Yesterday, I went to the Dial Up Tour at the House of Blues. It was amazingly awesome and fun!!!
I met my friend at the train stop at 2:00, and we rode downtown so we could explore a bit before we went to HOB. We ended up walking around for a couple hours and then stopped at a cute patisserie that had really pretty cakes in the window.
Upon arrival at the venue at around 4:40 for the 5:00 meet and greet portion, we retrieved our tickets and were herded into a long line of fans waiting to meet the performers. The energy was really great, and I could tell that this was an older audience, not the 12-year-olds at the Triple Rainbow Awesome Tour.
When we were brought upstairs to the meet and greet, they had us pull out the things we wanted signed and told us that we could take pictures after the show. I was expecting a sort of chill, chatty time, but they had all of the performers sitting at a table. They each asked my name, shook my hand, and signed my poster. Tessa had the best handshake.
The first person was the opening comedian, Olan Rogers, and he asked everyone, "so, who are you here to see?" The only answer I could give was "everyone," and he proceeded to sass me about that because it was such a PC generic answer. I conceded that I had heard about the tour on Tessa's channel (Meekakitty), and that perked her up to my existence, and then Olan proceeded to quiz me on who each person was. Luckily, he didn't ask me about the livelavalive guys, because he and they were the ones I knew the least about.
I got to briefly chat with Tessa and Shawna, then my friend had brought his LeakyCon 2011 Yearbook to be signed, so we had a bit of a delay as Alex Carpenter took the time to write a note, and I had more of a chance to chat with him and Jason. When I got to them, I mentioned that at the last thing like this we got kicked out of Millennium Park, and he said, "wait, what show was that?" and we had a moment to remember that experience of the Triple Rainbow Awesome Tour. I think my friend and I stood out because we made a connection beyond just being fans from YouTube at a live show. Jason Munday signed my poster next, then Kyle Sibert, then Mitchell Davis.
When we were done with the signing line, we went downstairs to the performance space, and scoped out a spot from which to watch the show. There were no seats for the show, so we ended up standing for a long time throughout the day.
The show started at 7:00 with a comedy set from Olan. He did it in an anecdotal style and he talked about the scary animatronic characters at Chuck E. Cheese, having his lunch stolen in elementary school, and all of the ways he could never disobey his mother. He was pretty funny, but I was hoping for fewer poop jokes.
Next were Shawna (Nanalew) and Tessa. They opened with a number from their album Days of The Week called "Space Crustaceans." This album is basically them being random and silly, so it was just fun to watch them have fun. They did some comedy and a song about lizards. They were pretty great!!
After the girls were the livelavalive guys, Kyle and Mitchell. They had a comedy set that involved a projector, and it was silly, but I didn't like it as much. I think it would have translated better as videos, and I wanted content that a person who wasn't subscribed to them could relate to. I am not subscribed to either them or Olan, but Olan's set was at least approachable for me.
I ended up going to the bathroom during their act, and I walked right past Jason Munday, who was watching the show. I was tempted to talk to him, but he seemed to be with a friend, so I didn't want to interrupt them. Plus, I never really know what to say, and I figured I'd talk to him afterward, which I did.
Alex and Jason's set was AMAZING!! They use audience energy so well; it's really a huge transformation to see them perform live. They had a keyboard/synthesizer on which Alex put a piece of duct tape that said "BE BRILLIANT," and each artist had a guitar. They played their entire EP called Dial Up, and a few other songs, including wrock and trock.
This was my favorite performance of the night, and the one I really came to see most of all. I started paying attention to them when they went on tour with ALL CAPS, became a fan myself after seeing them live and realizing how awesome they are, and now seeing them go from a free show in a public space to a super-legit venue complete with awesome concert lighting is really amazing. It was also pretty great that I knew most of the songs :)
All of the performers came out to dance and take a bow during the closing song, and then they announced that they would be meeting fans by the merch area after the show. My friend and I waited (on stools; yay finally getting to sit!) for the younger crowd to dissipate so we could actually talk to these people, since they are our age. We had some decent conversation with Alex and Jason, and Alex remembered us as the LeakyCon/TRA people from the meet and greet. He even made a joke about remembering since it was only a couple hours ago.
We tried to meet some of the others, but the crowds around them were too huge, so we got our coats and got in the line to meet Tessa and Shawna. However, they had to run to the tour bus to get more CDs when the merch table ran out, and they got back after HOB security started to file us out of the space.
They went outside to keep signing, and rather than follow them out all the way, I took a detour to take a picture of the "BE BRILLIANT" tape on Alex's keyboard. I then had a really nice moment when we talked about the sign-off for his videos, and he said, "if there's anything I want people to be more of, it is smart. The world needs more critical thinkers." I love that.
I then found Kyle and we had a mini-conversation about Ohio, then I went downstairs to go outside and finally meet Shawna and Tessa. We talked to another girl on line who was our age, and that was kind of neat. Then we took pictures with the girls, had a moment to chat, Shawna complimented my hat (!!!), and we left to take the train home.
I got some really great photos and videos, and amazing memories.
I think the thing that makes events like these so cool and special is that I have been watching these people's videos for at least a year. They are regulars in my sub box, and I learn things about them each time I watch their work. They put a piece of themselves into the public domain, whether it is a song, a character, a joke, or who they really are. I know so much about them and respect what they do, but they have no idea who I am. But for one night, for these few hours that we were in the same place at the same time, everyone is real. I can talk to them, hug them, high five, shake hands, take pictures, and get autographs. There's the possibility that they might remember me and having them there makes me realize that I just want to be friends with them. Today, they're back on my screen, and yesterday seems totally surreal, but that's what made it so magical.
Today is awesome because I am basking in the joy of attending that wonderful show.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Moving
Yesterday, I moved. It is the fifth place I've lived in the last year: three dorms, a house, and an apartment.
Some observations:
1. I have a lot of stuff. I never notice how much stuff I have when it's all put away and I'm using as needed (and I do use everything), but it's still an astonishing amount when I'm moving it.
2. My new room is quite oddly shaped; it's very long and narrow. I have my things along the perimeter of the room, which leaves a strange corridor between my bed and bureau to get from the door to the opposite side of the room. I can't figure out a better configuration, and I actually kind of like it like this.
3. No matter where I live, it's my stuff and personal touches that make each place homey. It's not about the architecture; it's about the things you put there that resonate with you. For instance, when I moved at home and went to the apartment for the first time, my room still felt like my room because it had my bed, my bookshelves and dresser, and my personal belongings (clothing, books, trinkets, etc.). At college, my dorm room became mine when I made my bed and put up my posters/wall of stuff (which happens to look amazing!).
4. My "Nerd" playlist has gotten quite extensive and wonderful. Albums include Songs in the Key of E-Mail, Bmin/E, Magic is Might, The Prince's Tale, I'm Saying Nothing, Dial Up, Skyway Flyer, and So Jokes. Varied types of nerd music, multiple genres, and all super fun!
5. Moving is exhausting! I spent the first hour cleaning the room and arranging the furniture, then made probably somewhere around 30-50 trips to get my stuff over and put away. At the end of the day, my arms and legs were totally dead, but I was happy to be done. Special thanks to Brandee, David, and Hannah for helping me carry stuff over :)
Today is awesome because I am fully occupying my new dorm, and it's super homey.
Some observations:
1. I have a lot of stuff. I never notice how much stuff I have when it's all put away and I'm using as needed (and I do use everything), but it's still an astonishing amount when I'm moving it.
2. My new room is quite oddly shaped; it's very long and narrow. I have my things along the perimeter of the room, which leaves a strange corridor between my bed and bureau to get from the door to the opposite side of the room. I can't figure out a better configuration, and I actually kind of like it like this.
3. No matter where I live, it's my stuff and personal touches that make each place homey. It's not about the architecture; it's about the things you put there that resonate with you. For instance, when I moved at home and went to the apartment for the first time, my room still felt like my room because it had my bed, my bookshelves and dresser, and my personal belongings (clothing, books, trinkets, etc.). At college, my dorm room became mine when I made my bed and put up my posters/wall of stuff (which happens to look amazing!).
4. My "Nerd" playlist has gotten quite extensive and wonderful. Albums include Songs in the Key of E-Mail, Bmin/E, Magic is Might, The Prince's Tale, I'm Saying Nothing, Dial Up, Skyway Flyer, and So Jokes. Varied types of nerd music, multiple genres, and all super fun!
5. Moving is exhausting! I spent the first hour cleaning the room and arranging the furniture, then made probably somewhere around 30-50 trips to get my stuff over and put away. At the end of the day, my arms and legs were totally dead, but I was happy to be done. Special thanks to Brandee, David, and Hannah for helping me carry stuff over :)
Today is awesome because I am fully occupying my new dorm, and it's super homey.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
A Public Health Rant
"When programs are properly designed to reflect patients' needs rather than the wishes of donors, AIDS funding can strengthen primary care." (Paul Farmer, 2007).
Shouldn't ALL healthcare programs reflect patients' needs?!? Geez. Paul Farmer, thank you for saying this so concisely and eloquently.
It is so obvious that curing the sick will lead to better public health.
I am a student of global health at the undergraduate level, and I don't understand why health systems exist that keep people from getting preventable illnesses. It is true just about everywhere in the world, whether people get sick from problems related to cost and access, or they refuse standard treatments they deem unnecessary. Until those who are privileged decide that health for all is an important issue, we as a global society will not eradicate or ameliorate illnesses and illness rates.
You can vaccinate all you want, but if a mother in a rich nation refuses to let her child get the polio vaccine because she thinks it will lead to autism, polio will never be eradicated. You can send as many ARVs to poor nations as you can, but until they have clean water, improved nutrition, decent sanitation, and jobs, there will be hugely upsetting health disparities.
Treat the patients. Give them what they need to be healthy, but recognize that health status is inextricably intertwined with every other aspect of daily life and cannot be treated by itself.
Today is awesome because I got to spew thoughts into words and share them.
Shouldn't ALL healthcare programs reflect patients' needs?!? Geez. Paul Farmer, thank you for saying this so concisely and eloquently.
It is so obvious that curing the sick will lead to better public health.
I am a student of global health at the undergraduate level, and I don't understand why health systems exist that keep people from getting preventable illnesses. It is true just about everywhere in the world, whether people get sick from problems related to cost and access, or they refuse standard treatments they deem unnecessary. Until those who are privileged decide that health for all is an important issue, we as a global society will not eradicate or ameliorate illnesses and illness rates.
You can vaccinate all you want, but if a mother in a rich nation refuses to let her child get the polio vaccine because she thinks it will lead to autism, polio will never be eradicated. You can send as many ARVs to poor nations as you can, but until they have clean water, improved nutrition, decent sanitation, and jobs, there will be hugely upsetting health disparities.
Treat the patients. Give them what they need to be healthy, but recognize that health status is inextricably intertwined with every other aspect of daily life and cannot be treated by itself.
Today is awesome because I got to spew thoughts into words and share them.
The Fault in Our Stars (spoilerific!)
"The fault...is not in our stars,/But in ourselves" (Julius Caesar 1.2)
"Almost everything is [a side effect of dying]" (TFiOS 3)
"That's the thing about pain...it demands to be felt." (TFiOS 63)
"The world is not a wish-granting factory" (TFiOS 198)
"Some infinities are larger than other infinities" (TFiOS 205)
"The universe wants to be noticed" (TFiOS 223)
Love, life, mortality, disease.
Somehow, John Green has picked up on the nuances of all these huge concepts and distilled them into the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters. The Fault in Our Stars is a perfect example of how stories matter. I am not a teenager dying of cancer; I am not closely related to a teenager dying of cancer; yet, this story shows how the conditions of my relatively healthy life are a toned-down version, lower stakes, than those of these characters.
I have been waiting for John Green's next book since I finished the last one approximately four years ago. As a proud Nerdfighter and follower of vlogbrothers, I have been anticipating this release for a really long time, counting down with the rest of this fantastic community as we watched John sign every copy of the first printing. It was an emotional experience to get this book.
My copy is signed in red sharpie. It's a lovely J-scribble. It arrived on January 12, 2012, two days after the release date because Amazon shipped on the day I was supposed to get it. I was celebrating obnoxiously and vocally in the mailroom, and I didn't care; I had waited long enough.
I found my J-scribble, and turned to the dedication: Esther Earl. Chills. Esther began the tumblr effyeahnerdfighters and contributed to the overall Nerdfighter community throughout her life. A couple years ago, she died of cancer, and although I didn't know her, I understand that it is a great loss to the universe that she is gone. Without her, I don't think John would have written the novel as he did (but it is definitely fiction; but fiction is informed by nonfiction. Write what you know.)
I really like the way John wrote Hazel, his first female protagonist. He got the details really well, like the store she would buy her dress at or the marathon television shows she would watch. I also loved Augustus (mostly through Hazel), and the Waters and Lancaster parents.
I don't need to analyze the plot, but the last ten or so chapters were really important to me. I cried for most of the end of the book. The thing that got to me was the way small phrases would gain new meaning when they were around death. There is a particularly heart wrenching scene between Hazel and her parents that made me think of my own relationship with my parents and some of the fears I have of losing them (I once had a nightmare in which my entire family died and it made me realize that my greatest fear is being left behind).
I do have one thought plotwise. I have never wanted to know what happens to characters after a book ends. For me, they always end with their stories, so Hazel's quest for the ending is strange to me. It makes for some great travel scenes, though.
As for the quotations at the top of this post, they were some of the beautiful aphorisms that repeat throughout the novel (and the one that inspired the title). I am most struck by "pain demands to be felt" because it does. When you hurt, there is no way around it; it is insistent and attention-seeking.
TFiOS is sad. It is also funny, pithy, loving, and meaningful. Read it.
Today is awesome because I have had the honor of reading such a wonderful book.
"Almost everything is [a side effect of dying]" (TFiOS 3)
"That's the thing about pain...it demands to be felt." (TFiOS 63)
"The world is not a wish-granting factory" (TFiOS 198)
"Some infinities are larger than other infinities" (TFiOS 205)
"The universe wants to be noticed" (TFiOS 223)
Love, life, mortality, disease.
Somehow, John Green has picked up on the nuances of all these huge concepts and distilled them into the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters. The Fault in Our Stars is a perfect example of how stories matter. I am not a teenager dying of cancer; I am not closely related to a teenager dying of cancer; yet, this story shows how the conditions of my relatively healthy life are a toned-down version, lower stakes, than those of these characters.
I have been waiting for John Green's next book since I finished the last one approximately four years ago. As a proud Nerdfighter and follower of vlogbrothers, I have been anticipating this release for a really long time, counting down with the rest of this fantastic community as we watched John sign every copy of the first printing. It was an emotional experience to get this book.
My copy is signed in red sharpie. It's a lovely J-scribble. It arrived on January 12, 2012, two days after the release date because Amazon shipped on the day I was supposed to get it. I was celebrating obnoxiously and vocally in the mailroom, and I didn't care; I had waited long enough.
I found my J-scribble, and turned to the dedication: Esther Earl. Chills. Esther began the tumblr effyeahnerdfighters and contributed to the overall Nerdfighter community throughout her life. A couple years ago, she died of cancer, and although I didn't know her, I understand that it is a great loss to the universe that she is gone. Without her, I don't think John would have written the novel as he did (but it is definitely fiction; but fiction is informed by nonfiction. Write what you know.)
I really like the way John wrote Hazel, his first female protagonist. He got the details really well, like the store she would buy her dress at or the marathon television shows she would watch. I also loved Augustus (mostly through Hazel), and the Waters and Lancaster parents.
I don't need to analyze the plot, but the last ten or so chapters were really important to me. I cried for most of the end of the book. The thing that got to me was the way small phrases would gain new meaning when they were around death. There is a particularly heart wrenching scene between Hazel and her parents that made me think of my own relationship with my parents and some of the fears I have of losing them (I once had a nightmare in which my entire family died and it made me realize that my greatest fear is being left behind).
I do have one thought plotwise. I have never wanted to know what happens to characters after a book ends. For me, they always end with their stories, so Hazel's quest for the ending is strange to me. It makes for some great travel scenes, though.
As for the quotations at the top of this post, they were some of the beautiful aphorisms that repeat throughout the novel (and the one that inspired the title). I am most struck by "pain demands to be felt" because it does. When you hurt, there is no way around it; it is insistent and attention-seeking.
TFiOS is sad. It is also funny, pithy, loving, and meaningful. Read it.
Today is awesome because I have had the honor of reading such a wonderful book.
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