A Date Recap

I think the easiest way I can recap the whole day is in a step by step format.  So I'll just list the events that happened:

1:00pm - Picked up Amanda from her house.  Left for Atlanta.
3:45pm - Arrived in Atlanta
4:15pm - Had a lunch/dinner at Quizno's
5:05pm - Secured out spots in line for the concert
7:30pm - Doors opened.  We rushed in and secured our spots front and center at the stage
8:30pm - The Dirtbombs opened the concert.
10:00pm - TV on the Radio started their set
11:45pm - Left the concert
12:15am - Left Atlanta
2:30am - Dropped off Amanda

Now let me elaborate.

We had a very nice drive all the way to Atlanta.  That's the blessing with Amanda.  I've been friends with her since sophomore year in high school and we have plenty to talk about even if we don't hold a lot in common.  It was a fun drive.

When we got to Atlanta, I missed our exit (spotting the exit was like trying to toss a quarter into a golf ball sized hole across six lanes of traffic doing 80mph) so I took the next exit.  When I took the exit, we pretty much BS'd our way to the venue and let out a sigh of relief when we finally found the parking garage (which took even more searching!!!).  When we left the garage, we decided we would find an eating spot, as we were both hungry.  After encountering numerous homeless men (and giving change to one in particular), we found a Quizno's (and a nice one at that) and ate there.

When we left the Quizno's, I told her that we probably should go ahead and wait in line.  So we made a last minute trip to the car to drop off her purse and made it to the venue.

Here, the line had been barred off from the sidewalk and there were already about a dozen people in front of us.  But it wasn't a big deal.  This was about her comfort, not mine.  After making sure she was ok standing in line, we... well... stood in line.  About an hour in, a homeless man walked up to us in line.  He lifts up a grocery bag full of flowers and offers one to Amanda.  I reach out and take it and give it to her.  The man then reaches out to shake my hand and I think "What the hell."  I shake his hand and he asks me "What's the greatest nation in the world?"  I said "South Carolina" much to the humor of those around us.  He says "HA!  No.  Close!  What's the greatest nation in the world?"  I say "I dunno, tell me."  He then says "A DONation." and extends his hand.  I didn't have any loose money but if I did, I probably would have given it to him.

We made small talk here and there for the rest of the wait, but finally the doors opened.  They yelled at us NOT TO RUN but we still somehow made it FRONT AND CENTER at the stage.  Now, it was more waiting.  THANKFULLY, there was a guy to the left of us who was extremely charismatic and talkative.  We talked to him about music and such and he told us that he was actually there to see the opening act, The Dirtbombs.  I had never heard of them before but the way he was describing them, it was hard not to be interested.

THEY FUCKING BLEW ME AWAY.

Insanely awesome band.  I downloaded a couple of their CDs and, unfortunately, their sound doesn't translate well to studio.  But their live act?  PLEASE GO AND SEE THIS BAND LIVE.

Never before had I experienced a band as loud as The Dirtbombs.  I was concerned about Amanda because this was, essentially, her first rock concert.  I asked if she was OK and she said yes!  So I didn't worry about her.  She's a big girl and can hold her own.

But then TV on the Radio came on.  And I can't express in typed words how incredible their show was.  It really was just absolutely incredible.  Tunde Adebimpe (the lead singer) was constantly smiling at the crowd in between songs and you could tell that they were having an incredible time.  And even during one of their last songs, "A Method," 4/5 of The Dirtbombs came out and lent their percussion skills to the song!  INCREDIBLE

When we left the venue, we were half deaf and just sat in the car until we were ready to go.  She kept saying how awesome she thought it was.  And every single time she said it, my heart soared :-).  So we left the parking garage.

On our way out, I made my way onto Peachtree St. which is a major street in Atlanta.  I knew that it kind of runs parallel to I-85/75, so I followed it for a while but didn't see any familiar streets that I could turn onto.  Thankfully, Amanda told me where she thought I should turn and it turned out that it was a way onto I-85 (the highway we needed to get onto).  Five minutes later, she told me that she actually bullshitted her way through the directions ;-).  I like this girl.

Halfway through our trip home, we stop at a McDonald's and get some late night nourishment.  The food makes her tired so she fell asleep in my passenger seat and I drove us both back home.  I woke her up when we were about 20 miles out from her house and she told me how much fun she had.  We made it to her house and I dropped her off.  I walked her to the door and gave her a big, tired hug.  No goodnight kiss but I didn't expect one.  She's very guarded and only if this develops into a regular dating thing will she finally let that down, I think.  And I'm OK with that.

I then drove home (after compensating for a few wrong turns) and barely pulled into my driveway on an empty tank of gas.  And here I am!

All in all, it was the most absolutely incredible date I have ever been on.  It wasn't like there were rainbows and fireworks and orchestras playing while we kissed in the moonlight... but it was the little things, the laughs, the tiring waits, the fast food we shared... It was one of the most enjoyable nights I've had in a long time.