Internet Friendships

I've had 'online friends' for years. Getting the internet was such an exciting thing for me as a kid. It meant I could find a world of people that liked the same things I did and would talk to me about them anytime. So believe me when I tell you that I'm no n00b to having 'online friends'. I am new to having online friends that I can actually see and talk to and are video creators like me. It's been a weird couple of weeks but ever since Vidcon my 'online' friendship count has astronomically increased. I believe it was partially due to the comfort of meeting these people in person first and the sense of comradery that was thick in the air. We could all be ourselves and not be judged for this one glorious weekend.

What I real want to address though is the term 'online friend' and it's stigma. At a time it was thought to be a creepy concept worthy of a visit by Chris Hansen. In the last, oh I don't know, 10 years or so it's gotten a little more respect and credibility. Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, smart phones, and such are to thank for making communicating on the internet mainstream.  The problem I seem to run up against is the canyon-like separation I feel between my friends I met (or mostly talk to) on the internet and my friends I made at school and actually see on a semi regular basis. (at least more than my so called 'online friends')  Yes, the two worlds tend to collide at times and the term IRL (in real life) is pointless because the internet is still real life, and I hate the term 'online friends' almost as much as I hate the term 'viral video' but can't seem to find a better way to explain it to my (oh dear) 'IRL' friends...

I guess my general frustration stems from the fact I'm so used to hanging out in groups (in high school, at college, parties, etc.); that to have all of these individual friends I interact with online (even though some of them tend to know one another anyways) and no place/ability to hang out with offline in a group (google+ chat rooms do not count...not like I've been invited to one yet) Yes there are BlogTV shows and such, but again, online meet-ups does not count! I guess I could just be wishing to relive Vidcon, like so many of the people who were there do. Or maybe I want all of my high school and college friends to attend Vidcon and interact with my 'online friends' and accept it and say it's cool and not weird.

I don't know why I'm having such a struggle with this.  I guess I want to make sure my 'online friendships' don't dwindle and that we don't loose contact.  It's so much easier to forget friends when you can't hang out with them in physical places. I don't want that to happen. So, to all my 'online friends' (ugg, is there a better term for you?) though I can not take you all out to coffee like I want, please let me take to you to virtual coffee. What I mean is, go bother me on one of my many online locations, go, do it now, just say hi or something or comment here. And to my old friends whom I've shared experiences with and grew up with, lets go out for real coffee sometime.  Lets not let it slip into the classic: "We never hang out, lets hang out more!" because we all know that never actually leads to any hanging out.

Keep Calm and Pottermore

I was never super into Harry Potter growing up.  Sure I read the books the moment they came out and saw all the movies in their first week.  I even dressed up to the premieres a few times.  But I never really considered myself a part of the Harry Potter fandom.  Looking back I realize that Hanson is to blame.  The first Harry Potter book came out in 1997, the same year Mmmbop was a chart topper.  I am a Hanson fan.  Always have been, always will be.  Because of my love of the brothers, I was pretty tunnel vision with my fandoms.  Harry Potter was great and all but my heart belonged to the blond boys who knew how to play music and harmonize. (Sorry boy bands, dancing does not do it for me like a guy with a guitar, drum set, piano, etc.)  Then, about a year later, the musical Cats was on my radar.  It was the perfect fandom.  Small and therefore supportive and friendly (for the most part).  The lose plot allowed for creative fan fiction, and the beauty and originality of the costumes was the best thing to draw which I did in my endless notebooks of fan art.  I realized my two big loves were classically unliked and I probably would have been much better off donning a scarf and wand rather than a wig and tail.  It did not matter though, we like what we like and should not have to apologize for it.  That being said I did get deeper into the HP fandom as the books got better and better; the last two being my favorites.  Then I found YouTube and wizard rock in the past year.  Yes, I know I'm late to the (Yule) ball but I feel like I don't have to have been there from the beginning to be a part of it.  Ever since the hype of the final movie and Pottermore I've been a non-stop Potter-obsessed nerd.  (Much to the annoyance of everyone around me.)  I joined Pottermore and even helped a friend who is a bigger Potter fan then me but had no internet that week get in.  It's been an interesting year, but I'm as excited for the new 'thing' as the next fan.  So to aid to my new obsession, I've filled out a Pottermore survey I stole from Hayley G Hoover.  Enjoy!

What's your Pottermore username? SparksRain117

What House do you think it sounds like? It could be Gryffindor or Slytherin I think.  Sparks raining down makes me think of dueling and those two are always dueling. 

What House do you want to be in? Gryffindor. My friends think I should be Hufflepuff (not sure if they think it's cause I'm nice or cause they want to make me mad.)  I've been know to eat books so Ravenclaw is an option.  Yet, I'm obnoxious and bossy and insistent on being the one in charge, so really it could only be Gryffindor.  I have no idea what I'd do if the site makes me a Hufflepuff, nothing against the badger I just would never live it down with my friends.

Does your username relate to you at all? Out of my options, 'WolfCat' seems as it would have been a closer fit (another option I had) but I really really like SparksRain!  It's like how I chose my house against what was 'obvouse' for me.  I can't always be predictable.

What kind of wand would you wish to get? Lightweight with a Unicorn hair in it I think.  Something that would be good for Transfiguration, I like Transfiguration. 

Are you pure, half-blooded or Muggle born? Half-blood I think.  My dad would defiantly be a wizard but I'm not so sure about my mom.

Which day did you get into Pottermore? Day 4.

What shape is your Patronus? An ocelot.

What does your boggart look like? Coping Haley here because it's so true.  "Like Mrs. Weasley's-- the death of someone close to me."

Would you rather be an Animagus or a Matamorphmagus? I think I'd be an animagus.  However, that could be my old desire to be an Animorph surfacing.

If you were an Animagus, what animal would you be? Some sort of feline, that's for sure.  I want to say a lion but if I wanted to be unsuspecting I'd probably be a domestic cat or a feral cat.

Thanks for reading!  Fill out the survey in the comments if you like, it'd be fun to see your responses.

TJP - Update - Collar

Hello all!

I am proud to say the first piece of my Jemima costume is finished.  The collar!  It's a found belt with metal spikes screwed into it.  Easy to make but non the less I'm still really proud of it.  I am currently working on the legwarmers and am about to buy some crepe wool for the wig.  It's been so long since I've made a Cats costume, it brings me back to when I was 14. haha.  

More updates as they come!

TheJemimaProject

Subscribers: 189

Looking Forward To: My Nerdfighter/Youtube gathering!

Not Looking Forward To: Seeing off Jim at the airport in a few weeks

The Jemima Project

So it look as if I'm back in the Cats costuming world after, what, 7 years?
I have been planning a Jemima costume for almost a year now, but due to moving more times then I had planned, the project never got started.
So today, August 1st, I am officially starting this costume.
If I can get it done by October then I'll be happy.
Now, a few notes about the project:
>I am creating every part of the costume myself.  No commissioning.  This way I get to experience the process and find out what I'm good at, what I'm great at, and what I should probably commission from other people in the future.
>I am documenting the entire process via video.  I'll post the episodes on my youtube channel here.  Please subscribe, thumbs up, and favorite! It means so much to me!
>This is a "project" so there is the chance I will fail. (aka not getting it done for Halloween or screwing up so badly I wind up losing lots of money)  I will be using theCCDB as my main source of guidance and help, so thank you in advance, CCDB members, for all of your contributions.

The thread with photos and updates will be here:
TheJemimaProject

Subscribers: 155
Currently Reading: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
How the Youtube Playroom misspelled Jellicle: Jellickle

Days AFK

This last Tuesday I was struck ill by a virus and, despite my wishes, stayed home sick from work.  I ended up nearly bedridden for three days followed by a busy weekend which most likely prolonged my ability to get well.  Now, I am not telling you this for your sympathy, but instead to share with you a discovery.  It's no news that time away from the computer and the internet is a good thing every so often, I just had no idea how good.  For someone who spends all her free time and all her work time behind a screen of some sort, it was very hard to avoid checking YouTube and Twitter for days at a time.  I'm very glad I did.  Being unconnected was so freeing, I actually felt more creative and wanted to write more and learn more and expand my mind and experiences.  It's hard to describe, but not knowing what was going on in the internet world cured me of my writers (and creativity) block.  And no...it was not the overdose of cough syrup that propelled this surge of inspiration, simply the lack of instant digital stimuli.  I'm not saying I'm giving up the internet, not even.  The internet is a very wonderful platform I intend to be involved in for my life.  It's just nice to pretend it dose not exist a few times a year.

Things done recently

1. Wrock concert - check
2. The Long Holidays EP Release party/concert - check
3. Youtube-y concert - check
4. Meet Meekakitty and curse her for her vlogs (responsible for my youtube obsession) - check

5. Get confidence advice from 13-year-old with 6 times as many youtube subscribers as me...(and proceed to link you to her recount of last night rather than write my own.) - check
6. Feel like I've missed something in the past few years - check

I love internet bands, but man...did I feel old being there...I swear I'm not a creeper!  hahaha.  I'll see you all at VidCon.
Much love!
~Jenny

Subscribers: 139

In Which I go to My First Ever Wrock Show

I am a relative n00b to the whole YouTube Nerdfighter Wizard Rock...thing.  I feel a little (a lot) late to the game, as I'm a shocking 25 years old with a YouTube channel that is not even a year old.  Luckily for me, this community I am embarking upon is one of the most friendly encouraging communities I've ever come across.  I mean, I'm a big Hanson fan (yes...that Hanson...don't judge) and have been since I was 11.  Well, not to hate on the Hanson fan community, but I've never really felt like I was ever a part of it.  Fans were not the most gracious at concerts and always had the air of 'ownership' about their fandom, as if trying to say they were the 'bigger fan'.  or something.  Now, I've been in this fandom for 14 years and still feel pretty alone in it.  Within minutes of entering Kendal's house in Santa Monica for this small concert, I felt welcomed.  People said things like 'Hey, I saw you on the Facebook Event page." and "Wow, this is your first wizard rock concert?!? I hope you like it!"  These people are awesome, the fans and the musicians alike.  I felt no sense that I was less important for being a n00b and no one crowded the performers (don't get me started about that at Hanson show...uggg)  I mean, sure, Alex Carpenter had his fair share of fan girls, but there was no crying, tugging, or pushing.  They were respectful, excited but not over the top.  I was really happy to see Lauren Fairwether play and The Whomping Willows and Justin-Finch Fletchley were great as well! (I've never listened to either of their music before)  I'd write up a whole concert review but I think I'll just direct you to Eden's review.  She's one of the fans I met there.  We both asked Lauren for a "Hi girls, it's Monday!" for our respective collab channels (lol) it was the epitome of adorable.

Here's me and Lauren:


And here's Eden and Lauren:


Apparently I'm better at focusing a camera than her dad, lol...(j/k her dad was so nice, taking her on Father's day and everything!)

I filmed some of the performances and a surprise performance at the beginning.  If you're a wrock fan, you should watch and if you're not...through caution to the wind and see if you enjoy it.

Subscribers: 125
Currently Reading: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (for the 2nd time)