Saturday, March 24, 2007

Day 3 of the event-from-hell

I have to say that even though taking it all down is hard, it's still one of my favorite parts of an event. There is generally no stress, everyone is relaxed and feeling good about a job well done and there is no one breathing down your neck to meet a dead-line. The event center wanted us to try to be out by 3:00, but we didn't feel any pressure from them and there wasn't anyone waiting to get in behind us. So, after about 5 hours of sleep, we went to work. Gary came back to help as well as another friend, Jeff.

The Aftermath:

One thing at a time. . . Gary is taking off some stage-drape:

The stage is a complete disaster from the night before. There are pieces of tape everywhere that have to be pulled off one by one as well as plenty of empty water bottles, chairs and other paraphenallia:

All of these cables have to be unplugged and wound up one by one. Gary was the lucky one who tackled this fun job:

More cables to unplug and put away. One of Marc's guys came back to pick up the video stuff and gave us a hand:

All of these nuts and bolts had to be removed. . .

. . . from all of these sticks of truss:

All stages had to be disassembled and carried out:

Dale's beautiful handiwork:

It took three loads in the big truck to get everything out and back where it belongs:

We saved the hardest part for last- all the truss and Genie lifts had to be loaded up and returned:

We're all exhausted after a long day. . .

Our work here is done. Looking on the bright side, every event after this one will be a piece of cake.

Rob could not stay awake on the way to his parent's house to pick up the kids (fortunately, I was driving). Surprisingly enough, we were both laughing at each other and the events of the preceding days.

The kids were happy to see us but Gloria immediately went out to play with the neighborhood kids when we got home around 8:00 p.m. This picture almost makes us look as though we have a normal life (yeah, right):


But wait, the day's not over yet. Zach woke me up at midnight with a horrible pain in his back. We ended up in the ER and he was given a "cocktail" to relax his esophogus. The Dr. thinks this will do the trick. I hope so, I need some sleep!



As I was loading all of these pictures and having to re-live some of the pain of the last few days, the song "Tunnel" by Third Day came on my Media Player and the lyrics brought me much comfort:

"Tunnel"

I won't pretend to know what you're thinking

I can't begin to know what you're going through

I won't deny the pain that you're feeling

But I'm gonna try and give a little hope to you

Just remember what I've told you

There's so much you're living for

There's a light at the end of this tunnel

There's a light at the end of this tunnel

For you, for you

There's a light at the end of this tunnel

Shinin' bright at the end of this tunnel

For you, for you

So keep holdin' on

You've got your disappointments and sorrows

You ought to share the weight of that load with me

Then you will find that the light of tomorrow

Brings a new life for your eyes to see

So remember what I've told you

There's so much you're living for

There's a light at the end of this tunnel

There's a light at the end of this tunnel

For you, for you

There's a light at the end of this tunnel

Shinin' bright at the end of this tunnel

For you, for you So keep holdin' on