History Catches Up

At one point or another, the past catches up with us. In this case, Titanic is back. Sure, Titanic sank in 1912, but it is the memory of it that keeps coming up. Ever since James Cameron's movie came out, I have been fascinated on the subject. To this day, Titanic is still my favorite movie.

When I found out I was moving to Florida, a friend of mine told me I needed to visit Titanic: The Experience. I took her advice. This museum had replicas of rooms from the ship, artifacts recovered from the site, props from the movie and there was a tour guide that took us around and told us stories and hidden secrets from the Titanic and the sinking. It was a very informative way to spend my day.


Some of the rooms that I got to see included the grand staircase, which I was pleased to be able to take a picture in front of. Yes, we could take pictures there! I also saw the veranda and first class cabin. I also got to stand at the spot the captain would be steering his ship and also where they alerted the crew to close those watertight doors. We also got to go "below deck" to where they kept the vehicles and mail and also where the crew shoveled coal into the furnace.


It was amazing walking through the museum and thinking about the lives lost and how the ship went from the ship of dreams to a nightmare. It gave me shivers, and not because I was touching an iceburg (bad joke).


At the end of the tour is when I saw the props from the movie including an outfit worn by Leonardo Dicaprio himself. Titanic is not only my favorite movie, but it the movie that made Leonardo Dicaprio my favorite actor (and still is today). Other props included the hair pin worn by Rose, an autographed script, photographs from old lady Rose's room and Rose's purses.


I say that if you are in the Orlando, Fla., area, then visit Titanic: The Experience. Glad I went!

Magically Memorable

This was the day of being in the right place at the right time. There is no other explanation. I'll cut to the chase. I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan. Like, beyond ridiculous. It's my absolute favorite thing in the world. Besides my family and my cats. Yep, I'm a huge nerd. Anyway, I was going to buy it on DVD at midnight when it came out. The last and final Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I was out that night so I went to a Wal-Mart that I never go to. When I walked in I saw a sign that said some Harry Potter cast members were going to be there that next day. Let me just say I was extremely embarassing when I saw that sign. Again, sorry to my friends.

I knew that some cast members from the movie were in town at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for the movie release. So I figured that's why they were going to be at Wal-Mart. I wish I could have gone to the event at Universal, but it was a tad too expensive. Wal-Mart was free!

I was scheduled to work that next day, but I got off unusually early. I usually close, but that day I was off in the afternoon so it gave me time to still get in line a few hours early to see them. Again, I was lucky.

As I walk inside the Wal-Mart I am surprised at how empty it is. Then I walk around the corner and see all of the people sitting on the ground. So nevermind to the emptiness. I get in line and get handed a free movie poster, three pins and a Harry Potter lego set. It's already worth coming! So as hours pass, we see the back doors open and everyone screams. I'm on the complete other side of the area so I'm on my tip toes trying to see which cast members are walking in. Thankfully I'm tall so I can see.

Dean Thomas, Lavendar Brown, Cho Chang and Seamus Finnigan. Yay!!!!

I am beyond excited because I have always loved both Dean and Seamus. Lavendar I secretly dislike because she got to kiss Ron and I wish that was me. Cho is absolutely beautiful. She was the only one who had embarassing fans yelling her name louder than necesssary.

I unfortunately did not get an autograph because they were only there for a limited amount of time and there were just too many people in front of me, but that's okay. I was happy to have just been in their presense. Honestly, at that time the day before I never imagined I'd see any of them. Ever.

When they were leaving, Dean Thomas came out first and I was positioned to where he had to walk shoulder to shoulder with me, and I'm tall. So we immediately locked eyes and he smiled and waved directly at me and that made my day! My camera was held out far from me in case he was allowed to pose for pictures (which he wasn't) but I actually got a picture of his smile and wave to me! Cho Chang also did the same thing. Thank goodness for my height making me a focus point.

This was an amazing experience and for me to be in the presense of Harry Potter characters brought it all to life for me. Happiness.

My Mom Likes Them

So obviously I have seen a few concerts at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. Hanson and Boys II Men were the only ones on the list that I actually knew who they were, but while I was in Epcot, I walked by America to see who was playing so I could say I have seen them. Well on this particular night, the group Air Supply was set to come on stage.

As I was walking to get a seat in the crowd, I noticed everyone else seated was not quite in my age range. It seemed more like my parents' ages were present. I had never heard of Air Supply so I texted my parents and they were both jealous that I was seeing them.

There were only two lead singers in the band. Let me just say that every single one of their songs talked about love. They did not have a song that did not have the word in it. At one point, both of the singers (and one actually played the guitar) came out into the crowd and oh my goodness, I have never seen adults act so crazy over someone. I was sitting there in shock. I could not help but stare at the ladies who were fawning over these guys. These are probably the thoughts my mom has when I see a celebrity my age around (sorry Mom, now I know).

I actually had heard of some of the songs before, but it was not my kind of thing, so I left the concert early. It is not that they weren't good because obviously plenty of people thought they were. They just are not my era so I did not enjoy it quite as much.

So I saw Air Supply. I have my own air; don't need theirs.

Mmm Mmm A Lot

First loves always win in the end. They are the ones you never forget about. It is a real thing. My first love is and always will be Zac Hanson. Yes, the same Zac Hanson that is the drummer and youngest brother of the music group Hanson. It is Zac Hanson that I base everything I like in a guy on. From the way he looks to the instruments that he plays. He is what every guys must measure up to. And honestly, I did not realize that until today. He is the basis of all that.

Lucky for me, Hanson was on the list to play at Epcot during the Food & Wine Festival. Ever since the list came out over a month ago, I have been counting down the days until I would see Zac and his brothers in real life.

Well, ladies and gentleman, the time has come. I saw Hanson tonight!!! I arrived at the ampitheater about an hour before the show, and honestly it is not a huge area, so even if I was standing in the back, I would still have a fantastic view. I rushed over after work to Epcot and was able to get second row. I was more toward the left side, but still an amazing view.

When Hanson came out, flashbacks from my childhood came to me. I remember posters on my walls, books on my desk and their cd playing loudly in my room. Isaac is the oldest one and no one ever cared about him, but he grew up nicely. He was dressed real suave. Taylor is the middle child who everyone loved, except me. And then there is Zac. He was and still is my favorite. He came out with his long hair in a ponytail (actually a bun on the back of his head) and a tshirt and jeans with holes in it. That is the look I love.

I am confident when I say that I had a smile on my face the entire night. I was taking pictures frantically because I wanted to make sure I had great photographic evidence of my night. I was singing along, but unfortunately the concert was only 30 minutes long. All of the concerts during the festival are short, because they do three sets each night.

Hanson played around six or seven songs. New ones, old ones and even a Beatles one. Zac was on the drums the entire night and kept smiling and seemed very carefree and like he is just as awesome as I think. Taylor was getting into the songs like the lead group member always does. He played the keyboard and a harmonica. Isaac was on the guitar up front and sang quite a bit, too. He was really into his guitar. He was the only one who did not really smile.

All in all, it was an amazing concert! These guys can sing and play musical instruments. They actually are talented. If I ever get the chance to see them again, you can count on it that I will be there.