9 DAYS OF WILDIN' OUT NKOTB FAN STYLE.
DAY 1...SATURDAY
**disclaimer: First, I will let you know right now, I did not get to spend a lot of time with the guys themselves. In fact, besides the second that Jordan and I took our picture, and my photo op on the cruise I spent 0 time with the guys. I did, however have a blast. I just didn't want you to read on waiting for my big encounter with the guys. I didn't happen (unless you count being up close and personal with Joe's underarm hair). **disclaimer # 2: This trip started in LA and I will have you know my luggage for this whole week and 2 days consisted of a carry on and a backpack. Booya.
May 8, 2010.
Early AM (well actually 12:00 p.m. because ML and I are women, and therefore must be late) found us at the Larchmont Coffee Bean. I'd flown in the night before and stayed at ML's house where we worked on our chipboard books for our cabin door. Of course, due to my addiction to Coffee Bean's Peach Tea Latte stemming from my last LA trip, we had to stop there first. (And, of course ,the one on Larchmont because it's divine *nudgenudgewinkwink*). We get coffee and bagels and walk past the shops a bit, and happen upon the place where I am 100% sure Joe purchased the Adidas outfit for Griff to wear in the photo that dropped a million ovaries. We headed East toward Vegas making a stop only at an Inland Empire Target and of course, the Prim Outlets (yay for $17.00 Banana Republic Jeans and my pajama shorts for pajama night on the cruise...still upset that the guy did not give me my AAA discount after I specifically asked for it, but we had boys to see).
We got to Vegas around 4ish, which unfortunately meant I was not going to be able to make the date with my girl Nikki (@Cocktail_Kitten) to annihilate a Bobby sandwich from Capriottis. That has to be done at some point this year.We ended up meeting Yvonne, Ava, Linda and a few others at Serendipity for dinner. Yummy. I loved my huge salad pouring out of a coconut and of course, the Frrrrozen Hot Chocolate (although drinking it w/o Lactaid killed me later that night). TMI? Yes, probably). Then we headed to the Gold Coast which was right across from the Palms to get ready. How excited was I to see this lighting up the off-strip sign of the Palms? Ooh yeah.
After a quick touch up we headed over to the Palms to see the guys. As soon as we get there we ran into a bunch of the So Cal Price is Right girls. We all headed over to the bar in the middle of the casino (well, the part where we stood) and proceeded to wreak havoc. Oh yeah. "Bartender...50,000 shots please" Literally. Cherry Lemon Drops are the bomb diggity. There were at least 15 of us and we all ordered so we could take a group shot together. Between us and the guy wearing a floaty ring and straw hat in the bar, there was much to be seen.
Then it was time. Now I have to say that by sheer will (and me being 30,000 feet up in the air during Friday's concert) I managed to not be spoiled about anything that was to take place at the concert. I'd threatened the lives of both ML and Yvonne if they told me anything (and they both had things they really wanted to tell me, I found out later). The only thing I knew, and that was because someone put the song title in their tweet, was that the guys sung 'Close to You' besides that...nothing. So I was so excited to be totally surprised. ML and I had seats in the same row but in separate sections. I got to my seat and it was in between these two women who were talking. They helped me over the seat and continued talking so I leaned forward as not to get in their way. I'm fiddling with my camera and I hear the girl on my right introduce the girl on my left as 'Kris, the girl who does all the photoshops'. I literally sat straight up and said 'MsKris2u?' Of course it was. Me: 'I'm Jeepchic20' (because formal names don't matter anymore in the NK world, right?) I'd just randomly sat next to Kris and her mom. I was very excited to meet THE Kris and she is such the nicest person. (and apparently, random would bring us together again in the coming days) By that time the countdown clock was displayed, and the concert that was supposed to start at 8:00 was now apparently starting at 8:30.
Well unfortunately in that 30 minute wait the girl on my right kinda sorta spoiled half the concert for me. *sigh*. Oh well. I just smiled and nodded. Apparently the guys got wind of the complaining about how short Friday's show was so they decided to make Saturday's a little longer, the girl had heard from the drummer. (Seriously, can the Blockhead community be satisfied about ANYTHING?) . Anyway it didn't matter. As soon as the stage lit up and the curtain fell, I was once again mesmerized by the guys. I spent most of my time looking at Jon because that's what I do. He's so cute when he's intently trying to memorize his steps only to mess up. I love it. He did very well though. We did have a surprise as Maria Menoulos came out for two songs. Unfortunately the only black spot on the whole knight were the idiots that threw their glow sticks onto the stage striking the guys and Maria. Seriously ladies (or kids) grow the eff up. I will tell you I went buckwild when Jordan performed Never Let You Go. That was what ML was itching to tell me. One of my favorites from FTM, especially because back in 1994 at the Ventura Theater, Donnie sung his rap of the song to me. So I was extremely happy when Jordan sang it but when a tanked top Donnie Wahlberg came out to sing the rap, yeah, I needed a Shamwow. I was one of those that laughed hysterically at Circus ringmaster Joe and the Twisted strip tease. I'm going to assume that being farther back and not being able to see that chest up close contributed to me not being a gaga half-naked Joe girl until the cruise.
Afterward I was dead tired and still had to drive to Boulder Highway to stay at my sister's so I didn't do much that night. Apparently Donnie had a small party for a few people, but unless he saw me and my hair personally, I'm pretty sure I wasn't invited. Boo him. :)
And that is it for day 1.