Where to start?

Yesterday I, and a friend I dragged along, left for the Dierks Bentley concert in Lincoln, NE. It had not been a great day, with my evaluations being done this week, and just the stress of school. I ended up with a stress headache around noon and it would not go away! But, we left at 3:50 for Lincoln, anyway. I was not my usual cheery self, as my friend noted about a million times during the night.

The drive down was fine, as I know my way to Lincoln, but had never been in the city of Lincoln. As soon as we got there, we almost got lost when we tried to turn to the hotel and found out there was a cement median there! So, we had to go down a couple more blocks to where I could turn. In the mean time we passed Coyote Willy's (where the concert was going to be) and saw a line up of around 100+ people waiting. So once we got to the hotel, we waited around until 8 and decided we should head down to CW in case of a lineup. Well, it's a good thing we did!

We got to CW and there was no lineup, but there was one major problem: OUR TICKETS HAD BEEN LOST! I couldn't believe it...I had called down two weeks in advance and ordered them and saw them on my credit card. I was SO pissed, and at first the guy up front was not willing to help me at all--And I'm just thinking how mad Judy and Heather will be at me when they get here; my friend could care less, she hates country music, and only came because I paid for the ticket and hotel room-- and I'm standing in the way waiting for like 10 minutes when he finally decides that he should call up to the main office to see if I had actually ordered them. I was like "Here is my credit card--I know I paid for it, just check it with whoever answers the phone!" Well, he did that and we were let in, but told we would have to come back and let the other two in when they arrived.

The first thing I went to go get was a beer, and it was great, but according to my friend, I looked pissed (well, wouldn't you be!?) Then they decide to have the meet and greet with Dierks, and where do you suppose I am for that? Yeah, in the restroom, so I totally missed that! Then Judy and Heather came--it was great to meet people from the board, hope we can do it again!--and I had to tell the guy to let them in.

Eventually the concert started and it kicked ass! :) It was a great variety of songs --everything from Dierks' to Johnny and Hank Jr.--and I really liked Michelle Poe's debut song. I'm going to definitely support her music. Dierks and the gang were funny and full of energy, which made for a great time. You could tell he was having a great time, which was noticable in the end when Deric got on stage!

I did find out that I was not in the mood to be in the middle of the crowd though, as I kept getting shoved out of the way by some big cowboys and their girlfriends who were dirty dancing. Then a beer bottle was thrown/kicked/knocked over/I don't know and it hit my ankle. That was the end of my being in the big crowd. This girl can't afford another fracture in her ankle. So, I left the big crowd and went to the side, where, although not as close, I could see Dierks and the band better. I got a couple of great photos of the band and can't wait to develop them.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet Dierks. He had to leave right after the concert to perform on the Opry tonight. So, we left shortly after the concert as my friend was whining that she was tired and wanted to go sleep. But, if we had stayed, Judy said I might have been able to get a photo as Dierks did come out for a little while. Oh, well, there's always next time.

I fell asleep for about 20 minutes then woke up around 1:20a.m. and needed something to drink, so I went down to get a soda at the hotel dining area and found Judy and Heather there. Wow... what funny girls, I wish I wouldn't have been so groggy! We stayed up and talked about other concerts and photos until 3 then went to bed. It's been a long time since I did that.

Well, we left Lincoln this morning and went to my family Christmas in Dow City. My ears are still ringing from how loud the concert was, but it was worth it. I will definitely be going to another concert!