Nerdgasm #17: Fandom Tea, Yes, Tea

Adagio Teas: Fandom

Click the link above to be transported to the wonderful world of signature blend teas. Each tea is custom designed to fit each fandom. They have any fandom you could think of. They have everything from Mass Effect to Supernatural to Sherlock. I swear if fandom nerds keep going, every pokemon will get a blend. There are that many to choose from. Then it goes further to fandoms within fandoms. There is a Harry Potter set, and then a Potions class set, and to go even futher, they have a Lizzie Bennet Diaries set. No fandom is excluded in this Tea extravaganza.


ART WORK
Not only are the Teas great, but the art work created for them is pretty cool too. Check these out.

 

DESCRIPTIONS
Then the descriptions they have are really cool. Here are some samples

LOKI
So I am no more than another scorned idea, locked in your mental tea cabinet until you might have use of me? You could have told me it wouldn't happen from the beginning! Why didn't you? What, because I-- I-- I am the caffeinated blend parents won't let their children try at night? You know, it all makes sense now, why you favoured Holmes all these years, because no matter how often you claim to make tea, you could never have a Frost Giant featured in your signature blends!' [Thank you to the anonymous writer that left me this note, and prompted me to make a blend for Loki. Cool, refreshing, but just a bit dark, with a hint of floral undertones. This blend truly shines when iced.]

CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS
A smooth, timeless blend guaranteed to charm anyone off their feet. You can take it to bed, but it will probably keep you up all night

TEAmblr
A bit odd, a bit sweet, but all flavors that manage to work together. Even if they sometimes clash when in improper proportions. Accepts no responsibility if any resulting addiction to this tea ruins your life. Go to bed.

 DESTIEL
Yup


REVIEWS
But the fun does not stop there, my friends. Check out the reviews people give. They are almost as good as some of the the Tea descriptions. Some may be even better.

STEVE ROGERS
"Steve tea is like a warm hug when you most need it. I wasn't expecting to like it so much, but when I tried it, it was love at first taste. The tea can be either strong like Captain America or soft and sweet like Steve. Ironically it's just as good iced as it is warm. Though, I wouldn't suggest keeping in your freezer for 70 years." -Sarah H


SIRIUS BLACK
"LOVE IT. My roommate and I have decided that it smells just like we've always imagined Sirius would smell. Tastes almost like an herbal tea, with bright lemon and ginger, but has a strong base. Also, just... Sirius. Sigh."


So go off and buy, fellow nerds. You're bound to find something you'll love. Curl up with your fandom tea while watching/reading your favorite fandom.


 Make to Follow us as well.

Twitter: Andimatrainwrec (Katie), npalmerco08 (Nora)

Tumblr: Aaanndimatrainweck (official),  kahildreth (Katie), stillnuttypony (Nora)

And yes we did just re-read that and said, "Who let's us talk to people!?

Fandom is My Anti-Drug...or Drug?

We have all been there. One of your friends says, "Hey have you seen/read/watched this?"

And you say "No."

Then they give you that stare like, how could you have never seen/read/watched this before. You'll love it.

After that begins the slipperly slope to a new fandom. All it takes is one suggestion and all of a sudden your waving around anything that looks like a wand, carrying salt everywhere, and planning to murder the man who cancelled Firefly. (Okay the last is a stretch, but you understand.)

All obsessions begin with as something small as reading a book or watching one episode and then they grow and mutate into this monster that steals all of your money and emotional stability. This is the Fandom Drug. BEWARE

There are helpful warning signs for you though. Certain stages that everyone goes through. Look for these signs and maybe you can help someone before it's too late. Remember they start small and escalate

Common signs and symptoms of Fandom Abuse

• They're neglecting their responsibilities- Instead of studying for that exam, they are on their 4th hour of a Buffy Marathon and it does not seem to be slowing down. 
• They’re using Fandoms under dangerous conditions or taking risks while under the influence of their Fandom- They are not only wearing a cosplay costume out but contemplating fighting crime.You may have found ninja throwing stars in their room.
• Their Fandom use is getting them into legal trouble- They are illegally downloading all 10 seasons of Smallville at once while also downloading all the Harry Potter Audio Books.
• Their Fandom is causing problems in their  relationships, They start losing friends because those friends think Community should be off the air or that Donna was a bad Companion.

Common signs and symptoms of Fandom Addiction

• They’ve built up a Fandom tolerance. The show or book itself no longer quells their hunger. They start going onto fan fiction sites just to get a bit more.
• They find more things to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If they have to wait too long for the next book or episode to come out, they start watching YouTube videos depicting their favorite parts, and not just reading fan fiction, but writing it too.  Anything that can give them more of what they desire.
• They’ve lost control over their Fandom use. - They leave parties and outings because they have just had the best idea for the new fandom podcast they are developing.
• Their life revolves around Fandom use. They can no longer come over on Thursdays because Community is back on and they cannot miss it. They also need to cancel their camping trip because there is a convention that weekend.
• They’ve abandoned activities they used to enjoy, The once star football player is now practicing archery and the person who ran French club is now starting up a club for future detectives.
• They continue to use Fandom, despite knowing it’s hurting them. They are constantly crying over some characters misfortune. You find in the corner on the floor just muttering the word "feels"

Physical warning signs of Fandom abuse

• Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual from staring at a computer screen too long.
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. All they eat now is weird things like chocolate frogs and they never sleep due to marathons that keep them up all night. Their mantra is "just one more episode" or "just one more chapter"
• Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits. They now have grown a beard because the Hobbit is coming out. Also, they never leave the house so why groom anyway.
• Style changes. They no longer are the t-shirt and jeans person. They now wear flannel or bowties all the time or are completely steam punk. 
• Speech changes. You start hearing phrases repeated like "Such fun!" "Run" "Wibbly wobbley timey wimey," and "Have you tried turning it off and on again." They also may start to referring to actors or fictional characters by just first name like they're really friends. 

Behavioral signs of Fandom abuse

• Unexplained need for money or financial problems. Yet, their room is now covered in things from The Noble Collection and ThinkGeek.com. They also have a plane ticket to San Diego.
• Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies.You find them in the hanging out with people you've never met, drawing runes, and wanting desperately to go to a train station in Britain.
• They have become secretive. They start sentences but then stop them, and all they say is "spoliers"

Psychological warning signs of Fandom abuse

• Unexplained change in personality or attitude. One day they have a gruff voice and act like the world is ending and then the next they are pulling funny pranks and saying "mischief managed."
• Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts. One minute they are jumping up and down saying their OTP is finally together, and the next on the floor crying because some guy named Moffat killed someone again.
• Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason. You ask why and they say, they are not sure if they can handle the next Clockwork book because of fear for Will and Jem.

So look these over and see if your friends are beginning to show any signs or maybe even you are. If you use tumblr, I am sorry but it is too late. You have some fandom addiction but it's okay. I have completed these lists many times. 

Remember having an addiction is nothing to be ashamed of. You can't help it. These shows/movies/books get under your skin and detox is almost impossible. Moffat and Whedon don't help the matter. They kind of encourage the behavior. But there is a community for you, and it's not just Greendale. It's the internet. Thank you internet for the support of fandom addiction. It would be tough to get through without it.

Make sure to follow us on:

Twitter: Andimatrainwrec (Katie), npalmerco08 (Nora)

Tumblr: Aaanndimatrainweck (official),  kahildreth (Katie), stillnuttypony (Nora)

And yes we did just re-read that and said, "Who let's us talk to people!"

Harry Potter Sappy Post

I know, this blog is usually full of funny, random, and absurd things. Today, I am making a little change. So sorry if you don't like sappy, but being a potterhead actually means a lot to me for more reasons than it is just a great book. So, if you're not a fan then don't read this, it will just make you annoyed and I don't those feelings around my blog. (Unless you're using it to fuel an angry logic rant like David Mitchell). This post however is not for a David Mitchell rant.

Lets begin!


There are things that happen in life, and in the moment, they seem so insignificant, especially when you're a child. Kids appreciate nothing. However, one day you'll look back and realize that those small moments are the ones that mean the most. Over the past few weeks, I realized that The Harry Potter Series was one of those things, set of moments. It seemed like it was just a book series, but it became so much more to me.

The first thing that the series gave me was something/someone to look to when I needed help in any situation in life.

Any time I felt less pretty than the other girls or that I just did not fit in, I turned to Hermione. She taught me that as long as you believe in your abilities and trust who you are, people will realize what a great person you are. It may just take time.

If I ever felt that a situation was hopeless, I turned to Harry. He showed me to never give up no matter what the odds might be. He came out of some the toughest situations and if he can live through that, I can get through anything as well.

If I ever felt like I was always second best or that everyone just out shined me, I turned to Ron. He showed me that we all have different strengths and that those talents are needed, no matter what we might think of ourselves.

If I ever needed sage advice, Dumbledore was there with some words of wisdom. He teaches extraordinary lessons in each book. Even when his character dies, he comes back with my favorite piece of advice. "Of course, it's happening inside your head but why should that mean it isn't real?"

If I ever felt guilty over something and felt that I could never come back from it, Snape showed me that you can always find redemption. He also taught me that it works in reverse. That you can always forgive someone who is truly sorry for what they have done to you or someone you love.

And finally whenever I felt I needed a home, Hogwarts was there to take me in. It was there to give me the adventure I craved and place to believe that truly anything is possible.

It seems like these books could not give me anymore, I know. But it gave me something even better than what I listed above. It gave me a family. To this day, my mother is synonymous with these books. Without her, I probably never would have read them. When the first books came out, my mother forced my brother and me to sit down in her room and listen to her read about "The boy who lived." She was not going to allow us to miss out on these. Neither my brother nor I wanted to listen. However, she kept reading through our, especially my, stubbornness. Through most of the first chapters I sat on on the floor and threw grapes at her. It obviously did not stop her. She knew eventually these characters and places would mean something to me. And we all hate to say this sentence, but my mother was right. (I almost couldn't type that. It was so hard.)

And as my brother and I grew up, she stopped reading and we started. We would wait on the front porch the day we knew the next one was going to arrive. All three of us would have our own copies and see who could finish first.

Eventually, the movies came into our lives as well. All of us went to the Prisoner Of Azkaban midnight premiere together.  We all share that one as our favorite book. (My mom fell asleep.) Over last winter break, my mom and I watched all the movies on Blue-ray together over the course of a week, just because we wanted to.

The series boned all of us together. I'm pretty sure all of us cried (my brother will deny this but I have no proof to prove to say otherwise) when Sirius died.  Actually, I'm pretty sure my mom was on the floor sobbing when she read it. I remember that my brother walked in on her and just said "you just read..." and she nodded.  Even now, all of us sit around and discuss the series. We discuss that we all felt Lupin was portrayed wrong in the movies but Sirius was great. We discuss who are favorite and least favorite characters are. We also own both the english and american versions. My mother specially bought the UK dvds so it said Philosopher's Stone. #trainwreck family.

So really, she gave me the greatest gift which is the series itself. She gave me this place to put my hopes, dreams, fears, and anything else. She gave me characters that became friends. But above all she gave me the greatest magic, which anyone who has read the series knows is love.

I know guys, sappy, but I bet some of you have the same attachment in some form to one of your fandoms. This just happens to be mine. Feel free to share them if you like. Either as a comment or a private message on the tumble aaanndimatrainwreck. I would love to hear about it. Even if it is a different fandom as well.

This post is also for the fellow Potterheads. We are also a giant #trainwreck family.
Cheers!

Make sure to follow us too on:

Twitter: Andimatrainwrec (Katie), npalmerco08 (Nora)

Tumblr: Aaannddimatrainwreck (official), kahildreth (Katie), stillnuttypony (Nora)

The 12 Step Program for #Trainwrecks

12 Step Program for #Trainwrecks (Fandom Nerds): How to be a Good and Respectful #Trainwreck

1. We admit we were powerless over our Fandom - that our lives had become #trainwrecks.

2. Come to believe that actual interaction with people other than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of our personal Fandom as we understand them.

4. Make a searching and fearless inventory of all the knowledge we have of our fandom including; quotes, behind the scenes, goofs, and much more.

5. Admit to our Fandom, to ourselves, and to another human being or fellow social networker the exact nature of our #trainwreck-ness.

6. We're entirely ready to have our fandoms remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly allow fellow #trainwrecks to ignore our shortcomings. Not everyone can know everything.

8. Make a list of all persons we have harmed by using our fandom to condemn theirs, and become willing to make amends to them all.

9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible; re-blog their fandom, like their post, except when to do so would injure them or others or your personal fandom.

10. Continue to take personal inventory of our Fandom knowledge, and when we are wrong, promptly re-blog the correct info. We can't be known for being wrong.

11. Use youtube and tumblr to improve our conscious contact with our Fandom as we understood it, blogging only for knowledge of its will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other #Trainwrecks, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The 12 Traditions for #Trainwrecks

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal victory depends upon Fandom unity.

2.For our group purpose there is but one ultimate Goal—a loving fandom in our group conscience. Our sponsored bloggers are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3.The only requirement for Fandom membership is to love the fandom.

4. Each fandom should be autonomous except in matters affecting other fandoms or the genre as a whole.

5. Each fandom has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the fellow #trainwrecks

6.A Fandom group should endorse, finance, and lend the Fandom name to any related facility or outside enterprise, use the power of the group to create change for the greater good. 

7. Every Fandom ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. No crappy ads or doing things just for more followers.

8. Fandoms should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers to keep the fandom going strong.

9. Fandoms, as such, ought to be organized;  we must create  cons, blogs, fan pages, youtube videos directly responsible to those we serve like Whedon.

10. Fandoms have no opinion on outside issues; hence the Fandom name ought never be drawn into public controversy of another fandom

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction and promotion; we need to always promote our fandom to others in a positive way. No hate

12. Nerdy-ness is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place good over evil.