Back to where we started - the Circle of Al

August 13, 2010 –

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

Time is running out on our family vacation. It makes me a little sad, but a part of me would like to sleep in my own bed again.

Today was the day that started this all. Way back in January (or maybe even December, I can't remember anymore) I ordered tickets to this Weird Al concert, and here we are.

Our last stretch of driving (with the exception of homeward bound) is behind us. We left Vegas around noon, and it took around 4 ½ hours to get to Costa Mesa. I’m glad we were heading in the right direction because traffic on the way out of town on a Friday afternoon didn’t look too fun at a few spots. We made it to the hotel and got a chance to rest for a little while, and then it was on to the Orange County Fair Grounds.

The kids used some of their souvenir money from Grandma Kit, and they all bought Weird Al t-shirts (Zac and Katie just put them on over the Weird Al shirts they were already wearing), and Alex even bought a set of trading cards.

The concert was again INCREDIBLE!! I have no idea where Weird Al finds so much energy. We were able to enjoy this concert even more than the first one because we were able to sit down. If you remember, the venue in Redmond was very unorganized with people standing in front of us even though we had seats. Alex, Zac and I watched most of that show from a ramp. Today’s concert had assigned seating so that allowed us to relax and enjoy the show more. There were a few surprises this time like quite a few extra Star Wars characters that came on stage when he sang The Saga Begins – Zac got a real kick out of that.

Of course, we tried to hang out afterward to try to meet Al so the kids could get a picture and autograph, but it didn’t work out again. I think that because this is a home concert for Al, there was some kind of invitation-only after party for friends and family of people in the band. Oh, well. We’ll try again tomorrow.

After the concert, we did let the cat out of the bag about tomorrow’s show. When I got Alex tickets for her birthday way back when, I didn’t get them as soon as they went on sale because I figured there would be a concert closer to home for us. As this was the only concert that was announced in time for me to get the tickets for her birthday, I went ahead and got them, but by that point, there were only okay seats left. When they added a second concert at Costa Mesa, I went online the second pre-sale tickets went on sale and bought them through the Weird Al fan club.

Our seats for tomorrow’s show are much better. They have an area called the pit where I think they put maybe 5 or 6 rows of temporary seating. To make sure to get one of those seats, we would have had to purchase VIP tickets, and those were quite a bit more expensive. The tickets we got are in the third row of permanent seats called the circle, just behind the pit. I think they’ll be great seats. Since Alex didn’t even know we were going to another concert, needless to say, she is now very excited that we’ll be sitting so close. There is one point of the show where Weird Al comes down into the audience. If we could somehow get a picture of Alex with him, I know it would make her year. Either way, tomorrow’s show will be a blast.

Becky’s sister Kaye, who lives in Orange County, also got tickets for the show for her and her two boys. We were already planning to hang out with them during the day tomorrow, and now we’ll be able to go to the fair and concert together even though our seats won’t be together. Stay tuned – only one more day of fun and zany adventures left.