This is only SORT OF a Buffett story

[CaptainP]

My best ticket buying experience ever was about 5 years ago. I live in Wisconsin, but was planning a road trip to St. Louis for the show. Tickets went on sale at 10am, but were blocked outside of Missouri for 15 minutes. I went anyway, figuring lawn was fine.

Turns out that there was another concert going on sale that morning..."The Backstreet Boys". So there I was surrounded by 14 year old girls all screaming and jumping and being generally annoying. (One quote: "My goal in life is to touch any of them, just once") I thought I was going to be sick.

So the ticket lottery comes and goes, and lucky me, I drew out 2nd spot in line. First person goes, gets her tickets and starts screaming. Ugh. So I go up to the counter and say, "July 20th, Riverport Ampitheater, St. Louis, Jimmy Buffett, 2 tickets." The lady behind the counter greeted me with a blank stare. She had to look up the venue codes, the date, and all that. While she did so, there were 2 dozen little girls all squirming in anticipation.

She finally found the codes, and told me, "I'm sorry sir, there's a block on those tickets and you can't get them until 10:15. " I looked her square in the eyes and said, "OK. I'll wait". After the uncomfortable moment of silence (which I loved). I looked behind me as if I had been oblivious, and said, "Oh, did you want me to move?" And then I stepped aside.

I know, it was mean, but I figure if anyone was denied seeing the Backstreet Boys because of me, in the long run, I did them a favor...

[Guest]

That's a funny story! Did you get tickets?

[CaptainP]

Yes, and it was a great show, despite the weather...there were tornados in the area, we got rained on. But the show went on, and Jimmy even played "Holiday" for the occasion...("The Weather Channel Girl with her Weather Channel curls called for RAIN, RAIN, RAIN!")