So we get to California on Wednesday night, get the rental car (which doesn't smell like smoke like the last two we rented did, so everyone is spared my incessant bitching, which is nice  ), check into our motel (which doesn't smell like smoke either! I figure we're already on a roll & haven't even gotten to NAMM yet!)  Go to bed & sleep with visions of rockstars dancing in my head...

Thursday, we head off to NAMM.  We're walking toward the registration area, and Rudy Sarzo walks by us.  We watch him do so.  He looked so good doing it, you know?  Husband points and says, "There's Rudy."  I nod and we say Wow - that was pretty neat, and walk on.  Mind you, we're not even in the place yet!  So then we get in line for registration.  Who is in line behind us?  Randy Black, the drummer for Primal Fear.  We talk for a while to him & his German gf (wife?) and get a station ID for (the other) Internet station.

Now registered, we start to go toward the entrance.  "Isn't that Edgar Winter?" husband asks.  Well, talk about standing out in a crowd!  Yes, it was.  Edgar was talking to 2 people, and we patiently waited.  Just as he was finishing up, and we started toward him, another guy comes over and says "There you are!  Great - follow me."  We figure he must be headed toward a booth, and we would follow behind until Edgar got settled in to said destination.  Well, we get about 5 steps into the place, and husband grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks.  "What?  We're gonna lose Edgar."  "Isn't that your boy?"  Look over to see JIM PETERIK on a small stage, playing and singing!  He is doing "Vehicle" and a few people are standing around singing the "Ba da ba ba daaaa" parts.  Then he explains the gear he is using and blah blah blah. 

Now, the only time I had met Jim Peterik was after my 1st Survivor concert, and I was new to this deal.  I took pictures of him signing autographs, but didn't get a picture of him WITH me (Duh) and didn't have anything for him to sign FOR me. (Double duh.)  Embarrassingly enough, I'd felt so full of love after this wonderful experience we had together (Ugh...), I went up and hugged him and he looked at me like I was nuts.    Now was my chance to do this right without embarrassing myself in the process! 
So I got an autograph, and a KILLER station ID, and a photo, and only then did I gush!  No, he was very sweet and I love him.  He also gave us a CD.  So only a few steps in the door, and I'm already happy enough to go home, right?

Then we turn a corner, and stop to look around us some more.  I see some people standing around, and one of them is holding a "Working Class Dog" album.  I seemed to vaguely remember seeing that a keyboardist was gonna be at NAMM who had toured with Rick Springfield being there, but wasn't sure.  I take another step, and see behind the person - RICK SPRINGFIELD standing behind the booth, signing autographs.  He is wearing sunglasses, and looks absolutely fabulous!  I start to cry. 

Husband laughs at me, and tells me I'm being pathetic, and we move me to the back of the line.  I had never met Rick Springfield - not that I haven't tried!  I already know that this is gonna be the Best-Vacation-Ever!  Get an autograph, a very quick station ID, and tell him that "Shock, Anger..." is one of the best things he'd ever done, and I think it's just fantastic.  He politely thanks me, but I know he doesn't take me seriously because unfortunately, to the naked eye, I am one of those typical Rick Springfield fans that he & I both hate - a female in her late 30's or early 40's who watched him on General Hospital, and only has a couple of records, as well as the hots for him.  But it was so great!  And we've only just begun!

Will continue later...