Yankochick Central

[Yup.]

whenever I mention him to either the one or two friends that hang out with me at lunch, they put their hands to their face and sigh

That's their problem, then. Find people who enjoy Weird Al with you. I had the same problem in 6th, 7th, and most of 8th grade, except the ONLY friends I had were on the internet. If it makes you happy, then don't let anyone steal that joy.

I luckily have found friends who allow me to talk about Al, but to an extent. This is the only place that I say, you know, he's adorable, but I have expressed in person that I think he's good looking.

Anyway, what I'm saying is, you do you, and don't let anyone tell you not to do you. YOU are one of us, and YOU are awesome!

I will be the wise old grampa even though I am only 14

but its tough because I get really anxious during school, which is a time when I can't look at Al related stuff.

I don't know if you carry around binders in school, but what I did was make a collage of pictures and put it on the front of one of my binders, that was when I was sad or anxious, I always had something to make me smile.

I also want to hug him

Take it from a 4-time Al hugger, HIS HUGS ARE AMAZING. And he's always willing to give them, you just gotta ask! he also smells really good oops

[chickadee]

It's really crazy, but I feel like I have to lie about liking Al. I don't know why the social pressure makes me feel that way. He's a wonderful person, an amazing performer and an unbelievably prolific artist. So who are we supposed to pretend we like and why?

[IFoundMyYankochicks]

but its tough because I get really anxious during school, which is a time when I can't look at Al related stuff.

I don't know if you carry around binders in school, but what I did was make a collage of pictures and put it on the front of one of my binders, that was when I was sad or anxious, I always had something to make me smile.

I also want to hug him

Take it from a 4-time Al hugger, HIS HUGS ARE AMAZING. And he's always willing to give them, you just gotta ask! he also smells really good oops

the binder idea is amazing! but sadly I don't have a printer. luckily, my school gives us iPads (tbh I hate having iPads at school) but I can make a collage of him on my iPad and make it my wallpaper, or I can save a bunch of pictures of him to my iPad and look at them when i'm sad. Also, you are only 14 and you've hugged him 4 TIMES? I am screaming of jealousy

[Yup.]

It's really crazy, but I feel like I have to lie about liking Al. I don't know why the social pressure makes me feel that way. He's a wonderful person, an amazing performer and an unbelievably prolific artist. So who are we supposed to pretend we like and why?

I hate society so much, because if you don't fit the cookie cutter mold, you're disturbed. What I say is just be yourself. Break the rules of the social norm, I dare you. Don't "pretend" to like anything. If Al "pretened" to be himself, we'd have a strange architect somewhere in California, and this forum wouldn't exist.

Also, you are only 14 and you've hugged him 4 TIMES? I am screaming of jealousy

Yes! I've met him 3 times, and at my 2nd meet and greet I got to hug him twice. Best 10 seconds of my life.

[Yankomaniac]

I live by the "Dare To Be Stupid" credo. Be yourself, don't let them grind ya down!

[Killingsworth]

This is a far more flattering photo of Al from the Tacky shoot than the one that was on the Tacky trading card.

[chickadee]

By Yup "I hate society so much, because if you don't fit the cookie cutter mold, you're disturbed. What I say is just be yourself. Break the rules of the social norm, I dare you. Don't "pretend" to like anything. If Al "pretened" to be himself, we'd have a strange architect somewhere in California, and this forum wouldn't exist."

We'd have an unhappy architect somewhere in California. He dared to be stupid and because he was so brave, he has a job he loves.

[IFoundMyYankochicks]

The great thing about Al is that he gets to be as crazy as he wants to be, and since his name is "Weird Al" everyone is just like "oh yeah, that's just Al being Al!" He taught me to embrace my weirdness. When I'm with my friends we are crazy as hell. You should see us during lunch. We burst out into song randomly, we dance a lot, we scream and fangirl all the time, and other stuff that is very specific, and I wont mention because It will take a while to type.(fun fact: one time I was talking to my friends about going to a weird al concert, and it turns out one of my friends already went to one, and she loved it! she said her favorite part was when Al went out to sing white and nerdy on a segway. Eventually we all started singing white and nerdy at the top of our lungs. I can remember the crazy looks people gave us ) but me and my friends are just the craziest, weirdest people you will ever meet. Everyone at school hates us, and when people try to bully us, we scream at them "Yeah we're weird! We don't have to do everything you say!" or something along the lines of that, until they give up and leave. The funny thing is, I was once in a friend group of "popular people" and I hated it, and our friendship was terrible. When I joined this group of weird, loud, amazing people, I never felt happier in my life. Our weirdness makes our friendship close.

'Also: Al is so lucky that he has a job that doesn't encourage him to grow up, and hes a kid at heart which I love. even his reaction to winning a grammy hasn't changed:

[chickadee]

Oh I LOVE your pictures of Al winning his grammys then and now!
All this great talk about following his example and just being myself has made me feel so much better!!!

[Sailor-Polka-Moon]

Oh gosh....



@.@...



THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH LOVELY IN HERE.


This is my first week without a pile of homework to do!! I'm soooo happy! <3


I have time to get a peek in here and see SO MUCH gorgeous! Al has been posting so much on his Instagram and it's a welcome sight when checking my phone in between classes...




---


During a speech I had to give at school about the use of sound in poetry/rhythm in language, I actually sang -- for the first time in my life in front of people -- I SANG song lyrics to demonstrate how poetry in books and popular song lyrics are not that far apart at all.



I never, ever thought I could do it, but I did--


I do massively credit Al for inspiring me with the courage to do it. To just ACT on some wild, crazy idea and see what happens, like he did years ago, and still is doing.
Thank you, you sweet, crazy man. <3


/my contribution to the "how much Al means to me" discussion in previous posts, which I completely feel and understand and sympathize with! <333