I got to see Hanson for the 8th and 9th times a couple weekends ago, and it turned out better than I ever expected (DC also wins the best-concert-ever prize)! Here’s a quick recap of each show:

Baltimore (at Sonar):

- Taylor fell off the stage at one point ’cause a fan pulled him too hard … but it was funny, all of sudden he goes *plop* and disappears from view

- Got my first picture with Zac, and my new Hanson.net member CD autographed! Plus, Taylor hadn’t seen it before and was like “wow cool, sorry it took so long to get sent out to you guys.”

- And the set list:

1. Great Divide
2. Hey
3. Can’t Stop
4. Been There Before
5. Crazy Beautiful
6. Hole In My Life (Police cover)
7. I’ve Been Down
8. Go
9. MMMBop
10. Strong Enough To Break
11. Never Been To Spain (Three Dog Night cover)
12. Blue Sky
13. A Minute Without You
14. Runaway Run
15. Got A Hold On Me
16. Penny & Me
17. Running Man
18. Let Love Rule (Lenny Kravitz cover)
19. This Time Around
20. Lost Without Each Other
21. Something Going Round
22. If Only (encore)
23. The Ugly Truth (encore)

DC (at the 9:30 Club):

- While passing Starbucks on the walk, Taylor yells out something like “400 cups of coffee please” on his megaphone.

- Got my first picture with Taylor (with a little help from TOMS Shoes and Mike’s tallness)!

- 3rd row (closest ever)!

- Got one of Locksley’s set lists! They’re awesome, by the way.

- Zac messes up during “Running Man,” and Ike looks at him and starts laughing.

- After “Call Me” (I think), Ike reaches into the crowd, grins, and freakin’ gives me his guitar pick! At this point I’m like omg, I’m not supposed to be that girl … but apparently Mike had been occasionally pointing at me throughout the show, trying to catch Ike’s eye when I wasn’t looking (aww) … and I guess that’s just what Ike decided to do

- I wanted to see if there was any chance to get both Locksley and Hanson’s set lists, but the 9:30 crew kept telling the group of us who wanted them that they weren’t giving them out. Eventually the group dwindles down to just me, Mike, and another fan, and I was determined on staying — even if I didn’t get a set list — just to see what they planned on doing with them. Then the other girl leaves, and minutes later the very same guy who’d been saying no all night walks up to the stage, peels Ike’s off the carpet, and is like “here, you can have this if you leave now and don’t tell anyone.” Um, yay!

- Hanson recognized Mike when they came out after the show; Zac even remembered what color shirt he’d worn the night before

- Got my mini-poster signed, and my first picture with Ike!

- Set list, of course:

1. Great Divide
2. A Minute Without You
3. Can’t Stop
4. Been There Before
5. Crazy Beautiful
6. Hole In My Life (Police cover)
7. I’ve Been Down
8. MMMBop
9. A Song To Sing
10. Call Me
11. Never Been To Spain (Three Dog Night cover)
12. Blue Sky
13. Hey
14. Got A Hold On Me
15. Penny & Me
16. Running Man
17. Let Love Rule (Lenny Kravitz cover)
18. This Time Around
19. Lost Without Each Other
20. Something Going Round
21. Rock ‘N Roll Razorblade (encore)

So yesterday, out of the blue, I get an email from a freelance reporter asking for permission to use one of my photos from the DC Hanson concert (and for a fast reply since the article’s running in less than 12 hours). Needless to say, I say yes, and wake up to an awesome review — and my first reaction is hey check it out, there’s my name!

The real credit, however, should go to Mike, since I’m almost 100% sure he took it … I was originally gonna ask them to credit him, but then misunderstanding ensued and my name’s there and I feel slightly guilty, even though he says it’s no big deal. I mean, I don’t call myself a photographer in any way and he’s the one getting photo passes at the House of Blues. So yeah … meh.

In other news … concert reviews will come, but only after my site stops hating me, even though I did nothing to make it randomly break in the first place. Not to mention no one helping me on the WordPress support forums, and now the Enthusiast forum, and the people at A Small Orange either not knowing what the hell was wrong or making things worse and not telling me *sigh* If you’ve tried to visit in the past 24 hours and were greeted with a lovely error message, sorry — hopefully more won’t be on the way.

Finally went skydiving again this weekend, and it was frickin’ amazing Did another tandem yesterday, and since my instructor was Bobby (Mike’s friend from college), I got to do 180s and forward motion in freefall, pull the ripcord, and steer the canopy a little before landing! I also wasn’t as nervous, which made the whole experience that much better. Both Mike and Bobby said I basically did an AFF 2 jump, which means when I actually start AFF (in the spring?), the first level or so hopefully won’t be that bad. Meh, I wish the skydiving club at JMU hadn’t fizzled out so quickly … if so many other colleges have one, why can’t we?

Mike’s weekend ended up great as well — he’d arrived without his reserve repacked and didn’t know you had to preregister for the seafood dinner, but somehow everything worked out: a 2nd pilot randomly showed up so Keith, the regular one, had time for repacking (all the other certified people were busy), and that afternoon he was in earshot of someone saying they needed 2 more people for dinner, so he quickly went over and signed us up. I admit I initially wasn’t too excited about fresh crabs and fried catfish being on the menu, but after smelling the crabs cooking and tasting the catfish, I knew I’d be okay. Maybe my seafood phobia is slowly going away? Things were pretty much awesome from that point on … the weather cooperated by not raining (though we could’ve used the temperature a few degrees lower), Mike jumped twice on Saturday and twice on Sunday (including the load I was on), and got 6 free jump tickets for the group of tandems his friend brought, plus me.

Now I’m on the skydiving “high” and can’t wait to go again, though it probably won’t be this year since it does cost a lot at first, plus starting AFF at the “end” of the season at a place that’s 7 hours away (if I go through Richmond first) isn’t the best plan. But oh well … it’ll happen eventually

Why is Drew Carey replacing Bob Barker on The Price is Right? After Whose Line and whatever other comedy-related things he’s done, I just can’t see him doing something semi-serious, not to mention almost famous/legendary …

I found a staple in my bottle of Allegra this morning. Granted, there was only 1 pill left and I noticed it before anything bad happened, but just think what would’ve happened to CVS if that bottle had found its way to someone less careful with taking their medicine.

I’ve finally started Harry Potter. And no, not the latest book that’s mentioned everywhere you turn — book 1. Don’t know why, but I think after so many people bugging me about reading it and how great it was (especially Mike and my boss), I guess I just caved and decided to give it another go. Over the weekend I visited Myrtle Beach, experienced book 7’s midnight party, and borrowed the first 3 books from Mike … and I have to admit, 100 pages in, it’s not that bad. It kinda sucks being so far behind and subconsciously comparing everything to the movie … but oh well. I keep being reassured that the more I read the better it becomes, so for the sake of not being clueless anymore and so Mike has someone to talk to about it, I’ll push through Who knows, I might even become a convert!

Hanson has finally released dates for the first leg of their tour! They’re even coming to Baltimore and DC back-to-back, on a weekend no less, and I feel a little weird not having Baltimore tickets yet. The pre-sale started on Monday, but I haven’t been able to make myself buy a ticket ’cause of the price (which can get expensive when you’re going to multiple shows) and the fact that the drive is long and in unfamiliar territory (like that’s stopped me before). And I’m sure my Hanson fan friend, Christina, will be at every show she can afford, so it’s not like I’d be alone … meh. Maybe I’ll just suck it up and do it. I’m definitely going to the DC show … and then there’s a show in Richmond, but it’s on a Wednesday night in October and ever farther than Baltimore, so I’m leaning towards no on that. Part of me is really holding out for a Myrtle Beach date on a weekend that Mike’s friend Dave has access to, but I know that’s a long shot Hmm. Well, I have ’til Saturday (the general onsale day) to decide on Baltimore, and if I’m lucky secure a spot in DC, so I guess I’ll update you all then.