Monday morning I woke up early and headed out of the house. I got to Rockefeller Center about 4:45 am and got a great spot up by the barricades. That’s when I realized how long of a wait I would have. There were some other girls there to see AJ as well so I didn’t feel too left out. I just got stuck next to these people that I didn’t like.

After what seemed like an eternity the show started. We watched Matt Lauer and Anne (I forget her last name) report the news. Every time Matt mentioned AJ’s name everyone screamed. During the news reports this woman walked around looking for people who had instruments to donate. Then she told all of us standing against the barricades that at 8:15/8:20 people with instruments will need to line up against the barricades so AJ can take the instruments from us. That was a good thing and bad thing. Good because AJ would be right in front of me, bad because I had to move.

We all tried explaining to the woman that we’ve been here for hours, literally, and it didn’t seem to faze her. I was adamant about not moving. I got up early to be here, got my spot, so I wasn't moving. Move the people who don’t care about seeing AJ. They did a few more things and then it was time for AJ to come out. *YEAH*

He comes out with Carlos (who was looking good, by the way) and walks over to our side of the barricades with this VH1 girl (the pink tank top girl). He starts taking instruments and playing around with them. It was really cute. He banged on the bongos and things like that. Then Matt interviewed him. I had a great spot (to say the least… If you know me, you know why). When they were done talking about the Save the Music and the Johnny No Name tour he came back to the crowd and started collecting instruments again. The girl a few feet down had a music stand and AJ holds it and starts doing hand movements as a conductor. He was right in front of me. Oh my god he looked so good (aside from the pantyhose on his head.)

           

He continued to circle the crowd, picking up instruments and signing autographs. He started signing after he passed me so I thought I blew my chance again. (Last time I met AJ it was in a bar and I was three sheets to the wind. I don’t remember it.) I watched him talk to the VH1 lady and three other people. Denise was there too and she told Carlos to only allow him to do four interviews so he has time to sign autographs. (I love Denise, btw! LOL) .

When the last one was over, AJ (and Carlos) made their way to our side of the barricades, a little bit down from me. I was finally going to get my autographs and chance to say hi to him.

He got to me and I had him the photo I wanted him to sign, letting him know it’s one that I took. He told me it was cute a picture and he make a noise like someone make towards a baby (kind of like a cooing noise). Then he signed the ladies next to me and I handed him the other photo I’ve carried with me to BSB events forever. It was a picture from Orlando that I took in 98. He recognized the concert (after looking at it for a minute). He was like, “Oh, this is Orlando.” Carlos piped in with, “Yeah, that’s the show.” AJ liked that one too; he was impressed. I asked him if he could take a picture with me and he said he really didn’t have time (yada, yada, yada) and that he was going to MTV to surprise Carson. I was like MTV? He said yeah, he was going on for TRL to surprise Carson and he needed to get to MTV (bull… lol. Takes 5-10 minutes to walk to MTV and it was 9 in the morning. He could walk there and back with time to spare.) He said if he had time he’d walk back around and take pictures with people.

I watched as he went from one person to the next signing autographs, occasionally taking pictures, being silly-goofy AJ. Then his mom and Carlos escorted AJ into the NBC building and he never came back out. It was a long wet morning but it was definitely worth it and I’d definitely do it again.