A two hour car ride to Columbus with three other close friends while [attempting] homework, arguing, gorging on Rice Krispy treats and all the while approaching THE EXCITING MOMENT THE BOYS WOULD FLY OUT ON STAGE...

That's how it was on Monday (October 4th) around 4:00. School was pointless; our 5 vocab words cosisted one of "equanimity" -- calmness -- a usually trait for me...but not today! I would have had to don a facade to show my usual docile, diffident manner (hehe, VOCAB!)!! Orch class and the bus ride home, I was already ready to scream, my stomach had butterflys and I could not sit still, had NO attention span...'cept nething about the BSB boys! The hour after school until we left allowed anticipation and excitement to build. The car ride was wild and chaotic (thaxn to me!) as was the dinner stop at Arby's (lets just say a H2O fight broke out...cuz of me!)

When we finally arrived at Columbus, there was almost an hour until it started. We hung out at my friend's cousin's house and performed "Everybody" and "Shake It' for them for a while, until we headed to the arena. We left and I was already hyper and high on enthusiasm and excitment! The myriads of people were surprising and, after being dropped off (and shoving a couple of limos out of the the way!!) we were part of that crowd. After buying some suvioneirs (just a few...), we found our seats and watched the opening acts: Mandy Moore (who's performace was lacking [but it was her debut], but I still call her the "cool Mandy") and EYC (oh, Aaron Carter would been better, I wished he was there instead!) After that, and a half an hour wait (I think it was costume trouble, they ran in with Bri's costume for the last change right before the show started), the lights went out...screaming erupted...

A brief "Imperial March" theme brought out the dancers, carrying interesting-looking lights, and then the Boys...(more screaming)...smoke filled the air as the "Jedi" (main) theme played (ok, so I'm a huge Star Wars freak, too!). The Boys surfed in on hoverboards which glowed...once landing on the stage, they performed "Larger Than Life" and ran laps around the stage...almost like me at track practice! More screaming. Then "Get Down" followed by "The One" (aka "Erin's song" LOL). The fast songs were done, now to sloww the tempo down! While the other Boys put on black jackets over their blue armor, Nick told the audience his thank you's, taking much time to thank the fanz...:-) *with a bunch of screames...from me :-P*! Howie, as well, thanked us fanz for "keepin' the Backstreet Pride alive!" As the other Boys told their thank yous, he put on his jacket. They all stood in the "center" portion (what woulda been center stage if it wasn't in a round...not the rasing center) of their stage and performed "As Long As You Love Me," complete with their awesome chair routine. The next song was one of my Millennium favorites, "Don't Wanna Lose You NoW," followed by "Quit PLayin' Games."

The Boys flew out over the audience and tossed teddy bears and Howie and AJ did acrobatics. We were on Howie's side and he was about 10 to 15 feet in front of us and looked directly in our direction at me in my neon green shirt...although he's not my favorite, I was still freaking out (and almost got a white teddy bear with heart on it...except was 3 rows too far back cuz he's not got a great throwing arm). We were only like ONE SIDE away from Nick! Three of my favorite songs in a row...lots of screaming (...Especially for Nick and Brian :)...!). The next song was introduced by Kevin..."The Perfect Fan." Five mothers and daughters were brought on stage and the Boys sung to them, then led the girls around the stage, holding their hands (slight jealousy from the rest of us...), then brought them back to their mothers as they sang "You showed me/Just how to walk without your hands". The Boys finished the song on their knees.

After a solo by the drummer ("I want that drumset!" --Erin), the Boys came out in silver/red armor and performed "Don't Want You Back." There were fences that they climbed on and AJ (who was on our side for this song) was hanging upside down again doing acrobatics. I really liked the dance routine because it was quite different from the others they do. After this song, the Boys changed out of their armor into all black. A piano was lowered and Kevin performed a solo, accompanied by the (new) saxiphonist/percussionist, and then played the piano for the song he wrote, "Back to Your HEart." The Boys sat on the opposite side of the stage as us, but we saw them in the video screen (and of course screamed crazily for Nick and Brian). After a brief musical intro and flashing lights (thunder and lightning effect), they performed a medley of "Everybody" (which we danced to...LIVE accompaniment!), "We've Got It Goin' On" (with dude basketball shooting!), and "That's the Way I Like It" after changning into white suits and silvery (cool) shirts under their jackets.

ANother instrumental...by the saxiphonist. Five chairs were set in a circle and the Boys came out. Howie was once again on our side, Nick on his left, then Kev, Bri, and AJ. "How many Spanish eyes are out there...?" Howie asked before beginning the next song...what else?..."Spanish Eyes." Their new costumes were pink suits, white shirts with baggy sleeves, and grey vests (they all looked real good). After "Spanish Eyes," they performed "I'll Never Break Your HEart." [Here I got a sort of "break" from screaming as I did nto scream much for AJ since my throat was real dry!] For the next song, "No One Else Comes Close," the platform they were on rotated so each side of the arena saw each Boy on their side of the stage. For the next song (my FAVORITEST BSB song of all!!!), the Boys put on pink suit jackets and hats and performed "All I HAve To Give" and their hat routine (Nick did not drop his hat...for once...!). Lots of almost-hysterical screaming (And jumping) from me...especially at the beginning :)! After this, they once again sat in their circle of stools and performed "Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely" (with a dance near the end of it...and once again a recorded orchestra; I woulda willingly agree to accompany them!). Howie introduced the song: