As I sit here typing this, I'm waiting for the arrival of my next flight ...because I missed my original 6:15am flight...but it wasn't my fault LOL...The line for security was seriously a block and a half long...NO JOKE!! But hey, it wasn't as bad as waiting in a line 3 blocks long for 5 hours, to get into the show!!!  It was totally worth it though!, read on to find out more:

I'm on my way to Vegas to see Josh Groban, Katharine McPhee, Michael Buble, & Andre Bocelli in concert & I'm so excited!

First, thanks to Laura (Elphie) for getting the tickets & inviting me to go!

So I pick Elphie up at LAX in the morning, & we head right to the Nokia Theatre...the tickets said to be there by 1:30...we got there at 11:15, so we're thinking we're totally fine on time...ummm not so much! We pull up to the parking structure and we read the sign up top & it says "Lot Full!" So we go "hmm" then we both, at the SAME TIME...look down & see the LINE!!! And at the same time, not even kidding, our jaws drop & we both say "oh shittttt"   LOL....It was hilarious cause we both saw the line & reacted the same way at the same time! That was the only appropriate response....because what we saw, was a line 3 blocks long, wrapping around 2 corners, about 5 people wide!!!  We estimated about 2,000 people infront of us. Later, when the numbered our tickets, we were numbers 1809 and 1810. So after seeing the line, we're like "oh my gosh this is so crazy!" But still, we think the line isn't "too bad" since the theatre holds 7,000 people. So we were hungry & we knew that we would be waiting in line for a very long time, so we went to get something to eat really quick.

We're driving to Jack in the Box laughing at the crazyness of the long line, & then Elphie wanted to get something out of her luggage in my trunk, so she got out while I'm about to order....then the guy is ready to take my order but I have to pull forward more, so I'm pulling forward while she's like holding onto everything in the trunk of my SUV and running while attached to the back of my car as we're going through the drive through line...it was so funny!

Ok so we get our food & we go to park...every lot was FULL....there were sings saying "park in the South lot"...we couldn't fine the South Lot for forever...we kept circling but didn't see it...We ask this parking guy where to go, & he tells us to turn on specific streets...yay! He said "The structure is far from the Nokia theatre but its right near the end of the line!" So we laugh...ha...So then we finally park & later on we finally spot the big sign that said "South Lot"...it was written way up high on the building & we weren't looking up that high.

We meet these really funny people in the parking lot, & they're offering us food & snacks, but we kept telling them "no thanks we already have food" but they kept reminding us that they had food...lol it was so random & funny.

We walk to the end of the line, & a producer is right there to assure us we're in the right spot...We eat our food & hang out in line...little did we know, we would be out there for 5 hours!!! The line actually moved somewhat quickly for the first few hours, so everything was all fine & dandy lol. We found out that you would wait in line, & when you got to the front, they would take your printed out ticket, & exchange it for an actual ticket with a seat #. Once you got the real ticket, you were good to go and officially getting in!!  So the line kept moving & we're all excited!

Well after being in line for 3 hours, we move up a block & a half, and only have a block and a half left to go, a producer comes up to our section of the line and says "well everyone....you might not make it in...I don't wanna give out hope yet, but it's not looking good...you're roughly 1900 in line, and we're only taking 1,800...so you guys are in the 'buble' zone and you may make it in, but you may not...so if you want, you can give me your paper ticket, and I'll exchange it for a VIP ticket to next season of American Idol, or for So You Think You Can Dance...and you won't have to wait in line, it'll be a VIP ticket...so just keep that option open."  So this became a total "buzz kill" as everyone said....we all were like "duuuude!" So we didn't get too bummed, I kept thinking "eh, we'll make it....I always make it in to the shows..surely we'll make it in!!"  So all the happy "woo we're so excited" conversations kinda went out the door, as we began to wait there nervously wondering if we will make it in, as we are now feeling the pain of sore feat and it's warming up outside.

So then...we figure out that the 3 older ladies infront of us are "Soul Patrolers!" For those of you reading this who don't know what "Soul Patroler's" are, they are Taylor Hicks fans! Blahhhh! LOL.

I'm laughing right now cause I see people running their assess off to catch their flight, cause the security line was SO long...they are running just like I was lol. This dude who I met in line for security is on my same flight & we ran like heck to get to the plane & missed it...so now we are laughing at all the other people running lol. Well to be honest, I feel bad for them, but it's still funny at this poin,t none the less. FYI: No one should ever have to exert that much energy at 6:10 in the morning, running about a block & a half to their flight!

Ok back to the good stuff: 
There were so many people in line behind us at this point...it was getting warmer outside, but it wasn't too bad. We kept getting reminded by the producers that we "might not get in, we can still exchange our ticket for a VIP ticket for another day/show"...but we continue to wait. We keep moving up, and now we only have a block to go! We can SEE the front of the line!!! So we get excited that we're so close, but we get sad cause we know that we may not get in. The producers come up & say that "we have no more tickets, but we keep going to the box office to get more tickets from them...we're not sure how many they will give us, so we'll just have to wait & see." So it pretty much sucked hearing that, because there was still 100 people or so, infront of us...so everyone in line near us, stand their nervous & anxious. Then they come out & say "we have 50 tickets"....so we're still like "crap!" They keep telling the line behind us "you probably won't get in...etc. etc." But they don't really say much to our section of the line...cause we were in the "bubble"...but they still reminded us that our chances weren't good. Finally a red bull car comes up & hands out Red Bull to the rest of us in line....everyone pretty much jumped on the car to get drinks, we didn't wanna loose our spot in line, and plus everyone was all over the car, so we didn't get a drink...oh well, we don't really like red bull anyways lol.

Finally people behind us start to leave, & only about 100 people remain behind us. Now there are about 30 people infront of us, & we can see the friggin' front of the line lol! We're sooo close to getting in, but we are still getting told "It doesn't look good." So we continue to wait...then the producers come & say "Ok we have enough tickets for up to the number 1800!" So we go "NO WAY, we are number 1809 & 1810!!!!!" AHHHHHHHH! It was so frustrating...we had been in line for 4 1/2 hours at this point!!! So we still keep waiting...finally 2 people infront of us decide to trade in their tickets for a VIP ticket for another day/show! Woooo! That gave us hope, because now our chances of getting in, increases slightly, which we later realize, that this was the only reason we got in the show!

They give the tickets out, & now we have 7 people infront of us, & we're at the front of the line!! We're soooo close!! There are still about 30 people behind us, so we figured "hey, if the 30 people behind us are still here thinking they might get in, we better stay!" lol...we were gonna stay anyways, but that gave us some more hope. A car pulls up with a giant bag of T-shirts, & drops them in the rode and yells "Free Shirts!" So everyone runs to the bag, & got shirts. They said "000 Days Until Cook Wins" & "000 Days Until Archuleta Wins." It was funny because the Archuleta shirts were in really small sizes...probably because a lot of his fans are really young. All of the Cook shirts were in larger sizes, & I never saw a smaller size Cook shirt lol.

So finally the ticket guy comes out,  we're like "Oh my gosh!" It was so exciting & scary all at the same time, because we knew that this would be the last time he would be coming out with tickets. He gives some tickets out & we're like "ahhhh!" Now it's just the three older ladies infront of us...He has only TWO tickets left in his hands! This was a "Say what you need to say" moment...yes that John Mayer song is awesome! So I tell the guy "WE ONLY NEED TWO TICKETS!"  So he looks at me, & then at Laura, & he flings the tickets around in his hands...oh my gosh those few minutes were torture! So he tells another ticket lady, to get patches for the other girls, and he says to Laura & I "ok you can have these tickets!" AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! WOOOOOOOOOOO! Laura starts crying, & I start going "Woooooo!" This moment was so priceless!!! We officially waited in line for FIVE hours in high heels & in the heat. Oh my gosh, I will never forget the moment when the guy said "Ok you can have these tickets!"

So we quickly walk to the front entrance because it's 4:30 & the show goes live at 5:00! We get up there, just to see if they will let you check in your cell phone, like they did at the live taping of Idol that I went to a few weeks ago. The lady says "no, all the signs say no phones/cameras." So we're like "oh crap!" So I RUN, I mean RUN, 3 blocks back to my car, weaving through parking garages, I'm literally running as fast as I can in high heels & a sun dress. The parking garages all connect randomly, & I couldn't find our section. So I stop & ask this dude where   section B6 is. He tells me "it's up 2 more floors & it's further in the center." So I'm like "ohhhh crap!" This was another "say what you need to say moment." So I kindly asked him "Do you think there is any way you could drive me to my car, I have to be at the Idol Finale Taping in 10 minutes, & I've ran all the way here from the entrance." And he was so nice and said "Oh my gosh, sure." So he threw all of the stuff in the front seat to the back, & he drove me to my car. As he was driving away, I figured out that he was a photographer for the Staples Center for the Lakers Game, because he had a yellow company truck with all the logo's etc.

So I get to my car & throw my phone in, I RUN as fast as I can, back to the entrance of the show, to meet Laura. I get there & I don't see her ANYWHERE!! It was such an awful feeling...I'm like "oh my gosh, she must have gone in the show...she has my ticket...ahhhhh!" So I see the guy who gave us the tickets, & I say "hey...oh my gosh, I can't find my friend anywhere...I went to go put my phone in my car, cause I didn't wanna wait in line for 5 hours without a cell phone, & now I can't find my friend & she has my ticket! How can I get in...can I get another ticket or something?"  And he looks at me like "omg are you serious, did that really happen!??" So he says "umm are you serious? You don't think she would have went in without you, do you?" And I say "No I don't think she did, but maybe they said 'you have to come in now, the show is gonna start!' "  So he says "well, I dunno what to say, just go see if you can find her." So I run across the street back to the theatre, & finally I see Laura!! Oh my gosh, I can't even describe those few minutes when I couldn't find her!

So I'm beyond thirsty because I just ran so much, & waited in line for 5 hours! We get inside, & GUESS WHAT!! They let you check in cell phones & cameras!! Can you believe that!!!? GRRRR...I ran all that way, because all the entrance people said "No phones or cameras" & so did all of the signs! Oh well! So we get inside, & go right to the concession stands to buy water. The people behind the counter say "We are closed, I'm sorry...we had to close so everyone can get into the theatre, the show is about to start!" I say "Are you serious!?? I just need some water!" And they were like "yeah, sorry."  DUDE, we were so thirsty! So Laura goes to her seat because it was on that level, yeah our tickets weren't right next to each other, but we were glad to just have tickets. So I walk up the stairs to get to my seat level & couldn't find a drinking fountain anywhere, but I'm literally dying to thirst from being outside in line for 5 hours & running so friggin' far! So I go into the bathroom & splash a drop of water in my mouth from the faucet. That little drop got me through the 2 hour show, & about an hour of red carpet fun, until we got to In N' Out Burger around 9pm. Dude we were so friggin' thirsty I can't even explain it!

So we are in the show, & it's awesome! I was sitting towards the middle/back, towards the left, if you're looking out from the stage. I was along the left side edge where the USC marching band came out for the song "I am Your Brother" LOL. So I was able to see them line up for that part of the show, way early in advance. I also was able to see the celebrities walk in that way, so they could go to their seats on the floor level. So BOOM Justin Guarani walks right by me, with Kimberly Caldwell on his arm! I say "Hey Justin!" And he looks up & says "Hey Baby...enjoy the show!" It was so cool!  Then, guess who walks by, Kat's publicist, or old publicist, Roger! I'm not sure if they still work together or not, but he was at the show!

So I'm sitting next to this nice couple, & we started talking, & the girl says to the guy "So are you gonna go backstage now?" And those words caught my attention! So later I say "you're going backstage?" And he says "well, I might...my friend works backstage, I'm trying to get ahold of him, if he answers his phone, I can go back there." So I'm like "Wow!" Then I say, "Well if you wanna take a fan who loves the show (points to self), backstage, I would love that!" And he says "ok I'll see what I can do!" So then I say, "And my friend flew out all the way from Alabama for the show, she would love it if we could go backstage!" And he says "oh my gosh that's cool, hopefully my friend answers his phone!" So we are talking, & I find out that he's a producer for a production company, & his work gave him tickets. Awesome!

I know you saw the show, so I don't need to write much about it, but let me just say "IT WAS FRIGGIN' AWESOME!!!"

It was so cool to be there at the moment when all the confetti drops & they announce the winner! It was a great moment...however, the confetti moment, felt like it came a little late. All of a sudden they announced the winner, & the moment didn't even feel suspenseful...it was just like "oh your winner is!" And then finally the confetti etc. came. Anyways, so I see Laura walking towards the exit  so I call her name, & she sees me. So I wave to her to come up to my seat area, so she does. I whisper to her about the possibility of going backstage to see the Idols, & we were both like "whoa sweet!" Well the guy couldn't get ahold of his friend, because his friend was so busy backstage. But it was worth the try, & it was really nice of him to try to get us back there. He was really nice & took our picture with the stage behind us, with his phone, yes he brought his phone in, lol.

So we walk out of the show, soooo excited that we were able to get in! I start singing "I am your brother, your best friend forever!" hahahahhaha. That was so fun seeing that song live! So we are just laughing about all the random stuff in the show! Then I bought an American Idol T-shirt for my little sister, & we go outside to the red carpet! I decide to RUN all the way BACK to my car, to get my camera, so we could take pictures, & also because there were celebs hanging around the red carpet. So I run back to my car, & then all the way back to the theatre. As I'm running towards my car, I see David Cooks brother, walking with a little boy, & he says to the little boy "See, everybody knows us now, all because of your Uncle David." It was so cute. Then I see Justin Guarini again, & we talked for a minute about his new myspace & music, so that was cool. Him & Kimberly Caldwell were walking to the After Party Dinner Tent. So I made it back to the theatre with my camera & we hung out on the red carpet & took pictures, & watched some former idols get interviewed.

Then we saw Gina Glocksen from Season 5/6 & talk with her & take pics., so that was fun. Then we are tired & it's getting late, so we begin the long walk back to the car lol. Then we go to In N' Out by LAX Airport for dinner, before I drop Laura off at the airport to fly to Vegas. So I drop her off, then I drive all the way to Ontario, CA to stay with my Dad so he could take me to the airport the next morning to fly to Vegas. At 6am the next morning, I fly to Vegas for the "David Foster & Friends Concert" to see Andrea Bocelli, Katharine McPhee, Michael Buble, Peter Cetera, Charice, "Babyface", Kenny G, Josh Groban, Michael Johns, William Joseph, Cheryl Lynn, Brian McKnight,  Renee Olstead, Boz Scaggs & Blake Shelton in CONCERT!!!! Talk about an awesome 5 days, seeing Carrie Underwood, Donna Summers, George Michaels, ZZ Top, The Jonas Brothers, One Republic, Jordin Sparks & The top 12 idols perform...& then seeing 15 artists perform at the concert in Vegas...yeah it WAS AWESOME!!!!! Thanks to Laura for getting the tickets & inviting me to go!

Gina Glocksen & I:

Me on the red carpet:

The Red Carpet:

The interview area:

The tent with the blue light is the After Party Dinner Tent:

Me in line with the shirt the guys dropped off for people in line:

 The line was 3 blocks long:

LOL - serves Elphie right for getting out of a running car. I wish I had an amusing tale to tell, but I got a speeding ticket this weekend.