It is a very well known fact that I am a big Hanson fan. I have been loving the band for twelve years now, and aside from growing up with the band and their music, I am also growing up with some of the Filipino fans who are my friends for a dozen years now as well.

The front man of Hanson - Taylor Hanson - recently had a project with James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins and A Perfect Circle), Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne and Ivy). They named their band "Tinted Windows" and the collaboration resulted in an album. In April of 2009, they released their album. As early as that time, us Filipino Hanson fans have been eagerly anticipating the local release, and the more we anticipated when some local radio stations played their first single, "Kind of a Girl."

On May 27th, my Hanson friend Anne posted in our fanblog that she has spotted the Tinted Windows CD in Astrovision Robinson's Galleria Mall. After reading her post, I remembered putting a message in a forum I belong to the words - "Happy sana kung malapit lang ako sa Robinson's Galleria para mabili ko ang Tinted Windows CD" (Happy I will be if I am near Robinson's Galleria so I could but the Tinted Windows CD). It was just a message of mixed rants and raves, and I was very surprised when someone sent me a personal message saying he read my message. He told that he's working near the mall, and if I want, he could buy the CD for me and I could just get it when we meet, since the forum has a weekly meeting / gathering.

Because going to Robinson's Galleria seemed to be a tiresome chore for me, I agreed to his proposal. I threw a joke at him, asking if he's giving it for free, and he threw back a joke saying that if it's my birthday, he will. I told him I just celebrated my birthday a few days ago, and after a short pause, he said he'll just give it as a birthday present. Come night time, he sent me a text message saying he was able to buy the CD. I told him I'd pay him when we meet, but he insisted that he's giving it as a present.




So many gatherings / meetings for the forums, but none of it I wasn't able to attend due to my schedule and location (add to that some financial problems as well). Last Friday, I was in SM North Edsa for the 4th of July Weekend Fireworks show. My forum friends and I were hoping to meet in Banchetto, so I told Praatz that if he's going to Banchetto, we can meet there for him to send the CD. Unfortunately, it was cancelled... but lucky for me Praatz went out of his way from Ortigas to where I am at just to send the CD.

I couldn't contain my happiness when I touched the CD - it was really surreal (I know I am that Hanson crazy). If I am not in a mall I might've gone giddy, but happy I was able to control it. I was really happy to have the CD after nearly two months, but happier was I to know a very nice person who's willing to go out of his way just to help someone. Actually, to call Praatz nice or very nice is an understatement. Thank you so much, Praatz! Mwah!

*** Jenn ***

PS - I hate to burst your bubble, but there is nothing romantic between Praatz and I. I see him as a baby brother (he's in his early 20s), he sees me as an older sister. Just making it clear.