Lucky number five.

October 9, 2017.

Club Cafe, Pittsburgh, October 5.
I always take a selfie in front of the stage.

  I got to see Fastball five times this year. FIVE times. What can I say? I fell in love really effin' hard and fast. The band is the soundtrack of my year, and I love sharing this with friends, family, and anyone who is willing to take it all in with me. Now I'm completely crashing from this rush of passion, excitement, thrill, and pure bliss. There are no remaining tour dates, and I'm left to reminisce and reflect on the intimate three shows I attended the second half of the year, two shows within the past four days.

  The last show is a close tie to being the best show this year. I convinced my dad to go out on a Sunday night with me because I try quite hard to impress him, and I knew that he'd get more than he expected with Fastball's live performance. I got him hooked on Colin, and now he's getting reeled in with Fastball. He knew the hits before me, obviously, but he had never seen the band live. I was on a mission to get him to the show and to experience the absolute brilliance that is the "rock & roll pop harmonic thrill seekers" I'm deeply passionate about.

What being a fan is really about.

June 12, 2017

  It's not about getting your photo taken with or of your favorite artist or band to impress others or to have something to boast. It's about living in the moment and creating a connection during the performance. Capturing a single or few photos is sufficient enough to recall one of many thrilling days you'll experience while you're here. You don't have to share the experience verbally or show with a photo to prove it happened. Take a single photo and then live in the precious time you're given.

  It's not about meeting the artist or band to get that photo or autograph. It's about having the chance to connect, relate stories, and ultimately binding and strengthening the circle with an unbreakable bow. It's about giving thanks for the sacrifices it takes to create music and to tour: being vulnerable to compose the music, forcing oneself to dark and light places of the soul in order to articulate haunting lyrics or instrumental notes, and being absent during monumental moments in family members' lives.

  It's not about proving you can afford the VIP treatment. It's about going the extra mile to invest in the artist's or band's craft; what you gain from it is invaluable and truly can't be bought. The positive impact music provides isn't a single, tightly-pressed package you find on a store shelf. If you have the means to do so, then great! If you don't, that's okay too; appreciation is often found in the simple, little things, such as writing thank-you letters or dropping off the artist's or band's favorite food!

  It's not about indulging in only the one-on-one time you get. It's about completing full circles as a group and between you and the other fans. Watching another fan's smile - sometimes even tears of joy - during a meet and greet is a beautiful moment to witness. The joy others experience can easily make you joyful, too. Don't be afraid to start conversations with other fans; everyone is already part of an exclusive, special group! Don't lose sight of your family or friends being in this with you, too. If you're blessed with that opportunity, seize it.

  It's not about proving you're the biggest fan by parading the plethora of memorabilia you own, memorizing all the lyrics of every song and never missing a beat, or having a tattoo dedicated to the artist or band. It's about expressing yourself in the ways that feel most right, doing what makes you feel good and things that respect the music and people associated with it, following your heart, and deciding the right time - if at all - to visibly show the fandom to others. Who's to say there are right or wrong ways to show you're a fan? There isn't one definition of how that looks.

  Never be ashamed to admit you're a fan - "just a fan" or "a confidently committed and passionate fan" - of an artist or a band. Heck, this holds true for sports fans, movie fans... fans of anything! Truth is, you're never the only one. No matter your level of fandom, the circle isn't complete without you.

The best Vertical Horizon concert experience to date.

June 4, 2017

  It's officially summer concert season! Looks like this fan-girl is going to splurge not just this summer, but this whole year. Ahh!

HOME Bar, June 2, 2017.

  Like the crazy woman I've been more and more since the start of 2017, I decided to go to two Vertical Horizon shows -- including one VIP package -- within three days. Was it worth it? Definitely!

Just some highlights of my evenings with Colin Hay.

March 11, 2017

 There is A LOT I'd like to say about my trip; I've had a lot on my mind about the experience and how I want to continue reaching my life's purpose. Maybe I've discovered it on this trip? I can't say for sure, but I know that I really enjoy sharing my passions with others, meeting people who share the same passion, witnessing pure joy, and reading and hearing stories about anything and everything, through any medium.

I know what kind of book I want to write.

September 19, 2016

  After a life-altering, full circle experience, (see previous post) I'm eager and looking forward to more. I've more recently than ever - in the past year or so - have come to appreciate the entertainment industry as a healthy, needed distraction in one's life as a way to handle the stresses, disappointments and struggles in life in a positive manner. On the flip-side, the industry is used to express happiness in situations, too!

  Thanks to Vertical Horizon, I had this epiphany of what it means to have this full circle accomplishment. As consumers of music, movies, television shows, books, and art, we have indirect, intimate connections with the musicians, actors, actresses, and artists who put so much passion and effort into the finished projects. There are rare situations where we can, in person, give our thanks and appreciation for how their work improved our lives. Once we get to meet and share each other's stories in person, we have reached the full circle of the entertainment world's purpose.

  Well, that's how I see it, anyway. It works for me, so I'll take what I can get.

Meeting Vertical Horizon: My biggest, ultimate fan-girl experience.

September 17, 2016

  When in the presence of any famous, well-known person, I'm a little geeked out and giddy; I'm probably not the only one. But, when I'm 100% sure I'm about to be up close and personal, meeting a famous person or band members, my level of giddiness reaches a whole new level, and I'm just plain excited and happy. If you know me, when I'm excited, I exhibit every emotion that goes beyond happy. The meet and greet with Vertical Horizon was - and will possibly be - the most ecstatic I have ever been meeting a famous person/group.

  Even though the story of how my friend Dave and I got the tickets for it was pretty lucky and fortunate in itself, the actual opportunity and experience was beyond thrilling and surreal for me. Thanks to Gabe, a part of VH's management team, we filled the two no-shows and were able to get in without any problems. OHMYGOSH. I literally wanted to drop to my knees and praise the group he and the band were walking on!

I lost a friend.

January 19, 2016

  I lost a role model last week. An inspiration, an artist, a friend. I never met Alan Rickman, but he was with me throughout my life since I was in high school. I have received many thoughts of comfort since we all found out God received an angel. January 14 was a beautiful morning too. I was on top of the world. I took photos of the gorgeous sky. Is there a correlation there? Maybe. I'm going to think so.

Book Challenges for 2016

January 4, 2016

  Since I am highly disappointed about the fact I only read 15 books last year, I am going to double that number. Thanks to Goodreads, I set a goal of 30 books to read this year. There are a lot of new things I want to try in 2016, so I feel 30 is manageable number.

Pizza challenge: 1, Mandaa, 0.

December 17 2015

  Yup, I lost the pizza challenge. I competed with my good ole friend Marty in attempts to defeat the Big Kahuna, a 29 inch pizza with three toppings of our choice. He was starting to get sick from all the grease (I warned him about those pepperoni's!) and had to stop. I don't blame him though. It was worth the shot.

The Big Kahuna was just too big! ;)

  That item is officially fulfilled from my bucket list. No more official food challenges for me. I learned that sometimes money and risk is worth it when you want to try something new or reach an accomplishment in life. No, this was not the best way to have more appreciation for how capable I am of trying things others can't, but it was a good experience. I will never eat pizza again, sadly.

  We asked friends that attended to help us pay. And when some did, we donated double, rather than paying them back, to a local charity. That was very nice. I also learned that I have great support in my life, as I have been seeing a lot this year, and I know that when I attempt more logical challenges in my life, I will have that backbone and smiling face I'll need throughout.

'Yoga Bitch' by Suzanne Morrison.

December 10, 2015

  I finished another book! Not sure why it took me so long to get through this one, but it did. Another autobiography to add to my bucket list. Woot woot!

  Anyways, this was a good read. Yoga Bitch: One Woman's Quest to Conquer Skepticism, Cynicism, and Cigarettes on the Path to Enlightenment is a book I know my yoga friends would enjoy (cough, cough: Sally and Emily). Suzanne goes to Bali for two months and is on the path to earning enough hours for a teaching certification. She follows a different lifestyle than the one she was living in the United States for the two months overseas, and man did she run into some interesting situations.

A large step forward in my life.

September 17, 2015

  It's September?! What was I doing instead of blogging?! Well, I was busy living life, going to the golf course then packing and moving to Ohio. Yup.. I'm finally an Ohio resident! Long story short, I got a job at Muskingum working in the Public Relations office.

My night with Colin Hay.

February 22nd, 2015

  I'm up early on a Sunday, as usual! Even though my Saturday was quite uneventful, my weekend feels to be very exciting and life changing.

2015: here for a year.

January 7, 2015

  I'm funny, aren't I?! I feel like I've been busy since the last time I took a moment to write. There was working out more than usual, seeing old friends in town for the holidays, Christmas, New Year's, and crafting. I'm very pleased 2014 is over. It was a quick, painful year for me.

  So, what are my "resolutions"? Well, I don't have any. (What?!) My best friend explained this in a very different way to me. Not word-for-word what she said, but basically, from her perspective, a new year shouldn't mean that she should make changes to her life or seek things she wants to do different. If there's something she wants to work on personally or start doing, she'll do it immediately. As soon as she gets an epiphany, action should be taken as soon as possible, not as a "New Year resolution".

  In some aspects of her logic, I agree. This doesn't mean it's a bad idea to take this time of year as a chance to evaluate your life. It just shouldn't be the only time this is done. For some, this is a great way to have extra motivation to make those changes. Personally, I wanted to start getting in shape and look tone, skinnier and healthier. I decided this around Thanksgiving. I could have waited until 2015, but I needed to take action sooner, and I did. I make goals for myself throughout the year, so I guess this is a good time to see where I am at those goals versus brainstorming new ones.

  I know in 2015 I want to be happier and find myself again, and I do feel better since the rough patches. 2014 just wasn't my year. Everyone knows that. I enjoyed a lot of moments, but I was very lost. I'm still lost. I'm closer to "being found", so I can smile a little bit more for that. I don't have any New Year goals or resolutions other than to continue the right changes I was trying to make last year and keep seeking new solutions to my issues that aren't quite taken care of yet.

  I'm happy to be alive! I'm also happy I am checking things off my bucket list. I cut off 10 inches of hair and donated it, and I went to a NFL game. Next month, I get to knock another thing off my list: my dad and I are going to see Colin Hay! Unfortunately, it won't be in Australia, but this is good enough for me! I am too thrilled that I got tickets for the both of us, and I hope we get to meet him after the show. :)

'Lucky Man' by Michael J. Fox

December 26, 2013

  I’ve owned this book, the physical copy, since high school. I’ve finally gotten the chance to read it this week. I'm excited to say I read it in that short amount of time, and I loved it. It was a great read and will probably read it again in the future, once I finish Always Looking Up of course.