It's never too early to say thank you.

July 22, 2017.

  The loss of Chester Bennington was another shock and sad news story to read Thursday morning. My fandom for Linkin Park was more during my preteen years, during the time I first started to struggle with balancing life, friendships, and mental health (which I didn't quite realize at the time). His death flooded my mind with two specific thoughts: the reasons why I listened to Linkin Park and how both sad and scary it is that people don't have the ability to reach out for help or have the support system to try to seek the right resources for them. I still have yet to lose a close family member or friend, so some of this worry was also triggered. I attempted to make it clear to my Facebook friends that I am always available as a listener for those who need it and to remind them that mental health is very important.

Chester Bennington's most recent Twitter profile photo.

  After having a few personal and professional struggles this week, reliving the negative junior high years was definitely not needed. Even so, I still felt the need to scroll through my Facebook feed to read how my "friends" were responding to Chester's death. One post, in summary, stated that we shouldn't wait until the person has passed to share our admiration and love or to say thank you. This reminded me of part of my life goal, to meet the well-known musicians, filmmakers, authors, and actors who have been positive influences in my life. I've been lucky enough to do this many times this year with musicians. And, I got to do it again last night.

New music, new obsession: Fastball.

June 29, 2017.

  I said this at some point this year: this is the year of music. Last year was the year of spending money in order to conquer that fear. Seeing my original favorites Colin (happy birthday!) and Vertical Horizon - and now some recent newly-found bands - multiple times in the same year is a reality. I've seen Colin twice (back-to-back shows) so far and have two more shows lined up.

... you could show me a whole new world. We could stay up all night 'cause you never know what could happen.

Maryland and Virginia. Can you spot me in the top left photo?

  As crazy as it may seem, I saw Vertical Horizon on tour with Fastball and Everclear twice and with Blues Traveler once, all within eight days, in three different states. Though I recommend attending multiple shows in a single year, be ready for the withdraw and a yearning to attend more; I could easily take a month off and follow a band throughout the country. Not only is it a great way to meet fans and make new friends, the sceneries are breathtaking. The United States is beautiful. Making the last-minute decision to go to Maryland and Virginia on my own was the most spontaneous, adventurous thing I have ever done. It was worth the lack of sleep and 13 or so hours of driving.

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!

Come spring, come baseball and baseball movies!

May 27, 2017

  I've changed the URL to my blog to "mudanemandaa", as I did with the rest of my social media. Being a Muskie will never change. Despite my tendencies to follow routines and order as much as possible, change is sometimes wanted, needed and totally okay. In honor of this post being baseball-centric, here are some softball-related photos of yours truly back in the day:

 

  Yeah, you can clearly tell I loved the sport.. ha. I don't have any action photos with me; let's hope the old man keeps those somewhere safe back in Illinois.