August 27th 2016
Well here we are again at the PNE. Only this time we are in the gigantic lineup to get into the free Foreigner concert. I tried to buy reserved seats two weeks ago not a chance. So we planned our day around getting in line. First a cup of Jo and check my trapline. RATS! Or lack thereof. I don't want to kill the little guys but they start off eating your tomatoes next thing you know their boinking the Ratdogs!
I spent the next hour or so finishing yesterday's blog. Then I got dressed for the first of the days adventures, Dim Sum with Mama Lee and her friends Jan and Joan who were driving out from Kitsilano for the event. The lovely Lisa and I drove over to Mama Lee's. We had arranged for a taxi to be there at 11:15. Dim Sum at Yans Garden at 11:30. The taxi was right on time. The driver had Mama Lee loaded in in no time and we were off to Dim Sum. We used to do Dim Sum a lot more often but with Mama Lee's physical issues it's so much harder and expensive. We were seated right away which is not always the best idea when you're waiting for Dim Sum. Jan and Joan were running late so we waited for them while steam tray after steam tray came by with delectable morsels. "We're waiting for some people" we told the servers who looked at us with shocked disbelief. Twenty minutes later, still not ordering anything but the free tea. I saw the manager eyeing us up as we were taking up a prime six seater and not ordering anything. I had the server drop one plate of Shumi while we waited. Next time around I ordered more just as Jan and Joan walked in. After a warm greeting, it's been a couple of years since we've seen them, we got into the Dim Sum in earnest. Have you ever been to Dim Sum. It's the loudest food in the world. Jan is deaf, Joan is legally blind, and Mama Lee is mostly incomprehensible. The food was excellent, the conversation was stilted and hard to follow and when we left we couldn't get a cab. I couldn't get through to Belair or Coquitlam Taxi. I saw a Royal City Taxi go by and got a dispatcher who told me it would be twenty minutes for a handicap Taxi. I told them to send it to the Shell station across the street from the restaraunt because there was shade there. The Taxi pulled into the Shell before we made it across the street. The driver said his pickup stiffed him and he was nearby. Cool.
We dropped off Mama Lee about 2:30 and went home to get ready for the Foreigner concert tonight at the Amphitheater. We were in the neighbourhood of the PNE just before 4 pm. The lovely Lisa did her "Hail Mary full of grace, help me find a parking space!" Mary stiffed us. The lovely Lisa circled the block for half an hour before she finally drove down Hastings Street towards downtown. We ended up parking four blocks west of Renfrew on Hastings Street. An easy ten minute walk. We were through the gates and into the line for the show just before 5.
The gates open at 7. We were in line past the midway, past the giant Bungy thing, past the roller coaster and down to the end of the Cassiar Street parking lot. It turned out to be a nice spot.
There was shade, a wall to sit on and a hill to get away from the line. Around 6 the lovely Lisa went to find us some food while I held our spot. Of course she's gone ten minutes when the line started to move. I texted her and let her know. They were letting us in a little early because the show was full. It holds just over 5000 people. The lovely Lisa jumped the line up near the gate foodless! Everybody in line had seen her with me earlier so there was no problem with the people around us. We were in with great seats. Just off center of the stage and stage high. Now just another ninety minutes and the show will begin! Yay?
The lovely Lisa told me she had ordered fish and chips and was waiting for them when I texted her. The guy told her twenty minutes for her order after already waiting fifteen minutes. The lovely Lisa said "Give me back my money." As she was telling me this all I could think of was, where's my food!
So once again the lovely Lisa went for food while I guarded our spot. We were surrounded by nice people and it was a beautiful night. By the time the lovely Lisa returned with my fish and chips I would have eaten styrofoam chips!
At 8:30 on the nose Foreigner took the stage. There are no original members left but some of the players have been with the band for twenty plus years.
I would have never known. They sounded so good, so much like the songs I remember. They are on their 40th anniversary tour. They were great! Every song they played was a hit. I had forgotten how big they were in their day. They had the place rockin and they held the audience's attention between songs with the lead singer running the show like a high school pep rally. They played all their hits and it was still buzzing fifteen minutes after they left the stage. A most excellent concert. Except for the six hours it took. Counting the line up!
That's all I've got
Till next time
Peace out Y'all
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