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FLY2K Diaries
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Day 1 Take Off Santa Land
Red is once again undercover, heading this time to the Artic Circle, hijacked on
MTV's FLY2K plane.
Now, if you're gonna head somewhere where it's minus seven degrees, then why not
bring some more degrees of your own... 98 to be precise.
Yes, the Ohio foursome that have girls swooning all over the world: Jeff, Drew,
Nick and Justin.
Someone open the window. It just got hot in here!
Drew: "We accept the invitation because it has never been done before and that is
a good as reason as any! This whole tour is unique."
Jeff: " Our send off was at JFK with Ananda in the pouring rain. That was as cold
as that girl could hack. She was not in for the long haul and the freezing temperatures
in Lapland."
What did they bring for such a once in a life time tour?.
Drew: "My most valued possession with me is my camera."
Jeff: "The most important thing I've packed would be my CD's - music." (There's
a surprise.)
Once airborne it was straight down to some Karoke Fly2K style. DJ Skribble hosted
the event while the winners tried their luck at being pop stars.
98 Degrees judged, and let me tell you they were harsh! They were not taking any
prisoners. "You can't dance" a degree announced to one guy.
Drew: You gotta call 'em how you see 'em!"
Jeff: "You had to be real. You don't sugar coat things."
Drew: "We've been there. We did Karaoke in LA, and we have had quarters thrown at
us."
Despite all the pretty girls it was in fact a guy, Jeff, who won the competition.
He had the guts to sing to the boys one of their OWN songs. Now that takes balls!
I think it was also in his favor that he is from Massillon, Northern Ohio.
Personally, I am looking forward to landing in the Artic Circle and getting to meet
Rudolph and Santa...
Day 2 - Lapland
Red here! It's day two and I'm still being held hostage by 98 Degrees, braving the
FLY2K experience! What hell.
It's official! We have landed in Finland and crossed into the Arctic Circle.
Justin: "This morning there was some trickery as soon as we left the airport. We
were told to take a detour due to an accident. Instead we were taken to Coda Village-with
folks in traditional dress bashing some drums and giving us a taste of local berry
juice to warm us up."
What the boys didn't realize was that this Lapland village is literally on top of
a lake. Between us and the deep blue were just three feet of ice.
Nick: "It's just weird to think we're at the North Pole-- where Santa's from."
Of course the boys got to meet the man himself at the official Santa Claus Village.
Justin: "It was the real deal Santa."
Nick: "He explained how we'd been trouble as children-but we'd come a long way.
He's a good guy."
Any letter sent to Santa-even without a stamp or a correct address, comes here to
Santa's official PO.
The boys checked out the numerous piles of letters for the big guy.
Justin: "I don't remember if I wrote to Santa as kid."
Jeff: "I read one letter from a young kid from England, thanking Father Christmas
for a John Deer tractor. Bizarre."
And in the mind set of getting presents
what do the boys consider their most treasured
gift?
Justin: "I got the video game Space Odyssey 2000 when they first came out."
Nick: "Definitely my Led Zeppelin box set of CD's."
And to wrap up a surreal day what better dish to have on the menu than Reindeer.
Jeff: " It was excellent! Tastier than beef"
Justin: "It was good-- a little tough and more meaty."
Boys, boys boys! What about Rudloph and his family-- Is nothing sacred?
321
DAILY QUOTE:
98 Degrees hang with Santa at the North Pole.
Justin: "It was the real deal Santa!"
DAY 3 - LAPLAND
Red and Rudolph here! Reporting to you from FLY2K party central in Lapland. 98 Degrees
are usually hot on stage and hot in the charts, but right now they're feel something
very different.
Jeff: "I finally realize how much I cherish heat and why I'd never live in the North
Pole. Today has been the coldest. It felt like my face had frozen."
When our FLY2K Doctor announced the symptoms of frostbite and the advanced characteristics
of gangrene, I was no longer Red, but a paler shade of green.
It's so cold here in fact, that our FLY2K plane has split for Helsinki to wait for
us where it's warmer. Ohio hunk, Drew claims it is all about the layers and the
warmers: "Two in the toes, two in the hands and one in happy land." Easy Tiger!
But these conditions have not prevented the FLY2K winners and 98 Degrees giving
their all for the MTV Winter Olympics.
Jeff: "I got to race a snowmobile for the first time. I managed to come second,
but Nick cheated! He'd start way too early."
The boys are extremely competitive amongst themselves. This, I suspect, originates
from the days when they lived together and played 2 on 2 basketball.
Jeff: "I also got to drive a Huskie sledge, which was definitely a new experience.
And, I got to see some real live reindeer." Jeff's had several trials and tribulations
with animals. His best present ever was a puppy Cocker Spaniel called Chirkee. However
as a kid he sneezed a lot, and it was only after getting rid of the family cat,
Muppet, that he realized he had been allergic to it for thirteen years!
Did I mention that last night we had dinner in the Igloo restaurant-a structure
of ice, fitted with tables and chairs-made of ice. And yes, there was more reindeer
on the menu! Personally I want to cuddle Rudolph, not chew on him!
But gotta dash-time to pack. Today we are back on the plane all eager for the warmer
climates in Europe.
Note to Self: Ship in more thermals!
DAY 4: ROME
Santa Claus has stamped my passport
and now Red is off to Rome! The city of love escorted by 98 Degrees. This job is
pure hell!
This is the country where Samson fell for Delilah, Anthony wooed Cleopatra and Gregory
Peck serenaded Audrey Hepburn
could this be my lucky day? Of course it's also
where the Romans fed the Christians to the Lions-- but that's probably something
we want to keep on the down low around Christmas. We'll focus in on the feeling
of good will and all that!
98 Degrees were still pretty sad to leave the Lapland.
Jeff: "We would love to perform in the Arctic Circle. We're pretty disappointed
not to. But Europe is calling. We did well not to get sick considering the conditions.
We can't afford to because we really do sing."
(Does this infer there are musicians out there who don't really sing? Shocking!
Red will have to investigate.)
This harmonious foursome have acquired quite a following with the FLY2K winners
now they have spent so much quality time together bonding in the North Pole.
"Drew helped me put on my hand warmers, which was cute," swoons Loretta from the
United States.
"I could not wait to meet Nick. But then I met Jeff and he's hot too!" debates Jill
another of the lucky winners. I'm sure the boys are used to sharing female attentions.
But right now the location is stealing the main stage. Skribble summed it best as
only an honest New York Italian can. Standing in front of the Pantheon he threw
up his hands a cried: "I'm a pig in shit."
It left the 98-Degree boys with very little to say.
DAY 5 - ROME CHRISTMAS DAY
Red here, on CHRISTMAS DAY-- wishing you good cheer from Rome where I'm fraternizing
with the FLY2K gang! And, buon giorno from 98 Degrees.
The boys did not tell me what they asked for from Santa (other than peace and good
will to all men), but I do know that Nick would secretly like to be a professional
football player if he wasn't such a successful singer. Justin would like to be a
fireman and Jeff would resume his studies of psychology to teach. What a crazy mixture!
But they're the first to say that Xmas is all about giving. And they did. A personalized
present, wrapped with care and consideration by the boys themselves, was given to
each and every one of the FLY2K winners.
How touching is that! In return for such generosity, I put it to the FLY2K winners
to come up with some suggestions of actors to play the boys in the inevitable 98
Degree multi-million dollar movie. Jeff was nominated Scott Bailey from Party of
Five. (A little different to his own suggestion of Martin Short.) For Nick it was
a toss up between Christian Slater and Mike Myers, while they felt Leonardo DiCaprio
could be Drew. Nick would ideally like to be played by Bruce Willis and Justin feels
that Ed Norton is a good choice for him. Altogether, an interesting bunch.
But, back to the festivities in hand. What would be the perfect gift for Jeff this
year?
Jeff: "To be honest I would love to be home with my family. But I'm going to call
and talk to them and I just want them to be happy and healthy."
Be still my beating heart. Let's clone this boy!
From all of us on FLY2K Buon Natalie!
DAY 6: ROME
"From Rome to Paris"
Red is Blue. Wešve left the most beautiful city in the world. There was a stay of
execution as a tornado was sweeping France. Cue: 4 hours of card games, catch up
postcards and some vocal rehearsal for 98 Degree boys as we sat stranded at the
airport.
Paris is in a state of emergency-- The Metro has been closed, buildings damaged
and people hurt by this freak storm.
Buckle up your seat belts. Wešre in for a bumpy ride!
But 98 Degrees took everything in their stride. And what better reward than to go
straight to the Parisian golden arches and taste a Royale with Cheese.
Nick: "The McD.'s here is like a club. There are listening stations, video games
and the seats are leather. Therešs no way you would get that in the United States.
It would be trashed!"
Justin: "My only complaint is that everything is greasy. Even the bun."
Afterwards Drew treated the guys to a movie - Fight Club!(remember Justin has a
thing for Ed Norton) which they found rather weird.
Nick: "We were mostly baffled by it."
Justin: "Not exactly a Christmas movie."
But letšs move to more important matters. What about French women?
Jeff: "Pretty flirtatious. Bold even. I think they know what they want and are pretty
direct about it. I admire that. I think women should be assertive."
What a modern man!
Well watch out ladies because the harmonizing four are going out tonight. DJ Skribble
is spinning in a local club and the boys are waiting to see if these Parisians know
how to enjoy themselves. And if they don't, my boys are more than willing to show
them how it's done!
Red will report tomorrow. Stay tuned!
DAY 7 - Paris!
Red alert! We are in the presence of royalty. Nick and Drew are related to Napoleon.
His mistress traces forward to their mother's family.
Nick: "My Grandmother is into the family tree thing. I can't get her to climb down."
Do the other band members see similarities?
Jeff: "Definitely. Especially Drew! He's short, has a temper and also wants to conquer
the world."
But let's not forget that Napoleon was a great lover.
So in my book, Drew's broody nature is an aphrodisiac! Today has been a world wind
site seeing tour- the Concorde Square, the Vendome Square, Notre Dame and of course
the Eiffel Tower. Afterwards the boys soaked up some haute couture.
Nick: "We're used to going to malls. This is all so cutting edge and chic." Oh it's
high fashion, baby! Gucci, Chanel, Cartier, Boucheron and Van Cleef-where a tennis
bracelet costs $80,000. What a bargain! Jeff managed to buy his girlfriend a New
Year's Eve outfit. Jeff: "Well, I know her size and pretty much know what kind of
things she likes-it's a pair of black trousers with sequins at the top, a silver
gray shirt and a pair of Robert Clergerie shoes."
(Note to self: Stop falling for the broody ones and date a guy like this.)
Nick meanwhile has girl trouble. The trouble being, the girl is not here.
Nick: "I'm surrounded by the most romantic European vibe, and I just wish my girlfriend
was with me. Instead I'm stuck with these guys. Good job I've got a good rate on
my phone card for all the long distant calls!"
Tomorrow we are on to London. So what final opinion does 98 Degrees have of the
French? Answer: Very cool! But, what is their obsession with their dogs?
Nick: "There are dogs everywhere! They treat them like kids."
Jeff: " At the restaurant last night there were three women clutching these little
mutts. I couldn't even tell what kind they were."
Nick: "One woman had her dog on the table in a picnic basket."
Well, I guess it is a dog's life.
Viva la France!
Au revoir. Red.
DAY 8: PARIS - LONDON
Paris (a.k.a. tornado town) has been the whirlwind leg of FLY2K.
Jeff: "I got along well in Paris. French is not my best subject. In fact one of
the winners, Jon from Massillon, Ohio -- my hometown -- brought a letter from my
old French teacher. It was in French. I had to concentrate to translate it."
But enough of the frogs -- on to England!
This short jump across the channel was riddled with drama. First the baggage handlers
went on strike. Cue: delay. Then once aboard the plane, the guy who drives the truck
that pushes the plane out decided he too will go on strike. Viva La Revolution!
For take-off, Drew and Nick got to ride up in the cockpit.
Drew: "Nick had a better view but I was able to see it on his video camera screen
and it was pretty neat." Drew was in the army for six years and always wanted to
be in the airborne division. (Can't you just picture him in the Top Gun fly suit?)
Drew: " I would love to learn to fly, especially a helicopter, even though they're
harder to handle. I've always wanted to skydive too, but when I had the time, I
did not have the money. Now I have the money and I don't have the time."
98 Degrees really have put themselves through a grueling schedule the last year.
Drew: "We have been on the road 340 days. We're burnt out."
Well at least FLY2K has taken them off the road and put them in the air.
From Gatwick the boys hit London to meet up with the Goo Goo Dolls. Where?
In front of Buckingham Palace -- the Queen's pad, of course! They also managed to
take a quick jaunt along the Thames to see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
And tonight, the boys are taking part in one of Britain's oldest and most sacred
customs -- the pub-crawl! This does not bode well for the live performance at Potters
Field in less than 18 hours and counting.
Stay-tuned and hear what harrowing tales Red will reveal tomorrow!
DAY 9: LONDON Greetings from jolly old England.
Drew: "Britain is key. It's great to go to places and get different experiences.
London has a completely different vibe to any other place."
The UK and Ireland have always been considered the originators of the boy band phenomenon.
They're overloaded with them -- West Life, 911, Five, My Town, and A1... But that
doesn't phase my Ohio boys!
Drew: "Coming here means you are one of many and they just lump you together. What
you need is for people to give you a chance and let you sing. Then I'm happy."
Well Drew, honey, your wish is MTV's command. At noon today 98 Degrees performed
live on the banks of the river Thames, right under Tower Bridge with bright skies
and an adrenaline pumped crowd. An amazing gig!
Jeff: "Nobody has ever been allowed to perform here before, so we feel really honored."
Justin: "This bridge is the bomb."
Drew: "We have a special fetish for bridges since the "Because of You." video.
This is no exaggeration. When the special live performance for FLY2K was over, the
boys kept on going and shot their own video. So if you don't get to see them on
TRL (in which case, you are very naughty) you will be able to check out their latest
video for "Still," a song the boys wrote themselves.
Drew: "I was really looking forward to our performance on the Thames. It has definitely
been the highlight of FLY2K for me -- along with the dog sledges. There are points
when you are on stage and physically exhausted and the feedback from the audience
keeps you going. It's almost like a power you have when you are up there."
98 Degrees took the afternoon to shop while the FLY2K winners and the Goo Goo Dolls
took a trip up the Thames.
So this is the end of the European leg of FLY2K bringing us ever closer to the MTV's
2 Large show on New Year's Eve in Time Square.
Stay tuned!
DAY 10: NEW YORK
Back to New York with the Goo Goo Dolls.
Red is back on board for the last leg of FLY2K. We are heading home!
Along with 98 Degrees we had the Goo Goo Dolls on board, who recently had a slight
altercation with a plane-it crashed. No one was badly hurt, but still a scary experience.
The plane skidded off the runaway in Sicily because of bad weather conditions.
Drew: "I think they're pretty brave. I wouldn't get on a plane after that!"
Nick: "I would've thought that after one plane crash you can feel pretty confident
getting on another plane 'cause what are the odds of another incident happening?"
The Goos certainly know how to laugh in the face of danger. Johnny and Robby sat
up in the cockpit for take off. They were wearing hockey helmets they brought themselves.
At JFK the Goo Good Dolls hit the tarmac running as they had to make a rehearsal
for tomorrow's New Years Eve performance.
98 Degrees were also keen to get themselves in order and into town.
Drew: "We've had such an incredible time, but it is not over. Tomorrow we are performing
twice, once at the beginning and once at the end of the 2 Large."
Drew: "We're gonna party till four or so, but then I want to get some sleep. Tomorrow
I'm going to drive home. It takes about ten hours. And there is no way that I am
flying on the first day of 2000."
But it's not just the Y2K danger that puts this Red stowaway off flying more. FLY2K
has spoiled us all for ever. No airline will match in panache and style-the flowing
champagne, the karaoke, the dope videos, right down to the in-flight entertainment
brochure with picture instructions "How to Dance in the Aisle."
Thank you FLY2K. I hope to fly with you again in the future.
For now, over and out.
Red.
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