Building happy for kids in a fluffy workshop...

So, a couple days ago Chase, Randi and I were at the mall.  To make a medium-length story a bit more cut-and-dry, I had never been to a Build-A-Bear...so we went.  Guess what kind of bear was there:

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Of course, I just haaaad to have it!!!  Chasey being the loving and doting best bf ever bought it for me.  Unfortunately, they did not have any HSM music, so I settle for the next best thing: The Jonas Brothers.  Oh yes, you give a squeeze of Zack Jonas' (that's what we named him on account that he's a bear of two worlds) paw, and he'll sing you not one, not two but three excerpts of three different Jonas Brothers songs.

::sigh::

That was the best day...  And the days just seem to be getting better!  Like, yesterday, I used Windex on the the faucet of the bathroom sink instead of bleach or 409 which are what I would normally use.  However, in that moment, I felt like being spontaneous.  To my surprise, the Windex worked miracles.  I have never seen the faucet look so shiny and new...  ::sigh::

Now, if I can only get my almost-thirty-years-old roommate to clean up after herself in the kitchen, and my life would be set!  Ha ha...yea, I know I dream big.

Happy VDay :)

November 11th is Veterans Day.  I would like to start off this blog by taking a moment to thank all individuals in the armed forces, past and present.  It is because of your sacrifices that we are able to live as we do.

Thank you.

So I was finishing up an assignment for my "Women and Art in America" course, when I began to wonder: When did ‘art’ become synonymous with ‘fart’?  And no, I don’t mean that literally, but just as ‘fart’ is thought to be vulgar and crass in polite society, so has ‘art’ quickly become ‘in your face’ and purposely outrageous.

I recently heard an interesting statement: hate what you fear, and fear what you do not understand.  With this, then, though I may  not understand some modern artists or artistry, I don’t fear them, and I most definitely do not hate them…and I really don’t appreciate being labeled as ‘close-minded’ just because I don’t like the nude photo of some random couple.  You say expressive and emotional.  I may say gross, but I will not stop you from hanging it in an exhibit.  I will not protest your gallery.  I will not discourage others from viewing and appreciating your art.  I will not even scoff when you refer to it as ‘art’.  Am I still close-minded, or can I be entitled to my own opinion without being judged?

I'll make him an offer he can't refuse...

...how eternal are those words?  I'm currently watching PART III of The Godfather.  It may be a bit cliche, but I really believe that the Godfather movies are among the best movies ever made.  Such symbolism, cinematography, drama, substance and ....oopf!  

So, if you're wondering, "Erin, why are you up so late at night...again?"  Well, I blame AMC and their back-to-back showings of The Godfather: Part I, II & III.

All that glitters...must have have glitter on it.

So I was putting the finishing touches on this picture frame project I'm doing for someone's Christmas gift when I realized something:  I totally love glitter!  And what's better, Crayola makes these wonderful glitter-glue pens that come in all kinds of colors.  I bought a pack of 5 from Shop 'n Save for $2, and I just gotta say it, they are amazing.  The tip never gunks up, and the actual glitter pieces themselves are colored, not the glue--unlike some other, cheap-o glitter pens.  The glue itself is clear, so when it dries, it leaves a just-glitter-no-filler effect to whatever craft piece you're making.  The best part, though, is that you can use it without the traditional I-just-dumped-glitter-everywhere-and-will-be-picking-it-out-of-my-hair-and-clothes-at-random-times-for-years-to-come experience.  That way, you're making crafts and not messes!  :)

YAY!!!

"Glitter is the herpes of arts & crafts supplies" - Dimitri Martin

Ankle all better!!! ...kinda...

Haven't really been working out lately...ugh...  However, according to my dad, my ankle should be all better now--it's been about a month since I twisted it (thanks, Chase).  It's been stiff lately, but I'm walking more normally.  I guess we'll just have to see what happens tonight on my nightly jog!

Thanks to all you well-wishers!  And no, Diane, I did NOT 'shatter' my ankle...jeez...

:-P

On a more historical note, "Remember, remember the fifth of November.  The gun powder treason and plot.  I know of no reason why the gun powder treason should ever be forgot."

HAPPY GUY FAWKES DAY!!!  

(now go watch "V for Vendetta")

The Office

Okay, if you haven't been obsessively watching and following this show, start now.  The NBC network airs "The Office" on Thursdays 9/8c.  "The Office" is based on the British version starring Ricky Gervais (which I hear is being played during late night...not sure what channel) and is set around and ensemble cast, Michael, Pam, Jim, Andy, Dwight, Angela, Meredith, Oscar, Creed, Kevin, Toby, Stanley, Phyllis and other memorable characters, all employees of a Scranton, PA based paper company: Dunder Mifflin.  Needless to say, with Steve Carell at the wheel, hilarity ensues...seriously.

GLEE, vol. 1

Hmm...not too much going on today except...

GLEE Soundtrack, volume 1 

is now available on iTunes!!!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE GLEE!!!  ...if you haven't noticed already.  I listened to the whole album--or so I thought.  Upon further investigation, it was brought to my attention that I am missing 3 songs.  I pre-ordered and pre-paid for the album a little more than a week ago.  What gives, iTunes???  FOR WHY?!?!?!?!

Aside from this major discrepancy, the album is AMAZING!!!  The cast of Glee does exactly what any and all glee clubs should do, which is take great songs and make them incredibly awesome!

::sigh::

Well, enough of Glee.  Sorry...I get a bit carried away...

Oh, so I finished reading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley a few weeks ago.  It's really a great read, for those of you looking for a thought-provoking book to pick up.  It follows the lives of citizens in a seemingly perfect society.  I've found it often compared to 1984, but instead of curbing and restricting the desires of its citizens to maintain passions for a war used to keep the economy going, Brave grants every pleasure and desire to their people in order to maintain peace.  The people are pacified by soma (a drug given to induce calm and lowered inhibitions; like alcohol but without any negative side effects) and kept in specialized fields and castes in order to better control them.

Listening to the news on the radio, I was reminded of the 'world peace' in Brave and of the lack thereof in our current and past realities.  Sure being completely controlled by the government and kept in a drug-induced happy-stupor goes against all human rights, but what if the society of Brave is the only way we could truly attain 'world peace'; end famine, disease, war and suffering altogether?  What if the freedoms we are constantly fighting for are the exact reasons for why we may never stop fighting?  What if the only way for us to live in harmony is for us to deny our humanity...???

Bottomline, read the book.  You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't.

New Haircut

So I got a new hair cut last week.  I think it's pretty awesome.  It's just like my usual hair style just with bangs.  The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that my forehead gets oilier than usual since my hair is covering it now...hope I don't start breaking out!

Actually, I feel a little weird having this hairstyle.  Don't get me wrong, like I said, it's totally awesome.  It's just that I was inspired by a Disney actress who's about 5 years younger than me: Vanessa Hudgens.  It's one thing to watch the HSM movies, listen to the Jonas Bros. and pay attention to the important plot twists on iCarly, but it's another thing to emulate the fashions and style of those young actors when you, yourself, are 22 and have long since left behind those teeny-bopper years.

Oh well.  The bangs look good, and they're here to stay!  So there.

Verizon to get not one, but TWO Android phones!!!

So, my LG Venus phone is not living up to my standards.  As one of the first generation of non-iPhone touch screen mobile phones, it leaves much to be desired.  Like, how about the desire for a phone that doesn't lock up more frequently than a teenage boy's desktop protected by McAfee Anti-virus?  Or what about a phone that doesn't shut itself off whenever it wants and drops a call like a hotcake fresh off the frying pan?  Needless to say, even the VZW sales department had nothing good to say about it...  ::sigh::

Well, with that, I have begun my search for a new phone.  I want an unlimited data plan, so I can surf the web all day, check my email, have a physical full QWERTY keyboard and Facebook like there's no tomorrow.  I also want VZ/GPS Navigation, a reliable 3G network and I want to keep my unlimited text/pix/video messaging.  The reliable 3G coverage was a no-brainer. Verizon has the top most rated coverage in the nation, so I'm definitely sticking with them (sorry, Sprint).  All the other features, though, depend on the phone itself, not the carrier.

My phone isn't up for an upgrade until January, but I thought I'd start looking now to get a good idea of what's out there on the Verizon mobile phone market.  With all the specs that I want, it seemed that the Blackberry Tour was the best choice.  It's a Blackberry/Smartphone, so it requires the user to have some sort of data plan, and as luck would have it, Verizon offers an unlimited data plan for all their smartphones at only $40/month.  VZ Navigation is $10/month for their unlimited access, and the Tour works overseas--cool!  So with all this, it really seemed that the Blackberry Tour was the phone for me.  That is until Verizon sent out a press release on their newest mobile phones: Motorola Droid and Motorola Calgary.

The new *Motorola Droid is the newest phone to come out running Google's OS, Android.  It will be running Android 2.0 (wow!) and will thus have access to Google's free turn-by-turn directional GPS--no need for VZ Navigation (-$10/month)!!!  It's a fully touch screen phone with a side-slide-out full QWERTY keyboard.  It is, of course, a smartphone, so a data plan is required--$40/month unlimited.  It has WiFi and Bluetooth and is connected to Verizon's 3G network.



Holy cow, I think we've just scored the big one!

With a new 2-year plan, the Motorola Droid costs about $200--with an upgrade...not sure...  I'm also not sure about the Calgary's cost either, but since it's a lower-end version of the Droid, I'd imagine that it'd about around $150 or less.  The Calgary is nearly the same as the Droid, but it's camera is a little lower quality and it will be running the Android 1.5 OS.  Meaning, it will not have access to Google's GPS, so user's wanting that will have to get Verizon's version for $10/month.  Still, if you're looking for a good, quality Android phone and you're on a budget, the Calgary looks pretty darn good.

Blackberry Tour, who?  Seems I have some decisions to make...


*Motorola Droid & Calgary to be released by Verizon in early November, 2009

GLEE

Hello!  First off...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!  

It's been a while since we've had an October 31st that landed on a weekend...so care free!  Also, we gain an extra hour of sleep starting...well, starting about 20+ minutes ago.  You know what I like about 'Fall back'?  I like that we have the option of either utilizing that much needed extra hour of sleep, or we can take advantage of that extra hour and get up early.  I mean, if your internal clock is already used to getting up at that time, why let your electronic clock tell you any different?!

Anyhoozer...

So, today I was catching up on my Glee* with my mom, and I realized something: this is a good show!

No.  Not good, great!

Yes, the acting is a bit off at times and the plots are filled with the stereotypical angst and filler of every High School Dramsicle, but Glee makes up for its lack of writing creativity with bursts of song and dance that would give the likes of Fame, Rent or Cabaret a run for their money.  Which, if we're all truly honest with ourselves, that's basically what every musical--Broadway or otherwise--is composed of: semi-tolerable acting paired with spectacular staging, dance and song.  Amazing.

Personally, I love the theater...musicals especially.  I love watching them, performing in them, reading about them...  ::sigh::  Oh!  And how about that 'Rachel' girl?!  Is she a jagged gem or what?!  Overly competitive, yes.  Scarily driven, definitely.  Way overtly egotistical, very.  But she looks and belts like Idina Menzel and deserves every bit of the lime light!  The whole cast, actually, is surprisingly talented  :)

Well, that's all for now.  Have a great October 31st and remember to practice safe trick-or-treating!
(http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09029.html)


*The FOX network's new show following the lives of a high school glee club and its instructor.

Gaining Ground...

As I reach the end of my educational career here at UIS, I feel the need to get my goals in order.  We all know what this means...deadlines.  But wait, Erin, aren't you graduating in December?  Well, yes...  However, at some point we all learn that what we've really learned in the American educational system is how to be a responsible citizen of the world.  Oh yes, and that includes setting and sticking to deadlines and following rules.  For no matter how unreasonable or senseless they may appear to be, they are the way of the world and as part of the world we just gotta go with it  :)

So...

GOALS FOR THE SEMESTER

• Graduate in December with above a 3.0 GPA
• Find a 3-bedroom apartment in the South Suburbs of Chicago
• Find a job in the South Suburbs of Chicago
• Open a savings account
• Buy awesome (but affordable) Christmas gifts for my loved ones
• Move out of current apartment
• Find out and prepare for Student Teaching placement
  

GOALS FOR THE YEAR

• Find a well-paying teaching job in a good district
• Preferably District #210...
• Good benefits (health insurance, etc...)
• Maintain savings account
• Do something for summer vacation
• Must be cheap, but good/fun
• Buy teaching supplies (YAY!)

GOALS FOR MY LIFE

• Work hard to maintain:
• Career/job
• Self worth
• Family ties
• Meaningful friendships
• Marriage???
• Kids???
• BE HAPPY

Ultimately, though, we shall try our best, hope, pray and see.  With this, then, I leave you with the wonderful words of Mr. Walt Disney...

"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long.  We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we're curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.  Keep moving forward!"  -Walt Disney

Introducing...ERIN!!!

Hello and welcome!

My name is Erin, and I am a first-time blogger. This is my blog. Here it is. A blog.

Funny, eh?

I'm not really the kind of person to just say what's on my mind without provocation. That's not to say, though, that I'm shut up like a clam. I guess, I'm just always looking for the so what factor.

Here are my thoughts. So what?

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Maybe we'll all learn something. Or maybe we'll learn nothing. Either way, let's make sure we have fun!

XOXO,

me