Okay, I am going to attempt to describe everything that occured (including the very stupid and girly things I said) last night at the Two Man Band concert at Jammin' Java in Vienna, Virginia.

Imagine a coffee house...okay, not that much detail.

When the cab pulled up, my heart was pounding and I couldn't feel my stomach. We paid Scary-NonConversational Cabbie and got out of the cab. We looked at the building. It looked like a groovy place. Kat needed change, so she dragged me away from my staring spot to the Safeway next door.

I was literally bouncing across the parking lot after she had gotten change from a fiver. I tried (and failed) to stop shaking as we went inside and got in the "Tickets and Reservations" line. James was on stage, doing sound check. I had only heard him, but once we were in line, I squeaked "That's James!" to Kat, who nodded calmly. She took out her Pride & Prejudice book and sat on one of the comfy chairs.

I continued to watch Mr. Stanley perform "for us", and hopefully did not annoy too many of the fans who were also gathered. Two seasoned Torkaholics (*hic*) were standing in front of me and the invisible Kat (who refused to leave her seat) and they kept looking at me like I was weird, but I didn't care because it was my first TMB concert so I had every right to be nervous/jumpy/excited...okay, obnoxious.

Then, the door opened and Peter came on the stage. I almost squealed, but I kept it in and simply said to Kat, "It's Peter!" I finally convinced her to stop reading her book and watch them. Then a man came and stamped our hands with a little blue JJ logo (mine is still on my hand--I want it there for as long as possible). Then he let us in. OMG!

We rushed to a table that was a little to the right of center and in the first row. We put our stuff down and went to look at the CDs. We couldn't buy them yet and a bartender man said that the performers usually sell their CDs. I nearly had a heart attack. While we were hanging out, James came by and talked to some people and then PETER came around and passed us several times. I was so shy, I averted my eyes and blushed. I talked to my dad on Kat's cell phone about how Peter was walking around and how I wished I was brave. Since we couldn't buy a CD yet, we went back to our seats.

Fast forward, James performed his set and was amazing and funny! I particularly enjoyed Three Monkeys (ey, not ee) and Political Party. After his set, he introduced Peter, and I think my heart stopped for a second as Mr. Tork came on the stage. I couldn't take my eyes off him and didn't want to. After three months of liking...being OBSESSED with...Peter, I was actually right there!!

Peter played a bunch of groovy blues numbers, a Bach piece, Elvis (and he did the pelvis dance!!), and Daydream Believer. Also, toward the end he played Long Title! I couldn't stop smiling. Then they took a short break to sell CDs.

I grabbed a twenty out of my purse and nervously walked up to the table, also holding my "What a croc" folder with the poem inside. I smiled at Peter, who smiled back sweetly. Quickly, I picked up the Two Man Band CD I had picked out and said "I'd like this one." I am so stupid. But Peter continued to smile. He said, "Give the money to him. I don't handle the money, I just sign." I giggled nervously and said "Sorry." Then I diagonally handed the money to James.

"Would you like me to put your name?" Peter asked me.
"Yes please," I answered.
"Okay," said Peter. He had his pen ready.
"My name is Sara. S-A-R-A." So many people assume I have an H, I'm used to spelling it out.

He signed the CD and handed it to James, who handed me five dollars change.

"Here," I said, giving the money to Kat. "For you." She used the extra five dollars to buy herself a CD.

Before I got my CD back, I went back to Peter and said "Also, I was wondering if you would sign my 'Head'?"

First he said, "Sure," then he got up and pretended to sign my head. LOL I thought he might do that. Then he autographed my 'Head' DVD.

"Thank you," I said gleefully. I took the DVD and went next Kat who was waiting in line, like a normal person, to buy a CD. I sighed dreamily over the DVD and she wisely told me I needed to get my CD back. Ahh, the voice of reason.

I took the CD back from James and then sighed over that too. Kat sighed, knowing that there would be no living with me now. "Should I give him the poem or wait?" I always get very panicky about things and was worried that they wouldn't be back. "Go for it," said Kat.

I went back to Peter (I hope I didn't annoy him!) and said "Also, I wrote you this poem."
I handed it to him.
He skimmed it for a second. "Thank you," he said, smiling. "I'll read it afterward, okay?"
I giggled again and said "Okay."

He folded up the poem and put it in his back pocket. By his butt...yeah...

After grinning at him for a while, we went back to our table and sat down.
I looked at my prizes, grinning like a loony.
"Did you bring a plastic bag to put that in?" asked Kat, pointing at my 'Head'. Again with the 'Head' jokes!
I panicked. "No! Oh no!"

"Don't panic," said Kat. She took me to the counter and I managed to get a plastic bag for my 'Head'. It says "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. The nice coffee bar guy told me that I could have the glossy of Peter and James that was on the window after the show was over (probably because I was a crazed fan--I showed him my 'Head' too. I think I showed random people who were just there to drink coffee my 'Head'. "Great, kid. Get away from me.")

After that, we sat back down. Kat had bought a pretzel, so I stole a few pieces (I really wasn't that hungry, I was full of butterflies). Peter and James performed their set, singing Pleasant Valley Sunday (amazing!!), and Milkshake (funny!!) among several other great songs. I believe Peter made eye contact with me during that set (because he had met me). It might have been partly because I never stopped looking at him.

When the show was over, we waited our turn to meet the guys. First, we met with James:
"You're the girls we just sold a CD to," he said, smiling.
"Hi," I said. "I'm Sara."
"Nice to meet you, Sara."
"You may know me as Sillibub on your mailing list."
"Oh, hi!" said James, recognizing the name. "It's great to meet you! Glad you could make it." He looked at Kat. "I don't know you, do I?"
"No," I said. "This is Kat."
Then, he and Kat talked. I didn't pay attention because I was now standing in front of Peter:

He smiled up at me. I smiled, feeling more at ease. "Hi."

I wish my eyes could have taken the picture, because he was making the sweetest face.

Conversation failed me. I completely forgot to mention anyone, and I am sooo sorry. I was yelling at myself later. I even forgot to mention the monkey socks I was wearing just for him. Hmph.

Kat came back over by me, and that's when I began to get courage again.

"Do you do pictures?" I asked, immediately hating the words I had chosen. Plus, I had to repeat myself because I talk about as loud as a bunny rabbit. I had meant 'do you do pictures now?' or something along those lines, but I made it sound like 'do you still do pictures or have you stopped?', which I didn't want it to sound like.

"Sure," he said kindly. He motioned for me to go behind his chair, but I said, "And I've been told that you give great hugs."
He laughed a little, as I'm sure he's heard this many times. "I'll let you find out for yourself," he said, standing.

He opened his arms and I hugged him, kind of awkwardly because I don't get hugged often. "Wrap your arms all the way," he instructed. I tightened,giggling. He hugged me tightly, sucking the air out of me. I loved it. Kat says now that she regrets not taking a picture then, because we looked so "cute." When he pulled away, he smiled at me and I smiled back, loving him more and more.

Then he held me close and I wrapped my arm around his waist, and Kat took the picture. Peter took my hands and I thanked him a couple billion times. He continued to smile at me and thanked me for coming. I realized I was holding his hands and inhaled, overjoyed.

Next, I had to convince Kat to do pictures. Peter said, "Are you going to take a picture?"
Kat looked hesitant.
"Come on, Kat! Take a picture!" I exclaimed, still smiling.

She said "okay" and stood over by Peter. He put his arms around her and I took a picture, but first I had to adjust myself because they are both tall (well, taller than me!). They looked cute.

Next, Peter gave Kat a big hug. She even went "Oh!" because his hugs are so huge. :-) Then, he gave her a kiss on the cheek (which she denies, but I saw it!). I myself am deeply jealous. I felt like saying that, but didn't.

We thanked him a couple hundred more times and went outside to get in our cab. While outside, we saw James loading his rental car full of unsold CDs (why there were unsold CDs, I'll never understand). "Bye," he said, smiling. "Sara and Kat with a K, right?"

"Yeah," I answered, before getting in the mini-cab. "Thanks."

And by 'thanks', I meant thanks for everything.

It was the best night of my entire life, and I look forward to seeing them again soon.

Sara and I finally saw Peter Tork and James Lee Stanley. There were so many obstacles. Mostly both our parents. There was the play for awhile, but then I found out I could not be the SM. So all we had to do was audition this Monday so that Tuesday (the concert day) would be open.

We took the metro then a cab to Jammin' Java. With plenty of time to spare, I might add. Sara was anxious still when I went next door to change all my quarters to dollars. Then we went inside and she stood in line waiting for the back (where the show would be) to open. I bought a chai tea and sat in an armchair next to the line and read a bit of the copy of Pride and Prejudice that I always carry with me. Its a real small, unabridged copy. I'm weird that way. I didn't need her to tell me what was going on around the back (I couldn't see it from where I was sitting), though she did. I could just look at her face and tell.

So, we got a seat at one of the tables right in front of the stage. I was talking about the lights (they were the typical parcans) and Sara just looked at me. We looked at the CD's, but they weren't being sold yet. It was real cozy; like a coffee house (duh!). The show was excellent. They each did a solo bit, then played together at the end. James went first. They were so funny! I knew they would tell jokes; its like the understood expectation of every concert. Peter did funny voices when he would talk in the third. It was really cute. We were the youngest ones there. Not so surprising.

We bought our CD's during the short break, and they signed them. I got one with both of them on it because it only seemed right. And I only had enough money for one. Sara had Peter sign her 'Head' (the Monkees movie for all you out of the loop) and she correctly predicted that he would attempt to sign her head. It was cute, actually. He looks very good for his age. Actually, he looks very handsome for any adult. Of the four Monkees, I think he has aged the most gracefully. Sara also gave Peter a poem she had written for him. He didn't read it in front of us, but promised he would read it later.

Later, Sara lamented that she forgot to show him her socks with monkeys on them. She wore them just for him. She's weird like that :) We went back to our table and Sara started to put her autographed DVD in her backpack. I felt like teasing her, so I asked if she had brought a plastic bag to put it in. She asked me worridly if that would be necessary and I said that it could possibly get damaged in the backpack. She looked so worried, so I suggested that we ask one of the barristas for a plastic bag. Sara carried her Head with her (little joke, about this big) up to the cash register. I ordered a pretzel with the five she had given me left over from her CD purchase, and she asked if she could have a bag. The guy asked if they were selling the DVD and I said 'no, she brought it with her'. He then said we could have the glossy picture on the door advertising Two Man Band.

Afterward, we talked to them again. Sara told James that she was Sillibub from his mailing group and he recognized her. Then she asked Peter for a hug because she had heard that he gave great hugs. He did and it was so sweet. I took the picture of them. Then he asked if I wanted a hug, too, and I was like that would be awkward, but they gently prodded me to. It was really nice; he does give great hugs, like he... How do I describe it? He hugs like he has known you forever and wants to hold you as close as possible. A real bear hug. Then he gave me a kiss on the cheek. I really don't remember that part, I remember the prickle of his beard on my cheek, but not a kiss. Sara insists that he did. I don't think that he didn't; perhaps I just felt the prickley-ness of his beard and missed the sensation of the kiss. I commented on the prickley-ness and he said, 'I didn't draw any blood'.

Sara took the picture; she took a moment to get us in it because we are both so tall she says. I was smiling because of his comment and we still had our arms around each other I believe. Sara said while we were waiting for the cab that she should have said at the time 'I myself am deeply jealous'. Peter said that once on an episode. It was cute. Then the cab came and as we were getting in James, who had been packing his car, said bye to us by name. That was cool. The only bad thing was that when we got to the metro we discovered that the last train had already left. I called my mom and she picked us up in about half an hour.

Sara's parents were upset about this. It isn't our fault that the metro closes after eleven. That's just stupid. I still feel its a bit amazing they agreed to using the metro and a cab. Her mom had said that if anything went wrong Sara would never get to do this again. Her mom was the most mad about the turn out. But everything's good. We'll remember the good parts and the ending will just be the funny turn-out.