Getting to know the MacManiacs - kind of

Screencap Credit: ABC

Screencap Credit: ABC

The above photos might very well be Tristan's reaction if he ever read this post.  It's probably more MacMania or MacLunacy than he ever wanted to know, but you have to admit that we're an "interesting" group of supporters.  Yes, we're feisty and energetic, but we are also fiercely loyal.

We’ve a diverse group that has grown substantially since Tristan MacManus first began wowing us on Season 12 of Dancing With the Stars. By Season 13, things were in motion for a website. A Facebook Fan Page was established early on and that has grown to more than 14,500 page likes. As times have changed, so have we.  Instagram and Pinterest, Twitter, fan Twitter accounts, Twitters for Tristan’s hair….you name it.

As the MacManiacs have grown in numbers, we went to a few of them – mostly those who are forum members of MacManiacs.org -  and we decided that we wanted to know a little more. After all, we ask Tristan random stuff and he answers it; so did the MacManiacs. Some posted their random trivia on the forum, others emailed or messaged it to us.  What did we ask?  We asked for people to tell us something we might not know about them.  What did we learn? Well, see for yourself below.

For example…

One brave soul traveled to Argentina a few years ago and a handsome man (she didn’t really say he was handsome, but it sounded good so we added the adjective) tried to teach her to Tango. She insists that it might not have been her wisest move but she had a great time anyway so it’s all good.

Many of the website/forum members have been around since the site first launched in November, 2011. Before that, many were active on the ABC message boards but jumped ship to join MacManiacs.org which is a much friendlier place. Since them the forum alone has more than 500,000 views and the rest of the website has way more than that.

The website has added many new members since June 1, 2014 when the Strictly Come Dancing pros were announced.  We have several from London, Grimsby and other cities in England as well as several from Ireland.

At last count, at least 9 website members have taken a group or private lesson with Tristan. Not everybody is talking but from those who posted on the forum, emailed, or messaged us, 37 have seen Tristan perform in Ballroom With A Twist and at least a dozen saw him in Burn the Floor.  One saw him in Dirty Dancing: The Musical, and one admits to seeing him in BWAT four times in 2013.   Lots more have seen Tristan in BWAT more than once.                                                                                                                             
A bunch of website members met Tristan at the Princeton, New Jersey Grassroot Soccer fundraiser in January 2013.  One saw him dance with Kym Johnson at the New York Red Cross Ball in 2012, and more than we can count have seen him dance in Life’s A Dance in Pensacola, Florida.

Included among our members are a former competitive gymnast, a funny lady who wrote a novel (of sorts) when she was seven, one former Gerber baby model, one childhood model for eyeglasses, and a bunch of moms who have stayed home to raise their babies.

Here’s more…

Several were born in Ireland but have lived in the USA most of their lives. Another was born in Puerto Rico, another in France, another in Australia, and another in Japan. Current website members live in almost every state in the United States but many come from all parts of Canada, and we have members from many parts of Europe and South America.

3 mentioned that they did college semesters in Europe – 2 in London, 1 in Paris.

2 of our website members went to a college in Kentucky at the same time but never met each other until they began speaking on our forum.

None seem to be big skiers, and one confesses to dislocating her kneecap the one and only time she tried it and ended up in a thigh to ankle cast.  Maybe she should try the Cha Cha instead.

We have other klutzes.  One broke 3 toes once by running into a closed door and then messed up her shoulder by running into the same door years later; another is so graceful that she attempted Zumba on her carpet and then stepped on her own foot and fell into a chair.  Yes, we are multi-talented performers.

Cell phone accident lessons learned… these are all true.

Don’t drop your phone outside your car when you go to pick up your kid from school.  Those things bounce and slide and when they go way under your car and you have to get on your hands and knees to retrieve them….well, it could get ugly.

Cell phones and toilets must have a magnetic attraction because if you get near a toilet with a cell phone, it’s going to end up there.  Guaranteed.

When going to Dunkin Donuts don’t throw your cell phone in the trash along with your coffee because all that leftover coffee will spill and end up in the phone – killing it.

If you go to a bar and tuck your cell phone into your bra and then proceed to sweat a lot while showing off your dance moves, your cell phone will die a painful death.

Speaking of cell phones and bars – if you drop one into a tropical drink, the little paper umbrella won’t protect the phone like a big umbrella protects you from the rain.

That’s all we have on the cell phone stories so…

There are these admissions and/or accomplishments of other special MacManiacs. . .

One took piano lessons for 17 years.

One sings in an a capella group.

We have an actress – sort of – she was the female lead in The Frog Prince in her first grade play.

Included in our little group are also a songwriter who can’t carry a tune, a recreational softball player, an athlete who received a soccer athletic scholarship to college, pastry chef who took ballet, tap, and jazz lessons for 10 years (and swears she can’t dance at all in spite of it), a marathon runner (okay, she ran one marathon), and a bookshop owner.

We have several writers, including a cookbook author, freelance writer, romance author, and book reviewer and plenty of us are fans of Jane Austen.  Don't forget the former jewelry maker and the 2 who have really wonky eyesight.  These are the same 2 who don't drink alcohol at all. You think there's a connection there?

Lots of teachers spend time on MacManiacs.org - Latin, ESL, French, Spanish, English Literature, History, Montessori Pre-School, Elementary School and Middle School Literature. One of the most fun jobs has to be that of our former bartender who worked at a beachfront bar in Puerto Rico.

Fun facts about a few MacManiacs…

One spent her entire life in Kentucky but has never been to the Kentucky Derby.

One worked during college at an Irish pub in Boston, ironically about the same time Tristan was teaching there.  Their paths didn't cross.  He’s probably forever grateful for that.

One went to Ireland on her honeymoon; another went to Tahiti on hers; another went to Norway. We’ve been to other places, but those 3 are pretty colorful and also, they are the only 3 who told us which is why you're hearing about them.

6 traveled to Ireland from the U.S. last year and 2 more are leaving on the same day in August for vacations to Ireland. They are not traveling together nor are they going the same places, but it is quite the coincidence.

Two admit to having huge crushes on JC Chasez of ‘N Sync fame back in the day.

2 told us about live DWTS shows they saw – Seasons 12, 14, and 16 (one went in 2 different seasons).

One is very scared of heights; another took ballet for 20 years, another took 6 dance classes a week for years but none of those dancers dance professionally these days.

One speaks 4 languages; another speaks 3. We’re all working on English.

The ‘nevers’. . . (A few of our braver MacManiacs volunteered this information)

Several never had S’mores – apparently it was the marshmallows that ruined a good thing.

One never had a milkshake. Another has never seen a Disney movie, and 3 admit to never having a banana split.

One never had coffee, tea, or alcohol (that means no Venti anything from Starbucks – that’s   impressive).

Several have never been to Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, or Yosemite even though they have lived in the U.S. their entire lives.

Three have never read a Harry Potter book or seen any of the movies.

Can’t  stands. . .  (We don’t like everything so here are a few that made the cut)

Raisins, cheese, fruit pies, shoes (the shoes come off as soon as these people walk into their houses)

Some of us collect stuff. . .(besides the dust bunnies on our furniture)  

Beanie Babies, cheap snow globe paperweights, teddy bears, books, Hallmark Christmas ornaments, and Gone With the Wind Christmas Ornaments

Confessions. . .

We have a few shy ones (believe it or not).

One admits to aspiring to be in the roller derby – or that’s what she wanted to be when she was 8.

One really wants to be a cruise blogger.

Based on very important surveys on the website, Snoopy is one of our favorite cartoon characters, ice cream is a basic food group, we can name 13 varieties of cookies in a very short period of time (long story), and perfectly acceptable karaoke songs include “Ice Ice Baby”, “Paradise By the Dashboard Light, “Turn the Beat Around”, “Eternal Flame”, and “Old Time Rock and Roll.”  Trust us, you don’t even want to know how that came up.

Had enough yet?  MacManiac Trivia is useless information, but we had a lot of fun doing this. We hope you enjoyed getting to know us a little bit better.