I Never Meant to Cause You Trouble....

So this is the story that I had been promising you guys for some time now...about my scream, a mean woman, and an angry and sneaky cupholder....

Tuesday 7/21/09: I have long been aware of my "screaming" talent. I think it would be safe to say that I am WELL aware of it and those around me when performing it are WELL aware of it too :O) I can't help it, when I get overly excited about something (especially Coldplay) it just comes out. So in an attempt to be nice, I typically warn people that are sitting near or around me about my screaming capabilites. Maybe not the best of ideas, but I was raised to be respectful and I know that not everyone's ears can handle the volume of my scream--particularly because Coldplay tends to appeal to all sorts of ages, and it is certainly not my intention to be rude to those that are unable to handle it. Now I know its a concert, (for those that are already thinking or saying this aloud right at this very moment) but I still do not wish to make anyone's concert experience unbearable.

As the time draws near for Coldplay to take the stage I begin to warn the couple behind me, to my left, and a group of people in front of me, of my annoying talent. Each group assures me that it is no problem, that "this is a concert after all," with the exception of one of the ladies in the group of people in front of me. She scoffs, turns around dramatically to face forward, and ignores me. I ignore her as well, and concentrate on the Strauss opening, waving my arms in synchronization, and clapping at key points. The boys suddenly appear and as always....I lose control....quickly.


I begin screaming almost immediately, much to the dismay of my fellow concert goer in front of me. She plants her hands on her ears as soon as I have reached my piercing high note and cringes in disfavor. As soon as Violet Hill is over, she whips around and says (try to picture overdramatization here please) "IT'S LIKE.....SCREECHING!!!! LIKE.....OH MY GOD.....IT'S SO LOUD....AND JUST....SCREECHING!!" She continues to describe my elative state and hammers it for the next 10 seconds or so and brings me down from my natural high. I finally (in an effort to just shut her up) agree to tone it down. In my scorned puppy state, I look up and my ears are once again graced with all of Chris', Jonny's, Guy's, and Will's ingenious sound, and I am hurt no more. I look at my best friend Monica to my right and smile, as does she, and my hurt feelings vanish and I am almost immediately lost in the moment again. The kind people sitting to my left and behind me assure me that my anti-kidnapping device is more than bearable to them and not to worry about it---that this "is a concert, not a library."

Safe to say, she did not share anymore disdain during the remainder of the concert or maybe I just chose not to hear her (or couldn't). Although my concert experience was "slightly marred" by this occurance, I throughly enjoyed myself....as usual. I know I get crazy and "naturally high" during Coldplay's shows, but I honestly can't help it. It is a moment of pure elation that their music has always given me as I am sure it does the same for all of their 3 million fans. So euphoric is this feeling, that I have noticed (as mentioned in the first post of this blog) my inability to feel pain when I attend these events. LOTS OF PAIN.

As the night came to an end and we walked back to the car, I noticed a very sore spot on my right thigh but thought nothing of it since I couldn't see anything (it was dark out and I was wearing capri's). Upon inspection at the hotel, I felt a large hardened area and noticed some light purple discoloration (ala Seinfeld). The next day, it looked like what is pictured here:

I knew no one had hit me, nor did I remember banging my leg that hard on anything. Monica and I thought about it for a while, when we finally came to the conclusion that the cup holder attached to the end of the chair where I was sitting had picked a fight with my thigh. I can't really say I don't blame it for doing so. You see, I have another annoying habit during Coldplay concerts.....jumping up and down constantly for the ENTIRE duration of the concert. And so...it is because of this (and constantly having my thigh hit that very cup holder over what I can imagine was at least 1000 times) that my leg had to suffer the wrath and succomb to its evil devices. Pictured here about 5 days out, I guess it could have been worse, that lady and I could've had a smackdown right in the middle of the amphitheater and been kicked out. Would have made a great story to go along with this bruise though....

M-

So sorry...

I apologize for being such a slacker....new job has been crazy since returning from the Woods ;)

I plan to go back and revamp this entire page...add all the stuff that happened while on our quest to become "pit fairies," including a story about an altercation with some lady sitting in front of me that said I was screaming too loud. Is that even possible? I also had an altercation with a cup holder where I totally and completely lost (more later)....In response to a recent post on Coldplay's website: I am no pro but thought maybe I was in the right place at the right time too....so I put a nice little collection of pics together from the last couple of concerts...anyone know how to notify Roadie #42 to see if I can make his blog?

Tootles,

M-

From the Author

Hello all....

Welcome to my personal blog following Coldplay through their last 2 Texas shows this year in Dallas and Houston. Coldplay has been my favorite band since 2000 when I first heard them on the radio in my apartment my 3rd year in college. While many fuss and go crazy for these guys, I can honestly say there is something about these boys.....and their music. To this day I have not been able to figure out what exactly it is, but I listen to their music constantly to try and figure it out. I had the privilege of attending their Twisted Logic tour back in 2005 in Dallas, and would have paid to see them again at the Austin City Limits music festival, but alas, it is not something a college student can easily afford (I used my loan $ to pay for the one in Dallas....still payin for that one ...not that I'm complaining of course).

2008---Couldn't believe that Coldplay FINALLY announced that they would be touring again, and once again in Dallas. Paid through the nose for floor seats (I am not what I would call a "lucky" person so I had to use my savings and a ticket broker), but my goodness was it worth EVERY penny...perhaps a biased comment but....probably the BEST concert experience of my life. I couldn't and didn't stop smiling for almost 2 hours, I never thought I could be THAT lucky. Was this REALLY happening? I have a bad back from a former injury and was experiencing some serious pain prior to the concert, but I'll tell you something....there was NO pain for those 2 hours. How could music and a band make a person SO happy? Although my nephew was there with me (a birthday/graduation/Christmas present for the rest of his life I told him) I wanted so badly to share my experience with others. Had each section not been blocked by overzealous security guards, I had the right mind to switch my seats for a few songs with someone less fortunate in the back....just so they could feel the genuine elation that I felt that night.

So when I found out that they were coming through Dallas again, (cash register sound) I had to buy tickets again for fear I would not see them for another 3 years. I did, and guess what? 2 months later, I found out they were coming to San Antonio in June. They had never come through SA before and there was NO WAY I was going to be at home while my boys were less than 20 miles away from me! So I purchased tickets for that show and instead of spending huge bucks for front row seats, I split the money and bought 3 tickets so I could take my 2 sisters with me this time. Avid fans themselves, I was thrilled at the fact that I could share this moment with them...I wanted them to feel what I had, and believe me, they did. It was once again a "beautiful night."

So how and why the Houston show now too? I work in neonatal/pediatric healthcare, and for anyone else that does, you know how hard, stressful, and sad working in a hospital with kids can be. Been doing it for 7 years, but it doesn't get any easier, especially when you see parents lose a child they've only known for one minute, a child in a coma from an impatient parent, or a 13 year-old become a quadraplegic after falling out of a tree they've climbed a million times before. And so, because these terrible situations can and do happen, I have lived by a quote that I heard a few years back (and has become the title of a song since then)...."live your life." Do what you've dreamed, if you have the chance take it, or however you want to say it....just live. We only have one chance, one life, and I figured out that I love being happy, and Coldplay makes me feel that way. So while a friend joked and told me "you might as well go to the Houston show too you crazy!" I honestly didn't take it seriously at first, but after a friend of mine commented on how she might join me....it forced (wink wink) me to reconsider.

So here I am, blog in tow, like Roadie 42 on coldplay.com, I am taking whoever wants to go "where the street lights glow!" I am on this awesome road trip starting on Tuesday with my VERY best friends, and have decided that this is my birthday present to myself this year. Me, my best friends, Coldplay, their music, and being on a natural high for a total of almost 4 hours. For those that post to and read this blog, you can be part of it too. And, yeah, I can't wait either ;)