You are my fire, the one desire...

**NKOTBSB Tour - 7/20/2011 - KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, KY**

*Part III - Concert*

Originally, I had this review done.  Then, I went to delete one little thing in it and it deleted the whole review!  It auto saved before I could recover it so I had to start all over.  Now I have been trying to decide if I wanted to go along the same route with the same full review or do something different.  In the end, if I wrote a full review for each of my 6 NKOTBSB shows, there will be a lot of repetition.  So, I am going to just focus on what made this show different from the others.

KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, KY

Me and Tammy

At the time of this show, I had already been to 4 NKOTBSB shows and already had a feeling that this one would be greater than all the rest.  My time before the show had been amazing.  And for this show, we had great seats, it was in Kentucky, and I was with a great concert friend.

After my soundcheck, I needed to meet Tammy outside the venue.  She was just getting into town and it just so happened that Leighanne had moved the Wylee trailer in front of the venue.  It served for a great meeting place.  While waiting for Tammy, I saw someone that looked very familiar in front of the venue.  I approached her and it was determined that was actually the Rush Chair the semester that I rushed Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a philanthropic sorority at Ball State University.

Tammy finally showed up, wearing her new Wylee dress.  She wanted to show Leighanne how she was able to make sleeves from her Wylee scarf and Leighanne fell in love with it.  Leighanne asked Tammy to take a photo with her.  This has been the only time that I have met Leighanne and did not get a photo.

The Prime Lounge

We knew we had some time before the show started so we decided to walk down the street to the Prime Lounge.  Howie was supposed to be having his after party here after the show but he informed us during the soundcheck that it was cancelled.  The Prime Lounge was playing BSB music and was packed.  We ordered a light dinner and could not find an empty table.  Tammy approached a table that had some room and we sat with a girl who was going to the show and her friend.  We chatted about BSB and the show.  It was great to meet some new BSB fans.

On our way back to the venue, we stopped at the Wylee trailer once again to see if there were plans in the works for a Just Ask (formerly Healthy Hearts Club) charity event this fall.  Leighanne had left but her best friend Jodi informed us that she had not heard of anything yet.  Bummer.  Last year's event was amazing and I was really looking forward to one this year.  One may still happen but we'll see.

We got to the venue and found out we had missed the first opening act, Midnight Red.  It would have been the first time seeing them but I was happy that I had not missed Matthew Morrison.  I am a huge Glee fan and was super excited about seeing him.

Floor 4 - Row B

We had great seats - Second Row just to the left of the head.  Because the front row was up against the barrier, we didn't really have to strain to look over them.  I think these were actually the best seats I had for all of my concerts (well except for maybe the front row during the first show).

When Brian came down to the head of the stage for "The Call," he looked at me and then pointed to his hat and smiled.  I was wearing my University of Kentucky hat and he was basically telling me that he saw me.  It was the first time that I had ever been acknowledged during a show.  I had been smiled at and such but nothing ever like this.  It made me super happy and I hope this was one sign that maybe I would get picked for "I'll Never Break Your Heart" after all.

I had made a sign in hopes to get picked for "INBYH."  I had actually talked to Leighanne about it at the Wylee Party in Nashville.  Although at that time, my idea for the sign had been something along the lines of "Brian - Show these Cardinals some Wildcat spirit.  Pick me."  Leighanne loved the idea but informed me that he would probably pick his mom since she would be there.  I figured I would try anyway but decided to shorten my sign.  A friend of mine had told me about problems she had trying to get her sign into a show and I wanted to make sure that mine was not too big.

Showing my Wildcat pride!

Once I knew they were going to be picking girls, I grabbed my sign and held it up as high in the air as I could.  I was screaming my head off.  Brian looked at me, saw my sign, and gave a little giggle.  I thought for sure that he was going to pick me!  Then, I saw Leighanne coming on stage!  At first I thought, "Of all the shows to pick her, why does it have to be here?"  Then I remembered...it was her birthday.  So I couldn't stay mad for long.  I mean, I had gotten another acknowledgement on stage from Brian.  That is better than nothing.  Some fans next to us did tell me after the show that they think he would have picked me if it would not have been Leighanne's birthday.

And while this next part happens at every show, it is one of my favorites...

Donnie's abs during "Cover Girl"

Before this show, many of my friends and I had been talking about going onto the concourse when NKOTB are singing "Tonight" in order to see if we could meet whatever BSB is there for "Shape of My Heart."  I did not do this during this show because I knew some of the NKOTB were going to be walking pretty close to us when they came out into the audience for "Tonight."  I am glad I did not leave because Jonathan walked right by us and shook both mine and Tammy's hand!  Anytime you can have physical contact with any celebrity, it is super exciting.

"Tonight"

If I would have gone out into the concourse, I would have seen Howie and AJ.  I think I would have regretted it a little more if Brian would have been on my side so I was glad that it was those two.  Howie ended up taking his son, James, onto the stage.  It was adorable.

"Shape of My Heart"

Something that always changes slightly is the introductions that the group has for one another.  Brian started off by telling the group how to correctly pronounce Louisville.  Here is the rest that I got on video.

Louisville Introductions

The only intro that I did not get that I wished I would have was Howie's intro of Danny.  Usually he uses the same line of "He knows how to bring the Wood to the party."  However, this time he got creative and said, "He's got more Wood than a Louisville Slugger."  It was so perfect for the city we were in and the rest of the group loved it.  Everyone gave Howie a high five and told him how awesome it was.

My favorite part of this show had to be the fact that they did, in fact, find a University of Kentucky jersey for Brian to wear.  My Kentucky boy had come out to play...

NKOTBSB Encore

Tammy and I did not want the party to end so we found some photo opportunities around the arena.  We first found some University of Kentucky heroes that were displayed around the arena.  Only we would find something UK related in the University of Louisville arena.

Then came our photo ops with the NKOTBSB poster.

And I think we would have both looked great on Danny Wood's Harley.

Overall, it was a great night.  I am glad that Tammy was able to join me and make me miss our many trips together, especially to Lexington.

You can check out the rest of my photos here:  NKOTBSB - Louisville

In my dreams you are still here...

**NKOTBSB Tour - 7/20/2011 - KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, KY**

*Part II - Soundcheck*

Now it's time to share the wonderful experience that was the Louisville soundcheck...

From Silver...

So, I had gotten an e-mail on Sunday that I had won a Silver VIP for the Backstreet Boys for my show in Louisville.  For those of you who do not know BSB VIP lingo:  a Silver VIP includes a BSB Soundcheck that consists of 3-4 songs (more about this later), Q&A, and a group photo (the Boys and 4-5 girls).  The last time that I did VIP, I had Susan with me.  This time I was going to be by myself.

I got to the venue a little before 3:45 when check in was supposed to be.  The main box office was filled with both BSB VIP people and NKOTB All Access people.  They sort of divided us and we started the VIP process.  A girl that I had met at the Wylee Party in Nashville, Emily, came up to me and we started talking.  She had also won a Silver VIP but was thinking about upgrading to Gold so that she could get an individual picture with the group.

While standing in line, I asked Justin and the other guy that works check in (I have no idea what his name is) who was giving the backstage tour that comes with the Platinum VIP.  I knew if they were going in the same order that it would be AJ.  However, Leighanne and I had talked about Brian possibly switching with him so that he could do the backstage tour in his home state.  I had been debating whether or not I was going to upgrade ever since I had won the Silver.  Justin would not tell me who was doing the tour and I should have guessed that he wouldn't because they never do.  That is why we keep track of it on the fan club.  If I would have been smart, I would have asked Brian when I had talked to him at the Wylee Party.  However, I was so wrapped up in the conversation we were having that it didn't even dawn on me.  I also realized today that it would have been the perfect time to have another conversation with him that I have been wanting to have for a long time...oh well, it must not have been the right time and place after all.

So, I got my Silver VIP and got in my Silver VIP line.  I saw Emily upgrading hers to Gold.  I knew that if Brian was going to do the backstage tour and I didn't upgrade, I was going to completely kick myself in the butt.  If AJ gave the tour, it wouldn't be a complete loss because AJ was my second favorite for a long time.  Plus, I would be able to sit front row for soundcheck, get my individual picture with the group, and get my backstage tour.  And I would only be paying the difference between the Silver and the Platinum because I would be upgrading from the free Silver.  So instead of paying $520, I would only be paying $312.  I was SO torn.  I decided to heed Nick's advice from the BSB Cruise 2010..."just F it."  I got out of my Silver VIP line and went back to the check in table.  Once there, I debated again....upgrade to Gold or Platinum?  Justin looked at me and told me that I looked like I was contemplating something and I told him that I was trying to decide which one my husband would kill me less over.  I should have told him that if he didn't tell me who was doing the tour, I would not share my chili cheese fries with him on the cruise again this year.  It's amazing what you can think of to say after a situation is already done.  I decided to go for the Platinum.  After swiping my card, Justin asks if you have a cell phone that receives texts because that is how you get the receipt.  I gave him the number and he said he would give it to AJ later....his way of telling me that AJ is giving the tour.  Man.  Who cares, I am still going to have a great time.  Again for those who don't speak BSB VIP:  Platinum includes Soundcheck of 3-4 songs, Q&A, a pre-signed 8x10 photo of the Boys, an individual pic with the group, a backstage tour given by one of the Backstreet Boys, and a photo with whoever is giving the tour.

...To Platinum

So we were sat down in order.  Platinums in the first row, then Gold, then Silver, then Bronze, then the radio contest winners.  Justin explains the rules for the Q&A and then asks if we have any questions.  I asked him if we can take our photos without the barriers.  For those who do not know, usually the Boys stand behind a barrier and then the fans stand in front of it.  During this tour, some people have been able to take their photos without the barrier.  I think it depends on the group size and what kind of mood the Boys are in.  Justin said that it was not up to him but that with the size of our group it was a good possibility that we would be able to have no barriers.  

So AJ comes out and Nick comes out on his cell phone.  Howie was on his cell phone pacing on the main stage.  Brian was no where to be seen.  Nick was talking to Jen, their manager.  I never found out who Howie was talking to but AJ and Nick were making fun of the way he was pacing because he was doing it so rhythmically.  He later told us that he was stepping on the tape that was on the main stage to mark spots.  Brian was still no where but they told us he was taking care of family matters since this was his home state.  That's when I yelled out that we were in enemy territory.  AJ looked at me and asked how so.  I said that we are University of Kentucky fans and that we were in the arena of the University of Louisville Cardinals...our big time rivals.  He then commented that it would be worse if we were in the Duke arena.  I agreed and then it was pointed out that Nick was wearing a Duke Nukem shirt so that was close enough.  AJ told everyone that they could ask questions so people were just shooting questions out there....and this wasn't even the Q&A session!  Mostly people asked about being picked for I'll Never Break Your Heart and people were telling them that it was someone's birthday.  The three of them talked about how they can be mean when it comes to picking fans for "I'll Never Break Your Heart."  They said that fans get really mad when they pick the person next to the girl with the "pick me" sign and that they think it is funny to pick someone who is clearly a New Kids fan because they are decked out in New Kids gear.  I asked if we could take our pictures without barricades.  AJ said that he was making the executive decision that there would be no barricades in the photo.  The fans were all very kind to me and thanked me for that.  One fan did ask AJ where his favorite tattoo was.  It is his Betty Boop with his grandma's name that is on his arm.  His grandma was a huge Betty Boop fan.  Also, AJ's favorite song to sing is Siberia and that he believes that it should have been a single.  I know Brian thinks this same thing.  Why it wasn't is beyond me because it is also a favorite of mine.  I also found out that AJ loves Wal-Mart.

This went on for a long while and Nick decided that it was time for payback from a previous soundcheck.  Apparently, Nick had been late for a soundcheck (in Tulsa) so the Boys had everyone look at their watch and tell him that he was late.  Nick wanted to do the same thing but then changed the phrase we were going to say to "In Kentucky????"  One of the crew members came over and had the Jeopardy theme music on his phone and played that into the microphone so that Brian might be able to hear it.  Brian finally came out but he came from the head of the stage and not the main part as if he was coming from backstage.  He was following his mom, dad, and brother.  He hopped up on stage and we said our line....he said "really?"  He apologized to us and explained that he was getting his family situated with their tickets and such.  Then Nick asked him if his head was burning with his UK hat on.....I have to believe that my previous conversation with them brought this on.

So, when the Backstreet Boys sing their songs in soundcheck they ask for requests from the fans.  Their guidelines are that it cannot be too old and that it should actually be a song that was released as a single.  This ensures that they have the song to play and that they remember the words.  However, I do not like this rule because these are the same songs that they sing during the show.  So everybody started shouting out their Greatest Hits stuff.  I did not want to hear these as I knew I would see them during the show.  I yelled out "Siberia."  AJ heard me and they sang "Siberia."  I was on a roll!  I think I found that since I was sitting in the front row that I had more confidence because I didn't have to compete with anyone in front of me.  The second song that they sang was "Drowning,"  which they do play during the concert but it is a good song and one of Tammy's favorites.  I almost called her so that she could hear them singing it.  I guess lately they have only been singing 2 songs for soundcheck, even though the website says they are supposed to sing 3-4.  Oh well.

Soundcheck Photos

Then the Q&A came.  During this time, each of the Boys is asked one question.  Fans are not supposed to ask for hugs or to be sung to, but ask something that teaches us something about the Boys.  Here are the questions and their answers paraphrased.

Howie - When you hopefully go on your solo tour, will you come to Louisville?  - He is planning on doing a solo tour but has no idea what his schedule will be like.

AJ - Do you prefer touring as it was back then or now? - AJ thinks now.  He shared that for the first two weeks he is happy to be home.  Then the third week he starts to miss the road.  Then by the fourth week he wants to be on the road again really bad.

Nick - If you were the only 4 left on the planet, who would you mate with?  - All of the Boys seemed impressed with this question and complimented her because it must have been something she had thought long and hard about.  Nick says that would take some genetic engineering since it would be impossible to mate with one another since they are all male.  So he decides that he would just genetically engineer the perfect Backstreet Boy with Brian's calves (always been a favorite feature of mine), AJ's voice, Howie's body hair, and his hair.  Then they would have to fly to the moon to mate with the aliens so that can populate the earth again.  AJ then chimed in that if the question was that there was one girl left that he would feel sorry for the one girl because she would have to do it so much.  She would be like, "again?"  All of us said that would NOT be the case....

Brian - Are you and Leighanne planning on having anymore children?  - He simply said that they have been blessed with one child but that is all they are having.  He avoided the fact that Leighanne cannot have anymore children.  Then he asked why he always gets the "dad" questions.

After question and answer, it is time for the group photos.  The Bronze VIPs are ushered out because they do not get photos.  The radio contest winners go first, then Silver, then Gold.  Finally, the Platinum VIPs go.  I was the first one in line for my photo.  Drew, Brian's bodyguard, is the one that was holding us in line.  He tells me "Long time, no see" (he had just seen me at the Wylee Party) and gives me a high five.  When getting our photo taken, we can only give the Boys handshakes, no hugs.  Apparently, they had been getting sick quite a bit and that was to reduce the chance of that happening.  So I shake each of their hands and tell them hello.  I never know what to say to any of them except hi.  Almost all of the people with Gold VIPs had gotten in the middle of Howie and Nick so that they were in the very center. I, of course, had to be next to Brian.  When I shook Brian's hand he said, "Well hello again."  I told him that I could not find him a UK jersey and he told be it was okay and thanks anyway.  I then picked up my pre-signed 8x10 photo and sat down to wait for the backstage tour.  

B-Rok, Me, Howie D., Kaos, and Bone

Backstage Tour

AJ at beginning of tour

AJ was our tour guide and told us to start thinking at the beginning on what our pose will be for our photos because he didn't want any boring "prom" pictures.  I am always so bad at thinking up of poses.  We first saw the sound booth.  He then talked about the Penis Stage and how no one had thought out one of the costume choices.  I had never thought about this before but at one point, Brian and AJ come out on the head, wearing nothing but white ("Show Me the Meaning").  You use your imagination on that one....  He also talked about how you have to bend over when going underneath the stage and how it is really hard on someone who has had knee surgery on both his knees.  So he talked about how he was going to go to Wal-Mart to buy a skateboard so he can just sit on it and wheel himself down the stage.  And no one else will get to use it.

He then took us backstage and showed us the spot on the stage where he had fallen during the very first concert in Chicago.  Because of this, they added hand rails to the spot.  AJ was the guinea pig.  Then, we saw where some of the pyrotechnics were kept.  He talked about how during the "rain wall" during Jordan's "I'll Be Loving You Forever,"  he burned his head because he wasn't wearing his hat and stood under it.  Sometimes, I think AJ is not very bright.  We then saw the computer station that runs the whole show.  It was here that AJ said that they try to do something different every show.  This proves my point that no two shows are ever the same and makes me want to do Mega Tour even more.  We then met some crew members and then had our photos taken.

Me and AJ McLean

I was one of the last ones because I could not think of a good pose.  I settled on one finally.  I had totally forgotten that my friends had talked about asking him to take off his shirt if they ever did platinum.  I think it would have settled the debate that Donnie's abs are much finer than AJ's (but that is another post for another time).  While there were a lot of cute poses, I didn't want to do one that someone else had already done because then I felt like I would have been stealing.  The important thing is that I finally have a photo with someone other than Brian (although I do have one with Kevin but he is just not a member anymore).  I can now get my photo with Donnie if the time ever arises because I proved my friends wrong.  The conversation was if you had the opportunity of getting a photo with AJ or Donnie, who would it be with?  I said Donnie because I would have more opportunities later with AJ since I do way more BSB stuff.  They told me that I would never get a photo with AJ because I always stand next to Brian....take that girls!!!!  Not only did I get a photo with AJ, but I am leaning towards Howie in my group photo!  LOL.

Well, I guess that is my BSB Platinum VIP experience.  Stay tuned for my concert review....where more cool stuff happens!

You've got something so incredible in my eyes...

**NKOTBSB Tour - 7/20/2011 - KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, KY**

*Part I - The Wylee Party*

Well, I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to continue with my Backstreet Adventures in order or go ahead and review my NKOTBSB show from last night first.  I decided that I would go ahead and skip ahead to review the show and then go back to where I left off.  Then I realized that A LOT happened yesterday (Wylee Party, VIP, and Concert) and it would be a VERY long post if I posted everything in one post.  So my NKOTBSB - Louisville review will be split up into a couple parts.

Before this tour was announced, I was hoping and praying that NKOTBSB would go to Lexington, KY for a show.  I absolutely love Lexington and if it were up to me, that is where my husband and I would be living right now.  When they announced that they would be in Louisville instead, I had to take what was given to me.  I had to go to this show since I had lived right across the Ohio River for two years and was very upset when we had to move back to Northwest Indiana.  I loved it down there and miss it every day.  I thought it was great that they were playing in Kentucky but knew that I was going to have to represent my University of Kentucky Wildcats since they were doing the show in the KFC Yum! Center, where the University of Louisville basketball team plays.  I was going to be in enemy territory.  Although, I believe that the fact that UK leads the record over U of L in both basketball (28-14) and football (14-9) shows which school is superior.  Oh and for those of you who are wondering...I am NOT a UK fan just because Brian is.  I was a UK fan long before BSB even formed.  My guess is that this is one of the many reasons that I was drawn to Brian.

Tammy and me at a UK Basketball Game

Anyway, I was originally supposed to go to this concert with my friend Susan (met on BSB fan club).  However, on Monday, she texted me to tell me that her husband's grandfather had passed away and she was not going to be able to go to the concert with me.  I had to do some pretty deep searching to find someone who could buy her ticket.  it was such short notice that people either had to work, could not find a babysitter, were on vacation, or had family coming into visit.  My friend, Tammy (met at one of Brian's solo concerts), ended up taking Susan's ticket.  She had wanted to go to this concert since day one, as she is also a fan of UK and wants to live in Kentucky.  Now, she was getting her opportunity.

I left for Louisville on Tuesday night after work.  I was staying with some friends who we used to spend a lot of time with when we lived down there.  My normal place of accommodations was unavailable because they were on vacation.  I didn't really have a plan for the next morning except to go to the mall so that I could go shopping at "Kentucky Korner" to buy myself a new UK shirt for the concert.  However, when I woke up I decided that I better check Twitter to see if Leighanne was having a Wylee Party.  I got my butt in gear once I discovered that she was from 1-4.  Check in for soundcheck (I had won Silver VIP) was at 3:45 so I really did not expect Brian to be there.  Usually when he attends the Wylee Parties, Drew will bring him from the venue towards the end.  I knew the end of the party was going to be too close to soundcheck for him to be there.

So I went to "Kentucky Korner" and bought my new UK shirt.  I wasn't planning on changing into it until the show because it was HOT that day and I knew I would be sweating.  So I wore my old UK shirt (which I do have on in a picture with Brian during his HHC event) because I still had to represent while I was in Louisville.  I also decided to do a little searching for a possible cruise dress.  A hint for a theme was released back in May and my friends and I believe it will be a White Night.  I did find a white dress and picked that up while I was there.  I then headed across the river to a store called Clodhoppers, where the Wylee Party was supposed to be.  I got there at 1, went in, and there was no Wylee anywhere in sight.  There were two other people outside.  We later found out that the party was supposed to start at 2, even though Twitter said 1.  There was a heat index of 105 so there was no way I was going to continue to stand outside.  I went into the CVS right next door and picked up a water, a Snickers Ice Cream Bar, and a book of Sudoku puzzles.  I went back to my car and blasted the air.  At 2, the Wylee trailer pulled up.  Shortly after, a white van pulled up and out popped Brian, his parents, Baylee, and Leighanne.  They started unloading the Wylee gear and we all went in.  At that point, there were maybe only 7 or so fans.  I knew Brian usually did not take pictures at the Wylee Parties but he was just kind of standing there and helping them set up.  All the fans were just kind of standing around so I decided to work up the courage to go talk to him.  Sometimes I find it intimidating to talk to them because of who they are.

Wildcat Fans Forever

I asked Brian if he was going to be taking pictures and he said it depended on the number of people there.  Since there were so few of us, I recommended that we just take it then and he agreed.  So I now have five photos of me wearing this same UK short (one from this day and four from the photo booth at his HHC event).  He complimented me on my Maymee Hold It (a Wylee product) and I discussed my UK bracelet with him that I found in Cozumel on the BSB Cruise 2010.  We then discussed how he had requested that they do a show in Lexington at Rupp Arena when talks of this tour first started, since they hadn't played there since Millennium (he had completely forgetten that they did Lexington for the Black and Blue Tour).  He was disappointed when they chose Louisville instead, but still felt good to be home.  He then told me that he was trying to get them to find him a UK jersey to wear for the encore but wasn't sure if they would be able to find one since we were in Cardinal country.  I told him that I knew where I might be able to find one and that if I did, I would bring it to soundcheck.

Can you tell why we may have been talking about my bracelet?

Brian's dad then came up to me and asked if I was a UK fan (duh!).  I said, "Is there any other team?"  We then talked about Drew and how he played football for USC (I believe) until he hurt his knees.  I also talked to Drew for a little bit.  Can you believe he has not actually seen the show (he is always backstage)?  I also wished Leighanne a Happy Birthday.

I picked up an Ellen tote (more Wylee merch) for my friend Cory, who did not get a Wylee Party in Tulsa for her concert.  It was actually hand delivered to me by Brian Littrell himself.  I decided that if I was going to find a UK jersey for Brian, that I would have to leave before he left.  I traveled back across the river and back to "Kentucky Korner," where I could have sworn I had seen a UK jersey.  However, since it is not basketball season, that was a no go.  I tried!  How amazing would it have been for him to wear a jersey I had given him during the show.  I would have died!

I headed back to the venue for the soundcheck, crossing the Ohio River one more time for the day....

Stay tuned for my Soundcheck Review....

It's the way you make me, kinda get me go crazy....

**Into the Millennium Tour - 10/5/1999 - Allstate Arena - Chicago, IL**

Okay, time to get back to my past BSB adventures!  I don't think anything beats your first BSB event....

Into the Millennium

The Backstreet Boys at the All State Arena

On October 5, 1999, one of my teenage dreams came true.  I got to see BSB live for the Into the Millennium show at the Allstate Arena in Chicago.  

The Seating Chart and Our Seats

I remember that I was so happy when we had gotten tickets.  As most of you probably recall, all concert dates for this tour went on sale at the same time and most tickets for ALL shows sold out within the first hour.  Chicago had three dates and we really did not care which one we got tickets for.  In order to ensure tickets my friend Stephanie and her sister, mom, and dad, were each on a computer at his office.  Stephanie was then on the phone with Jenny, who was trying to get tickets as well.  They were able to finally pull up tickets but of the six tickets, only two were together!  We did at least have three tickets in one section, and three tickets in another section....all the way across the venue from one another.  Jenny, Stephanie, and I did sit together in one section.  Luckily, two people next to Jenny never showed up so we moved down to sit next to her.

Now, this was before digital cameras were cheap enough for everyone to have.  I took my step-mom's camera and I remember being so excited because it had a zoom on it.  After all, I was going to need it since we were all the way up in the 200 sections.  I remember thinking that the pictures turned out so awesome (not realizing that at later shows I would be so much closer with a much better camera).  I had also taken my mini tape recorder and recorded most of the concert.  However, I am not sure whatever happened to that tape....plus it was mostly just me screaming anyway.  Luckily, I wrote in my diary after the concert so I can recall some of my favorite moments:

Nick and his pole

If, you attended any show on this tour, you probably remember the poles during "Don't Want You Back."  I know I remember them.  I also remember Nick getting very friendly with his...

Flying BSBs

During "Quit Playing Games,"  Kevin was flying in a section very close to ours.  While he was doing flips, he got stuck.  It was kind of funny.

I had two favorite outfits.  My first was the pajama pants that they wore at the end of the show.  My second was the pink suits....not sure what they were thinking there.

Pajama Pants

Pink Suits

The Perfect Fan

And I, of course, cried during the show.  When the Boys brought girls with their mothers on stage and sang to them during "The Perfect Fan," I lost it.  I thought they were so lucky and wanted to be them.  Plus it is just a beautiful song.

The concert was on a school night and we did not get back until late, of course.  I actually did not go to school the next day until lunch because I woke up not feeling well.  Probably something relating to sleep deprivation.  I would have just missed the whole day of school but I had to go to volleyball practice or I would not have been able to play in the game the next day.  Oh, did I mention that I also had no voice?  Have you ever tried to participate in school or play volleyball with no voice?  It is very difficult!

That night I also spent a ton on money on merchandise!  I bought the tour program, two short sleeve shirts, a long sleeve shirt (which is still my favorite BSB shirt to this day), and the Into The Millennium glow stick.  

Me in my favorite BSB Shirt

I was looking for something....

**More Mega Tour**

So don't you hate it when you are trying to find something online and you know it has to be out there but you can't seem to find what you are looking for?  Right now I am getting very frustrated.  I was thinking about Mega Tour the other day and decided that I wanted to do research and read about anyone who had actually followed a group on tour for an an entire tour.  But I just can't find anything about it.  I am finding road trip and travel sites but nothing to the extent of someone following a group on tour.  For those sites that I am finding when a person is taking a cross country road trip, they usually stay in one location for at least a couple of days.  That is not going to be the case for Mega Tour.  Each day I will have to travel to a new city to see a new concert.  I know there will be a few times that there will be days off but this road trip is definitely not going to be like the others.  The few things I am finding is people asking hypothetical "If you were to follow a band on tour who would it be?"  Then there are the responses that anyone who does this is crazy and is a stalker.  I have a few choice words for those people but I will keep it to myself.  Some people just don't understand.  So if anyone can find something on this topic, please share!  I know I have some time but I'd like to get an idea now to see if this is something that can truly be done.

Oh and I started thinking the other day.  I know my goal is to do this in like 5 years.  However, their 25th anniversary will be in 7 years.  My guess is that even if they were to stop touring, they would have to do something for their 25th anniversary...and who knows maybe Kevin would decide to join them for a reunion.  It would would also give me a little more time to save.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see until it gets closer.

I should have known better than to buy your lies...

**My Backstreet Imposter**

My Backstreet adventures have not always come with fun and laughs.  I became a fan in my teens and at that age there is a lot of naivety.  Anything that anyone says must be true, as in the case where I was able to chat with "AJ" online.

In July of 1999, I began talking with a fellow fan through AOL chat.  I had found her by searching for people with common interests.  We hit it off great, as I do with most BSB fans.  Not long into our chats (only one short week), she informed me that she had AJ's screen name that she had gotten from a friend and would be willing to share it with me as long as I promised not to share it with others.  I wrote to "AJ" immediately to see if it was truly him.  He answered almost immediately and we started chatting soon after. I truly thought that it was AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys because of the way that he talked in his e-mails and chats.  I would ask him questions that only "true" fans would know about him in order to see if it was really him.  He was able to answer all of them, of course.  However, it never occurred to me that if I knew the answers, then anyone could know the answers.

I was a teenager at the time so of course I told people that I had gotten AJ's screen name but I didn't share the actual SN right away.  I had a friend who was very computer savvy and was very leery that this was actually AJ.  He volunteered to do some research on the SN and see what he could find out.  And it was actually at this point that AJ became my second favorite BSB (Nick had been from the beginning) because I truly thought that I had a personal connection with him.  While I loved talking to "AJ," I had one objective in mind....get Brian's screen name.  Oh and I truly thought that the chatting would lead to a friendship which would lead to me being able to get front row tickets and backstage passes to the Into the Millennium show in Chicago that fall.  Looking back at it all, I just have to laugh.

The AJ Imposter Sleepover

During one of my many BSB sleepovers with Jenny and Stephanie, we chatted with this impostor.  We were on a high that entire night, especially since that as the evening that we were able to get the screen names of "Brian," "Howie," and "Nick."  I only talked to "Brian" once and he was kind of a jerk.  I should have known then and there that whenever I was talking to a "Backstreet Boy" it wasn't really true.  But again....young and stupid.  After I talked to "Brian" that night, it was almost a month again before I heard from any of them.  I am not sure if it was the same person impersonating all of them or not, as they did talk differently with each Boy.  However, I believe that fans know the personalities of each Boy and can easily convey this.  The night that I talked to "Nick", my friend Jenny was also talking to him.  While she had been totally convinced at the beginning, she kept pounding him for more information to prove that we was really Nick Carter.  This led to Nick getting upset, AJ going over to his house, and Nick changing his screen name.....oh the story just keeps getting better and better doesn't it?  Just wait....

In about August, it was revealed to me that the screen name that "Nick" had been using actually belonged to a friend of "AJ's."  The friend's name was Spice and she shared with me that she had actually had AJ's baby but she had to sign a confidentiality contract that she would not tell anyone.  She decided that she could not hold it in any longer so she decided to tell me.....I told you the story got better!  Spice decided to call AJ to inform him that she had spilled the beans but he was okay with it because he trusted me not to tell anyone.  Of course I told my good friends....again teenager....and I loved gossip.

I didn't really talk to them much after that since school had started and I had always chatted with them late at night.  I think I finally figured it out in about October after I had gone to my Millennium show in Chicago.  The day after the concert, all of the screen names that I had been using to chat with them had been completely deleted.  DUH!

Like I said before, it is something that I can look back on and laugh about now.  I was so convinced and truly thought that my dreams of meeting them at the time were going to come true.  That is what happens when you are young I guess.  At the time, BSB was huge so I never in a million years thought that I would get to meet them so I was too hopeful that all of it was true.  If only I knew then what I know now....

Let's get on with the show, turn the lights down low...

**Showing My BSB Talent**

So this is exactly what I was afraid of when I started this blog.  It is 1am and I cannot sleep because I am thinking about all of the fun things I can be writing about and sharing with the world.  I am exhausted, as I did not get much sleep last night but knew I would not be able to turn my mind off until I wrote.

So in the last post, I explained how my Backstreet Boys obsession started.  There are more specific instances that I would love to write about and share about my time as a Backstreet Boys fan in high school. One of the ways that we showed our true fandom was by doing the high school talent show.  Our freshman year, me and four friends dubbed ourselves as the Backstreet Girls and participated in not only the Hobart High School talent show, but a local church talent show, as well.  The talent show at the church was actually practice for our high school talent show auditions.  So we made it into the HHS Talent Show and this is what we did (note:  the original taping of this is on VHS and I have no way of getting it onto my computer so I took video of it playing on the TV, so quality is not great):

There were no "winners" for the talent show and I loved the fact that we got to share our Backstreet Pride.  We even made the local paper!

All in all, it was a great time getting together to practice and actually perform.  I'm not the best dancer ever but I love to do it!  If you could not tell, we each tried to represent a Backstreet Boy.  I was Brian, as demonstrated by my UK hat.  Jenny was Nick and had on a similar hat to one that he wore at one time.  Stephanie was AJ and wore sunglasses and did her hair differently.  Jen was Howie and never really thought of anything to represent him.  Mara was Kevin and wore a hat similar to one he had worn before.  For the HHS talent show, we wore the white shirts because of the strobe light.  We were all going to wear Backstreet Boys shirts but the black would not work with the strobe light.

So I hope you have enjoyed another trip down memory lane!  It was a great time in my life....

Added August 16, 2011:

I also did a dance in my school's 2000 talent show.  This time I just did it with my friend, Jen, to "Larger Than Life."  The Backstreet Girls had originally planned on doing the show again as a group but we had a bit of a falling out right at the time of the tryouts for the show.  Jen and I actually came up with a dance, rehearsed, and tried out without letting Jenny and Stephanie even know (Mara had graduated the previous year).  I think that is what made it the worst.  The group eventually did rekindle the friendship.  The following video is of my 2000 Talent Show Performance but the person who taped it for the TV class at the school did a horrible job.  Also, the performance was on VHS so I had to tape it off of the TV as with most of my old school videos.  But you can at least get a glimpse of my awesome dancing skills...lol.

But I knew the very minute, couldn't live my life without you in it...

**My Backstreet Beginnings**

So how did this crazy BSB obsession start you ask?  You have an old high school friend to thank for that one.  Jenny and I first met in 6th grade and played basketball in a local youth league together.  We became great friends and did the typical teenage things, including sleep overs.  When "Quit Playing Games" came out, she instantly fell in love with Nick Carter and became obsessed with the Backstreet Boys.  I didn't see what the big deal was and it kind of annoyed me that all she did was talk about them.

Before we started high school (summer of 1998) we decided that we needed one last hoorah with a sleep over.  Jenny wanted to show me all of her BSB videos and I agreed because I was trying to be a good guest.  As we watched more and more, I started to see what the big deal was about.  It was during the All Access video that I decided that I needed to be a part of this.  I fell in love with Brian Littrell and everything about him.  The two things that drew me to him were his humor and his voice.  I thought he was hilarious and I thought his voice was sent right from heaven.  I was totally hooked on the Backstreet Boys and began to buy everything in sight related to them....posters, books, magazines, t-shirts, photo cards, CD's, videos, and anything else you could imagine.  My parents were divorced so I had two rooms that I could cover in BSB posters.  

Upper:  Room at Mom's
Lower:  Room at Dad's

BSB CDs and Books

 I am not sure how much I spent on BSB merchandise over the years.  When I was young I mostly got it as gifts.  Really, I don't think I want to know.  I don't have all of the merchandise anymore....but that is another post.

Jenny and I became inseparable with our Backstreet Boy obsession.  We were known around school for being the "Backstreet Girls" as we also hung out with Stephanie, a huge AJ fan.   Jenny dubbed ourselves "Fricky" and "Fracky" since our favorites were Brian and Nick.  Our sleepovers were based completely around the Backstreet Boys.  We would stay up all night watching their videos, surfing BSB websites, and listening to their music. 

Jenny, Stephanie, and I at a sleepover at Mom's

Jenny and I at a sleepover at her house

Here is a video of some typical BSB sleepovers with Jenny, Jen, and Stephanie:

The funny thing is that Jenny is not really a big fan anymore that I know of.  The last time we talked about the Backstreet Boys was when Unbreakable came out and we were talking about the album.  I always message her when I am planning on new BSB adventures but I usually do not get a response back.  I am thankful that she introduced me to the Backstreet Boys and am glad that I have made new BSB friends to share the experiences with.