Hi. If you've not met me, I happen to be a genius. For this shot, I decide to climb to the highest point of the stadium and sit in the pouring rain until lightning shows itself.

That certainly isn't the dumbest idea I've ever had, but the irony is that no lightning ever came. It was just a torrential down pour. Again. No cover - and not the good kind of no cover, you know, to get into bars and the such.

What can I say? The forecast said thunder and lightning, so damn it, I was going to sit there (camera well wrapped, of course, in a poncho and gaff tape) and get soaked until I saw the sky light up.

Then... it stopped raining and the sky was clear.

The end.

Top photo: (L-R) Mr. Farese (lead rigger) and Mr. Lawrence (site coordinator) assessing the stage, post-storm.

Bottom photo: (L-R) My favorite comedic duo, I mean bosses, on-site, Mr. Pinner and Mr. Lawrence, heading down the ramp to assess the stage, post-storm - myself in tow.

Yeah, yeah I'd call that a cascade... ohhhh... the stadium is flooding too?? Super!

Photo: flooding stairs outside Gillette's dock.

Hey Jules! How many gallons of rain water did you have to dump from those tents?

Oh... and nice shoes!

Soccer to concert! Magic!

Top: Gillette Stadium 7.24.10
Bottom: Gillette Stadium 7.19.10

Thank you, Staples for making this picture perfect.

(L-R) Stageco steel guys Hassan and Farley putting together their big-kid version of a giant Erector set.

I'm all out of order and on a delay again, but I'm going to try to keep this together as much as I can. You can see three things of importance in this photo, the third being of most importance to me:

1. We are at Gillette Stadium.
2. There is a MLS soccer game on the field.
3. There is a stage build behind the goal.

My notes about the above three items:

1. Boooooooooo New England Patriots.
2. My first MLS game ever. I do thank the venue for getting us tickets, but I did almost fall asleep. What can I say, I had been up for a long time and there was the perfect hammock breeze!
3. I absolutely love my job(s).

Photo: New England Revolution plays Monarcas Morelia at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on 7.20.10, winning 1-0.

Oh Foxborough roads how you amuse me so.

As I mentioned a few posts ago, Jordan and I went straight from Edmonton to Boston for the next Bon Jovi build at Gillette Stadium. Luckily for me, I a) flew in early, b) had a Saturday off (like I hear real people do) and c) have a very dear friend who lives in Cambridge. Having even more luck, said very dear friend, Ms. Kelly McStay has a) an incredibly loving boyfriend with a beautiful Parece Cabin Cruiser circa 1953 moored off of Bristol, RI and b) had a day off on Saturday, as again, real people do.

So we packed ourselves a fine little picnic lunch, grabbed the sunscreen, hopped in the car and headed toward Rhode Island. When we arrived, I took one look at the boat and just thought Bing Crosby clambake and my day was made. Pristine condition, beautiful wood, technology from the early 50s and a gorgeous day to show. Perfect. Done.

One of the best parts about this whole trip so far is that I didn't know that I would be in Boston until I was already in Canada - so thank goodness a bathing suit and my Rainbows always travel with me... in my gig bag...

Here's to adventures and being rerouted!

Photo: (L-R) Jordan and Kelly being nautical at the bow of the boat.

Does your mall have a pirate ship?? I know mine doesn't.

Then again, my mall never had an ice rink, sea lions, a roller coaster, a carnival, a wave pool, a bumper boat lagoon, a casino, an Asian district (surprisingly legitimate), a European district, a hermit crab store and a whole bunch of other things I'm sure I'm forgetting... but good news! The West Edmonton Mall has ALL of that and much, much more!!

The ironic part is that neither Jordan nor I had any desire to shop, just an interest in the indoor city that Edmonton built in order to provide viable entertainment during the insanely cold winter months when it's forty below. That's why it's the biggest mall in North America, you know... fifth biggest in the world.

The shocker? Only two Starbucks. Bell Communications wins for most number of stores in the mall with four spread throughout. Curve ball, eh?

When you've worked with Cirque du Soleil for a few years, coming across a street performers' festival is sadly not as exciting as it once would have been. However, there is something charming about "street" aspect of this. No multi-million-dollar budgets or $300 seats, just a few props and a hat to pass around. Clearly, I did linger a bit.

Things into which you stumble in Edmonton while walking back to your hotel.

See ya later, Edmonton... Next stop? Boston.

Climber on truss, Bon Jovi tear-down on the morning of 7.16.10 in Edmonton.

The city of Edmonton behind the Bon Jovi tear-down at Commonwealth Stadium on the morning of the 16th.

Soggy, yet pretty.

I haven't photographed a load-out since Fenway's May builds for DMB and Phish last year, but I thought the sunrise against the crappy weather deserved a photo shoot.

Ok, so we had some not so great load-in weather... and some not so great load-out weather... in a town that there's really not much to do other than a) work or b) sit around and wait for Aurora Borealis to come knocking. We did plenty of working, that's for sure and as for Ms. Aurora? My email alerts (yes, yes, I actually am that big of a nerd) only indicated enough geomagnetic activity for a sighting on a night where things were far from dry, let alone clear.

But... the people of northern Alberta were happy. Bon Jovi was playing their hometown and they were stoked. If that means Aurora and I need to wait a while to contemplate the world, well, I'm ok with that.

Photo: Bon Jovi/Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB/7.15.10

Photo: Jon Bon Jovi/Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB/7.15.10

Photo: Jon Bon Jovi/Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB/7.15.10