Our day off in Chicago finally arrived, much anticipated because we planned a return visit to the most amazing ball park, Wrigley Field to see a ball game. We did this once before in 2001 and enjoyed it so much that we vowed to return. The game we saw in 2001 was a thrilling one and even though the home team lost, this visit was every bit as exciting, and more. The visitors were the Cincinnati Reds and they definitely had the edge and were seemingly knocking the Cubs for six (apologies for the cricket metaphor).

Paul, Pete, Richard, Glenn, Mark and myself took the 'L' train Red line from downtown Chicago to Addison, another first for all of us although Richard said he rode the train when he was 7 years old. He used to live in Chicago back then. We arrived at the stadium in perfect time for the usual pre-game rituals.

We sat down in our seats, behind the plate and just off to the left of the catch fencing. The Cubs took an early lead in the first inning.

Then an awful thing happened, at the bottom of the second innings, Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo pitched to Cubs pitcher Ted Lily (batting) and a ricochet, foul ball headed right towards us at incredible speed. I was filming at the time with the HD camera and witnessed the ball hitting a 7 year old boy in the head. He was immediately knocked unconscious and his father lifted his limb body up and cried for help, as did everyone in the vicinity. I've never seen people move so fast as the officials rushed to assist and paramedics were called. The boy, Dominic D'Angi remained unconscious and we later learned that he suffered a fractured skull and was rushed to hospital where a coma was induced due to breathing irregularities. We're all relieved to learn he's now awake and recovering. Our best wishes go out to his family.
The final score in this thrilling game was 12-7 to the Reds.

Show day - Winnipeg.

Another long-haul hub from Chicago to Winnipeg, the first time that I can recall we've ever hubbed into and out of a country in one day. with some major league thunderstorms in the forecast for today, I had the camera ready for the journey and as it turned out, we weren't to be disappointed. Leaving Chicago from Midway airport.

Arriving into Winnipeg two hours later.

Once again, no sound check and Mark, John and Richard do a little homework on one of the tunes in the set in the dressing room.

Not sure of the story behind this strange note in production, I'll endeavor to find out.

I spend a bit of time in the production office before the show as it seems to be the hub of all news and a highly entertaining place to be as people come in and make requests, security issues, catering, drivers, band requests, rumours..gossip etc etc. Pete came in and said he'd just had a strange one with the drivers. As you know, we use local drivers in the US and Canada and they're not always up to the job. Today's drivers were really pleasant and our driver was perfectly good except that when Pete talked to him about the runner, he said he had tickets to see the show and after it finished, he'd make his way backstage to drive us to the airport. Ha. He's obviously not heard of the 'band-runner'. Pete relieved him of his duties and got another driver. The drivers are on call from the moment they pick us up from the plane to when they drop us off again after-show.

The gig was yet another symphony hall, great acoustics and a truly fantastic crowd who looked as though they relished EVERY note we played. A successful runner to the plane and we shot skyward just in front of an approaching storm. Our relief stewardess Jessica, served us pasta and half way through our flight back to Chicago, the captain came on the intercom (unusual) and said it may get bumpy. Paul went white as he's not the most relaxed of flyers. The next hour was nothing short of spectacular, a light show that Simon Tutchenor would have been proud of. The pilots were hands on all the way and managed to fly around the monster ahead of us.

It was constant lightening and at one point we flew within ten miles of it all. Just one major bump as we descended through 5,000 feet coming back in to Midway and landed right in the middle of a torrential downpour.



Another strike as we approach the airfield and we were all happy to be back on the ground. An amazing flight and none of us recalled ever seeing a storm quit like it.



When I got back to the room and checked the nexrad radar, something I do regularly, this is what I saw.