An experience, to say the least

Diary of an American Idol Experience
Part the First - The Registration
Friday, September 1, 2006

I now can sympathize with the cows on a cattle drive. We got up at 3 am and arrived at the FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis at 4:30 am. There were already thousands in line. Nevermind that we were not technically allowed to line up until 6 am. According to the Memphis news, people had started lining up Thursday afternoon. We took our place in the line and commenced waiting.

We stood.

And stood.

And moved three feet.

And stood.

Rinse. Repeat ad nauseum.

People in line were singing (some of them rather badly). A Memphis radio station was broadcasting live on location. There were some very "interesting" people. There was an Elvis impersonator - I think he was just there with the radio station, but he could have been there to audition. Anyway, he got up on the roof of the Hard Rock Cafe in his "fat Elvis" suit and started posing for pictures. It was a nice diversion.

Season 5 Idol contestant Gedeon McKinney walked past us on his way to do an interview with the radio station.

Anyway, after 5 hours of waiting in line, we got inside the FedEx Forum. 5 hours in line for 2 minutes at a registration table to get our wristbands and tickets so that we could go back on Sunday for the actual auditions.

We headed back to the car. You know, after 5 straight hours of standing, it's actually rather difficult to sit down. Once we got ourselves into the car, we went in search of food. We hadn't eaten since 9:30 Thursday night (McDonalds on the way to Memphis). IHOP has never been more fantabulous than it was at 10 am on Friday morning.

Much love to T and D for being gracious hosts to your lousy houseguests over the weekend. Sorry we lazed about so much. The few waking moments we spent at your house were rather enjoyable.