I was attending the show with Scott.  He wasn't planning to go to this show but decided to when the signing was announced.  We met around 5, located the signing area and talked to the people at Spin Street about how it was going to work.  We didn't want to leave anything to chance!  Unfortunately, we weren't sitting together.  In fact, we were on opposite sides of the arena.  He was on the same side as the signing but in the middle of a row while I was adjacent to an exit even though I was farther away.  We joked about who would get in line first and I won.

The line was 3 or 4 people wide and about 100 or so feet long and we were at about the midpoint.  The Spin Street people had earlier indicated that there might be a limit on how many people they would allow and we were a little apprehensive.  To CW's credit they didn't turn anyone away.  In order to keep things moving, they were only signing TGJ CDs and DVDs and a person was roving the line making sure everyone had their liner notes out ahead of time.

We had noted before the show that there were 5 chairs setup so we assumed that it would be all 5 girls.  As we were standing in line it was difficult to see over the crowd and I was unable to confirm that until we got closer.  Once we got to the head of the line, Rachel asked who we wanted the autographs made out to and she wrote the name on the liner so the girls would know who they were speaking to.

Even though I mentioned above that they were trying to streamline the process to keep things moving, they were very definitely not rushing people.  Within reason, of course, fans were allowed to chat with each girl and were permitted to take pictures.  I had taken my camera with me just in case and am I glad I did!

Enough prologue.  As they used to say on the Bugs Bunny cartoons:  On with the show!  As we got to the head of the line, there they were!  They were seated with Lisa first, then Chloë, Alex, Máiréad, and finally Lynn.  They had changed outfits, which is not surprising considering what their second-half gowns look like.

I am by nature a shy person and I was very nervous.  My mind was racing with thoughts like "What do I say?", "Just don't sound stupid!, "Say something, anything!"  Everything that has been written about them is true, they are very easy to talk and do try to put you at ease.  In my case that was a monumental effort.

Even though we took our time, the whole thing seemed to be over so fast it's still a bit of a blur.  Lisa asked how I liked the new show and I think I said "Awesome!"  How lame is that?  I told Chloë that I loved her performance of Nella Fantasia and I told Alex that I loved her new songs.

Then came my favorite, Máiréad.  Oh my God, what a little sweetie she is!  Scott was ahead of me and she remembered him.  Then he introduced me to her and I believe that I may have seen that white light everyone talks about in a near-death experience.  I think I managed to say something about loving her Last Rose instrumental and I'm pretty sure she said that it's one of her favorites, too, but my brain wasn't functioning to its full capacity.  I asked the girls if they minded if I took their picture and when I asked Máiréad she jokingly asked Lynn to lean over and, well, you see the result below.  I think I was so stunned that I don't recall saying anything to Lynn at all.  I may have, but I can't be sure.

Then it was over.  I had this stupid grin on my face that still hasn't gone away.  My only solace is that I will hopefully be a little more articulate in Wilkes-Barre and New York.  After we exited the line, Scott and I went up to the balcony overlooking the signing and I took a few pictures from up there.  The flash on my camera wasn't quite powerful enough to get really good shots, but with a little post-processing they give a reasonable impression of the overall event.  In particular, notice the one where Máiréad is leaning over the table to shake the hand of the little girl.  What a classy lady!

Original review is here and here.