So close, yet so far...

While I was working away in Knoxville on Thursday, June the 16th. Dale Jr and the 88 AMP/National Guard Team was in Tullahoma, TN. They ran through a few training exercises and unveiled the car that will be run under the lights at Daytona on Saturday.

My step-dad was there to take photos and of course, he got the chance to meet Jr for a bit. This is the second time he's been at the same event as Jr. See photo evidence below...

Per my step-dad, Jr was a total down to earth guy. Which I can see. He also said that his pit crew/team were having a ball just hanging out with the soldiers. TNT aired some footage prior to the Michigan race a few weeks ago.

During that race, Jr was riding with a patch in his car. It was the name tag of our family friend, MAJ Kevin Taylor. Kevin has served multiple tours in the Middle East and was diagnosed with brain cancer. If y'all think I'm a Jr fan, you haven't met Kevin. He got the chance to speak with Jr for a bit and Jr even shared his story with Marty Smith on ESPN's NASCAR Now prior to Michigan. I held my breathe the entire race, I thought for sure the streak would end. But it didn't.

But there's always Daytona...

New Kids On The Block - Tonight (Live 8/15/08) HQ

I'm not sure why, but this might be my favorite New Kids on the Block song...weird...

6

6, it's not just my shoe size. It's the number of concerts ticket stubs I'll have in my hands by the end of July. I'm sure some people think I'm crazy for going to so many, but I've always been a fan of live music. It also gives me a much needed break from reality.

It all started in November when I scooped up Kenny Chesney and NKOTBSB tickets. Dierks Bentley & Zac Brown Band tickets were next...followed by the last minute Jimmy Buffett show. Buffett's 2010 show in Nashville sold out in less than 30 minutes. I was out shopping and missed out. There was no way I was missing out this year. Good thing too, since Kenny joined him on stage.

But that's only 5 shows...where/who is #6? If I told people I decided to go to another show this year, I'd say the majorty would think it would be for Kenny. And that would be a logical guess, since I've already looked into flying to Boston for the final show on the year.

Nope, Concert #6 will be in Orlando for NKOTBSB. Yes, you read that correctly. 2 shows in 2 months. I'm starting to feel like those crazy stalker people...oh wait. Nevermind...

All you people can't you see, can you see...it's hard not to love NKOTBSB!

New Kids On The Block - I'll Be Loving You (Forever)

I guess I will love them forever. Due to a quick change of plans, I'm now heading to Orlando for the NKOTBSB show.

Jessica, Allyson & Adaya...break out the hairspray & scrunchies!!

The wait is over...Nashville, the boys are back!

 Nick, watch your hand, thank you...

 We started with seats 3 rows from the top of the arena

And ended up 3 rows from the floor...

 Yes, he's my favorite New Kid...

 This is when my ears started ringing...

 Why are you pointing at me Jordan?

 I still miss Kevin, but the Backstreet Boys did him proud

And then there was 1, the ultimate band -- NKOTBSB

Once in a Lifetime

That's how NKOTBSB billed their show...I have the bracelet to prove it.

I've been a New Kids on the Block fan for 25 years...you name it, I had it, growing up. My walls were peppered with photos from Bop & 16 magazine. I had the sheets/comforter, t-shirts, dolls, comic books, tapes, etc.

But for one reason or another, I never made it to a concert. Then, they went away.

A new generation of boy bands hit the music scene in the late 1990's. The Backstreet Boys were my choice. I did see them 3 times. I actually won a contest back in 1999 that Brian Littrell's charity was holding. I had no idea there was a contest. I got a random phone call from Brian's mom telling me what had happened and that my "prize" was 2 round trip tickets to see the Boys  in Tampa, which was their last stop on the tour.

Like the New Kids, the Boys eventually stopped touring and went their own ways.

Fast forward to late 2010 and rumors are flying...the New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys are going to tour, TOGETHER, in 2011. The proof, the American Music Awards...their performance took me back to my childhood. I was sweating and almost fell off my bed I was so excited.

I made a promise to myself..."all you people can't you see, can't you see...I'm GOING to see NKOTBSB...". I checked the website a few days later and to my delight saw "Nashville -- 6/21/11". Boom, it was meant to be.

By the time this concert rolled around, I had already seen Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band 2x, Dierks Bentley, and Jimmy Buffett. I thought I hit my limit. Then it hit me...I've been waiting too long for this show and I had the perfect outfit....a vintage New Kids on the Block t-shirt from 1989. How I still fit in it, I'll never know, but it did!

It was a rainy and muggy on concert day. I didn't even care what I looked like, since my seats were in the 300 level. Bad idea, I actually met Nick Carter and looked like crap in the photo. Oh well, it's not like he was my favorite.

The gang hit the stage at 8:30PM and didn't stop till 11:00PM. It was like going to Mass. You know, you haven't been in a while and you think you forget what you're suppose to do, but give it a few seconds and you're right in the middle of it all. I think I enjoyed the New Kids more than the BSB. It was so high energy, you couldn't help but have a good time.

I wouldn't travel out of state to see many artists, but I'd fly to see these guys again. I've already checked the schedule. They're in Vegas a week before me in July...why didn't they check my schedule first? How rude!

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Stumbled across a few oldies...

 Apparently we were determined to make him fit in the swing

How can you go wrong with faux gang signs & sunglasses?

Stir Crazy

It feels like I'm climbing the walls over here. I haven't packed a proper suitcase or been on a airlplane since early April!

On the flip side, I've been to Nashville more times in the past 2 months than I have in several years. I normally get to spend about 14 total days at home. I go home for Mother's Day, Thanksgiving & Christmas/New Years.

This year, I've already been home for about 11 days and I'm heading back early next week.

The older I get, the more I make it a point to visit my family as often as possible. Granted, Bristol Peyton's a big reason, but I actually get along with my parents, a shocking concept I know.

Work Ethic

Either you have it, or you don't. I fear that someone on my team is very close to being relieved of their duties because of this.

I will always do what I can to protect my team, but there's only so much I can do. Here's hoping everything will end well.

Irish Pride

Apparently today is Day 85 of the NFL Lockout. I have not been keeping up with this at all. But I know the Tennessee Titans have been working out at my alma mater, Father Ryan.

Tim Tebow worked out there before the NFL Draft. We didn't have an on campus football field when I was in school. We played our home games at Vanderbilt Stadium.

My buddy Matt, in Colorado, sent me a message and told me ESPN was showing clips of the on campus workouts. I thought it was pretty cool. Now I want one of those purple t-shirts. I don't know why. I still have a zillion t-shirts from high school. I'm wearing one from my senior year, right now!

The link below should show campus & the workout.

Titans work out at Father Ryan

I will never understand...

...why you would get hammered on a work trip? Maybe I'm just older and a little wiser, but when my company takes us to a Lookouts or Braves game, the last thing I'm going to do is get 3 sheets to the wind and make an @$$ out of myself.

I mean, you have to work with these people on a daily basis. If you act like an annoying brat, I want nothing to do with you. And I don't need you falling all over each other on the bus ride home and snapping photo's like it's going out of style.

But I think I've figured out how to correct this situation. Next time, I'll ride on Bus #1. VP rides that one, it should be a little more calm.

It's gone...

...my motivation, that is.

I get this way every summer. I long for the days of a three month summer vacation & my biggest issues were, do I go shopping or go to the pool today?

Or maybe I've just been bitten by the travel bug again. My friends have been going on trips for work & pleasure, but I'm not getting on a airplane till July. That's a long time from now. Boo.

If any of you find my motivation, please send it back.

Thanks!!

@NKOTBSB - Today Show - 3/6/2011

"The Right Stuff" & "Larger Than Life"

Chattanooga, here we come...

I love getting paid to go to a baseball game. Did I mention they normally have $1 beers till 1st pitch?

Next week, we'll make our annual trek to a Lookouts game. We normally pack 2 buses & spend the day down the 3rd base line in the picnic area. These trips are meant to be extra rewards for some departments, but usually all the team leaders have a spot reserved.

This break couldn't have come at a better time. After my jam-packed May, my June schedule is pretty clear. I don't know what to do with myself. I had to find something to pass the time till my next trip.

Where did the time go?

It's that time of year again, freshman orientation at the University of Tennessee. I have flashbacks whenever I see a group walking around campus. Hard to believe I was in one of those groups 14 years ago.

Can that be right? I graduated from Father Ryan 14 years ago?! When I think about it like that, I feel ancient, but on the flip side, it doesn't feel like I've been out of school that long.

On the same note, how is it already June? It seems like yesterday I was counting down the days till my Savannah vacation.

I don't have a lot of trips this month. I'm just heading back to Nashville for the NKOTBSB show. Don't judge me, these are 2 of my favorite boy bands. And to see them on the same stage, at the same time is going to be awesome.

I also have to plan a work related cookout to plan. This shouldn't be hard, but you never know how people are going to act outside of the office. It's something Brad & I have talked about for a while, but the timing never worked out. But, Brad was nice enough to offer his farm up for the location.

I'm going to have an issue with the bugs. I'm not a fan of any kind of bugs, but me &  "big ole country bugs" flat out don't mix. I don't even know what kind of bugs were flying around. All I know is there better not be any cicada's out there. If I hear one...I'm out and Brad can entertain solo!