain to her that Curt had the tickets and she didn’t leave them in LA. I braced myself because I knew she was gonna freak out…and she did. I warned the driver that it was about to get loud in the backsteat. Speaking loudly, with long drawn out OMGs, Carri said she kept telling herself to be careful with the tickets but must have forgotten to separate them from her stuff and the band.  I replied to Curt re-confirming that he was right (egg all over on my face, spilling onto my lap). I said something like, “Good man, I’m sorry, those are Carri’s tickets. She got nervous…blahh blaah…” even the driver (who is also a fan) was shakng his head in shame for me. Wow, how embarrassing…

I checked into the hotel and casino and started setting up electronics, working remotely on media assignments and juggled fan logistics for those who were coming in early. I was stressed but I knew I had to stay focused. Captain Julian and Alisa (Scurvy Dawg) of WildWorld  were coming in and I (Alice, the Salty Dawg) wanted to be ready to roll for whatever was needed. I took a long walk through the hotel and checked out the pool area. I couldn’t tell if the tiny white chairs were set up for the show or something else. The set up didn’t look the same.

Relieved and embarrassed, Carri was able to retrieve the tickets from the TFF  team later that night (I know lady Tanya was uber helpful in that…and I heard Janice Whaley was too? Thanks!!) Apparently, it had become quite a conversation piece among the band. We were mortified and came to an agreement that “I” will handle all logistics under all circumstances going forward.

With that taken care, I went to bed in my new Turquoise Peacock blue TFF shirt and drumstick (I couldn’t find the Captain and didn’t think it was appropriate to hunt for him). Just before that, I lept in the bathtub, swim suit and all (it was new, the pool was closed and I wanted to try it out) then fell asleep with band merch all around me. Silly? Ridiculous? Pft, ain’t no shame in my game, I’ll do whatever it takes to get to sleep after a stressful day like that.

Friday-Monday -The Orzabal Ship comes to life w/Kooks &Shipmates in tow

Friday…
I got up at like 8am, ran downstairs checking every social media platform, my phone, everything… Fans friends had sent me a ton of material and pictures from San Fran. I was clicking this and saving that. Still Josh Debord’s material won out over all and Jeanie Paloma was spot on it making sure we got his contact info.

I went to the pool area and the concert venue to see how everything was set up for the show. The tiny white chairs from the night before were still there. I did not like this. It looked uncomfy and I was sure we’d be miserable and too close together in the blazing heat of the day.

It got hotter as I stood there. I went over to the staff and got a Cabana because I knew we’d never manage in that heat. Traci showed up, then SheeShee and Mark…and many others…I started drinking…slowly floating into this sleepy state of no-man’s land. I realised, Andye and heat don’t mix…When Mark and SheeShee left I started to pass out…I laid down…and Traci was talking…I heard only 10% of it…and then the next thing I knew I was having a reaction… Not causing a scene I get up…and I ask Traci to follow me in case I need to be rolled to the door. It’s about 2:30pm. I’m headed back upstairs to get benadryl…cause Im looking like a balloon. Then Traci stops talking…I think I hear my name…I’m thinking what the hell is the hold up? I turn around…and I see… CAPTAIN JULIAN ORZABAL… and there I was looking…like…a balloon. Soaked and unhealthy…I start to gasp…

Now we adopted a no scream policy two years ago and I’ve been good if not damn near perfect at not passing out or superfan screaming when I see the band or their families close by. In fact my blood pressure drops and I’m quite civil and cheery when they are around. But not this time. I let out a loud gassppppp and went slowly to the ground. In my head I’m screaming, It’s Hiiiiimmmmmmm. But sanity kicked in and I quickly stood up and shook his hand as if we were about to have a business meeting. It was a lovely encounter.

Mortified and angry with myself for drinking in the heat, I contemplated going to the hospital because I was THAT sick and looking nothing like my online photos past or present. But I scooped myself together and went back for what turned into Cabana nights…

We hung out all afternoon. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! More people arrived…Carri and the San Fran crew made it safely to the hotel and the SS DelaQ party began. I don’t know what more to say. I was fairly speechless…(there’s a video of all the hugging going on at the lower end of the page). We stayed until the pool closed and then it was time for the night time shenanigans.

We went upstairs to get ready for dinner. I told Carri to just please bear with me because at some point I knew I was gonna cry from gratitude. Didn’t take long, I fell on the bed and wailed…and wailed..and wailed some more. I have admired Captain since I was 14yrs old. Why? That’s between me and G-d. To finally see him…was more than I could bear…I had to cry and get it over with. My ultimate wishes had been fulfilled. Just as KMK asked us back in 2004 on the official TFF fan site, “What would you do with 24 hours and the band…” I said…a resort and a show.. and there I was…living the dream.

Then we went to dinner with Deb and team in tow. Captain went with Rise, Alisa and other pirates to sweet Lady Liz’. We tried to stay up late but I was still sick. Back in the room Carri and I sat in bed looking at each other, Jamie’s drum stick in my hand. Hers on the suitcase. We could barely speak…just staring at videos from San Francisco, watching Pale Shelter and all the songs from Josh and other fans…anticipating the next 24 hours.

Day of the show. I’m nervous. Where are Roland and Curt? Are they already in the hotel? I get a note from the Captain asking what’s on the agenda for the day. I say, “drinking and cabana time” to be funny. Then I went downstairs to camp out in the cabanas and swimming pool. And that’s exactly what we did. The Cabana teams brought us drinks til 3pm (instead of strait shots mine were mixed with various berries of this, that and the other to prevent any repeats of yesterday). Then Carri and I headed upstairs and started getting ready. Poor Carri didn’t eat a thing. She couldn’t find her contacts and accidentally ate my previously chewed bagels because she couldn’t see hers. I let her deal with her blindness while I pulled out my jewelry and turned on “Floating Down a River” so I wouldn’t get verklempt and forget the words. Cause, remember Curt caught me slip up in Orange County… I was determined to keep that from happening again.

We made plans to do a group picture that night around 5pm. People trickled in off and on and the location changed about 4 times. Some came upstairs like Becky (Texas) Candra (New York) Yyvette (Armenia) and her husband. I wasn’t much of a host as I was sidetracked when Curt posted a picture of himself in the Keep Calm and Carry On shirt, a slogan I had been tweeting all day to remedy the confusion and panic of the ticket situation.

Sheila/SheeShee was sweet and kept a group together so at 7pm and we all got crazy shots with Captain Julian. Then we rushed off to the show. Rushing and forgetting my infamous yellow fan, the incredible Captain J comes running over to me and gives it to me. Weeks after that you could see pictures of Julian floating around the internet with that fan in his hand. It’s mine. LOL.

Merch table was sweet. More items and brightly coloured tshirts. More waterbottles and Carina Round souveniers. You name it, they had it, we bought it…there are very few items left.

!!!The Show!!!
Carina Round didn’t get upset at the audience and was well received.We sat extremely warm and snug in those seats connected together. We were careful because if you moved too much you really pissed off the person next to you. I think my arse fit just perfect which was a relief.

The show started big and bold, Curt right in our faces, Roland to his left just as gorgeous as the day is long and the supporting team of talented guys Charlton, Jamie and CJV blaring on their instruments. Life rarely gets any better than this. EWTRTW and the whole set from before was played… and like clockwork we danced, moved, sang and hit the notes right on time with the band. There were jokes…about dolls. Now, anyone that follows me on Facebook knows I love dolls and have wanted some Tears for Fears dolls since I began collecting in my youth. Roland said that one fortunate person would find a set of dolls and could go backstage afterwards. Now, I believed it. I looked under my chair but Roland then said, “wait, looks like we have a winner in the back…see us after the show.” I didn’t cry but I was effin pissed. I wanted a doll and I wanted to see Roland again. Just for a few minutes.

More songs played and then afterwards Roland talked about his brother being there and we all screamed “We love you Julian.” Then he said he too had a doll under the seat…that’s when I realised it was the Orzabal humour, the same humour that let me know there would be no garage sale on the lawn of the guys’ homes and I couldn’t purchase the toaster, kitchen wear or socks…yeah, that was me. Now you know. I’m so gullible.

The wind blew a little but Curt’s shirt was wet as was my salwar kameez. I fanned Carri so she wouldn’t pass out, we sipped water between songs as if we were onstage with the band (We need to work on that, come on guys, let us sing along onstage one day in a clap section on Head Over Heels. We’ll clean up good! we’ll practice). I couldn’t get enough of that night despite the heat. Who cares how hot it was…we were with Tears for Fears baby!! Gold!!! It was Gold!!!

After the show we interviewed an gentleman named Graham (originally from Birmingham England) who was escorting his family on the tour. He has been in the US for 33years. He said he played Tears For Fears latest ELAHE for his neighbourhood and his family. They became obsessed with it and travelled from Ohio to the show. We have video of some of the conversation and will try to get it online soon.

That night we hung out in the lobby til the wee hours of the night. I think we drank and planned future meetups, fan conferences, etc til Julian went to bed. Then we followed (not with him but to our own beds)… Although I’m sure many of us were up for a big slumber party and I’d have gladly hosted the whole crew in my suite…blankets and a shot of baileys for everyone!!

Sunday was recovery day…back to the Cabana, more drinks, snuggling with each other til we nearly cried. Roland and Curt came downstairs and were on their way out. Then Alisa comes walking out to the Cabana and tells me to shake her hand. She smells lovely and I’m trying to figure out what it is she’s wearing. She says, “I just shook Roland’s hand.” Ahhh so that’s what it was, Roland’s cologne!! The cologne of which we’ve been trying to get the name of for over 3 years!! I start wiping it on me. Then she tells me the story of how she nearly knocked him down because she ran in the door to go get her children. She was scanning the room in a rush and almost ran right past him til she caught herself just before twisting into an upright angle to shake his hand unconsciously. Again, we try not to bother him so not even a handshake is gonna be initiated from us and that’s an order. He shook her hand and she gave up the chase for the kids who by chance came out with me. Alisa can tell the story better than I can. Go on and ask her.

I swear from 10am til 4pm we just hugged and sat in the Cabana and drank. Carolyn drank the Captain’s beer (by accident she says). Deb and I started crying (not necessarily b/c Captain’s beer got nabbed -we made sure he got replacement…poor Lady Carolyn has been deemed the mead nabber since the day). Deb had a great excuse for our tears; she claimed we had a case of the vapors! Then we sang EWTRTW together. I messed it up and we had to start all over again.

Then it got too hot. Time for a pizza party in my suite! Then off to the strip to take care of business…yes, the shipmates running around down the boulevard making it do what it do…hilarious…and hot. I was of no help (I seriously felt useless), melting but majestic running around with the team. We got done late in the night and headed back to the casino to get ready for Monday plane rides. I wanted to die. Why did this have to end?

I scored a cool Hello Kitty doll while walking with Julian. I cherish it. It’s a band cat. And that cat and I curled up in our cushy Delta seats. When I got back, I gave myself a week to unpack slowly, then donated everything to charity as it was Eid, and I perched, sitting ready for the next one…which I trust is in 2014. Plenty of time for us to get ourselves together.

We all sat online with TFF Japan fans and The Philippines’ TFF Kooks. We slowly got back to eating normal and buying luxuries like nail polish. And we’re just waiting patiently cause nothing else matters but G-d and the band right? This is our family and we’re sticking with it.

And we all lived happily ever after…

(snippet from Pale Shelter, Cheers Carri! &Thanks!)