Looking back on 1998 baby, one more time.
As 2008 comes to an end, I had been thinking a lot about anniversaries the past few months. After high school, I was in a work training program at Seattle Central College for a couple months, unsure where I'd be in '99. My job assistants eventually found a little place called MasterPress. I'd go on to spend 4 years there before budget cuts/layoffs and although I was still quite shy, it did help me out for future jobs. You know, it still doesn't feel like it's been that long, whereas Target (which I was at for most of 2004) feels like another lifetime. >_>
Now as for what has taken a lifetime... Back in simpler times, I'd watch Power Rangers in the afternoon or at my convenience on the weekend and occasionally check out the PROA and another site or 2. Heh, I'll never forget how mad I was when I was spoiled that Astronema was actually Karone, right before it was revealed on the show (Never would've figured it out on my own
Then after PR had a sort-of last episode, I checked out a link to a popular PR message board and never looked back. 10 years later... never would've imagined the fandom would consume my life for so long. While making the MMPR tribute turned out to be pretty draining (The fact I had started on it, stopped for about 6 months and then worked on it practically everyday for 6 weeks was ridiculous), I'm glad I could finally make it after the 15th anniversary and can now focus on the other season tributes... (that won't be 3 seasons long again, thankfully!)
Also back then, long before The Hills, Tila Tequila, countless Real World/Road Rules challenges and other crap, I still fondly remember when MTV kicked off their new studios with MTV Live. Never got to watch it much though, since it was on during dinner. Total Request Live premiered that fall and the Backstreet Boys vs NSYNC battles for #1 got underway. That December we'd be introduced to Britney Spears and the following summer Christina Aguilera. Tons, upon tons of happy memories, watching it on days off, after work or on tape when need-be until about 2004, as the show would gradually change with the times and I'd grow out of it. It was strange coming back in October for the special countdowns and favorite moments they started doing gearing up for the finale.
And what a finale it was -- Carson Daly returning to host along with all the former (and current) VJs and just about everyone who can credit at least part of their career to what TRL did for them. Although Britney couldn't make it, I was happy to see her #1 again. Too bad Mandy Moore (who had filled in for Carson occasionally and was on the countdown way back when she had a music career) wasn't present either, neither was most of NSYNC. Thinking back on TRL, also takes me back to The Box Music Network which we had for a few years before it became MTV2.
Another thing that has gone on for over the past 10 years, is my journal I write in every couple months, that was originally a class thing during senior year. Unfortunately, the school year was cut short for Ms. Shintaffer who was sick the last several weeks and I soon started writing on my own time (which was the start of it pretty much). It's great to look back on school stuff and some of my quick drawings. Most everything else -- not so much. Besides PR fandom, my world revolved around talking online and the friends and "relationships" I had on there for about 7, 8 years, which I'd write about. All I can do is laugh about it now. Most moved on obviously and would never remember me. I know there must've been times the person I thought I was talking to wasn't who they said they were (People have admitted to it, either myself directly, or someone else in PR fandom)...
Anyway, that's enough looking back for now I'd say.
Now as for what has taken a lifetime... Back in simpler times, I'd watch Power Rangers in the afternoon or at my convenience on the weekend and occasionally check out the PROA and another site or 2. Heh, I'll never forget how mad I was when I was spoiled that Astronema was actually Karone, right before it was revealed on the show (Never would've figured it out on my own
Then after PR had a sort-of last episode, I checked out a link to a popular PR message board and never looked back. 10 years later... never would've imagined the fandom would consume my life for so long. While making the MMPR tribute turned out to be pretty draining (The fact I had started on it, stopped for about 6 months and then worked on it practically everyday for 6 weeks was ridiculous), I'm glad I could finally make it after the 15th anniversary and can now focus on the other season tributes... (that won't be 3 seasons long again, thankfully!)
Also back then, long before The Hills, Tila Tequila, countless Real World/Road Rules challenges and other crap, I still fondly remember when MTV kicked off their new studios with MTV Live. Never got to watch it much though, since it was on during dinner. Total Request Live premiered that fall and the Backstreet Boys vs NSYNC battles for #1 got underway. That December we'd be introduced to Britney Spears and the following summer Christina Aguilera. Tons, upon tons of happy memories, watching it on days off, after work or on tape when need-be until about 2004, as the show would gradually change with the times and I'd grow out of it. It was strange coming back in October for the special countdowns and favorite moments they started doing gearing up for the finale.
And what a finale it was -- Carson Daly returning to host along with all the former (and current) VJs and just about everyone who can credit at least part of their career to what TRL did for them. Although Britney couldn't make it, I was happy to see her #1 again. Too bad Mandy Moore (who had filled in for Carson occasionally and was on the countdown way back when she had a music career) wasn't present either, neither was most of NSYNC. Thinking back on TRL, also takes me back to The Box Music Network which we had for a few years before it became MTV2.
Another thing that has gone on for over the past 10 years, is my journal I write in every couple months, that was originally a class thing during senior year. Unfortunately, the school year was cut short for Ms. Shintaffer who was sick the last several weeks and I soon started writing on my own time (which was the start of it pretty much). It's great to look back on school stuff and some of my quick drawings. Most everything else -- not so much. Besides PR fandom, my world revolved around talking online and the friends and "relationships" I had on there for about 7, 8 years, which I'd write about. All I can do is laugh about it now. Most moved on obviously and would never remember me. I know there must've been times the person I thought I was talking to wasn't who they said they were (People have admitted to it, either myself directly, or someone else in PR fandom)...
Anyway, that's enough looking back for now I'd say.