Written in Boston on October 9th while sitting in the park during the matinee show:
I thought I had packed everything on my list, but boy did I forget the most important item: MY CAMERA’S MEMORY CARD! I had just picked up my tickets and was getting ready to take a picture of a CT flier on a post on the corner when I saw the tiny red 4 in the corner of my camera screen. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I did not want to be seeing that number on this of all days. But one frantic phone call to a my friend later, and she’s bringing an extra card for me to use. THANK THE CELTIC GODS! I really wish I had one now, though, because as I write this I’m sitting in a park by a large pond, and there are swans, geese, and ducks everywhere. One’s honking at me right now, as it’s swimming by. It’s very pretty here, and not at all like Washington Square Park. There’s a sense of peacefulness and serenity here that I would never be able to find there. I wish I had some sunglasses, though, because it’s very sunny where I’m sitting, but I don’t want to sit in the shade because then I’ll be too cold.
But I digress. I got to the venue around 12:30, and as I was walking up the sidewalk past the stage door and towards the box office, who do I see coming my way? RYAN! I didn’t want to stop him, so I just said a casual “looking forward to the show tonight” as I walked nearer him. He then said something along the lines of “Oh, thank you” in that gorgeous Irish accent of his, and we were off in our respective directions with a wave and a smile. I would have liked to have stopped and gotten an autograph or a new picture, but I figured I would just let him be for now and just get to him after the show.
After I picked up my tickets and realized my SD card was still in New York, I was walking back towards the stage door and saw Neil and Nicole (violinist) getting their suitcases out of the bus. At this point I was still internally freaking out, and while Neil stopped to sign and pose with fans in front of the door, I was on my phone begging my friend for help, which meant I didn’t go on over with everyone else.
I just noticed the carousel on the other side of the street, how cute. So the next sighting us insane Thunderheads had was DAMIAN AND KEITH, at about 1:45, 45 minutes before the matinee was to start. What those lads were doing on their bus while we were all waiting for them, I have no idea. I have a feeling they were just trying to kill time so they wouldn’t have to spend too much time out in the cold with us. Either that, or they were too caught up in the video games someone said they were playing. (Keith later revealed in a tweet that he was sleeping.) When they stepped off the bus, Damo came first and Keith quickly followed, with a hand on each of Damo’s shoulders from behind, as if he was steering him to the door so he wouldn’t stop. According to Keith, they were headed to the sound check, and after that I thought it was the end of sightings. I must say, though, I very much enjoyed Keith’s hairstyle for the day. He had the front part of his hair pulled back off his face and secured with an elastic near the top of the back of his head, and there was no evidence of hair gel on his wonderful head (YAY!). He definitely got an intense coloring, with some highlights/lowlights/whatever thrown in so that his hair now has a few different shades in it that I couldn’t see after Radio City or in pictures/videos. I think the gel just makes his hair look a lot darker too, so the colors aren’t as easy to see when he’s all gelled up (sad!). I’m finally coming around to his new hair, but it would be so much easier if he would just get rid of the gel altogether, simple as that. But my opinion doesn’t matter to him, and neither does anyone else’s, so oh well.
Where I was standing between the stage door and the buses was the perfect location. I could see just inside the stage door to the window in there, which had a view of the stairs inside. The first time I noticed this was when I saw Keith going downstairs a few minutes after he went inside. Then Ryan, George, Neil, Paul (and probably Damo) followed him soon after. But I have to say the best moment was when I saw Neil going down the stairs the second time: He had a smile that reached his eyes, scrunched them up, and seemed to give them a little twinkle, which absolutely lit up his entire face. I saw teeth, and I rarely see teeth in pictures of him. That was a glorious moment. I wish I had known what caused such a reaction, because I just adore seeing him so happy. He’s such a wonderful man, and he deserves all the happiness in the world. Amazing.
I was also able to say hello to Declan, but I wished he could have signed my picture of the two of us from last year. Maybe tonight. I hope. Sharon and Phil really hit it out of the park in finding such talented, kind-hearted (not to mention good-looking) lads. I think I really just need to find an Irishman to call my own. All of a sudden I would really love a Declan hug, I don’t know why, but I NEED to get one tonight. Maybe it’s because it’s getting even colder out now and I want him to warm me up 
.
Just when we all thought it was really over for the afternoon, out came Keith to fetch his suitcase from under the bus. It was around 2:00, and the show was starting in 30 MINUTES. Keith was neither dressed nor gelled, so I was wondering what was up with that. He didn’t stop at all this time either, but I think karma got him good, because the wheel on his suitcase BROKE OFF as he was going inside. I wanted to ask the man who was picking up the pieces if I could have them, but I figured he would look at me like I was a crazy person and say no, so I resisted.
A few minutes later, DAMO also came out, went on the bus, and then got his suitcase. My goodness, these lads leave everything to the last second, don’t they? This time around, Damo was kind enough to stop for a couple of pictures and autographs, but I just wasn’t pushy enough to get a chance at him. Hopefully tonight *crosses fingers*. I really just want a proper picture with him, since I got his autograph last year. However, I would like to get him to sign the poster I’m getting for another friend, since he’s her absolute favorite and she couldn’t come because she’s sick at the moment. Even if I can’t maneuver the poster in a way to be easy to sign, a signature on anything would be wonderful.
The actual end to this pre-show fun was when George finally made an appearance outside. He was bringing Carrie (his wife) and Sarah (his daughter) out to the bus, and oh my GOSH! Sarah’s so big now! She’s growing up so quickly, I think she’s about 8 or 9 now. When he came out of the bus (alone) a woman I was waiting with kindly asked for his autograph for her niece, since he’s her favorite, and he obliged (but said something like “I’m on in twenty minutes! *laugh*) and asked if the woman was going to the show. She wasn’t, but I said I was going to the 8 o’clock one, and he said to wave so he’s know where I was. Like that would help him any, haha, since I’m in the balcony and glo-stick-less. I might just break down and buy a CT one for $5. I felt almost naked without mine at Radio City, and these ones have “Celtic Thunder” written on them, so why not? So I guess my purchasing list is the glo-stick, Damo poster, and the very pretty Claddagh necklace with “CT” on the heart. I don’t think it will break the bank *too* badly. I hope they still have the necklace though, since there is the matinee show today, and all. PLEASE don’t run out *begs*.
I guess this is it for now. I can’t wait for the show tonight and to see my friend, whom I haven’t seen since August.
