My Life Was Good...

Of Boybands and Tears - The shock of BSB

widgetchick — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:27:51 GMT

Last night I went to a concert that featured two of the biggest boybands in music history: New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys.

When the tour was announced, I was one of those girls that was thinking, "Man! Why couldn't it be N'SYNC isntead of the Backdoor Boys!" <- A nickname that I picked up from my ex-husband (Yes, along with N'SUCK). Granted, I had one of their albums and knew the songs that were sung last night. Sung? No. Perfomed. To call what the Backstreet Boys do SINGING is an understatement.

They perform; but more on this later.

Initially, I was so excited to be going to another New Kids show with my sister. Then to add my co-worker and very good friend Mary into the mix, I was stoked. I was so happy that Mary was going to see what the fuss was all about. Plus, her being a BSB fan for 13 years and never getting to see them live just added to the anticipation.

As the date approached I got more excited to see BSB- I filed his excitement under NICK IS F'IN HOT in my brain. I couldn't want to see this dude do his thing on stage.

Then last night happened. They have a DEFINITE fan in me. DEFINITE. Their harmonies were smooth and easy. Their energy was fantastic and crazy. All four of the guys wanted to be there and you could tell.

The Staples Center was filled with mostly BSB fans. When Jordan stopped singing the bridge for Summertime, the audience wasn't nearly as loud as I remember it being.... ever. Hardly any one around me knew the words to I'll Be Loving You Forever. And there were more I LOVE NICK and AJ DO ME signs in our section than there were New Kids shirts.

This gave me some perspective. When BSB was on stage, I looked around. Something I usually only do during Hangin' Tough because I like to see all the hands waving. But here I was, watching a bunch of girls, AND GUYS!, watch the four remaining members of Backstreet Boys. I was in awe of it. I was on the outside looking in this time. Although, seeing all the faces in the reflection of the shiny white suits the guys were wearing I really don't understand how someone can look in on my love for NKOTB and not comprehend it. It's something we all share as fans, I guess. Something that, if you're not a fan of something that has been meaningful for you, you'll just never understand. And by meaningful I mean... I'm not sure if my sister and I would have ever had the same relationship if it weren't for NKOTB. We would of course be close but for some reason being able to share that then and now, I don't know. The nostalgia and the memories; the private jokes and the dreams, the laughs, the I'm Jordan and I'm a bagel, Cinnamon Toast Worsh... it all just tied up our TRUE sisterhood with a nice sparkly pink bow that dangled with NKOTB charms and whistles.

As the concert went on I realized, LOL, Joe has his own show. He dances and sings and performs for every one without really giving a crap what the other guys are doing at the time. Maybe some people would say that he lacks the unity that way but that's just Joe. He's there to do his best, sing the shit out of the songs and be a goofball. I absolutely love it! And apparently I have a thing for the boyband members that do that. Nick in all his hotness glory blew.me.away. The boy just seeps sexuality ("Am I sexual?" Nick, dude? I had to answer HELLLYEAAAHHH) and his smile is always genuine.

The show continued and when the first notes of Please Don't Go Girl rang through Staples, I felt my knees go weak. I saw tweets and heard things about Joe's performance for this tour and I was anxious. More because I wanted Mary to witness it. I wanted to experience that Joe power with my sister again (she may think Jordan's God but hell, she's a Joe Girl). Joe sang acapella at first then the band joined and then the end. The end. JOE! What the HELL, dude. He knocked the audience FLAT with that performance. I looked at Mary at the end of that long, loud, sturdy, sweet and constant note we all know and adore. Her hand was over her chest and she just breathed, "That was amazing." Yep. You know why? Because it's friggin Joe, dude! He's by far the ruling performer of the Penis Stage.

Then... I don't even remember what song it was to be honest with you. I was checking my phone for texts before what seemed like was going to be a lull. Then from my left came a squeal from Mary and a roar from the crowd. "OH MY GOD, KEVIN!" I immediately looked up, tweeted it (though that tweet never went through) and I fell completely silent. Watching these fans go nuts over the appearance of the fifth Boy left me with chills and tears in my eyes. It was like seeing a ghost, really. Very hard to explain. I felt a deep warming in my heart as the love poured from the crowd onto the stage.

I would think that a lot of fans would be bitter that he left. I've read that a lot of fans were. However, it didn't show last night. It was amazing and almost too overwhelming. I kept thinking, Wow, is this what it would be like if Jon were to leave and then come back? But no. You can't even equate it to that. Why? Because it didn't happen. There's no way to compare what happened to a speculation of what if this or what if that. What happened happened and I was ecstatic and touched to be able to be a part of it.

The vibe and feel of the Staples Center was nothing I've ever experienced. Ever. I've been there quite a few times. I love the Staples Center, to be honest. Because when I'm there it means that I'm going to have an excellent time. Whether it's for hockey, a concert or even basketball; I know I'm there to be entertained, laugh, love and WOOO my head off.

This is the concert of the f*cking summer, people. Maybe of the decade. If you've ever found yourself singing "Oh oh oh oh oh" or "I waaaaant it thaaaat way" you have to go. I don't care if you're a girl, a guy, a crocodile- I don't give a shit. This is what concerts are supposed to be. I've had different experiences at concerts; I've seen a lot of bands perform (my two favorite being Matchbox 20 and Jimmy Buffett). While this didn't exactly knock those artists out of the water, the feel and vibe did It's all about the experience. The thrill of being there. Even the women screaming didn't annoy me. They're cries of affection, pride, excitement, lust, adoration; all of which need to be and are completely acceptable. Those screams are a collective 45 years in the making if you want to think of it that way. (NKOTB formed in 1984 and BSB in 1993.)

They all deserve the recognition, and more, that they have been getting.

And let me just say, I did tweet last night: Okay so @nickcarter can [big expletive here] and we'll be done for the night. Oh and thanks for blowing 22 years of devotion away LMAO

To clarify, I'm not a NICK GIRL now. I'm a Joe Girl and a Carter Chick. ;-) No one could fill that place in my heart that Joe has dug into so deeply. He was my first crush; the one that made me realize boys aren't gross. And for that I'm thankful... and I'm pretty sure there are a few dudes out there that are thankful for him as well HAHA!

NKOTB - The End?

widgetchick — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:47:54 GMT

So, most of you that read my LJ, well, if there are any of you left, know that I'm a huge NKOTB fan, right?

Or DID you know that? LMAO - my layout.

I'm not really one any more. Why?

I loved them back when I was younger. They were huge and so was my heart; and ONLY for them. I knew their every move. I knew what country they were in. I followed every story, every news article, every magazine. My sister and I would sit and sift through magazine after magazine looking for THEE one that we wanted to buy. We walked MILES, and I'm not even kidding, MILES to get the new Bop, Big Bopper or Teen Beat.

When they came back? My heart froze and then skipped merrily backwards 20 years. The feeling I got when they came out on stage at the Staples Center that October night was - well, there are no words that can describe it. Imagine seeing your long lost best friend from elementary school and with her? Your favorite pet from the past, teacher, grand parent, family member and flavor of ice cream surrounding her. It was as if something came alive again. Sparked in me what I had been lacking for the past couple of years.

They announce a cruise. My sister doesn't want to go. We book it.

Then? It continued. Five star passes (also known in the concert community as 5*)? What's this? I can pay to meet them? Hug them? Touch them? RIGHT ON! We did that. I had a great experience that I wouldn't give back for the world. It was amazing. I friggin' kissed Joe McIntyre. WHAT? Yes. I did. Bucket list item number 1? COMPLETE! ACCOMPLISHED!

The cruise of 2009 was the best weekend of my life. Again, the experiences, the whole vibe of the ship, the time spent with my sister- unbelievable and NOT repeatable as we found out in 2010. But we still had a blast when that rolled around.

Now, let's get into 2011. I love Joe. That will never change. And I'm thankful that NKOTB brought my love for him back to the surface. Love it. I've had the opportunity to go to two of his solo shows; die! Amazing. Hands down the best and only New Kid that, in my opinion deserves fame, fortune and success based on talent. Well, that Jordan guy ain't so bad but I can understand if his stuff keeps him a little away from the mainstream. Joe too, actually, but he deserves recognition.

Anyway, this isn't really about Joe. It's not even really about NKOTB as a whole. They're touring with Backstreet Boys this summer and I've always wanted to see them live so this will give me a chance. I'm slightly stoked. Really good seats and all that.

This is about the fans.

Yep.

The ones that "ruined" it for me. Or made it "old" for me. Of course a lot of my close friends that I have now are fans. I wouldn't give them back for anything. They're as precious to me as my memories and family. I'm not talking about them. I'm not even talking about the majority of the fans. I'm talking about those select few. Those that took something so light, young hearted, breezy and turned it into high school.

So, the wonderment and the pureness of elementary school turned into the "hey, that's not fair!" of Junior High. And now? Now we're in High School. And what happened when we got to HS before? The NK's went away, right (well, for me that happened in JR High, but still- I was on the little younger edge of the spectrum).

Now? If you don't have this, if you don't go there, if you don't buy something; you're not a fan. That's not right. You're not the "cream of the crop" if you didn't pre-order this and that.

Before the first cruise, Donnie gave a VERY heartfelt thank you speech. It moved me. I think it even moved my sister. I got goosebumps. All throughout that cruise, he was sincere, he was warm. Fell in love all over again! Right after that cruise I said, "Joe's my favorite New Kid, then Jordan, Danny and Jon. Donnie? He's on a whole other level."

That died quickly. Why? Because the rewarding of bad behavior.

That's another story.

Anyway. I'm sure we're reaching twilight time with NKOTB. The guys need to do their own things. Joe's got three, or will have three, little babies at home. Donnie's doing whatever that's called and Jordan? He needs to do a tour. The other ones? As much as I love Jon and Danny as an inspiration to some; meh. They're there to be there. It wouldn't be the same with out them but I think they're "done" too. At least it seems like it.

This isn't a negative post. This was more to say; I think I'm done. :( And it's sad! I don't want to be done with it!! But every tweet, every post, every OMGAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW SOMEONE SAID TWUG TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEE that I see, it makes my skin crawl.

Would I jump out of my seat if I got a simple "hi :)" from one of them? Yes. I would. How do I know? Because it's happened.

But now? It's a collection of tweets that matter, not what's in your heart. It's not what's in YOU that matters but what's in your favorites. It seems friendship isn't about common ground; it's about common FOLLOWERS.

It's not right. =-\

NKOTB Cruise Poll

widgetchick — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:07:09 GMT

View Poll: NKOTB Cruise Poll

Week 4: January 17 - January 23

widgetchick — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:47:14 GMT

Week of Jan 17th

@mac_feisty

LIFESTYLE
Started new weight watchers Points Plus on Sunday night
Staying active while home
Measured foods throughout the week
Better food choices than previous weeks

EXERCISE
January 17th, 2011: HHA-Fat Burning Cardio, 30 minutes
January 18th, 2011: Walked at lunch, HHA-Fat Burning Cardio, 30 minutes
January 19th, 2011: Walked at lunch, HHA-Ab Sculpt, 23 minutes
January 20th, 2011: HHA-Fat Burning Cardio, 30 minutes
January 21st, 2011: HHA-Fat Burning Cardio, 30 minutes
January 23rd, 2011: HHA-Ab Sculpt, 23 minutes

WEIGHT LOSS
Lost .4lbs

IMPROVEMENTS
Stick to the new Weight Watchers program, find time for the treadmill (this is for my mental state even more so than physical)

@WannaRubaDdub

EXERCISE
January 17th, 2011: Ran 3.2 miles & day 1 on Wii active 30 day challenge
January 18th, 2011: Ran 3.18 miles & day 2 on Wii
January 20th, 2011: Ran 3.3 miles & day 3 on Wii
January 21st, 2011: Ran 3.7 miles & day 4 on Wii
January 22nd, 2011: Ran 3.57 miles & 12 minutes boxing & step out workout
January 23rd, 2011: Ran 3.68 miles & day 5 on Wii

ACCOMPLISHEMNTS
Just completed 4 full weeks of workouts

@MoodyJessi

LIFESTYLE
January 17th, 2011: Drinking more water
January 18th, 2011: Eating healthy

EXERCISE
January 17th, 2011: Cardio – burned 300 calories
January 18th, 2011: Ran 2 miles
January 19th, 2011: Triceps, Biceps, Chest, Abs. 45 minutes Cardio – 690 calories burned

@highheeledmom

LIFESTYLE
January 18th, 2011: Coffee made with actual milk vs. powder or half and half
January 20th, 2011: Resisted fast food!

EXERCISE
January 19th, 2011: worked out in the morning
January 20th, 2011: worked out in the morning

@naultybits

LIFESTYLE
Resisted sweets at work for 2 weeks

EXERCISE
January 19th, 2011: 2.15 miles on the elliptical for 30 minutes
January 21st, 2011: 2.24 miles in 30 minutes, 60 crunches
January 22nd, 2011: 2.65 miles in 35 minutes

WEIGHT LOSS
Lost 1.4lbs!!

@eTownMelly

LIFESTYLE
Eating enough calories to support work outs
Worked out 6 of 7 days

EXERCISE
January 17th, 2011: walked 2 miles
January 18th, 2011: walked 2 miles
January 19th, 2011: walked 2 miles
January 20th, 2011: walked 2 miles

WEIGHT LOSS
Lost 3lbs!

@MrsBR00KSTER

EXERCISE
January 18th, 2011: Ran 5 miles
January 20th, 2011: Ran 6 miles
January 21st, 2011: Ran 5 miles

WEIGHT LOSS
Lost 2lbs!

@PrincessCR1

WEIGHT LOSS
Lost 1lbs!

week 3 - January 10th - January 16th

widgetchick — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:55:11 GMT

Week of Jan 10th

@mac_feisty

LIFESTYLE
Continued STRICT weight watchers.

EXERCISE
January 10th, 2011 – 30 minutes Hip Hop Abs
January 12th, 2011 – Ran a mile (all I have time for in the damn morning!)
January 13th, 2011 – 30 minutes Hip Hop Abs
January 14th, 2011 – 30 minutes Hip Hop Abs

WEIGHT LOST – 4lbs

NSV (non-scale victory) – complimented on losing weight. Favorite jeans sort of fell down!

IMPROVEMENTS
Need to quit STOPPING then RESTARTING my Hip Hop Abs routine and stay on it!! So inconsistent, it bothers me!

@MoodyJessi

LIFESTYLE
January 10th, 2011 – Salmon and veggies for lunch
January 11th, 2011 – Salmon and veggies for lunch, Chicken, veggies with small side rice for dinner
Overall week – Eating better, Starbucks only 1 time

EXERCISE
January 10th, 2011 – Gym at lunch time
January 11th, 2011 – Ran, abs, arms at gym
Overall week – Gym every day, cardio and weights

@WannaRubaDDub

EXERCISE
January 10th, 2011 – Ran 3.25 miles
January 13th, 2011 – Ran 3.19 miles
January 14th, 2011 – Ran 3.28 miles
January 15th, 2011 – Ran 3.38 miles
January 16th, 2011 – Ran 3.26 miles

@JenLovesJoey

EXERCISE
Overall week – long runs, training

@MrsBR00KSTER

EXERCISE
January 12, 2011 - ran 5 miles
January 14, 2011 - ran 6 miles

@nomoregames75

WEIGHT LOST - 3lbs

@LittlestPixie

WEIGHT LOST – 2lbs, 1 inch from waist

@ETownMelly

EXERCISE
January 12th, 2011 – 3 mile walk
January 13th, 2011 – 3 mile walk

Week 2 - January 3rd - January 9th

widgetchick — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:41:55 GMT

Week of Jan 3rd

@mac_feisty

LIFESTYLE
Continued doing weight watchers. Gave up most snacks. Refused vending machine.

EXERCISE
January 3rd, 2011 – 30 minutes Hip Hop Abs
January 4th, 2011 – Ran 1 mile on the treadmill
January 5th, 2011 – 30 minutes Hip Hop Abs
January 6th, 2011 – 30 minutes Hip Hop Abs

IMPROVEMENT
Need to get more sleep, need to use treadmill more often, need to WRITE DOWN MORE!! Stick to points, more water.

@gabbiegee

LIFESTYLE
January 3rd, 2011 – logged all food/calories

EXERCISE
January 3rd, 2011 – walked outside for lunch, went to gym

@WannaRubaDDub

EXERCISE
January 3rd, 2011 – Ran 1.8 miles
January 6th, 2011 – Ran 3.1 miles
January 8th, 2011 – Ran 3.1 miles
January 10th, 2011 – Ran 3.25 miles

@JerseyJoeyGirl

WEIGHT LOST – 1.5 pounds

@MoodyJessi

LIFESTYLE
January 6th, 2011 – Healthy lunch

EXERCISE
January 5th, 2011 – Elliptical during lunch hour, 300 calories (ONLY, she says? GOOD JOB ‘only’)
January 6th, 2011 – Ran 2 miles, ab work

@highheeledmom

LIFESTYLE
January 6th, 2011 – 6” Subway, no snacks, no soda.

@MrsBR00KSTER

EXERCISE
January 3, 2011 - ran four miles
January 5, 2011 - ran four miles
January 7, 2011 - ran four miles
January 8, 2011 - ran three miles

@PrincessCR1

EXERCISE
January 3rd, 2011 - 30 minutes, 125 calories

Week 1 - December 27 - January 2

widgetchick — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:17:39 GMT

Week of Dec 27th

@mac_feisty

LIFESTYLE
Watched what I ate/drank. Kept up water intake. Made better choices.

EXERCISE
December 28, 2010 - Treadmill for 16 minutes, ran a little over a mile. Walked another 16 minutes at incline 6. Ran another 5 minutes at incline 2.5. Totals: 37 minutes, 296 calories, 2 miles.
January 2nd, 2011 - Treadmill for 16 mnutes, ran a little over a mile. Walked another 15 minutes at incline 6. Ran another 5 minutes at incline 2.5. Totals: 36 minutes, 293 calories, 2 miles.

IMPROVEMENTS:
More sleep needed, more exercise, more activity, more water – write down all food intake. Write down daily accomplishments

@gabbiegee

LIFESTYLE
December 27th, 2010 - Made breakfast at home instead of fast fooding it. Plain Cheerios (measured cereal and milk) and plain coffee. Brought lunch to work; turkey breast on whole wheat.

EXERCISE
December 27th, 2010 - Walked for an hour at lunch, 45 minutes on cross trainer at the gym
January 2nd, 2011 - Walked around block – 2.57 miles!

@WannaRubaDDub

EXERCISE
December 27th, 2010 - Ran 1.5 miles this morning and just finished a 25 min walk
December 30th, 2010 - Ran 1.6 miles
January 1st, 2011 - Ran 1.65 miles
January 2nd, 2011 - 1.7 miles

WEIGHT LOST - 6 lbs

@NKinKiltsLuvr

LIFESTYLE
December 27th, 2010 – ate Subway

EXERCISE
December 27th, 2010 – Walked instead of drove

@tractorprincess

EXERCISE
December 27th, 2010 – rode 7 miles on bike, ab exercise, pilates

@MrsBR00KSTER

EXERCISE
December 27th, 2010 – Ran 5 miles

@naultybits
LIFESTYLE
December 27th, 2010 – lunch with a friend; ordered green salad instead of French fries

@JenLovesJoey

LIFESTYLE
December 27th, 2010 – had a See’s candy but only one
December 29th, 2010 – turned down See’s candy (HOW???)

EXERCISE
December 27th, 2010 – ran intervals for 4 miles in 40 minutes
December 29th, 2010 – ran 4 miles
January 2nd, 2011 – Ran 10 miles

@Princess CR1

LIFESTYLE
December 27th, 2010 – only 2 Christmas cookies
December 28th, 2010 - walked w/ co-workers to McDonalds and didn't get a thing. :) Lunch: ground turkey & whole grain pasta. – 0 Christmas cookies
December 29th, 2010 - Mexican for lunch; had chips & salsa but had salad w/ grilled chicken & no dressing
December 30th, 2010 – Healthy Choice lunch, ground turkey with whole wheat pasta dinner

EXERCISE
December 28th, 2010 – Walked to McDonalds (didn’t order food), 40 minutes (215 calories) on Wii
December 29th, 2010 – Walked to lunch, 15-20 minutes
December 30th, 2010 – 37 minutes of the Wii - 190 cals, 20 mins good sex, 15 minute walk.
January 1st, 2011 – Wii workout, 105 calories
January 2nd, 2011 – Wii workout, 200 calories

@highheeledmom

LIFESTYLE
December 28th, 2010 – brought vegetables for lunch; mashed potatoes and mixed veggies.
December 29th, 2010 – bought chips from vending machine but for sustenance snack, not boredom

2011 NKOTB Cruise - Think before you pack your suitcases!

widgetchick — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:13:09 GMT

PACKING FOR THE CRUISE AND BOARDING

Prior to even shopping for the cruise - Make a list!

In my phone for each cruise I have each day, each outfit I'm wearing down to the shoes and underwear. I'm not the type to just throw every thing I own in the suitcase and pray that I have enough or that I won't mismatch something that goes with something else. Very strategic planning goes into my packing. I hate packing. I also hate organization (as you can tell from this journal) so this is a chore for me but it pays off.

I always make sure that I take at least 2, yes 2 extra pair of panties for each day that I'm going to be gone. Why? Because hell! It's hot in the friggin Caribbean, that's why. And although at least one of those days I'll be in and out of water, I still count that day as a day. I don't like being without fresh panties. It's gross!

So, in my phone I have each day that I'm going to be gone and the clothes I'm going to be wearing. It looks like the following.

Prior to preparation but after we receive the Theme of the night:

Friday
Boarding
Dining
Casino Night

Friday
Boarding
Green dress
White tank
White flippies - rd
Dining
Black and white dress - rd
Black heels
Casino Night
Black dress - rd
Black heels

That's an example. After I "ready" every item while packing, I mark it with "rd" next to it. I may or may not put in there a suggestion of what I want to find for the specific outfit. This helps me narrow my absent-mindedness while I'm in a store. I also make sure that when I'm looking for something, I keep my eye out for things I might want to exchange or use for work. Work clothes = dining room outfits.

Of course things may not always go as planned while I'm on the ship. I may skip the dining room one night so I don't have to use an outfit. However, I know that I got my back covered if in case I need those clothes for something else.

Secrets to packing prior to boarding

On embarkation day, pack everything that you're not going to need for the muster drill, Sail Away Party and dinner if you have early dining in your checked luggage. Everything that you will need for these events, keep on you!

Reason? You just may not have your luggage by the time dinner rolls around. I say may. I didn't for the 2010 cruise. Here's a little story.

This could happen to you... ...if you have cool friends like I do!

3 drinks into partying amongst ourselves, my friend and I decided to dance. While I was Hangin' Tough, she started Kidding and Playing. My hand collided with her drink and WOOSH!! That pink frilly drink all over us! There's a picture. I should post that for visual lol's.

Make sure you either have with you or are wearing your outfit for the Sail Away Party. Chances of your luggage being in your cabin prior to the muster drill could be slim. Rule of thumb: The earlier you get to the ship, the sooner you'll have your luggage. However, just because you're first on the ship doesn't always mean you're first to get your luggage. There are people handling your stuff- you're trusting them. Humans. And you know how reliable that species is, right? That's what I thought.

If you want to bring on a small little backpack or if you're bringing your laptop (don't check this item, carry it with you so you don't complain about someone stealing your shit later) I'd suggest stuffing something that's wrinkle free just as a back-up in case of mishaps like the above mentioned. Will I be packing a back-up this year? Nah. But did I suffer through the muster drill and the chilly dining room in a wet, white t-shirt? Yes. Yes I did. But I was really buzzed and didn't care.

What Can't I Bring Onboard

Here is a list taken from the Carnival website of items that will be CONFISCATED upon boarding.

• Alcohol (hard liquor)/sealed, unopened bottles
• Beer/sealed, unopened bottles/cans
• Wine or champagne/sealed, unopened bottles - beyond the allowable limit of one bottle (750 ml. size) per adult 21 years of age (brought on at embarkation time only)
• Clothing irons and steamers (all Carnival ships offer laundry facilities with irons and ironing boards. Fleet-wide valet laundry service is also available for a nominal fee.)
• Electrical and household appliances (i.e. coffee makers, hot plates, toasters, etc.)
• Candles
• Heating Pads
• Incense
• Hookah

Here is a list of items that will be DISCARDED and thrown away prior to boarding

• Large coolers
• Alcohol in unsealed containers
• Firearms (i.e., non-firing weapons and starter pistols)
• Ammunition (i.e., bullets, shot or missile that can be fired using a propellant)
• Imitation or replica weapons (i.e., de-commissioned weapons or those not capable of being fired, toy weapons, or any other item made, intended or adapted to be used as a weapon)
• Explosives or explosive component parts, (i.e., detonators)
• Fireworks or pyrotechnics (except those previously approved in connection with a company stage production which have been properly manifested)
• Taser or electronic stun guns
• Pepper or mace sprays
• Telescopic or regular batons
• Martial arts equipment (i.e., flails, throwing stars, belt buckle knives, etc.)
• Handcuffs, brass knuckles
• Compressed gas bottles/cylinders
• Knives with blades longer than four (4) inches ( Recreational dive knives are allowed but must be held in the custody of the Guest Services Manager or Chief Security Officer and must be checked out/in by the owner for dive excursions during the cruise.)
• Dive tanks (empty or full), diver spears/slings
• Household goods or tools of trade
• Volatile and highly flammable liquids such as cigarette lighter fluid
• Scissors with blades longer than four (4) inches (Large scissors of the type used by scrapbook and quilting enthusiasts are at times permitted with prior notification from the Security Services Department, but are held onboard in the same manner as dive knives.)
• Medical Marijuana
• Bicycles
• Surfboards
• Scooters (only permitted if used for mobility – must be stored in guest’s stateroom)
• Boats/canoes
• Segways
• Any footwear with wheels, i.e. Heely’s type shoes

LOL Leave your handcuffs off the cruise, ladies. Sorry. But white scarves can do the same thing ;) #FreakySaga. OKAY! Also don't bring your boat. You're on one.

I, however, did manage to bring my handheld steamer board.

What Can I Bring On Board

Water/Soda. You can bring your own bottled water or canned soda. I'm pretty sure the limit is 12 bottles per person. This is kind of awesome, right? I mean, I have no problem drinking the water on board that they give you to make tea with. A tip from my sister mrsbr00kster, make iced tea. Yeah, just make tea and then put ice in it. Saves a whole shit load of money on soft drinks. And, well, saves some calories too, right?

Power strips: here's the deal - People have brought them and have gotten away with them. People have brought them and had them tossed. If you want to chance it, go for it. If it's not in your luggage when you get it in your room, don't throw a fit. The policy is: Electrical devices such as fans, power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors, and extension cords will be removed if determined to pose a hazard and returned the last day of the cruise prior to debark.

They know what cabin you're in. They know how many people are going to be on your grid. They know these things. If they see too many of those power strips, they're going to start taking them. So, if you're early enough you may luck out and get to keep yours.

If you need a power strip for any purpose and it's very important that you have it (I needed one for my breast pump on the 2010 cruise), then call ahead and put it as a special item on your booking. They'll help you out. I didn't have one in my cabin prior to sailing but I know that they would have hooked me up; especially since it's deemed a medical reason.

Alcohol: This deserves it's own journal entry, really. Which I'm going to post right after this one.

IN CONCLUSION

I'm putting this out there: I work for a cruise line. I work for Carnival Corporation. If you have any questions, you can ask me. I can ask managers that deal directly with passenger related departments what policies are enforced and what you can "get away with" or how you can "get away" with them. legally, I mean. If you require special services, please call Carnival and check with them before just assuming you can/can't bring something.

If you want me to call on something, then hell, sure. Why not? I can call Carnival and ask them for you if you don't want to be bothered or you don't know how to phrase something and feel like a moron. The Carnival FAQ is littered with good information; and it's easy to understand. So, ya know, check there first if you have a simple question.

Future blogs will include information about having a good time(yes, some people need help with this shit), passports, alcohol and whatever else I can think of. If you have a question, please tweet me (@mac_feisty) and I'll answer. If you have a blog topic or something that I should write a journal entry about, let me know via a comment on here or a tweet. I'll do my best to be more on top of this crap! :)

Feisty's No BullShit Lose 4 This Fuckin' Cruise or Get The Hell Outta My Fuckin' Face party!

widgetchick — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:25:48 GMT

We've done it before: we've lost weight as a team. Did we keep it off? I kinda did. Half of it. I gained some over the holidays. The big eating holidays are over. To hell with RESOLUTIONS. Let's make a life style change. We're doing this NOW. Starting tomorrow. Hell, starting right after I finish this glass of wine! *swig-swish-so good :D*

Anyway, here's the deal. You have to join Twitter to participate.

1. Join Twitter
2. Follow JKs_feisty
3. Tell me you're interested in partying and I'll follow you back.
4. Every day it is up to YOU to tell me what you have done. DM or @reply, doesn't matter. Whether it be activities or what you've done to go that little extra step to be healthy. If you've turned down french fries and bought a salad? Tell me about it. I'll log it. Each Monday you will weigh in and tell me how much weight you have LOST. I will never ask you your weight. If you want to tell me what it is and have me keep track of how much you lose, then that's fine. I'll do that. But I don't want to tell you how much I weigh lol so I don't expect you to tell me how much you weigh.
5. Every week I'm going to post here what we've done to get healthy. What changes we have made. I'm NOT going to use the numbering system that I've used before. I'm going to use our Twitter names here. So that way we're more accountable for what we're doing. However, if you don't want me to use your Twitter name, DM me and let me know what you want to go by. Gotta respect the privacy of those who want it.
6. Change your lifestyle! I know some of you have already. This is meant to be a motivator and a team of us to kick each other's asses!

I have a cruise in March so this will be going on every week until February 28th. The last day of this party will be March 5th. My cruise laves March 6th. I'll be back March 13th and we'll pick up right where we left off to get in shape for May!!

If you want to join, follow the 6 steps (yeah, 6, not 5 because I just can't do 5 lol). Let's get this, let's lose this... let's friggin do this, people! I'm tired of feeling/looking like a sloth! :)

EDIT TO ADD: If you want to submit pictures of your progress as well, DM me and I'll give you my email address and we can track ya that way too :D

New blog for story related posts!

widgetchick — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:57:40 GMT

I started a new blog for story related ramblings and snippets.

http://feistytales.blogspot.com

Go, leave a comment. :)

I've been wanting to post my feelings about writing and what I'm writing. I want to keep away from many 140 character Tweets about how frustrated I am, or how awesome it feels to finally write something I like- though the former happens much more often than the latter.

I will complain about writing, I will gush about writing. Most of all, I'm going to keep my modesty and be humble about it. I'm not some great author. I'm not pretending to be something I'm not. But I *have* written 3 complete full length "novels". I have two more in the works. One was the NaNo for last year that I don't really count. Another is the fourth and final part of what's been dubbed the "Freaky Saga".

If you're reading this post and you're interested in finding more about my writings or whatever, feel free to contact me via blogspot. :)

Word UP!
*Kristi*

Birthday Weight Loss Challenge

widgetchick — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:46:09 GMT

Here's our graph

We need to step it up.

http://www.twitpic.com/2n4yr5

Weight loss challenge

widgetchick — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:16:02 GMT

Here's the link to the chart :)

http://www.twitpic.com/2fo857

Good going guys! And for those of you who said they participating...

WHERE ARE YOUR NUMBERS, PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ??????????????????

Weigh in

widgetchick — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:47:26 GMT

Gimme your pounds lost, bitches!!! :)

Here's the chart for the weight loss challenge :)

widgetchick — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:56:58 GMT

Here it is!

Any corrections, let me know. Kthnx :)

Comments are screened. If you forgot your number, please let me know.

http://twitpic.com/2d481k

(yes, it's a twitpic link. i'm too lazy right now to embed it lol)

Sailing with NKOTB

widgetchick — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:52:04 GMT

It's announced.

The cruise will be next year from May 12 - May 16 on the Carnival Destiny.

Something that's confusing about that? The Carnival website shows a cruise aboard the Destiny for those dates. The NKOTB website shows that the ship will be venturing to the Bahamas, however, the Carni website has the cruise to Key West and Cozumel (a Western Caribbean cruise). I guess itineraries can change, things can be altered, plans can be made.

I work for a cruise line. Yes, one you would have heard one. One that has a very close relationship to Carnival, even lol

Sitting next to our En Route Emergency desk, I've kinda overheard some pretty "duh" things that happen to passengers. Common sense, people.

I'm going to try to list the stuff that I can remember about what to do and what not to do when preparing for a cruise.

Somethings I'm going to write about:
Flying in the day before
Staying in the port city
Bringing extra cash
Packing
Meeting up with friends onboard
Having a good time (yep)
...some other things that I thought of today that I can't think of right now but they'll come to me...

!!!FLY IN THE DAY BEFORE AND STAY OVER NIGHT IN YOUR PORT CITY!!!

This is probably the fuckin' most important rule of cruising. Why? So many reasons. Sometimes, if big groups have airline trouble or whatever, the cruise line will hold the ship for them. However, if you're just some lowly passengers that took a wrong turn or had a flight delay, the ship doesn't care. Tight schedules keep the ships and routines running smoothly.

You don't want to be the dick who's stuck on a plane that has engine trouble on the way to Fort Lauderdale (more on that later) and the plane has to land in Tampa only to have the flight cancelled four hours after landing.

That happened to my sister and I last year. Had we flown in the on the day of the cruise (obviously we wouldn't have been on that flight, but just bear with me here) we would have JUST made the ship. They wanted to bus us to Ft Laud and then we would have had to, from there, taken the shuttle to the port. We would have never had made it if we didn't have the extra credit to slap a car onto.

We rented a car. The ship leaves at 4. We pulled into our hotel (after returning the car, don't forget you'd have to do that) at about 3:55. We would have been ALMOST totally hosed. Really. It would have been fuckin' bad. However, this all happened Thursday. And all we lost was some money on a car, some patience and a day in the sun. It did make for an interesting story and we did see a really cool bridge.

But that bridge would have lost it's sparkle if we would have been racing to get to a damn ship!

So, fly in the day before, okay? You don't want to be the asshole that was overcharged by 400% on a cruise just because 5 jerk-offs are on it... and then MISS IT!

Weigh in!

widgetchick — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:11:21 GMT

I only lost a pound. BOOOOOOOO! Funny, for some reason I thought sanity would weigh more.

What did YOU lose?

Comments are screened. :)

If you're reporting from Twitter, please leave your Twitter name.

AND POUNDS LOST! I don't track your weight, just the pounds you lose. I don't wanna know how much you weigh. Cuz, ya know, I ain't gonna tell you what I weigh. :)

Time to weigh in!

widgetchick — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:50:33 GMT

It was time to weigh in on 7/29 but I'm a little bit behind since I forget about LJ and only really use Twitter. But I remembered!

And I've been sick.

I only lost two pounds but as of yesterday, I was back up four? WHAT?? Ah well, I think it's PMSy time.

Report here with pounds lost. :) Tomorrow I'll put up the spreadsheet.

If you have any questions as to what number you are, please let me know and I'll let YOU know.

If you're from twitter and are posting as a guest or anon, please let leave your name, yo! I don't carry around my crystal ball ALL the times.

All comments are screened and will remained screened.

FanFiction and me

widgetchick — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:49:20 GMT

Let's get this straight:

(Now that's just a funny sentence if you've ever read what I've wrote)

Anyway! Let's start this again.

...I don't like Fan Fiction. I don't read Fan Fiction. However, I write Fan Fiction. Why?

I write it because it started out as a joke and ultimately became my voice.

Yep!

I read some stuff once and was like... wow, this... isn't good. It didn't hold my attention. It didn't flow. Something always seemed off and generic about it. The more I read, the more I thought, "I could write something like this. I could write something better than this."

Then I started reading Twilight. HAHA. OK. I'm not a published author so I can't say that I can write better. In fact, I don't think that I could write something that SO many people love so dearly. Or even CLOSE to that phenomenon. So don't think I have elephantitis of the ego. I just thought, hey! If this can entertain people, I bet I can too!

And I have. :) I'm glad to say that I have.

It started out just one chapter. It was going to be a one shot story. Just one scene. But as I wrote the story, characters began to appear and things starting to develope. Readers kept saying "keep going!" So I did. I wrote, what? 20 chapters or so? In the Epilogue to that story, I was going to have closure. Definite just a one time thing. Then, I got ideas for a second installation. So, I left it open. Then people asked questions about the second and I had to write a third to answer those questions. THEN! It left it open for a fourth.

I never thought that I would be able to write more than a sonnet. In Creative Writing class, we were given an assignment to write a short story. Mine sucked so bad! It so lacked any feeling what-so-ever. But hey, I was 15! I didn't have a lot to put into a story.

As I wrote these last three "books", I opened myself up. I opened myself up to people through text that I can't do through genuine heart. A lot of people think I'm cold because of, say, how I tweet or whatever. A lot of people may think I'm a bitch because I like to be snarky.

A lot of shit happened to be before the age of 22, people. A lot. If you read my stories, you know some of it. Yes, even that. That was true. Only people who read it know about it.

So! Writing became my therapy, in a sense. I guess I just used the people I did because it was fun and fantastic at first. It has a following, which I love. But more over? I love the fact that what I write is honest and it gets things off my chest. :)

Those that know me know that I constantly say I'm going to give up writing. It pulls me back though, it really does. I lie awake at night and think about what could happen or how I left a character (lol poor Donnie in NaNo of '09 - did he survive???). I start to feel guilty if I've left them in a certain horrible situation (lol poor Donnie in NaNo of '09) or if I've left them feeling sad.

If I ever say that I'm going to stop writing and the last thing that I wrote was a scene that left my characters in tears or devastated for some odd reason just take comfort in knowing; I can't leave them like that! NEVER! LOL :)

So, as I plot and plan and really start thinking about this year's NaNo (not sharing), I start getting excited again. The Freaky series will always be my baby but I'm so excited to move on from it. It's not even near completion but I have a few ideas for some other things.

I even have an awesome idea for a children's book series. That no, you can't know about either.

My Birthday weight loss challenge! :)

widgetchick — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:18:22 GMT

Hey!

If you follow me on Twitter you already know that I want to do a weight loss challenge for myself.

There are 14 weeks until my 32nd birthday and I have a goal of losing 30lbs by then. If I stick to what I'm used to, then hey! The poundage should just fall right off. I know my body and know what it can do and I know I can do it.

So! I put it out there on blast that I was doing this and invited people to join. Other people seemed interested. There are, so far, a total of 12 of us.

Here's the deal.

Starting NOW you tell me how much you want to lose. You do NOT include your weight because I know that's personal to some of you. I know I'm NOT telling you how much I weigh, I don't expect you to share that info with me. If you want to, then that's fine.

Send me a DM telling me how much you want to lose by 10/29 (@mac_feisty)
On 7/22 I'll assign you a number so when you look at my spreadsheet you'll know who you are.
Weigh in on Thursdays and tell me how much you lost FOR THAT WEEK
I'll record it for you and let you know how much of a percentage you lost towards your goal :)

I'm doing this because I realize if I have to report how I'm doing to a group of people (I'll publically tweet it and post progress here) I'll have to stick to my guns!

If you want to join, you can either email me or tweet me. Or, hey, I'll screen comments here so you can leave me the info if you want to join. :)

NOTES: I'm doing weight watchers, running on the treadmill and Hip Hop Abs for now :)

Feb 3rd, 2010

widgetchick — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:56:48 GMT

Uhm, I had a baby! You know that.

I wanted to tell every one what happened that day. Looking back on it, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. She's here, I'm tired, my boobs hurt a little bit and my c-section incision is healing well.

Anyway, I had an appointment to be at the hospital by 6am. that means that the surgery was scheduled for 8am. They needed me to have two bags of fluids before they got to me. So, by 8am the second bag of fluid was almost finished and they were wondering where my doctor was. Every thing was going so smoothly at this point. I knew by mentioning that, there was going to be problems.

I wasn't wrong. My OB didn't have an assistant scheduled to be with him for 8am. The OR had him scheduled for me at 12:30pm. So, lucky me, I had to wait until 12:30. Normally, I would have just went to sleep. Except my contractions were horrible. They checked me. I was dilated to 3cm. I thinned out almost 50%, my contractions were 3 minutes apart, steady. They gave me a shot to stop the contractions. Didn't work. They gave me another shot. Didn't work. By this time, it was about 11:30am and we were just hoping we keep her in until 12:30. She was headed down the birth canal at this point. YAY me.

So, at 12:30, the final preparations were done and I was walked to the OR. I readied myself for the ouchie pain of the spinal and holy SHIIIIIIIIIT, that was WRONG. It was different than when I had Xan. I felt a bee-sting like poke before but this was that sting plus a dull aching, stabbing pain about three inches long just to the right of my spine. The anesthesiologist tried again. Same pain. I burst into tears because it hurt so bad. And the way they had me hunched over, coupled with the contractions and a baby coming down I was in pain. I asked if I could sit up and take a deep breath and they could try again. They said no. The anesthesiologist pushed my head down into the chest of the nurse in front of me. She tried again another two times. She was shouting at me to stay still. I was still! Because I knew if I moved things could seriously go wrong. She kept pushing on my spine and then finally got another person to try.

Well, he tried twice and then looked at my back and said, "Wow, how many times did you-." The woman said, "She's just too... fleshy." (So she called me fat, thanks.) He said, "No, she's really swollen." Then he asked me if I was in labor, I said yes, and that they gave me 3 and a half bags of fluids. And he asked if I labored on my back or if they let me walk around. I said that I was on my back and my left side. So the chick said that she was going to try again. I started crying and asking, "What are we going to do?" And she said, "We have to get this in, we have no choice." I started to sob. Oh! And not to mention they want you to bend over so your spine kinda sticks out. Well, try doing that with a 9lb baby in your gut. And try doing that when you can't breathe because you have snot pouring out of your nose. I just wanted a damn break.

Anyway, I started crying again and Dr Brooks comes busting into the room and looks at my back and says, "Do you just want to go to sleep?"

Honestly, I didn't want to be put under. I wanted to see my daughter's first minute of life in the world, ya know? I wanted to hear her cry. But he said, "You're really swollen and this just isn't going to work."

So, they put me under. I heard them ask the anesthesiologist if they could go get the father and she said, "NO! Not with this one." (So punish Mike because I'm swollen, thanks)

I heard the anesthesiologist say, "Tell me when you're ready" to the doctor. He said, "Here we go." And I was out. Next thing I knew? They were yelling at me to wake up. I was asking about Savannah and what time it was when she was born. I was asking for Mike and they were still yelling at me to wake up. (derr, thanks)

The nurses were really nice. The only problem was the anesthesiologist was a total bitch. Mike counted poke marks... she stabbed me 9 different times trying to get the damn spinal in there. Nurses were saying they should have only tried twice. That the more they were trying, most likely the more swollen I was getting.

And my throat hurt and, lol, with a csection it sucks to cough. I didn't know I had a breathing tube down my throat until I was in my room, in bed and ready for a damn nap.

Ah well, it wasn't an nightmare. I already knew i was having a csection so my "dreams" of delivering anything naturally were already shattered. The rest of it is just, as far as I'm concerned, part of the pain in the ass that this pregnancy was. So... whatever. The important thing is that she's here. She was 9lbs, 21 3/4 inches. Born at 1:30 on the dot.

I have some pictures to post that my sister took with her awesome camera. :) I have to look at them first! LOL I haven't even looked, I've been so busy.

Anyway, we're all doing well. :) Thanks for all the congrats and well wishes. :)

Peace out! I'm outtie. WOOOOOOOHOO! Maybe I'll update more later. in another few months. :P

joe talking to kristi!!!.jpg

widgetchick — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:26:05 GMT

Originally uploaded by feefeenah.

Yay! Anuthah!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

Awww, he blinked!

widgetchick — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:50:46 GMT

Originally uploaded by feefeenah.

@felicia__nicole on Twitter took this pic of Joe. He was talking to me. I didn't know who she was before like, 10 minutes ago but she's obviously awesome!!!! :)

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

Joe looks so cold

widgetchick — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:15:21 GMT

Originally uploaded by feefeenah.

... As he's talking to me on the phone. Yep! Talking to ME! On the PHONE!

He was very interested and concerned for my baby's well-being and wished us love and luck. :)
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

It's been so long since I've edited a post in LJ that I forgot how! lol OK. So...

I got tickets for my friend Jenn to go to Joe's show in West Chester, PA. While she was outside her hotel (I think this is what was going on, it was hard to understand in all the excitement behind her lol), Joe was there and coming back from a run. I get a text that says "omfg answer". I'm like.. answer what? So I answered her text. Then I get another text "omfg answer."

So... she calls, I answer. I hear ruckus and I'm like, "Hello?" Apparently, I did talk to her before I talked to Joe. But I don't even remember! Because the next thing I know, I hear, "Heyyy Kristi. You're mac FEISTY!" (WTF)

I froze. Literally I was like... O.O sitting on my bed. O.O And then I said, "Yep! That's me!"

The conversation after that went like this:
JOE: And I heard you're having a baby? Or trying not to? How far along are you?
ME: I'm 36 weeks as of today with a baby girl!
JOE: Wow, so you're really close! And sorry... I just got back from a run so I'm out of breath and shaky.
ME: Ohh, that's okay. I wish I could start running again.
JOE: Yeah, that's probably not a good idea right now.
*Shouts in the background about the cruise and the note that I gave him, I think*
JOE: So, wait, where are you right now?
ME: California- and we're all waiting for you to get your ass back here and do a show for LA!
JOE: I'm really trying to get a venue. I'm working on it!
ME: That would be awesome! Thank you!
JOE: It can be difficult with LA. But you take care of yourself. Keep her in there baking as long as possible.
ME: Pshh, yeah. Good luck with that NOW.
JOE: *laughing* Aww, sorry. Cherish every moment you have with her. It goes by so fast. And you take care of yourself too.
ME: I am, and I know. I have a three year old boy.
JOE: Very cool! I wish you lots of love and luck. Take care, okay?
ME: Okay! Thank you soooo much for this.
JOE: Not a problem. See you on the cruise?
ME: Most definitely!
JOE: Awesome. Hold on a sec!

He gave the phone back to @mac_dreamer but she hung up on me. LOL But then called me back. I heard a choir of "You're fucking awesome" to him before she hung up.

OMG.

DEAD.

HAHAH! I'm not dead anymore. But I'm just really happy. He was all up in my baby's business. Awwwww, he was so sweet and actually sounded like he cared. He probably misses his babies. And I'm assuming LA venues can be difficult because of the cost. :( But shit, yo! Damn. LOL

So I tweeted omfg a few times and then called my sister. hahahaha And.. omg. I just.. yeah. Then I told Mike. And Mike laughed at me and said, "Did you ask him where all my money is? Is it still stuck in his g-string?" hahahaha And he needed me to thank @mac_dreamer (Jenn) for making my day so much better. :)

I have to go get ready to get my hair done. :) And I'm stopping by Princess to drop off some books for Mary that she let me borrow that I didn't even get a chance to look at. LOL

What a day! hahahaha.

:) Baby game :)

widgetchick — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:15:29 GMT

Today marks the end of another era...

widgetchick — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:03:49 GMT

Screaming fans, oversized buttons, magic marker on neon poster board!

Yep, they're going away again. New Kids on the Block are taking a bow; whether it's a final farewell or not, well, we don't know yet, do we?

Most of us are on Twitter right this moment, tweeting our memories, saying our goodbyes, signing eachother's Twitter yearbooks with lots of "KITS", "Stay Sweets" (or perhaps this should be "Stay the Sames") and "See you soons". Reading what people have to say to these five men is sincerely pulling at my heart strings.

For me, this marks the end of my half circle that I've gone through this year. I'm not back to where I was a year ago. I'm better. A year ago I was devestated and now I have February to look forward to. A year ago I wanted to end it all and even though now I have bouts of emotions that I can't control, I know that I have a future ahead of me. A year ago, I had no idea that my sister and I would embark on the best vacation of my entire life. That we would bond closer than we already were. (Didn't even think that was possible).

I, too, have five amazing and energizing men to thank for that. If I could thank each of them personally, I would. I mean, I have. But obviously my tweets are going to lost in the tens of thousands they're probably going to be receiving tonight.

Danny: You've inspired so many people to get off their asses, get healthy, get on a treadmill. You pushed me to my limit before and I now know that I'm capable of so much more.

Jon: Holy CRAP, talk about making me laugh. So many things that I've seen you say have made me realize just how much of an asset you are to this world. We need snarky, bitchy and sarcastic people like you. You bring balance to the all the fake assholes in the world.

Jordan: You've had me shaking my head countless of times with your false stupidity. In reality, you're probably the damn smartest one of them all even though we all call you the Kelso. Your sense of performance and lack of choreography makes you special.

Donnie: You kept me going. You literally pushed me until I thought I was going to drop. Emotionally, mentally and physically. On the cruise, you brought so much. Showing your adoration for your fans you made me realize what TRUE love is. It's not a romantic relationship, it definitely is just a feeling that resides in your heart but it's rare and it's pure.

Joe: I never once thought that I could ever feel like a 12 year old all over again. Who would? It's impossible to turn back a clock. Apparently, I was wrong as so many of us were. You awoke something in me that lay dormant for about 13 years. That something was "ME". From your voice on The Block to you grabbing my note to you recognizing and pointing at our sign every damn concert that we've gone to... You've brought back that piece of me that I lost so many years ago. You want to say Thank You but you honestly don't know how how thankful we all are.

In about an hour's time they'll be on stage, performing Full Service for the last time. I'm sure they'll be tears on the stage and definitely 100% sure there won't be a dry eye in that arena in Houston tonight. I wish I could have been a part of that - but I feel like I am. We're all connected. New Kids on the Block have made this world so much smaller to me. It's a big world but the closeness that we all feel just because these guys decided to give us something we didn't even know we were missing is astounding.

I've made so many good friends along the way. I've seen so many crazy things, heard so many rumors.

One thing that I ask from every one, please? You all may have your differences with each other. There may be someone that you were friends with that you're not now. Someone you started this journey with that you've split from and gone your separate way. Just remember, we started this all together and we should "end" this all together. Being a New Kids fan isn't like anything else in the world. The only ones that know that are other New Kids fans. The dedication, the love, the support that we all share... keep that in your hearts, people.

To be a Blockhead isn't about fair-weather friends it's a bout being part of a support system, a sister and brotherhood, a family.

Capture the moments and keep them close to your heart. This was a wild ride and honestly, I don't think it's over. But this is definitely something not easily forgotten.

I've tweeted it a few times so let me just end with this:
This is not just one year of memories tied around my index finger it's 21 years of them wrapped around my heart. From Magic Summer to Full Service.

THE BIGGEST THANK YOU GOES TO YOU, FELLOW BLOCKHEADS!

Thank you for listening to me whine, bitch, complain. Thank you for showing concern, love, friendship. No matter if it was through a phone call or a card in the mail (yes, even you I thank - the more I think of it the more I'm touched). The guys have shown me what's possible but YOU, Blockheads, my friends, YOU have brought it to LIFE. We've shared so much of ourselves this past year. Triumphs, tragedies, sadness, happiness.

Who would have thunk it! :) I know I didn't!!!

My Life Was Good...

Of Boybands and Tears - The shock of BSB

NKOTB - The End?

NKOTB Cruise Poll

Week 4: January 17 - January 23

week 3 - January 10th - January 16th

Week 2 - January 3rd - January 9th

Week 1 - December 27 - January 2

2011 NKOTB Cruise - Think before you pack your suitcases!

Feisty's No BullShit Lose 4 This Fuckin' Cruise or Get The Hell Outta My Fuckin' Face party!

New blog for story related posts!

Birthday Weight Loss Challenge

Weight loss challenge

Weigh in

Here's the chart for the weight loss challenge :)

Sailing with NKOTB

Weigh in!

Time to weigh in!

FanFiction and me

My Birthday weight loss challenge! :)

Feb 3rd, 2010

joe talking to kristi!!!.jpg

Awww, he blinked!

Joe looks so cold

:) Baby game :)

Today marks the end of another era...

"I love you - I guess I always will."