As some of you already know, I embarked on a rather crazy endeavor last thursday. The back story: The Players Bench, a local music shop (crystal lake) has a Halloween sale every year. Not just "a sale", but the sale. We're talking 70% off list prices. You get a flyer in the mail a couple weeks in advance, which doubles as your 'golden ticket' into the place when they open the doors at 5 pm. What caught my eye on this flyer was a certain amplifier...a certain Peavey XXX combo. There's some more letters and numbers in the model name, but all you really need to know is that it was on sale for $237. Two-hundred thirty seven dollars!!! I can alredy hear the musicians from here; "Holy shit!!! Who do you have to kill for that price?", whereas the non-musicians are probably thinking something more like: "Holy shit!! $237!! That's a lot of money!" $850 (the regular retail price) is a lot of money. $237 should be considered theft. Not only that, but since the amp's name and reputation are held in such high regard, I'll make money if I want to sell it. It's a win / win! The only problem now...getting the amp. What are the odds of getting said amp? Just how early do I have to get there? 3, 4? Good questions, which is why I asked a sales clerk. "Well, most people get here around 3. There's a group of die-hards that come every year though and get here about eight." In the morning? Dammit. Now its just a matter of how bad i want this amp. After thinking about it, I decide that this deal is too good to pass up, and it's as good as mine. They better just write my name on the tag, because that's who it belongs to. Screw it, I'm getting there at 7 AM.
The night before, I prepare: Lawn Chair? Check. Winter Coat? Check. Gloves, hat, umbrella, pop, water, snack bars? Checks across the board. I may not have ever done this before, but I was determined not to look it.
Thursday morning arrives, and I awake at 6 AM. I lay in bed for ten minutes trying to get back to sleep, but can't. I'm too excited...or worried. One of the two. I'm excited about the amp, and worried about falling asleep forgetting my alarm. Being that it was a chilly day, I put on my jeans, socks, a t-shirt, sweatshirt and winter coat. Approximately 3 hours later I'll regret not putting on extra socks and pants. I get geared up at 6:40 and began my trek to the music store...trying to make sense of sitting in the same place for ten hours. It's going to be an interesting day.
I get to the train station to park my car about 7. Why there? Apparently parking in downtown Crystal Lake for more than 2 hours will get you a parking ticket. Whatever, it only cost a buck. I find a spot and get my ticket. Time to walk a couple blocks to the store.
Much to my surprise...I wasn't the first one there. Much to my worry, I should say. Apparently there were about 6 kids who got there at 12 AM and slept in sleeping bags on the sidewalk. For some crazy reason a couple were there just to be there however. After them was an older guy, probably in his fifties reading some work papers and sitting on what appeared to be an uncomfortable folding stool. Next to him in two camping chairs were 2 kids highschool age watching the end of "Old School" on a portable DVD player. Damn, why didn't I think of that? I talk to them and it turns out they got there at 4:15 AM. They imagine the older guy got there at 2 AM, after the sleep-over guys and before them. "All of these people are crazy as shit for being here earlier than me", I think. "...and I envy them for it." I'm quietly seething with anger, sure that my amp plans have been squashed by the 7 or so people in front of me. Another kid shows up at 7:45, and almost as an answer to my prayers an outgoing older dude in his early 30s shows up at 8:30 or so. "Hey! Whats up guys? My names Bill. Whadda ya all here for?" Thank you, Bill. He has no qualms about rousting the sleeping-baggers to see what they're after.