David Archuleta - Pre-Archey Report - St. Louis, MO - 07/18/08

(Here's Micara's Pre-Archey Report from the buses in St. Louis! Yay!)

So, I set out this morning with my mom and my 10 year old daughter, unsure of exactly what to do. I knew that I wanted to find where their buses came in and go wait there.

We took the Metrolink to the Scottrade Center and immediately saw a bus with a trailer on the back that said “Guitar Hero”. I started freaking out, but it was kind of in the open, so I figured that it wasn't the one I was looking for. Luckily at that point we met up with a gentleman who was on the same mission that we were and he suggested that we go inside Scottrade and ask someone there. The employees were very helpful and they directed us to the correct place.

There were already about 50 or so people there when we arrived. We took up positions on the side of the parking garage behind a barricade. The longer we waited, the more and more people showed up. I would say that Jason Castro had the most fans, followed by David Archuleta. I saw only a few Cookies... I thought he was pretty under-represented for his home state.

I had my own signs- One side said “I'm An Archey 4 Life- Micara, rickey.org.” and the other side said “Jeff Archuleta 4 Prez!” Lots of people laughed when they saw that. My daughter had signs for Brooke and Michael Johns.

About an hour and a half passed and finally the buses pulled in! There were 3 of them. I held up the Jeff sign, and as the bus was backing in, I saw a guy (it wasn't Jeff) point at my sign and then take a picture of it. He was sitting up by the driver. On the 3rd bus, another guy looked and my sign and mouthed the words.

The first Idol to come out was David Cook. He was dressed in black and had on a cool fedora. He was very animated and funny. He looked really good. My mom and daughter took pictures with him and he signed my daughter's shirt. When he got to me, we took a picture and when he was signing my magazine I said to him, “You know, Cookie, I have to say that you won me over!” and I winked at him. He looked interested. So he says, “Really? When did I win you over?” and I replied “Oh, around Idol Gives Back.” (This is true. I originally thought he was conceited, but I ended up really liking him- though not as much as Archey!) He then made this gesture with his arm like “Score!”

Ramiele was the 2nd Idol out and I almost didn't see her and then realized that she was standing right in front of me. She signed my mag and I told her how I love her hair and I tried to cut my daughter's hair like hers, only it didn't turn out. She laughed and smiled and signed my daughter's shirt.

Then there was Brooke. She looked so cute with her hair in a braid and a hat on. She was SO excited to see my daughter's sign- she was touched that someone had a sign for her. (I think we were the only ones.) I told her how my daughter wanted her to be her nanny. She laughed and said “Awww!” So we got her picture and autograph too.

Jason Castro came out and it was freaking insane. There was like an army of Dreadheads. He finally made it around to us and we got his pic and he signed our stuff. He drew a little picture of himself with his autograph.

Kristy Lee Cook was out there too, and I didn't get to speak to her but she signed my book.

And next... finally... DAVID ARCHULETA! I was seriously shaking. He didn't get to be out there for long because he said he had to do press, and you could tell that he felt really bad. Luckily, I was able to get my picture with him and have a mini-conversation. And show him my sign for his dad, which he liked. It went like this:

Me: “So David, tell me, how do you like your Pad Thai? Hot, Medium, or what?”
David: “Oh I love Pad Thai! I actually don't like any spices on it.”
Me: “Oh my gosh! Me too!! I love Pad Thai! I have it for lunch every day!”

(Ok, so, my brain wasn't entirely functioning! You're lucky I was still standing upright!)

Then we embarrassed the heck out of my daughter, Megan. We informed David that she was his future wife. He did his little laugh. It was so awesome!

The girl standing next to me was also an Archey fan. As he was moving away, she sighed and said, “I'm in this moment, and it feels like it's slipping away...”

I whispered to her furtively, “Wanna kidnap him?”

Kidding, kidding.

As David had to leave, Jeff came walking up. He walked straight up to me! He said, “I had to come see this sign that I heard all about.” So I showed it to him and he loved it. I told him how I thought he got a bum rap, and how I support him. Then I told him how he and his wife raised such great kids. He stood around and talked to use for about 10 minutes. He was very, very easygoing and down to earth. We told him how we want Megan to marry his son and he said “If I had a dollar for every time I heard that!”

We got our pictures with him, too. Then he walked around some more and talked to everyone.

And then came Chikezie! He looked great in a pink and green shirt and these awesome green shoes. Poor Chikezie was sweating up a storm. (We all were. It was like 95 out. Welcome to the midwest!) He was great. When he was on his way back, we called him back over and asked him to tell Michael Johns to come out. Megan has a major crush on Michael Johns and was nearly in tears thinking that he wasn't coming out. Chikezie said “I will tell him that you're waiting for him.”

It was starting to really slow down at this point, but then here came Syesha! She looked so fabulous. Just gorgeous. She was very sweet.

We were getting ready to leave because it was nearing 4:00 and we were looking and feeling rather sweaty and disgusting, but at last we saw Michael Johns coming up the ramp. Megan about freaked out!

When he got to us, we told him how much Megan loves him and he gave her a hug and asked her name. Then we got a picture and when he was going to sign her shirt, he saw how big Brooke signed it and he said “Brooke! What were you thinking?” It was totally cute. Then I had to explain how come my magazine didn't have any pictures of him in it. I told him “I had to tear your pictures out and send them to my daughter at summer camp so that she wouldn't be deprived of Michael Johns!” He looked flattered and laughed.
Later as he was leaving, he came back over to Megan, gave her another hug, took another picture with her and said “See you later, Megan.” She was so thrilled that he remembered her name!!

It was 4 hours smashed and sweating, but it was so worth it. It was one of the best times I've ever had! I am so impressed with the Idols and how they care about their fans. I was disappointed that I didn't get to see Carly (she's my favorite girl) but I will get to see her sing in 90 short minutes! More later!!!

Michele
(Micara)