WARNING: this is one longass post. continue at your own risk.

well here we are, finally semi-coherent. i don't even remember falling asleep last night. i just remember whining and whimpering with joy when i crawled into my very own bed. yayyyyy.

so, the shows. the weekend. the Joe 90 experience.

i liked Chrisnotseefried's list, so i'm gonna shamelessly rip off her format. (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! ahem.)

Asbury Park, 02.12:

1. singing all of Dream This really loud on the way down to Asbury Park, getting off the highway and driving by the porno place, the CIRCUS!, the mean front desk guy who hated Sue and me, "our" couch on the 8th floor, wheelbarrow races in the hallway, screaming "HOUSEKEEPING!", the endless stream of DeRosa dancing, getting hopelessly lost driving back from Frank's (which was only 2 blocks away and totally not caring..."uh, where are we?"..."just go toward the water!"), bathtub full of ice and muh muh muh MY Corona, shotgunning a beer with Chrisnotseefried and Kristin on our way out the door to the Saint, the cab driver ("hi, i'm aimee and i'm from CT", "hey! can you put the lights and siren go on and drive really fast? i have to PEE!"), the guy from the band that slid around the stage on his butt like a dog.

2. more Corona, seeing the boys walk on stage for the first time since November and my entire nervous system going completely wacky, yelling really loud and obnoxiously, dancing like a maniac, more Corona, Barb stroking my hair through the entire set, hearing the new songs for the first time and freaking, the big yell in the middle of Ferris Wheel, the claps during November Bombs, making Chris laugh, sticking my tongue out at Gary while i was doing the morocca thing, looking over at Chrisnotseefried and seeing her totally jamming and having it be totally infectious, watching Adam laugh during Truth, trying to make Craig smile, seeing something out of the corner of my eye and realizing that it was Sue and Gary simultaneously doing the DeRosa together (and thinking i was gonna pee myself from laughing), and yes, it's been said already -- the most beautiful, intimate, happy and gorgeous version of Just a Dream i've ever heard (Chrissoseefried sounded okay, but DAMN, *we* sounded great. ugh.), having Flatline Static dedicated to me, more Corona, and just smiling so much that i thought my face was going to fall off.

Pittsburgh, 02.13:

1. the hell drive from NJ, totally hung over and punchy, thinking we were never going to get to the hotel, Sue, Barb and i writing our dream set list for the band, mad libs and my crotch, TODAY'S MY BIRT-DAY, laughing so hard that i looked down in the fast lane and realized i was doing 45 mph, adjoining rooms, taking the shuttle to the Laga which was only like less than a block away (it was RAINING dammit!), being put in a cage because we were bad, degenerate people and were drinking, meeting Dave and his adorable, well mannered son, seeing Kim Jones again, being wigged out because someone recognized me from the site.

2. seeing Chrissoseefried's leather pants for the first time (ohmygod. and that's all i have to say about that.), Craig getting electrical tape stuck on his foot, seeing Tom onstage lounging on top of the amp, taking pictures with Erin, seeing at one point that our entire front row contingent was doing the Gary and we didn't even realize it, giving the band our setlist and hearing Chris say "i'll be right back, i need to figure this out", Gary laughing at Don't Fear the Reaper, Adam trying to screw the entire band up during Truth, Lift Me Up, Just A Dream (again), all of us being thanked from the stage for driving a bizillion miles.

there's so much more, but my brain is fried and i've said way too much already. i'm gonna turn the keyboard over to Sue and let her finish up.

there's something to be said for going to these shows with people you absolutely adore, to see a band you absolutely adore, and feeling like the rest of the world could go away and all that would be left are those people and the music and so much magic.

thank you so much to all of you for being there and sharing it with me...it made it all that more special. thank you Craig, for playing for us :), and to all of Joe 90...i hope you already know by now. if it could be more than 100%, it would be. (it already is.)

love you guys,
aim-rah, webmistress and defender of the universe.*

-- aimee.* (satylite2s@aol.com), February 16, 2000

Answers

Wow....What an amazing weekend. I'm heading home from Aimee's soon but I just wanted to post quickly and tell you all how wonderful and special you are and that it wouldn't have been the same without you. It was great to just blow my life off for a few days, hear some amazing music, and just laugh and laugh and laugh some more.

As Aimee said, there was something really special about the Asbury Park show. These guys are all such amazing musicians, it seemed like they put everything they had into these shows, and it was really appreciated. The new songs sounded great, and I LOVED Lift Me Up (imagine my surprise when I realized it was from Aluminum) I don't think anyone mentioned that we also got to hear Mascara live for the first time in NJ!!!

There were so many moments that I will cherish and remember always...I feel so lucky to have found such wonderful friends in all of you. Joe90, thank you so much for everything...you guys definately are the nicest rockstars/people I've ever met. I wish it didn't have to be over, I want to go around the circle again :)

Sue

-- sue (suebdobee@aol.com), February 16, 2000.