I left Virginia Wednesday morning and drove to Columbia, South Carolina. I arrived around 2:30 and walked into the lobby of the arena to see if I could score a meet and greet. I met a few fans and we all chatted and prayed to get passes. I looked down the hallway and could see Bucky, Ace, and Paris doing an interview for news crews. No extra passes were given out so I hung around to stay in the cool ACed building. A local D.J. interviewed me on air and asked about ENN and the banner. I received a free tee shirt for being on air. I went out to my car to get the banner and two ladies stopped me and asked to take a picture with Elliott's wife. Huh??? Hee Hee! I had a shirt on that said Mrs. Yamin. I have a shirt that says Mrs. Brad Pitt and no one thinks twice about it because they know I am not Brad Pitt's wife. I guess this is not the case with the general public and Elliott. Kinda funny. I wish I hadn't wore the shirt now because many people kept asking me if I was his wife. I should have said yes and had tons of pictures on the internet titled "me & Elliott's wife Jessica". I had many people come sign the banner. Elliott's fans are great.

I had a front row seat at the concert. I was sitting next to two Taylor fans, women in their late 40s/early 50s. They were great. They would yell at Elliott to look at my sign. Highlights of the show for me were, Bucky dropping his microphono and him searching for it and standing up to say, "It happens". Bucky seeing my sign which read, "Gettin' Buck..Buck..Bucky With It". He smiled and did a nod...this story goes back to Richmond with me calling him Buck/Buck/Bucky, he remembers me (I need to get a trademark, hee hee). Ace smiled at me with my sign for him. He later reached down to touch my hand....thud. Elliott was great. He was talking about hometowns and I yelled "Richmond", in which he scanned the crowd and then said, "that's right, Richmond baby". I also liked how Bucky and Elliott would say "South Cakylacky". I also met Bucky's twin, Rocky during the intermission. He has to think I am crazy. After the concert, I joined the crowd that was waiting for the buses to leave. We didn't see anyone when they left.

I drove to Georgia that night and found the buses parked in front of the hotel. I went inside after changing out of my Mrs. Yamin shirt (I didn't want to look like a stalker, by the way, I am not). I went in to get my room and I saw Ace getting his room key. I looked around like I didn't know who these people were. Then I looked over my sholder and Kat was coming in with her crutches. When I turned around, Elliott was standing next to me at the counter. I did not stare. They left and the woman whispered, "They are American Idols", in which I smiled and whispered, "I know". In the morning I kept checking the lobby to see if they would come down. There were a few people waiting outside the elevators to meet the idols. I joined them and got video and pictures of the idols. They were great. I love Ace too...thud again. He touched/rubbed my sholder.

I got to the arena around 3:20. I was waiting with the rest of the people who were trying to get meet and greets. A security woman came over and asked me where my friend was, she was pointing to my ENN badge. I knew who she was talking about and told her that I couldn't find her either. She said that they had cleared her for the interview at the media meet and greet. She wanted to know if I wanted to go instead since it was almost over. The marketing manger took me inside and brought me to the basement where Taylor was finishing an interview. I had to sign a press/photo release form and they asked if I needed to interview Elliott. I said yes. They went to find him and started to freakout since I was not prepared for this. They came back and told me that Elliott was in the middle of a phone interview. A security guard then sent me into the middle of the arena and told me that I could get out on the other side. So, I was walking around the coliseum. I ended up in the area where the meet and greet people were waiting to go meet them. After 20 minutes, they kicked me out into the lobby with other people who did not have passes. Out there I met Ryan Young, Ace's brother. I got my picture with him. He is a really nice guy too.

During the concert, I had a sign for Ace. Not many people had signs, so he saw me with all my green glowing bracelets and necklace. No one was standing in my section, but I didn't care because I was having a good time dancing and singing. Ace saw me and pointed to me. I swear he was singing directly to me while smiling the whole time. Did I forget to tell you I love him. During the intermission, I saw Ryan was sitting only 5 rows behind me. Elliott was great. He was wearing a tee shirt that said, "Funky White Boy". I don't think he saw my sign though. After the concert, they were not letting anyone near the fences to see the buses. They didn't have a crowd waiting for them. That was the end of my trip.

---I met lots of new people. It was funny to hear people call out my name, stop me to ask me questions, and hangout with me after the shows. I even got invited to a club to see taylor's band play. I got lost trying to find it and decided to go back to the hotel.

---Also, people did cheer for Elliott, but not like at Richmond. And I hate to say this, but Elliott's homecoming was a lot bigger than Paris'. The crowd favorites would have to be Tay tay, Chris, and Ace. Elliott was about the same as Ace's.

Jessica, I'm soooo thrilled for you. I remember chatting with you at Champps about your upcoming solo trip. Oh, what a great time.

I simply cannot believe that you were standing at the counter with E right next to you and you didn't pass out or start shaking? Too bad that you had changed out our your Mrs. Yamin shirt -That would have been so funny if they had given you the second key to his room thinking you two were together - having the same last name and all!!!!! LOL!

:)

Entirely too exciting! So glad you had such a good time!

wow Jessica - sounds like a great time! Great memories!! Thanks for sharing it with us...

Hi Jess,

:goodpost: So did you actually get to meet E at any of your stops? I really enjoyed your recap.

I was at the July 13 concert but I got there too late for a meet and greet opportunity, although the other ENN reporter did :poke: (early birds get the worms!)

However I did get to interview Claudette for awhile...she's great.

I didn't get to meet him on the road trip. I did meet him in Richmond. I was only able to get video of him walking out of the hotel. I almost had a one on one interview with him in Duluth, GA. I was waiting for him but he was already in the middle of a phono interview. I did meet Bucky, Chris, Taylor, Paris, Lisa, and ACE!!!! I am E-Train, but I am now a Highroller too! That man is so nice and sexy. OMG!!!! I will be trying to work some magic at the Norfolk show and I really want to add a few more concerts.

WOW! E was right next to you and you didnt say anything LOL! sounds like me! My friends get on me cause I freeze up all the time! LOL! I dont think I would have known what to do or say. That would have been hilarious though if you had that shirt on when he stood next to you! LOL! I would have loved to see that reaction!

Great review! sounds like you had a blast and thanks for sharing everying!

I loved reading your story. I can relate to standing next to someone and not saying anything. It happened to me a few times, and , I don't know" I didn't want to appear all fancrazy, after all they are normal people who just happen to be in the limelight now. So to speak.
Too bad you couldn't find the other place. Looks like you had a great time, :)