Back to blog part 3 - Backstreet's Back, Alright!

Nick & AJ at sound check

And to round out the vacation, the Boys came to Toronto with the "In a World Like This" tour (August 7, Molson Amphitheatre).  My friend  decided to do the soundcheck, and I caved as well, mainly because I'd never been to soundcheck with Kevin as a part of the group.  It was a long and disorganized wait for soundcheck but it was awesome to see all five of them back together again.

Five Boys together again

Our seats for the show were far from the best we'd ever had, but hope for a second leg of the tour makes it all better.  (Plus a really good camera.)

Kevin

I had wondered how they'd deal with the songs Kevin hadn't been a part of.  Unfortunately, the answer to that was to not do any of those songs.  I missed a few of them, but it was really kind of a celebration of their longevity as a group.  They're 20th Anniversary.  I can get over the loss of a few songs.

Set List:

The Call

Don't Want you Back

Incomplete

Permanent Stain

All I Have to Give

As Long as You Love Me

Show 'Em (What You're Made of)

Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely

Breathe

I'll Never Break Your Heart

We've Got it Goin' On

Safest Place to Hide

10,000 Promises (Accoustic)

Madeleine (Accoustic)

Quit Playing Games with My Heart (Accoustic)

The One

Love Somebody

More Than That

In A World Like This

I Want it That Way

Encore:

Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

Larger than Life

It was really nice to see the chemistry and interaction of all five is still the same, even through separation and so many other things have happened in all of their lives.

Post script: I have, since the concert, read Nick Carter's book "Facing the Music, and Living to Talk About it".  The book was interesting from a fan perspective because it shed light on some some timing of events, and relationships in the group.   Seeing all five of the members together at the concert, and having a better perspective of what they've been through together, makes it mean that much more.  If I were to never see them perform together again, I could be okay with that.  It would be really disappointing, but this concert could be a good closer.

Jesse McCartney

Post Post Script: Jesse McCartney was the Opening Act.  He's fun.  And I probably wouldn't have appreciated his set had he opened for the Boys any sooner than now.

Back to blog part 2 - what I did on my summer vacation

I don't think that I have ever had two weeks of vacation at the same time since I started working.  However, that's exactly what happened this year.  And since I had two weeks I felt like I really ought to be doing something with it.

My dad came to Canada from Holland when he was five years old, entering through Pier 21 in Halifax.  Pier 21 is now a museum, documenting the stories it saw during it's years of service.  My dad (and mom) have been there a couple of times, but I never had, and in an effort to appreciate my heritage, we made plans for an east coast vacation that included Pier 21.  I felt fairly strongly that if I was going to see Pier 21, it really should be with my dad.

J. Dawson grave marker

So, we drove east as far as Halifax and started the actual vacation (though not the travel) there.  Pier 21 was first, then the Halifax boardwalk and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic where they had a Titanic exhibit.   Then we went to one of the cemataries where they buried most of the Titanic victims.  Kind of creepy, I know.  But strangely, even though there is no connection at all, there is a stone there for J. Dawson, as if they've buried the character from the Leonardo DiCaprio movie.  They didn't.  It's an extremely different person, named Joseph, not Jack.  And Joseph actually existed, not just fictionally.

lighthouse at Peggy's Cove

We went to the Citadel, a historic fort in Halifax, and then headed to Peggy's Cove to see the lighthouse.  We had heard that they may be shutting the tourist portion down because of lack of funding.  That's unfortunate.  It's quite a sight.  

From there, we headed to PEI, travelling to the island by ferry.  It was a great day to be on the water.  Charlottetown was first on the agenda - Province House, the place of Canada's Confederation and where PEI's legislature sits to be specific.    We also wandered a little in Charlottetown before we headed to Summerside.    They have an adorable boardwalk there.  Our hotel was across from the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts, so despite my dad's aversion to the pipes, we went there in the morning.  It was quick, lucky for my dad.  

Confederation Bridge from a distance

We drove a little bit further in PEI before heading back to the mainland, this time coming across the Confederation Bridge.

boardwalk in New Brunswick

We spent several days in New Brunswick with relatives before we headed home.  It was a nice trip; hectic, but relaxing at the same time.  It was nice to be away, but I think we were all happy to get home as well.

Back to Blog part 1 - nostalgia

I've missed a while.  It's funny, when I actually have stuff to write about, I don't write.  But when I have nothing going on is when I make time for it.  I'm on vacation this week, so I'm going to make time to update the things I should have posted months ago.

Carlos Delgado - the smile is amazing.

Anyway, July 21 was Carlos Delgado Day.  Let me explain - the Toronto Blue Jays inducted Carlos Delgado into the Level of Excellence at the Rogers Centre (I still think of it as SkyDome.  Probably always will.)  And since Carlos was a big part of my baseball history - and a special love of a friend of mine's mum - we took our mom's  to the game.  

Despite an eventual loss (nearly heartbreaking!  I have to say because they almost came back in the bottom of the 9th) it was a great time.  We saw Carlos up close, my friend's mum shook his hand, and Alex Gonzalez and Shawn Green were also in attendance, a special treat for my friend and I since they were our favourite players.  

Alex Gonzalez, Shawn Green & Jose Cruz Jr.

It was nice to see that the friendship we had seen so many years ago was true and still carried on beyond the team, and the game.  My friend and I agreed that while it was nice to see them, it did make us miss those days.  In a sad way.  And for a number of reasons beyond the obvious.

Say what you wanna say, and let the words fall out. Honestly...