It all started when I was planning my March block of concerts.  Thursday, March 12, was an off day so I used it as a travel day after Wilkes-Barre to get myself situated at Rockefeller Center near Radio City Music Hall.  Among the things I had planned for the pre-concert hours each day was to watch some of the behind-the-scenes action at the Today Show which was right next to my hotel.  I wasn't planning on being there real early, but when it was announced that our girls were going to be on the show I wanted to make sure I wouldn't miss them.

I'm not a morning person so it was very difficult to get up at 6am, but I'll do almost anything for CW.  The local NBC affiliate showed an aerial view of the crowd area outside the Today studio and it was virtually empty so I thought I had plenty of time.  After showering and getting dressed I got there around 6:35 and the place was packed!  I couldn't get a position at the end they normally film and ended up at the other end near the studio doors.  Just before 7am the crew came out, did last minute equipment checks, and positioned the studio monitors so we could see the program.

At this point, I should mention that the air temperature was about 25 degrees and, with the 30mph winds, the wind chill was in the single digits.  Needless to day, I was shivering almost continuously even though I had on a sweater and my heavy winter coat.  I persevered, though, in hopes of see our beloved girls.  As I watched the show on the monitor there was no mention of CW and I was getting a little worried.  There was still no mention during the second half-hour either.  By the end of the third segment I was beginning to think that plans had been changed.  I had noticed that during the last 5 minutes of each half-hour, where you would normally see your local news, they were showing various in-studio things on the monitors.  At the 8:25 break what do I see on the monitor but our girls rehearsing Danny Boy in their street clothes.

That was a good sign that plans hadn't changed, so I decided to stick it out even though I was almost completely numb.  After the gardening segment, both Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry were cruising the crowd and I got to meet and shake hands with both of them.  Around 8:45 the crowd on the other side started to thin out considerably so I relocated and got in a position where I thought I might actually get on camera.  I had my 'Fiddler Crossing' sign with me to show, but since Máiréad had just autographed it on Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre I was keeping it safe under my sweater.  As windy as it was I didn't want to risk having it blow away!

As 9:00 approached, a cameraman came out, picked up one of the cameras and aimed it at the sky.  I was a little puzzled and since I wasn't sure just how close to 9 it was I just watched.  Suddenly the cameraman says "Get ready!" and starts sweeping the camera across our line.  With only a few seconds notice I went for my sign and hoped I got it out in time.  That evening at the concert, Jim told me he saw it but it wasn't until I got home that I was able to confirm it.  I had set my DVR before I left to record the performance and myself, just in case I got on camera, and it did its job.  My 5 seconds (literally) of fame was safely digitized.

I stuck around until 9:30 and after they panned the crowd at the start of that half-hour they began tearing down the set and putting equipment away.  Obviously the girls weren't going to be performing outside where I could see them so, still frozen stiff, I headed back to the hotel to thaw out and watch them on the television in my room.  Of course, as you all know by now they weren't on until 10:55 at the very end of the fourth hour.  I had only set my DVR to record from 7-10 so, after all that, I didn't capture the performance anyway.  Oh, well.

The good thing, though, is that the whole world had a chance to see our favorite sign.  Well, maybe the whole nation.  Actually, the portion of the whole nation that had their televisions tuned to NBC and didn't blink at 9:00:03.  Still, not a bad Friday the 13th, although the best was to come later that night...

Original review is here.