My BSB Filled Weekend In Chicago!

Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to see Nick, Howie, and AJ in Chicago for two events. It definitely made my weekend, but as always I had the usual anxiety jitters that things wouldn't work out. Overall, it was awesome!

Friday night was the nightclub event at Tunnel. My date and I arrived somewhat early and had appetizers in the restaurant below before we went upstairs to wait for BSB. Because we did this, we did end up being really far back...but at least we were there and I'm a "Backstreet" Girl so of course I'm in the back lol. The club was really crowded and it was very hard to see when the guys finally came out. Of course they were on Backstreet time so it did take forever for them to come out, but I felt such excitement to finally see them!

Nick, Howie, and AJ ended up singing about three BSB hit songs and doing the nineties medley from Nick & Knight. I could hardly see, but I just felt glad to be there considering I bought a ticket from someone online that could have easily sold the same e-ticket to others. He also gave me a really great price because others were asking for $150 for one ticket when I only paid $42 from the club and $64 to the guy online.

The dj was pretty good and I liked the lighting but of course I was only there for BSB lol. I had to tip the person in the restroom, but didn't mind because I took a poster off of one of the stalls with BSB on it lol.

At the end of their performance, I was able to run up to the side where the guys were walking off of the stage and was really close to getting a picture with Nick, but he was pretty quick leaving the scene and must have just taken about two pictures with fans. I later heard that they came back out a little later, but we had left because we knew we'd have to wake up early the next day for the next event.

Overall, I am happy that I was able to be there but I overthought it in my head thinking that it would be Nick djing until the club closed at 2 a.m. with Howie and AJ singing along, kind of like the BSB after parties and it wasn't like that at all.

The Volleywood performance the next day was a lot better. Both events were due to Lashnow, but the beach was a better venue to put on a show.

I'm wondering if Chicago will have more appearances in the near future with the three boys because of their endorsement with Lashnow. It would be great to see them more often, but it can get really expensive. What bothers me more than that is that I want to see the whole group and see a regular show and do a regular soundcheck and then an after party. That would be more ideal than these smaller events with no Kentucky cousins :( Don't get me wrong though, I always love seeing the guys no matter what the circumstances are.

We ended up taking the train downtown and then a cab to North Avenue Beach where Volleywood was being held. We hardly had time to look at the beach or the volleyball players and headed straight to VIP. VIP was $60 and was well worth it in my opinion. Granted, I did hear that general admission people easily snuck in, but I'm still glad we did VIP. I was able to be in the center and only a few others in front of me.

It was nice talking to a few fellow BSB fans. I did have a short, verbal fight with a drunk girl in front of me who wouldn't move her towels. Everyone was starting to move up and there was no way her towels were going to save a large gapped space behind her. She ended up moving them after coming to her senses. People were cutting in front of me even when the towels were moved and we were all bunched together so I don't know what she was thinking. It wasn't a concert in the park type event lol.

After waiting so long (would have been great to know the exact time of the performance since the event was from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and getting rained on and not even thinking to bring a beach towel (my mind was strictly focused on Nick and the guys lol) BSB finally came on!

The stage was great for the guys and they ended up pretty much doing the same set as at the club except adding a few more BSB songs. I enjoyed hearing them sing and seeing their performance up close. They sang "Pony" and that was my highlight just because I just got off a Magic Mike fix and it reminds me of Nick & Knight. That, and it was great to see AJ and Howie's sexy moves too and seeing all three perform the song together!

AJ getting the crowd hyped up!

Howie!

Howie, Nick, and AJ!

Nick giving it his all!

At the end of the show, they came out wearing Blackhawks jerseys and sang Larger Than Life! AJ and Howie kept their jerseys, but Nick caused some trouble by throwing his out into the audience lol. It landed right behind me and I almost got knocked over backwards. I could have joined the fight, but I'm over that childish bullshit. Plus I kept myself calm by saying I got a kiss from Nick on the cheek and cherish that much more than if I were to get a jersey from him lol. I just love the short moments I get to share with him over memorabilia. Too bad these moments can't be longer!

We ended up leaving to get on our way home and they were still fighting over it when we left.

As far as my date, it was nice to have a date to two BSB events just in the sense that I always was a bit jealous of girls who had a boyfriend or husband with, but I ended up breaking up with him. It was really nice he went to both events, but I think he just went because he thought he was going to get something in return. I still wouldn't be opposed to having another BSB related date, but maybe wait until the relationship is more solid. I also could have been a lot closer in the nightclub if I went by myself but the guy was hungry so what could I do lol?

It was awesome to see Nick, Howie, and AJ last weekend and I'm already having withdrawals. Because I've been having so many other things going on, I feel like last weekend has already happened a month ago, which is a shame. I'll continue to hold onto my favorite moment from the whole weekend...when BSB performed Larger than Life representing Chicago!

Volleywood Beach Bash Featuring BSB!

Hope everyone is having a great start to their summer. I know I am! I’ve been able to be more active than usual and it’s fun to have more fun stuff to do on the weekend and I got a lot of stuff planned for this summer. It’s been hectic, but still nice to have other things to do besides work and pay bills lol.

The Color Run I participated in to raise money for children who have cancer took place last weekend. It was a blast! I went with two friends of mine and it was so much fun to have paint thrown on us and have dance music blasting at the end! I would definitely do another again, but hopefully a blacklight run next.

Covered in paint and loving it! #luminouslibrarian

Another cool thing is since I didn't have a pet in awhile, I bought a betta fish. I named him Fire and Ice, but Fifi for short lol. Thanks to the bro for the fish tank.

Introducing Fire and Ice...or Fifi.

Of course the most exciting thing I have planned this summer involves BSB! Once again BSB are coming back to Chicago for the Volleywood Beach Bash at North Avenue Beach on Saturday, July 11^th! I already got my two vip tickets, which includes access to the stage, so I’m hoping I’ll get to talk with the guys for a bit. I’m not getting my hopes up on that just yet since I don’t know what to expect. The vip tickets weren’t that bad in price anyway and I figured this might be the last time I get to see the guys in a while so I just went ahead and got vip. Rob, the guy I’ve been dating, has agreed to come along so it’ll be a fun time for sure! It’ll be my first time having a date for a BSB show. (I’m going to his Say Anything concert so he has to go to my event lol.) It sounds like all the BSB will be there to perform so I’m excited to see them all and with the volleyball tournaments and djs it should make for a fun day. I felt bad because I was supposed to go to another concert that night with my brother so he can see another guy from KISS perform, but BSB comes first lol.

Another fun thing coming up tomorrow is that I’ll be seeing a Weird Al show with a good friend. We will probably have something to eat downtown and look at the shops too so we can make a day out of it. Maybe he’ll sing this song since it’s based off of BSB’s I Want It That Way...yes, at least one thing must be related to BSB each day or else I’ll explode lol.

Wishing everyone a great Independence Day! Can't believe that's next week! I love watching the fireworks but hate the loud booms lol. 

BSB Cruise 2016

I thought it would be a good time for a blog post since it’s been awhile. Truthfully, I haven’t been keeping up with BSB news that good lately. Just been really busy with work and dating. Anyway, the big news that was announced that I’m sure everyone heard of by now is the 2016 BSB European Cruise that visits Barcelona, Cannes, and Florence.

I always, always wanted to go to Italy and was very excited about the news until I found out how much it would cost for me to fly to Barcelona to board the ship. It would be about as much as the cruise itself. I couldn’t justify spending that much just to get on the ship so I won’t be participating this year.

Beautiful Florence, Italy

I also didn’t like the idea of just being able to spend one day in Italy. I guess one day in Italy would have been better than no day in Italy but I’m hoping to take a separate trip there someday where I could really have the time to focus on the culture and history of that beautiful country. There just wouldn’t be enough time to thoroughly explore Florence and BSB. It really sucks that I can’t be there, but I wish everyone so much fun. 

I’m trying to focus on the positives of not going on the cruise lol. Like not having to deal with crazy fans, not having to endure  two 12-hour flights, having money to spend on other things, and not having the stress of worrying about everything that leads up to it. I definitely plan on attending any and all BSB related events that happen to be in Illinois anytime soon. Seriously, Nick needs to come back to Illinois so I don’t lose my sanity haha. 

I’m also trying to distract myself from the realization that I’m not going on the cruise by looking forward to this summer. I’m so excited for the warm weather and all the great things that come along with summer like swimming, concerts, and fireworks. I don’t have too many concerts lined up so far, but I’m hoping that will change. Right now I’m going to see two rock festivals with my brother and Weird Al with a friend, but I need to find something to do that was my idea. I did sign up to do a color run with a friend from work and that’s coming up in two weeks. It’ll be fun and it’s something I always wanted to do!

Can't wait to get covered in paint!

I do want to keep dating during the summer and as of right now, I’ve had about ten dates so far. Every date has wanted to see me again so I’m glad it seems I am a good date. Of course I’ve turned a few down for compatibility reasons, but there’s still potential and I’m learning more and more of what I want and don’t want in a man. I realize that not one guy will be perfect, but I’m looking for perfect for me and there’s certain deal breakers for me as I’m sure there are for them. It’s been fun and exciting. It’s also been nice that my weekends are being filled up with meeting fun, new people. The ultimate goal is to find a wonderful man to marry, but I realize that takes time so right now I’m just going with the flow and having fun until it gets to a point where I would want to be exclusive with someone and see where that leads. 

Work has been going well. We just kicked off our summer reading club and we’ve been busy with that. My youth creative writing club is staying strong. I’ve been having to work every Saturday for five weeks and this Saturday will be my last for a while. I’m so looking forward to having a full weekend and want my Saturdays free for dates lol. Although, I have been squeezing in dates after work…even though I’m exhausted.

Our summer reading club theme.

My personal life has been alright. I’m having trouble sleeping because I keep having nightmares about my mother’s passing. Also, I ended up having to go to the hospital for an extreme case of vertigo, which I never experienced before. I’m sure this is all stress related and I’m trying to deal with it the best I can. It doesn’t help that my life feels so fast-paced right now, but I don’t want the life of a 90-year-old granny lol. I want to experience everything life has to offer and don’t want to slow down so my life consists of work, gym time, dating, and trying new things. I’m excited to see how this summer will turn out and if I’ll have a special someone to watch the fireworks with in July or to be with on my birthday in September. Only time will tell. 

Wishing everyone a great summer filled with nice memories and maybe a few of them with BSB ;) 

P.S. Nick just posted a picture of his new haircut! I love it! So sexy! He looks like a military man. Needs to wear some camo lol. 

Damn! lol

Dating a BSB Fan is an Issue?

Hey all. So I wanted to do a blog post on something that has been bothering me lately. I mentioned before that I have been doing online dating. I’ve been active on a few online dating websites since December. It’s been interesting to say the least, but I’m glad I finally have some time to explore dating and focus on that part of my life. It has been put on the back burner for too long. There’s been times where I felt like giving up on it and focusing on bigger and better things, but I haven’t just yet since I believe I got to go through a lot of frogs to meet my prince. 

My Prince Charming! Isn't he cute? lol

I will say that you definitely have to be safe with the whole thing and meet in a public place, despite shady guys asking you to come to their place.

I’ve had a few dates so far and the dates themselves have been nice. I like to think that I try to keep things fun and nice and it’s always exciting meeting someone new for the first time. I also find that I’m learning from each experience of what I want and don’t want in a man so that’s a positive too.

On the other side, I have been lied to. And not just little white lies, but big lies. Like lying about not being married and having kids. I had to find that out myself and thankfully, pretty quickly. Too bad background checks seem to be necessary and aren’t free.

And don’t be surprised that basically anything a normal person wouldn’t dare say to someone they just met in person will be said without tact behind a computer screen. And it will seem that everyone you find attractive won’t find you attractive lol. And me being 31, it’ll seem like every man out there has already been married at least once and has at least one kid. You’ll also realize that after paying for a subscription, that you’ll actually have better luck on the free websites. 

I promise this is Backstreet related and I’ll get to the point.

Obviously, BSB are a big part of my life. I have a special place in my heart for our five men and I always will. They’ve helped me through their music during the most difficult times of my life and have given me so many wonderful memories and experiences I simply wouldn’t have never had if it weren’t for them. I never felt so much kindness, respect, and magic from any other outlet. I’ve met other fans who feel the same connection I feel with BSB and who understand how special they are. In many ways I do believe Nick, Brian, Howie, Kevin, and AJ gave me hope and kept me sane when I easily could have lost it and went down a horrible path. 

And this brings me to my point. Because I have such a passion for BSB, I do tend to bring them up in casual conversation online and on dates. I just feel that they are a big part of me and I am not ashamed to like such talented, wonderful men and their music. Why should I be ashamed?

Also, questions about travel and music are always gateways to bring up BSB. Yet with some guys, it freaks them out. Thankfully, not all but a few.

That's right! :P

I’ve discussed this with some friends, both BSB fans and not, and I’ve came to the conclusion that it isn’t something I want to hide or reveal until they are vested in the relationship. If they can’t handle a passion that I have and won’t even let me give an explanation, then I think they have the judgmental problem and could even be a control freak. Are they really that insecure in their manhood?

After I shared my facebook page that mostly consists of BSB stuff, I had a man simply tell me that I want a pop star and that he isn’t one, without even letting me explain the real reason of why I love BSB so much. If that were the truth, that I just wanted to be with a pop star, I would be going to every male pop stars’ concerts, vips, and events…not just BSBs, and would be trying to hookup with every guy with a record deal. As a matter of fact, a lot of the other music I enjoy is rock or country music and not pop or “boyband” music. He also seemed to imply that I had something going on with Nick LOL. If that were the case, why would I be on dating websites and talking to you to begin with haha! My guess is he didn't know Nick is married and I would have happily told him that if he gave me a chance to hear me out.

But to get back to my point, it really offended me that someone could judge me based solely on my passion for my favorite musical group and dumb it down to something so cheap as it all being about looks and sex appeal. It also hurt for being rejected for something that is such a big part of my life. I’m sure it would have registered differently if I happened to have pictures of myself with his favorite rock band.

The whole thing strikes me as juvenile, ignorant, judgmental, controlling, and a lack of understanding. I don’t need any of those adjectives in my life, so it’s his loss but I’m surprised of how narrow-minded some people can be.

I find it ironic that I try to not judge these men when it comes to their passions and baggage, but some judge me for being a BSB fan. If the worse baggage I bring to the table is being a BSB fanatic, then that is pretty damn good considering what issues I could have and compared to some of the things I would have to deal with from their end.

I will admit that my level of passion for the BSB is on the extreme side, but when so many positive things in my life were because of them, I think it’s pretty damn understandable. When I hear that a guy has a passion for sports, video games, carpentry, whatever it is, I don’t judge. That’s where they get their happiness from. I just happen to get my happiness from BSB. Of course there are many aspects of me and many other passions of mine, but none are quite like BSB.

I’m going to continue on this online dating journey hoping that I’ll find a wonderful man who will accept me for who I am, BSB fan and all, and will want to get to know more about me and not just what he thinks he sees on the surface. I've come to the conclusion that I do need someone who will be accepting and understanding of my love for BSB, but that doesn't mean he has to be a fan...just respect my love for them.

Do I make myself clear?

Happy Easter!

Well, I’ve since somewhat recovered from my previous post and rant lol. Still never received the picture I paid for, but at least I got to spend some time with Nick and Howie and get a picture with Nick. It was fun to even be there so I’m done complaining. I’m in a much better mood now lol. There’s no other option but to get over it anyway.

 

I had a fun Easter weekend. After work Friday, I grabbed some McDonalds for my brother and I and went over to his house where he has cable to watch BSB The Movie on VH1. When he realized it was the same as what we seen in the theater, he went to sleep lol. I, of course, was fully alert. I enjoyed watching the new clips of the guys in between the commercials. I was also tweeting along and was lucky enough to get a tweet from Brian! It really made my day :D

 

 

Saturday I ended up cooking Easter dinner for my dad, brother, and I. It turned out good, but I’m getting tired of the holiday food. I made ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and rolls. The rest of Saturday I spent taking out some spring clothes, cleaning, and just hanging around the house.

 

Sunday morning, my brother and I went and visited some family we recently reconnected with after my mom’s passing. We had brunch together and then went to the Botanic Gardens. That was nice and it’s always a great form of exercise walking the trails. This was also one of the favorite places my mom liked to go and visit. We also had great weather on Easter Sunday so it was perfect.

 

Had to take a picture of these. They were in the greenhouse and reminded me of the flowers at Half Moon Cay.

Yellow was my mom's favorite color.

 

The rest of Sunday was spent watching movies at my brother’s house. Some Ghost Asylum in there too.
 

The work week has been typical. Had storytime Monday night and it was a big group. We did a balloon theme and the kids had fun getting balloon story books read to them.

 

Nothing really new with me. Still doing the online dating and it's entertaining to say the least lol. Didn't go on there for entertainment though. Recently got a gym membership again because I got a good deal through my health insurance. Enjoying having a new cell phone, but not enjoying the payments.

 

As far as BSB goes, I can’t wait to hear some solo stuff from Nick and AJ and can't wait to see the boys again one way or another. Looking forward to some warmer weather here. Hope everyone has a good rest of the week!

 

Also, congratulations to Brian and Kevin being inducted in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame! Wish I could be there to support my favorite Kentucky cousins! You deserve this recognition! Congrats!

 

Update: Where's My Picture?

Ugh. So after being on cloud 9 from all the excitement Sunday, I go on LashNow's Facebook page to find that they posted the pictures and I don't see mine. I'm devastated. I was counting on that picture because that is the only one I have with Howie and the only one of all three of us together.

Since I always have to attend these things alone, I had no one to take pictures for me while I was up there. I wish I would have asked Howie for a selfie, but I felt like I was asking for too much already.

So, so glad I got the selfie with Nick or I think I might have totally gone ape shit by now. This really sucks. Add it to my list of disappointments. I don't understand what happened with the picture because we were posing and there was a flash. Call me crazy, but I thought I could count on getting the picture so that is why I didn't ask to take another one with my phone. So pissed right now. I'm hoping they'll add more, but I'm not sure. Seems like they are done.

Figures this would happen to me over someone who just was there for the convention. My pictures with BSB mean everything to me so this really is a blow.

If anyone happened to take a picture when I was up on stage, if you could let me know. Thanks. I'm in such a sucky mood right now...still thankful for all that happened that day, but why can't I get my picture like everyone else? Seems like whenever something really positive happens to me, there always has to be a negative. This sucks.