I Won a Trip to Chicago to See Coldplay!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

...but then I lost it. Because my cell phone was in my purse.

But let me back up a bit so you can get the whole story.

Last Wednesday, Drama Kid and I were on our way to the park for the standing summer playdate with the other soon-to-be first graders. We were running late (typical me). I pull into a space just as Viva la Vida comes on the radio.

My son has turned into a huge Coldplay fan, I think because of the iTunes commercial. It stops him in his tracks. It's cute.

Anyway, he didn't want to get out of the car until the song was over.

DK: "Wait! Don't turn it off. I like this man's voice."

Me: "Honey, the song is on all the time. The other kids are waiting. Maybe I'll buy it on the computer later."

He gets out. He runs all over the playground while the moms crowd into any available shade. We stayed longer than we should have and I didn't pack lunch (not typical me).

He had an appointment for a much needed haircut so we raced away from the park and stopped at the grocery store next to the salon for a Lunchable.

Again, Coldplay on the radio, this time Clocks, which I LOVE.

Me: "Listen to this. This is the same man who sings Viva la Vida. Mommy loves this song."

So we sit in the car, both of us listening. The Kid had his head cocked to the side, not looking at me, but really concentrating on the music.

Me: "This part right here, with the piano by itself, that's my favorite part."

We stayed in the car until it ended, heads bobbing, imitating playing piano. It was a sweet moment. A "stop and smell the roses" moment.

Thursday I'm at home alone. The Kid is in camp. I'm on the computer with the radio on in the background. And I hear the cue to call. So I do. And I won!

I have a copy of the new CD and am qualified for the grand prize: a trip to Chicago to see Coldplay and a little backstage action after the show.

Yeeeeeee Haaaaaawwwww!

I danced around the room to Viva la Vida thinking how happy The Kid will be when I tell him we can listen to the song. Whenever. We. Want!!

I wasn't thinking about the trip part of the prize because really? I'm just not that lucky.

Fastforward through the weekend of record high temperatures, hours of mini golf and arcade games, a movie night potluck in Santee, 5 1/2 hours at a birthday pool party, laundry, a little cleaning, catching up on my reader and researching ways to improve my blog and it's almost 1:00 in the morning on Monday. I'm beat.

I'm showering off the sweat, sunscreen and chlorine and I think, "Hmm, I should go get my cell on the off chance I actually win." And then I fall into bed.

Which is why I missed the phone call.

All 14 of them.

Because my phone was still in my purse, upstairs, completely out of earshot.

When I saw all those missed calls starting at 6:35am, my stomach dropped. I felt like I was going to puke. I couldn't eat until late afternoon.

I actually won. Hubby and I could have taken our first vacation in almost 6 years. I could have begged Chris Martin to call The Kid, his newest little fan. I would tell him about the time I saw him, Gwyneth and Apple in my Target and how cute Apple is.

I'm from Chicago and I haven't been back since Drama Dad graduated from boot camp in 1995. Pizza from Lou Malnati's. The Sears Tower. Navy Pier. Brookfield Zoo. The Magnificent Mile.

All gone. Because my phone was in my purse. I totally suck!

To the lady in Escondido who's taking my trip: you owe me!

*Side note: Viva la Vida came on while typing this up. I called to The Kid and we danced in his room. I swung him around, dipped him and flipped him. He laughed and laughed (I'm not usually silly with him). Not a bad consolation prize.
add to kirtsy

9 comments:

  1. That totally sucks!! I LOVE Viva la Vida, it's a beautiful song!
    Also, we're having some beautiful weather right now and you will miss it!

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  2. Oh nooooo! I was all excited for you and then the bomb dropped. Boo Hiss Escondido Lady.

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  3. aw MAN!!! what a story!!! one of those incredible situations where you can do ABSOLUTELY nothing about it! still a great story. enjoy the CD!!!

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  4. Oh no, that is the worst story ever! I'm sooooo sorry for your loss. Ok, that sounded like someone died. I guess it isn't the worse story ever, but still a bummer. :(

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  5. I'm still so bummed! I was even going to Kirtsy myself on the deluded fantasy that tons of people would read the story and comment and it would get back to Coldplay and they'd take pity on me and invite me along. I have a really active imagination!

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  6. Okay, I admit, I didn't read this until just now. Oh my FRICKIN' HECK? Are you kidding me? Nuh-uh. No way! Seriously???? That absolutely stinks. I'm a huge lover of Coldplay (and Chicago). I think I'll go cry now.

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  7. Oh yeah, and I'm reminding you now to tell me the Gwyneth/Apple/Target story next time I see you. HERE? THIS Target? Again ... no way?

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  8. No. Way. No wonder you couldn't believe we didn't know the story. Did this involve Jeff and Jer in any way?

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  9. Jenn- LOL! No, it was from Sophie 103.7.

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