Happy Birthday Jonathan!

I'm a bad girl for not having posted this yesterday (Nov. 29th), which is actually Jonathan Knight's birthday! I still can't believe he's celebrating this milestone. He's definitely aged quite well and if that's what 40 looks like, then where do I sign up?! I think his secret to aging so gracefully is that he laughs a lot and seeing how goofy the guys act on & off-stage, it certainly is working for him!

I know for a fact that he flew to Mexico on his special day because the guys are performing three shows there before they take the next few weeks off in December and then start their European tour in early January.

I'm glad I was able to attend the last two NKOTB shows in Southern California. I will tell you all about it in my next blog, which also reveals a little moment I had with the birthday boy in honor of his special day!

I can't wait to see Mr. Knight again in '09! And this time I promise I'll be more gutsy and will say more than four words to him!

And here's a tune by the birthday boy himself!

Another Year Older & My Last Adventure for '08

Well, it's that time of year again when I can add another laugh line or wrinkle to my face. Yes, I celebrate another birthday! I can honestly say that this year has been like a roller coaster...I've had a few ups and downs. I had a little health scare in early August, but thank God it was just a false alarm. I was laid off in early January, which put me in a funk the next few months. Not long after did I hear a rumor that a certain 80's singing group, who I loved as a teen, was reuniting. Once the rumors were true, my life started getting a little better.


Speaking of that group, as you know, I was fortunate to have met them twice this year. Will it be 3rd times the charm come next week? Whatever is meant to happen will happen. Unfortunately, I don't have VIP tickets this time around, but I do have great seats! My friend M and I are headed to Southern California to see the last two shows: San Diego on Nov. 25th & LA on the 26th. We leave for LA on the 22nd, attend a special event {I'll fill you in on the details later} on the 23rd, and will then drive down to San Diego & stay with my niece on the 24th. My other niece is flying in on the 24th and she, her sister and I will be attending the SD show together, while my friends T & M will in the VIP section. My nieces have NEVER been to an NKOTB concert and I can't wait to tell them the surprise on the day of the show: our seats are right next to the B Stage! This is the rotating stage in back of the arena, where the guys will head to in the middle of the show and will perform a few songs. I'm going to do my best to catch Jonathan's attention again because, after all, his birthday is on the 29th! Finally, M & I drive back to LA on the 26th to see the guys for the last time this year. I'm going to be so sad when it's all over. Well, at least I have something to look forward to for next summer!

I really intend to enjoy myself during my little vacation/adventure. I'm going to meet up with a few other Blockhead friends--some from the Bay Area & others from So Cal--at both shows. Then hopefully on the last day we're in town, three LA friends and I are planning on getting together to celebrate our fabulous November birthdays! :) Hey, who knows. Maybe I'll run into Michael Vartan while I'm in LA. That would totally make my year!

Details to follow upon my return, on Thanksgiving Day. :)

History has been made!

I don't normally like to discuss politics, but I just couldn't let this pass. I actually got emotional while watching the people of Chicago hear the news of the projected winner. I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS to the next President-elect of the United States, Barack Obama! :)

History has definitely been made and hopefully "our time for change has come"! Even though Obama's grandmother passed away yesterday & didn't get to see her grandson make history, I believe she already knew the outcome.

Pondering My Future

It seems like every year as my birthday approaches, I get these feelings of changes I'd like to make in my life. I keep asking myself, "What have I accomplished with my life thus far?" Well, for starters, I'm still in college, I'm at a job I don't care to be at, and I'm still single. To me, that doesn't seem like much. Ok, so maybe I'm starting my midlife crisis a little early!


My dream many years ago was to go away to college and major in Communications/Media Studies. I always had aspirations of attending school in L.A. & when I told my mother this back then, she made it clear that she didn't want me living in a big city because I would never be able to defend myself if something terrible happened. Oh, and btw, yes, I inherited my anxiety problems from my parents. So for that matter, that's why I never moved away from the area I grew up in. :( As I approach my mid-30's and am getting closer to 40 (might I add that I still have a few years left 'til this major milestone), I feel I haven't accomplished anything in my life. Yes, I'd love to have another story or two published, but many publishers don't wish to give new writers a chance; therefore, that's why I need to continue with college. But who can live off a measly salary with the constant reminder of feeling used, yet cannot utilize her talent, her life experiences, nor her skills she went to school for?


I recently had a conversation with my college guidance counselor, who I was interviewing for another article for my Journalism class. We started talking about jobs and I told her I was looking for a new one. She told me that they're going to be hiring soon in her department and that they needed someone bilingual. I told her to look no further because I'm the right person for the job! I checked back with her the following week regarding the job posting & she told me that the woman in charge of this hadn't posted it yet, but she'd let me know if anything happens. Well, it's been two weeks now and I haven't heard anything. I plan on contacting my counselor's co-worker to ask about the job & let her know I'm very interested! The problem with trying to find a permanent job on-campus is that the college takes FOREVER to either post the job or make a final decision. I'm not holding my breath. I recently applied for another on-campus job in another department, which would allow me the flexibility to continue with school & is a permanent position. Coincidentally, I have a job interview with this department this Friday!


The dilemma I'm currently facing is making the decision to return to work full-time. YES, I need the $$, but this will further delay my schooling. The college I'm attending only offers selected courses at night and/or online. This is why I'm hesitating in seeking full-time employment. Then there's still the matter of wanting to move away from this county--which has now become a tourist trap--to Southern California to pursue my dreams. I'm hopeful that I'd be able to find something in one of the industries I want to get in to, but I think in order to get where I want to be, I need to continue with my education.


I believe the reason I'm getting stressed out over my future is because I want everything to happen now! Call me an overachiever, but I've always been goal-oriented. However, it's taken me several years to work through some obstacles that were associated with continuing with my goals.


Speaking of goals, several years ago during a trip to L.A., I got a little discouraged after I had spoken to this girl, who was working at a famous TV/movie studio. I asked her how she got her job and she said that she had a friend in the biz, who she networked with & got her the job, which was an entry level position. I know I'd have to start somewhere, but I'm willing to take that chance as long as I can afford to pay to have a roof over my head! If I plan on moving, I'm going to have to start saving $ to make the move. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening until I get a good paying job & am there at least two years.


Finally, there's the problem of not having that special someone in my life. :( To be honest, I haven't really placed a lot of effort into going out & meeting new people other than the ones I've met at school. I'm either too busy or don't have anyone to go out with to be looking. Actually, my biggest complaints are that there aren't enough good quality men that meet my standards (i.e. single, smart, good-looking, holds down a job, has NO kids, is goal-oriented, has a full head of hair, and has a similar background, etc.) nor that live in my area. Also, I don't want to date someone under the age of 32 nor over the age of 41! I recently was speaking to a co-worker of mine, who's been married for over 30 years & has children my age. She told me a while back she had visited her daughter in Arizona & noticed one thing: There were plenty of men available in AZ! I've been to AZ twice, but didn't get a chance to meet anyone while I was down there. It's a nice state (I love Sedona) to visit, but it's just too dang HOT there! It reminds me of the Southern Cal town where my parents were raised, where every summer, the temperatures reach up to 120 degrees! That's one of the reasons why my parents moved to Northern Cal. I think I'll pass on Arizona!


Well, I guess I'll continue to keep searching for answers and pray that I'll come to a decision about my future one of these days.

My 2 Nights with New Kids on the Block!

Well, I'm still feeling like I'm on Cloud 9 after last Thursday & Friday's New Kids concerts! The shows were BLOCKtastic {Yep, I made up this word!} & amazing! I know ALL two of you have been waiting so patiently for an update of what happened last week, so here it is--hot off the presses!


My friend Heather, her friend T, and I had 4* VIP tickets, which guaranteed us seats within the first 20 rows. Well, my friend M had 5* VIP because she waited too late to buy 5* for the San Jose show, which was the following day. We arrived in Sac around 3:15 and waited to meet up with Heather's friend T & our friend Megan, who lives in our area. Well, Megan was still stuck in traffic, so we drove up the street to ARCO Arena, which is where we had to drop-off M because she had check-in for VIP at 4:45 pm. Before we walked to the box office, there were these group of women, who were getting instructions from some ILAA reps (the company that handled the VIP tixs) & we thought this was where Maria had to line-up. No, it was the line for the soundcheck! The people who got invited to soundcheck were some lucky radio station winners. Our local radio stations pretty much suck when it comes to taking requests & playing new music. Grrr....!


So while M was in line, we chatted with another Blockhead, who I had met in Burbank, but who's also from the Bay Area. She's pretty cool, as is most of the Blockheads I got to meet. So we ended up going back & forth between the venue and Heather's car until it was time for the venue to open. I finally decided to change into my special t-shirt, which I had made for the concert! Donnie coined the phrase FACE TIME, so I chose to use it, but decided to add another touch to it so it'd have a double meaning! Anyway, I thought to myself, "What are the chances that my shirt would catch one of the guy's attention?!"


Around 7:00 pm, we were allowed to finally go inside the venue. The first place Heather, T & I head for was the merchandise stand. I resisted buying the official NKOTB track jacket I've seen Jon wear, and the blue/black t-shirt with all the tour dates on it. Maybe I'll get them next time. After making our purchases of just the tour program (a must have and a collector's item), we left to go find our seats. This was my 2nd time at ARCO Arena, but I had never been there for a concert. The venue is huge by my standards, but fairly small compared to others. So the usher walked us to our seats, which we find are in the 8th row!! Heather, T, and I couldn't believe the great seats we had! I asked if I could sit on the aisle since I'm height challenged! I actually had a great view of the stage!


Just before the show, I got to chat for a few minutes & take pics with a distant cousin of mine, who I connected with through two social networking/NKOTB related sites. Not only do we share our love for the New Kids, but we also share the same last name! However, she's managed to have found some small fame after having kissed Donnie onstage at an L.A. event this past summer! At least one of us has to be the Daring One! ;) The VIPs at the Sac Meet & Greet lucked out because after the guys took group pictures with them (including my friends M & Megan), the guys mingled with the fans, which consisted of about 70 people! I wish I would've known months back that I could've switched my VIP ticket from San Jose to Sac! Then I would've chatted up a storm with Jon!


The opening acts for the guys were Lady Gaga and Natasha Bedingfield. I had never heard of Lady Gaga 'til about 2 months ago when a friend of mine had LG's song Just Dance posted on her web page. I love that song! LG's costumes were a bit strange, but she sang well & was on for about 30 minutes. Then it was Natasha Bedingfield's turn to take the stage. Let me just say that I absolutely love Natasha's music! I think she writes her songs with me in mind! J/K! Seriously, her song Unwritten practically explains my life! NB puts on a GREAT show and she also sang for about 30 minutes.


By this time, it's 9:00 pm and we're ready for The Block! The concert starts and we're screaming our lungs off! They first play their new song Single, which I love! The next song they sing is one of my all-time favorites & it's My Favorite Girl! As the show progressed, it just got even better! The Sac show was considered their "goof off" show because the guys were cracking each other up and having fun with the small crowd! During the middle of the show, the guys took to another stage in the back of the floor section, which is called the B Stage. It's a round, rotating stage that let's you see all angles while they're singing & dancing. You are quite a lucky person if you're seated by this stage because the guys are right up in front of your face! So I quietly walked over towards the B Stage, which other people were also doing. I was afraid security was going to tell me to clear the aisle, but thank goodness they didn't because I'm NOT a threat to anyone! So the guys are doing their thing on this stage as I try my best to get some clear, non-action pics of the guys. I did manage to get a few good ones, especially of Jon's...uh...hmm...good side! ;)


So as the concert progressed, Danny & Jon get ready for their little contribution to the show. This is where Lady Gaga comes out again & sings Just Dance while Danny motions to the crowd. It's at this time where Jon picks up the video camera and starts to film the audience. During this time, I thought that I needed to take a pic while Jon is doing this, so I moved up a few steps. Just as he picked up the camera & pointed it to the crowd, the next thing I see is my face and t-shirt on the JumboTron! My friend J, who flew in from LA with 4 other friends--including my distant cousin--texted me at the end of the night & told me she saw me on the big screen! My other new friend, S, also told me that she saw me too! This (k)night ended on a high note! :)


The only negative aspects of the show were the drunk, obnoxious women. This woman tried to start a fight with another woman, who sat right in front of me. Thank God security stood between them because I didn't want the obnoxious one to ruin our night! And people were spilling their beer. Alcohol + hormonal women = Bad combination!


We were so...exhausted by the end of the concert--which lasted 2 hours--that we didn't wait around to send the guys off in their tour buses. We then headed home, which was still a 2 hour drive. I got home around 2:30 am and was so tired! It was time for me to go knighty-knight because I had to get up in a couple of hours to get ready for Concert #2!


It's now D-day, Friday, October 10th, the day my 4 fellow Blockheads & I get to meet NKOTB! Ok, so I already got to meet them in August, but now it was going to be with my new Blockhead friends! We left Sonoma County around 12:30 because we wanted to arrive early in San Jose. I found out that my friends T, A & K were at the HP Pavilion in the morning and got to meet Donnie & take some pics with him! :) So my 5 friends (Megan joined us because her friend had an extra 5*) & I arrived in SJ around 3:00 pm and my friend M (aka partner-n-crime for all NKOTB shenanigans) calls me to ask if we're going to the fan meet-up, which was being held at a nearby restaurant. I told her it was unlikely because we needed to be at the venue in another 1 or so. I desperately needed to find a restroom too because "Aunt Flow" decided to come on the wrong day. :( An hour or so later, Megan & I met up with the other 4 girls and I also get to meet my friend Amy, who drove in from Salinas with another friend.


We started lining up outside the HP Pavilion what seemed like an eternity! We waited 'til the ILAA rep gave us instructions. A few days earlier, we had heard a rumor that the San Jose VIP group was going to be small, like it was for Sac. Nope, we had about 200 VIPs! :( So at this point, we're waiting in the cold, windy weather until they checked us in & allowed us inside the venue. Around this time, I saw Zach, who is the guys' assistant and who Donnie has explained is in charge of backstage passes. If any person should desire some FACE TIME with Donnie or the guys, you need to show your FACE TIME t-shirts or posters. I had my t-shirt in my hand, but wasn't wearing it since I had worn it the night before. I also saw Robo, the Kids bodyguard of 20 years. Intimidating guy, but I'm sure he's a softie!


Finally, they let us in! We then go into the VIP room and find ourselves a table. Two girls from Modesto decided to join us & it turns out they're in our picture group (really nice girls). We chat for a bit and it's during this time that Robo gives his speech on the rules, which I had missed part of since I had gone to the ladies room. Moments later, the ILAA reps & bodyguards called our groups one by one according to our assigned letters. I was in the E group, so it was our turn to stand in line & wait.


Let me just say that it went by way too fast & was all a blur, just like the Burbank signing was. We were about to meet the guys, who were behind a black curtain. The first person I saw lined up was Jon! Next was Joey, followed by Jordan, Danny & Donnie. So they saved the best for last because I was the last one in our line or maybe it was because I was the oldest one there! Anyway, I don't know how I managed to sneak it in, but I brought in with me a small gift taped to a funny 40th b-day card for Jon. I was at a loss for words AGAIN because as I approached him, I said to him, "This is for you!" I think he said thank you and and then gave me this LONG, GREAT, BIG hug! Why does this man have this power over me?! Why couldn't have I at least introduced myself to him?! Mind you, I was still trying to block out of my mind what he had just said to the girl in front of me {something about her eyes}, who took my place kneeling down next to him in our group pic. Damn that woman & me for not thinking fast enough! Blame it on not having eaten much for the past two days. After Jon hugged me, I went to Joey with those gorgeous baby blues, which I was too shy to look into! We exchanged hellos and he hugged me. Sorry to say this, but he doesn't give the greatest hugs. Next was Jordan, who I said hello to & got a hug from (his nose looked red, so I assumed he was sick). He put the same amount of strength into my hug as Joey did. At this time, Robo is rushing everyone & I hadn't even gotten to the Double D's (Danny & Donnie) yet! So I give Danny a quick hug & say hello. Might I add that Danny is built like a truck! His "guns" are big! Last, but definitely not least, is the charismatic Donnie, who by this time I believe took off his sunglasses. He opens his arms and gives me a hug. After a few seconds, I let go because I feel as though I'm being rushed by security and he says this to me, "Where you going? Don't be shy. Come here." Next thing I know, he reels me in for another GREAT, BIG, LONG hug! No wonder he's my #2 guy! :) Ok, so I have a few seconds to quickly chat, so I remembered my friend wanted me to ask him if he had received the red Boston baseball cap she gave him the night before at the Sac M&G {I had gone with her to find a gift for him and I ended up picking out something I didn't think he had. I even left some of my DNA on it since she asked me to try it on for size!}. I don't remember what Donnie said, but leave it to me to put my friend's needs first before my own! So then I show him my t-shirt, in which I told him it had a double meaning to it! I think the next thing I said to Donnie was that I was on the JumboTron last night when Jon was filming! As he sees my t-shirt, he then points to Jon, who somehow managed to sneak up behind me to be the last one in the receiving line, in front of Donnie! So I quickly show Jon my t-shirt, he smiles at it, gives this silent laugh and then gives me another great, big hug! :) Just like that, the M&G is over. :(


So why did I have such a hard time talking to Jon, but not to Donnie?! The days & weeks leading up to the SJ show, I had really put a lot of thought into what I was going to say to Jon & the other guys. As my friend M explained it, "It's like that crush you had on that guy in high school. You were just too shy to talk to him." It just all happened so fast! I want a 3rd chance and this time I will talk to Jon! Maybe it'll happen at the last Cali shows next month!


Because there was so many 5* VIP at the Meet & Greet, the guys didn't mingle with us, which I was BUMMED about. So they all left the room one by one. First it was Joey, who left us with a few parting words. I can't remember what though, but I do recall he said he was going to swear, but then noticed one or two children in the room. Then Danny waved & left. Next was Donnie. However, Donnie came back a 2nd or 3rd time to wave good-bye to us again! After Donnie left, then Jordan followed with this playful facial-pointing gesture. Last, but certainly NOT least, was Jon, who had come out from behind the curtain eating a Twix bar (yummy, just like him!). He stopped & motioned to us, in VIP, to wait (like we were going anywhere!). Then he went back behind the curtain to bring back with him the gift & card some really NICE woman (yes, the one from ME) gave him! Jon got a hold of the bullhorn that was on the table & started speaking, but in a soft spoken voice. I didn't know exactly what was going on since I was in the middle/back of the room & had trouble hearing because of all the commotion. Next thing I know is that he raises the card up to show everyone and starts reading part of it (I don't know where the gift is at this point). I look up and I said to my friends, "Oh my gosh! That's the card I gave him!" Then people started singing Happy Birthday to him. I think he said something like it wasn't his birthday yet (it's on Nov. 29th, but I didn't buy another VIP tix, so that's why I gave it to him early). I was probably like 15 feet away from him when all this happened. Another person who was there and closer to where Jon had stood, said that he got a little emotional and had heard him say that that was the first 40th b-day card anyone had given to him! :)


So it's time for the concert and we still don't know where our seats are. All we know is that they're within the first 10 rows. An usher takes us to our chairs and we're in total shock! We find out that S, N & I are in the 2nd row! YAHOO!! I have never been seated that close to the stage! I guess it pays to buy your tickets right when the presale starts! My friend Heather & her friend K, thought they weren't going to get good seats because their ticket stub said something different. Boy, were they wrong because they ended up with front row on the opposite side of us!!


The show started with a bang and only got better! Lady Gaga went on first, then followed 30 minutes later by Natashca Bedingfield. At 9:00 pm, The Kids took to the stage to do their thing! I can't remember which song it was they were singing, but Jon took to the right side of the stage (which is the same place he always took back in the day) when suddenly I see him looking down and smiling at me (and I have a witness, who can verify this!)! I quickly snapped my camera & took the pic! Unfortunately, I had the stupid zoom on, so the pic came out blurry/distorted! I need to fix this so it doesn't happen to me again next month. By the way, my 2 nieces & I have Floor seats for the San Diego show. They don't know this, but our seats are right next to the B Stage!! :) Boy, are they going to be in for a real treat!


I can't wait for Concert #3 & #4! And yesterday my friends & I got confirmation from a radio interview Danny did last week, that there WILL be a tour next summer! :) YEAH!! My friends & I cannot wait! I better start saving up my $$ now!


So that was my 2 night adventure with the New Kids on the Block! If you have never seen them in concert, go see them NOW! It's nothing like when we were teens, of course! If you don't have the new album/CD, go out and buy it NOW! The guys do sing a lot of their old songs, but you may catch them doing an old step or two too!

I'll leave you with a few spoilers from the shows I went to! Enjoy! :)