Where were you when …

You first heard Hanson?
I was sitting in my room listening to the radio (Z104 I think), and all of a sudden this song comes on that just makes me happy. It took me awhile to figure out who sang it, but once I did, the rest was history

You got your first Hanson CD?
Well, my first Hanson albums were cassettes. When I finally got a CD player, however, I distinctly remember my first CD purchase being Middle of Nowhere at Tower Records in DC.

You saw them in concert for the first time?
July 2, 1998 at the Nissan Pavilion!

Hanson was on Live with Regis & Kathy Lee?
I dunno. Definitely didn’t see it live — without the internet at home, it was hard to keep with all their TV appearances.

You wore your very first Hanson t-shirt?
I dunno, maybe to school or their show?

Concerts …

Which tour did you first see them on?
Albertane Tour.

How much merchandise did you buy?
None — I was stupid and forgot my money at home. I remember hating myself for that the whole night.

What songs did you hope that they’d play at this first concert?
I honestly didn’t care (it was my first concert). I just wanted to see and hear them!

Did they play them?
Yes?

How many times have you seen them live?
9.

Old School …

Did you own MON?
Um, who didn’t?

Did you own Tulsa, Tokyo & The MON?
See above.

Be honest, how many times have you watched those videos?
Lots.

Did you have posters that covered your walls?
Haha, thousands — you literally couldn’t see the wall. Ask anybody who knew me back then!

Are they still up on those walls?
No, we’ve moved twice since then (not to mention college). Though I do have a few of their more recent posters up.

Did you have Hanson books?
Oh yes. I think the question is, what didn’t I have?

Do you still have them?
Yep (in a box).

Do you know who Puff Greeny is?
LOL of course. But I thought it was Puff Broccoli?

The middle years …

Did you rush out to the store to buy This Time Around?
Yep. Forget which store, though.

What’s your favorite song on that CD?
Sure About It, Runaway Run, If Only.

What did you do when you found out that Taylor got married?
My internet friend told me and I thought she was lying/spreading a rumor. Then I read the People article or whatever and was like zomg! And freaked out a little while my 14-year-old self died, but then I got over it

Did you own Live at the Fillmore?
Si.

Was it a DVD or a VHS?
DVD.

Do you still have it?
Why wouldn’t I?

Recent times …

Could you absolutely not wait until Underneath came out?
Well I was excited and got it the day it came out, but I didn’t wake up before dawn to be at the store or whatever.

Have you seen Strong Enough to Break, the documentary?
Yes.

What did you think about that?
I liked it, and it really shows what can happen to great bands who don’t agree with the mainstream.

When Underneath came out, how many years had you been a fan?
Since MMMBop.

Do you own a copy of The Walk?
Duh.

What’s your favorite song on that CD?
Georgia, Been There Before, Great Divide, One More, Tearing It Down, Your Illusion.

And your least favorite?
Intro (even though it’s not technically a song) and The Walk lol.

Have you inspired anyone that you know to also purchase The Walk?
Sadly, no.

Have you seen them on The Walk tour?
Twice!

If so, where?
Baltimore and DC.

Do you own the Hanson coffee mug?
I won it in a Hanson.net contest!

What about the playing cards?
I have the cartoon set.

Have you participated in any of the walks?
The DC one.

Did you walk barefoot?
No.

Have you purchased a pair of TOMS?
Yeah, though I get blisters if I wear them for any extended period of time.

What color?
Pink patch (pink, white, and blue).

Have you heard Yearbook live on The Walk tour?
No

Random …

Where’s the love?
Right here.

Where did Johnny go?
Who cares?

How many hours are in Hanson’s days?
24? They also need to give us a concrete definition of “soon.”

Have you seen Zac’s Back in Japan video?
Maybe?

Last question …it’s a big one …

Will you be a Hanson fan always and forever?
I’d like to think so!

Stolen from Mike again:

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Graduated college! And drove 7 hours to visit Mike — my longest drive yet.

2. Did you keep your New Years resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I either don’t make them or halfway make them and don’t keep them … so no lol.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just the one I’m in now.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A real job and my own bat-free place, preferably with Mike.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 19th: the anniversary

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Definitely finishing school.

9. What was your biggest failure?
A GPA below 3.0.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing life-threatening.

11. What were the best things you bought?
Let’s see … the iPod mount/holder for my car is awesome. So is Mozy.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My few friends for not deserting me in the past 5 years, and Mike for being the best thing evar.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The guy who hacked into my Gmail and eBay accounts.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Gas, rent, utilities, food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Graduating, of course, and the future with Mike

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
“I Knew I Loved You” by Savage Garden.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. Thinner or fatter? The same (I think).
iii. Richer or poorer? I guess poorer, though I have started saving via a few share certificates.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Skydiving (if it wasn’t so expensive), going to the gym.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sitting around.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Here in Fairfax with everybody.

21. How will you be spending New Years?
Down in Myrtle Beach with Mike, Andrew, and whoever else shows up.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Perhaps

23. How many one-night stands?
Haha, zero.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
MythBusters! Dexter is looking promising too.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Eh, not really.

26. What was the best book you read?
Um … I don’t remember if I actually finished any. Maybe that should be my New Years resolution.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
BWO. Shiny Toy Guns.

28. What did you want and get?
An awesome guy!

29. What did you want and not get?
A degree in graphic design.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Pirates 3, Juno, Beowulf, Across the Universe, Simpsons Movie.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Heh, I turned 23, and was sick. I did get to see Rent in NYC the next day though!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Passing portfolio review the 2nd time around. Harrisonburg and Myrtle Beach being closer together.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I dunno. College-student casual?

34. What kept you sane?
Friends, Mike, the light at the end of the tunnel.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hanson.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Meh.

37. Who did you miss?
My mom.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Take a wild guess

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007?
Be careful with your passwords: don’t use the same one more than a few times, change them occasionally, and make them somewhat complicated. Also, back up everything.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
We were strangers starting out on a journey
Never dreaming what we’d have to go through
Now here we are and I’m suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected what you did to my heart
When I lost hope you were there to remind me
This is the start …

Stolen from Mike. True statements are in bold:

1. Father went to college.
2. Father finished college.
3. Mother went to college.
4. Mother finished college.
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor. (my grandpa teaches at The New School in Manhattan)
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children’s books by a parent.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18.
11. Had more than 2 kinds of lessons before you turned 18. (piano, clarinet, ballet, gymnastics, soccer)
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs. (my dad had this 4-year thing for in-state schools, which most of my family contributed to)
16. Went to a private high school.
17. Went to summer camp.
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels. (unless we were visiting relatives)
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18. (save for a few things from Goodwill)
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them.
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house.
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.
25. You had your own room as a child.
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16.
31. Went on a cruise with your family.
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

Bijan read this to us in class one day, and I thought it was hilarious. Now that I’ve found it online, wanted to share:

Differences Between Men and Women

I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.

For example:

One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed.

Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, “I don’t feel like it, I just want you to hold me.”

I said, “What? What was that?”

So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear …

“You’re just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man.”

She responded to my puzzled look by saying, “Can’t you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?”

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.

The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn’t decide which one to take, so I told her we’d just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said, “Lets get a pair for each outfit.”

We went on to the jewelery department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you … she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn’t even know how to play tennis.

I think I threw her for a loop when I said, “That’s fine, honey.” She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation, she finally said, “I think this is all dear, let’s go to the cashier.”

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, “No honey, I don’t feel like it.”

Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled, “What?“

I then said, “Honey! I just want you to hold this stuff for a while. You’re just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman.”

And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added,” Why can’t you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?”

Apparently I’m not having sex tonight either …

Hehe, got this from a co-worker:

Know Your State Motto:

Alabama
Hell, yes, we have electricity.

Alaska
11,623 Eskimos can’t be wrong!

Arizona
Yes, but it’s a dry heat.

Arkansas
Literacy ain’t ever-thang.

California
By 30, our women have more plastic than your Honda.

Colorado
If you don’t ski, don’t bother.

Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, only smaller.

Delaware
We really do like the chemicals in our water.

Florida
Ask us about our grand kids.
And our voting skills.

Georgia
We put the FUN in Fundamentalist Extremism.

Hawaii
Haka tiki mou sha’ami leeki toru.
(Death to mainland scum, leave your money.)

Idaho
More than just potatoes.
Well, okay, we’re not, but the potatoes sure are real good.

Illinois
Please, don’t pronounce the “s.”

Indiana
2 billion years tidal wave free.

Iowa
We do amazing things with corn.

Kansas
First of the rectangle states.

Kentucky
Five million people;
Fifteen last names.

Louisiana
We’re not ALL drunk Cajun wackos, but that’s our tourism campaign.

Maine
We’re really cold, but we have cheap lobster.

Maryland
If you can dream it, we can tax it.

Massachusetts
Our taxes are lower than Sweden’s and our senators are more corrupt.

Michigan
First line of defense from the Canadians.

Minnesota
10,000 lakes … and 10 zillion mosquitoes.

Mississippi
Come visit and feel better about your own state.

Missouri
Your federal flood relief tax dollars at work.

Montana
Land of the big sky, the unabomber, right-wing crazies, and honest elections.

Nebraska
Ask about our state motto contest.

Nevada
Hookers and poker!

New Hampshire
Go away and leave us alone.

New Jersey
You want a ##$%##! motto?
I got yer ##$%##! motto right here!

New Mexico
Lizards make excellent pets.

New York
You have the right to remain silent,
You have the right to an attorney
And no right to self defense!

North Carolina
Tobacco is a vegetable.

North Dakota
We really are one of the 50 states!

Ohio
At least we’re not Michigan.

Oklahoma
Like the play, but no singing.

Oregon
Spotted Owl … it’s what’s for dinner.

Pennsylvania
Cook with coal.

Rhode Island
We’re not REALLY an island.

South Carolina
Remember the Civil War?
Well, we didn’t actually surrender, yet!

South Dakota
Closer than North Dakota.

Tennessee
Home of the Al Gore Invention Museum.

Texas
Se hable ingles.

Utah
Our Jesus is better than your Jesus.

Vermont
Too liberal for the Kennedys.

Virginia
Who says government stiffs and slackjaw yokels don’t mix?

Washington
Our governor can out-fraud your governor!

West Virginia
One big happy family … really!

Wisconsin
Come cut the cheese!

Wyoming
Where men are men and the sheep are scared.
Home of Brokeback Mountain.

The District of Columbia
The work-free drug place.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Since I’ve never had egg nog (which needs to change before I die), I guess I’ll say hot chocolate.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Most of our presents are from actual people — my grandma’s the only one who occasionally does “from Santa.”

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Colored! White lights are boring.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No, can’t really see my family doing the whole mistletoe thing. But I’d like to start once I have my own house.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Anywhere from a few weeks to the night before Christmas … depends on when I’m home and how early my dad gets them out.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Umm … basically anything you can’t get other times of the year. Don’t have anything specific since our holiday destinations and hosts change almost every time.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Getting a big box of My Little Ponies one year … a scooter another year … Julia Roberts’ autograph at my grandpa’s apartment … the year of both an iPod and a digital camera … etc.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Don’t remember lol. Is that good or bad?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Nope, never have, and probably never will unless something so monumental happens on Christmas day that prevents the few hours of present-exchanging from taking place.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
With colored lights and the random, non-matching ornaments we’ve collected over the years.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Love everything about it except for driving in it and when it makes me cold for prolonged periods of time.

12. Can you ice skate?
Yes, but don’t expect anything fancy.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
*thinks* Not really … but if I do I’ll update

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Seeing everyone, the short break from school/work, the lights and decorations and general “happiness” and, of course, getting and giving presents.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
See #6.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Putting up the outdoor lights, listening to Christmas music while trimming the tree, and having my uncle play Santa on Christmas Day.

17. What tops your tree?
This weird red and green, triangle-shaped, padded pseudo-star.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving since you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Carol of the Bells.

20. Candy canes?
Yes please.

21. Favorite Christmas movie?
Home Alone.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
All the bills can bite me.

2. Favorite place to eat a romantic dinner?
Edelweiss is nice, but that’s ’cause Brian loves it there and couldn’t be in a bad mood no matter how hard he tried … so I guess that counts as romantic.

3. Last time you puked from drinking?
When I visited Shaune in Queens. Don’t plan on doing that again.

4. When is the last time you got drunk and woke up in a strange place?
Never done that.

5. Name of your first grade teacher?
Don’t remember.

6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
I don’t want to be doing anything else … I’m off work (yay) and will be going to the gym in an hour (yay).

7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Lots of things … never anything concrete.

8. How many colleges did you attend before you settled on the one you graduated from?
One … won’t graduate ’til ’08

9. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?
‘Cause it was clean and not long-sleeved.

10. Gas prices! First thought?
Glad I can fill up in Harrisonburg where it’s a few cents cheaper.

11. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you where would you go and who would you take?
I don’t really want to move anywhere … just travel.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Blah … have to go to work …

13. Last thought before falling asleep last night?
Considering I woke up like 396028 times ’cause of the heat, there isn’t one particular thing.

14. Favorite style of underwear?
Normal bikini style.

15. Favorite style of underwear for the opposite sex?
Boxers/boxer briefs.

16. What errand/chore do you despise?
Depends on how much work it’ll take.

17. If you didn’t have to work would you?
Only if it was something I liked and didn’t have to work a set number of hours each week.

18. Sex or sleep?
Sleep … lol.

19. Your favorite cartoon character?
Calvin & Hobbes, Roadrunner & Coyote.

20. Favorite non-sexual thing to do at night with a girl/boy?
Anything without awkward silences.

21. A secret that you wouldn’t mind everyone knowing?
Uh … I currently have 152 Hanson CDs. LOL.

22. What was your first car?
’91 Toyota Corolla. Still drive it.

23. Your best “your momma” joke?
I have better jokes than that. Why do ducks have flat feet?

24. Your favorite lunch meat?
Vegetarian meat

25. What do you get every time you go into a WAWA (gas station)?
I only go to Sheetz. And if I get something besides gas, it’s usually coffee or a sandwich.

26. Beach or shore?
Aren’t those the same thing?

27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?
Not really.

28. Who do you stalk?
No one?

29. Favorite guilty pleasure?
Ice cream, popcorn.

30. Favorite movie you wouldn’t want anyone to find out about?
Don’t have one.

31. What’s your drink?
Bailey’s

32. Cowboys or indians?
Who cares?

33. Cops or robbers?
See above.

34. Do you cheer for the bad guys?
Not usually.

35. What Hollywood star do you think resembles you best?
Dunno. Julia Roberts kinda looks like my mom, though.

34. If you had to pick one which cast member of “Lost” would you be?
Why is everyone obsessed with this show?

37. What do you want when you are sick?
To feel better.

38. Who from high school would you like to run into?
No one in particular.

39. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
100.7. It plays the same crappy 8 songs over and over, but it’s the least redneck-ish for the 10-minute drive to and from work.

41. Stifler or Oz?
Who?

42. Norm or Cliff?
See above.

43. The Cosby Show or The Simpsons?
The Simpsons … though one of the actresses on The Cosby Show supposedly went to Foxcroft.

44. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Not taking breaks between guys.

45. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
She’s okay I guess.

46. If you could get away with it who would you kill?
“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” LOL.

47. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Hanson. Preferably Taylor, lol.

48. What famous person would you like to sleep with?
Haha, see above.

49. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No.

50. Last book you read?
Uh … something for Foundations.

51. Do you have a teddy bear?
Many.

52. How many times a day do you text?
I’ll text once a week if I’m lucky.

53. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?
Neither.

54. Do you go to church?
Not unless I have to.

55. Pencil or pen?
Pencil ’cause they can erase.

56. What do you think about the person who did this before you?
She’s kinda cool. Never talked to her, but still.