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DAY 10 – OCTOBER 26TH:
Two hours of
sleep, but I can sleep on the plane. Felt so sorry for Heidi. She had sent out
laundry twice and had marked “overnight service” on the sheet. She didn’t read
the information about a 100% surcharge for “overnight service” and was charged
about $500 for this. Nothing I could do since the information was printed in
English on the form. Not a happy ending to the tour for her! About 30 minutes
into the bus ride to the airport, one of the guys announced that he had left his
airline ticket at the hotel. Fortunately, a different guy had told me last
night that he had packed it in a box and shipped it home! He later found it
where the maid had put it in his desk drawer. But, I had already checked and
found out that they were all on e-tickets. So, another crisis diverted.
No problem checking in. We got to check in as a group and it went very smooth.
Didn’t even have to pay for excess which was AMAZING. I sent one of my bags
home with one of the guys so I wouldn’t have to carry it around Norway all
weekend. After I got everyone checked in and sent them towards their gate, I
had to walk the length of the airport to check in with KLM. Then, through
security and immigration and into the Lounge to leave my bags. Found out that I
had been booked in a bulkhead seat for the 12 hour flight to Amsterdam, even
though there were plenty of seats that were not bulkhead. Got that corrected
and then I hiked to the other end of the airport again to tell everyone
goodbye. Really, really sad to be leaving them but looking forward to
reconnecting in NYC in a couple of weeks during the CMA Awards.
I’m on a double-decker but for some reason, am in the bottom section instead of
the top. But, it’s fine! Really nice man from the U.K. sitting next to me and
we’ve had a “lovely chat”. He gave me a beautiful parchment bookmark with the
Egyptian alphabet on it. When they served lunch, guess what they included – a
packet of KIMCHEE! Everyone in Trick Pony tried it last night at the restaurant
and had the same reaction I had when I tried it – YUCK!! The entire population
of Korea smells like garlic and now our airplane smells the same way. Nice.
Had about a 2 hour layover in Amsterdam and got some emails answered. LOVELY to
have cell phone service again.
Got on the flight to Oslo and guess what…I was in that horrible bulkhead seat
that sticks out into the aisle. The one where every passenger getting on the
plane hits me in the face with either their bag or their butt. I do not know
why I always get that seat. Checked my return and they had me in it going back
but got that changed!
When I landed in Oslo, there was about 2 feet of snow on the ground. My driver
said it snowed yesterday. Everything is VERY WELL coordinated for this event.
He met me at the airport, had food for me in the van and even had a comforter
and pillow so I could sleep on the 1 ½ hour drive to the hotel in Lillehammer.
It was HEAVEN. He gave me a packet with all my credentials and room key when I
arrived. I have a beautiful view out my window – a winter wonderland. Probably
all I’ll see of it is out my window since I don’t have any clothing for “snow”.
At least the performances are in the lower level of the hotel. But, I sure
would like to see Lillehammer while I’m here.
It’s almost 3 am. Going to bed soon, I hope.
Jude
DAY ONE – LILLEHAMMER, NORWAY – OCTOBER 27TH:
I got up in the middle
of the night to go to the bathroom. I was so exhausted, I couldn’t remember
where the light switches were in this room. When I started back out of the
bathroom, I walked FACE FIRST into the ceramic tile wall. I thought I was
bleeding, so I found the light switch and checked my head. A big, red, bump had
already appeared right above my right eyebrow. Then I thought I had a
concussion and was scared to go back to sleep. Got a massive headache from it.
Got up and went to the “state of the art gym” advertised by the hotel. It was
anything but State of the Art but fortunately they had free weights so I was
able to get a good workout. None of the snow has melted. Was going to get a
cup of coffee before working out but the restaurant was packed with
“conventioneers”. Went in for breakfast after my workout and found one of
Poco’s guys to sit with. Webb Wilder arrived right on time and got them all
checked in. I met the buyer for the first time today and really like him. This
entire event is VERY well-organized and quality people working on it. I just
hate that the buyer had to meet me with a big, red knot on my head. Thanks
goodness, it’s not in the center of my forehead. Can you say “Unicorn”?
We went on a little “tour” of the area this afternoon. Saw the ski jumps from
the Olympics. My God! There is no way I would ever SLIDE down one of those,
much less jump with skis on. The scenery is breathtaking, though. I have never
been to Norway in the wintertime that I can remember. We went to the center of
Lillehammer and walked around for a few minutes. Actually, I “slid” around.
Really need to buy some shoes and warmer clothes. But, they say it’s going to
warm up tomorrow.
Last night as I was walking from the airport terminal to the van, I hit a patch
of ice. Those skaters in Disney on Ice didn't have nothin' on me, Baby. At
least I managed to stay upright. My "host" was walking in front of me with my
bags and had no idea that I was frantically slipping all over the place and
waving my arms and trying every way to stay upright. By the time he got to the
van and turned around, I was back in control and I never said a word. LOL
The guys tell me that one of the old houses burned down in town last night and
also that there was a fire at the Amsterdam airport. Didn’t hear anything about
either of these!
Had dinner with Poco and Webb Wilder and their groups and went down to check out
the performance venue. Ticket sales are good and it should be a great show.
Came back to my room and I’m just finishing up email at 3 am AGAIN! First show
tomorrow with Webb and Poco.
Jude
DAY TWO – OCTOBER 28TH:
Up early to
work out – cardio INSIDE because there is still too much snow outside. They had
a stationary bike that was “okay”. But the fitness room was out of water and
the phone didn’t work in there. But I got through it.
Was going to walk downtown but it started misting rain and the streets were
already very slick from the snow.l So, just stayed in and worked. Right
before time for the first sound check, I got a call that Paul in Poco was very
ill. Evidently, he has not been out of his room since they arrived on
Wednesday. Other members of the group kept going by his room and knocking on
his door. They said he would mumble something or moan and they just thought he
had jet lag and was sleeping. They didn’t want to disturb him. When they
finally got him to answer today, he said he thought he had food
poisoning....been throwing up, etc. They were going to take him to the doctor
but then he had trouble breathing. I got the promoter to call an ambulance and
they rushed him to the hospital. When they rolled him past me on the stretcher,
he was totally GRAY. . They thought it was his heart but found that he had an
ulcer. They are keeping him in the hospital because they want to make sure
there was no damage to his heart due to loss of oxygen. Not sure when they will
let him go home.
Poco performed tonight as a trio and it was fine. I’m sure it would have been a
lot more energetic with Paul since he is the lead guitar player and vocalist.
But the audience still loved them. Webb Wilder went on after Poco and the crowd
really loved him, too. The crowd is very small – couple of hundred people – but
the promoter said he expected it the first year. Says they have to “build” a
reputation and want to do it again next year. It’s Norway – so of course
everyone is REALLY drunk. A man came out of his room on my floor and started
talking to me in Norwegian. I moved past him and said I only speak English.
He said, “Oh I speak English too” and started following me – only he was
bouncing off both walls! I took the stairs and he took one look down them and
decided to give up the chase! J
Have to get up early and get Poco off to the airport. They have a show tomorrow
night in Amsterdam. Guess they will do that one as a trio, too. Not sure when
Paul when be allowed to leave the hospital!
Jude
DAY THREE –
OCTOBER 29TH
Worked
out in hotel fitness room again. STILL no water! Then ate breakfast,
showered, and answered email until time to get Dale Watson and his group checked
in. They had performed at a club in Holland last night and only slept one hour
before they had to fly to Oslo. So, they went straight to bed.
I went shopping with Tina – one of the Norwegian artists who performed last
night. They have the GREATEST clothes and stores in Norway. Since all the
shopping I did in Korea was for other people, decided to get some clothes that I
liked while here. Was going to go over to the hospital to see Paul but the
promoter called and the doctors said it would be best to let him rest. But
they said that besides the bleeding ulcer, he definitely had a heart attack.
They have to run tests on Monday but have said that it will probably be 40 days
before he can go back to the U.S.! Certainly hope he has family that can come
over and take care of him!
Dale came down for sound check and that went really quick. Had an early dinner
since I gave up lunch for shopping. Then Dale performed a fantastic set and
signed autographs for everyone afterwards. I really like working with those
guys. Webb performed again tonight and had just as big of a crowd as last
night. But, he didn’t finish signing autographs until after 1:30 am and we have
to leave for the airport at 7 am. But, the good news is, we get to change to
daylights savings time and get an extra hour of sleep!
So, going to take a shower and take advantage of that extra hour! Hard to
believe I’m finally going home for a few days.
Jude
DAY FOUR – OCTOBER 30TH:
There was a
European band sitting in the backstage area last night and as I walked by, they
all jumped up and asked if they could have a photo taken with me. I didn’t want
to mislead them into thinking I was “somebody” so I explained that I was not one
of the entertainers. One of the musicians said, “We know. You are most
powerful American woman in all of Scandinavia”. Ha. I definitely want a
“raise”.
Three hours of sleep….thank goodness for the extra hour from daylights savings
time! Everyone was up and ready to go. The van driver had told me last night
that he was only going to have a van – no trailer. I told him it wouldn’t work
and he insisted that there was LOTS of room in the back and it would be fine. I
was the first one out and there was NO room in the back. The seats went all the
way to the back and we needed every seat. He was going to try and load all our
luggage in the AISLE between the seats, trapping us in our seats and no where to
put our legs. Told him this was not acceptable. He left and 15 minutes later
returned with a trailer hooked to the van. It’s times like those that I don’t
want to be “right”.
Everyone was on time and the 2 hour drive to the airport was painless. When I
checked out, the desk clerk said that I had a BIG MESSAGE. Dale Watson had
left me a box containing two big bottles of wine from Spain as a “thank you”.
What a sweetheart. Of course, I couldn’t have fit a toothpick in my luggage
after all the purchases I made yesterday. And I had been congratulating myself
on having an “empty” backpack so I could buy Lindsey her Stroopwaffles in
Amsterdam and take them back to her. The wine fit in the backpack but it sure
was heavy to carry around.
I had booked an around the world ticket for this trip and had to book the
Memphis/Nashville portion separately via e-ticket. The ticket agent couldn’t
find the booking and was only going to check my luggage to Amsterdam. Not
acceptable. She finally called a supervisor and was able to check me through to
Nashville. But she couldn’t give me a boarding pass from Memphis to Nashville.
I went to the VAT Cash Refund office to get a refund on the 25% sales tax I paid
yesterday. All the stores had told me to keep my receipts and I could get this
money back at the airport. When I asked for the forms to fill out, the lady
said that the STORE has to give me the forms and she couldn’t help me. Oh
well!
When I got on the flight in Oslo, I noticed that my boarding time for the flight
from Amsterdam was 12:20 pm for a 2:10 pm flight. Since my Oslo flight wasn’t
going to even land until 12:30 pm, I assumed it was a mistake. But when I asked
the flight attendant, they said that on October 1st, the new rules
stated that passengers going to the U.S. had to begin boarding the flight 2
hours prior to departure because there were a lot of questions to ask. When I
landed in Amsterdam and went to check in, I realized WHY it was a 2 hour
minimum. The line was all the way down the corridor and it took forever – even
for business class – to get through the series of questions. They put a huge
group of tourists in the business class line in front of all the business class
passengers which didn’t make a lot of sense to me! The man who questioned me
seemed interested in why I traveled so much. I gave him all the details and
then he did something strange – asked me for a business card! Either he was
using that to verify that what I was saying was true OR he is a “wantabe country
music singer”!
Ran in to one of Poco’s guys at the airport and he said that Poco’s manager has
been in touch with the “Embassy and they are going to help with the medical
expenses for Paul, thank goodness.
Flight to Memphis was uneventful except for the flight attendant dropping an
entire tray of food right behind me. Landed in Memphis and spent an hour and 45
minutes just trying to get out of Customs. I’ve never seen such a slow
process. I thought I would miss my flight because I didn’t have a boarding
pass. I had only 20 minutes until the flight departed by the time I reached
the gate…only to find there has been a schedule change and it leaves 45 minutes
later than I anticipated which is a GOOD thing.
I have an urgent phone message from the buyer in Norway asking me to call him
because it does not look good for the member of Poco that is in the hospital. I
can’t call now because it’ 2 am in Norway.
Got home around 9 pm and spent the next two hours unpacking. Had another
message from the buyer saying, “They almost lost Paul because he was ‘out of
blood’ but that he was not stabilized and they are moving him to Norway on
Wednesday. Also said that he has been in touch with Paul’s girlfriend and she
is on her way over there.
Jude
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