I Went to Two Tapings!
by Cari

I woke up last Thursday morning after spending hours the night before trying to win tickets from the radio station out here in Long Island, NY. No luck, but OOOOMMMMGGGGG!! THIS day they have one pair of passes left for the private BSB taping of the British show "Tops on Pops" or "Pop on Top".....whatever it's called!!! And at 6:30 in the morning on Thursday they played IWITW backwards and you had to guess what song it was. You had to be caller 106 and I was 105. Been there, done that for the past 3 years. It was like post traumatic stress -- HORRIBLE!! Then the man before me guessed at the song and he said "She's all I ever need" by Ricky Martin. Was it my day, or WHAT? So I'm up next and I got it! I won! I screamed SO much, I haven't gotten my voice back yet!!! So I go with one of my daughters (my 13 year old just makes me promise NOT TO HURT AJ. She knows that if I get too close...well, it's over. I'll be on him like white on rice!)

We see them in ALL their glory. About a foot away from thestage. There they are! Singing SOMH!!! OMG!!! They are more incredible than you can imagine! I have this GREAT pic I took of AJ (as JNN) from the first row in NYC. It's my most prized possession and I made a copy of it and framed it for AJ and brought it with me. Put ALL kinds of notes and info in it, on it you ame it! It was my goal of the day to get it to him. Even though all of the audience was forced to leave all their belongings at their seats, I sneakily stuck my 5x7 framed pic under my arm!! So while the boys are on the stage and waving to the audience from their fishbowl, I decide that AJ is not gonna look at me. I'm not 12, 15, nor 20 and not being young and beautiful, I KNOW I gotta get his attention some other way. LOL! So I just yell "AJ!" and he shoots his head around to see where the sound came from, and I JUMP up and hold my up pic! And he SEES me! From the stage, behind those damned blue sunglasses he says, "Is that Johnny?" I say "Yeah!" and he says, "Here?" and I say "yeah!!!" So he smiles and he's trying to see it and then some guy hits him to get his attention to start taping! ARRRGHHH! So they sing SOMH TWICE! The second time, right at the beginning of the second chorus in the middle of the song they get up and walk towards the front of the stage. I think the WHOLE audience DIED right then and there!! Well, after they were done, to my shock I was still breathing. Kev said they had to check the sound in another room, but to sit tight, they would more than likely be right back, but I must've known they sounded too good to do it again so as they're leaving, even with all the security around...I bolt!!! I bob and weave in and out! I RUN to the stage and I yell to AJ and try to give him my picture!!! He turns, reaches out his hand and tries to take it when one of the security guys bumps into his arm and he misses and gets pushed away. SHITTTT! But I hit his bodyguard in the arm (what nerve, huh?) and ask him to give it to AJ. He shoots me a look, then looks at the pic and back at me and smiles. Says yeah, he will! SSSCCOOOORRRRE!!!

So I am now done for the day, right? I mean, AJ has talked to me, he has seen MY picture and admired it. I have heard and seen the Backstreet Boys sing SOMH right in front to me oh, and by the way had AJ look RIGHT at me through those DAMNED blue glasses while he was singing!! OMG THAT was incredible!!! So you I think I've lived all I can live..RIGHT? NAAAAAAAW!! When we came out of there, there was the line for the MTV taping that was going into the same place and we got in. Don't ask me how -- it was just and act of God and kind people! Even with all the young kids that are SUPPOSED to be there I was in the front on the pillows on the floor!!! Honestly, I am embarassed and I hope I don't get on TV. They'd make such fun, I'm sure! I haven't recovered YET! I got to see and hear them sing it twice at the first show and then 5 times at the MTV taping. I couldn't even listen to it for a day...then I CRIED! SOBS! All I can say is to hear the song is to SEE them in front of me...OMFG! Ask me what my favorite BSB song is...go ahead...ask me....LOL! Now here's where it's gonna get outta control, but please indulge me. It was awesome. Towards the end of the performance I had to get up -- I was asked to move over so I did! I was standing with the cameramen, a couple of bodyguards, and a stylist next to me, off to the left. It was better than on the floor and then within a few minutes they were coming off the stage. I was basically alone on the way to the exit. I mean the cameramen and stylists don't hang around waiting for them, ya know? LOL. First Brian passed me and I froze, but I snapped out of it within a second and as he passed I said very softly and happily "Heeeey Brian," and I reached out for his arm and I got it! Very gently, I got him just around the inside of his elbow and as he kept going, my hand slid down his forearm, to his hand, and that's when I squeezed his hand, just a little and he squeezed back! Then to my surprise he came out from behind the curtain that he was supposed to go to to leave and took my hand in both of his and squeezed it, looked right into my eyes and said, "Thank you, thank you SO much, but I have to go," and he let go and left. I thought I would die! And for the record, up close, that man is STUNNING. Just GORGEOUS. Pictures do NOT do him justice. And he was SO sincere. OMG! So THEN I turned around and who was coming down the aisle, walking right up to me (to leave, of course, but hey) it was...OMFG...AJ! I saw this man standing about 2 feet away from me and I've come to the conclusion that he probably thought I was one of the MTV since they were the only people around my age!!! So he's not running away, or anything!!! Just standing there! Two feet in front of me! I just got the HAPPIEST feeling and smiled at him! I said nice and calm and low, "Hi AJ! Can I have a hug?" So the man just opens his arms right up and says, "Can you have a hug? C'mere," and he walks towards me! Needless to say, I go to him and there we were! It was the most wonderful six seconds of my life! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! Then I realized that I didn't know if he got my pic from the bodyguard, so I grabbed his shoulders....yeah, I know, what the hell is wrong with me...but I pull back just enough to get eye contact, and for a second I hold his face in my hands and just smile and look into his eyes. *sighs* Then I go back to holding his shoulders and I say, "OMG!! Did you get my picture?" He says, "YES! You took that at Irving Plaza,right? It is a great shot -- REALLY good," and he starts telling me about how Howie looks in it and how it looks like Howie's head is on the girl's body. He starts laughing that AJ little laugh and then he starts bringing the bodyguard in on the conversation!! talking about MY pic (and giving me details so I KNOW he REALLY looked at it!) So it's me and AJ and the bodyguard all talking!!! I thank him to death and for EVERY second that he's talking I can't stop touching him. OMG the softest leather jacket on the MOST GORGEOUS man and I'm just TOUCHING HIM! And he's letting me and I can't take my eyes off of his mouth! To hear that voice and watch his mouth. *chills* So all of a sudden, reality zooms back. And I say to him, "Can I get a picture with you real quick?" and he says...."I don't think there's time," as he turns around Howie, Kevin, and Nick are just making their way through the rest of the audience and he says "There's no time I GOTTA go they're comin up behind me!" So I'm like ok ok ok!! Go ahead." I'm still touching him, his arms, shoulders, chest...well, front of the jacket, but I'll take it! He takes my hand and says "I gotta go, but we'll be back and you're gonna love it. You will. We'll be back. Thanks." And off he went....my dream man....*sighs* Then by the time others had passed I was in such shock, I missed Howie and Kev!!! But I "woke up" just in time to grab Nick's hand!!!!! AAAAHHHHHH!! I gave those LONG skinny fingers a squeeze and got one back. Yiiippppeeee!! That man is INCREDIBLY GORGEOUS! Seems the closer you get the better they ALL look!!

Well, thanks SO for letting me get this out of my system! I'm still hysterical! I just am just so happy I needed to share with people who understand it!

Cari, the Happiest Girl in the World and going back for more asap!