Like, OMG I totally met Taylor Hanson!

So this weekend was crazy filled with concerts!

Saturday, 9.6.08 was Backstreet Boys at Marymoore Park in Seattle. There's only 4 boys left in the group, so it was weird to not see Kevin there (sorry Mom). It was a great show, Kelsey and my friend Gaia from school came. They played for a long time and we met Aaron Carter and got his autograph... we didn't know what exactly he was doing there on tour with the BSB, but we figured since his career is pretty much dead, he really has nothing else better to do with his time then follow his older brother Nick's success.

Sunday, 9.7.08 was Hanson in Portland, OR. We got there around 10am, and met some really cool girls. It was nice to meet Hanson fans from the West Coast. We were about 25th in line, which was pretty good. The walk started at 2:45... for those of you who aren't familiar with what the walk is, and the cause we walk for, I encourage you to check out TakeTheWalk.net and see how you might be able to help out. Soon, it was 5:00 and time for me to get with the other fans who had Meet and Greet passes, and we met up in front of the Aladdin venue and went backstage in 2 groups. I was in the second group, which was cool because our time with Hanson was a little bit longer then the first groups. First, we all shook hands and introduced ourselves to the guys- I was super nervous. I gave Zac my drumstick to sign and he said it looked like one of his, which it was. I told him he gave it to me in Atlantic City, NC last year. He said it was difficult to sign circular objects, I told him I thought it would be hard and I was sorry, but I thought it would be a good thing to have. He laughed and I moved on to Isaac. He signed my drumstick and I asked him how his health is now (he suffered from a pulmonary embolism but had surgery and had it taken care of). I told him that I lost my father to a pulmonary embolism, he gave his regards and asked if I knew if it was in his arms or legs, I told him I thought his arms, and he told me he has heard lots of stories about death caused suddenly by pulmonary embolisms and is glad that he caught his before it was worse. Then, finally, it was time for Taylor. He signed my drumstick, and asked why I only had 1 stick and if I played drums. I told him no, that it was Zac's. I had a stick on tattoo on my wrist of a strawberry and he said it was cool and asked if it was real. I laughed and said no, but that I had a Hanson tattoo, he asked to see it, and I showed him the one on my hip that says "The Music Lives". I was super embarrassed right away and wish I would have shown him the Beatles one on my neck instead, because he is a huge Beatles fan. But, he said it was really nice and it was cool. I told him that I just moved here from the East Coast so it was cool that the year I moved out here is the first year they toured out here in 5 years. He said they were following me and laughed. I told him thank you for his music, and that it is really amazing to me and that I have been a fan since the beginning. He thanked me for being a fan and said they couldn't do it without us. Then, I got into the show early so I could have front row.
Kelsey managed to make it up right behind me when she got into the venue and these girls beside us were causing problems and pushing so hard, but I wasn't giving up my spot or letting them ruin my time!!

Monday, 9.8.08 was Hanson in Seattle. Kelsey skipped last period so that we could make it downtown in time for the walk, which was much more then a mile because they couldn't find an open area to stop to give their speech. By the way, walking in Seattle sucks- there's so many hills. Being on the Washington Street Team, I handed out flyers to the people of Seattle who were around during the walk and Taylor asked for one of us to be responsible to organize our own walk, which we already have plans to do. The show was seated, and we had 2nd row- it was a good time, not as crazy as Portland.

250 people walked in Portland, and 159 in Seattle. The boys give a dollar for each person in each city to go towards 1 of 5 different causes (digging a fresh water well, education, food, shoes, and Aids research), and they are trying to have enough people walk to equal enough miles put together to walk around the world. Again, the website I gave gives more information.

I am uploading photos to my shutterfly account as I type this, but there's a lot so it's going to take a little while and I have to get to work, so I will post again later with the address so that everyone can go check out my AMAZING pictures!!

Let's Walk!

EDIT:::: I added a link on the left that says My Photo Website. You can find all my pictures there!

News from Africa

Okay, so if you don't know already, my ultimate goal in studying Sociology is to earn my degree and be able to join the Peace Corps and travel to Africa to help the citizens, especially the children, learn the dangers of AIDS and educate them on how to take care of themselves and their health and take care of their siblings. I was reading these 2 articles today about some of the recent events in Africa, and they aren't foolin' around over there.

The first one is about the rebels in the Congo, who recently had one of the worst battles on Thursday in the village of Matebe, which is where Ishameal Beah is origionally from. If you haven't heard of Ishamael Beah I highly recommend reading his novel called "A Long Way Gone" (I had to read it last year in English and it's an amazing story).

The second article is about a US Aid plane crashing in the Congo with 17 humanitarian aids on it. I know something like this could happen anywhere, but the fact that it was carrying Americans who were trying to help the other people in this world made it that much more sad.

Anyway, I still want to join the Peace Corps, but this is some serious stuff, and scary... just because there are Americans in Africa who are trying to help and not fight, doesn't mean they are out of the line of danger. It makes me want to help even more, but it also opens up the eyes to the realism of it all.

New poll.

Hanson in 2 days. :)

Now to watch some more of "The Office" before bed. G'Night!

Fall is here

So Mom and Jason are back from New Zealand! They brought us sand, (that's my new thing), fleece's, necklaces carved out of bone, we aren't sure what kind of bone... boxes for our sand, and the warmest slippers made out of sheep wool you will ever find.

Kelsey and I had a good time while they were away, we had 2 slumber parties with her friends, and watches Seasons 1 and 2 of Veronica Mars, and started Season 1 of Prison Break.... Season 3 starts today so I think I can say that I will not have time to finish catching up on that show.

Fall is officially here in Seattle and the weather outside proves it. It's starting to get chilly and windy and more rain then we had over the summer... all the Fall Season Premieres are soon, starting today, including One Tree Hill, so we are all very excited for our favorite shows to come back.

Kelsey goes back to school as a Junior tomorrow! It's only Rough Rider day, so they only have to go get their picture taken and sign up for yearbooks and stuff... I don't have school until September 22nd, but I think I'm ready to go back.

Today is Labor Day, no crazy plans for us... a friend of mine was supposed to be having a pig roast pot luck so I might go to that if they ever call me, if not, I'm happy hanging out here at home with the family.

Hanson this upcoming weekend, WOOO HOOO!!!!

New poll on the left hand side.... although no one ever votes, or reads, or comments lol