Carmen & Tim in Vegas
A story by our Mapdot Diva...
Well!!! The time FINALLY came... My much anticipated first time visit to Sin City! Thanks to wonderful friends!! I left my house about 7 a.m. on Thursday morning, to fly out of Monroe about 9:30. My dad took me to the airport... he waited a little while; then had to go... Patience isn't his strong suit... A co-worker of mine, Danny Breard, came to say good-bye and bring me well wishes from TriStar.... I'm so thankful that I work with people who understand my Tim "habit" and get excited for me when I get to have Tim adventures... My hour and a half layover was in Houston and I got there and found my gate with no problems... The flights were ok... It's not my favorite thing to do; but for time issues, you can't beat it... This was only my 4th time to fly; so I'm not really a veteran...lol - I got into Vegas about 1:30.... with a welcoming committee of several smiling faces.... Shel!! Thanks for my "sign". It made me feel like a "diva"...We waited around until Maria's flight arrived.... We also had the treat of seeing the Dancehall Doctors arrive.. Said a few hellos to them and said we'd see them around....We had two chauffers, Chris & Bruce throughout the trip... Thanks you two for being our Sin City Guides!!! We went to check in and get settled in before deciding what to do for the evening... I stayed at the Luxor; which has a theme of Egyptian Pyramids... It was very nice and the decor was awesome... I think I couldn't have stayed anywhere else....since I am a Memphis Bag Lady; given our name at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis... We got settled in... Some went to gamble or to check in their motels... There were several who weren't arriving until later in the evening.... Maria, Crystal & I went to eat at the buffet there in the Luxor... I had gotten a sinus infection or something and felt AWFUL! I hated to be a party pooper; but knew if I didn't get some meds and rest, I'd feel terrible on Friday... So, I wimped out and went to bed....
On Friday morning, I felt MUCH better and was ready to experience Sin City... We met up with some more of the gang, including Rene' and her assistant, Vanessa. Those that had tickets to the shoe show; which was a private show that Tim and the guys were doing on Saturday night, picked up their packets... We ate breakfast at a little place; most feasting on Krispy Kreame....Then it was on to the Mandalay to check out the scene.. Some of the gals went ahead and started gambling... A few having GREAT luck!!! Rene' put a dollar in for me and I pushed a few buttons... Of course, I had no clue what I was doing and lost her buck...SORRY< GIRL! Then it was on to meet up with more of our gang for lunch...We had a few gifts for Sheila; who's expecting in April... This was her last Tim trip for a while as she and Mike & Michael await their little angel....We also recorded a message for the website; which will hopefully be posted soon... The Get-Together was at the Island Lounge... Rene' had invited the DHD and Betty, Tracey & Sandy... All of the guys arrived as well as Betty and the girls.... It was not organized; but they did pose for pictures and signed autographs... It was awesome for them to come and spend some of their downtime with us... My goal had been last year to get my picture made with all of the guys.... I had Jeff, Deano & Billy; and was able to get David, Bob, Denny and Deano & Billy again.. I'd get one with Darran after the show... Which leaves me John and JP...It was awesome to meet up with friends who I hadn't seen in a while and to meet new friends that I'd never met before.... Then it was on to the pre-party!!!
We got ready to go to the pre-party; Bruce was my date!!! After over a year of doing these pre-parties, I would've thought that people would've learned to go to the stage and not stop at the tables.... Some didn't and we were able to get right in front of the stage! The Warren Brothers came out and sang a few; then it was time for My Friend's appearance.... It was Mardi Gras here in Louisiana this past weekend and I brought Tim some purple & silver beads...Just a little bit of home! He came on the stage and stood there for people to take pictures of him... Then he started walking around, shaking hands... He didn't see me at first; so I grabbed his jacket... He STILL didn't look, but you could tell he was aggravated! LoL - So, I continued to hold on to the jacket, until he finally looked down... He saw me and hugged me and kissed me on the cheek and took the beads... He put them on his microphone stand... They sang a new song; which Tim and The Warrens had written together and already recorded for the new album...But, for the life of us, we cannot remember any of the words. I do know that it was slow and ballady; which is my favorite type of song that he does....Then they sang "Blank Sheet of Paper".. I got a few smiles during both songs... After Tim was done, he walked around again and shook hands... When he got to me, he motioned for me to come up on the stage! LoL - I tried to refuse him; but how do you do that?? (wink)... He introduced me as Carmen; who he grew up with and went to church with.... A very sweet thing for him to do...Embarrassing; but sweet!!! I'll definitely have to come up with something to pay him back! After that, he kissed me on the top of my head...I wonder if he could tell that I'd "washed the gray out w/a little bit of auburn mahogany brown" LoL - He's always teased me about my gray.... I told him he was the one who had given it to me... We used to fight just like brother and sister! SO< How could I top that experience?? My friends and I took a picture by the stage...We had this one person, try to slip in our pic...She just slid in beside me..LoL - It was too funny.... Another couple of ladies came over screaming and hugging me... LoL - It was very embarrassing.... bless their hearts... They didn't know I was a nobody.... Just blessed to have met this guy and his family over 20 years ago and was touched that he still seems to enjoy seeing me... I also think I spotted Kevin Sorbo; who used to play Hercules.... Not for certain; but it looked alot like him...Now; it was on to the show!
The anticipation for the show was great! I was so excited to be seeing him in concert again... The Warren Brothers opened with Johnny P and Austin Clark; from the Clark Family Experience playing on a few songs with them... I can honestly say that over the past year or so, that their music has grown on me... The familiar pre-arrival of Tim and the guys started playing.... Then the lights went down and the DHD came up one of aisles on the floor to take the stage... Then it was time for Tim! The crowd's screams were deafening....It always gives me chills.. and of course, I tear up with pride.... He took the stage singing, "How Bad Do You Want It?" and it was very obvious that the crowd wanted "him" really bad!! LoL - The show was mostly the same as last year's tour...He sang "Kill Myself"; which he's only been doing a few months...The stage setup was in the round...Now, I do understand the concept; but I DON'T LIKE IT!! I like to be able to watch him the WHOLE TIME!!! He did work all sides of the stage...stopping during "Watch the Wind Blow By" to pull a little girl on stage and sing to her...She kept watching her dad...It was cute... He also pulled two little twin boys, who were dressed in a white & black tank top..He laughed and said, "Here's the Chesney twins!" What a memory for thos parents and the kids!! "Live Like You Were Dying" brought chills and tears to my eyes.. That song is so emotional for me for several reasons... It was awesome when the crowd was singing in full voice with him! The crowd went more nuts when he said, :"My wife's here somewhere!" We all were hoping that Mrs. McGraw would make an appearance... She and The Warrens sang "Blank Sheet of Paper"...Faith was beautiful as always and sounded great! Looking forward to seeing her in a full concert in Biloxi in March! During I Like It, I Love It, Tim's sisters, Sandy & Tracey came on stage with him... Of course, we didn't want the evening to end...He sang over 2 hours.... It was an awesome evening! I wasn't where he could see me; but I could see him pretty well, when he was on my side or in the middle...Only thing I'd change, if they continue to keep the "round" is maybe elevate where he stands in the middle...It was hard to see him above the percussion areas.... After the show, we said some goodbyes...Which were emotional... We had such a great time visiting with each other and it's always hard to say goodbye; because we never know when we'll see each other again...Since most of us live so far apart... This trip was very emotional for me anyway; because it was given as a Christmas Love Project... For those of you who had a part in this, I'm SO grateful and touched by it... Even Tim said, "Isn't it great that she's met such great friends through my music?"
The next morning, Bruce was again our chauffeur and took Maria & I to the airport...
Thanks, MAN! for all you did and Chris too...I left Vegas about noon and had an hour
or so layover in Memphis...arriving back in The Mapdot about 8:15...First stop! SONIC
- For a large Diet Coke!
I love each of you who gave me this wonderful treat... I'd always told Tim that I might show up where he'd least expect me to be... I'm sure Sin City wasn't a place he'd think I'd be! I love each of you who were a part of this; in any way... Either monetarily, in the planning or just being excited and happy for me! You all have brought so much to my life and I look forward to many more fun times enjoying my friend's music and spending time with you!!
Love from The Mapdot!!
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Memphis Bag Lady
- Rock Solid
FROM THE MAPDOT
Mark & Tammy saw where the blue waterbed was!