So as you know from yesterday’s post, I’m meeting Maureen Holloway this afternoon, so be sure to check back on Thursday for a full report (oh – and check out who commented on yesterday’s post!  Gulp!).  But I’m also going to the U2 concert tonight.  Quite a big day for The Only Girl.  Because usually she doesn’t get out much.  But not today my friends!  Today she’s getting out – like a prisoner on parole day!

Now, I’m not a huge U2 fan.  Sure, I like them.  Who doesn’t.  I’m not even a big music-in-general fan.  Sure, I like the Top 10 stuff, and I do enjoy some Elvis (what? what??), but a big music fan I am not.  However, I am trying to see – at least one time each – the big, iconic types of singers/bands that come to town.  And to me, U2 falls into this category.  I mean, for the price of concert tickets these days, the band better be big and famous and have a whopper of a stage with a multitude of special effects.  Otherwise I’m just gonna take that ticket money and buy myself a week’s vacation down south instead.

Which brings me to how I came to snag myself a high priced U2 ticket.

You see, my good friend Cherry is a concert junkie.  No really.  I’ve never known anyone to attend as many concerts as she has.  Ever.  I think it’s kinda like her hobby.  And in particular, she is a big time U2 fan.  I mean BIG time.  On their current tour this year, she’s had tickets for shows in the following cities:

Amsterdam – 1 show (general admission)
Dublin – 3 shows (all general admission)
Toronto – 2 shows (1 boring seat with me, but then exciting general admission the night after)
Boston – 1 (general admission)
maybe Las Vegas – 1
maybe Vancouver – 1

Yes.  She’s a BIG TIME fan.  In fact, a picture of her in the crowd at the Dublin show was splashed all over the U.K. newspapers this summer.

So when U2 announced that they were coming to Toronto, and I thought “oh – big iconic band.  I should see them” I immediately thought of her.  “Cherry, please can I go with you and your U2 friends to the concert?”  I begged.  And she politely agreed.  And then I felt a little bad because I’ll probably be cramping her U2 style.  What with me being a U2 newbie and all.  And because she’ll be sitting in a boring seat with me rather than spending the night camping out under the stars in the General Admission line up with her U2 friends trying to get a spot as close to the front as possible.

But what better way for me to see a high price concert than with a super fan?!  So she kindly made me a CD of the concert song set which I’ve been “studying” in my car for the past two weeks so that I can get up to speed.

So “In the Name of Love” tonight I’m heading down to the concert that’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” on this “Beautiful Day” either “With or Without You” because “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – but I’m hoping I’ll find it sometime before the encore.

And tonight’s the night.  Me, Bono and Cherry.  Woo Hoo!

Tomorrow I’m volunteering to help Elle with “The Longest Lunch“, a fund raising event she’s involved in that benefits the Women’s College Hospital Breast Centre (join us if you can!).  And the Host at this event will be none other than Maureen Holloway.  Maureen Holloway!  Yes, the one on Q107.  The one that hosts “The Last Word” on radio stations all across Canada.  The one that I love listening to every morning because she’s so gosh darn funny.  The one that also has a hilarious blog called “More Mo” that I’ve been reading every day for ages.  The one that is partially responsible for inspiring me to start my own blog.

And tomorrow I’ll be meeting her!  Live and in person.  Which Elle has done many times before.  And Elle says she’s simply delightful.  Which I had already figured.  But now I’m nervous.  What exactly do you say to someone you follow every day, and yet they have no idea that you even exist?  How do you not come across as a bit of a stalker?  Can I contain my excitement at meeting her?  Will she notice how nervous I am?  Will she think that’s strange?  Strange that a mature married woman has a non-sexual girl “crush” on her?

I hope not.  Because I’d be mortified!  Because in my  mind we will meet and instantly become good friends.  She’ll find me delightful.  And she’ll start sending me those annoying “because you’re my friend” email chain letters.  And she’ll want to hang out at the Mall with me.  And borrow my clothes.  And get pedicures together.  And she’ll want me to go to chick-flicks with her all the time.  And she’ll start texting me everyday.  And I’ll feel pressured.  And then she’ll get all “why aren’t you returning my calls?”  And I just don’t know if I’m ready for that . . .

A dear friend of mine is on vacation this week.  She’s headed to Vancouver, B.C. to visit her brother, her soon-to-be-sister in law, and most importantly, her 5 month old nephew.  Who she loves to bits.  And I have to say – I’m a little envious of her vacation plans.  Firstly, because she’s going to Vancouver, which in of itself, is a beautiful place to visit.  Secondly, because while she’s there, she gets to go wedding dress shopping with her soon-to-be-sister in law – and who wouldn’t love that?!?!  But mostly I’m envious because she gets to spend 3 days hanging out on a movie set!!!

You see, her nephew Jordan has been cast in a made-for-tv movie that will be filming while she’s there and his parents (and by association, his Aunt) will have to accompany him to the set.  Imagine her luck!  Now I understand the role he’s been cast for is that of a baby – okay, not a big stretch for his first role – and I’m sure that at 5 months old, he doesn’t have many lines to worry about.  I’m sure it’s all about looking cute.  Which he’s really good at.  Very good in fact.

But being a bit of a Hollywood aficionado myself, I’m insanely jealous.  I do pride myself in keeping current on the comings and goings of Hollywood.  The latest gossip.  The dirt.  And Vancouver is often referred to as “Hollywood North” because it’s such a popular filming location.  Which makes it the next best thing to Hollywood.  So I’m intrigued.  What exactly is it like to be on a movie set?  Is it just like they show in the movies or do they jazz it up for the big screen?

And what about the infamous “Kraft table” (the free table of goodies you can eat from all day long)?  Is it as good in life as they always make it sound?  Is it just sandwiches and cookies like at a coffee truck?  Do they cater in hot exotic dishes from the finest local restaurants?  Or is it really more like cafeteria food?  Of course I suppose that depends on the budget of the movie being filmed and the quality of the celebrities in it.

So I have given my friend the important mission of getting to the bottom of such questions.  She’s been instructed to take many pictures and report back to me immediately upon her return.  Because I must know everything.  Everything there is to know.

My best friend has left me.  Well, me and a bunch of other people.  She’s actually on vacation.  Out of the country.  For two weeks.  And I miss her.

She’s not just my best friend, she’s my BFF.  My “sistah” if you will.  My sister from a different mister.  I met her completely by chance only 6 years ago (a strange tale to be told some other time), but I knew instantly that we were very much alike and destined to be good friends.  We usually talk on the phone every day, but other than a few hurried emails, we’ve had no contact while she’s been away.  And I don’t like it.

I’ll call her Elle (which isn’t her real name, which I would never use, because she suffers from an intense phobia of identity theft and invasion of privacy.  Oh and fiery plane crashes.  And large bridges.  And spiders.  And I’m sure there’s more – I’m just forgetting them).

Besides my mom, Elle is the only other daily female contact I get.  Sure I have other girl friends, female coworkers, even sister-in-laws.  But I usually speak with my mom and Elle on a daily basis about the details of my life and theirs and when one of them is away it leaves a noticeable void.  And I don’t like it.  Not one bit.

But she’s coming home today!  And life will return to normal.  Missed you Elle!