Every now and then my life amazes me

Sometimes I can't believe how cool my life can be. I guess I need to remember these things when it seems like things are overwhelming and sucky. So, it began as a good, ego-boosting week with the whole Oohlas review, Ultragrrrl liking my review, getting quoted on the Oohlas website etc.

Hard to believe, but it actually got even better.

I went to Detroit last night to cover the Nintendo Fusion tour with Hawthorne Heights, Relient K, Emery, and the Plain White T's. In addition to writing a review on the show, I'm going to be interviewing the Plain White T's in a week or so for a feature for Revolt, so I definitely wanted to see what their live show was like.

The State Theater was crazy-packed, and of course there were zillions of teenagers, for all I know, some of my students were there (though I didn't actually see any of them). I got there just as the Plain White T's were getting on stage, so I didn't fight my way to the front of the crowd (which was considerable) for any photos. While they were breaking down their gear, I tried to get up close to the stage for Emery's set. I got all the way up front, but I was so far over on the side, I couldn't really see a whole lot and my photos were crap. So, about three songs into their set, this photographer leaving the photo pit pushes his way through the crowd, sees me crammed in my corner with my notepad and asks me who I'm writing for. I tell him, he gives me his card, asks for mine (don't have any! Eek! Must do something about this!) and then continues on his way off the main floor.

After Emery's set is over, I get out of the crowd for a few minutes too and run into this photographer again. We start chatting, he introduces me to another photographer (who is actually a student at U of M) and we talk "shop talk" for a while. Then they say that thay need to get back inside and ready for Relient K and tell me to come along with them, saying, "you're with us now!" So, we make our way through the huge crowd to the stage and the security guys don't even bat an eye at me going into the photo pit with them. One of the photographers (Harry) told security that I was on his photo pass. We got to watch the techies checking all the instruments, see the set list before the show began, and all that kind of stuff which was very cool. And then the show started. Let me tell you, it is AMAZING to be that close at a show of that size. To have space around you to actually write, to take photos without some guy's armpit in the picture, to be close enough to actually get some good photos on a little digi cam! We could only stay up there for three songs, but still, three songs at the front of the stage with the photographers... SO cool, and they were just one of the opening bands!

Harry and Mike (the other photographer) got me into the pit again for Hawthorne Heights (the headliners) and that was just off the map...JT Woodruff (lead singer) was literally two feet away from me, maybe less. I actually almost got hit by one of the guitarists as he was running up to the front of the stage, six inches (at most) away from me. The hardest part about HH's set was the fact that there was a lot of crowd surfing and you had to watch so you didn't get hit by one of those kids as the security guards caught them at the barriers. Holy. Shit. I was in the photo pit for Hawthorne Heights! Last time I saw them I was in the nosebleed section at the Palace, and this time, I'm up with the photographers. How crazy!

I think I got some really good pictures. Sure, they won't be anywhere as good as Harry and Mike's, it would be a lot easier to shoot something like that with a SLR instead of a point and shoot, but I'm not gonna complain:) A little photoshop and I think I should have some decent photos. My editor will flip out when I tell her about this:)

Sorry to gush, but the whole thing was just so freaking cool and unreal at the same time. I mean, yesterday morning I was running writing workshops on All Quiet on the Western Front and then last night I'm up at the front of the stage with a bunch of photographers covering Hawthorne Heights. Sometimes the dichotomy is almost too much to comprehend:) I love it. It would be hilarious if some of my students were there and saw me up front...guess we'll find out on Monday.

Also, I think some students might feel I'm either ever-so-slightly cool or a total pushover. I had two students, neither of which I have in any of my classes, come up to me after school to ask me if I'd be moderator of the snowboarding club. Apparently, word had gotten round that I would be a good person to ask because I might be "into that kind of thing" (snowboarding, that is). The two students definitely had their plans all laid out and things organized, so I said sure, I'd do it. It should be fun:)

What a weird, weird day. I wouldn't have it ANY different for a million dollars!!
Photos will be posted as soon as I've done a little photoshop work.
Woot!