i forgot to write about my last Taylor Hanson encounter!

This happened way back in June, but i forgot to blog about it on here!

I luckily won my way into a Tinted windows acoustic set at one of Tampa's radio stations through my facebook. They only picked 10 winners "randomly" from all their facebook fans... riiiiight I knew like 3 of the people in there. Oh well I was thrilled anyway. They played 3 songs and are really good live. We got to do pictures with just ourselves and our one guest. And they signed my CD insert (Tay asked if Miranda was spelled with an A or and I...which means he knows my name haha) and I talked to Taylor about being at "Floyd's" a nightclub inside of the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa that night. I guess it was suppose to be a "Tinted Windows Album release party" and he said he'd be there at about 11 and I'd talk to him later. I went home and changed into a dress and heels, and headed back out. Now I've been to close to 40 shows and all MOE events and DVD recodings, and i love going to clubs to dance and drink with my friends but never did I ever think I would go to a club and have Taylor BE THERE. Those 2 worlds colliding in my head was making my head spinny. Got in free and girls drank free, so i started with Tequila sunrises and I saw the guys come in out of the corner of my eye and gave em sometime to sit and start drinking. They were over in a vip round table with the curved booth seating with walls around it. I boldly walked over and shook Adam and James hands and James was getting up and offer me his seat. I obviously took him up on the offer and cozied up to Taylor. Luckily he knows who I am from Reporter and other things so it wasn't like, whoa who are you lol. He was drinking Blue Moon (and doesn't like the orange garnish) and we talked about Musicicans vs. dancers and beaches we like, surfing, why they were at a club, since this is not their kind of thing. And lots of other stuff. The drinks kept coming and at least an hr and a half to 2 hr.s passed. I got even more bold (it was the tequila) and i took his raybans out of his shirt and put em on! haha. I can't believe he let me wear em! I almost got him out of the dance floor with me but he said he didn't have any of the big furry boots to wear like the go -go dancers up on the stage. He just told me to go dance and he'd watch, so i went and danced with my girl Jenni visiting from Vegas and i walked back over to him and he told me we were really breaking it down. haha, Other random funny things, we were wearing the exact same color of red shoes and appparently "they all were talking about how they liked my dress"- Adam told me that out by the slot machines. I got a few hilarious pictures before we all left like 4 hr.s later. But all in all it was a pretty amazing night. I've interviewed Tay, and hung with him by the bus and outside venues, backstage, on cruise ships, hotel lobbies, and on walks and stuff like that but never in a VIP booth for hours on end drinking in a club. I'd say that kinda tops all.

Tulsa Trip '09

This was my 3rd trip to Tulsa in the last 4 yrs. It was short but def. sweet! The first trip was Thanksgiving ‘05. Ezra was 6 months old and I drove from Indiana through the night to witness the Electric Tour Finale. The 2nd trip was May 6th 2007 for the 10 year anniversary recording. (and yes I’m on that DVD too… I know I’m so famous) This time was another Hanson day celebration (Hanson day was May 6th 1997 when Governor Frank Keating of Tulsa declared it official “Hanson day” in the state of Oklahoma) we were sitting in on another acoustic ep recording for music for the next record that none of us had heard before. Most of the planet was represented there. I had the Brazilians in front of me. But I know the UK, Australia, Peru, Bermuda, Japan, Austria, Germany, Mexico and Italy were there too. I’m sure there were others but it was nice to see the planet come together for these guys we love so much.

So I had 3 hours of sleep when I flew into Tulsa, which the airport is on “Virgin Road” just thought I’d throw that out there. We had some rental car issues as my friend Gina who is 25 didn’t realize her license had expired. No worries, we used her card and my license so it all worked out. We went and grabbed some lunch and as I was waiting for my burger “Go” by Hanson came on which perked us up and had us singing. Tulsa is such an interesting city. It’s so Midwest, yet really artsy. There’s a vast range of people that live there. I got ready for the show and headed to “Ida Red Boutique” which is a Cain’s Ballroom rock n’ roll/gallery type place. They were playing the “Strong Enough to Break” Hanson documentary on the wall all day and had the guys 3 favorite candies and Dr. Peppers on sale in honor of Hanson day. Toms shoes were also discounted for Hanson.net members which I couldn’t have been happier about. My black and gray ones are falling apart and I found some blue and white tie-dye ones. If you don’t own a pair of Toms shoes you need to get on it, cuz they are the most comfy shoes in the world AND every pair you buy, a 2nd pair is given to a child in need. http://www.tomsshoes.com/

We headed over to the “Tulsa Little Theatre” which is a new venue for me. They’ve played a different place every time. I met up with one of the sweetest Hanson fans I know, Marianne from the UK. I love this girl she is always there to make me feel better when I’ve had a rotten day via facebook lol. I was 5th row back in theatre style seating, dead center, so I was happy. Since this was a recording we had to not make a sound during the songs and not clap after them til we got a thumbs up, which for Hanson fans is really really hard. But we did it. They needed us to echo and sing some stuff for the recording and do some clap tracks. I was glad to have helped lol, can’t wait to hear the CD! The guys came out and looked pretty good. Zac’s hair was in a ponytail with really tight black skinnys. Ike had the usual black shirt and tie with wavy hair, and Tay had to do the white tee, super skinnys with red suspenders. Complete with a full stache and facial scruff. I thought it was funny he switched the suspenders out for a green scarf for pictures lol. The new songs they played were amazing! The lyrics have just gotten more real, more mature and creative. The 3 part harmonies were used more and different kinds of piano’s, drums and boards were used. They played some older H.net member kit songs and were being themselves sharing some serious moments and cracking dirty jokes, ripping on each other and cussing out the record business as per usual, just being crazy. Sometimes I really think they have slowly lost their minds. They did a Q & A afterwards and Zac showed us his impression of his ideal 80’s hair metal band. You had to be there and we then did group photos. It was rushed and lame (I hate group photos, I have 3 but you will never see them) But I made eye contact with Tay for a sec and mouthed Hi to him and he smiled wide eyed at the insanity of the other fans and mouthed Hi, back. I grabbed Zac for a sec to say Hi and we talked about how this was a better performance since the boat wasn’t rocking and throwing us around. (Rock Boat shows were crazy) I pre-ordered the documentary and the acoustic CD I had just witnessed. Oh and I am happy to announce that the next tour (hopefully this fall) they will have toddler and kids sized merch! AND *drum roll please* a Hanson Tour Survival Kit, complete with Hanson backpacks, folding chair, thermos, flashlights and first aid kits!!!!!! God they know us so well! Now we just need Hanson shot glasses and flasks and I think I’d be set.

I then drove us 20 min north to Jenks to the “Laughing Wench Pub” and they had Hanson music blaring when I walked in and there were locals and Hanson fans there and no one minded that Hanson was playing. I’m just not used to this being accepted, it was so surreal! They had 5 dollar mmmbop shots and a special “Devil’s Nacho’s” (Zac Hanson song) just for us with H.net cards. We got back to the hotel at like midnight I think and crashed hard. I spent all day Sunday in airports and layovers through Dallas. There were 7 other Hanson fans on my departing Tulsa flight with me and we all had different Hanson shirts and Toms on, it was pretty funny as they all recognized me and we were all chatting it up across the aisles at each other. I had a minor drama in Dallas as I had dropped my phone on the Tulsa flight and realized it 5 min before that plane took off for Colorado Springs! I also was on the other side of the airport at that point too, but they did find it under my seat and I was able to pick it up at the desk over there. THANK GOD! My flight to Tampa was interesting, I had a ripped black guy carrying a huge trophy that he won at a modeling competition next to me, and 3 guys in a metal band that just got done touring Germany on the other side of me. Needless to say, we had a good time and they all knew about Hanson's new music and were cool about it surprisingly.

So I had a great time, I wish I could have stayed longer and gone to the art museum, but time just didn’t allow it. Hopefully next time. And I hope to see Colleen next time too as she didn’t make it :( So the journey continues… 12 years and 33 shows later, thousands of miles traveled and over 15 major cities camped out in. Many great friends have been made, CRAZY stories you would never believe and Hanson interviews, recordings/filmings and moments I wouldn’t trade for anything. See you on the next tour!

~Mirandatherapy@hanson.net "Miranda's therapy is Hanson"

Here are two short video's I took while there. One is at Ida Red, the other is my friend Marianne.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=57541530

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=57542936

3 things come to mind

So I've performed in one show with Tampa Bay Ballet Company so far and it went pretty well. Thank you soooo much for those of you that came to see the show and for the flowers and many miles driven, it means alot. Glad to get that first show over with and am looking forward to the next one. I'm Beatrice, Fairy of the Buttercups and a demented ballerina in a crazy modern peice! This will all roll out on June 7th. You should all come, yes even you.

I have closed an old chapter in my life with my dad and am moving on without him. In helping with that change, I have moved into a bigger, better, brighter, cheaper, closer to work apartment and I LOVE it. View of the water and everything. If anyone needs my adress, let me know. Better yet come visit me. Good times will be had by all!

I do find that I am still cursed with a sentimental heart and I miss some people aweful. Whether they miss me or not that I'm not sure, but I can just hope that my suffering in silence and many failed efforts can be distracted by whatever comes my way. I don't always understand why people behave the way they do but I can only account for myself and how I treat others. There's always an adventure to be had and I'm putting myself out there and just living my life to the fullest... I leave you with this, find those unique people in your life and know who your chosen family is. Surround yourself with those good people, make time for them and love em to peices cuz when you die, you can't take your money, your stuff, your trips or your job with you. All you leave behind is the relationships you had, and the time you spent with your friends and fam... I love you guys, you know who you are. <3

Nathan's Lyme Disease

So Monday afternoon I got home from my morning class and rehearsal for TBB and I got a phone call from my mom that Nathan lost all his motor skills, his ability to speak and his eyes rolled back in his head and was gasping for air as he fell down the steps at my parents house. They called 911 and he was taken to Parkview hospital. Now mind you this is no surprise cuz Nathan is always in the hospital, at least for the last 8 years or so. ICU 4 times within the last 5 years and it just wears you down doing shifts by the hospital bed trying to keep your brother alive and the rest of your family together. So I'm always trying not to think about it. I tried not to freak out at first but then she called back and said he'd had a seizure, had coded and that it was really bad this time. I know since Nathan had been diagnosed (finally) with Lyme Disease and has virtually no immune system left that this may be it. I tried to find flights up to Fort Wayne but since it's Spring break time the prices were out of this world. So i had to make the quick decision to cancel all my classes and drive with Matt and Ezra straight there, through the night. I got to the hospital at about 9:30 AM on Tuesday and he was still shaking and speaking slow. He couldn't move and we were waiting on MRI tests and stuff. It was good for Ezra to be there since he has a calming effect. I got to stay with Carly since she only lives like 10 mins from the hospital, so that helped my mood. The next day this retarded doctor read his MRI and said since it didn't show that he has epilepsy she told him all this was caused by "stress". AND he was having twitching and shaking while she was talking to him and she asked him if he was having any more shaking? uhhhhhh he was doing it right in front of her and she was like "he wasn't doing this earlier right?" WTF?!!!! I was so pissed at her attitude and her just writing him off like he's crazy that I starting yelling and my hands were shaking and Nathan managed to grab his plastic water cup and hurl it across the room. I got soaked but i would have done the same. In the last 8 years he's been on like 15 different psyhcological medications that never worked since no one checked him for Lyme since it's so rare. So like everyone else, she basically told him it's all in his head and he's just faking it and needs therapy. We got his pshycolgist to come to the hospital to check him out and he wrote a report that he has absolutely NO psyhcological problems what so ever and needs to see an infectious disease doctor. Alex came by and hung out with me for awhile that night (then the next morning she drove her new car into standing water and had to climb out the sunroof as it sunk TOTALLY UNDERWATER. So she almost died too. AHHH!) The next day I slept alot and helped Nate do his physical therapy that day. He still had a real hard time lifting his right leg and when he tried to stand up he just shook til it gave out. At night I had dinner with Carly at this weird mexican place and then we shared loaded cookie dough ice cream and watched Step Brothers. Carly and I tried to sleep in the same bed and she squished me against the wall all night long lol! and her cat is CAR-AZY. anyway... i had to go home so we all said our goodbyes. Driving through Kentucky sucked since it heavy snowed the whole time and i haven't seen snow in 2 years, let alone remember how to drive in it! ugh... Nate stayed 2 more days, saw more lame doctors and they gave him a walker and a wheelchair and some painkillers and they were just like "good luck, we don't know what to do about Lyme sorry". He has a real doctor in Michigan that he will be seeing soon, and he can't go up and down stairs so i guess he's going to live upstairs at my parents house for awhile (lucky him right?) I made it back in time for 6 hours of rehearsal that night and I just collapsed when i got home and here i am, editing music and packing up my house since we are moving April 4th. SO until next time, stay alive people I can't keep doing this!

I think I'm a freak

So this 30 hrs. of dancing a week is starting to get to me and is making me a little crazy. i would love to just saw off my left foot and grow a new one that doesn't hurt every hour of the day. Every morning I get to stumble around cuz the whole ankle just gives out on me and the nice open wounds and bruised knees, thighs, elbows and hips are just getting to be a pain in my ass...litterally. And as i had some time to myself today due to many many student illnesses I had too much time to think and here are some random thoughts that came to me today.

First off, I think I must be really weird in general and I just naturally reject normal human behavior. I went into Bed Bath and Beyond to look at stuff for my new apartment and hated everything. Since when did the world lose color and all creativity? boring boring stupid, cliche ugh. I guess I'll have to get most of my stuff at Urban outfitters or "Joe's R Us" as we like to call it. AND CLOTHES! I don't ever wear real clothes. I was looking at parents at the Co-op and I just wondered what it would be like to wear clothes and do my hair everyday. That would be so weird, like even underwear, what is that like? My hair goes from wet to the pillow to a bun and I go from pj pants and a tee to tights and leos and legwarmers with cut up pants and layers of my weird bright crap. All i do is stretch, sweat, yell, jump around and take pain killers to pass out at night. Did I mention I name everything i own, is that weird? my laptop is Alice (cuz she knows everything), my surfboard is Bella (and i talk to her while driving and yell at her in the waves) and my GPS has a hot aussie accent named Edward. (figured it out yet) my Sebring is Princess Sophia (haha) and the girls are Roxy and Velma :) I got my hello Kitty I sleep with a new flannel and black cord skirt cuz she didn't like her old outfit anymore. I also hate white cars HATE them, they freak me out. I check my emails like 500 times a day and I shower in the dark now. It's way better. I'm always doing choreagraphy in my head like modern peices with straight jackets and masks, box fans and circus music. I made up a tap routine in Starbucks last week actually. And then sometimes I remember I'm a mom and try to do normal mom things but i don't know how. You should have seen us registering at Preschool (we stood out a little) Ezra is going to be one unique little person. He gets attention everywhere he goes cuz he just has such a weird/funny personality. Girls already chase him sometimes 3 at a time. and I'm on my bathroom floor in the dark with a beer and a towel on my head as I'm typeing this. But i don't know you be the judge, have i lost my mind?

The Rock Boat Niner!

Where to begin with an amazing week on the Rock Boat?! Well I guess I can explain what it is first. It's a Carnival Cruise hosted by Sister Hazel that goes to 2 ports and has about 30 bands playing shows on various stages the whole time. We went to the Bahamas and we were suppose to go to Half Moon Cay, but the waters were too rough. I also knew like half the people on the boat so it was like a great party with old friends! Day One we saw Gaelic Storm (hilarious), Sister Hazel and Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers (thanks Brittney for hanging with me). Food wise, they had buffets and snack bars, pizzerias, asian and sushi, a Deli, coffee shops and ice cream round the clock. We ordered room service a couple times and did the sit down dining room one time. It's weird to not order based on price since we already paid for it! Oh and the constant stream of coffee into my system was helpful! The booze was pretty cheap too. Although I snuck pineapple rum and Sky Vodka on the ship and had alot of mixed lemonades. Running down steps tipsy with a rocking boat was def. a challenge at times hahaha. Ok day 2 we docked in Nassau and we got on a sailboat and sailed out for about 30 min. to snorkel. I had a full one peice and rash guard on but and i was still worried how cold it was gonna be. I jumped into the water, screamed some profanities and swam back to the ladder haha! The Bahama guys didn't blame me since the water was a numbing cold 70 degrees and us Southerners can't stand it. But Matt did it anyway and got some pics. Then we all drank Rum and i danced the Cha Cha slide on the roof as we sailed back. That night I saw The Kin (hot aussies), Green River Ordinance was really good and finally Hanson took the stage at the Lido deck. Some girl got mad that she couldn't push her way up to the front and threw her drink in a girls face like 3 people over from me, I got splashed a little and we were like,"That did not just happen" ...crazy Hanson fans. So someone dared Hanson to play til 3am...they started at 12:30. ugh. it was amazing though as usual. They were stepping it up a little since alot of the crowd had not seen them before. I think they earned alot of respect that was long overdue. I took lots of pics and video of course. Those will be up on myspace and facebook soon. Next morning was Meet and Greets and I finally got my tour jacket signed. Talked to the guys a bit. Ran into Zac a few times walking around and Ike and Nikki the last night but Taylor i think was hiding a little more. I guess 2 girls kissed Zac and he pushed them off of him. and Taylor told some fan that her sanity was questionable haha. Anyway, saw Stephen Kellogg again and Goose took his shirt off and did the worm and shit. It was hilarious! Colleen, I wish u could have been there! Then we headed out to the Lido deck for the "St. Patty's day" party with Gaelic storm and showed off my drunken irish jig and jazz hands. Next morning Half Moon Cay was canceled so I parked my ass on a lounge chair out on the deck with new vampire books and beer and chilled all day. Watch the Obama inaugeration and Sister Hazel did an surprise set with dreadlock wigs and did island songs with free booze for 1 hr. THAT WAS CRAZY. Saw Curtis Peoples that night(who looks like a Jonas with a Jack Black look-a-like bassist) Gaelic Storm AGAIN, lol but they had Irish dancers this time. Hanson was up again and i was 3 rows back and center standing on a chair. I could see PERFECTLY. This was my 33rd show and it made my top 3! The waves were kicking up bad and i felt like i was surfing on my chair. Taylor had bright red super skinnys on and he even crawled at us during "In the City" so funny. Stephen Kellogg came on and did a song with them and so did Tolcher. Even Sister Hazel rocked out with them. They did every song and cover I love and I haven't sang/screamed/danced that hard in years. ahhhh. In the morning we did a mile walk with Hanson around the outside deck of the boat it took us 4 laps and the guys were all in sunglasses and Taylor had scary shorts on... this was the last day i went to the rest of the Meet and Greets and Matt got his poster signed by every single band :) I went to the sixers last show, Wideawake, and an amazing acoustic Michael Tolcher set! He has changed and grown alot and i was impressed. We sadly packed our stuff in our cabin and headed to the finale show with Ernie Halter and Sister Hazel. The shows were great and Sister Hazel called Hanson "Rock Ninjas, that don't ever quit and will groove you into submission". Then all the bands came together onstage and sang "We are the World" with Hanson doing most of the solo verses. It was so cute. Then each band played 2 covers and played late into the night. Blackberry Smoke's "Sweet Home Alabama" and The Sixers "Piano Man" was my favorite. Poor Zac was a left handed drummer on a right handed drum set. He looked retarded lol. That was the end of my trip but a couple other things that were cool was the Artist trivia with Tolcher, Boots and the 2 lead guys of Gaelic Storm, there are not words to say how funny that was. I got some great autographed Merch and lots of band conversations I saw my friends Amber and Jen, Jessica and some other frequent front rowers I knew and of course my Florida friends. Thanks to Joe for letting me leave my car at your place and for the ride and having Lawrence pick us up. That was really nice of you and it won't soon be forgotten. OH and my sub Teachers, Alexis, Amber and Lindsay. Thanks for covering my classes. And last but not least, special thanks to my parents for flying down here to take care of Ezra!!! And I'm sorry this is so long but you guys said you wanted ALL the stories. So there you go. See you on the Boat next year bitches! Peace.

January update

Things are going really great right now. Ezra had a wonderful Christmas and I've seen almost all my friends in a very short amount of time and I'm still trying to process it all. Vegas was unreal. Loved it there and I miss you Jenni already! I got a random week-end with Joe, and Carly was just here for 4 days. Now my mom is coming and I'm going on the Rock Boat this week-end for Hanson concerts and snorkeling in the Bahamas. Dance is really starting to pick up. Our first Show is March 21st and we are working hard to get everything done. My balance and dizziness from my accident still effects me so I get really frustrated with quick turn combos. ugh. But I did get a chance to get my surfboard and I got to Cocoa this past week-end. I can't wait for many more surf weekends to come. I need to get to my book though now... Edward is calling me. and u don't say no to a hot vampire.