and now, the rest of the story of disorganization. (will i get sued if i use that phrase? did the radio guy copyright it?)

long story short, i won dinner and tickets for two to see michael penn live. this is a show that i had been trying to procure a ticket to for many weeks, and had stopped by two or three times to try and obtain them, most recently less than a week before the show. since the management didn't know if the venue the show was supposed to be in would be open by then, they didn't want to sell tickets to it, apparently. good thing i didn't get any. it was held in the restaurant owned by the same set of owners down the block from the planned theater.

so i get to the venue and decide to be extravagant and valet park my car (extravagant for me, anyway). free dinner, free show that i had planned to pay to see, why not. (this is relevant, kinda, in case you were wondering.)

after a disorganized dinner, we waited for the show to go on. the room had emptied to about 4 or 5 tables, and we thought... won't there be more people here? seems way empty... a while later other people were let in and eventually the show went on.

the opening act, spaghetti western, was good, but more of a movie soundtrack/sunday morning music vibe than an after 10 pm on a 'school night' so let's rock out so you won't fall asleep after a large dinner vibe. as the person i was with had to get to work the next day, they left after they ended their set.

michael penn did his set. i've seen him twice before, once in tandem with his wife (aimee mann) acoustic, and once with a band (not acoustic). i prefer the acoustic. not that that particular info is relevant to the story in any way. he's amusing, by the way. and props to him for saying the ritual of encores are stupid (especially in a venue that has no backstage).

so the set ends. i go outside via a side door to the area where the valet stand was set up, and no valets. the car is there, though. so i go back in through said door, and ask the bartender where i may find my key. they had it. which would have been nice to know up front, n'est pas? so i go back through the dining room and see michael penn standing around talking to a guy as i go back out the door and to the car.

when i get to the car, i think... wait, i have my michael penn cd's (yes, i own more than the one that has 'no myth' on it) in the car, i could have him sign the booklet.... why the hell not. though i went with the the one that has 'no myth' on it because it has the most light space on the back of the booklet of the ones i have by him. easier to sign.

so i go back in, wait until he finishes his conversation with the dude, and say, 'can i be a fangeek and get this signed.' he agreed, and was gracious about it. i thanked him. someone else wandered up after i did for a similar request. remember, kids, be polite with your request, and once you get it signed, be polite, then go.