Okay, so this blog is a re-cap of my experience to Richmond, VA for the JB concert at the VA State Fair...
October 4, 2007- Thursday
Okay, so Amanda and I end up waking up at like, 7 AM. Kind of crazy, but we had to do it. Our train was schedule to leave La Crosse around 10:47 AM. So, we both got up and got showered (seeing as we wouldn't be able to take another until the next day, at night! ew!) So once we were all done with that, we double checked and made sure we had everything. Once we were good, we headed out.
We stopped at the gas station and bought some breakfast and some sun screen. Once that was all settled, we headed for the train station. Gahh, we unloaded everything, waved goodbye to my mom, and then proceeded inside.
There weren't many people in there yet, so we sat down and ate our food. We took a few pictures and sat in an unnerving silence that made us even more nervous. More and more people were coming now and we were getting scared. Good thing we weren't the only people with big suitcases, hahaha.
So, 10:40 rolls around and everyone starts heading outside. I'm freaking out and don't know what to think. And then the train shows up and everyone gets their tickets out and shows them to the conductor.
Once the the train, Amanda and I find out that we are on the second level and have to drag our HUGE suitcases AND carry-ons up a narrow flight of stairs. Good. Lord. (When we workers tell you to leave your cases by the rest of the suitcases, LISTEN TO THEM.)
Okay, so now we're rolling. It's noisy, cramped and still a little scary. We go through a ton of stops and little towns, and once we got closer to Milwaukee, the conductor comes on and says that Milwaukee is a smoking stop...and that they would have plenty of time to do that. Sooo... Amanda and I thought it would be wise to get off at that stop to use a 'decent' restroom. BAD IDEA. Once we were done in the restroom, we got back to the train... and FOUND OUT IT WAS LEAVING WITHOUT US. We freaked out and even shed a few tears. We should have listened to the guy on the train when he said that people have missed their trains once they got off. Soo, we had to wait 30 minutes for a new train to Chicago, where we PRAYED that our luggage would be. Once in Chicago, we ran like Hell through the whole place trying to find the passenger service place. Once we found it, we ran in the doors and IMMEDIATELY, I looked to my left and saw our luggage!! yay! So once the lady checked us off, we were back on track.
We ran upstairs to the food court area and ordered some pizza hut. We didn't have time to eat, so we rushed down to our gate and waited in line for our 5:35 PM departure. Well, 5:30 rolls around and the train is DELAYED. Big Time. We ended up waiting for the train for an extra hour and a half, with everyone getting tired and cranky. Finally, the train arrived and we all boarded.
Amanda and I ended up near the family section, with all of the little kids and babies. Woah, sooo bad. There was a mother who was swearing at her kids, telling them to shut up, practially forcing them to sleep and look after their baby brother... ALL WHILE SHE WENT TO SLEEP. Ugh, so rude. She pissed me off, to be honest. Also, Amanda got attacked by all the little people. Oh man.
Okay, so this train was the one that went on for over a day, which ment sleeping in coach. ewww. uncomfortable!! and by the way, I almost fell on the Amish guys walking back from the bathroom.. ROTFL. ALSO, our train was delayed for almost THREE HOURS all because of stupid Freight Traffic!! Omg, that put us wayyy out of wack. Grrr!!!
October 5, 2007- Friday
We're only in Ohio and we're hella hungry. Soo, we decided to hit up the dining car. We ended up sitting with some of the rich people, who pryed into our lives like they depended on it... Umm weird. The rest of the ride was boring and uneventful. More kids screaming and crying, little girls staring at us, weird scenery... and more Amish. bahahaha.
We finally got to Charlottesville, VA around 8-something, with an hr and a half bus ride to Richmond. We walked off the train and it was SOO WARM. We both had sweatshirts on from the train, so that was a shocker. We boarded the bus and made our way with the other 50-some elderly people, who were on their Way to Miami, FL. They were hilarious.
RICHMOND!!! To sum it up: cab drivers drive like MORONS, Richmond Marriot Front deskmen are RUDE...and the concierge guy who liked talking about JB and Backstreet Boys, well, he became my hero. Bahahha. Also, the room service was AMAZING.
Goodnight. Busy day ahead!!
P.S- Going to the fitness room at 1AM totally pwns.
October 6, 2007- Saturday
We woke up early only because we had to. Our hair apt's were scheduled for 11 AM at Legends Salon in Carytown. Once we were all cleaned up and ready, we took some pictures and went down to the lobby. There were a ton a fancy-dressing people, which made me feel out of place. Oh well. We got a scary cab driver which took us to (s)Carytown and gave Amanda his card, telling her to call him if we needed a ride home.
Once in the salon, everything seemed great. Amanda went off with Brian and I went off with Kate. We had cool people wash our hair, who say things like, "Scoot your tooshie back" or "i'm going to make you a swan"...
Yeah, idk, maybe I misheard him. Hahaha. Anyways, our hair turned out great! We thanked and tipped our people and then left. We walked out feeling refreshed and slightly dolled up. So where do you go when you feel refreshed and all dolled up? MCDONALDS!! Hahaha, no lie. We had a quick lunch there and then decided to call the cab driver. We told him to meet us at McDonalds, and he said he would. Well, after an HOUR of waiting, he never showed, so we left and decided to go shopping.
We went to a place called Occassionally Handbags, where I bought my sister an Orange Flask for her 23rd birthday, and a new bracelet for me. Yay! We visited another store next door to that one, where, I kid you not, we were attacked by a little chiuwawa (sp?) dog. Yeah, we left quite quickly.
So, we're outside and we tried calling like 5 other taxi numbers. We got one that said they would come get us, BUT NEVER DID. We waited AGAIN, for like an hour and they never showed up. We ended up walking for a few minutes and decided to ask a bus driver if he went by our hotel, AND HE DID =) yay. it was sooo much better than a taxi. woo! Once we got back to our hotel, we stayed there. None of that, "we're gonna leave you at your destination" crap for us.
So, we stayed in our room and ordered the internet on the tv thing. that was crazy. everything looked so weird seeing it on the tv. around dinner time, we ordered room service again. And then a while after that, we headed down to the pool area. We had the hot tub to ourselves. After roasting in there for a while, we went back upstairs and got ready for bed. Once we were in our pajamas, I whipped out my handy dandy markers and paper, and we began making our signs for tomorrows c..)
"JB's Gomer Squad" and "Do you know the muffin man?" CLASSICS. After a few times in the hall to see how far away we could read the signs, and locking amanda out of the room, we headed to bed. Afterall, Sunday was going to be a long day... but, it ended up being the best day ever.
October 7. 2007- SUNDAY
It was the day of the Jonas Brothers concert. Joey Page and Jump 5 were the opening acts. Amanda and I were freaking out, it wasn't even funny. We ate breakfast, but it still didn't make us feel better. We showered and got dressed and finally left the room. We had called a cab to pick us up the night before, and we waited for them outside. When they didn't show, we went inside and called them. The guy was in the right spot, just not by the door. We came around and we were finally off to the Fair.
Once we got dropped off, we ran across the street to buy some sun screen. I know I bought some, but I was forgetful and left it in my carry on bag. So, we ran back across the street and got into the fair. We walked around and it was SOO WARM. It was a bad idea to wear pants that day.. So then Amanda (another girl who I was going to give my other pair of tickets to, texts me, and tells me shes at the fair... but at the wrong gate that Amanda and I are at. Sooo, we had to walk to the other side of the fair, in the heat, to find the girl. It was a quick hi and hello, swapping of money and tickets, and then leaving.
Amanda and I then went across from the amphitheater to a grassy area, and not to mention shady. We stayed there for bit, until we got up and bought some ice cream. Then we saw another line that was forming to get into the concert area, so we joined them. We were really far back, but it was assigned seating, so we weren't complaining. Finally, they start letting everyone in, and once we get in, we go to one guy to help us find tickets. He tells us to go to another guy. We go to that guy, he says the same thing. We walk over to another guy, AND he tells us to go to another guy. What the heck. So, we're at the last guy and I show him my ticket for Row J (9 rows back) and he was like, "you're in the second row, the two seats on the end". OMG, we're freaking out and walking to our seats. We are SO close to the stage, and wondering what luck we had. We saw soo many people that were familiar, it was crazy.
Joey Page even made a few quiet appearances on the side of the stage! Caught his eye a few times. Soo, it's finally his time to come and perform AND he ROCKED! And Joey... you KNOW you wanted to throw that shirt to me. I saw you look at me with that look... hahaha, but I forgive you! I'm sure that guy enjoys it much more than I would have... LOL. kidding.
Jump 5 wasn't too bad. Chris and Brandon became mine and Amanda's heros. They were cool. Also, Mr. Koonalicious and I shared a pretty sweet picture moment during Jump 5's set. Yeah, it made for a ton of giggles. Even till now.
And yayyy JB time!! It was totally worth a 17 hour trip. AND, getting to be up near the stage was even better!! And thanks to Joe, he made the concert even more memorable. Though I think it's rude to stare at people, when it's a Jonas, you just can't turn that down! hahaha. Hello Beautiful will always be special now 
Okay, so after Y3K is over with, everyone flocks out of the concert area, while Amanda and I sat back in our seats. Once it was a little less crowded, we made our way to the back, where we noticed Jump 5 and Joey having their meet and greets. We jumped in line and waited. And waited some more. And even more waiting. Finally, we bought a Jump 5 poster for them to sign, and boom, there they were. The girls were snobs and didn't say a word to us. Chris and Brandon were the only ones talking to us and being nice. Thanks guys!! So then.. we walk into another line for Joey's meet and greet... and it takes sooo long. We entered the m&g line at 5:40 and didn't get near Joey until close to 8:30!
So, in the mean time, Joey's choreographer, JoJo, was keeping the crowd entertained. He was taking pictures, making videos of us saying, "We love Joey Page!!" and was handing out sweet wristbands. Amanda and I even got his autograph.
Eeek, so we finally get up to Joey and I ended up going first. I handed him my picture and he asked for my name. I said Kim, and then I asked him if he remembered me from myspace. His head shot up right at me, and he said, "Girl, please!" So I laughed and was like, "just making sure!" so while he's taking his time with his signature, we're talking to him mom, who by the way, is a super nice person! She was asking us where we were from, and I was like, "Wisconsin..." and her jaw dropped. No lie. She was literally so shocked. She asked how the trip was, and I had to say it was horrible. Joey was now listening, and then I asked him for a picture, and he said of course. So he walked around the table, and I walked over to him and he was like, "aww, come here!" with that, he wrapped me in the biggest bear hug I've ever been in. Amanda took our picture, and it's officially the greatest moment in my life's history. Thanks Joey ♥ So then Amanda is up with Joey and he almost starts writing Mandy, and then also starts singing Mandy, hahaha. classic. She gets her picture with him and it's magicallll. We're on cloud 9 basically. And oh, she told him that he smells good. Which he really did. 
So we finally leave the fair, had taxi trouble again, and it took us like an hr to finally get back to the hotel. The details are boring and I don't feel like typing them all. But we can say that the Virginia State Fair was the best thing to happen to us the whole trip!
October 7/8- Monday/Tuesday
Yay for leaving Richmond. Hotel took wayyy too much money out of Amanda account and didn't put it back in once we paid with cash. Bastards. So that worried us and she kept calling. Finally they said they would put it in in a few days. Soo... heck yes we're leaving Richmond. Relieved to leave the horrible-ness that happened, yet sad to leave all of the good memories that were made. =(
So, Richmond to Washington D.C, D.C to Chicago, Chicago to La Crosse. The longest and most uncomfortable day and a half in my life. From 90 degree weather at 8 PM... to 48 degrees at 7:30 PM. Yeahh, we froze when we got home and off the train. It was perfect. I missed my cold Fall weather!!
Anyways, that was our trip in a "not so small" nutshell. It was a long trip, but it ended up being great in the end. Thanks to some wonderful new people that we met. For pictures, go check out my VA album!!