Hi everyone I know I've been out of the spotlight lately with a lot going on since I came home. Everyone is asking me for my recap of my first ABBADay....well here it is.............. First off it was great seeing a lot of old and new faces at my first ABBADay. Helga, Ron and others have been after me for a few years to come to this, but it kept conflicting with my winter getaways usually to a SUNNY island. I return home with a nice tan and sunburns, instead I encountered bloody rain throughout the trip and colder weather, so I came home with a nasty cold but it beats WORK and my usual hectic schedule and life. I almost didn't make this ABBADay since I planned it months ago with a $400 ticket from Singapore Airlines. Just over a month ago as many of you know my mom was diagnosed with Liver Cancer. So until she gave me marching orders to go (Italian mom!!) I was hesitant and against coming. Many were happy that I came and suprisingly I was able to enjoy the trip and nothing happened back home with mom as I checked in periodically. I got some sanity back too! Thanks again for everyones generosity with this too. *hugs* First off the trip started with bumping into Jonas Santiago at Newark Airport. I was there so early and so was he, so we lucked out and were seated together. d I haven't seen him for a while and this would be the last time I would see him since he was heading back home to Philippines for a new research center just for him..... Good Luck Jonas we will all miss you.....He even helped me out with my Mom since he works in Nuclear Medicine. We are both in love with Agnetha - so when he comes to see MAMMA MIA on Broadway there might be a brawl hehe...... I looked around for a diamond for her in Amsterdam to propose with if she appears there - So I might have a lead on Jonas!!! I took a night flight thinking I would get some sleep..Wrong move....instead I got very little sleep and was disoriented and even had trouble breathing on the flight a few times... And I love to fly......Still don't know why that happened...Heck I survived 23 hours going to Singapore & Malaysia last September (and no I didn't get caned, but I had some close calls - see my story and pics at http://georgenet.net/singapore ) We arrived around 11am Amsterdam time I was so sleepy. Me and Jonas got our luggage no problems WHEW!! Then my friend/tour guide Laura was there waiting for me. We got a bite to eat at the airport and went to see the Aviodome (aerospace musuem at the Schipol airport) - it was nice but a real nuisance to find. At this point I experienced the weather there - felt like I was in Seattle....ughhhhhhhhhhh And it was just becoming Spring (my favorite season) back home in New Jersey. Eventually this rainy weather would send me home with a nasty cold !!!! Me and Laura toured the city seeing some Art musuems, smelling the "coffee" at the "Coffee Shops" and I don't mean the caffeine hehe!!!! This brought back memories of the two WHO concerts I went too.. Sure beats Starbucks back home hehehe. We had a fun time at the Zoo where a Bird bit my leg and hid back in the bushes and I suspected a practical joke or something. Everyone working at the Zoo knew about the instigator of course they don't tell the visitors!! I'm considering contacting the Ally Macbeal producers with this one. These things always happen to me!!! I enjoyed seeing the Penguins and even for the first time saw a Kangaroo and other animals I'm a nature lover what can I say....I did the same thing in Singapore where they have a fantastic open Zoo and Night Safari unlike any other in the world!!!!! I also enjoyed seeing the windmills, canals and riding the trains and trams there. Amsterdam is wild open city. The food there was great too. I normally take a lot of photos when I travel, but the weather prevented me from taking more than 5 rolls...way below my norm!!!! Eventually we trekked down to Roosendaal. I didn't know what to expect. All I knew is they sell Abba stuff, fans come from all over, they show the movie and they have a competing game of ABBA Trivia and everyone rant and raves about it. I saw this on a video a few years back when Graeme made his worldwide tour. The best part is meeting and seeing everyone we correspond with and getting some bargains and new stuff. It was a nice get together, I felt like a sardine at times and it reminded a little of the BeatlesFest I go to sometimes back home but here on a much smaller scale. I saw a lot of old faces Jeff de Hart (with his new look!!), Ronnie Mehlis from Germany, Abbi & Janet, Ron M, Jonas again and he was taking pictures, Helga who I haven't seen in 3 years, Paul Carter who I met back in Toronto when we all met B,B & FRIDA!!!! I met for the first time Sara Barnes, Liesbeth Lobato, Samia Jalal and others I cant remember (sorry!!). I was amazed how some people knew me and recognized me - so much for my witness protection program!!! I'm a BIG Kristina fan and I'm grateful for Jeff de Hart for getting me to see it in Minnesota several years ago. The music is superb and powerful especially the electrific "Du Maste Finnas" by Helen. I get goosebumps everytime I hear it with occasional tears. Helen is a fantastic singer. Both Kristina performances in Minnesota were fantastic and it was great meeting others fans out there. Oh and I met B&B there along with the singers and I was even on Swedish television with the broadcast they had of the high school performance!!! If you have the video (contact me I need a full copy) I'm at the end taking pictures in a white shirt!! I traded and sold some of my Kristina photos from Minnesota and Mamma Mia photos from the Toronto premiere. Many loved my photos of Frida and the cast photo of Kristina with B&B. I gave Janet my best Frida photo. I felt bad she couldnt see Mamma Mia in Toronto with myself, Ron, Abbi & Vinnie Reiner. She loved it. I think everyone should have name tags maybe with their emails, etc. to help us "newbies" detect one another in the future events, and maybe a sign-in sheet so we know is there. Some people I wanted to meet or see again I couldn't find :-( Now back to real world: Lately me and Ron have been busy with the logistics, etc to get 40 people to come over to see MAMMA MIA here on Broadway. We still waiting for opening night tickets from ABBF on OCT 18th, but we HAVE 40 seats to see it together on the 19th. And now they are all taken!!!!!!!!!!!! This is going to be another great year of ABBA for me. Two premieres of Mamma Mia (Chicago on the 18th, and NYC in October), my first ABBADay, and I hope to see Kristina and the exhibit in Stockholm. Oh and propose to Agnetha.... :-) Take Care George Lewycky New Jersey, USA georgelnj@aol.com http://georgenet.net/kristina web site, mailing list on Kristina, ABBA,etc http://photos.yahoo.com/georgelnj