EVERYBODY POLKA!
Syracuse OnCenter War Memorial, November 28, 2001

Despite some minor inconveniences, this is seriously one of the best shows I have ever been too -- they seem to get better and better every time I go! Or maybe it was just the fact that my friends and I got MAJOR love from the band that night... It means so much more when you're involved, you know?

I was fifth row center, which was disappointing, especially since there was a Grand Canyon between 3rd and 4th row. But I was sitting among other Ladies Roomers, so I wasn't alone. The local radio station 93Q apparently was Bogarting a lot of the good seats in rows one through three, and many of them were "casual fans" that only knew Pinch Me and One Week; so unfair. The acoustics in the OnCenter War Memorial weren't so hot, and I think they had drywall on the ice instead of some professional-type flooring. I felt more like I was in a high school gym, with the bleachers and everything. The back section of the place was empty, too, but I blame that on the serious lack of advertising for the show and the last minute addition to the schedule. Yet another snafu was the fact that our row was overbooked by one person -- there was one empty seat, and two people showed up for it -- they checked our tickets like 600 times, and finally gave up, leaving us there packed like sardines... I still shook my booty, though -- screw 'em!

MANY thanks to Jeremy's buddy, Mike (I hate both of them for scoring front row, by the way...), for tossing my Canadian granny panties on stage for me! Steve nabbed them right away and put them IN HIS TEETH!!!! Lynette later told me, "When he first saw them and stuck them in his mouth, he gnawed on them like a very happy dog!" He tossed them aside when he found a more interesting red satin number with white fuzzy pom-poms on them (which I admit looked much sexier hanging from his guitar...), but nevertheless, Steven Page ate my shorts -- and appeared to enjoy it! Mary Lynn got a PHENOMENAL photo -- click here to see the enlarged version -- please also check out the Photos section for more pictures. After the show I got to meet him (finally!!!!), and I said to him with a smile, "I gotta ask -- how did my underwear taste?"

His reply: *DEAD sexy smile* "DEE-licious! And VERY Canadian..." He even remembered what they looked like two hours later (although I'm not shocked now, after everyone has told me how much he appeared to enjoy them on stage)! *mrowr* *swoon* *puddle* I'm so glad it worked out, because I did have reservations that I might offend the band by, well, pretty much desecrating their flag... Oh Canada, indeed. :D

I had made a sign that said "Say Hi to BOOGER in Sec 7 Row FF" (my baby brother, Steve), and I got a, "Snot! Hey Snot!" out of Ed during If I had $1,000,000. Post-show, I gave the sign to my brother and he had all the guys sign it.

But, BY FAR, the main highlight of the evening was my friend Jules getting up on stage to challenge Ty to a "Battle of the Champions" on the drums! She made a sign, and Ed saw it first. He asked her if she drummed (yes) and if she was good (yes). MissEY held up the sign higher so Ty could see, and he loved the idea, too! I had no idea this was going on. Suddenly, Ed asks Ty if he is warmed up enough to face a challenge, and next thing I know, Jules is ON the stage! I screamed SO loud I almost threw my back out!

She got herself situated at Ty's kit, and they asked her what she wanted to play: one of their songs, or something else. She tells Jim she wants to do a polka, and motions to Kevin to get his accordion. You should have seen the look on their faces when they heard she wanted to Polka! They were TOTALLY into it, and kicked some serious ass! She was GREAT! I'm impressed and SO proud of her! After she got down from the kit to head off stage, Steve gave her this HUGE bear hug (major jealousy here...), and she got a hug from Kevin, too. Ed then exclaimed, "Take THAT, Tyler, ya sorry-ass muthaf***a!" Afterward, the whole evening was sprinkled with polka references and mentions of her name. Ed dubbed her the Polka Queen of Western New York!

Wanna hear it? Drum Battle of the Champions! [jules.mp3; 3.6 MB]

It was really great to see some of the Darien folks again -- Staceee, Sally, Janie, Mary Lynn, Michelle, Jeremy, jujub (YEAH JULES! POLKA QUEEN!) and everyone else I have promptly forgotten. It was nice to meet some new faces, too -- Brian, Lynette, MissEY, Britney & Mom, etc. Apologies for not remembering everyone. Also, thanks to Britney and her mom for the snowman poop, and Janie for the millions of dollars. The best part about all these shows is that it is like a family reunion with a kick-ass house band...

Meeting the guys after the show was fast and furious... but I don't blame them AT ALL, because it was SO cold and damp out! Frankly, I was happy to get back in my warm car again so quickly. I got my Yellow Tape signed by Jim, Ed, Ty, and Steve, and the Stunt poster I won from Ladies Room was signed by Kevin (all the other guys had signed it in '99, though not with me present). Now that I have the complete set, I got the poster framed, and it's on the wall. John got each of the Ladies to sign one of Janie's million dollar bills.